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MIDDLE SCHOOL 101. Everything you wanted to know about Maple Creek Middle School but were afraid to ask. GOALS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL. Provide as safe and smooth a transition as possible from the small neighbourhood elementary school to the large world of the secondary school
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MIDDLE SCHOOL 101 Everything you wanted to know about Maple Creek Middle School but were afraid to ask
GOALS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL • Provide as safe and smooth a transition as possible from the small neighbourhood elementary school to the large world of the secondary school • Assist students in becoming increasingly responsible through the three years at MS. • We are not the same as a junior high!
Maple Creek Middle School • 625 students in grades 6-8 • 15 international 120 FI • 44 teaching staff and 20 support staff • 6 Teams of approximately 4 classes per team
What’s the Focus at Maple Creek? • Becoming Respectful and Socially Responsible Citizens – locally and globally • Making Positive Social Connections • Strong Focus on Academic Achievement and safety and belonging
Focus on Academic Achievement-Assessment as learning-Differentiated instruction
What are Teams? • School within a school • Groups of 3-4 classes • 3-4 core teachers + 1 student services teacher • Located in same area of the building • Students spend 5 of 7 blocks each in the team each day, mainly with one core teacher • Grade 8 is a transition year
Teachers plan curriculum and activities together for the team Teachers within the team ‘share’ students Goal – every child has several adults to look after and care for them – including the homeroom teacher Student Services Model for the team Teaming Works for Kids…
What will the day look like? • Seven blocks per day • 40 minutes each block • Five blocks – CORE time within the team • Two blocks – EXPLORATIONS time
MON TUES WED THURS FRI HRoom HR HR HR HR HR 1 CORE CORE CORE CORE CORE 2 CORE CORE CORE CORE CORE Break 3 EXPL EXPL EXPL EXPL EXPL 4 EXPL EXPL EXPL EXPL EXPL Lunch 5 CORE CORE CORE CORE CORE 6 CORE CORE CORE CORE CORE 7 CORE CORE CORE CORE CORE
What subjects will my child take? • CORE: • Language Arts • Math • Social Studies • Science • French as a Second Language
Who teaches these subjects? • The majority of core subjects will be taught by the homeroom teacher • Sometimes, another teacher on the team will trade subject areas with the homeroom teacher -Math Curriculum
Blended Classes • Grade six and seven students in all classes at this level • Differentiated instruction, bell curve and A/B year • Students usually spend two years with the same core teacher “looping” • Students, teachers and families all get to know each other • Grade Seven students act as mentors to younger students each fall
What are Explorations? • Not the same as electives • Designed to give kids a ‘taste’ of what they might want to pursue in secondary school… • Taught mainly by specialist teachers – Maple Creek has four specialist teachers who are all trained in their area
Explorations Subjects… • PE – all year every second day • Drama and Art – half year every second day • Music, Computers, Tech Ed, Home Ec (Cooking and Sewing), 8 full weeks each
It all looks like a lot of fun, but do they ever do any homework • Students will be assigned homework on a regular basis • On average, around 45 minutes per night • Dependent on how much work gets done in class, projects, etc. • Homework will be recorded on the board each day • Beginning of the year – agendas signed • School Website – class websites
What Support Services are Available? • Full time student services teacher for each team • Learning Assistance • ESL • Gifted Programming • Resource • Full time counsellor • Full time youth worker
Extra-Curricular • GET INVOLVED in a least one activity • Something for everyone – “niche” • Bring a friend – you don’t have to know how to do something in order to join that activity • Bring your positive attitude • …..”but, I’m not strong at…..”
Athletics Teacher volunteers, rely on parent support FALL – Volleyball, swimming, Mtn. Biking, Outdoor club (year round), cross country running, Field Hockey, football. WINTER – Basketball, Wrestling, Ski and Snowboard SPRING – Track and Field, Mtn. Biking, Badminton, Rugby NO CUT POLICY
Lunch Time • We are a CLOSED CAMPUS • No ‘in’ and ‘out’ days • Responsibility • Intramurals…
GET INVOLVEDLibrary, Green Team, Hawk Krew (numerous opportunities)Debate club, Games Club, Math Club, Yearbook, committees, me to we, …..there is something for everyone to meet new people and get connected with the school.
How Safe is Maple Creek? • School Goal – continue to improve students’ sense of safety and belonging • This is a core value – this year we will be focusing on a strand of social responsibility • We constantly try to work on improving • Ministry Satisfaction Surveys – we always score above the district and provincial averages on safety related questions
What about Bullying? • We take it seriously • We follow up on every incident that is reported to us • We educate our kids about bullying through our advisory program, schoolwide programming and teachable moments • We ‘protect’ kids who report bullying to the best of our ability • BIGGEST CHALLENGE – kids who don’t report, “the code of silence”
Class Placements • Goal – to create the most positive placement for every student • Challenges – 440 Grade 6/7 students to place in the puzzle • Grade balance, gender balance, ability balance, matching learning and teaching styles, pre-existing social and relationship issues
Transition to Middle School… • P and VP have met with all grade five students for initial orientation session twice • Currently meeting with all grade five parents • Open House • Fine Arts Afternoon • Mid-May – teacher meetings and second visit with students • World wide band tour • June – Student tour of Maple Creek • Individual visits and arrangements
