Riverwatch Middle School Panther Camp August 5 2013

Riverwatch Middle School Panther Camp � August 5, 2013

Daily Schedule � Seven classes for approximately 55 minute periods: ◦ 1 st Period – Language Arts from 9: 00 – 9: 59 ◦ 2 nd Period – Math from 10: 04 – 10: 57 ◦ 3 rd Period – Science from 11: 02 – 12: 23 (includes 25 minute lunch) ◦ 4 th Period – Social Studies from 12: 28 – 1: 21 ◦ 5 th Period – Enrichment or Math Workshop from 1: 26 – 2: 19 ◦ 6 th Period – Connections from 2: 24 – 3: 17 ◦ 7 th Period – Connections from 3: 22 – 4: 15

Lunch Schedule � 11: 03 – 11: 28 Cullen/Thomson seated at tables 1, 2, 3, and 4 � 11: 06 – 11: 31 Collins/Kirkley at tables 5, 6, 7, and 8 � 11: 09 – 11: 34 Gabbert/Federspiel at tables 9, 10, 11, and 12 � 11: 12 – 11: 37 Johnson/Shanks at tables 13, 14, 15, and 16 � 11: 20 – 11: 45 Hunley/Graves at tables 17, 18, 19, and 20 � 11: 23 – 11: 58 Hitch/Bull at tables 21, 22, 23, and 24 � 11: 26 – 11: 51 Purdy/Carothers at tables 25, 26, 27, and 28 � 11: 30 – 11: 55 Cline/Masterson at tables 1, 2, 3, and 4 � 11: 33 – 12: 02 Cramb/Athey at tables 5, 6, 7, and 8

Routine Arrival Early Arrival 8: 00 to 8: 30 AM in the cafeteria Normal Arrival is in the cafeteria (car riders) and gym (buses) Dismissal to breakfast at 8: 45 AM First Class begins at 9: 00 AM 4: 15 on normal school days 1: 30 on early release days 1 st early release day – August 28 th

Procedures Dropping off and picking up personal items Prior arrangements must be made before school begins for the day. Students will not be notified. Classes are not interrupted. For checking in students, parents are not required to come in the front office. When checking out a student, parents are required to come into the front office. To check out a student, the person must be on the check-in/checkout card. Please make sure to include yourself when filling out the check-in/check-out card. All adults checking out students are required to present a photo id.

6 th Grade Curriculum Night � August 21, 2013 at 6: 30 p. m. � Parents will experience a PTSA meeting and then rotate through the academic portion of their student’s schedule. � Please join us!

Curriculum Information - https: //www. georgiastandards. org/Common. Core/Pages/default. aspx

Textbooks � Language Arts ◦ Class sets are available during the school day ◦ On line textbook available for student use at home � Math ◦ Occasional use of textbook in class for work during school day � Science ◦ Class sets are available during school day ◦ On line textbooks available for student use at home ◦ Limited supply offered for check out in media center after August 13 th � Social Studies ◦ Occasional use in classroom ◦ Class sets available during school day ◦ All other materials are teacher generated for at home use

Discipline � School-wide ◦ 1 st offense ◦ 2 nd offense ◦ 3 rd offense ◦ 4 th offense Classroom Discipline Plan Warning/Conference/Parent Contact Parent contact/Teacher assigned consequence Administrative referral � Certain violations may result in immediate action by the school administration. � All students are subject to the Forsyth County Code of Conduct.

Dress Code � See the 2013 -2014 Code of Conduct and Discipline Procedures for Forsyth County’s dress code policy. The school administration is authorized to determine what constitutes inappropriate dress for the school setting. Questions about the dress code should be addressed with the administration.

Nature of Middle School Student � H. E. L. P. How to Enjoy Living with a Preadolescent � Common Middle School Characteristics: � *Forgetting � *Irritability � *Power Plays � *Friendships � *Chores � *Worries � *Joys

BYOT – Bring Your Own Technology � Forsyth County Schools encourages students to utilize their personal technology devices. � The purpose of BYOT is to enrich and extend current academic opportunities. � Use of BYOT is limited to classrooms and media center. � Teachers have the authority to limit the use of BYOT opportunities.

Internet Safety � Students who use the internet for social networking are likely to be exposed to pornography, violence, and hate speech. � If your child has access to social networking platforms (twitter, instagram, vine, etc), please have regular discussions with them about safe, appropriate use of these sites. � Visit www. commonsensemedia. org for more information and tips on how to help your children stay safe in the digital world. � Safety apps exist like http: //www. smartshepherd. com/ � Talk with your service provider to find one that will work with your child’s phone.

Internet Safety � “It is not enough to sit by and assume that your kids are going to do the right thing, because good kids, smart kids, that do the right things in lots of aspects of life, still do goofy things on the internet and social networking sites. Kids are going to post photos and personal information. . At least moms and dads should learn about what they’re doing. If you don’t know that your child has a Myspace page (Twitter, Instagram, Vine, etc. ), you better find out, and you better talk to them about how they are using it and what they are doing to make sure that they use it safely and responsibly. ” -Ernie Allen, President and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Self-Advocacy � Students in Middle School should be learning to ask questions or seek resolution to their problems themselves. � Parents can assist students by: ◦ Encouraging them to keep up with their assignments using an agenda or other organizational tools ◦ Helping them practice approaching and talking to teachers ◦ Following up with teachers to verify that the student came and talked to the teacher

Home/School Communication � Panther Camp � Panther Press (monthly) � Email – weekly school events updates sent on Fridays or Mondays � Phone with voice mail � Parent Conferences (October and March) � Parent Portal (Online access) � ITSLearning � Student Handbook � Agendas � Riverwatch Website with School Calendar

Example Panther Press

RMS Website � http: //www. forsyth. k 12. ga. us/site/Default. as px? Page. ID=20928

ITSLearning � https: //www. itslearning. com/elogin/default. aspx? Customer. Id=2174 • Where do I find information about upcoming tests and assignments? • Where do I find handouts from a current day’s class or from previous classes?

Parent Portal Log In How do I monitor my student’s attendance? How do I monitor my student’s grades? To get a login please see Mrs. Geren in the front office. Photo id is needed.

Panther Spirit… Get involved! � Clubs… Art Club, Builders Club, FCA, etc. � Intramurals in the mornings � Dances (August 23, 2013 – 6 th Grade Dance 4: 30 – 6: 00 PM) � Athletic � Check events (Only 7 th and 8 th may compete) the calendar frequently for dates!

Welcome to Riverwatch and thank you for coming today! � Remember: ◦No need to come to 7 th and 8 th Grade Open House this afternoon. ◦The first day of school is Thursday, August 8, 2013. ◦Attendance will be taken promptly at 9: 00 a. m.