LAKENHEATH

MIDDLE SCHOOL

DODDS CCSM

UNIT 5185 BOX 55

APO AE 09461-8555

GRADE 6

INFORMATION BOOKLET

SCHOOL YEAR 2008-2009

STUDENT NAME ______________________________________

ADMINISTRATION

Principal – Ms. Mary Zimmerman Bayer
                                 Assistant. Principal - DJ LaFon-Bynnom

The Registrar and Counselors can be reached at

Telephone - 01638 527006

Lakenheath extensions: 226-7007/7008

Our home page is www.lake-ms.eu.dodea.edu

This site is full of information about all aspects of LMS

WELCOME TO MIDDLE SCHOOL.

It is our pleasure to welcome new parents and students. We are looking forward to having you join us at LMS. Life in middle school will be an exciting time for you even though there are some major changes for you in moving from elementary to middle school. We are very proud of our school and the accomplishments of our students. While we take pride in the quality of our programs, our greatest assets are the people who are here to help you learn. All of us at LMS will work hard to expand your horizons and prepare you for your future.

Our Mission Statement promises to “provide a supportive environment where students will develop the necessary skills for a lifetime of learning.”

We will help you to do just that!

1. SUBJECTS FOR 6^TH GRADE:

The academic subjects for 6th grade are:

1. Reading 2. Language Arts

3. Science 4. Mathematics

5. Social Studies

The Exploratory 9 week units for grade 6

include:

Video Production Art

Home Economics Keyboarding

Music Physical Education & Health

Host Nation Exploratory Foreign Languages

The middle school exploratory program introduces students to many different exploratory classes so they can later make high school course choices based on these experiences.

* An important note about sixth grade Exploratory classes:

Middle school is meant to be a time for exploration, therefore 6^th graders are not offered the choice of electives. that our older students have. All 6^th grade students are pre-assigned to a cluster or wheel of exploratory classes. The reason is that we want students to try as many unfamiliar programs as possible before they enter high school. Exploratories are assigned randomly because middle schools operate on the premise that students would find it difficult to make informed choices about exploratory subjects in which they‘ve had little or no experience. Given freedom of choice students tend to pick ones in their own “comfort zone” and avoid those that they feel less able to cope with. Good preparation for high school means having a broad base of experiences.

THERE ARE TWO EXCEPTIONS TO THE EXPLORATORY WHEEL

2. SELECTIVE PROGRAMS - - - - - - - - - - - - Where students do have a choice:

BAND - 6th graders may choose to start learning to play a band instrument in Beginning Band. They do this by filling out a band request sheet, which requires a parent signature. Students with instrumental experience in grade 4 or 5 are of course encouraged to continue in band.

THE GIFTED EDUCATION PROGRAM - offers students the opportunity to study unique enrichment topics not found in other areas of our programming. Enrollment in a gifted class requires giving up some exploratory classes on “the wheel”. Gifted students may also be provided with enrichment options within their regular core subjects under the supervision of the gifted education teacher.

A Gifted Education Committee uses a selection process based on standardized achievement test scores, past academic performance and teacher recommendations. Enrollment in a gifted program at a previous school is also considered. Please indicate an interest in this program on the course selection form.

Successful Gifted Education students:
           a. Are hard workers who are willing to put forth effort in the face of a challenge.

b. Are creative thinkers and problem solvers.

        c. Show a willingness to take on the burden of an exploratory that expects outside research.

3. LMS SCHEDULE

We have an alternate day (Black & Gold days) schedule, with classes rotating within each day so that

students may experience classes at different times of the school day for optimum student alertness

and performance.

This is a sample arrangement of a typical schedule:

DAY 1 (Black Day) Homebase Class 1 - Reading      Class 2 - Science      Class 3 – Art LUNCH Class 4 - Social Studies

DAY 2 (Gold Day) Homebase      Class 5 - Math      Seminar Block      Class 6 – PE     LUNCH     Class 7  - Language Arts

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Homebase is a ten-minute long, daily period at the beginning of each day during which attendance is taken and school announcements about clubs and activities are made. Teachers may also use this time for development of interpersonal skills and team building, drawing on concepts identified as important for middle school adolescents

SustainedSilentReading (SSR) provides a regular quiet time for reading a book of your choice. It meets on Gold days for twenty minutes. Reading practice is essential to develop skills.

Seminar is a time to seek help with your homework, make up missed work, attend assemblies and house activities with your team and even have your assignment book checked by the teacher.

4. GRADES AND REPORT CARDS

Report cards are sent at the end of each 9 weeks (4 times per year -- November, January, April and June). Mid-term Progress Reports alerting parents to low grades below a “C “average are sent out at the mid-point in each quarter. We have anew computer-grading program called GradeSpeed which allows parents internet access to their child’s grades daily. Many parents have set up an account when they registered their child. Establishing your “user identity” with Mr. Ron Pope is necessary if you did not do so at registration. (Phone--226-7310/7007)

The following standards apply to grading:

A (90%-100%) = Excellent C (70-80%)=Average

B (80%-90%) = Good D (60%-70%)= Poor

F (60% and below)= Failing

I = Incomplete. This is a temporary grade used when a student has not been able to

complete work because of a lengthy illness or a family trip. Middle school students are encouraged to accept more responsibility for communicating with teachers in relation to their own work. This is a growth step to develop into a self-reliant adult.

5. BASIC SUPPLIES YOU’LL NEED:

§ Pencils, pens & ruler (Pencil pouch is great too)

§ American wide rule paper

§ 3 ring binder with dividers

§ Book bag or backpack

§ Assignment book provided by LMS

Individual teachers will let students know when school begins, what other supply requirements may be necessary.

About locks:

§ DoDDS will supply each student with a combination lock for a hall locker. You’ll keep books, lunch, etc. in this locker. These locks are loaned to students and must be returned at the end of the school year.

§ An additional lock is needed when you are assigned a PE/Gym class (combination style is mandatory--no key to lose).

The serial numbers and lock combinations can be given to the PE teacher to record so help can be given if the combination is forgotten or a lock is misplaced.

6. PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

a. Sixth grade students may have P.E. at least one quarter in the school year and possibly more. Students who elect to take two full year programs i.e. Gifted Ed & Band would fill their schedule so PE would be delayed till 7^th grade.

b. A combination lock is mandatory to secure clothing and valuables when the student is out on the gym floor (no bicycle locks please). It is poor judgment to use a gym locker without a lock. Book bags and school clothing are securely stored away while in PE class. Each student is issued a locker for this purpose. Key locks are only permitted by special arrangement with the gym teacher.

c. P.E. clothing should be marked with the student’s name. It’s much easier to find lost clothing with this information.

d. Clothing left in the dressing room is placed on a Lost & Found rack each day. Unfortunately a large

quantity of lost clothing accumulates and is unclaimed. This rack can be found near the interior

doors to the Cafeteria.

e. Shoes for gym do not have to be brand new, just clean soled. They are stored in the locker each day and are not used for everyday school use.

f. Jewelry is not to be worn during P.E. classes for reasons of safety.

STUDENTS ARE ASKED TO LEAVE VALUABLES AT HOME.

g. Student should not wear clothing that has been worn to school. No Jeans!

Acceptable clothing for P.E. includes:

“Sweats” or Warm-ups Athletic Shorts (dark colors best)

T- shirts (gray and white are best) Sweatshirts (gray and white are best)

Athletic socks

h. Our DoDDs Physical Education standards promote lifelong, healthy physical activity through participation in games and sports. Personal and social skill development is naturally a part of this PE instruction. Fitness training and conditioning teachs students how they compare in fitness to their peers of the same age.

i. A student wishing to be excused from taking part in physical activity must bring a sponsor’s note explaining the temporary reason. If a student needs to be excused for three days or more, it will be necessary to have a doctor’s note advising what kind of physical limitations should be placed on the student. On returning from a long illness or severe injury a student must have a doctor’s note or parent release in order to resume P.E. activities.

7. NEW RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL

q .PERSONAL POSSESSIONS - Keeping track of personal possessions is harder than in 5th grade. Moving from one class to another requires that students develop a personal sense of responsibility for taking care of textbooks, library books, P.E. clothing, winter coats, lunch, etc. Put you name on coats and hats so they can be returned easily. Don’t bring CD’s and high value items. Bring only enough money for the day.

q MAKE UP WORK - Following an absence from school, students are expected to ask their teachers for work that needs to be made up. This is very important. When you miss class because of a school medical appointment, you have this same responsibility. Seminar class is a good time to do this.

q ASSIGNMENT BOOK or “PLANNER”- We provide an assignment book and require that students get into the good habit of writing down their daily homework assignments from the board. Each teacher teaches this procedure and your Homebase teacher inspects your book in the first weeks of the year. We want parents to reinforce the use of this planner by their child and to rely on this method to keep close tabs on what assignments are current. This is a fundamental element in every student’s success plan. This book also includes behavior expectations for school in the initial pages.

q DAILY HOMEWORK - We encourage families to establish a daily study routine at home to promote success in Middle School. You’ll find your student is prone to do worksheets, but this age group doesn’t easily see the need to review and memorize learning materials thoroughly. Here’s our advice: On days when there is a little or no written assignment; have your child spend time reading the chapter in History, Reading/Literature or Science. To have assurance that your child is following your request you need to be at home at this time even if you require that it is done as late as 1900. Looking over class notes is also a part of this good study routine. Home study is essential to assure success. Working a little each night as opposed to cramming on the day before the test is best. You will find that, in 6^th grade, your child will have to work longer on homework than in 5th grade. A daily hour would be reasonable for a sixth-grader and will help to form a good study routine. You may need to start with less time and work toward an hour. Establish this hour as a routine and you will avoid the temptation for your child to procrastinate.

8. COUNSELING SERVICES
01638-52 7006 /7 226-7006

• Students may seek a counselor’s help when they wish. Urgent situations are handled immediately.

• An easy time to come see a counselor is at lunch or Seminar. Otherwise, if it’s urgent, asking a teacher’s permission to leave class and bringing a hallpass is the usual way to see a counselor.

• Counselors work with students on school adjustment and academic concerns. Counselors also provide information to parents to help them assist their student academically and socially. We work with bully behavior that is troublesome to your child. Students come directly to us or parents also call to ask that we provide strategies to strengthen your child’s skills.

• Information shared with counselors is kept confidential unless the problem concerns a potential suicide or alleged abuse situations, which must be reported by federal law. The Family Advocacy organization MUST be informed when abuse situations are reported in the school.

This is an opportunity to find out more about the middle school program. An administrator, the counselors, and some of our 6th grade students will be there. We will describe life as a 6^th grader at the middle school and give you an opportunity to ask questions.

We hope you can come to the meeting:

Lakenheath Middle School Cafeteria

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