MIDDLE SCHOOL 101 Pittsfield School District 2020-2021
Welcome and Introductions ● John Freeman, Superintendent of Schools Danielle Harvey, Dean of Instruction ● ● Derek Hamilton, Dean of Operations ● Jessica Bickford, Director of Student Services ● Melissa Brown, Director of Career Readiness Kathy LeMay, Director of Interventions and Title I Manager ●
Goals 1. To familiarize students and families with the middle school routines 2. To introduce students and families to middle school courses and programs 3. To review end of year transition plans and celebrations 4. To give students and families the opportunity to ask questions and provide input on content to be included in the fall orientation program
Bell Schedule ● Students gather in the main lobby area and/or the cafeteria between 7:30 and 7:50 in the morning The school day runs on bells ● ○ First bell rings at 7:50; expected to be in first period class by 7:57 ○ Class periods run about 55 minutes long (7 total periods) ○ The lunch block is 25 minutes long Students are dismissed at 2:46 ○ ● The Wednesday schedule is different than other days of the week; we refer to them as red and blue days with shortened class periods
Advisory Program ● Advisory brings together a diverse group of students with a caring adult The role of the advisor is to support the social, emotional, and academic ● growth of each advisee by building and sustaining relationships with the advisees and their families ● Students are exposed to a variety of experiences and activities that not only promote college and career awareness but also develop the skills necessary for future success ● Advisory meets daily during the middle of the school day for 33 minutes ● All sixth graders will be assigned to an advisory group; we anticipate having three groups with approximately 12 students in each group
Advisory Schedule ● Monday: Group check-in (reflection on last week and prepare for upcoming week; including a review of common assignments and deadlines) ● Tuesday: Individual check-in’s (review of course grades and setting priorities and/or goals for the week) ● Wednesday: Varies based on time of year (i.e. career interest research, student-led conference preparation, or planning and preparation for Exhibition) ● Thursday: Individual check-in’s (others using time to catch up on work or participate in an activity) ● Friday: Whole group activity
Curriculum & Instruction ● Multi-age Groups 7th and 8th graders will be grouped together into 5 groups ○ ○ Students will go to ELA and SS with same group of kids and then Math and SS with the another group ● Topics of Study (two-year loops) Example: Social Studies will study US History one year and World History ○ the next year ● Google Classroom ○ Teachers will set up Google classrooms for much of their content, which students can log into to share with their families
Courses ● Advisory 4 Core Content Classes (English, Math, Science, and Social Studies) ● ● Unified Arts Classes ○ Art, Health, FACS, Music, Band, Middle School Career, World Cultures and Physical Education Students had an opportunity to request their Unified Arts courses with ○ their 6th grade teachers ○ Students currently in band were encouraged to stay in band ○ Adjustments can still be made
Seventh Grade Seminar ● Middle school students will meet weekly with middle school teachers to learn critical skills that support academic success ● Topics may include organization, time management, and note-taking skills ● This seminar will be offered to all middle school students, in either the fall or spring, during the Learning Studio block on Wednesday’s
Learning Studios ● Learning Studios are offered to engage students and provide an opportunity for them to apply and connect skills from content courses ● The key characteristics of Learning Studios are rigor, interdisciplinary learning, and exhibition of learning ● Examples of Learning Studios include: Crochet ○ ○ Kindness Club ○ Middle School Book Club ○ Pitts Perfect 2 Acapella
Co-curricular Opportunities ● School Clubs - we offer 9 different school clubs; examples include: Drama Club ○ ○ Environmental Club ○ Gaming Club ● School Organizations - by application or class election Justice Committee ○ ○ Site Council ○ Student Council
Transition Plans ● The Zoom webinar replaces our traditional in-person Family Night; we will incorporate teacher introductions and building tours (Step Up Day) to our fall orientation program ● Special education students making regular visits to middle school (ongoing) ● Seventh Grade Orientation (in August) Locker assignments ○ ○ Schedule walkthroughs ○ Building tours
Sixth Grade Promotion ● The Sixth Grade Promotion Ceremony will be on Zoom June 10th at 6:00 p.m. Students will be recognized for academic achievements and all students will ● receive a promotion certificate ● Families can pick up packets with materials, including class t-shirts, for the ceremony on June 4 between 9:00-2:00 p.m.
Topic Review / Questions & Answers ● Advisory Curriculum / Instruction ● ● Courses ● Seventh Grade Seminar ● Learning Studios Co-curricular Opportunities ● ● Transition Plans ● Questions on other topics?
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