Welcome to the 5th Grade Parent Orientation - Patton Middle School

Welcome to the5th Grade Parent Orientation Charles F. Patton Middle SchoolApril 24, 2013

Introductions • Tim Hoffman - MS Principal • Jim Fulginiti- MS Assistant Principal • Jackie Battinieri – 6 th Grade Counselor • Sally Palic - School Nurse • John Nolen– Elementary/Secondary Directorof Curriculum and Instruction • Tom Grawe – 6 th Grade Teacher • Chris Bunting – 6 th Grade Teacher

PTO Spring Carnival – Friday, May 3 rd 2013 - PTO fundraiser - (2:30-7:00) PTO Co-Presidents – Alicia Duncan – Karen Ammon

News from the Nurse• 6th grade physicals - all students includingstudents new to Pennsylvania • Immunizations/Dental/Physical - allstudents new to PA • Immunizations only – all students from PAthat are new to the school district• Medications – school and field trips

Middle School Schedule• We operate on a six day schedule; Athrough F • Basic Instruction at the end of the dayoperates on a Monday – Friday schedule • Each day students will have five (5) coresubjects and two (2) special area subjects

6th Grade Course of Study • All CORE classes 6/6 days (A through F) • Math - - 6/6 days -(5th grade testing) • Social Studies - 6/6 days • English (Core/ Extended Core) - 6/6 days • Science - 6/6 days • Literacy- 6/6 days • AT Literacy – 4/6 Literacy / 2/6 AT class

Special Areas Classes * Technology Education - 4/6 days - 1 marking period • Computers - 4/6 days - 1 marking period • Drama - 4/6 days - 1 marking period • Language Exploratory - 4/6 days - 1/3 year (Pass/fail) • Art - 4/6 days - 1/3 year • Music - 4/6 days - 1/3 year

Basic Instruction Period From 1:35 - 2:18 PM each day we have Basic Instruction. BasicInstruction is based on a Monday through Friday schedule.• Monday – Prime Time Activities and Olweus• Tuesday - team study halls, peer tutoring, 7th/8th grade chorus, 6th gradeband• Wednesday - team study halls, peer tutoring, 6th grade chorus, 7th/8thgrade band• Thursday - team study halls, peer tutoring, special chorus, instrumentalensemble• Friday – Clubs, such as; student council, jazz band, orchestra, show bizdancers, TV studio, yearbook, art, math help, school spirit, etc. Studentsnot involved in a club are assigned to intramurals.

Math Placements Placements – Based on tests given in 5th grade, final grade, andteacher recommendations English Placements – Core – Extended Core

Middle School Math Changes April 2013

Pennsylvania Common Core • Forty five states have adopted the CommonCore State Standards in Math and LanguageArts, including Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania has developed the PACommon Core • It is a rigorous set of comprehensivestandards • Our state test will be based on thesestandards in the 2014-2015 school year

Pennsylvania Common Core • PA Common Core Math Standards – Raise the bar for all students – Requires strong procedural skills and an indepth understanding of concepts – Students will be challenged to apply their skillsand persevere in the solving of difficultproblems – The eight mathematical practices will be key tostudents moving to deeper levels of knowledge

Recommendation Middle School Math Teachersrecommended Math in Focus (SingaporeMath) School Board approved therecommendation at the April meeting

Math in Focus (Singapore Math) • Singapore Math – Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study(TIMSS) Singapore students rated # 1 in 4 th and # 2 in8 th grade in the 2011 results of this international testingprogram. (USA # 11, 4 th grade, #9 in 8 th grade) – Singapore students have achieved in the top 3 in bothgrade levels every year that TIMSS has beenadministered. • Foundational to the development of the CommonCore standards

TransitionImplement the 6 th grade component in 2013-2014 Three levels A. Pre-algebra B. Extended Core (For most students-leads toAlgebra in 8 th grade) C. Core Math » Common Core aligned-extremelychallenging • Assess 5 th graders in May – Modified the assessment to reflect the new state standards

Summary Math in Focus (Singapore Math) – To be implemented in 6 th grade in 2013-2014,and 7 th -8 th in 2014-2015. – To be implemented K-5 in the 2013-2014school year. – Several days of training for teachers. – There will be a parent night for Middle Schoolparents early next school year to provide moreinformation about the program.

Testing Dates for Math • Week of May 6 – 5 th grade students will takethe 5 th grade math placement test.

Testing continued…• May 15 @ 4:00pm – Students that received a95% or above on the 5 th grade mathplacement test, and are interested inqualifying for Algebra I, will take an Algebra1 placement test at the Middle School. • May 22 @ 4:00pm – Students that received80% or above on the Algebra 1 placementtest can take the Iowa Algebra Test at theMiddle School.

Testing continued…• Before the end of May, the Middle School willbe notifying you of your child’s mathassignment for the 2013-2014 school year. • YOU MUST CONTACT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL NOLATER THAN JUNE 7 TH IF YOU HAVE ANYQUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THISPLACEMENT

Questions Please visit room # 105 during your visittonight for more information regarding theMath in Focus program or Math placementtests.

Core vs. Extended CoreEnglish• Open enrollment for Core and Extended Core • Curriculum will not be accelerated to allowstudents to move between levels from one yearto the next • The core content remains the same in bothcourses

English Core• The 6 th grade English Core Course is designedto provide students a solid and challengingprogram of Literature, Writing, Research, OralCommunication, Grammar and Vocabulary.Students are expected to read core novels andliterature with the class, participate in classdiscussions and respond to class topics bothorally and in written form.

English Extended Core • The 6 th grade Extended Core Course providesadvanced students the opportunity for a deeperexamination of concepts in Literature, Writing,Research, Oral Communication, Grammar, andVocabulary. Students at this level should possesa strong work ethic, strong reading and writingskills, willingness to read and workindependently, and be motivated and interestedin English.

Extended Core EnglishPrerequisite Guide• An A in 5 th grade Language Arts (3 out of 4MPS) • An A in 5 th grade Writing (3 out of 4 MPS) • Advanced in 4 th grade PSSA Reading • 5 th grade GRADE score of 7 or above on thefollowing sub-tests – Sentence Comprehension – Passage Comprehension – Vocabulary

General Information1. We operate on a six day schedule; A through F day.2. Each day students have five (5) core periods and two (2) special areaperiods. All students are assigned their Core classes within their teamand their special area classes across the grade level.3. All sixth graders will eat lunch at 10:50 am. They will begin the yeareating with their teams and move to an open seating format once theyunderstand and become accustomed to the expectations of thelunchroom. Students who struggle to meet the behavioralexpectations of the cafeteria may be assigned seats.4. Every other Monday morning during Basic Instruction the students willparticipate in Olweus Bullying Program activities and discussions.

General Information 5. Every morning students begin their day in their Prime Time. This is asmall group of 12 to 15 students with one teacher. Hawk TV will bedone at that time.6. Instrumental lessons are scheduled as a pull out which rotates throughthe day. All group lessons in both band and chorus are during BasicInstruction periods. Band and orchestra sectionals occur as pull-outsduring special areas classes.7. Gifted students will be clustered in an AT Literacy class (4/6) andpulled 2 days per cycle to work in the gifted support classroom.

General Information8. Learning support students are assigned support classes based upon therecommendations within their IEP. Transition meetings are currently takingplace in the elementary schools.9. We use the Point of Sale system in the cafeteria that uses the same ID numberused in the elementary schools.10. Parent access to grades on SAM (Student Access Manager)11. First Day Schedule - What to expect? Students begin arriving at 7:00 AM All 6th graders in the small cafeteria until 7:25 AM Extended prime Time, team meeting, grade level meeting all school meeting Bus departure by Basic Instruction with teacher

Team PlacementEach student received a request forplacement from their Elementary Schoolasking them to list 4 friends they would liketo be with in 6th grade. They were due onApril 19. We have extra copies availablethis evening if you need.

Team PlacementStudents will be placed on 6 th grade teams based upon the followingcriteria:1. Friends list2. Math class assigned3. English class4. Learning Support5. GiftedStudents will be notified of their team in August.All team placements are final, unless they have not been placed with atleast one friend from their list.Special areas classes are not teamed and Open Seating at lunch.

Team Placement• Learning support and gifted students arespread out evenly among all three Teams • Math and English courses will be on allthree Teams • Common Assessments are given on all threeteams in the core subjects

Academic Teams2012-2013A Team - will have 4 Core teachers Team leader – Mr. Eshleman B Team - will have 4 Core teachers Team leader – Mrs. Jennings C Team - will have 5 Core teachers Team leader – Mr. Grawe

Student Activities • Math Counts • Knowledge Bowl • 6th grade mixers after school • PTO after school languages • Geography & Spelling Bees • Science Fair • Forensics

Safety• Drills • Check-in Procedures • Select Secondary Policies Dress Code Discipline Attendance Approved Travel Riding Another Bus Home

Communications • Phone system - voice mail • E-mail (name@ucfsd.net) • Web site - www.cfpms.ucfsd.org • PTO Newsletter • Patton news - list serve • Parent/Student Access (SAM) • Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Blog)

Summer and Transition Camp • Summer Hours 7:30-3:30 (Mon. - Thur.) • Transition Camp - August 15, 2013 (9:00 AM – 1:30 PM)Check-in starting at 8:30 Cost $25.00 - Lunch will be served