Silas Deane Middle School 7th Grade Orientation

1. Silas Deane Middle School 7th Grade Orientation Wednesday, February 28, 2013 7:00 p.m. Silas Deane Middle School

2. Upcoming Transition Events • Course Registration Process - Forms going home with students early March • Student Orientation visits to SDMS – May 6th (Highcrest, Hanmer and Webb) and May 13thth (Charles Wright and Emerson Williams) • Early August– Schedules will be mailed home. • Incoming 7th Grade Parent/Student Orientation – August 21st

3. Silas Deane Middle SchoolVision Statement •Each person in the school community is important and will be treated equally and fairly; •All people can learn and achieve success; •A positive attitude and environment fosters success for all; •Respect, integrity and honesty are our core values; •All persons need to feel safe in school; •For every right comes a responsibility; •Creativity and a sense of humor are respected and essential in achieving success.

4. Safety and Discipline • Safety is our primary concern. Research suggests and our experience informs us that a safe environment allows for high levels of teaching and learning. • Every parent receives a student handbook that outlines all of the rules and norms of Silas Deane Middle School as well as Wethersfield Public Schools. • Students will make mistakes! Do not excuse them, but help students to learn from them. • Our goal is to prepare students for WHS as they progress towards young adulthood.

5. We are a Community Service School As a school we try to help those less fortunate than ourselves • Each team has a community service project that the students participate in: • Sandwiches for the South Park Inn – a homeless shelter • Funds raised to create Thanksgiving food boxes for families in need • Entire 7th grade collecting canned goods to “Stuff-a-Bus” for the Wethersfield Food Bank • Funds and gifts raised for SDMS families in need for the holidays • 26 Pallets of items for victims of Hurricane Sandy • “Soup-er Bowl Sunday” – Collection of canned goods for the Wethersfield Food Bank • Raised cash for the victims of Sandy Hook for the American Red Cross • American Heart Association • American Diabetes Association • Hoops for Heart • SDMS Staff Holiday songs for charity • Beautification of the SDMS courtyard – students giving back • As a school we have raised thousands of dollars and donated canned goods and clothing for those in need!

6. Guidance Services • Developmental Guidance • There is a focus in three primary areas: • Educational Planning • Career Planning • Personal/Social Development • Classroom Lessons on Bullying, Conflict Resolution and Career Exploration (Naviance) • A meeting with every 7th grader for developing relationships that last two years • Student Success Plans are discussed with students with goals established • Short term group and individual counseling support based on need

7. Safe School Climate:A Culture of Acceptance At SDMS we make every attempt to diminish mean spirited behaviors and bullying! • We have weekly messages of kindness and support read over the intercom and in classroom announcements • Students, staff and parents fill out surveys about the climate at SDMS • Advisor/Advisee Program established this year • Town Meeting to be established this year to recognize staff and students who have contributed in a positive way to the SDMS culture • Continue with the tenets of Rachel’s Challenge (Chain Reaction)

8. Parent Communication Tools • Formal Communication Tools/Opportunities • Homework/missing assignment updates • Progress reports (half way point of every trimester) • Report cards • PowerSchool Parent Portal • monthly on-line newsletter – Deane Scene • web site for regular communication –http://www.wethersfield.k12.ct.us • Email • Wiki Spaces • Additional Communication Tools • team meetings (in place of conferences) • teacher voice mail

9. Band Drama Club/Production Student Council Socials Cabaret tryouts and rehearsals Circle of Friends Students and Seniors as Partners Orchestra Chorale – audition Jazz Band - audition Robotics Club Crossroads Baby sitting Cooking Photography Boxing Police Explorers SDMS School Library Use after school for research and technology support Student Activities A Late Bus is available for bus students. It leaves no later than 3:20 p.m.

10. We are a TEAMING school . .. • Goals Ease 6th to 7th transition Respond to the needs of 12-14 year olds Encourage parent communication with parents Foster a team identity

11. Teams = “School within a School” • Each team has a Team Liaison (coordinator) • Common planning times are 10:00 and 1:20 • 90-100 students • A Guidance Counselor • Teams share World Language, Math Explorations and Content Explorations teachers • Clustered rooms and lockers • Team FLEX Period (Students can get support as needed during this time)

12. Commonly Asked Questions About Teaming • Are all students that study French or Italian on one team? • Are all students from the same elementary school on the same team? • Is there a level one team and a level two team? • Can I request my child’s team? • Can my child cross team to have different teachers? Middle School philosophy is to broaden student horizons and expose students to new friends, new social settings and new learning.

13. What does a team look like? • Teachers in the following content areas: • Language Arts • Social Studies • Math • Science • Shared – World Language and support classes

14. Unified Arts Classes • Art • Family and Consumer Science • Health • Music • Physical Education • Technology Education *These classes are designed for exploratory purposes to support interest

16. Parent Action Committee MISSION STATEMENT To promote a middle school environment that supports positive youth development

17. Important Functions of PAC • Parent Involvement • Home/School communication • Fundraising to support school, staff, students and community • Educational activities for students and parents • Student/Family activities and socials

18. Initiatives at Silas Deane Middle Schoolfor 2013-2014 Continued Implementation of: • A Professional Learning Community • Improved Literacy Skills • Reading Strategies Across ALL Content Areas, including Unified Arts • Team Building Activities • Community Service Projects • Universal Assessments • Content Area Collaborative Groups/Data teaming • New Technology Initiatives – Ipads, Laptops, BYOD as learning opportunities • Integrating Library Research Skills into Curriculum Projects • Changes to School Climate • Diminished mean spirited behaviors • Scientific Research Based Interventions

19. TO DO: Double Check to make sure the elementary school nurse has your child’s blue physical form updated and on file. Over the Summer . . . • Summer Reading • Posted in June on district website • Read a minimum of 3 books (personal choice) • Keep a reading log (collected in the fall) • SDMS Library Media Specialist will visit 6th grade classes in June to share book ideas • Consider participating in Wethersfield Library Teen Summer Reading Program • Summer Options • Wethersfield Recreation and Parks

20. Silas Deane Middle School Facts • SDMS strives to be a challenging learning environment for all students. • SDMS is a safe and healthy learning environment. • Trust, honesty and respect are guiding principles in all that we do for our students. • We all take pride in our role in your child’s life.

21. Final Words of Wisdom • Try to remain calm • Maintain your sense of humor! • Call regarding questions • Maintain rules at home • Read the handbook with your child. It has all SDMS rules and Wethersfield policies in it. – NO SURPRISES! • Stay involved – no matter what your child says!

22. Thank you for coming!!! See you in the late summer and fall!