MSMC

1
Middle School Magnet Consortium
MSMC

• Overview
• MSMC Schools
• Common Elements
• Choice Process
• Frequently Asked
• Questions (FAQs)

The presentation will begin at 700 p.m.
2
What schools are in the MSMC?
Argyle Magnet School for Digital Design
and Development A. Mario Loiederman Magnet
School for the Creative and Performing
Arts Parkland Magnet School for Aerospace
Technology
3
Why was the MSMC created?

• Increase student performance in the three
  target schools
• Broaden local school program choices and expand
  student program choices in MCPS
• Reduce socioeconomic isolation in the three
  target schools without increasing socioeconomic
  isolation in the sending middle schools

The MSMC was funded by a 7.2 million federal
grant through the 2007-2008 school year. The
programs are now locally funded through MCPS.
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Who is eligible to attend?
Montgomery County students currently in Grade 5
Note Students who live within the attendance
areas of Argyle, Loiederman, and Parkland WILL be
assigned to an MSMC school. Is one of these
your home elementary school? MSMC
In-Consortium Elementary Schools
Brookhaven Strathmore Georgian
Forest Viers Mill Harmony Hills Weller
Road Sargent Shriver Wheaton Woods

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Terminology
You are In-Consortium if your home elementary
school is (i.e. you live in the boundary areas
of) Brookhaven Strathmore Georgian
Forest Viers Mill Harmony Hills Weller
Road Sargent Shriver Wheaton Woods
You are Out-of-Consortium if you live out of
the boundary areas of those schools.
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Is transportation provided?

• For students who live outside walking distance of
  their assigned school, as designated by MCPS, and
  in the attendance areas of
• Argyle, Loiederman, and Parkland
• Yes - from neighborhood bus stops if they live
  beyond the MCPS designated walking distance
• All other areas of Montgomery County
• No - parents provide transportation

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What is unique about MSMC schools?

• Whole School Magnet Model
• Accelerated core curriculum
• Specialty and advanced courses
• Unique course sequences
• Advanced mathematics
• Highly effective instructional program
• Partnerships that support magnet focus

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Accelerated Curriculum and Specialty Courses

• Specialty courses open to all students
• Specialty elective courses provide
• advanced study in magnet focus

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Highly Effective Instructional Program

• MCPS curriculum in core subject areas
• Skilled teachers
• Professional development
• Team planning and grading
• Student support during and after school
• Rigorous course work
• Extended learning opportunities

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Argyle Magnet Middle School for Technology
InnovationInvent the Future With Us!
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Technology- Hardware and Software

• Full Technical Modernization Summer 2013
• 28 NXT Robots
• 20 Boebots
• 50 Wacom tablets
• 3 Pleo dinosaurs
• 45 Macbook Pro laptops
• 9 computer labs
• 36 Alienware gaming laptops
• TV Studio
• 10 Sony Bloggie cameras
• 6 Vixia RF20 HD cameras
• Lego Mindstorms

• Alice
• Game maker 8
• Visual Basic
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Adobe Premier Elements
• Eclipse for Java
• Dreamweaver
• iMovie
• Flash
• Scratch

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Argyle Magnet Middle SchoolStudents Innovate
and Invent Every Day Through

• Digital Media Production Suite-Creating Video or
  Computer Generated Graphics
• Cutting Edge Technology Education-Designing Cell
  Phone Applications and advanced video games
• Project SUCCESS-Connecting content areas in a
  unique classroom environment
• Producing Technology for Businesses and
  Non-Profit Organizations-Grade 8 Capstone
• 6th 7th Mile Marker-Students Develop Technology
  Product

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A. Mario Loiederman Magnet School for the
Creative and Performing Arts Advanced Arts
Advanced Mathematics

• 6th grade integrated arts course- Perspectives in
  the Fine Arts.
• Rigorous arts courses available in dance, music,
• theatre, visual art, digital arts and film.
• Course curricula are aligned with state and
• national standards.
• Arts performances, residencies and displays are
  on-going.
• Students may participate in juried exhibitions,
  adjudications, and competitions.

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A. Mario Loiederman Magnet School for the
Creative and Performing Arts What do the
students DO?

• C.H.O.I.C.E. Every Lion will have a CHOICE to
  be Creative by incorporation Higher order
  thinking fostered by Ongoing learning, and
  Integrates a universal design for learning
  fostered by Collaboration supported by Engaging
  instruction

• Artful Thinking Across Content Areas

Use Garage Band and Mix- Craft technology to
compose a song that captures the mood
Interpret the artwork through dance
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MSMC English
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A. Mario Loiederman Magnet School for the
Creative and Performing Arts What do the
students DO?

• Unique Partnerships
  
• Round House Theatre- Intersections residency
  using theatre to understand text
• Strathmore- workshops, open rehearsals,
  residencies and performance assemblies
• Baltimore Symphony Orchestra- guest conductors
  and open rehearsals

• Awards Accolades
• Selected as a School of Excellence in Arts
  Education by the Kennedy Center, 2010
• Selected for a Gold Award for Positive School
  Climate by the State of MD, 2010

Chamber Choir selected to performance at the MS
National Conference for Choral Music in Dallas,
Texas, 2012
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Parkland Magnet School for Aerospace
Technology Advanced Mathematics and Science
Engineering

• Every student is in a unique accelerated MCPS
  middle school science program.
• Course curricula are aligned with state and
  national standards. Scientific inquiry and
  problem solving are part of instruction.
• Students can choose electives in Astronomy,
  Engineering, Flight and Robotics. Students
  design and construct kites, planes and robots and
  they conduct authentic research in astronomy.

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Parkland Magnet School for Aerospace
Technology What do the students DO?

• Students work on their yearly Milestone Projects.
  These projects can be entered into the
  ScienceMONTGOMERY county fair.
• Our Aerospace Partners work with our students on
  their Milestone projects and they deliver
  aerospace and science lessons within their
  science classes.
• Students may participate in competitions in
• robotics, science, engineering, and
• mathematics.

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Heart Dissection w/Dr. Holliday, Aerospace Partner
Kites and Hot Air Balloons
Bottle Rockets
STEM
Physics Egg Drop
Sea Perch Engineering Project
Robotics
MSMC English
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MSMC Program Booklet
Visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/msmagne
t/
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After Grade 8, what high school options are
available for students?

• Attend one of the five Downcounty
• Consortium (DCC) high schools
• Attend home high school
• (based on students home address)
• Apply to DCC application high school programs
• Apply to countywide application high school
  programs

21
What is the Choice Process?

• The Choice process involves a LOTTERY assignment
  process.
• In-Consortium Grade 5 students who reside within
  the geographic boundaries of the MSMC will
  participate in the Choice lottery and be assigned
  to one of the three schools
• Out-of-Consortium Grade 5 students who reside
  outside the geographic boundaries of the MSMC in
  other parts of Montgomery County may participate
  in the Choice lottery

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What factors may be considered in the lottery
school assignment process?

• Computer program is used that randomly assigns
  based on
• School capacity
• Choice ranking
• Sibling link
• Socioeconomic status of base middle school
• Gender
• Note Test results, report card grades, and
  teacher recommendations
• are NOT part of the MSMC school
  lottery process.

23
What factors ARE NOT considered in the lottery
school assignment process?

• Test results
• Report card grades
• Teacher recommendations
• Race
• Participation in activities related to the
  magnet focus
• Skill/interest level or preparation in the area
  of the magnet focus

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What is the Choice Process Timeline?
September 2013 MSMC evening parent information
meetings October 2013 MSMC open houses at
each school Choice forms available
mid-October November 2013 November 8, 2013 -
Choice form deadline (Round 1) Contin
ued ?

25
Choice Process Timeline (Continued)

• Early February 2014 Results of Round 1
• Notification letters mailed to homes of Round
  1 participants
• February 14, 2014
• Round 2 forms due for
• New applicants
• Students who did not get their first choice
  school in
• Round 1 whose parents request in writing to
  have
• original Choice form resubmitted
• Out-of-consortium students not selected in
  Round 1
• February 21, 2014
• Acceptance deadline for out-of-Consortium
  students invited in Round 1

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How will families receive the Choice form?

• In-Consortium Students who live within the
  Consortium will receive a Choice form in the
  mail.
• Out-of-Consortium Students/parents may obtain
• a Choice form from
• the MSMC website
• www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/msmagnet
• the Division of Consortia Choice and Application
  Program Services, 301-592-2040

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What does the Choice form look like?
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How do students participate in the MSMC school
Choice process?
1) Parents/Grade 5 students complete a Choice
form. Rank the three MSMC schools in order
of preference 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
choices. 2) Please answer the 3 survey
questions on form, too. We want your
feedback! 3) Return the form by Friday,
November 8, 2013 In-Consortium Return to
childs elementary school.
Out-of-Consortium Return to DCCAPS office.
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What are some frequently asked questions?
?
FAQ
F A Q s ?
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What are the differences and similarities between
the MSMC schools and the magnet programs at
Clemente, Eastern and Takoma Park?
MSMC Application Programs
Whole school magnet Every child in the school participates in the magnet focus Student assignment by lottery using Choice form Magnet program within a larger school Only those selected participate Student assignment by a highly competitive selection process application (report card grades, teacher recommendations, testing . . .)
Similarities Similarities
Rigorous course work Themed programs High school credit available Limited seats Rigorous course work Themed programs High school credit available Limited seats
Note A student may apply to application programs AND participate in the lottery. Note A student may apply to application programs AND participate in the lottery.
31
Are students who live within the MSMC
attendance area guaranteed a seat?
Yes, an In-Consortium student is guaranteed a
seat at one of the three schools.
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Are students guaranteed their first choice
school?

• No, but every effort will be made to
• assign students to their first choice.
• Last year, 87 of In-Consortium students received
  their first choice.

33
How many seats are available to students who live
outside of the MSMC attendance area?

• Depending on enrollment trends,
• approximately up to 80 seats per school may be
  available for students
• entering Grade 6.
• Last year, 758 out-of-Consortium students
  submitted Choice forms.

34
Do MSMC schools offer similar services as other
MCPS middle schools?
MSMC schools offer the same academic and
educational services as other MCPS schools, plus
additional courses and after school
activities. All MCPS middle schools offer
opportunities for high school credit.
35
May current Grade 6 students participate
in the Choice process?
Current Grade 6 students who live outside the
MSMC attendance area may participate in the
Choice process. Factors that may be considered
in the selection process include the total number
of available seats, total number of applicants
for those seats, choice ranking, sibling link,
socioeconomic status, gender, and the percentage
of students on Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) at
the applicants home school.

36
When are the MSMC Fall 2013 Open Houses?
Wednesday, October 9 Parkland 4610 West
Frankfort Drive Rockville, MD
20853 Wednesday, October 16 Argyle 2400 Bel
Pre Road Silver Spring, MD 20906 Wednesday,
October 23 A. Mario Loiederman 12701 Goodhill
Road Silver Spring, MD 20906 Programs
begin at 700 p.m. Parents and their Grade 5
child(ren) are encouraged to attend all three.
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For more information, please contact
Peter_A_Daddone_at_mcpsmd.org Magnet Coordinator
Argyle Royce_A_Wallace_at_mcpsmd.org Magnet
Coordinator A. Mario Loiederman Donna_M_Blaney_at_
mcpsmd.org Magnet Coordinator
Parkland Questions about the Choice Process?
Division of Consortia Choice and Application
Program Services (DCCAPS) 301-592-2040 or visit
montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/msmagnet
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• Thank you for attending this presentation.
• To help us better serve you, please
• complete your evaluation form and return
• it to a member of the Consortia staff or in the
  boxes by the door as you leave.
• Principals and coordinators are in the foyer
  to answer your questions.