The HomeSchool Connection

1
The Home-School Connection

• Mrs. Nancy Kelly, 6th Grade Counselor
• Mrs. Rose Sirchio, Principal

2
Elementary Versus Middle School

• Middle School
• Large building
• Less personal
• 7 different teachers
• Change classes 8 times a day
• Gym class every day
• Child mixed with different children from town

• Elementary School
• Small building
• Familiar and personal
• 1-2 different teachers
• Leave class to participate in activities, but do
  not change classes for instruction
• Recess every day
• Child mixed with neighborhood friends

3
Advantages of Three Teams

• Breaks a class of 400 children into three smaller
  sections that share common teachers
• Makes school more personal less overwhelming
• Allows team teachers to meet and discuss
  students progress during a common meeting time

4
The Three Teams
5
School Resources for Students

• Academic Support After School
• See teacher for extra help
• Make-up missed assignments or tests
• Attend study groups
• Receive peer tutoring
• Review concepts covered in class

6
Kids Concerns How Parents Can Help

• Ill Get Lost
• Highlight school map
• I Wont Remember What Class is Next
• Copy schedule post in locker and HW pad
• I Wont be With My Friends
• Boost confidence
• Teach child how to introduce himself/herself
• I Wont Be Able to Open My Locker
• Buy a combination lock and practice
• I Might Forget My Gym Clothes
• Pack shorts and shirts on Monday
• Remind them to bring home gym clothes on Friday.

7
Parents Concerns How We Can Help

• I wont be able to easily make teacher contact.
• Phone calls,
• E-mail
• Conferences set up through the guidance
  department
• I wont know all of my childs upcoming
  assignments.
• Homework Hotline
• Genesis
• School web page
• I dont know how much HW help I should give my
  child.
• Monitor HW pad and HW hotline,
• Help children plan ahead for long-term
  assignments
• Remind children to pack up the night before
• Help with organization
• Have a set a HW time and place every night.

8
Realistic Expectations of a Middle School Parent

• Assignments will be more demanding and longer.
• Grading will be stricter and based more on
  achievement than effort.
• Academics may take a back seat to socialization.
• Children will strive to be independent, yet will
  still forget supplies books at school.
• Children will be looking for parents to set
  boundaries (rules) and will be rebellious and
  challenging at times.
• Children will feel physically awkward and have a
  shaky self-esteem.

9
Areas to be Monitored

• Social Events
• Know where your child is going call ahead to
  check adult supervision
• When having children at your house, frequently
  check in on them
• Enroll child in supervised activities
• Computer
• Situate computer in visible, high traffic area
• Monitor amount of time on computer or playing
  video games
• Monitor IMs and emails

10
Choose Your Battles Wisely

• Recognize the changes your child will be going
  through and choose your battles wisely. Reserve
  your expressions of concerns for the issues that
  really matter to you!!!

11
We Can Help!

• Mrs. Kelly- 6th Grade Counselor
• Mrs. McGowan- 7th Grade Counselor
• Mrs. Griggs- 8th Grade Counselor
• Dr. Myers- School Psychologist
• Mrs. Carter- School Nurse

12
Parent Coffee Hours!

• September 16
• September 23
• September 30
• Time 900 am-1000 am
• Place Intermediate School Cafeteria