COMMUNITY HOUSE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Note cards on the table are for parent questions that arise during the presentation. We will collect them at the end and answer as many as we can

Please include your email so that we may respond to any we are unable to answer during this

evening.

Congratulations!

You’re A Middle School Student Starting Today

Mom and Dad….Stop Worrying….

At CHMS, we are a TEAM. Everyone is working together to create a successful

experience for your child and you.

Did You Know…Community House has been an Honor School of Excellence for the past two years

with steady growth in all areas (from 86% to +94% in 4 years!)?

Community House has more students identified for the Duke TIP program than any other school in the state?

Community House has award-winning Fine Arts, Chess, OM, Math Counts and Science-Olympiad programs?

Community House has had the CMS Exceptional Children’s Teacher of the Year for two consecutive years?

Community House was recently selected by the College Board to serve as an exemplary model of “Pre-AP” program implementation?

Student Demographics

1587 Students Approx. 16% ED 64.3 % White 13.8 % African American 9.8 % Hispanic 12 % Asian

Growing daily…..

A Typical Day at “The House”9:15am – 4:15pm **Before and After-School will have programs at CHMS

Arrival - Do not drop off prior to 8:45am Lockers First Block – Academics - tardy if not seated in

class at 9:15am Second Block – Academics Lunch Third Block – Electives Fourth Block - Core Enrichment Time – Likely between 3rd and 4th

BLOCK SCHEDULE

Students take 4 core classes per year: Language Arts, Math, Science & Social Studies. (LA and Math daily/ Sci&SS every other day)

Students take 4 semesters of electives per year. They rotate on an A-Day/B-Day basis. All students take PE/Health for a semester.

Enrichment time **

CHMS Is So Big…Will My Child Get Support?

Team Approach Guidance Counselors Welcome Week Ambassadors Grade level

administrators Tutoring, progress

reports, PAM, planners

CHMS Is So Big…Will My Child Have Fun?

Athletic Events ** Club Opportunities Academic

Competitions Middle School

Madness (YMCA) School Events Cavalier Rewards

Program Get Involved!

Some Current Clubs at CHMS Battle of the Books – Robin Williams Beta Club – Alison Drake Chess Club – Parent – Deborah Reicht – scomfortzone@lycos.com First Priority – Elizabeth Dockery Math Counts – Lance Kanter National Academic League – Karen Brown and Margaret Carey National Junior Honor Society – Dawn Baker (students are extended invitations after 2nd quarter of

7th grade, please see wiki link on CHMS website for more information) Odyssey of the Mind – Parent Led – Angie McGraw – McGraw4@carolina.rr.com or Eva Tai –

evaptai@yahoo.com Programming Club – Keith Bennett Running Club – Abbey Fernengel Rugby Club – Jeff Smith Science Olympiad – Dana Frank Writing Club – Amy McNelis Art Club – Kathy Bell Lego Club – Sara Bryan Singing Club – Robin Jamison

CHMS Is So Big...Will My Child Be Safe?

CSA and SRO monitor/circulate the halls and villas Visible Administrators Nurse and 3 Trained First Responders All Teachers on Duty Before/After School and During Bell

Changes Grade level hallways All Students in the Halls Must Have a Signed Pass All Visitors Must Sign In and Receive a Badge Parents Must Show ID when Picking Up a Child No tolerance for bullying…including cyber-bullying

Will the Children Be Held to High Behavior Standards?

School-Wide Discipline Plan – Team Sheets Rights and Responsibilities Handbook

enforced equitably Dress Code Cell Phone/Electronics Policy** (BYOT) Tardy Policy Bus Expectations No Exceptions!

CHMS Is So Big…How Do I Handle Questions or Concerns?

Communication protocol Always start with the teacher Counselor Grade Level Administrator Make appointments

– Parent Conference Day is Tuesday; call or email your counselor

CHMS Is So Big…How Will I Know What Is Going On?

Every Friday, we publish a newsletter highlighting the events in our school – The Community House Courier

It will be emailed to you. Sign up for our listserv now…Link on the Website (School Resources…CHMS Courier Sign Up). You can begin getting these sent to you NOW

Ambassadors

Questions from Rising 6th graders answered by our current 8th grade Ambassadors…

Let’s Get to the Good Stuff…and “Debunk” some Myths

How do I get in Honors? I heard it is only EOG score? That means my child is tracked beginning in 6th grade!

But my child is TD…he/she should be in a separate class. My 5th grade teacher did not recommend Honors and we need to meet about

this. I heard my child must be in Honors so he’s not behind in high school math. I don’t want my child in class with “those kinds of kids.” I heard you don’t want to get Ms. So and So… I heard that you must get Ms. So and So because she teaches the “super

Honors.” How do we select electives? Are we guaranteed our choices? I heard some classes at CHMS are only offered online!

Forget what you have heard as I will go over all the current, accurate information

How Do I Select Academic Courses?All courses have changed to Common Core State Standards

(http://www.corestandards.org/)

Levels of Math -All students will follow the new Common Core Standards as this curriculum is the foundation for all higher level courses.

– Honors – This course will follow the CCSS, use a variety of resources and texts to support the curriculum, and provide consistent extension and supplementary activities to increase depth of 6th concepts. Strong mathematical literacy and fluency is a pre-requisite. Pacing may be accelerated into 7th content as necessary.

– Math 6 – This course will follow the CCSS, use a variety of resources and texts to support the curriculum, and supplement as needed based on individual progress within the classroom.

• The new standards require a large amount of critical thinking, mathematical reasoning and written explanation of conceptual understanding.

• If your child struggles with reading comprehension and written expression, you may want to consider Math 6 as the pacing will provide ample time for your child to build on these skills.

• Schedule changes cannot occur once the school year begins. If you select the faster pace and higher rigor level of Honors Math 6, it may necessitate additional parental support and time outside the classroom.

How Do I Select Academic Courses?

Language Arts All of our language arts classes use the full Pre-AP SpringBoard curriculum to

supplement the CCSS. Within this program, individual student needs are targeted through changes in content, process and/or product. For example, reading material is differentiated based upon each student’s scale score (EOG) and lexile level. Additionally, all students are immersed in a comprehensive vocabulary program grounded in the study of Greek and Latin roots as they apply to an overall understanding of language. This program is also differentiated according to student need and readiness. All language arts classes are taught at an honors level with the understanding that a portion of our students may need additional support throughout the school year.

The courses with the “Honors” title use the top tier of lexile levels when assigning novels and other texts. While there is some variance within these tiers, students in an Honors LA course will be assigned more complex and challenging texts that typically fall in the 1000+ lexile range. Please be aware that this can sometimes bring increased maturity in themes**

How Do I Choose Honors or Standard?

Use the handout of course descriptions. Consider the variety of suggested data points. Talk with your child’s current teacher…what

does he/she see on a daily basis in the classroom? Parent will have final decision as we are using

open access philosophy…use the data…set your child on the right path**

Signature on the registration card is acknowledgement of the course you desire and your understanding that there will be no schedule changes.

How Do I Select Academic Courses?

All Students take Science and Social Studies which are NOT leveled. Teachers differentiate within the classroom to meet individual needs for acceleration/remediation. These two courses generally provide the biggest “discomfort” for 6th grade students during the first grading period.

All Students take Health/PE for one semester. Students must wear CHMS gym uniform for PE which is purchased through the Athletic Booster Club.

How Do I Select Electives?

You may select 3 semesters of electives (PE is the 4th).

You may either choose 3 semester courses OR one year and one semester course.– If your child wants Band or Orchestra, he/she will select that plus

ONE other course

– If your child DOES NOT want Band/Orchestra, he/she will choose three semester courses.

– Must complete an Instrument Permission Form

– No guarantees of instrument

– All music students will meet with the band or orchestra teacher before school begins for instrument assignment purposes

How Do I Select Electives?

Art Wheels– One Wheel is 9 weeks of Dance and 9 weeks of

Chorus (performing arts)– Other Wheel is 9 weeks of Drama and 9 weeks

of Art (visual arts)– In 7th and 8th grades, these courses are all separate. The

wheel gives them a chance to explore a little of everything to see what they enjoy

– A child may take BOTH arts wheels; this would equal two choices

How Do I Select Electives?

Foreign Language Wheel– This course is exploratory and is 9 weeks of

Spanish and 9 weeks of French – It is NOT a pre-requisite for the 7/8 grade

course nor does it guarantee a seat in 7/8 grade language.

– Foreign Language is NOT a middle school necessity. **There are new implications for taking MS foreign language.

How Do I Select Electives? Computer Apps I and Computer Apps II are new curricula. Part I will

include more keying skills. Exploring Careers STEM will look at careers within the science,

technology, engineering and math fields. Each of these Computer courses may only be taken ONCE in MS.

Journalism will explore creative writing, news writing and will assist in publishing a school newspaper

Library Science and Global Leadership* Be certain to select alternate choices as elective placement is not

guaranteed. **All classes subject to change based on staffing - 2013/2014 Budget

constraints. Registration cards due at the end of the week. Select carefully as we

do not do schedule changes. We also do not take teacher requests.

Questions About the Process??

Please use the Note Cards for questions. For questions specific to your child, please include your name and contact information and someone will be in touch with you soon.

We will post this presentation on our web site.

A Few Last Notes…

T dap Immunization

There will be another Open House in the summer where you will get to meet your teachers, learn more specifics, buy PE uniforms and required readings…school spirit wear

Be looking for summer assignments…they are required!

Booster club/ASEP in the lobby

Tour Directions

WELCOME TO COMMUNITY HOUSE

MIDDLE SCHOOL

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION IS OUR PRIMARY FOCUS

We Are Glad You Are Part Of Our Team!