How many classes does my child have a day?
At Renaissance, students rotate in a Block schedule. This means that students have three 80-minute class periods each day of the week. The schedule rotates each day, with a new combination of three classes each day of the week. Students will have the ELA, Math, and Art/Social Studies block four times a week, with the Science block three times a week.
In addition, students have an Advisory period with their cohort teacher four days a week after lunch. This period ranges from 30 minutes to 85 minutes a day, depending on whether or not the students have a 50-minute PE period scheduled that day. Advisory is a team for students to record weekly grades and homework assignments, work on homework and/or in -class projects, read independently or as a class, practice academic and organizational skills, take students surveys, or do community building or teambuilding activities and circle discussions with their cohort teacher.
What is the RAF dress code?
For the sake of community, equity, professionalism, and safety we ask all Renaissance students to abide by the Renaissance dress code. The Renaissance dress code is available on the Renaissance website within the “School Information” tab.
The Renaissance PTO is leading the sale of Renaissance logo gear. Renaissance gear will be available for purchase at our Back to School Night event in September. In addition, Renaissance gear order forms are available in the office.
What are the homework procedures?
Homework is generally given out weekly to students by their content teachers the first day that teacher sees them in the week (so for most classes, Monday). Students have a week to complete homework assignments before they are submitted to the content teacher the following week.
Knowing that the transition from elementary school to middle school can be socially and emotionally challenging for many students, sixth graders are strongly encouraged to sign up for Citizen Schools, the extended day program after school . Here students will have dedicated time each day to work on their homework under the guidance of a teaching fellow. Some teaching fellows are also pairing up with sixth grade content teachers to offer more after school support.
In addition, most sixth grade teachers make themselves available some other times during the school day. However, we encourage our students to advocate for themselves to seek the help they need from teachers so that we can work together to ensure all students' success.
Even if homework is late, forgotten, or misplaced, all homework should be turned in, regardless of the due date, for partial credit, as we want students to learn to persevere through these types of challenges and have the integrity to see them through.
Are cell phones allowed on campus?
In our effort to create the strongest learning environment and a safe campus, students are not permitted to use cell phones while on campus. The school provides all students with access to laptop computers while on campus. In addition, in early October, all students will be issued iPads. The laptops and iPads will be configured in a way that will allow us to maximize the benefits of technology as a teaching and learning tool.
If students or parents need to communicate with each other over the course of the school day, we ask that students use the phones that are available in classrooms or the main office. Abiding by this request will significantly help towards minimizing distractions and maximizing student learning
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