Davis Drive Middle School Open House Overview Important

Davis Drive Middle School Open House

Overview • • • Important People Teams & Course Information Daily Schedule Lockers & Agendas Sports & Clubs Dress Code Homework Communication Tools The First Day/School Supplies Medical/Health Important Upcoming Dates

Davis Drive Middle School Mission Statement Members of the Davis Drive Middle School community will equip students with the problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to be globally successful in the 21 st century.

Some Good People to Know at DDMS • • Principal: Mrs. Karen Summers 6 th Grade Assistant Principal: Mr. Dave Gaudet 6 th Grade Counselor: Mrs. Helen Everitt School Resource Officer: Officer Cherry

6 th Grade Teams • Students will be assigned to a team for 6 th grade. • The team is a group of teachers that teaches the same group of students for Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science. • New team names are coming.

Core Course Placement • WCPSS middle schools do not have AIG pull-out classes. • A student identified as AIG in reading will receive differentiated instruction within their language arts class.

Core Course Placement Math Course Placement Criteria Math 6 Plus EVAAS projection of less than 70% EVAAS projection is greater than or equal to 70% -AND- High Level 3 on most recent EOG Compacted Math 6 Plus/ 7 Plus EVAAS projection is equal to or greater than 97% -AND- Level 4 on most recent EOG Math 7 Plus Successful completion of the Math 6 th grade Plus curriculum in 5 EVAAS Projection – probability of scoring Level 3 in CC Math I in 8 th Grade http: //wake-ms-math. weebly. com

Core Course Placement • Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) is an accelerative practice that allows students to show mastery of course content without having taken the course. • Information Sessions – Monday, May 5 th at 5: 30 pm (Davis Drive Elementary) – Wednesday, May 7 th at 5: 30 pm (Lufkin Road Middle) • http: //wakeacceleration. weebly. com

Middle School Courses • • • Language Arts Math Social Studies Science Health/PE Elective – 1 year-long elective -OR– 2 semester electives

6 th Grade Elective Classes Year-long Electives: Students who take a year-long elective will take keyboarding on an A/B schedule (space permitting) *Beginning Strings *Intermediate Strings *Beginning Band *Curriculum Assistance (only taken by students who have this indicated in their current IEP)

6 th Grade Elective Classes Semester Electives: • Students will take one semester of Computer Skills & Applications I (space permitting) and one semester of an elective listed below: – Introduction to Dance (A or B) – Beginning Spanish – Technology Design & Innovation – Visual Arts Exploratory – FACS – Family Focus

Healthful Living • All students will take Healthful Living. • Students will rotate through Healthful Living on a two-week basis. • Students must change out of their school clothes into a required PE Uniform (DDMS PE Grey t -shirt, DDMS PE Navy shorts, athletic shoes, and socks)

Healthful Living • PE Shirts - $10; PE Shorts - $10; Bag - $5 • Online Order forms are available in the Gym Lobby with the Healthful Living teachers. • It is highly recommended that you order online in advance, as prices can change and sizes may not be available at the beginning of the year. • Locks should be purchased on their own; locks will be removed from lockers in the locker room daily.

Daily Schedule • This is an example of a daily schedule (it may be slightly different next year): 1 st Period – 8: 15 - 9: 13 SMART Block – 9: 17 - 9: 47 2 nd Period – 9: 51 - 10: 49 3 rd Period & Lunch – 10: 53 - 12: 24 4 th Period – 12: 28 - 1: 26 5 th Period – 1: 30 - 2: 13 (Elective) 6 th Period – 2: 17 - 3: 00 (Elective)

SMART Block • 30 minute period in the school day • Provides students with – Additional instructional support in core/elective classes – Assessment preparation & make-ups – Silent reading – Study hall – Enrichment activities • Students can choose where they want to go for SMART Block, unless a teacher has requested them.

Promotion Requirements • Students must pass: – Language Arts – Math – either Social Studies or Science – half of the remaining courses (Electives & Health/PE)

Lockers • 6 th Graders will have a locker and will need to purchase a lock from the school for $5. 00. Students will be able to use their lock for their 3 middle school years. • Students will also need a lock for their PE locker. This lock must be removed daily. Many students have purchased locks over the summer and practiced using them.

Davis Drive Middle Agenda • Available for purchase at Panther Pride Camp • $5. 00 • This is a great tool for keeping up with homework and other school/personal events. • Can also serve as a great communication tool between school and home.

Schedule & Transportation • Bus information will be mailed to you shortly before school starts. • You will have a chance to meet your teachers and run through your schedule during our Panther Pride Camp will be August 20 th, 2014. Detailed information will be posted on our website this summer.

Sports Per Wake County policy, 6 th Graders cannot play on team sports. They can get involved by acting as a team manager and coming out to support the teams! Fall Sports: Football Cheerleading Volleyball Girl’s Soccer Winter Sports: Basketball Cheerleading Spring Sports: Boys’ Baseball Girls’ Softball Track Boy’s Soccer

Clubs at Davis Drive Middle (these clubs are subject to change) • • • Student Council Math Counts Scrabble Club Chess Club Science Club Odyssey of the Mind Photography Club Battle of the Books Debate Club Eco-Warriors Electric Car Club Geography Bee Model Rocketry Newspaper National Junior Honor Society • Spanish Club • Spelling Bee • • •

Dress Code • Appropriate dress is necessary in order to promote an effective learning environment. • Students are not permitted to wear – Pajama pants, shorts/skirts – Exposing or see-through tops (Midriff, spaghetti strap, strapless, one-strap, tank tops, or transparent tops) – Excessively tight or revealing clothing – Slippers/bedroom shoes • Shoes must be worn at all times.

Homework • Students should expect between 1 -2 hours of homework nightly, including study time. • Agendas are very helpful with keeping track of homework assignments and when longer term projects are due.

Communication Tools • School Website http: //davisdrivems. wcpss. net • Follow us on Twitter @DDMSBuzz • Parent Portal – Forms will be available at Panther Pride Camp • Team & Teacher Websites

Parent Portal

Parent Portal

Team & Teacher Websites Team and teacher websites are often helpful for keeping track of assignments and due dates. These websites do not replace student’s agenda use.

Team & Teacher Websites 6 th Grade Information

Team & Teacher Websites Links to Team Blackboard Sites.

Team & Teacher Websites Class Information, Homework, Teacher Information, Etc. Teacher/Team Announcements, Reminders, etc.

The First Day & School Supplies Your teachers will do a fantastic job of showing you around DDMS on the first day of school. Supply lists will be posted over the summer on the DDMS website. Your teachers may have a few specific supplies they would like you to buy.

Calculators • 6 th graders need to have consistent and regular access to a calculator. • TI-84 graphing calculator is recommended • Can check one out from the media center if unable to secure on own

Tdap Requirement • North Carolina Law states that students entering 6 th grade need a booster dose of the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine if 5 years or more have passed since their last dose. • Please provide elementary school with documentation if your child receives the booster before June 12, 2014. • After June 13 th, please drop off the documentation to our front office.

Important Upcoming Events & Dates • Coffee with Administration – Wednesday, May 14 th at 10: 00 am – Rising 6 th Grade Parent Q & A • Panther Pride Camp – Rising 6 th graders come on campus, pick up their schedules, meet their teachers – August 20 th, 2014 • 8: 30 am – Last Name “A” to “L” • 10: 30 am – Last Name “M” to “Z”

Panther Summer Camp • Weekly day-camp throughout the summer • Available to rising 6 th – 8 th Grade DDMS students! • Includes fun events & daily field trips – Swimming, movie theater, bowling, outdoor/indoor games, community service projects, etc… – Frankie’s Fun Park, Zoo, Jelly Beans, Museums, Durham Bulls, etc… • Information & registration forms are on the DDMS website under “Panther Summer Camp” and in Gym lobby. • Limited Space Available. Register ASAP to reserve a space.

Thank you! • Dave Gaudet, 6 th grade Assistant Principal DGaudet@wcpss. net • Helen Everitt, 6 th grade Counselor HEveritt@wcpss. net

Questions