Middle School Update

Volume 6 Number 28

April 30 , 2007

CALENDAR:

STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES: As I have mentioned several times in the Monday Update, Student-Led Conferences this semester will be different than in the past. We will NOT be distributing report cards. We do NOT want to talk about grades and GPAs.  If a student is currently on academic conditional or probationary status the counselors will keep parents up to date on how the student is progressing.  If we anticipate that a student needs to be put onto an academic contract, we will contact parents about the concerns when we see the problems. This will not be a surprise.

What  is important for students to reflect on and parents to be aware of is how the student is doing on each MYP criterion in each subject. As students move up into high school these Criteria will determine the student’s grade which will be reported on the official transcript for college admission.

As a parent, what should you be concerned about? The most common answer is “the grade.”  This, however, is shortsighted. MS grades are not generally reported to colleges. Yes, it is great to be able to praise your child for a high GPA or improving GPA, but what students need is an honest assessment of where they are on the continuum  of learning.  Getting an A in English in grade 6 probably means the student is a good reader and writer at that level, turns in work completed and on time, and is most likely neat and organized.

The MYP criteria allow for a more detailed analysis of student progress. The student might be an “A” given the grade level but needs to know that to improve his/her writing there needs to be more detail in the descriptions or a more varied vocabulary needs to be used.  These are the types of things students will reflect on as they prepare for these student-led conferences.  They will review their work and not only reflect but also set goals on how to improve.

Using and understanding the MYP criteria is a process. We are attempting to separate it from the pressure of quarter grades to make it less stressful. Please help us with this by coming to the conferences prepared to talk about criteria not grades.  You will need to see all 6 or 7 teachers in order to get the full picture. NOTE:  If your appointment is at 2:45 please arrive by 2:30 so that you have the opportunity to see the PE and elective teachers first.

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES –

Please note that the following changes to the Middle School Activities program

take effect this week:

BOYS' BASKETBALL will meet Tuesdays and Fridays (starting Friday, May 4) with Mr. Hendershott on the elementary courts.

GIRLS' and BOYS' VOLLEYBALL will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays (starting Thursday, May 3) with Mr. Mesones behind the Athletics Office.

SWIMMING and ROLLER HOCKEY will end this week (April 27).

GIRLS' SOFTBALL will end Friday, May 11, following Copa Roosevelt.

GIRLS' and BOYS' SOCCER will continue until further notice in order to complete their tournaments (some tournaments have been moved to later dates). Students should see Ms. Alba if this causes any conflicts in schedule.

ADCA SWIM MEET

Congratulations to the following Middle Schoolers who took part in the ADCA Swim Meet this past Wednesday and Thursday:

GRADE 6

Jimena Ormeno

Anne Sophie Hibon

Yeriz Nunez

Antonio Pinto

Vincenzo Calvi

Juan Pablo Silvestre

GRADE 7

Luciana Bedoya

Marijne Arts

Paul Rodriguez

Alexia Tijero

GRADE 8

Maemi Ishida

Anahi Quinones

Ritchard Koenig

Many returned donning medals, and all were extremely enthusiastic. A special thanks to coaches Ms. Lucha Villar and Nena Gonzales.

CAS ACTIVITIES:

Grade 6

Group 1:  Crafts & Card Games

Group 2:  Yoga and Field Games

Group 3:  Lit. Circles and Puppet Theater

Group 4:  Bullying

Grade 7

Group F and A:  Centro de Lima/San Francisco

Group B and C:  Barranco

Group D and E:  Cementerio

Grade 8

CoFo