Middle School Open House mblount aep latech edu adavis aep

Middle School Open House mblount@aep. latech. edu adavis@aep. latech. edu kassab@aep. latech. edu cmcduffie@aep. latech. edu dwick@aep. latech. edu

School Fees All 6 th – 8 th fees are $70!

Some Additional Fees An 8 th grade graduation fee will be assessed the second semester. There will also be a costume fee for the 6 th and 8 th grades. The 8 th grade fee is $30. The 6 th grade amount will be discussed at the Madrigal Dinner meeting.

th Grade Play 8 There will be an 8 th grade meeting to discuss the play and trip. It will be announced as soon as possible. The dates for the play this year are: May 9 -12, 2016 Auditions for the play will be: November 12, 2015 from 1 -3 P. M. Mr. Boyd and Mrs. Kassab facilitate the tryouts but do NOT judge the tryouts!! Dr. Hood will be there to oversee the audition process.

6 th Grade Madrigal Dinner • Second quarter elective for all 6 th graders is the 6 th grade play. It is a Madrigal concert and dinner. • The performance is Tuesday, December 1, in the Student Center. • We will be having a meeting regarding the Madrigal Dinner very soon. We will need help with costumes, ticket sales, and decorating. Keep your eyes on your email for more information!

Sixth Grade Dallas Trip There will also be a 6 th grade Dallas trip meeting after the 1 st deposit. Trip dates are May 5 -6. Watch for the 1 st deposit letter in September.

Fundraising/D. C. Meeting There will also be a 5 th, 6 th, and 7 th grade D. C. Meeting in the Multipurpose Room soon! The date will be announced! This meeting is to discuss fundraising. There will be a meeting with the 7 th grade parents to discuss the trip. Be there or be square!

Arrival/Absenteeism Students may report to the gym @ 7: 20. Students are not allowed to be here before 7: 20 – there are NO teachers on duty. All tardies will be documented and recorded. Students are not to miss more than 10 days this year. Excused or Unexcused. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule a time to make up work or tests with each teacher.

Absentee Work If your child is absent for MORE than one day, please request work. The request will need to come before 9: 00 A. M. and materials picked up after 2 P. M. in order to accommodate all planning periods.

Parent/Teacher Communication If you would like to schedule a parent- teacher conference, please contact the teacher via email. Please email teachers if you have questions or concerns. This is a faster way for us to communicate with you. Please follow the “chain of command. ” If you have a problem or something to discuss, please be courteous and speak with us first. We will gladly be open for discussion. Please give us 48 hours to respond. (not including weekends)

Continuing Communication! We have sent home all the Remind codes on a bright red sheet…it will save your life Kassab will also email home the directions for using the AEP website for her class.

Contacting Teachers via Cell Phone… • We will no longer be responding to parent texts until our planning period. • We will be focused on instructing these darling children every minute! • However…texting is still an extremely easy way to communicate with us!

A. E. Phillips Handbook Middle School Handbook contains: § Schedules of Classes § Policies specific to middle school • Electronic devices • Dress code • Tardiness • Homework • MUCH MORE!!

Middle School Behavior Policy

Graded Work § Parent Command § If a student makes a “D” or “F” on an assessment we will email a picture of the test to notify you. § You are welcome to see your student’s work at any time. Just schedule an appointment with that teacher.

Continuing with Eureka Math Eureka math is the only Tier 1 curriculum recognized by the state of Louisiana If students lose their textbook, I will provide a copy on a flashdrive. It will be their responsibility to print the material at that point.

MATH This curriculum is more rigorous and focuses on proofs and theorems behind the problem, not just how to work it. PLEASE, PLEASE!!! Do not tell your student. “You don’t have to work it this way. ”

Math Grades Chapter-Skill Tests These tests will be administered when a set of skills have been completed and need to be mastered before advancing to the next concept. All tests are cumulative Multiple Choice Short Answer Constructed Response Take Home Quizzes Homework - I will adhere to the Middle School Homework Policy. Daily Warm-up work - reviewed daily. Needs parent signature before being turned in on Friday.

The ultimate goal is to lay a foundation of understanding so that they can tackle any problem. That way when they get to high school/college they can work more advanced problems because they understand the methods behind them. Several other countries teach this way with overwhelming success. There will be fewer homework problems in the beginning. Most of their notes will be taken in the same section as their homework to use as reference.

English/Language Arts ELA is taught in a two hour block consisting of study in the areas of grammar, vocabulary, composition, and literature. • De. Ette Wick is teaching 6 th & 7 th • Carly Mc. Duffie is teaching 7 th & 8 th

• Louisiana State Standards • Continue to emphasize non-fiction or informational texts • For ELA, standards are divided into 5 categories • • • Reading Standards for Literature (10) Reading Standards for Informational Texts (10) Writing Standards (10) Speaking and Listening Standards (6) Language Standards (6)

The year is divided into modules containing anchor texts. Fiction/Literature Modules Information Text Modules The anchor texts will be supplemented with shorter pieces of literature, poetry, articles, videos, and other texts with a common theme. Grammar and vocabulary instruction are imbedded in the instruction of these texts.

Writing • Writing is emphasized and tested in all areas - including science, history, and math. • In ELA, writing will be woven into each module of instruction. • There will be frequent writing for a variety of purposes. • Focus on the structure for 3 types of writing Informative/Explanatory • Argumentative • Narrative • • Text dependent and evidence based

Improving Student Writing When helping your child with writing focus on the ARMS HUGE emphasis on communicating understanding and supporting with evidence HELP!!!!!

ELA Assessment There will be multiple types of assessments used for the overall ELA grades. • • Homework Accuracy • Completion • • • Tests and Quizzes Cold Reads Final Exams EAGLE tests (taken online) Writing/Research

Middle School Anchor Texts Students are required to have a copy of each text to annotate and write in. A handout for each grade will come home for the purchase of these books. 6 th Grade Anchor Texts Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne 7 th Grade Anchor Texts The Giver by Lois Lowry A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Student selected narrative memoir 8 th Grade Anchor Texts Lord of the Flies by William Golding The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe Sugar Changed the World by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos

Dailies, vocab note cards, classwork Tests will be scheduled when a unit of study has been completed. Weekly Science vocab quizzes Current Science News Participation in Group work/experiments Projects 6 th – shoebox project 7 th – Science Fair 8 th – optional – Science Fair

Good Scientists Practice Safety Skills Lab Activities and safety contract. Sign and return by 8 -28…or you can sign and return it tonight!

Social Studies Grades – Grades will be given on quizzes, tests, and projects. Classwork/Homework – All classwork/homework will be checked either for correctness or a completion grade. Quizzes/Tests – Quizzes and tests will be scheduled in advance. The information for both, including the dates, will be posted on the website. The dates will also be recorded in the planner and on the board.

• 6 th Grade centers • 7 th Grade timeline • 8 th Grade Who Cares?

Parents, PLEASE…. • Label all of your child’s stuff! We find it everywhere…and this way we can get it back! • Nobody is stealing it!

PAC Procedure for selecting new PAC members 6 th -8 th

QUESTIONS? ?

PLEASE SIGN UP FOR… Is anyone interested in being on the sub list for this year? Anyone? Mr. Lecter? Parent volunteers are needed for the 6 th Grade Madrigal Dinner and the 8 th Grade Play Please sign up for subbing or helping with the plays at the back table.