MIDDLE SCHOOL 101 Tips for a positive transition

MIDDLE SCHOOL 101 Tips for a positive transition to J. Michael Lunsford Middle School

What are middle schoolers most concerned with? Friends --- Self-Image --- School--Activities

We Are a Team! In middle school, the students’ lockers and most core courses are in a “House. ” The Dean, Counselor and Secretary work together to keep the House in order. ü Assistant Principals/Deans: Help keep students safe and remind students to follow the rules. They will also work with teachers on instruction and curriculum. ü Counselors: Help students in three main ways: individually, small groups, and classroom lessons. Classroom lessons include bully prevention, academic planning and career exploration. ü Secretaries: Handle attendance, bus passes, early dismissals and general housekeeping duties.

Middle School Teaming – 6 th Grade- Panda, Tiger, Snow Leopard, Rhino – 7 th Grade – Anaconda, Jaguar, Toucan, Llama – 8 th Grade – Penguin, Elephant, Zebra, Hippo Why do we team? – Meet the needs of all kids and build positive relationships – Establish common expectations and procedures – Collaborative planning for common assessments/assignments – Teacher availability during your child’s Resource

Example Student Schedule

Parent/Teacher Ø HOW? May be requested by a parent, teacher, dean, counselor or Conferences student Ø WHO? Usually will include all core teachers, parents, counselor, dean, and sometimes the student. Ø WHAT? A good time to communicate about academic successes and concerns, work habits, classroom procedures, and behavior Ø WHY? An opportunity for you to ask questions AND provide essential feedback to teachers about your child. v Assume positive intentions: we ALL want what is best for your child, working together to make that happen is the easiest way to get there!

Parent Basics-Academic Support ü Establish homework routine: check agenda, check websites, provide quiet place-there is always homework! ü Check Phoenix parent portal- instructions are forthcoming ü Expect success! At JML we operate with systems to ensure success. ü Communicate directly with teachers: if you have questions/concerns about a class, just ask the teacher! Email or phone is fine. Encourage your child to reach out directly to their teachers as well! ü Work with us- if you reach out with a problem, we will work together to resolve it, we ALL have your child’s best interest at heart-ASSUME GOOD INTENTIONS ü Stay informed of what’s happening at JML: Like us on Facebook: J. Michael Lunsford Official, follow us on Twitter @ JML MS Principal ü Naviance Student: Each student will have an account

Parent Basics. Social/Emotional – Remember that they are little kids in big bodies. They need boundaries, love and patience. – Always listen first, talk later. – Get to know their friends AND their friends’ parents! – Always call to see if the other parent is home. – Limit technology. – It’s ok to be the bad guy or the ‘uncool’ parent. – Reach out to your counselor-Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help, most of us have been doing this a long time, we have probably helped a family through it before They are very quickly moving from this to this

Understand their • In Technology order to protect and guide your child, learn as much as you can about their technology. • Be aware of Cyber Bullying and how it can effect your child. • Do you know what your kids are doing on Snap Chat, Instagram (Finstagram), & You. Tube • Link all devices to monitor texts and activity (bark)

Bullying in Middle School: ØBullying is the repeated use of one’s strength or status for the purpose of intimidating or injuring another person. ØA conflict between equals is not bullying. There must be an imbalance of power* • • JML Anti-Bullying efforts 6 th-Bullying basics: what is it, how to help stop it, what to do if it happens. JML Movie Project. 7 th-Sexual Harassment 8 th- Cyber/online bullying All students: PBIS, Lion’s Den, Bullying reporting form, Sources of Strength *Month of October = Bullying Prevention Month!* Weekly PSA’s Lessons through Lions Den October 16 th- Same Sky Project October -Grade level specific bullying presentations

Career & College Readiness! 6 th Graders will: -Participate in “STEAM Day” on Friday, March 13 th - Identify Academic SMART Goals - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based 7 th Graders will: -In partnership with Family and Consumer Science, each student will go through an intensive three-part college and career readiness curriculum -Career Cluster Investigation -Career Cluster survey/Road Trip Nation -Six Year Academic Plan -Day at Work Friday, April 24 th 8 th Graders will: -Take a college survey through Naviance Student, selecting specific parameters to find their match - Identify a Career SMART Goal -Visit James Madison University on November 13 th, 22 nd -Meet with high school counselors to make effective course selections for 9 th grade

JML’s 2018 -2019 Clubs • • • • • 7 th Grade Basketball Art Athletics Battle of the Books Chess Coding Continental Math League Destination Imagination Drama Dungeons & Dragons Equestrian Excellent Options Fellowship of Christian Athletes Film Festival French Geeking Heart & Sole (Girls on the Run) History Day • • • • • History Meets Hollywood Homework Latin LEO Literary Magazine Magic: The Gathering Math Counts Model UN Morning Show Crew Nintendo Switch Photography PRIDE Rubik’s Cube Running Science Olympiad Set Design for Spring Musical Student Government Yearbook JML Club Expo: September 11 through Lions Den

Upcoming Friday, Dates October 11, 9: 00 PBIS and Bullying Prevention Parent Coffee *Stay up to date with parent coffees and other events/workshops by visiting our School Counseling Webpage!

JML COUNSELOR CONTACT INFO � 6 th Grade: A-L: Joy. Jackson@lcps. org M-Z: Jennifer. Nocito@lcps. org � 7 th Grade: A-K: Kelly. Kenworthy@lcps. org L-Z: Holly. Melko@lcps. org � 8 TH Grade: A-K: Jennifer. Calderone@lcps. org � L-Z: Mary. Armstrong@lcps. org We all can be reached by calling the main school number: 703 -722 -2660