Lost Mountain Middle school 101 Valerie Wombles Tracy

Lost Mountain Middle school 101 Valerie Wombles Tracy Fields Alicia Hayworth Linda Guillory

Middle School 101 • Tracy Fields – 6 th Grade Counselor and 7 th grade for Last name A-L • Valerie Wombles- 8 th Grade Counselor 7 th grade Last name M-Z • Alicia Hayworth – School Social Worker

Middle school 101 ØDuring the Middle School Years – the kids grow the most physically than any other time in their life ØMiddle School is a time to learn how to study, manage your time, get organized and mature. ØIt is a time to make mistakes and learn from them. ØAt this age it is important to encourage the effort and hard work that your student puts forth and not necessarily the end result (grades)

LMMS Schedule – HR 8: 50 -9: 15 – 1 st Period 9: 15 -10: 07 – 2 nd Period 10: 11 -11: 02 – 3 rd Period 11: 06 -12: 28 – Lunch – 4 th Period 12. 32 -1: 23 – 5 th Period 1: 27 -2: 20 – 6 th Period 2: 24 -3: 18 – 7 th Period 3: 22 -4: 15

Teacher Blogs and Edmodo Check out teacher blogs to see the agenda for the day, HW and upcoming tests/projects. Edmodo is also used by many teachers at LMMS as a way to communicate information and assignments to students and parents. Students should make sure they register and check Edmodo nightly for updates. Edmodo has an app for that!

Need Help with Technology? – All students in Cobb County have access to Office 365 Suite and can be downloaded on up to 4 devices at home – Linda Gillory- STEM/ Technology – Will be here before Open house from 4: 30 -5: 45 – Wendy Sultenfuss- Media Specialist Ø Cobb County website Ø Parents Ø Office 365 Support Info on: -Office 365 -Teams -Forms -Excel -Minecraft -Power. Point -Skype -One. Note -Class. Notebook -Outlook -Word - And more!

Georgia compulsory attendance law – Any child between the ages of 6 -16 must be enrolled and attending a public, private, or homeschool.

Tardy Policy Ø Students are expected to be in homeroom at 9: 10 a. m. If a student is not, he/she must sign in tardy at the front office. Ø In order for a tardy to be excused, the student must have a note or a parent signature stating the reason for the tardy. (Excused tardies are coded the same as excused absences). Ø Consequences: Ø When a student accumulates more than 5 unexcused tardies in a semester he/she will be assigned 1 day of ISS. Ø When a student accumulates 10 unexcused tardies in a semester he/she will be assigned 2 days of ISS.

What is considered an excused absence? – Personal illness or when attendance can endanger student’s health or the health of others – Serious illness or death of an immediate family member – Observance of a recognized religious holiday – Mandated order by government agency

What do I do when I come back to school? Once you return to school, you have 3 days to turn in an excuse for your absence. The note should be tuned in to Mrs. Miller in the front office. Please include your child’s name and the dates of his/her absence. **Please check Synergy to see if the note has been turned in. Once 3 days has passed, we cannot go back and change an unexcused absence to an excused absence. **

Unexcused Absences What is considered an unexcused absence: – Family Vacations and Trips – Family Reunions and Weddings – Sports Events and Activities Cobb County Policy: 3 Unexcused Absences- Teacher contacts parent 5 Unexcused Absences- Principal contacts parent 7 Unexcused Absences- Social Work referral is made

Grading Policies Ø We are on the quarter system (4) Ø All Teachers Grade Differently Ø Please look at your students Syllabus distributed at the beginning of the school year, for grading procedures by class. Ø Regularly check synergy, parent view, Edmodo, and teacher blogs.

Eagle Block – Twice a week five minutes will be taken from each class period and Eagle Block will happen after 3 rd period. – Weekly there will be a posting of all the Eagle Block Sessions – IF a teacher stamps a student’s agenda they must attend their Eagle Block session that week (make up a test, retake a test, study session etc. ) – Students who do not get a stamp can choose a session to go to for a Brain Break. Examples: Board Games, Puzzles, Art, Knitting, Minecraft, basketball, kickball, etc.

Math and Reading Writing Labs – Will start in a few weeks – Before school beginning at 8: 15 – Math Lab will be on Tuesday and Thursday mornings – Reading / Writing Labs on Wednesdays – No sign up – just show up – Students work with their grade level teacher that teaches that designated subject

String bags and book bags Ø Safety issue Ø No room for them in classrooms Ø Discourages students from being organized Ø Can bring them to and from school but can’t bring them to the classroom. They must remain in their locker. Ø They really don’t have to carry around a book for every class

Lockers 6 th Grade Locker Breaks Who goes? When? ALL TOP BOTTO M ALL Before HR After 1 st After 2 nd 7 th Grade Locker Breaks After 3 rd After 4 th After 5 th Q 1&Q 3: 2: 15 -2: 18 Bottom -2: 18 Top 2: 18 – 2: 21 Top 2: 21 Bottom Q 2&Q 4 2: 15 2: 18 – Who? When? What do I get? Bottom Lockers Before Homeroom Connections and 3 rd Materials Top Lockers Before Homeroom Connections, 3 rd, & 4 th Materials Bottom Lockers After 3 rd 4 th, 5 th, & 6 th Materials Top Lockers After 4 th 5 th & 6 th Materials ALL Lockers After 6 th 7 th & Dismissal Materials *No lockers after 7 th!

8 th Grade Lockers – 8 th Graders are allowed to go to their lockers on their own between classes but they must not be tardy for class – There is no set schedule for 8 th grade locker breaks at this time but students will not be allowed to go to their locker at dismissal. They will also need to get their connections materials before they go to 3 rd period. – 8 th Graders go to their last locker break for the day after 6 th period and are allowed to take their book bags to 7 th period

Dress code – the basics Ø No exposed holes above the knee Ø Straps must be 2 inches thick Ø Leggings, spandex, tight athletic wear, joggers, or shorts, tops must reach fingertip length in the front sides and back. This includes slits Ø Sheer shirts must have a tank under them with 2 inch straps Ø Necklines are not to be low enough to be revealing Ø Tops cannot show skin ØPE Shorts can be ordered from the school website

Buses Ø Safety is the priority! Ø Riding the bus is a privilege. Ø Students should conduct themselves in a manner that enables the driver to focus on driving safely. Ø Poor behavior on the bus can lead to removal from the bus and additional consequences in school.

Electronic Devices/Cell Phones ØAll Personal electronic devices (cell phones, tablets, i. Pods, PSP’s, Smart watches, audio ear pieces, headphones etc. ) must e turned off, including the notification setting, upon arrival at school. Ø Beginning at 8: 50 all personal devices must remain in the student’s locker until the end of the school day. If the teacher allows BYOD for a specific class period, the student will be notified the previous day. Students will be required to immediately put their personal device back in the locker before the end of the class period.

Electronic Devices/Cell Phones – Any devices seen or heard any time without permission – 1 st time- Student will receive a warning and parent phone call – 2 nd time- student will be written up for and office referral (ISS) – Students cannot be on their device until they are at the bus port or in the car rider line at the end of the day (not walking toward the bus port or to car rider dismissal – Personal electronic devices are not permitted during early morning supervision (Study Hall)

Parents and students need to know ØHorseplay will result in an office referral and 2 days in ISS ØHorseplay includes pushing, kneeing, and just not being able to keep your hands to yourself ØMany times kids horseplay with their good friends and “don’t mean to”

Contacting teachers ØEmail is the best way to contact them ØAllow for 24 hour reply Ø Shorter emails will probably be replied to sooner ØIf you don’t hear back in 2 days try again and/or contact grade level counselor Ø Some emails get lost in our SPAM filter Ø Our mailbox won’t send emails when mailbox is full AND it doesn’t notify you it is not sending your replies

Parent tips Ø Monitor your child’s social media use Ø Don’t text your child while they are at school Ø Encourage Agenda use Ø Check Teacher Blogs so you know what your kids are studying in class (can help with conversation starters) Ø Check the Eagle Card in their Agenda Ø Parent Resources available on Counseling website

Parent tips ØCheck your child’s Eagle Card in their agenda periodically. ØThis is a great way for you to track where your child goes during the school day ØThe Agenda also has a section for Emergency Passes. These are to be used when a student needs to go to their locker or leave the room for other reasons after instruction has started.

Parent tips Ø If you have concerns regarding homework or classwork, please reach out to the teacher first (allow 24 hr for response) Ø Get plugged in – Ø PTSA email blast Ø Counselor text alerts Ø Volunteer Ø Coffee Talk Ø Get your child plugged in Ø School Clubs- list on website Ø Youth Groups Ø Sports

Parent tips Ø Try and keep a daily routine as much as you can Ø Sundays are a good time to go over the weekly events, tests, projects etc. Ø Make sure your child has a consistent spot to study and complete homework at home Ø Have a basket on the table or counter that holds papers for parent signature, items parent needs to look at Ø Teach time management by giving them tips for using their agenda, use sticky notes, to do lists, dry erase board etc.

Parent tips Ø Middle School is a great time to teach your child “how to study” Ø Note Cards Ø Quizlet Ø Re-Copy Notes Ø Go over Study Guide Ø Photo copy notes or study guide and block out key words with sharpie and have student guess the word Ø Photo Math App Ø Studying a little each day- no cramming

Extra help for your student ØMany teachers have before school study sessions for an upcoming test – check their blog Ø Contact your child’s teacher if they are struggling – many teachers offer to meet with your child before school to help them – Morning Labs- Lookout for an email blast and check the website for information ØComing in September: Math Lab- Tuesday and Thursday morning 8: 15 Reading/Writing Lab is- Wednesday mornings at 8: 15

Synergy is a web-based program that allows both parents and students access to the following: o Grades o Attendance o Schedule This program also has a mobile app that will allow you to check progress while “on the go”. If parents do NOT have an access code, please stop by the main office during regular school hours & be prepared to show ID.

Get Connected Sign up for PTSA EBlast Parents can sign up for e. Blast communication through the PTSA link on the Lost Mountain website. e. Blast is used for the following: v Quick communication to parents v Share upcoming events v Notification by PTSA v Much more

LMMS Foundation We are excited to introduce the Lost Mountain Middle School Foundation. Please visit our web site at www. lmmsfoundation. com and see how you can be a part of “Empowering Students to Soar”. .

Join us for Parent Sessions on “Hot Topics” Through a joint effort of the counseling staff and PTSA. . . Hot Topics parent sessions can help you navigate the middle school and teen years. – August 20 at 6: 00 pm at Harrison “Dangers of Youth Vaping” – October 9 at 6: 00 pm at LMMS “Risky Behaviors of Teens” – November 6 at 9: 30 am at LMMS Topic “TBD” Complete the Yellow Counselor Needs Assessment that went home in the Cobb County Folders to list any Hot Topic Ideals Follow the PTSA emails for dates and details.

Don’t Forget Ø Order your student’s yearbook on the school website Ø Coffee talk with the principal, first Friday of every month *First one September 6 th Ø Safe Schools Alert App – link on website Ø School district code 320 Ø How does your student see the counselor? Ø Counselor appointment form located on website

Don’t Forget Lost Mountain Open House (for Parents Only) Ø 7 th and 8 th Grade August 13 at 6: 00 PM Ø 6 th Grade August 15 at 6: 00 PM Ø Parents will walk their child’s schedule and hear from their teachers about each class

Visit the LMMS website to learn what is going on at the school and to access important information.