WELCOME TO DAPHNE MIDDLE SCHOOL THIS EVENING WE

WELCOME TO DAPHNE MIDDLE SCHOOL

THIS EVENING WE WILL COVER… The average day for a middle school student Course options Clubs and sports opportunities Dress code and attendance expectations

CURRENTLY… 7 classes per day. Classrooms are divided into teams. Each grade level has an A and B team. The team consists 2 teachers for each of the following content areas: English, Math, Science and Social Studies. 1 st bell rings at 7: 45 am. Student drop off begins at 7: 20 am. Students are considered tardy at 7: 55 am.

A TYPICAL MIDDLE SCHOOL DAY Periods Class Time 1 st 7: 50 -8: 44 Break 7 th 8: 44 -8: 56 2 nd 8: 59 -9: 49 3 rd 9: 52 -10: 42 Lunch 10: 45 -11: 15 4 th 11: 15 -12: 05 5 th 12: 08 -12: 58 6 th 1: 01 -1: 51 7 th 1: 53 -2: 50

WHAT A SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE…

7 TH GRADE COURSES Required classes are: Science English Elective courses include: Citizenship/Geography Art Math Band/Orchestra PE/Health Chorus Students must have a Concert Choir* passing average in all 4 core classes for promotion to the 8 th grade Enrichment (varies)

ADVANCED COURSE OPTIONS Courses Advanced English Advanced Math Selection Criteria/Process Aspire scores First semester grade and/or additional achievement data determined by the school When considering advanced courses, keep in mind… Summer assignments are required Schedule changes from the advanced class should not be expected Good time management and study skills are a must The courses are taught at an accelerated pace and the workload is challenging

ADDRESSING STUDENT NEEDS Academic Needs Special Education 504 Plans Assessments ACT Aspire (reading, writing, science, math and English) Math/Reading Intervention Compass Learning After-school tutoring Scantron Performance Series Credit Recovery (benchmark assessments given in Fall, Winter and Spring)

ALTERNATE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES Credit Recovery Offered to students that failed 1 or 2 core classes with a score between 50%59% Courses offered the 2 nd semester of the academic term Courses offered on campus Cost: $150. 00 per class Summer School June 6 -June 30 (16 days) 8: 30 am-12: 00 pm Monday through Thursday

SCHOOL COUNSELING 2 counselors Grade 7: Mrs. Ray Grade 8: Mrs. Caldwell Individual and group counseling Referral to area agencies and programs

CLUBS AND SPORTS Sports Volleyball Football Cross Country Track Clubs Peer Helpers National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Art Club Technology Student Association (TSA) Soccer Scholar’s Bowl Softball First Priority (Christian Club) Basketball Fleurettes Cheerleading Chess Club Any other sports offered at the HS FCCLA String Class (Mobile Symphony)

BEING AN ATHLETE @ DMS Must complete an Athletic Packet before tryouts Guidelines are based upon that of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Athletic Packet Includes: Physical Evaluation Concussion Form AHSAA Consent and Release DMS Athletic Contract Parent Information

DRESS CODE EXPECTATIONS…

ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS Students are expected to… Be in class and ready to learn at 7: 55 AM Bring in a note from your parent(s) if you are absent Check with the teacher for missed work upon return to school Parents are expected to… Provide written notification of absence No more than 9 unexcused absences per school year A student can be retained if she/he has more than 9 unexcused absences Missing more than half of the school day will count as one full day of absence (checking out BEFORE 11: 30 AM counts as absence for the full day) STRIVE FOR LESS THAN 5

GETTING READY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL …. . TIPS FOR PARENTS Check your child’s homework sheet or planner daily. Contact your child’s teachers for help as soon as you need it. Inform the school immediately of any changes to your contact information and/or address. Check INOW regularly to monitor your child’s grades. Check your child’s backpack and binder regularly Students are not allowed to use their cell phones during school. All students have access to the telephone in the front office.

THINGS THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT IN MIDDLE SCHOOL The best way to contact administrators is by email. If you need to set up a conference with an administrator, please call the school. Due to our small cafeteria, we are not able to accommodate additional guest for lunch. To minimize the disruption of the academic day, DMS students are not allowed to receive birthday gifts during school hours. All students are expected to follow the guidelines when being transported to and from school. Due to the over crowding of our buses, we will only transport students to their address in INOW.

TIPS FOR PARENTS FROM THE NURSE Students are not allowed to administer their own medicine unless the doctor orders it. (Ex. Inhalers) Over the counter: If you would like to leave medicine for your child, you must bring the smallest amount and it must be in an unopened container. (Ex. Tylenol, Advil) Then, the parent has to bring it to the nurse in its original bottle. Prescription Drugs: If your child needs to take a prescription drug, the doctor must complete the paperwork. Then, the parent has to bring it to the nurse in it’s original prescription bottle. *The nurse will be available to receive care plans and emergency meds during the first week of school.

GETTING READY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL– TIPS FOR STUDENTS … Write down all homework assignments. Turn in your homework by the due date. Ask your teachers for help as soon as you need it. Get to school on time. Bring your materials to class EVERY DAY. Check INOW regularly to monitor your grades. Show respect for the property and rights of others (no teasing, name-calling, fighting, stealing, etc). Speak up when you see a problem. Report it to a teacher or other staff member. Use class time wisely. Report all things that are a safety concern.

MIDDLE SCHOOL VS. ELEMENTARY Transport only to your home Educational Ownership PE Uniforms More homework/Graded Homework More teachers Extracurricular activities

SAFETY AND SECURITY Drills: Lockdowns Fire Drills Lockers PE Lockers are available Classroom lockers are not available for use Items of value should not be worn or brought to school BCBE will no longer provide backpacks for students. Backpack Weight: 1. Backpack 2. 11” Macbook Air 3. Charger and power cord 4. Binder with paper 5. Book 6. iphone 4 with waterproof case 7. P. E. uniform (shirt and shorts) 8. Lunch (16 oz. water, medium apple, large pear) TOTAL WEIGHT 9. 5 lbs. (excluding lunch and cell phone 8 lbs. )

WHAT’S NEXT… Timeline of due dates for registration forms and advance course placement decisions Grade 6 students visit the middle school campus in the Spring Middle school counselors will visit the grade 6 students to talk with them about middle school and timelines

QUESTIONS?