Parents Cougar Camp Orientation for Parents of Students

Parents @ Cougar Camp Orientation for Parents of Students Transitioning to Middle School

YIKES! It’s middle school. • Middle school is a big step and a big change for both students and parents – More teachers - more responsibility – More independence - more apprehensive • Procedures and “Nuts and Bolts” • Staying Connected • Success Skills – helping your middle schooler flourish

PTA

TOUR

PARENTS @ Cougar Camp Procedures and Nuts & Bolts at Curtis? ?

Procedures @ CMS New School Hours New Homeroom Our school day begins at 8: 25 am and ends at 3: 25 pm. We have added an extra period to our day. Students are required to wear their ID on a lanyard at all times. This time will be used to mentor, coach, build relationships, set goals, focus on AISD Be The One Character traits, social media tips and hints, how to navigate in middle school, etc. IDs will be picked up during Meet The Teacher Night on August 15 th. Lost IDs can be replaced at a cost of $5. Every student will have homeroom during 4 th period daily.

PROCEDURES @ CMS Lunch Lost & Found • Three lunch periods • Located in office near clinic 11: 15 -11: 45 -12: 15 -12: 45 • Cash free system – PAYPAMS. COM • Students need ID to purchase lunch • Seats are not assigned • Sections are called to go purchase their lunch • Please write your child’s name on any lunches being dropped off. (YOUR CHILD ONLY!) Allow plenty of time. • Please put full name on all supplies, athletic equipment, phone, lunch bags, etc. • Anything with a name is typically returned to the student during the day.

PROCEDURES @ CMS Visit the Nurse Visit the Counselors • Clinic is in the office • All 3 Counselors in office • Students must sign into the clinic until Nurse Jen Rau can see them • Student drop ins are welcome • MAY NOT have any type of medication, cough syrup, and/or pills on their person. • Students can also email us to ask questions or to visit with us. • Fill out a form to keep medication on campus for your child. • Bullying reports/concerns go to the Assistant Principals. Incident reports can be found on the website and in the office. • Turn in all immunizations BEFORE Meet The Teacher (8/15) • Our APs are: Mr. Falbo – 7 th grade, Mrs. Cooley, and Mr. Anthony

PROCEDURES @ CMS Catch the Bus Tardies “Being late” to Class • Bus routes are located on-line (Transportation) • Arriving to class AFTER the bell rings is being tardy. • Bus drop off and pick up is located at the east entrance to the building (near flag poles). • Consequences for two or more tardies. (i. e. Lunch detention, etc. ) • • Tardies are reported to Skyward and are kept all school year. In the morning, students proceed to the gym (7 th) or cafeteria (8 th). • Busses leave at 3: 45 pm. Don’t miss the bus. • Cameras are on every bus recording at all times. • Students have FOUR minutes to pass to their next class.

PROCEDURES @ CMS • BULLYING – NOT acceptable at Curtis – If you witness or experience bullying, you must fill out a Safety Incident report. – All Incident Reports ARE investigated by appropriate principal. Consequences may be rough. – Cameras are all over the building and on every bus. Be aware! – Practice confidence skills with your child! – AISD Be The One Character traits continue

PARENTS @ Cougar Camp STAY CONNECTED

Stay Connected SKYWARD CANVAS • All grades and attendance are maintained here. • ? ? ? description • Students have a calendar on their student Skyward account with due dates of assignments and test dates • Reports cards ARE NOT sent home. They are accessed through Skyward, • Get password information from Lisa Palmeri, our Registrar • Your email in Skyward is used for parent messages!! • Notes, Assignments, quizzes • Digital Learning Night: Sept. 27 th Come learn more about Skyward, CANVAS, social media and the brain, & any other questions you might have about the technology used here at school.

Stay Connected Curtis Website Other sites • Parents section and News section • PTA Facebook Page • Phone policy • Follow Curtis on Twitter • Code of Conduct • Reminder 101 – many teacher use • Late or missing grades policy • CHARMS – band orchestra students • Tardies • Extra curricular activities • Copy of daily announcements

Stay Connected Calendar Attendance Policy • Grading periods start and ending dates • Full name of student, date, and reason for absence is a must • When report cards come out • Parent have 3 days to send in a hand signed note for all absences, even if called or emailed in. • Doctor/Dentist notes if an office visit was necessary • Vacation and club sports absences are UNEXCUSED • After three days of an excused absence, work can be collected and picked up by parent at the front office • Mrs. Lambert • Test dates and events • AISD Calendar • Curtis web-site calendar

Stay Connected With your middle schooler • Physical – Mature at different rates – Variety of sizes and shapes – Feeling self-conscious or embarrassed by their bodies • Emotional – Moody – Figuring out who they are – Where they “fit” in the world • Intellectual – Ready to learn about life – Strong sense of what is “fair” – Attempts to discuss serious topics and express their opinions – Desire for respect • Social – Friends move to the top of the list of people to impress – Searching for identity – NOT TO BE DIFFERENT While being with friends is very important to middle schoolers, doing things with their parents and families provides them with a much needed sense of security.

PARENTS @ Cougar Camp SUCCESS SKILLS

SUCCESS SKILLS Middle School is the time when parents NEED to be the most involved and the most vigilant. A whole new world has opened up and this is often the time when they are tempted to “try new things”.

SUCCESS SKILLS In the classroom Time Management • Pay attention, this is not the time to be social • Balance academics and extracurricular activities • Take good notes, get the name and number of a student from each of your classes • Plan your study time – same time each day & same place each day • If you have problems taking notes, TELL YOUR TEACHER! • Use ten minutes of study time to put papers in the correct place, clean notebook and check your supplies • Use study aides like note cards and highlighting • Don’t CRAM- Study a little each night • Keep organized!! Looking for papers, pencils and assignments burn your energy and time

SUCCESS SKILLS TIPS TO Remember Projects • Ask questions – use a sticky note to jot them down if you are home to ask the next day • Break the big project down into little tasks. • ALL teachers tutor. If you do not understand a concept, let the teacher know. Ask for tutoring. It free! • Do a little task each day until the big project is complete • Re-Take failed tests/quizzes! Test and quizzes count for a large percentage of your grade! YOU must ask for a re-take. It is YOUR responsibility • BE RESPONSIBLE for yourself, your actions, your assignments, and your behavior! • Ask your teacher for help if you have problems breaking down big projects • If you work with a group, make sure you understand YOUR part. Share with the teacher is someone is not doing their part BEFORE the project is due.

Middle schoolers need to understand that with increased independence comes increased responsibility! - Make homework your child’s responsibility. - Encourage involvement in school related activities - Communicate with the teacher, after allowing your child to attempt to solve problem. How to help your child be all THEY can be! Not all you can be for them! “Tonight is the third night you have not had any homework. I will email the teacher and confirm that”. “Really, the teacher would not let you re-test? Let me give her a call and hear her part of the problem. ” “If I were to call the teacher, would she agree with what you are telling me? ”

Sometimes a parent-teacher conference is necessary. Here are some discussion topics that make help: • Is my child on time to class? Prepared? • Does my child seem organized? • Does my child participate in class? • Does my child use class time wisely? WHEN MORE HELP IS NEEDED Parent – Teacher Conference • Does my child pay attention? • Is my child working up to their potential? • What does my child need to work on? • Do you have any suggestions for my child?

Meet The Teacher Night August 15 th 3 -5 PM for 8 th graders 5: 30 -7: 30 PM for 7 th graders Pick up schedule and ID, tour building, purchase school supplies and spirit wear, set up lunch account; meet new teachers, parents & friends!!

Thank you for coming today. Please help us by completing a brief survey that will be sent to you by email this week.