MCDONOUGH MIDDLE RISING 6 TH GRADE TRANSITIONAL PARENT

MCDONOUGH MIDDLE RISING 6 TH GRADE TRANSITIONAL PARENT MEETING A 5 TH GRADER’S GUIDE TO THE NEXT 3 YEARS 2021 -2022 WARHAWK PRIDE: WE R. I. S. E. RESPECT LEARNING, INTEGRITY& LEADERSHIP, SERVANT’S STRENGTH and ENGAGEMENT & CREATIVITY “POWERFUL LEARNING FOR PURPOSEFUL LIVING”

WARHAWK MISSION STATEMENT Mc. Donough Middle School is on an ambitious pursuit of becoming the fastest improving and highest achieving school in the metro-Atlanta region while prioritizing and being known for learner connectivity and belief in learner capability.

MCDONOUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL VISION MCDONOUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL EQUITABLY ADVANCES AN EXCEPTIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT PROVIDES POWERFUL LEARNING FOR PURPOSEFUL LIVING.

Arrival and Dismissal • Students can not be dropped off before 8: 15 A. M. • After 8: 50 A. M. Learners are considered tardy • Start of school day, students released to Advisory at 8: 55 • Students are late after 9: 00 • End of the school day 3: 55, announcement and bus dismissal • Car riders and walkers dismissed first Buses called by bus number - students must listen • ALL students MUST be picked up no later than 4: 05

MEET OUR STAFF MRS. LARITA WIGGINS, PRINCIPAL MRS. YVETTE CHRISTIAN, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL 6 TH GRADE MR. LAWRENCE GWYN, ASSISTANCE PRINCIPAL 8 TH GRADE MR. SHERRIAL CLARK, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 7 TH GRADE MRS. TEQUELA CRAWFORD, STUDENT SUPPORT FACILITATOR (SSF) MRS. KAREN LEWIS, INSTRUCTION &PERSONALIZED LEARNING LEAD (IPLL) MS. LENORA SAFFELL, SCIENCE INSTRUCTIONAL COACH

COUNSELING DEPARTMENT Ms. Lora Shelton, Counselor 6 th Grade Mrs. Lisa Leix, Counselor 7 th Grade Mr. Carne White, Counselor 8 th Grade Mrs. Ingrid Kimpson-Worrill, Counseling Secretary & Registrar Ms. Raquel Moss, Graduation Coach Mrs. Molly Wilson, School Social Worker Ms. Charice Coston, Media Specialist

Counseling Services • Solution-focused Counseling • Group Counseling College and Career Exploration Crisis • Intervention Mediation/Conflict Resolution Scheduling/Registration • Educational Advisement/Goal Setting Classroom Guidance • Community Resource Referrals

MEET OUR TEACHERS TEAM 6 A MS. RILEY, MS. SLOCUM, MR. SUMTER, MS. STROUD, MR. THOMPSON TEAM 6 B MS. BROWN, MS. MILLIGAN, MS. ROACHE, MS. SIMS, MS. WIMBERLY MR. HARRIS AND MS. RODGERS EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION TEACHERS MR. MUHAMMAD, MRS. FRYE, MRS. WALKER, MS. LLOYD, MR. FREEMAN, MRS. COUCH

• Academic Teams & Classes • Connection Classes • Extracurricular Activities (clubs, sports)

Terms and Semesters There are 4 Terms and 2 Semesters within an Academic School Year 1 st Semester ~ Term T 1 (08/04/21 - 10/8/21) Term T 2 (10/11/21 - 12/22/21) 2 nd Semester ~Term T 3 (01/10/22 - 03/18/22) Term T 4 (03/21/20 - 05/27/22) During the terms, there will be progress reports to share the student’s academic progress.

ACADEMIC TEAMS & CLASSES YOU WILL BE ASSIGNED TO ATEAM OF TEACHERS. ALL THE STUDENTS ON YOURTEAM WILL HAVE THE SAME TEACHERS AS YOU. THESE TEACHERS WILL ALL BE ON THE SAME HALLWAY TOGETHER, SO THERE WILL BE LESS OPPORTUNITY OF “GETTING LOST” BETWEEN ACADEMIC CLASSES.

Grades Parents can download the Infinite Campus (IC) App to keep track of student assignments and grades. Information on how to access IC will be sent home with students.

ACADEMIC TEAMS & CLASSES EACH TEACHER WILL TEACH YOU A DIFFERENT SUBJECT: ONE FOR LANGUAGE ARTS (INCLUDESREADING), ONE FOR MATHEMATICS, ONE FORSCIENCE AND ONE FORSOCIAL STUDIES LANGUAGE ARTS READING, GRAMMAR, WRITING, MATH NUMBER OPERATIONS, GEOMETRY, SOLVING EQUATIONS WITHALGEBRA SCIENCE EARTH SCIENCE: STUDY OF THE STARS AND PLANETS, THEEARTH, WEATHER, ROCKS AND FOSSILS SOCIAL STUDIES STUDY OF THE GEOGRAPHY AND CULTURES OF THEAMERICAS, ASIA, EUROPE, AND AFRICA

ACADEMIC TEAMS & CLASSES (CON’T) • THERE ARE TWO TEAMS ATMCDONOUGH MIDDLE • 6 A AND 6 B WHAT’S THE SAME ABOUT EACH TEAM … • ALL TEAMS OPERATE ON A “TRADITIONAL” SCHEDULE – 4 ACADEMIC CLASSES MONDAY- FRIDAY FOR 50 MINUTES EACH DAY. • STUDENTS WILL BE PLACED ON ONE OF THE TWO TEAMS BASED ON LEARNING STYLE AND ACADEMIC SELECTIONS’ AVAILABILITY.

CONNECTION CLASSES IN ADDITION TO YOUR 4 ACADEMIC CLASSES, YOU WILL ALSO HAVE 2 CONNECTIONS CLASSES. Ø CONNECTIONS CLASSES THAT LAST ALL YEAR LONG: BAND &CHORUS Ø SOME CONNECTIONS CLASSES LAST HALF A YEAR: MATH CONNECTIONS Ø SOME CONNECTION CLASSES LAST ONLY 9 WEEKS: ART, BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY (COMPUTERS), STEM/TECHNOLOGY, DRAMA, MUSIC TECHNOLOGY, SPANISH, HEALTH, FACS, *PHYSICAL EDUCATION *STUDENTS WHO DON’T HAVE YEAR-LONG CONNECTIONS MAYPE TAKE MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR

CONNECTION CLASSES (CON’T) • BAND • LEARN TO READ SHEET MUSIC • LEARN TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT • BRASS (TRUMPET, TUBA, TROMBONE) • WOODWIND (SAXOPHONE, ALTO SAXOPHONE, OBOE, FLUTE, PICCOLO) • PERCUSSION (DRUMS, CYMBALS, XYLOPHONE, TAMBOURINE) • PERFORM AT LEAST TWO CONCERTS DURING 6 TH GRADE YEAR; MORE IN TH 7& 8 TH GRADE • COST: WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE A BAND UNIFORM AND WILL MOST LIKELY NEED TO RENT OR PURCHASE AN INSTRUMENT • YEARLY FIELD TRIP OUT-OF-STATE (EXTRA CHARGE)

CONNECTION CLASSES (CON’T) • CHORUS • LEARN TO READ SHEET MUSIC • LEARN TO CONTROL YOUR VOICE TO SING IN A SELECTED RANGE • SOPRANO (HIGH) • ALTO (MEDIUM) • TENOR-BARITONE (MEDIUM-LOW) • PERFORM AT LEAST TWO CONCERTS DURING 6 TH GRADE YEAR; MORE IN 7 TH & 8 TH GRADE • COST: WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE A CHORUS UNIFORM • YEARLY FIELD TRIP OUT-OF-STATE (EXTRA CHARGE)

BAND & CHORUS Interested in Band or Chorus? Click on the link to learn how to join. Rising 6 th Grade Connection Selection Link https: //forms. gle/71 m. QCHueb. Yw 9 e. Mx 59

TWO MORE CLASSES … MONDAY - FRIDAY • EACH DAY BEGINS WITH ANADVISORY CLASS PERIODS. TUDENTS WILL ENGAGE IN READING AND CHARACTER-BUILDING LESSONS, ACADEMIC ADVISING, CLASS MEETINGS, AND COLLEGE/CAREER/LIFE READINESS LESSON • STUDENTS MAY ALSO BE ASSIGNED TO AN INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT CLASS (READ 180, MATH 180, SYSTEM 44)SOME STUDENTS WILL TAKE CLASSES FOR MATHEMATICS &READING ASSISTANCE, BUT THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO SELECT WHICH CLASS THEY WISH TO TAKE. SAMPLE CLASSES INCLUDE: NATIONAL HISTORY DAY, SCIENCE FAIR, AND MANY MORE!

STAY ORGANIZED FOR SUCCESS • RECORD ASSIGNMENTS IN YOUR AGENDA • EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE PAPER & PENCIL “HOMEWORK”, YOU WILL OFTEN HAVE ON-LINE ASSIGNMENTS YOU CAN WORK ON DAILY • KEEP YOUR NOTEBOOKS CLUTTER-FREE • KEEP YOUR LOCKER CLEAN!

THE “FUN STUFF”: SPORTS THERE ARE 3 “SEASONS” OF SPORTS … FALL FOOTBALL, CHEERLEADING, GIRLS SOFTBALL WINTER GIRLS &BOYS BASKETBALL, CHEERLEADING, WRESTLING SPRING GIRLS &BOYS TRACK, VOLLEYBALL

THE “FUN STUFF” : SPORTS (CON’T. ) • MUST BE IN 7 TH & 8 TH GRADE TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS • MUST BE ACADEMICALLY ELIGIBLE (MUST PASS YOUR CLASSES) • APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR AT SCHOOL IS EXPECTED. COACHES CHECK DISCIPLINE RECORDS AND TALK TO TEACHERS ABOUT CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR.

THE“FUN STUFF” : CLUBS & ACTIVITIES A VARIETY OF CLUBS & ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE BOTH DURING SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL • DURING SCHOOL “CLUB DAYS” – MONTHLYCLUB DAY WHERE STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN FUN, ENRICHING OPPORTUNITIES. MAY INCLUDE ATHLETIC CLUBS (FOOTBALL, SOFTBALL, BASKETBALL, DANCE, WALK & TALK), INTEREST CLUBS (ANIME, COOKING, TECHNOLOGY/LEGO, COMPUTERS), ARTS & CRAFTS • AFTER-SCHOOL & COMPETITIVE CLUBS –BETA, READING BOWL, PAGES BOOK CLUB, ACADEMIC BOWL, DANCE

MCDONOUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL STANDARD SCHOOL ATTIRE 2021 -2022

DISCIPLINE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY DISCIPLINE INFRACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES ARE DIFFERENT. STUDENTS AND PARENTS WILL BE PROVIDED ACCESS TO A LINK CONTAINING THE HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS STUDENT HANDBOOK. MCDONOUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL

IMPORTANT DATES AT MMS SUMMER LEARNING–JULY 12 TH-JULY 16 TH OPEN HOUSE –TBA FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL –AUGUST 04, 2021