Blacksburg lacksburg Mi Middle ddle School hool Welcomes lcomes you ou to our o our Famil amily The Beginning is the Most Important Part of the Work. Plato Orienta ientation tion fo for Rising ing 6th Graders aders
Blac lacksburg ksburg Middle ddle School hool About our school: • Grades 6-8 • Fully accredited • Current enrollment is 815 students • Five feeder elementary schools • Approximately 70 faculty and 30 support staff
Our Mission Statement All students have the potential for individual greatness. Our vision at Blacksburg Middle School is to recognize and support this diversity in a positive educational environment rich with mutual respect.
Re Reve vealing ling Po Poten ential tial and nd Re Realizing zing Dreams reams Safety Ca Caring ing Res espect pect Crea Cr eativity tivity Engagement Dr Dreams eams Exploration Rel elationship tionships s Bla lacksb sbur urg g Mid iddle dle School hool
We Believe Each middle school student is valued as an individual with unique Learning takes place best in a safe community that knows and Learning is a process in which students and teachers are actively Our community extends beyond our doors sharing in the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs. respects each other enough to take risks. engaged in a variety of instructional approaches which empower responsibilities for providing a supportive environment. students to be their own advocates for success. WE CARE ABOUT EACH STUDENT!!
Your Family Members and Partners Principal Amanda Weidner Guidance Counselor for Sixth Grade: Michele Parker Guidance Assistant: Lori Walls Administrative Assistant: Debbie Van Dyke Attendance: Karen Fleet Bookkeeper: Carol Dishon Assistant Principal David Byrd Assistant Principal Bo Honeycutt School Resource Officer: Mark Haynie BMS WHERE ALL CAN LEARN!!
Sixth Grade Teams Your child will be part of a learning community called a “team.” The sixth grade teams consist of two four person teams and one two person team. The four person teams have one mathematics teacher, one science teacher, one language arts teacher, and one social studies teacher. The two person team has one mathematics/science teacher and one language arts/social studies teacher.
Sixth Grade Teams in Action The design gn of the e buildin lding g allow ows s us to create te learni rning ng commun munitie ities s on each grade level. l. Each h team is hou ouse sed d in a po pod d area with th four r class ssrooms, rooms, a scien ence e lab, and indivi ividua dual l meeting ing rooms. oms.
Information about Course Registration • All fifth grade students will receive red course registration forms and a blue course description handbook • Complete the form with your child and return it to his/her elementary school no later than Wednesday, January 20
Sixth Grade Bell Schedule First Period 7:40 – 8:37 Second Period 8:41 – 9:35 Third Period 9:39 – 10:33 A Lunch/Titan 10:37 – 11:03 Titan/B Lunch 11:05 – 11:31 Fifth 11:35 – 12:29 Sixth Period 12:33 – 1:27 Seventh Period 1:31 – 2:25 Please visit our website: www.bms.mcps.org
6 th Grade Curriculum • All students take Math, English/Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science • All students take a semester of Health and P.E. and a semester of Keyboarding • Students have a choice of electives • Year-long Band • Year-long choir • A semester of Art and a semester of 2 exploratory electives
Math Placement • A key component of our math program is ensuring that all middle school students are placed in mathematics courses that deliver an appropriate level of challenge to prepare them for success in high school and beyond. • Each MCPS middle school collects and analyzes multiple pieces of student data in order to make mathematics placement decisions, including grades, SOL test scores, Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test scores, and teacher recommendations.
Sixth Grade Health and Physical Education Each student has health or PE daily for a semester. Includes some units of health instruction in the classroom. Students must dress appropriately for PE. Students are assigned a locker in the boys/girls locker room.
Keyboarding Stud udents ents wil ill l le learn arn to o • “touch type” • correctly orrectly for orma mat t doc ocuments uments in inclu luding: ding: Tables, ables, Tabs, bs, Reports, ports, Le Letters, ters, and nd Bul ulle leted ted and nd Num umbered bered li lists s • Use e of of Mi Micro crosoft soft Wo Word d and nd it its feat eature ures • Vis isit it ou our Keybo yboardin arding g cla lassroom ssroom thi his even vening ing – Rm m 6A7 A7
Art t 6 • An exciting, exploratory class • Introduces a variety of media, artists, and techniques using basic principles and elements of color and design.
Beginning Band This is a year long elective.
Beginning Choir This is a year long elective.
Exploratory Electives • 9-week elective courses • Foreign Language • Introduction to AgScience • Introduction to Technology • Music Exploration
Intervention Course Placement • Math 180 and Read 180 • Intervention courses provided in addition to grade-level mathematics and English courses • For students who have been identified as needing increased support in order to be successful in math and reading • Students will be scheduled for these courses based on a variety of criteria, including grades, SOL test scores, and screening assessments.
Sixth Grade Freedom Some of the changes from elementary school that our sixth graders experience: • Lockers • Change classes on their own • Lunch room seating • Changing for PE
BMS Counseling and Guidance Department • Michele Parker: Rising 6 th graders & 8 th graders w/last name A – K • Katie Conaway: Rising 7 th graders & 8 th graders w/last name L – Z • Lori Walls: Administrative Assistant • Traci Walters: NRV Counselor • Peter Golladay: NRV Counselor
We help promote the academic, social and emotional growth of our students. • Develop a healthy self-concept • Learn to cope with social, physical and emotional changes • Interact appropriately with peers; foster problem- solving • Learn responsibility and establish some independence • Explore interests and abilities as related to the world of work • Develop tentative and realistic education and career goals
The Titan Anti-Bullying Principles 1. We will not bully others. 2. We will try to help students who are bullied. 3. We will try to include students who are left out. 4. If we know that somebody is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.
Bully Prevention Posters
Some services we provide: • Scheduling of Parent/Teacher conferences • Coordination of 504 and SAP meetings • Individual and group counseling opportunities • Titan time character education lessons and activities • School-wide programs ie: Bullying Prevention Month • Academic supports, such as study skills help & coordination of tutoring
Additional Services • Educational and career planning • Referrals to community agencies • Scheduling & registration support • Coordination of SOL testing • Parenting resources • Crisis intervention services
What Do 6 th Graders say is the best thing about Sixth Grade? “There is more responsibility and more freedom. You get to make more friends.” “There are more educational opportunities such as band, tech-ed, agriscience , etc.” “The freedom there is…you can go to class without being in a line and you can pick some of the classes you take. And the teachers and staff are nice…they really care about your education.”
What do 6 th graders say is the most challenging thing about Sixth Grade? “Time managing everything...homework, after school activities, and family.” “Making goals but also being able to meet them.” “You need to be responsible for your work. You need to be sure of your actions and your words.”
What do 6 th graders say surprised them most about 6 th grade? “It really wasn’t this big new scary thing. It isn’t a lot more stressful than elementary school, if anything, it’s more fun.” “How nice all the staff is. All the teachers are very understanding. On my first day, I probably asked at least four different teachers for help. They were all really nice and helped me out.” “How easy it is to get around this giant school.”
The best advice 6 th graders can give to 5 th graders is: “Don’t worry about 6 th grade. I know it seems daunting but it’s really not. You will get your lockers and after the first few weeks it’s second nature. And don’t worry about changing in PE because nobody cares…they’re all focused on their own changing.” “You have nothing to worry about. I was nervous about getting lost in the school and not being able to open my locker. Now I can probably open my locker, get my books, and get to class with my eyes closed. It’s really easy!”
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