Middle School Update

Volume 7 Number 2

August 13, 2007

CALENDAR:

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT:  You are receiving your schedule in the Monday envelope.  Please be on time, we will begin at 7:00 p.m. sharp in  Center Stage. Bring the schedule with you.  To see all of the teachers you will need to stay until 9:15.  Wear comfortable shoes!  You will be in a class for 10 minutes and then have 5 minutes to move to the next class.  This could involve going to or from the third floor to the first floor.  See you then.

POWER SCHOOL: The Monday Envelope will contain the information you need to go into Power School. Please ask your child for it.  The directions are also on the school website.  If you forget your password call Ms Rosi in the Middle School Office at extension 4123.

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES BEGIN THE WEEK OF AUGUST 13. For those new to the Middle School there are some things to know.  Activities do not begin until 3:45. The reason for this is that we want students to have time to get a snack, see a teacher, checkout a book from the library, and/or get their books and papers organized to take home.  Activities are over at 5:15. There are three activities buses which take students near, but not directly to, their home.  You need to check with Transportation to be certain of the drop-off points.  Students may be picked up in the Car-pickup area. Gate 2 is not open at this time.

RUBRICS: If you look in the Student Handbook you will find the modified MYP rubrics for all subjects. These are intended, mainly, for summative assessments. (See last week’s Update for difference between formative and summative assessments.)

These rubrics are NOT based on percentages. Rather, words like “always”, “usually”, and “seldom” are applied to different requirements of the assignment.  We do not subtract 2 points for a certain kind of error, rather, errors are noted and then we look at the rubric and find the mark band (section of the rubric) which best describes the work.  “Usually” is perhaps a 7-8. The teacher then can choose a 7 or 8.  Misspelling 2 words in a one paragraph piece of writing is different than misspelling 2 words in a 2 page paper.  Both might be called “usually” correct, but the second one would most likely be a better grade.

When a student receives a grade on  an assessment do NOT convert it to a percentage. Do NOT think of a 7/10 as 70% or a C-  in our old scale.  Look at the criterion in the handbook, read the words. A student who is USUALLY doing something is an A or A- student even though they are not getting a 9 or 10.  These two highest marks are reserved for those who consistently  are in the “always” band.  If most students were doing this then it would be fair to say the work we are giving them is not challenging enough for the grade level.

There is a rubric which is NOT in the Student Handbook. It is used by many teachers on certain formative  assessments.  This is not a 0-10 scale but rather E, G, S, B, N. (Excellent, Good, Satisfactory, Basic, Not turned in/Not Finished/Not Appropriate) It might be used, for example, to indicate homework completion for the day. Or maybe class participation that day.  If a teacher asks the students to do warm up exercises in English or Math they will most likely NOT be graded on quality but rather on effort and the discussion that follows.  Students might be quizzed on material they have not studied yet or have only partially covered so that the teacher can know how to adjust instructional strategies. Students who are in Literature Circles discussing chapters of a book they have read may be graded on how well they are paying attention to others, participating, and whether it was evident they had done the reading in preparation for the class.   These letter grades are visible in Power School to give parents an idea of how students are doing in the short term and these letters will, periodically, be converted to 0-10 in the appropriate criterion.

It will take time for new students and sixth graders to get used to the rubrics. Students who used them last year in our Middle School will be more comfortable.  The key to remember is that we are looking for students to improve their skills and knowledge as they move through a unit or course.  It is not a grade on a single piece of work that describes their level of attainment, but rather it is what they are consistently able to do when they are working on their own on the coursework.

No one is born an expert. We have to try, learn from our errors, and make the connections that allow us to consistently perform our best. Different students will have different strengths in different subjects. Celebrate the highs and give encouragement to strive to improve in the others.

REPEATED ANNOUNCEMENTS:

YEARBOOKS ARE STILL AVAILABLE:  we still have a number of yearbooks available from the 2006-07 school year. Pay $40 in the Caja and the student can exchange the receipt for a book in the Middle School Office.

PASSES FOR GATE #2 (WALKING GATE):  Students were issued an ID card when they started school on Wednesday. Parents had the option during the re-enrollment process to choose to allow students to use Gate #2 rather than be picked up in the car pick-up area or take a bus.  If you did not do this, or if your child is a new student and you want them to use that gate, it is necessary for the student to pick up a form in the office for you to sign.  We will have a new card made.  Some students received cards with no photo. This will be redone in the next couple of weeks.  New students who were not admitted before the cards were made will also receive their cards in the next couple of weeks.  Students need to put these passes somewhere where they will not lose it and can find it easily. The trapper keeper is one possibility. When the student exits through Gate #2 they MUST show this pass to the guards or teacher on duty.  If your child is leaving occasionally with someone who has a pass for gate #2 you will need to send in a note in the morning giving your permission to use this gate.  We do this for security reasons. It is your decision to allow your child to walk home or walk to a friend’s house nearby or to get a taxi to go home.

MONDAY ENVELOPES are a very important means of communication.  Parents are asked to sign on the back of the Envelope and have the student return it to the Period 1 teacher on Tuesday.  Thank you for checking the envelope for important information and papers.