F A DAY MIDDLE SCHOOL Rising 6 th

F. A. DAY MIDDLE SCHOOL Rising 6 th Grade & New Student Parent Orientation Night March 22, 2018 WELCOME TO DAY MIDDLE SCHOOL!

AGENDA Introductions and Welcome ● Articulation Process ● Organization of the School ● Questions & Answers ●

ARTICULATION PROCESS Week of Feb. 26 th ● Initial email/letter sent to 5 th grade parents ● Parent Orientation Meeting at Day - 7: 00 p. m. March 22 th ● Course Preference Forms due to 5 th grade teachers. March 29 rd ● Deadline for optional parent letters/emails to donna_fisher@newton. k 12. ma. us April 13 th ● o o o Months of May June 8 th Month of August 30 th Day Principal Jackie Mann visits 5 th grade classes on the following May dates. ● ● ● 5/1 – 9: 15 a. m. at Franklin 5/4 – 9: 00 a. m. at Cabot 5/15 – 9: 00 a. m. at Horace Mann 5/29 – 9: 00 a. m. at Burr 5/25 – 9: 00 a. m. at Peirce Step-Up Day when 5 th graders visit Day during school hours Team and Homeroom assignments are finalized and sent out New Student Ice Cream Social at Day from 5: 30 to 6: 30.

Middle School Skills…Habits of Mind Leading wit ● ● ● ● Persisting Remaining Open To Continuous Learning (Growth Mindset) Listening with Understanding and Empathy Thinking flexibly Managing Impulsivity Thinking about Thinking Creating, Imagining, Innovating Taking Responsible Risks Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind Edited by Arthur L. Costa (Costa and Kallick, ASCD) ● ● ● ● Striving for accuracy Questioning and Posing Problems Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision Gathering Data Through All Senses Finding Humor Thinking Independently

Social Emotional Learning/ School Culture ● ● ● ● Responsive Classrooms Stand Up Days Community Block Advisory Lessons Student and Faculty work on Race and Equity ADL Program Teen Speak Out 2019

Common Questions and Concerns The Association of Middle Level Education conducted research on the experiences of 5 th graders transitioning to middle school. Common threads: Basic Needs · Lockers · Lunch · Safety (getting lost, friendly students, rules) · Academic challenges · Bus of Middle Level Education conducted research on the exp

SCHOOL ORGANIZATION ● 5 primary feeder schools – – Burr, Cabot, Franklin, Horace Mann, Peirce (other public and private schools) ● About 319 incoming 6 th graders ● Approximately 978 students total ● Teams and Multi-Teams Day Dragons

TEAM ORGANIZATION Cobalt Indigo Navy Sky Phoenix Cardinal Fire Ruby Emerald Evergreen Sage Ivy ● ● ● Teams at each grade level 14 sixth-grade homerooms next year Approximately 90 students on each team Approximately 23 students per class Each team is connected to: – – – Two or Four Teacher Teams Student Service Personnel and Programming An Assistant Principal & a Counselor

TEAM PLACEMENTS ● Balanced Teams – Heterogeneous Groups ● ● Sources of Information ● ● ● Gender Feeder school Individual students’ services Elementary teachers Parents & IEP’s Announcements of Teams ● ● August – Summer Email NO CHANGES AFTER TEAMS ANNOUNCED

TEAM SUBJECTS ● ● ● LANGUAGE ARTS MATHEMATICS SCIENCE SOCIAL STUDIES COMMUNITY PERIOD TEAM EXTENSION

MULTI-TEAM CLASSES ● ● World Language (Chinese, French, Italian or Spanish) Rotation (Music, Art, Drama, Tech/Engineering) Physical Education and Health Exploratory Offerings

World Language Curriculum Ms. Mao- Chinese Teacher

Exploratory Offerings ● ● ● ● ● Chorus (Full-year course) Band (Full-year course) String Orchestra (Full-year course) The Daytime Newspaper (Full-year course) Art Beyond the Basics (1/2 year course) Acting for Stage and Screen (1/2 year course) Fitness for Life (1/2 year course) What’s All the “Racquet”? (1/2 year course) Go Team, Go! (1/2 year course) Engineering and Woodworking (1/2 year course)

Sample Student Schedule

GET CONNECTED! Day Athletics Fall Boys' Soccer September Girls' Soccer September Cross Country* September Football September Winter Boys' Basketball December Girls' Basketball December Spring Boys' Baseball March Girls' Softball March Boys' Lacrosse March Girls' Lacrosse March Track & Field* March

Day Drama ● Day traditionally has FOUR major stage productions a year: – – The 7 th and 8 th Grade Fall Play - October Cabaret - a variety show for all grades - November The 7 th and 8 th Grade Musical - March The 6 th Grade Musical - May

After School Athletics and Enrichment Clubs https: //www. newton. k 12. ma. us/day Program administrators: Andy Comings and Mark Murphy • Anime Club • Homework Center • Art Club • Jazz/Rock Band • Book Club • Lego Robotics Club • Clay Club • Math Team • Daytime • Morning Basketball • Fitness Club • Ping Pong Club • Floor Hockey Club • 6 th Grade Flag Football Club • Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) • Snow Sports Club • Graphic Design Club • Girls Who Code • Green Club • Good Morning To. Day • Helping Hands Volunteer Club • S. A. D. D. • Lego Robotics Club • Homework Center • Math Team • Jazz/Rock Band • Hip Hop Club • And More!

STUDENT SERVICES Special Education Services and Programs and Guidance Counselors Mike Thurm Assistant Principal for Student Services

We Want to Hear From You! ● Please do not ever hesitate to be in touch with ideas, concerns or questions. If you’re not sure who to email or call, simply call the main office and we will point you in the right direction. We are partners in your child’s education.

Supporting Students at Day ● ● How do you access support for your child at Day? Literacy supports Team Extensions- Team Teachers Guidance Counselors Student Intervention Team

Advice to Families ● ● ● ● Explore Day’s Website Post Days-of-the-Cycle Calendar on Fridge Preview Day’s Survival Guide Attend Ice Cream Social with a Buddy Downplay Team Placement Establish Your Family’s Social Media Guidelines Now – Set Limits, Monitor, Question When in Doubt, Call. We are Partners!

Day School Council Event Stay Tuned…. May parent panel discussion on “Parent Survival Guide to Middle School” ◆ ◆ How to support your child through middle school transitions. Balancing support and independence. How to access help at middle school. Social media and peer interactions To name just a few topics. . .

Smart Phone/Social Media Guidance Now is the time to establish social media rules: ● ● ● ● Phones off and away Non-smart phone- safety and communication Emphasize safety over privacy. It is your technology. Your child borrows it. Set time limits. Charge technology in common area at night. Use Family Settings and Parental Controls. Become digitally literate. If your child uses it, you need to use it.

“Screenagers” ● ● ● Horace Mann PTO is sponsoring a viewing of the Screenagers, a 68 minute film that addresses the “challenges of parenting and growing up in a digital age”. March 28 th at Newton North High School Pre-Registration is required.

SUMMER MAILING and EMAIL ● ● ● Team Placement and Homeroom List of School Supplies- Summer Bus Schedule with stops Information on School Lunch Program Check out our website: www. newton. k 12. ma. us/day

Connections and Communications at Day ● ● ● ● Guidance Counselors Teams Administrative Team Student Services Weekly Newsletters Twitter: @JMann. NPS Get Involved – Day PTO: Andrea Steenstrup

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