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MIDDLE SCHOOL 101 Everything you wanted to know about Maple Creek Middle School but were afraid to ask Slide 2 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 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. Assist students in becoming increasingly responsible through the three years at MS. We are not the same as a junior high! We are not the same as a junior high! Slide 3 Welcome to Maple Creek! Slide 4 Maple Creek Middle School 625 students in grades 6-8 625 students in grades 6-8 15 international 120 FI 15 international 120 FI 44 teaching staff and 20 support staff 44 teaching staff and 20 support staff 6 Teams of approximately 4 classes per team 6 Teams of approximately 4 classes per team Slide 5 Whats the Focus at Maple Creek? Becoming Respectful and Socially Responsible Citizens locally and globally Becoming Respectful and Socially Responsible Citizens locally and globally Making Positive Social Connections Making Positive Social Connections Strong Focus on Academic Achievement and safety and belonging Strong Focus on Academic Achievement and safety and belonging Slide 6 Becoming Respectful and Responsible Citizens Slide 7 Making Positive Social Connections Slide 8 Focus on Academic Achievement -Assessment as learning -Differentiated instruction Slide 9 SIP Goal#1 Improve reading skills Slide 10 What are Teams? School within a school School within a school Groups of 3-4 classes Groups of 3-4 classes 3-4 core teachers + 1 student services teacher 3-4 core teachers + 1 student services teacher Located in same area of the building Located in same area of the building Students spend 5 of 7 blocks each in the team each day, mainly with one core teacher Students spend 5 of 7 blocks each in the team each day, mainly with one core teacher Grade 8 is a transition year Grade 8 is a transition year Slide 11 Teaming Works for Kids Teachers plan curriculum and activities together for the team Teachers plan curriculum and activities together for the team Teachers within the team share students Teachers within the team share students Goal every child has several adults to look after and care for them including the homeroom teacher Goal every child has several adults to look after and care for them including the homeroom teacher Student Services Model for the team Student Services Model for the team Slide 12 What will the day look like? Seven blocks per day Seven blocks per day 40 minutes each block 40 minutes each block Five blocks CORE time within the team Five blocks CORE time within the team Two blocks EXPLORATIONS time Two blocks EXPLORATIONS time Slide 13 MONTUESWEDTHURSFRI HRoomHR 1CORE 2 Break 3EXPL 4 Lunch 5CORE 6 7 Slide 14 What subjects will my child take? CORE: CORE: Language Arts Math Social Studies Science French as a Second Language Slide 15 Who teaches these subjects? The majority of core subjects will be taught by the homeroom teacher 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 Sometimes, another teacher on the team will trade subject areas with the homeroom teacher -Math Curriculum Slide 16 Blended Classes Grade six and seven students in all classes at this level Grade six and seven students in all classes at this level Differentiated instruction, bell curve and A/B year Differentiated instruction, bell curve and A/B year Students usually spend two years with the same core teacher looping Students usually spend two years with the same core teacher looping Students, teachers and families all get to know each other Students, teachers and families all get to know each other Grade Seven students act as mentors to younger students each fall Grade Seven students act as mentors to younger students each fall Slide 17 What are Explorations? Not the same as electives Not the same as electives Designed to give kids a taste of what they might want to pursue in secondary school 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 Taught mainly by specialist teachers Maple Creek has four specialist teachers who are all trained in their area Slide 18 Explorations Subjects PE all year every second day PE all year every second day Drama and Art half 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 Music, Computers, Tech Ed, Home Ec (Cooking and Sewing), 8 full weeks each Slide 19 General Music Slide 20 DRAMA Slide 21 ART Slide 22 Home Economics Slide 23 PHYSICAL EDUCATION Slide 24 It all looks like a lot of fun, but do they ever do any homework Students will be assigned homework on a regular basis Students will be assigned homework on a regular basis On average, around 45 minutes per night On average, around 45 minutes per night Dependent on how much work gets done in class, projects, etc. Dependent on how much work gets done in class, projects, etc. Homework will be recorded on the board each day Homework will be recorded on the board each day Beginning of the year agendas signed Beginning of the year agendas signed School Website class websites School Website class websites Slide 25 What Support Services are Available? Full time student services teacher for each team Full time student services teacher for each team Learning Assistance ESL Gifted Programming Resource Full time counsellor Full time counsellor Full time youth worker Full time youth worker Slide 26 Extra-Curricular GET INVOLVED in a least one activity GET INVOLVED in a least one activity Something for everyone niche Something for everyone niche Bring a friend you dont have to know how to do something in order to join that activity Bring a friend you dont have to know how to do something in order to join that activity Bring your positive attitude Bring your positive attitude ..but, Im not strong at.. ..but, Im not strong at.. Slide 27 Athletics Teacher volunteers, rely on parent support 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 WINTER Basketball, Wrestling, Ski and Snowboard SPRING Track and Field, Mtn. Biking, Badminton, Rugby SPRING Track and Field, Mtn. Biking, Badminton, Rugby NO CUT POLICY NO CUT POLICY Slide 28 Athletics Slide 29 Grade Six Co-Ed Non- Competitive Slide 30 CLUBS AND GAMES Slide 31 Lunch Time We are a CLOSED CAMPUS We are a CLOSED CAMPUS No in and out days No in and out days Responsibility Responsibility Intramurals Intramurals Slide 32 Choir Slide 33 Band Slide 34 Spring Musical Slide 35 Student Leadership Slide 36 The Cafeteria Slide 37 GET INVOLVED Library, 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. Slide 38 Intramural Program Slide 39 How Safe is Maple Creek? School Goal continue to improve students sense of safety and belonging 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 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 Ministry Satisfaction Surveys we always score above the district and provincial averages on safety related questions Slide 40 What about Bullying? We take it seriously We take it seriously We follow up on every incident that is reported to us 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 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 We protect kids who report bullying to the best of our ability BIGGEST CHALLENGE kids who dont report, the code of silence BIGGEST CHALLENGE kids who dont report, the code of silence Slide 41 Class Placements Goal to create the most positive placement for every student Goal to create the most positive placement for every student Challenges 440 Grade 6/7 students to place in the puzzle 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 Grade balance, gender balance, ability balance, matching learning and teaching styles, pre-existing social and relationship issues Slide 42 Transition to Middle School P and VP have met with all grade five students for initial orientation session twice P and VP have met with all grade five students for initial orientation session twice Currently meeting with all grade five parents Currently meeting with all grade five parents Open House Open House Fine Arts Afternoon Fine Arts Afternoon Mid-May teacher meetings and second visit with students Mid-May teacher meetings and second visit with students World wide band tour World wide band tour June Student tour of Maple Creek June Student tour of Maple Creek Individual visits and arrangements Individual visits and arrangements Slide 43 We look forward to having you join us!!