Home of the Panthers!6pm Parent Presentation

Mr. James Martin Principal

Dr. Garth Cupp Assistant Principal

Mrs. Anne BorowskiAcademic and Behavior Specialist

Ms. Joanna SundstromSocial Worker/Counselor

PTSO• Our students and parents have the chance to join our amazing PTSO.

• Our PTSO runs fundraisers to support student, teachers, and local businesses.

• Some of the many things parents and students can do in the PTSO are Valentine Grams, Halloween Grams, The Harvest Festival, and many other fun things.

How can you help them prepare?They need Grit!• Grit by Angela Duckworth

• Link to “Grit: the power of passion and perseverance”

They need a Growth Mindset!• Mindset by Carol Dweck

• Link to “Developing a Growth Mindset”

Don’t be afraid to let them fail.• Parenting with Love and Logic by Foster Cline and Jim Fay

• Link to loveandlogic.com

Early Adolescents: Ages 11-14

Identity vs. Role Confusion (Erikson, 1950)

● Physical

● Social Emotional

● Cognitive

● Sensory and Motor

● Psychological

Common Cognitive Thinking Errors

• “Black and white” thinking. Parents are either awesome…or awful.

• “All or nothing” thinking. “If you don’t let me go to the concert, I will never be popular.”

• “Over-generalized thinking. “Everyone else’s parents let them watch R-rated movies!”

• Imaginary Audience Syndrome. Adolescents believe that everyone is watching and preoccupied with the smallest details of his or her life. “I can’t go to school today, everyone will notice my pimple.”

• Egocentric thoughts. “I do all the chores around here! YOU never help out!” They are not aware, in this moment, that you work to pay the bills.

Characteristics of the Early Adolescent

• We have multiple supports in place for students and parents as they transition to Middle School.

Understand the Changes…

Don’t Be Afraid!

You Can Do This!

Social/Emotional and Behavioral Supports

• Administrators

• Academic and Behavior Specialist

• Social Worker/Counselor

• Psychologist

• PBIS (Positive Behavior Supports)

• Learning Lab

• Support Groups (loss, friendship/social challenges, social skills, mentoring, etc.)

• Behavior Specialists

• Behavioral Screeners and Non-Cognitive Assessments (to determine appropriate interventions)

How does Altadena Meet ALL Students’ Needs?

Philosophy of Middle School

• Student Agency• Academic Excellence• Responsive Instruction

Student Agency•Growth Mindset, Grit and Self Advocacy

•Advisory class to include student goals and action plans

•LEAD - Leader in Me

All students are leaders!

We develop leadership through the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Examples:• KAMS TV• Ambassadors• Student Council - Student led pep assemblies• Organizing School Events• Yearbook • Leading on campus and in the community

• Goal Setting• Reflection• 7 Habits • Service

Advisory

Responsibilities for a Middle School Student

Students need to advocate for their own learning:• Checking grades online• Agenda online• Using educational websites - assignments and projects• Problem-solving• Time management, including homework and after school activities• Students are the first to initiate questions to their teachers about

assignments/additional help

Students need to advocate for themselves socially, with support from the adults in their lives.

What’s a typical Middle School day?• Core classes

• Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies

• 2 Electives every day• Fine Arts, Foreign Language, Performing Arts, Health

and Physical Education, Practical Arts, Visual Arts

• PRIDE Hour• Lunch• Passing Periods• Wednesdays • Extra Curricular

Opportunities

Extracurricular Opportunities

The PAWYearbook ClubMA+H C0UN+S

Color Guard

Swift Club

Speech and DebateTheatre Production

STUDENT COUNCIL

Altadena ClubsKAMS Tv

Chess Club

Dance

Chess Club

NJHS

Athletics• Fall, winter, and spring sports for

boys and girls

• Cut and non-cut sports

• Cut sports: Basketball, Soccer, Softball, Baseball, Volleyball, Cheer

• Non-cut sports: Cross Country, Track, Wrestling

• Intramurals

Academic Excellence• Provide a comprehensive program of studies that

meets the interests and needs of middle school students.

• Advanced Course Offerings in All Subject Areas & Gifted Programs

• Consistent Program of Study - Core, Advanced, Exploratory

• System of Assessment for Four Core Content Areas• Exploratory Offerings Based on Student Interest• High School Credit Courses

Middle School Progression of Study

Advanced Placement

Students can be placed in Advanced English Language Arts (ELA), Advanced Math, Advanced Science and Advanced Social Studies classes.

Students are placed into advanced courses based on existing data and more information regarding class placement will be provided to you by your child’s teacher.

Gifted Pathways

Students who score at or above the 97th percentile on an approved test for gifted identification in verbal reasoning, quantitative (math) reasoning and/or non-verbal reasoning are eligible for gifted services.

Instruction is provided through:

• Advanced core classes

• Gifted Pathways

Responsive Instruction• Provide supports that meet the cognitive and non-cognitive needs of

students.• Professional Learning Communities• Use common student data to monitor progress and adjust instruction

during 4th period rotation.• Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Systems• Tiered Academic, Behavioral and Socioemotional Supports

• Academic and Behavior Specialist• School Counselor/Social Worker• Interventionist

PRIDE Hour

o Extension of core classeso Intervention and Extension

Intervention

Range of services available in Middle Schools

• MTSS-Multi-tiered Systems of Support

• Math and Reading Interventionists

• Consultation with special education teacher

After HoursAfter Hours is a supervised program that allows students to study, play games, or just hang out. Enrollment information is available at the Community Education link on the Kyrene School District website.

Stay Connected• ParentVUE and StudentVUE• Website (school, teams, teachers)• Agenda• Email• Phone• Weekly eblast (newsletter) from Listserve• Facebook• Instagram – altadena_ksd• Remind Text Alerts• Tip Text Line

GO DEVILS

BEAR DOWN