Principal s Welcome Principal Walter Willett First Things

Principal’s Welcome Principal Walter Willett

First Things First 1) PTO-OTIS SPUNKMEYER COOKIE FUNDRAISER 2) BOX TOPS! BIG THANKS TO THE PTO, and the TEF

OCTOBER 21, 2011 – TMS PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

On line issues • • Pinger Form. Spring Facebook My. Space

TMS STRUCTURE • 7 Period Day • 5 ACADEMIC PERIODS (2 LA, 1 SS, 1 Math, 1 Science, Lunch, 1 UA) • TEAMing • SPORTS/ CLUBS – PAY TO PLAY • $125 initial fee to participate + remaining amount / # of players

7 th Grade Open House • • OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE 2010 -2011 Time Presentation Presenter 6: 30 – 7: 00 Welcome Walt Willett Where Auditorium Curriculum Coordinators • 7: 00 – 7: 40 • • 7: 00 – 7: 08 7: 10 – 7: 18 7: 20 – 7: 28 7: 30 – 7: 38 7: 40 – 7: 48 7: 50 – 7: 58 8: 00 – 8: 08 Classrooms visits on the following schedule Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4 Period 5 Period 6 Period 7

TMS PAY TO PLAY

• • • TMS ANTI-BULLYING PROGRAMS Anti-Bullying Programs at TMS – What is done at TMS to address harassment and bullying as a school? Efforts as part of General Instruction include: – Classroom incentive programs for good behavior as well as academics (team auction programs). – Language Arts addresses these issues through literature, discussing what students can do to respond to injustice, however great or small, including the devastating effects of doing nothing. This is covered in many places, but as an example through units such as: The Devil's Arithmetic – Holocaust, Warriors Don't Cry - Civil Rights Movement - including supplemental poems and resources, The Pearl - injustice and oppression, The Greenies – prejudice, Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust – and during the Salem Unit with Tituba and A Break with Charity. In addition to the conflict of society vs. the defenseless, the last novel also develops the group of accusers as a bullying force that intimidates the main character. Flowers for Algernon, demonstrates bullying under the guise of "just kidding around" and "he's our friend. " Class projects that exhibit the lessons learned include the creation of an acceptance chain and work on how students can respect and accept people who are different than us. Class attention in Language Arts is also given to work with non-violent conflict resolution. Social studies also addresses these issues from a historical/societal perspective. Guidance Class Lessons: Guidance counselors visit classrooms regularly to present lessons. (Grades 6 -8) Guidance curriculum topics include: Interpersonal Relationships, Diversity/Celebrating Differences, Bully Proofing/Violence Prevention, Conflict Resolution, Bully/Victim Characteristics, Respect for Others, and Peer Pressure. PGM meetings (Principal Grade Meetings). ROPE is intended to address the concerns of children who are faced with the transition of moving from childhood into adolescence. Topics include: increasing self-awareness, developing positive self-confidence, learning decision-making and problem solving skills, increasing cooperation and trust, and increasing communication skills. Guidance Program/Mediation Services. Important functions of our school counselors with respect to improving our school climate: deliver comprehensive counseling curriculum in a systematic manner, provide individual counseling, assist students and parents in addressing school related problems, provide mediation services, consult with school staff regarding student achievement, behavior, and school culture, consult with outside agencies (youth services, clergy, mental health providers). Reconnect meetings are typically done following a suspension, the student meets with his/her guidance counselor to review the reason for the suspension, discuss appropriate strategies for the future, replacement behaviors, and recommend in-school or community counseling/support as needed. School Psychologist works directly with students and parents to resolve problems. In addition, she provides counseling and training in social skills and anger management. Social Scene 101: 6 th Grade Exploratory class focusing on survival skills, interpersonal skills, problem solving, and conflict resolution. TMS utilizes comprehensive Focused Monitoring and Intensive Assistance Meetings. Meeting agendas include: Review/identify patterns of discipline history, review current grades/progress, review current in-school and out-of school counseling/support/remediation, discuss incentive/reward strategies used at home, review Focused Monitoring/Intensive Assistance modified discipline/demerit system (rewarding expected behavior by decreasing demerits), and completion of Student Action Plan writing samples. TMS will implement a Positive Behavioral Supports program beginning 2010 -2011.

BOE Policy 6020: Homework Approximate times for homework completion are as follows: Kindergarten: up to 10 minutes per day – 2 days per week, as determined by the teacher. Grade 1: up to 15 minutes per day – 4 days per week, as determined by the teacher. Grade 2: up to 20 minutes per day – 4 days per week, as determined by the teacher. Grade 3: up to 30 minutes per day – 4 days per week, as determined by the teacher. Grades 4, 5 and 6: up to 45 minutes per day – 4 days per week, as coordinated by the instructional team. Grades 7 and 8: up to 90 minutes per day – 5 days per week, as coordinated by the instructional team. Grades 9 through 12: up to 180 minutes per day – 5 days per week, dependent on class level and teacher’s expectations.

Tolland Middle School Avg Class Size = 21. 5 Math Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Reading Writing

CMT Results 7 th Graders 83. 6 Math (2010) to 84. 3 (2011) 92. 8 Reading (2011) to 91. 9 (2011) 81. 6 Writing (2010) to 87. 0 (2011) 6 th Graders 92. 3 Math (2010) to 91. 3 (2011) 90. 4 Reading (2010) to 94. 1 (2011) 85. 2 Writing (2010) to 83. 5 (2011) 8 th Graders 78. 1 Math (2010) to 89. 3 (2011) 88. 6 Reading (2010) to 92. 7 (2011) 80. 5 Writing (2010) to 87. 0 (2011) 82. 5 Science (2010) to 85. 4 (2011)

Grade 7 Science • Based on CT State Frameworks for Science – Content Standards: • Three Units – Earth Matters – Astronomy – Cells & Heredity – Process Standards: • Science inquiry, literacy, & numeracy • Embedded within all units • Science CMT is administered to all 5 th & 8 th graders in March • Carolyn Tyl, Coordinator- ctyl@tolland. k 12. ct. us

TMS Mathematics TMS Grade 7 Pre-Algebra Honors Algebra CP Algebra 1 A Math 7 Pre-Algebra CP Algebra 1 A

Criteria • • • Work Ethic Chapter Assessments Benchmark Assessment data Report Card Grades Placement Assessments CMT Data

TMS Mathematics TMS Grade 7 Pre-Algebra Math 7 Honors Algebra CP Algebra 1 A Grade 8 Pre-Algebra Grade 8 Honors Geometry CP Algebra 1 B CP Geometry Honors Geometry Grade 8 CP Algebra 1 A Honors Algebra CP Algebra 1 B CP Geometry Honors Geometry

Contact • Math Coordinator, Mmckee@tolland. k 12. ct. us • Language Arts Coordinator, lcoulom@tolland. k 12. ct. us • Science Coordinator, ctyl@tolland. k 12. ct. us • Social Studies Coordinator, TBA

Introduction of UA/Reading/Guidance World Language Teachers Buffy Harris-Fogarty Michael Callahan Allison Valli Guidance Department Jan Bouley Jennifer Parzych ANY and ALL Parents of BAND STUDENTS, please meet with Ms. Titus at this time. UA Teachers/PE Teachers Gina Cohen Lisa Ballard Celeste Estevez Scott Schneider Beth Stewart Nancy Rosenzweig Heather Titus Norma Marchesani Anastasia Lemaire Greg Emerson, Steve Tozier, Hannah Thibodeau Reading Specialists Alyse Castonguay Lisa Matson (located in the Library)

Introduction of TEAMs • • Team Blue: Dana Patrie, LA, 111 Tiffany Reynolds, SS, Kerri Gedansky, LA, 112 Joanne Hadyka, SC, 30 Sherry Kraus, SE, 113 Kristine Vignone, MA, 114 • • Team Gold: Megan Connelly, SS, 110 Joann Desy, LA, 108 Henry Fay, LA, 106 Cheryl Mawaka, SC, 17 Catherine Churchill, SE, 14 Robin Wilson, MA, 109 World Language Teachers Buffy Harris-Fogarty Michael Callahan Allison Valli