CROSSROADS MIDDLE SCHOOL SIXTH GRADE PARENT ORIENTATION

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CROSSROADS MIDDLE SCHOOLSIXTH GRADEPARENT
ORIENTATION

• Welcome to Crossroads!

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Crossroads Middle School 2014-2015
Special Ed. Supervisor
Crossroads North
Crossroads South
SHARED STAFF
Math/Science Supervisor
Principal Daniels
Principal Famous
Music Supervisor
Encore Supervisor
L.A. / S.S. Supervisor
World Lang. Supervisor
Health/P.E. Supervisor
Technology Coordinator
Assistant Principal for 6th Grade Kmiec Extra
Curricular / Athletics
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• CROSSROADS MIDDLE SCHOOL STRUCTUREThree 6th
  Grade Units
• Approximately 125 students per unit
• Unit Names
• NORTH Comets, Neptune, Polaris
• SOUTH Apollo, Aurora, Phoenix
• CORE UNIT SUBJECTS
• LANGUAGE ARTS
• Literature
• Writing
• MATH
• SCIENCE
• SOCIAL STUDIES

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Sixth Grade Language Arts

• Literature Studies
• Core Novels (Crash Of Beetles and Angels
  Jackaroo
• Flush Gathering Blue)
• Non-Fiction / Informational Text
• USE OF EVIDENCE FROM TEXT TO SUPPORT
• IDEAS
• CLOSE READING OF COMPLEX TEXT
• Literature Circles
• Independent Reading (P.A.T.T.E.R.N.S.)
• Read-Aloud
• Short Stories
• Mythology
• Poetry

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Summer Reading

• Summer Reading List and Assignment sent home by
  elementary school and posted on the Crossroads
  website at www.sbschools.org.
• Summer Reading Challenge
• http//www.scholastic.com/summer/

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INDEPENDENT READING PROGRAM PATTERNSParents
And Teachers Together, Encouraging the Reading of
Nonfiction and NovelSNOVELIST Database found in
EBSCOhttp//search.ebscohost.comNorth
user name S9769288 password
passwordSouthuser name crossroads password
vikings

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• Writing / Composition Studies
• Writing Process and On-Demand
• Compose in all Genres
• Expressive / Narrative, Argumentative /
  Persuasive, Informational /
  Expository, Poetry
• USE OF EVIDENCE FROM TEXT TO SUPPORT IDEAS
• Conventions of Language and Authors Craft, using
• mentor texts and applications of compositional
• risk.
• Word Study
• Grammar, Usage, Mechanics, Spelling
• Language Arts Instructional Support for
  selected students

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Sixth Grade Social Studies World History
Ancient Civilizations to 1600 Era 1 India,
China, Greece, Rome Era 2 Byzantine/Muslim,
Africa, China/Japan, Middle Ages, The Americas
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• Sixth Grade Language Arts and Social Studies
  Assessments
• Social Studies
• Era Pre- and Post-Tests
• Essay, comprehension, and project-based
• assessments
• Research
• Language Arts
• PARCC (spring)
• Essay, comprehension, and project-based
• assessments
• Grammar Pre and Post Assessments
• Word Study Assessments (end of trimester)
• Research

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• 6th Grade Mathematics
• Common Core Mathematics Standards
• Ratios and Proportional Relationships
• The Number System
• Expressions and Equations
• Geometry
• Statistics and Probability
• 6th Grade math courses
• Unit Mathematics
• Transitions Mathematics
• Math placements are based on the following data
• Math Matrix
• End of 5th Grade Test/5th Grade accelerated final
• 6th Grade Placement Test
• The NJASK Test Both Math and Language Arts

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• 6th Grade Science Program
• Students follow the NJCCCS for science
• Scientific Practices
• Physical Science
• Life Science
• Earth Science
• Four Major Units over the course of the year
• Geology
• Astronomy
• Phylogenetics
• Systems
• Enrichment opportunities
• 6th Grade Science Fair

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Beyond the Core

• World Language - Spanish, French, or Latin
• Encore Classes Art Integration, Music
  Integration, Health, Digital Tools 1
• Physical Education - Team Sports, Individual
  Sports, and Lifelong Activities
• Common Time School-wide one day per week,
  chorus and access to teacher support

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A Students Typical Week
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• Interscholastic Athletics-
• Sports Program open to 7/8 Grade Students
• Extracurricular Activities
• Club Program open to All Grade Levels
• All clubs and activities are pay-to-participate
  using CommunityPass

School Musical Mini Med School
Forensics Club Math Counts Team
Photography Club Special Olympics Club
Art Club Academic Challenge Teams
Online School Newspaper Odyssey of the Mind Teams
Chess Club Student Council
Flag Football Indoor Soccer
Volleyball Ski Trips
Tennis Club Cricket Club
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Crossroads Music Program
Instruction in all of our MUSICAL PERFORMING
GROUPS is aligned with the 2009 NJCCCS
All of our choirs, orchestras, and bands are
comprised of students from all three grades.
All groups that rehearse before or after school
are subject to a 75.00 Pay-to-Participate fee.
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Vocal Performing Groups

• Treble Choir rehearses during Common Time
• Concert Choir rehearses during Common Time
• Vocal Ensemble, Mens Ensemble, Womens Ensemble,
  and Hand Bell Choir rehearses beyond the school
  day.
• NOTE Vocal Ensemble is an auditioned
  group. Interested students will be screened
  by the instructor.

Each of these groups is a graded class. Your
child's participation in evening concerts is
required.
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Instrumental Music Groups Concert
OrchestraSymphonic Orchestra Concert
BandSymphonic BandJazz BandJazz
EnsembleStudents are placed in a group based on
a screening and/or teacher recommendation.All
groups that rehearse before or after school are
subject to a 75.00 Pay-to-Participate fee.Each
of these groups is a graded class. Your child's
participation in evening concerts is required.
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General Information

• Homework
• 45-90 minutes as a nightly expectation.
• Agendas
• After School Program
• Club 6/7/8 Community Education
• Reporting System
• Electronic Mid-trimester Progress Reports
• Report Cards/Year (3)
• Letter Grade System
• Parent Connect Online Grade Book Early
  August
• SPS (Student Personnel Services)
• Health Office, Counselors
• Child Study Team

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General Information

• Communications
• Friday Folder Friday E-Mail
• Daily Announcements (AM/PM)
• Daily Bulletin in PowerSchool
• Parent Conferences Fall Spring
• Joint PTO (North and South)
• School Website
• Lockers
• Hallway/Gym
• Lunch 30 Minutes Middle School Menu ID Card
• Arrival Dismissal
• 810 (N) or 815 (S) Homeroom Bell
• 305 (N) or 310 (S) Dismissal Bell
• 515 Late Bus (Monday - Friday)

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Health Concerns

• Required Immunizations for 6th Graders
• Special Health Concerns
• Medication Policy
• Absences and Gym Notes
• Helping Your Child Make Good Nutritional Choices
  in Middle School

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• STUDENT PLACEMENT
• Placement into Units Based on Criteria
• Balance in Numbers
• Heterogeneous Grouping
• Gender Balance
• Learning/Teaching Styles
• Assessment Information
• Parent Requests - Additional information about
  your child, learning
• style, connections with other students or
  conflicts
• Send via e-mail to the building principal on
  or before June 30, 2014
• Summer Communication
• End of June with Report Card Math Placement
  
• Late August parents will receive unit via
  Family Connect

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• CLOSING THOUGHTS...
• CODE OF CONDUCT
• SCHOOL CLOTHES
• SCHOOL SUPPLIES
• CELL PHONES
• ELECTRONIC DEVICES
• SNACKS