Calendar Handbook - Frederick County Public Schools

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The Calendar Handbook for 2011–2012 30 Character Counts! Character Counts! is a character-education program and ethical decision-making model incorporated into the FCPS curriculum at all grade levels. It promotes six “pillars of character”: caring, citizenship, fairness, respect, responsi bility and trustworthiness. Students who demonstrate these character strengths in daily living take a giant step toward being upstanding school and community citizens. Staff and parents are encouraged to model these character traits at school, home and in the community. ★ Charter School A charter school functions as a semi-independent school, with its own governance and instructional design. However, education achievement is measured against the same performance standards used by the local and state boards of education. Staff members are FCPS employees, and the school’s management reports to the Superintendent. For more information, read the Board of Education of Frederick County Public Charter Schools Policy (Section 440) online at www.fcps.org or get a copy by calling the FCPS Legal Services Office. FCPS opened Monocacy Valley Montessori Public Charter School, Maryland’s first charter school, in September 2002. Kindergartners through eighth graders, enrolled through a lottery system, attend classes grouped in mixed ages and abilities. MVMPCS also offers pre-k. According to the Montessori Method, students move throughout the classroom during the school day, pursuing knowledge according to their interests. Lessons direct them toward activities that help develop reasoning abilities and life skills. To learn more about this school, use the directory listings on page 57. ★ Earth and Space Science Laboratory/Ausherman Planetarium The Earth and Space Science Laboratory/Ausherman Planetarium (ESSL) is next to Lincoln Elementary in a stateof-the-art facility. Grades 1–5 visit the lab to experience unique, innovative programs that extend learning, encouraging students to think, question, wonder and dream. Plane tarium programs are open to the public; calendar pages and the Web list details. ★ Other Education Programs English Language Learning (ELL) English Language Learning instruction promotes successful integration into mainstream academic programs for students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 whose first, or primary, language is not English and who have limited English proficiency. ELL students new to Frederick County are assessed for English language proficiency. The ELL Department recognizes the importance of parental involvement and provides interpreters for parent conferences and many translated documents. Most ELL elementary students receive their ELL support in their local school. Some new ELL students in grades 3-5 are served at Monocacy Elementary. While Monocacy Middle School ELL students receive their ELL instruction at their local school, all other ELL middle school students attend West Frederick Middle School. All high school ELL students attend Frederick High School. Summerschool support is offered when the budget permits. ★ Excel Schools At designated schools, students performing below gradelevel standards attend school beyond the regular school day to receive specialized instruction. Each student has an individual learning plan, outlining the additional learning opportunities and support he or she will receive and the performance improvements to be gained. School administrators notify and coordinate with parents or guardians of students who are identified for the program. Bus transportation is provided to those students who would normally receive it. ★ Fast Forward Through agreements with various post-secondary institutions, the FCPS Fast Forward program is an oppor tunity for students to earn college credit for certain high school classes in which they achieve a grade of “B” or better. See the High School Course Offering Guide for a list of qualifying courses. ★ Heather Ridge School This school provides an alternative educational program for middle and high school students in grades 6-12 who require a highly structured setting. Students may be referred to Heather Ridge through an IEP team decision or extended suspension. Heather Ridge emphasizes family involvement, problem solving, behavior management, social skills development and counseling to equip students to transition successfully back to their local schools. The setting provides students access to the FCPS curriculum and prepares them for graduation, post-secondary education and careers. ★ High School Academies The following programs are available to students countywide at the high schools listed. Out-of-district students must provide their own transportation, and enrollment may be limited. For more information, contact the school counseling office. Brunswick: Teaching Academy Catoctin: Environmental Academy Frederick: Advanced Placement Diploma Academy Governor Thomas Johnson: Arts & Communications Academy Linganore: Junior ROTC, Project Lead the Way Middletown: Advanced Placement Experience Academy (APEX) Tuscarora: Pre-Engineering Academy Urbana: International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme Walkersville: Pre-Engineering Academy, Project Lead the Way ★ Judy Center Through a combination of high-quality child care, educational experiences and comprehensive family services, the Judy Center prepares students for academic success in school. Based at Waverley Elementary, the program also offers services at Hillcrest and Lincoln Elementary. Judy Center services are available to all families with a child through age 5 residing in those school districts. ★
Education That Is Multicultural and Achievement Initiative Equity is a key component of FCPS’ commitment to educational excellence. A primary goal of the Education That Is Multicultural and Achievement (ETMA) Initiative is to promote student achievement through multi cultural resources and culturally responsive classroom practices. ETMA enables students to understand and appreciate our country’s diverse cultures. It prepares students to live, learn and participate productively in our increasingly diverse society. ETMA is a continuous, integrated, multi-ethnic, multidisciplinary process for educating all students about diversity and commonality. Factors include but are not limited to race, ethnicity, region, religion, gender, language, socioeconomic status, age and disabilities. Additionally, ETMA emphasizes equitable personnel practices and improved community relations. ★ Gifted and Talented, Enrichment FCPS is committed to addressing the individual needs of all gifted and talented students. Students with outstanding capabilities and specific academic aptitudes participate in enriched and extended learning activities. All elementary schools have access to resources that extend student learning. When needed, teachers may consult with the Office of Gifted and Talented Education for suggested enrichment activities in language arts and math. Highly advanced elementary students may be recommended for placement in the Elementary Magnet Program, serving academically gifted students in grades 1-5 at three schools. Nomination packets are available in elementary schools and online in early February. Parents’ completed nomination forms are due in early March to allow schools time to administer necessary tests, complete a teacher checklist of learning behaviors and process paperwork. In May, the three magnet sites host visitations for parents of students offered placement in the magnet program. Every middle school offers individual, small-group, whole-class and schoolwide enrichment activities through an enrichment specialist. Honors classes are available in language arts and mathematics. Along with options for independent study and internships, all high schools offer honorslevel and Advanced Placement courses; Urbana High offers International Baccalaureate courses. ★ Health Education The health curriculum provides factual, sequential, ageappropriate information to assist students in gaining knowledge and skills that will lead to lifelong healthy attitudes and behaviors. It includes family life and human development, HIV/AIDS and substance abuse prevention, mental health, nutrition, fitness/ exercise and wellness/safety concepts, all with an emphasis on healthy decision-making. Family life program topics include physical and emotional maturation, reproduction, physical and sexual abuse, sexually transmitted diseases and information on pregnancy prevention with emphasis on abstinence. A Family Life Advisory Committee, composed of parents and health education professionals, reviews and approves all curricular and instructional materials related to family life and HIV/AIDS education. Parental permission is required before a student takes the family life and HIV/AIDS prevention units. Substance Abuse Prevention education is provided to students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Age-appropriate, research-based curriculum is used. ★ Learning/Language Support The Learning/Language Support (LLS) Program provides specialized intervention for students with phonics-based reading difficulties in all elementary and middle schools. LLS teachers identify students in need and implement strategies for remediation. For more information, call an FCPS Language Arts curriculum specialist. ★ Online Resources School library media specialists provide students with log-in and password information for home access to free databases that have focused, reliable, age-appropriate and up-to-date information without advertising. Look for the Families & Students shortcut at www.fcps.org. Under Online Resources, select Research Library, where you’ll find links to: World Book, SIRS, Student Resource Center, Issues and Controversies, CultureGrams, World Almanac and more. Click on the YouSeeMore icon to search for resources in your school’s library media center. ★ Outdoor School Outdoor School is a part of the FCPS grades 5 and 6 science curriculum. At each of these grade levels, students participate in a 2-day, out-of-school study at points of interest in Frederick County. Geology is the focus for 5th grade, with water resources and interdependence of organisms in the environment for grade 6. For more information, call the Outdoor School facilitator. ★ Parent/Child Family Literacy This program fosters school readiness for young children. It provides a literacy program for families in need of Adult Basic Education or English Language Learner classes. Parents and their young children birth through age 8 participate in various program components: adult education, parenting, early childhood education and interactive literacy activities. Located at Hillcrest Elementary and Rock Creek School, the program offers classes 4 days per week for qualifying families served primarily by Hillcrest and Waverley elementary schools. For details: 240-236-8780. ★ Summer Programs High and middle schools offer summer remedial and credit courses for FCPS students. Regular summer school is offered to middle school students who need to repeat or review a core course taken during the school year. High school students can make up a failing grade, have an opportunity to improve a previously earned grade or take an additional course for credit. Information about courses, locations and fees is available in the spring from school principals. ★ FindOutFirst e-mail – sign up at www.fcps.org 31
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Calendar Handbook - Frederick County Public Schools

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