Middle School Philosophy

1
Welcome to Mill Creek Middle School!
2
Mill Creek is a Schools to Watch School

• One of only six schools identified in Michigan.
• Identified as an Exemplary Middle Level Program
  in Michigan and the United States.

3
What is Schools to Watch?

• ? Academically Excellent. These schools
  challenge all students to use their minds
  well.
• ? Responsive to Students Needs. These schools
• are sensitive to the unique developmental
• challenges of early adolescence.
• ? Socially Equitable. These schools are
  democratic
• and fair, providing every student with
  high-quality
• teachers, resources, and supports.

4
Middle School Concept
5
Turning Points Recommendations

• Create small communities
• Teach a core academic program
• Ensure success for all students
• Empower teachers and administrators
• Staff middle grade schools with teachers who are
  experts
• Improve academic performance through fostering
  health and fitness
• Reengage families
• Connect schools with communities

6
Team Configurations

• Two - four person teams
• One - three person team

7
Teams Work to.

• Talk about student issues
• Coordinate classroom activities
• Plan team activities
• Plan interdisciplinary instruction

8
Eighth Grade Courses
Pre-Algebra Algebra
Language Arts
Science
Global Studies
Technology Education
Art
Physical Education
Life Skills
And Eight Electives
9
Mill Creek Vocabulary FOCUS Nine weeks
exploratory class, mandates for students a.
7th grade Adolescent Health, PE, Global
Languages, Careers/Technology b. 8th grade
Life Skills, PE, Art, Technology
Education ELECTIVES Nine week class, student
elects from elective course offerings. CORE
Year long courses including, math, English,
science, and social studies.
10
Block Schedule

• Monday/ Wed/Friday
• (A-Day)
• Language Arts (100)
• Focus class (70)
• Social Studies (100)
• Elective (45)
• Elective (45)

• Tuesday/Thursday
• (B-Day)
• Math (100)
• Focus class (70)
• Science (100)
• Elective (45)
• Elective (45)

11
Benefits of block scheduling

• Reduces number of classes in one day
• Allows flexibility in time for learning
• Increases opportunities for differentiation
• Reduces number of students seen each day
• Reduces fragmentation
• Provides large blocks of teaching time
• Reduces number of class changes

12
Opportunities to Volunteer
Classroom Volunteer
Afterschool
Dances
13
Athletic Opportunities
Basketball Cross Country Football Swimming Track
Volleyball Wrestling
14
Athletic Eligibility
LEVEL 1 a. Passing all classes and have a GPA
of at least 2.0. b. Eligible to participate
and their academic performance would be monitored
at the mid-term and grade marking.   - LEVEL 2
a. Failing one class and have a GPA of at
least a 2.0. b. Not failing any classes but
have a grade point average below a 2.0. c.
Able to practice and compete but would be
considered "on probation". d. Required to
submit a weekly power school printout with
teacher signatures to maintain
eligibility. LEVEL 3 a. Student is ineligible
due to failing two classes or failing one class
and a GPA less than 2.0. b. Allowed to
practice. Must earn privilege to play c.
Required to submit a weekly power school printout
with teacher signatures to maintain eligibility
15
Viewing Grades Online

• Visit Internet Site
• http//www.dexterschools.org
• While on the PowerSchool page, enter the
  following information

Click on the Grades and Attendance icon..
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USE POWERSCHOOL!
Click on the Grades Attendance icon..
17
Washington DC Trip

• Date April 26-30, 2010
• We are making plans for our fourth 8th grade Mill
  Creek Middle School trip to Washington D.C.
  scheduled for the Spring of 2010. This trip
  coincides with the curriculum taught in eighth
  grade American History. It will provide your
  child with an outstanding educational experience
  viewing Washingtons monuments, museums, and
  historical sites which will impact him/her for a
  lifetime.
• Trip dates are Monday, April 26th through Friday,
  April 30, 2010, with early morning departure and
  return by deluxe, VCR equipped motor coaches
  provided by Travel Adventures, Inc. Chaperones
  for the trip are Mill Creek Middle School staff
  members, Dexter administrators and other Dexter
  Schools staff.

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Washington DC Trip

• Date April 26-30, 2010
• The trip is open to all eligible eighth grade
  students at Mill Creek Middle School. Students
  behavior and citizenship throughout the year will
  determine their eligibility. Students suspended
  for major student handbook violations will lose
  their eligibility. This determination will be
  made by the school principal and the trip
  coordinators.
• Students will attend a meeting in the fall to
  discuss the details of the trip so they can make
  an informed decision on whether or not they would
  like to go. We ask students who choose to go on
  the trip to write a short essay entitled, Why I
  Want to go to Washington, D.C., which they are
  expected to turn in along with the other
  necessary paperwork.
• Please understand that this trip is NOT required
  and that forcing your child to go against his/her
  wishes will only cause problems for your child,
  the other students and the staff who are
  attending the trip. The cost per student is
  approximately 735, which includes all food,
  lodging, transportation, and admission tickets.