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Surviving the Middle School Years
Surviving the Middle School Years
Organization
Color code all supplies for each class (i.e. ELA is yellow, Math is blue, etc.). This will assist students in getting to class with correct supplies.
Photo copy your child's schedule and tape a copy inside the front cover of each notebook.
Use this Excel spreadsheet to recreate your child's schedule. It's an easy way for your child to see where they have to be in seconds. It breaks the schedule down into semesters as well as A & B days.
Make a copy of your child's schedule to leave at home. This way, if you need to call school you know when the best time is.
On the inside flap of each notebook have your child write down the names and telephone numbers of 2 or 3 classmates. Great for when your child needs to reach out to a classmate about an assignment. It's not always easy to remember who is in what class.
At the beginning of the school year, teachers will tell students when they are available for extra help. Have your child write that information on the inside flap of their notebook.
Make a magnet of their schedule and place inside locker. If your child's supplies are color coded, you can also make a magnet for their locker with two headings, AM & PM. Under each heading show just the color of the supplies needed for AM and PM. This is great to use as a quick reference.
Websites
Great website, Partnership for Learning (middle school). This website has some great tips for middle school parents.
Clothing
Make sure they have proper gym apparel.
Advise all students the wearing of low flip flops (i.e old navy type) is not permitted in school.
No pajama/lounge wear permitted to be worn.
Clothing should be appropriate for school. Any student wearing clothing deemed inappropriate will be spoken to.
Lunch
o Please sign up for Nutrikids.com this makes it much easier for the kids to buy lunch and not have to worry about having money for anything but snacks. Also, can't be "borrowed" or lost.
o During lunch children are allowed to go to the library and computer lab and the art room and technology room when available. However, you need to get a pass at the beginning of the lunch period. Space is limited so make sure you get the pass as soon as you get to lunch.
o Dress appropriately. Children are permitted to go out every day unless it is freezing (at EMS, it is the student's choice). An underdressed child may be sent back inside but they sometimes head back out.
Lockers
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Keep your locker locked all the time. Kids have fun taking a lock off an unlocked locker, switching it with another unlocked locker and then locking both locks. Then, we have 2 lockers with locks that do not open.
Advise kids to clean lockers out every month (it is totally amazing the amount of clothing that comes out at end of year locker clean out!!!!)
Students are given a lock and a combination. The combination is given on a piece of paper. Make sure they keep it in a safe place. DO NOT share it with anyone!
1st two weeks of school, 6th grade students will be permitted to visit their lockers at times other than normally designated. There is 3 minutes between periods. Students are told to visit their lockers before school, before and after lunch and at the end of the day. They are discouraged to visit lockers at other times but they are not prohibited so long as they are able to get to class on time.
Cell Phones/iPods
Cell phones are NOT permitted to be on. The student should keep it in their locker. They risk having it taken away if improperly used.
Students can have them but NOT in the classroom. They are permitted to use them before and after school. It is recommended that they be left home as they are valuable and can get lost, damaged or "borrowed".
Supplies
Put name in all text/notebooks, binders, projects etc. It is much easier to just return the book to the student than to have a teacher look up the textbook # and risk the student getting in trouble. All text books must be covered.
For Parents
Don't be afraid to call the school to talk to a teacher, principal, or guidance department. It's your child. Be involved. Check your child's folder!
Activities
Join the PTA for email updates. They will also be posted on our Facebook page.
Courses
7th & 8th grade foreign language classes count on a child's high school transcript. Students earn ½ credit for 7th grade and ½ credit for 8th grade. Grades earned will appear on high school transcript.
Miscellaneous
Index cards are filled out by students at the beginning of the year noting the condition of all text books issued them. At the end of the year, text books are inspected and compared to the index card information. The school will collect fines for excessive damage.
They seem to get very panicked about being late. My son carried what he needed for his classes before lunch, and then at lunch time he would switch over his backpack to the things he needed for after lunch. This way they are not carrying around a 50 lb. backpack with all of their books. I thought it was a pretty smart idea.
For 6th graders: Make sure all tests/quizzes are signed. Stress this because teachers will give lunch detention if not done. 7th and 8th is different. Remember 6th graders are still considered "primary education" whereas 7th and 8th are secondary education and are treated differently.
If you are out of gym for an extended time, (i.e broken bone) be prepared to do a written report for credit.
Do not come to school early unless you have a zero period class (band/chorus/orchestra/AIS math or reading/speech/extra help) . Students will not be permitted in the building unless the weather is inclement.
Have student check lost and found (in cafeteria) for any clothing items. All others (glasses, phones, jewelry, etc is kept in main office). The school recommends leaving jewelry at home as they are not permitted to wear ANY during physical education. It is also recommended that ALL valuable items be left at home.
No glass bottles/jars. No Snapple in glass. Glass items are absolutely not permitted.
Children should have $5 emergency money. No more.
Go through your child's folders weekly. It's amazing how much stuff accumulates.
Water bottles - water bottles are not permitted in the classroom for various reasons. However, they can be kept in the child's lockers so they can use them between classes if time permits. There are water fountains available to students as well.
Books
There is a great book called, "Not Much Just Chillin', the Hidden Lives of Middle Schoolers." By Linda Peristein.
Whatever Mom, Hip Mama's Guide to Raising a Teenager" by Ariel Gore with Maia Swift
Get Out Of My Life, But First Can You Drive Me and Cheryl to the Mall? by Dr. Anthony Wolf
Google Sites
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