Welcome to VCMS Middle School 101 April 28

Welcome to VCMS Middle School 101 April 28, 2015

VCMS 101: Agenda Our Faculty Supporting our new 6 th graders Our Schedule & Courses Parent Involvement Community Involvement Upcoming transition events Questions

Our Vickery Creek faculty and staff are here to support you! Drew Hayes Van Lewsader Karen Ogline Derek Piper Mandy Malcolm Amy Ingram

VCMS: Faculty VCMS Teachers are… Simply the best!

Our students are the best!

Vickery Creek Students Projected enrollment for 2015 -2016 = 1310 Total students 437 6 th graders We welcome 6 th grade students from the following elementary schools: • Kelly Mill • Midway • Vickery Creek • Whitlow

Supporting our Students Power Time – Tuesday, Wed. , Thursday Counseling Dept. Graduation Coach Mentors

Preparing your child for middle school Some things are different in middle school -◦ Dropping off forgotten items ◦ Dress Code ◦ Locker ◦ Outside fast food prohibited by county policy

Dropping off forgotten items In order to limit interruptions to instruction, we do not call into classes to have students retrieve forgotten items such as lunch or schoolwork. Parents may bring these items and they will be placed on the wooden bench by the front officefor their child to pick up. Parents can email the teacher if an item has been brought to school.

Dress Code Follow the Forsyth County dress code – in the FCSS Code of Conduct Length of skirts and shorts – fingertip guideline Backpacks pull up dresses and skirts flip up in back Kids grow fast! No skin/holes in pants above fingertip length guideline No leggings or jeggings unless the top is fingertip length Tops – no inappropriate language, tank tops, cleavage, see-through or midriff showing

Preparing your child for middle school Getting ready to use a locker at school Items to purchase and those to avoid Sample lockers. . .

Preparing your child for middle school As you can see from the examples, there is not a lot of room for extras. Many students who purchase the decorations, quickly learn that other important items don’t fit. . . like their books and a coat! Not all lockers shelves fit into our lockers but our PTO sells the right size in the school store and at Viper Camp

More tips to prepare your child for middle school Develop healthy relationships by accepting differences; understand that friendships may change because our students come from four different elementary schools Limit and monitor social network use. Instagram, etc. tend to exaggerate the typical squabbles and social challenges of middle school students.

More tips to prepare your child for middle school Develop consistent routines with timelines, physical activity and bedtime – computers, phones & TV Develop a healthy balance between academic expectations and extracurricular activities. Develop self-discipline and responsibility by establishing strong study habits with a set time and place to study at home every day

Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Deputy AG Campbell School Resource Officer Unit Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Operations Division 770 -205 -4627 Duane K. Piper, Sheriff

Cell Phones Its not just a phone anymore… ◦ E-Mail, Text, Social Media, Cameras, GPS and more! Duane K. Piper, Sheriff

Cell Phones Its not just a phone anymore… ◦ E-Mail, Text, Social Media, Cameras, GPS and more! Phones are now hand-held computers Cell Phones are more difficult to monitor Phones are used without supervision Duane K. Piper, Sheriff

58% of 12 -year-olds have a cell phone. Does this mean that your child should have one? Instead of the “appropriate age, ” focus on the needs of your child and your family. Does your child need an easy way to contact you? Do you trust him or her to be responsible with a cell phone? Have you set clear guidelines for the use of mobile devices? Lenhart A. Teens and Mobile Phones. Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2010. Duane K. Piper, Sheriff

Inappropriate Content The Internet contains lots of information ◦ Some of it is not appropriate for children Misspelling a web address Clicking an advertisement ◦ Harmless acts can expose a child to inappropriate content!! Sexually Explicit Material ◦ Many children are learning about sex from the internet Flawed views and opinions of their self-image and sexuality, which could affect their development. Duane K. Piper, Sheriff

Inappropriate Content Illegal Activities ◦ Drug Use ◦ Video instructions on: Picking locks Playing alcoholic drinking games Making bombs. ◦ Other sites encourage dangerous behaviors: Cutting Anorexia Suicide -Tips about how to hide the behaviors from family and friends. Duane K. Piper, Sheriff

Apps to Watch Out for SNAPCHAT: Commonly used by teens to Sext WICKR: Commonly used by teens to Sext (Similar to Snap. Chat) Ki. K: Text/Email over Wi. Fi Used to get around Parental restrictions Ask. fm: Anonymous posting and question answer INSTAGRAM: Default is Public View Turn Off GEO-Tagging VINE: Similar to Instgram allows for video sharing 6 sec loops TUMBLR: Mini-Blog App (Monitor for inappropriate content, Pornography) Yik Yak: Anonymous Location Based Duane K. Piper, Sheriff

Apps that Hide Apps Hide it Pro i. Phone or Android, free App Lock Android, free Personal i. Phone or Android, free The app is cleverly disguised as "Audio Manager" in the App Drawer. NQ Vault Disguises itself as a Audio Manager app which can be used to turn the volumes up and down. but if you Long press on the Audio Manager title the i. Phone or Android, free actual Hide It Pro app will launch, which is basically your secret vault of pics/videos/messages/apps etc. Duane K. Piper, Sheriff

Vickery Creek Communication Student Agendas its. Learning Parent and Campus Portal Email Voice Mail Call Messenger Email Messenger

Vickery Creek Communication Website Facebook and Twitter PTO Newsletters Parent Conferences Vickery Vantage Point –school newsletter

VCMS Schedule 7 period day – 54 minute periods 5 Academic classes + 2 Connections Power Time 3 x per week A-B-C weekly rotation 9 week Connection classes

A-B-C Rotation Samples “A” Week 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th, 5 th, 6 th, 7 th “B” Week 1 st, 6 th, 7 th, 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th, 5 th “C” Week 1 st, 4 th, 5 th, 6 th, 7 th, 2 nd, 3 rd On Tuesday-Thursday, a 25 minute Power Time segment will take place between the first two academic classes of the day.

Academics: Meeting the Needs of All Students Language Math Science Social Arts Studies Reading

Previewing your child’s courses Teachers and administrators have reviewed student data to determine the best placement for students. Parents will be able to view their child’s recommended courses on-line. We hope to have that feature live by the week of May 18 and be open until May 29. Instructions will be available on our website starting on May 15.

VCMS Connections: Art Band Chorus Computer Literacy Drama Health Math Plus Physical Education SOAR Study Skills Technology

VCMS Connection Formats: Band or Chorus plus four randomly selected Connection classes. 8 randomly selected Connection classes. If you have not gone online to select your child’s Connection format, please do so by Friday, May 1.

Vickery Creek Performing Arts BAND Instrument Tryouts: In August, during the first two weeks of band classes.

Vickery Creek Activities Clubs Intramurals Dances Special Days

Vickery Creek Athletics (7 th & 8 th grade only) Football Cheerleading 7 TH Grade Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball 8 TH Grade Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball Cheerleading Track Golf

Our Parents Supportive Involved Welcome!

Parent to Parent Finding Lockers classrooms Knowing the school ◦ Teachers ◦ Courses ◦ Assignments Peer Pressure Communication

Vickery Creek Parents Your help is needed and wanted! Parent Teacher Organization: Other Ways to be Involved • Copy Mom/Dad n Media Center • School Store n Local School Council • Calendar n Mentors • Dances • Hospitality • Fund Raising • Newsletter • Open House • Special Events- Red Ribbon Week

PTO Board ________ Co -Presidents- Michelle Hall Sandy Dickerhofe Vice President – Julie Smith Treasurer – Cori Williams Secretary – Lori Kneeburg Parliamentarian – Meri Munce

Local School Council Election tonight Renae Force Laurie Vandergrift

Future Transition Dates May 14– 5 th grade students participate in field trips to VCMS for a guided tour August 3– 6 th grade Viper Camp 9: 00 -11: 30 Takes the place of Open House for 6 th graders Parents in the gym Students in homeroom August 3 - Regular Open House for 7 th & 8 th graders 4: 00 -6: 30

Viper Camp- August 3 Agendas (paid by PTO) Lockers - $5. 00 Lunch Accounts PE Uniform $20. 00 Supply List Discipline Dress Code *Please plan to arrive promptly by 8: 45. – students should report directly to their homeroom teacher’s classroom. Parents will be attending helpful breakout sessions, until reuniting with students at 11: 30.

We are glad you are joining us!

Questions?