Welcome 8th Grade Students

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Welcome 8th Grade Students Parents

• Southwest Middle School
• Open House

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Greetings from ..

• Suzan Stroud, Senior Administration
• Front Office Information
• Officer Gary Newcomb, School Resource Officer
• School Safety Information
• Morgan Harron, NJHS President
• NJHS Information 6th Grade Peer Buddy

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Meet the StaffMrs. K. Jordan (Grade Level
Administrator)Ms. T. Sanders (Counselor)

• Team C
• Ms. K. Mauer A24 LA
• Mr. J. Moshé A22 LA
• Mr. G. Reckerd A23 Math
• Ms. B. Kohlhoff A25 Math
• Mrs. A. Marcello A13 Science
• Mrs. D. Holley A12 SS
• EC Assistants
• Ms. K. Robey, L.A.
• Mr. D. Mecca, Math
• SAC
• Ms. L. Davis

• Team A
• Ms. B. Apsega A8 LA
• Mr. C. Thomas A10 LA
• Mr. K. Medford A9 Math
• Ms. D. Lewis A11 Math
• Mrs. E. Long A17 Science
• Ms. A Hayes A17 SS
• Team B
• Mrs. A. Lisk A19 LA
• Ms. N. Cayea A20 LA
• Mrs. M. Bollinger A21 Math
• Mr. R. Adams MC754 Math
• Ms. D. Nahikian A16 Science
• Mr. W. Tabor A18 SS

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Patriot Pride Pledge

• I will focus on my academics I will increase
  my efforts to become successful I will have a
  positive attitude.

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SWMS Facts

• ALL ABOUT SWMS
• School Mascot Patriot
• School Colors Blue and Gold
• School Hours 915 a.m.-415 p.m.
• Agenda Fee 3.00
• School supplies neededteachers will have for
  students 1st day of school
• Teachers Wish List Bulletin Board is located on
  the A-Hall.

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CLUBS/ACTIVITIES

• Pep Band
• Mrs. Evilyn Reese
• National Academic League
• Mrs. Susan Jackson , Advisor
• Mrs. Marilyn Bollinger
• Musical Theatre
• Ms. Susan Smith
• Mrs. Corrinne Chiusano
• Science Olympiad
• TBD, Advisor
• Math Counts
• Mrs. Robin Henson
• National Junior Honor Society
• Ms. Vickie Johnson, Advisor

• Yearbook (7th 8th Grade)
• Mr. John Sanders, Advisor
• Art Club (6th, 7th 8th Grades)
• Mr. John Sanders, Advisor
• News Crew (6th, 7th 8th Grades)
• Mrs. Morris, Advisor
• Sports (7th 8th Grade Only)
• Mr. Douglas Keelan, Athletic Director Softball
  Coach
• Mr. Fish Gupton, Volleyball
• Mr. Monte Murphy, Football Coach
• Mr. Maurice Bush, Boys Basketball Coach
• Miss Amanda Martin, Girls Basketball Coach
• Mr. Barry Paradise, Baseball
• Girls Track, TBD
• Boys Track, TBD
• Student Council (6th, 7th 8th)
• Miss Amy Hayes, Advisor
• Youth Commission International (YCI)
• Mrs. Marilyn Bollinger, Advisor

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Sports _at_ SWMS

• 8th graders must have a current physical to try
  out for sport teams. Those who are not active in
  sports are encouraged to attend games showing
  school spirit is a great way to get involved and
  have fun!!!!!!
• Students must go home by their normal mode of
  transportation and return with a parent in order
  to attend games.

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School Layout

• 4 Hallways
• A Hall..8th Grade Wing
• B Hall..7th Grade Wing
• C Hall..6th Grade Wing
• D Hall..Elective Classes, Cafeteria, and
  Gymnasium (Other elective classes are located at
  the beginning of the A, B, and C Wings)

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Dressing for Success the Patriot Way

• Uniforms are required for all students enrolled
  at Southwest Middle School.
• Fit properly, not to exceed one (1) size beyond
  the correct size
• Shirts must be tucked in at all times
• Not be modified in any way
• Not allowed to be sagging, bagging, or dragging
• Not to have visible logos other than a Southwest
  Middle School logo
• Shoes should be a solid (blue, white, black or
  brown) color. However, if the shoe contains
  lines/stripes, the color of the lines/stripes
  must NOT be outside of the schools color scheme
  (i.e. Neon colors with the shoes design are NOT
  acceptable).
• P.E. uniforms are required, and must be worn
  during gym class. The cost of the uniforms are
  15.

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Dressing for Success the Patriot WayContd.

• No jackets/coats are allowed in the classroom or
  hallways, including denim jackets.
• Socks must be solid black, white, navy blue khaki
  or brown ONLY. Tights and leggings must be white,
  navy blue or black solid colors. Textured/fishnet
  hosiery will not be permitted.
• Skirts, dresses and shorts must adhere to the
  length requirements even if tights/leggings are
  worn underneath.
• Extreme and/or mockingly distracting hair colors
  (yellow, pink, red, green, etc) are not
  permitted. Hair must be a natural color.
• Hair accessories must be the color of the
  uniform. Scarves, clip in feathers, clip in hair
  pieces, caps, stocking caps, doo rags bandanas,
  etc are inappropriate and will be confiscated in
  most cases.
• All book bags and purse will not be permitted in
  the classroom and must be kept in the locker.

• Undergarments (i.e. t-shirts), long or short
  sleeves can be worn underneath the uniform shirt
  and can ONLY be white, gray or navy in color.
• Bottom Wear must be khaki (tan in color) or navy
  in color.
• Girls no more than 4 inches above the knees.
• Boys, no more than 1 inch below the kneecap.
• Cargo shorts will be allowed for both boys and
  girls.
• NOTE If there is a belt loop, a belt MUST be
  worn (black, brown, khaki, navy blue or clear).
• SOLID black, gray navy, blue brown, tan or white
  sweaters or sweatshirts are permitted however,
  collars of the uniform shirt must be visible.
• NOTE Sweatshirts that are hooded must not have
  a front pocket unless it is a SWMS sweatshirt.

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Bus Riders

• If you have moved after June 30th into another
  home school zone, please see our registrar or
  call Student Placement to confirm your school
  assignment.

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Bus Riders

• Child Safety at the Stop
• -Parents can access bus safety information via
  the CMS Homepage by clicking departments and
  choosing transportation
• Requests
• -You can make an alternate stop, unsafe stop, or
  general transportation request in the same place

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Bus Riders

• Transportation Request Key Dates
• Requests made between 8/2 and 8/23 will have
  transportation by the afternoon of 8/28
• Requests made between 8/24 and 8/30 will have
  transportation by 9/4
• Requests made after 9/1 will be processed as
  quickly as possible

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Who to Call??

• If you have any problems or questions regarding
  the bus service, contact the personnel at the
  Olympic Zone
• 980-343-3807

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Important Information

• Parents due to the seating capacity on the
  school buses, students are not permitted to ride
  any bus other than the one assigned by
  transportation. No notes will be accepted. You
  must make other arrangements for your child if
  they will not be riding their assigned bus.

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Important Information

• If your child needs to be picked up for an early
  dismissal, you can send a note with your child
  detailing the time your child should leave the
  classroom to meet you in the office.
• Your child MUST give the note to the attendance
  secretary, who will give your child a note to
  leave class at the designated time. NOTE
  Students will not be allowed to remain in the
  office waiting beyond 10 minutes.
• NOTE Students will not be released after 345
  p.m.

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Car Riders

• Car riders-Drop off/pick-up in front of school.
• Students are not allowed in the building until
  845 a.m., unless they have a tutoring/detention
  pass.
• Car Riders will be dismissed at 415 pm.
• Students are not to be dropped off or picked up
  at the Steele Creek Library!

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The Agenda

• Each teacher will write down the days homework
  on the board for students to copy.
• Parents should check to see what students have
  for homework each night to help ensure that it
  gets done.
• Agendas are on sale tonight!
• Agendas are used as a student pass and are
  required to leave the classroom. ALL students
  must have an agenda.

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Lockers

• Students will not be required to purchase a lock
  from the school. Locks will be on sale at the
  school store for 5. However, there is a 2
  locker rental fee.
• Personal locks MAY be used however, please be
  reminded that lockers are the property of the
  school. If deemed necessary to cut a lock off the
  locker it can and will be done, and the school
  will not be responsible for reimbursement.
• Lockers will be assigned starting the week of
• Sept. 16.

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Core Class Information

• Class Placement LA and Math
• Standard Course of Study and Honors (Algebra)
• Language Arts Novel Studies Grammar -Writing
  Short Stories - Various Non-Fiction - Summer
  Reading
• Math Standards-based curriculum and
  Activity-based learning (Connected Math)
• Social Studies Incorporation of Reading and
  Writing with the new Common Core Focus
• Science Info Inquiry-Based Layered Curriculum

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Typical Eighth Grade Day

• Three core classes per day.
• One elective per day.

Sample Schedule Sample Schedule
1st Block Language Arts (Core)
2nd Block Math (Core)
3rd Block Social Studies/Science (Core)
4th Block Comp Skills App 2/PE (Elective)
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Schedule Changes

• Schedule Changes will be made under the following
  conditions
• The student NEEDS to move to a different level of
  Math or English class due to EOG scores.
• The student should or should not be in Band,
  Orchestra or Spanish and/or the student should
  or should not be in Reach Math.
• Request for a schedule change due to
• personal preference will not be considered!!

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A NEW Elective Course PLTW

• Project Lead The Way (PLTW) prepares students to
  be the most innovative and productive leaders in
  science, technology, engineering and mathematics
  (STEM). Through an engaging, hands-on curriculum,
  PLTW encourages the development of
  problem-solving skills, critical thinking,
  creative and innovative reasoning, and a love for
  learning.

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A NEW Elective Course PLTW (Contd)
6th Grade 2013-14 7th Grade 2013-14 8th Grade 2013-14
Design Modeling Design Modeling Design Modeling
Automation Robotics Automation Robotics
6th Grade 2014-15 7th Grade 2014-15 8th Grade 2014-15
Design Modeling Two additional courses will be added Two additional courses will be added
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Course Descriptions 2013-14

• Design Modeling
• Introduction to the engineering design process
  and tools used, including engineering notebooks
  and Autodesk Inventor.
• Automation Robotics
• Model mechanical systems, energy transfer,
  machine automation and computer control systems.

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Course Descriptions 2014-15

• Fight Space
• Explore the history of and science behind
  aeronautics and space flight.
• Science of Technology
• Explore the science and relevance of chemistry,
  physics and nanotechnology.
• Magic of Electrons
• Acquire knowledge and skills in the behavior and
  parts of atoms, basic circuitry design and
  sensing devices.
• Energy the Environment
• Investigate the importance of energy in our lives
  and the impact that using energy has on the
  environment.

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Absences/Tardiness

• Parents of absent students should call the main
  office on the day of absence, and have the
  student bring a note on the day that he/she
  returns to school.
• All notes should be given to advisory teachers,
  and should include the students ID number, and
  date(s) of absence.
• All tardy students should be escorted into the
  building by a parent/guardian.
• SWMS 980-343-5006

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Truancy

• Every parent/guardian in this State having charge
  or control of a child between the ages of 7 and
  16 years shall cause the child to attend school
  continuously for a period equal to the time which
  the public school to which the child is assigned
  shall be is session.
• The parent/custodian of a child shall notify the
  school of the reason for each known absence of
  the child, in accordance with local school board
  policy.
• The school shall notify the parent/guardian of
  their childs excessive absences after the child
  has accumulated 3, 6 and 10 unexcused absences in
  a school year.
• Subsequent to sending the 6 day notification, an
  appointed school representative will contact the
  parent/guardian to schedule a conference. If
  deemed necessary, a home visit will also be
  conducted with or without a law enforcement
  officer.

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Truancy Contd.

• After 10 accumulated unexcused absences in a
  school year, the principal or the principals
  designee shall review any report or investigation
  prepared and confer with the student and the
  parent/guardian, if possible to determine if the
  parent made a good faith effort to comply with
  the law.
• If it is determined that a good faith effort
  was not made, the principal shall notify the
  district attorney and the director of social
  services of the county where the child resides.
• If it is determined that a good faith effort
  was made the principal may file a complaint with
  the juvenile court counselor indicating that the
  child is habitually absent from school without a
  valid excuse.
• COMMUNICATION IS KEY!!!!

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Grading Period

• Report cards are sent home with students every
  quarter.
• Mid-quarter progress reports are sent home 4-5
  weeks after the quarter begins.
• If you do not receive progress reports or report
  cards from your child, please contact your
  childs advisory teacher. (See web-site for
  report card schedule)
• Progress Report dates
• Sept. 24th 25th Dec. 4th 5th Feb. 24th
  25th May 6th 7th
• Report Card dates
• Nov. 15th Feb. 5th April 11th June 20th

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Promotion Requirements

• To be promoted to 9th grade, a student must earn
  a grade of 70 (D) or above in language arts,
  mathematics, science, social studies, P.E. and at
  least one other elective.
• Students must also earn a 3 or 4 on the Reading,
  Math, and Science EOG.

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Power School is HERE!!!

• Please BE PATIENT!
• It is replacing Parent Assist
• Log on to www.cms.k12.nc.us
• Click on the RED Power School tab on the bottom
  left side of the webpage.
• Click on the hyperlink here to get more
  information about setting up your Power School
  account.

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Power School is HERE!!!
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Power Schools Assistance

• If you need help with accessing Power Schools,
  CMS has set up a hotline just for parents with
  knowledgeable people who can assist you.
• Power School Parent Help Line
• 980-343-9420

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Parent/Teacher Communication

• Contact your childs school counselor to schedule
  a parent/teacher conference
• 8th GradeMs. T. Sanders
• Conferences can be scheduled on Mondays and
  Fridays during the teachers planning periods
  (4th Block).
• NOTE Parents please do not drop by for a
  conference. You will be asked to make an appt.
  for a later date.
• You may also communicate with your childs
  teachers via e-mail (see schools web-site) and
  agenda signing.
• If you have any questions about your childs
  academic/social development you may also contact
  your childs Grade Level Administrator

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School Counselors Provide

• Individual counseling
• Group counseling
• Classroom guidance
• Academic, college, and career counseling
• Assisting students in developing an academic plan
• Interpreting standardized test results
• Grief and crisis counseling
• Responding to and assisting with crises
• Developing confidential relationships with
  students

• Advocating for students
• Promoting and monitoring student success in a
  collaborative manner
• Helping students overcome barriers to learning
• Providing preventive and intervention strategies
  for student success
• Facilitating parent/teacher conferences
• Serving as a resource to students of available
  community opportunities
• Serving as a resource for school staff and
  parents
• Serving as a resource for community referrals
• Providing parent and community outreach
• Fostering a positive school environment by
  embracing and promoting diversity

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Character Education

• Helps promote a safe and healthy environment.
  Character traits include
• Caring
• Citizenship
• Justice and Fairness
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Trustworthiness

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Anti-Bullying

• Bullying is a conscious, repeated, hostile,
  aggressive behavior of an individual or a group
  abusing their position with the intention to harm
  others or gain real or perceived power.

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What Bullying IS and IS NOT

• Any of the following aggressive behaviors are not
  bullying if the actions occur once (i.e., no
  pattern) or done with no intentions of gaining
  power.
• Physical Behaviors such as
• Accidently bumping into someone
• Making others play things a certain way (natural
  behavior-everyone likes things done their way)
• Any of the behaviors listed to the right (pushing
  shoving, tripping, hitting, etc.) which occurs
  ONCE (i.e., is not a repeated or pattern of
  behavior)
• Verbal Behaviors such as
• A statement of dislike toward or about someone
• A single act of telling a joke about someone
• Arguments or heated disagreements between two
• or more people/groups (the pattern of which is
  not
• repeated to gain power)
• Expressions of unpleasant thoughts or feelings
• regarding others
• Non-Verbal Behaviors
• Being excluded
• Not playing with someone
• Choosing different people or groups to play with
  from time to time

• Any of the following aggressive behaviors are
  bullying if the actions are repeated and done
  with intentions of gaining power.
• Physical Attack such as
• Bumping into someone
• Pumping, Shoving, Tripping
• Hitting (directly or with something else)
• Punching, Kicking
• Fighting
• Verbal Attack for any kind of difference, such
  as
• Racial, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Physical
  (height, weight, glasses, etc.)
• Skills Ability/Disability (too smart, stupid,
  spaz, etc.)
• Physical Appearances, Economic Status, Stealing
• Non-Verbal Attack such as
• Staring and glaring
• Pretending to whisper while looking at someone
• Shunning

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Important Upcoming Dates

• Curriculum Night Sept. 10th at 630p.m.
• Fall Pictures October 24th (No purchase
  necessary)
• Make-Up Pictures November 21st (New students and
  absent students only)
• Student IDs will be distributed December 10th
• IDs will be used for breakfast/lunch purchases,
  and to check out books from the media center.
• Until the ID cards arrive, students are expected
  to memorize their lunch number or carry the lunch
  card around with them.

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Important Upcoming Dates

• Field trips and other activities will be
  scheduled throughout the year. Attendance of
  field trips and activities may be denied due to
  behavior or academic concerns as applicable.
• Dates and details will be distributed as they
  become available.

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Your Childs Nutrition

• Breakfast begins at 845 a.m.
• Breakfast will be FREE for all students Lunch is
  2.25
• New lunch forms must be completed if your child
  received free or reduced meals last year.
• Reduced lunch is .40.

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SWMS PTSA

• A word from a member of our wonderful PTSA

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Remarks from Principal Blair

• The DATA Matters
• Where are we, and where we are going