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Howard
County
Public School System
Moving to Middle School
Building the Foundation for
High School and Beyond
2015-2016
CLARKSVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
RISING 6TH GRADE
PARENT ORIENTATION
April 16, 2015
WELCOME!
MELISSA SHINDEL
Principal
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hcpss_cms
Instagram: https://instagram.com/principal_shindel/
WELCOME!
RACHEL CARR
Council Delegate, CMS PTA
Why support PTA?
Many ways to get involved:
•  Join the Board
•  Chair a Committee
•  Volunteer to help
Contact: Missi Hamet [email protected]
PTA Website
http://www.cms.pta.my-pta.org/ Mark Your Calendars May 21 from 5:00-7:00 pm CMS Fourth Annual Fun Run Promoting Health & Wellness in our Community DJ Food Social 2 miles Run/Walk Families invited to participate! Open to everyone. GT Enrichment Fair to follow Fun Run PTA Welcomes You!! 1)  Volunteer!
2)  Stay Connected • 
Email Newsletter, Facebook, Website 3)  Fun Run 4)  Spirit Wear on sale tonight! AGENDA
•  Our School & Staff
•  Goals, Vision & Research
•  Our schedule:
–  Overview
–  Specifics
–  Samples
•  Academic Behaviors
•  Resources
•  Q & A
•  Tour
OUR SCHOOL
•  3 grades: 6, 7, 8
•  619 students
•  80 staff members
•  Mascot: Comets!
•  Colors: Black and Gold
•  Motto: Comets RULE!
•  School opened in 1979
•  Renovated in 2008
OUR STAFF
Front Office & Administration
Student Services
Special Education
8th Grade
7th Grade
Related Arts
6th Grade
6th Grade
Outdoor Ed
NorthBay
October 13-15,
2015
Save the Dates!
VISION 2018:
FULFILLING THE
PROMISE OF PREPARATION
HCPSS: BECOMING WORLD CLASS Vision
Every student is
inspired to learn
and empowered
to excel
Mission
We cultivate a vibrant
learning community that
prepares students to thrive
in a dynamic world
HCPSS System Goals Goal 1
Students"
Goal 2
Goal 3
Staff"
Every student
achieves
academic
excellence in
an inspiring,
engaging,
and
supportive
environment."
Every staff
member is
engaged,
supported,
and
successful."
Families and
the Community"
Families and
the community
are engaged
and supported
as partners in
education."
Goal 4
Organization"
Schools are
supported by
world-class
organizational
practices. "
Preparing students for their future vs. our present
CMS VISION & BELIEFS
Our VISION is to be a world-class middle school,
preparing our students for a global, 21st century society.
In a collaborative partnership with staff, students, home and
community, Clarksville Middle School BELIEVES in:
• 
Meeting the needs of all students, encouraging them to achieve
their academic potential, and developing lifelong learners
• 
Creating meaningful and memorable experiences for our
students, in the classroom and beyond
• 
Fostering a safe and positive school climate that promotes
growth, respect and acceptance for all
RESEARCH
The research says…
•  The level of academic achievement that students attain
by eighth grade has a larger impact on their college and
career readiness MORE than anything that happens
academically in high school.
•  The earlier a student develops important academically
related behaviors, the more likely these behaviors are to
become habits.
•  Middle school is a defining point for students in the
college and career readiness process.
Source: The Forgotten Middle: Ensuring that All Students Are On Target For College and Career
Readiness Before High School, ACT, 2008.
OUR GOAL
Our goal…
is to ensure that all middle school students have attained the
knowledge and skills…to be prepared for their future.
OUR GOAL
Our goal…
is to ensure that all middle school students have attained the
knowledge and skills…to be prepared for their future.
COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS
The HCPSS Middle School Schedule The HCPSS
Middle School Schedule
OVERVIEW:
•  Seven 50-minute classes each day
•  Daily instruction in English Language Arts, Mathematics,
Social Studies, and Science
•  Innovation and Inquiry Reading Units
•  Additional instruction to students performing below gradelevel in English, math and/or reading
•  A variety of related arts classes
The HCPSS
Middle School Schedule
OVERVIEW:
•  Band, orchestra and/or chorus options (performing arts)
•  World language (7th/8th grade)
•  GT (gifted and talented) and on-grade level classes
•  GT instructional seminars open to all students
•  Literacy embedded in all classes (disciplinary literacy)
•  Rigorous and engaging daily instruction that prepares
students to be college and career ready
The HCPSS
Middle School Schedule
COMAR* Requirements for middle school students:
•  Every year:
ü  PE
ü  Health
ü  Fine art (art, general music, band, orchestra or chorus)
•  At least 1 time during middle school
ü  1 course with career-education content (6th, 7th or 8th grade)
ü  1 course with financial literacy content (7th or 8th grade)
HCPSS Requirement for 6th grade students:
•  All on-grade level reading students must take Connections*,
a “transition to middle school” course + 1 additional
innovation and inquiry unit (other students may take this course)
*Other students may be scheduled for Connections and
other reading units depending on their schedules/course selections
• COMAR is the Code of
• Maryland Regulations
CLARKSVILLE’S SCHEDULE
LOGISTICS:
HOW DOES EVERYTHING FIT TOGETHER?
CLARKSVILLE’S SCHEDULE
6th Grade
TIME
PERIOD
KEY TIMES
8:14
Students Enter CMS
•  8:14 a.m.:
Doors open
8:23 - 8:30
Homeroom
•  8:23 a.m.:
8:32 – 9:22
Period 1
Students must be
in homeroom
9:24- 10:14
Period 2
•  11:08 a.m.:
6th grade lunch
10:16 -11:06
Period 3
•  3:08 p.m.:
Bus riders are dismissed
11:08 –11:38
Lunch
11:40 -12:30
Period 4
12:32 - 1:22
Period 5
1:24- 2:14
Period 6
2:16 - 3:06
Period 7
3:06 – 3:08
Afternoon Announcements
3:08 p.m.
Dismissal – Bus riders
3:15 p.m.
Dismissal – Walkers & car riders
(Buses leave around 3:15)
(related arts)
(related arts)
•  3:15 p.m.:
Walkers & car riders are
dismissed
CLARKSVILLE’S SCHEDULE
Every day, ALL students have:
7 classes
Math
Homeroom
Science
Lunch
English/Language Arts
Social Studies
CLARKSVILLE’S SCHEDULE
Every day, SOME students
will have:
Homeroom
Band
Orchestra
Chorus*
You received information about these
options from your child’s elementary school.
You submitted your child’s form in February/March.
*Depending on student interest and staffing, 7th and 8th grade chorus will either meet every day all
year, every day for 1 semester, or every other day all year
CLARKSVILLE’S SCHEDULE
Every day, SOME students will have:
Math seminar*
Homeroom
ELA / reading seminar
This is determined by your child’s elementary school /
5th grade teachers.
*Currently, math seminar is only offered during the related arts periods due to scheduling logistics
CLARKSVILLE’S SCHEDULE
During 6th grade, SOME students will have:
Innovation and Inquiry
Reading Units*:
1.  Connections
“Connections” is the HCPSS
required course for on-grade
level reading 6th grade students
(in addition to 1 other reading unit)
2.  Logical Reasoning
3.  The Future of Water
4.  It’s a Small World
*Reading units are scheduled during most periods of the day, including related arts.
CLARKSVILLE’S SCHEDULE
RELATED ARTS
Students have
2 different related arts classes every day.*
In 6th grade, most Related Arts classes meet either:
•  Every other day (A/B) for the year (PE only)
•  Every other day (A/B) for the semester
•  Every day for the quarter
*Some students may take the same related arts course more than once in a year. If this is the
case, the content will vary (such as units & skills taught, projects, etc.)
CLARKSVILLE’S SCHEDULE
Required Related Arts Courses in 6th grade:
All Year:
Physical Education
1 course in each of the following:
Health
Career Module
Fine Arts*:
•  Art
•  General Music
•  Band, Orchestra or
Chorus
*Students may be scheduled for more than 1 fine arts course
CLARKSVILLE’S SCHEDULE
Other Related Arts course offerings:
FACS
(Family &
Consumer Science)
Tech Ed
(Technology
Education)
GT Research Class*
What is the difference between the:
•  GT
Classes Modules:
Reading
•  GT Research Class
•  GT Seminars
?
*If your child is enrolled in GT English and GT math next year, he/she is eligible for this course.
CLARKSVILLE’S SCHEDULE
8th Period:
1 day each week
31 minute block
Extra
help
Special
Programs
• FEA
• Green School
• GT seminars
Used
for:
Make-up
work
Modified schedule
Enrichment
Group
projects
CLARKSVILLE’S SCHEDULE
SAMPLE SCHEDULES
SAMPLE 6TH GRADE
SCHEDULE
RA
RA
SAMPLE 6TH GRADE
SCHEDULE
6th Grade Schedule
No performing arts, no GT research, no seminars and no required reading classes
ELA = English/Language Arts
Reading = Innovation & Inquiry Reading Units
= Related Arts timeslot
SAMPLE 6TH GRADE
SCHEDULE
6th Grade Schedule
Required reading class, but no performing arts, no GT research and no seminars
ELA = English/Language Arts
Reading = Innovation & Inquiry Reading Units
= Related Arts timeslot
SAMPLE 6TH GRADE
SCHEDULE
6th Grade Schedule
Band, but no GT research, no seminars and no required reading classes
ELA = English/Language Arts
Reading = Innovation & Inquiry Reading Units
= Related Arts timeslot
SAMPLE 6TH GRADE
SCHEDULE
6th Grade Schedule
Orchestra and GT research, but no seminars and no required reading classes
ELA = English/Language Arts
Reading = Innovation & Inquiry Reading Units
= Related Arts timeslot
SAMPLE 6TH GRADE
SCHEDULE
6th Grade Schedule
Reading seminar, but no perf. arts, no GT research and no required reading classes
ELA = English/Language Arts
Reading = Innovation & Inquiry Reading Units
= Related Arts timeslot
SAMPLE 6TH GRADE
SCHEDULE
6th Grade Schedule
Math seminar and band, but no GT research and no required reading classes
ELA = English/Language Arts
Reading = Innovation & Inquiry Reading Units
= Related Arts timeslot
SAMPLE 6TH GRADE
SCHEDULE
STUDENT SERVICES
Supporting Academic
Behaviors
ACADEMIC
DISCIPLINE
ATTENDANCE
ACADEMIC
BEHAVIORS
ORDERLY
BEHAVIOR
POSITIVE
RELATIONSHIPS
Supporting Academic
Behaviors
•  8th Period every Wednesday
•  Afterschool Homework Club
•  Extracurricular Activities, such as:
Drama, SGA and robotics
•  GT Seminars, such as:
book club, debate club, STEM and
CMS/TV 25
•  Guidance Activities and Groups, such as:
Bring Up Grades Program for
Organizational Skills and Lunch Bunch
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Supporting Academic
Behaviors
•  Ensure that your child has the materials and
place to study at home.
•  Set a regular time for homework.
•  Encourage your child to be responsible for
chores and homework.
•  Provide your child with a range of
experiences to allow him/her to
identify areas of strength.
•  Talk and listen to your child.
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Supporting Academic
Behaviors
•  Stay involved in your child’s education.
•  Attend parent conferences.
•  Stay aware of your child’s homework and school
demands.
•  Attend school events.
•  Try to connect outside
experiences to school
learning to increase
interest and relevance.
RESOURCES
RESOURCES
http://www.hcpss.org/academics/ms_program/
RESOURCES
RESOURCES
RESOURCES
RESOURCES
THANK YOU!
WE LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING YOU AGAIN SOON!