Welcome to the Mariners’

“Back to School Night”

Look for your child’s message to you on the banner.Leave a message for them to read tomorrow morning!

THE MARINERS’ TEAM

Mrs. Brisbois - Science

Mrs. Crane - Special Education

Mrs. LaPlatney - Math

Mrs. Jorgensen - Social Studies

Mrs. Mazzella - Language Arts

Ms. Doucette - Paraprofessional

Ms. Hallden - Paraprofessional

Mrs. Sutherland - Paraprofessional

MARINERS’ SUPPORT TEAM

Mr. Costa - Guidance Counselor

Ms. Marshall - School

Psychologist

Ms. Stallworth -School Psychologist

Dr. DeLeeuw - Principal

Mrs. Brungard - House Secretary

You are the most important person in

your child’s life!

Working

Together Teache

r

Parent

Student

Communication Tools for ELMS Parents and Guardians

• Check Website – www.eastlymeschools.org for general information, events, special notices, team and/or class information

• Sign up for Friday Newsletter for school information & local information

• Activate Edline & Confirm Email – for progress reports, report cards

Go to About Us, Weekly Newsletter to View or Subscribe to Email

What is Edline?Edline is the online portal we use to distribute

report cards and progress reports

Provides teachers with an easy communication tool

• Go to www.edline.net to activate your code

• Follow steps to create a screen name and password

Verify your email or add a secondary email address

• Verify your email address or add a secondary email address

Edline Email Confirmation

Sample email from edline:

Why Confirm Email?

• Teachers can send out information to the team/kiva, a class, or an individual

• You get reminders when reports are posted• If you forget your password or need to change it

you can reset on your own

If you have any further questions or need assistance with your Edline account,

call Jennifer Berchielli, computer consultant, at 860-691-5520 or

email jennifer.berchielli@eastlymeschools.org

Student Safety Goal:

Balance student safety concerns with a welcoming and responsive school

and community partnership

Procedures for Safety

• Use the front, main entrance when visiting ELMS

• A buzzer/camera system will assist us to confirm your identity and purpose for visit

• Please make appointments whenever possible with teams or teachers

• ELMS conducts mandatory safety drills throughout the year

Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports(PBIS)

Research shows that preventing violence in schools involves:– Positive, predictable school-wide climate– High rates of academic & social success– Formal social skills instruction– Positive active supervision & reinforcement– Positive adult role models– Multi-component, multi-year school-family- community

effort

These are the same elements for a positive school climate

More on PBIS

• PBIS encourages staff and parents to share 4 positive comments with children for every 1 negative comment.

• Students will sometimes be rewarded for positive behavior by receiving a Viking Voucher. These tickets may be used for raffle drawings.

• There will also be an agenda raffle to check if agendas are being filled out.

• Feel free to talk to your children about PBIS.

Connections•Connections is our advisory program here at the middle school.

•Groups of 11-13 students are assigned to one adult advisor.

•Connections groups meet two times per month for 30 minutes where they complete lessons and activities related to a monthly school-wide theme.

Advisory programshave been shown to:

• Help students grow emotionally and socially• Contribute to a positive school climate• Enhance student-teacher relationships• Promote mutually respectful relationships with peers• Improve students’ decision-making and

communication skills• Create a sense of belonging to school• Improve student learning

Monthly ThemesSeptember- Team Building

October- Responsibility

November- Community

December- Wellness

January- Goal-Setting

February- Acceptance

March- Cooperation

April- Leadership/Citizenship

May- Friendship/Closure

Student Success Plan Overview (SSP)

The Student Success Plan (SSP) is an individualized, student driven plan that will be developed to address every student’s needs and interests to help every student stay connected in school and to achieve postsecondary educational and career goals.

Connecticut State Department of Education Student Success Plan Overview

What is required from school systems in Connecticut?

The SSP will begin in the 6th grade and continue through high school to provide support and assistance in setting goals for:

• Social, emotional, physical and academic growth.• Meeting rigorous high school expectations. • Exploring postsecondary education and career interests.

Connecticut State Department of Education, 2012

Student Success Plan Overview

1. Academic DevelopmentSMART goals(Specific, Measurable, Achievable,

Relevant, Timely)

• Kiva Activities• Student Led Conferences• Connections Groups

2. Career DevelopmentInterest Inventories and Career

Exploration• Life Skills Classes

3. Social, Emotional and Physical DevelopmentLessons and Activities

• Connections Groups

What has your child reported about his/her middle school experience?

1. Positively Enthusiastic… Hooray!!

2. OK… (Middle school language = “good”)

3. Not so good… (Find out why and tell us.)

4. They don’t share… (Find a way to reward them

for sharing something – anything!)

Language Arts and the New CCSS Expectations

http://www.eastlymeschools.org/

CCSS Mathematics StandardsWhat are the learning expectations?

Grade K- 8 Math Content Standards• Build deep understanding, not just procedural skill• Develop fluency (speed and comfort) in computation,

measurement, and ratios and proportional reasoning.• Apply math understanding by solving real world problems

and actively discussing solutions.

Grade 9-12 Math Content Standards• Emphasize the use of mathematics and statistics to analyze

problems, understand them better, and improve decisions.• Apply mathematics to novel situations with multiple

solutions, as college students and employees regularly do.

Common Core Standards and integration of new expectations includes, but is not limited to:

Reading novels, short stories, and non-fiction to develop comprehension and note-taking skills.Writing to a variety of prompts emphasizing persuasive, expository, and narrative techniquesListening, speaking, viewing & presentingConventions of standard English including spelling and grammarResearch and Media Technology

Language Arts*See Mrs. Mazzella’s Parent Letter

Language Arts Expectations1.Do your best everyday. Let us know when

you are having a rough day.2.Read at least 25 minutes Sunday-Friday

night from a book you care about and can read fluently (150 words per minute). You MUST document the exact number of minutes read and pages on a reading log. Read more for “Advanced” grade. (See Math assignment on daily reading)

3.Arrive on time to class with your homework, an SSR book, an updated reading log, a writing utensil, the school

agenda, binder, and notebook.

1. READ2. read3. Read4. Read5. Read

6. READ7. Read8. r e a d

9. Read10.

READ

TOP TEN WAYS TO IMPROVE READING SKILLS

What’s Academy? 30 minutes of extra Math and LA

instruction time

Flexible Grouping and targeted instruction

Opportunities to challenge students

Extra opportunities to practice skills

Computation with:Whole numbersFractionsDecimals

Sample of Topics Includes

Problem solvingAlgebraic reasoningGeometryPlace valueEstimating

Math

Geography Skills American Culture Africa* Canada China*

Veteran’s Day November 11th: If you would be willing to join us on one of our panels- please let me know

Social StudiesCurriculum CoveredAlso available on the school website

* Cross-curricular unit with Language Arts

Chemistry WaterWeather HabitatsHuman influence on the environment (LIS)Also, I would like to invite you to come in and speak to the students.

ScienceCurriculum CoveredAlso available on the school website

Co-teaching is…

• Approach to program delivery where two or more teachers (general and special education teachers) share teaching responsibilities within a general education classroom.

Definition of Co-Teaching

Co-teaching is…

• When both teachers interact with all of the students at different times.

• Using various arrangements of students and group sizes, so each student’s educational potential is recognized.

Daily Life in the Mariners

Check-in, Read the message, UnpackMorning News Show (Homebase)Two classesAcademy (extra Math and LA)Lunch (shared with one 5th gr. team & one 6th gr. team)Class1st SpecialOne more class!2nd SpecialHomebase/dismissal

Kiva Routine

Drinking only water in classEating healthy, nut free snacks

Our second and last academic classes are designated snack classes. *New café breakfast..

PBIS ReminderWe show respect to Others by….

Tips for Homework Success

• Consistent use of Agenda• One Homework Folder for all assignments• Set a routine time and place to do work• Handouts available for more homework tips

Done! To Do

Why…-Reinforces classroom learning-Apply skills to real world applications-Teaches responsibility and time management

When…-Nightly (approximately 50-60 minutes …plus additional 25 minutes of reading time)

Homework

Teacher…◦ Appropriate connection to lesson◦ Timely evaluation of student work

Student…◦ Agenda should have all assignments written down daily; use of

homework folder is highly encouraged.◦ Complete with quality to best of their ability◦ Submit on time◦ If absent, students should get missed assignments from teachers◦ Read 25 minutes daily (including weekends)◦ Study multiplication facts daily

Parent Check…

-Check agenda and homework hotline/school webpage

-Check completed work

Homework Responsibilities

Check Homework from Home

(860) 691-5430Spanish Homework Hotline:

(860 691-5420)French Homework Hotline:

(860 691-5421)

OR Welcome to the 21st Century….

Visit the Mariners Homework webpage

Communication E-mail Phone Website Homework Hotline Agenda Parent Conference Help Students Develop Good

Communication Skills Edline*- Remember to access electronic

report card

*Quick tutorial at end of tonight’s presentation if time

Before You Leave…

Pick up letters from the Teachers

Leave a message for your child

Pick up a copy of the “Mariners’ Monthly”

Sign up for e-mail notification of website updates

Tips for Homework Success

Thank You for Coming!We look forward to seeing you again…

Student Led Conferences on Tuesday, November 5thParent visitation days in January

Any General

Questions?