Welcome to the Middle School!
Below you will find the information that was presented to students and parents during 6th grade orientation.
6th grade: “School Within a School”
- Many core classes in one wing
- Student lockers in one wing
- Individualized AIS instruction
What Makes Middle School GREAT?!
- Independence
- Team Teaching
- New Challenges
- New Opportunities
- New Friends
New Things At the Middle School
- Lockers with combinations for both PE and class
- Numerical grades
- Changing classes
- Team Adventure
- Town Meetings
- Clubs
- Dances and Social Events
- More responsibility
Clubs
- Art
- Community Service
- Future Cities
- Wind Turbine
- Spanish
- Yearbook
- Project Adventure
- Battle of the Books
- Odyssey of the Mind
Typical School Day
- 7:10 drop off
- 7:30 first class starts
- Classes are 40 minutes long
- 8 periods in the day
- Lunch (20 minutes long)
- 1:47 afternoon announcements
- 1:50 First Dismissal
- 2:00 Second dismissal
6th Grade Schedule (an 8 period day!)
- ELA/Social Studies
- Math/Science
- Reading/AIS
- PE/Health/Art
- Music
- Band /Chorus
- Home & Careers,
- Computers
- Future Cities
- Lunch/Recess
Grades
Performance Review
- 5 week interim reports
- 10 week report cards
Grading
- Numerical grades (0-100)
- 65 and above is passing
- Honor Roll (84.5-89.4)
- High Honor Roll (89.5-91.99)
- Principal’s List (92 – 100)
Promotion Policy 6.4
Pass at least three of the basic core subjects, two of which need to be ELA and Math
Accumulate between 1 ½ and 1 ¾ of the various exploratory and other required courses
Accelerated Classes
Specific Criteria to qualify for 7th grade Accelerated Math (Pre-Algebra)
- An average of 90 or above in math 6
- Teacher recommendation
- Should take the NYS Math assessment
- Parent permission
- Conference with Counselor and or Principal
Specific Criteria to qualify for 8th grade Accelerated Math (Algebra)
- An average of 90 or above in pre-algebra
- Should take the NYS Math assessment
- Teacher recommendation
- Parent permission
- Conference with Counselor and or Principal
Specific Criteria to qualify for 8th grade Accelerated ELA
- An average of 90 or above in English 7
- Satisfactory completion of Department Writing Test
- Should take the NYS ELA assessment
- Teacher recommendation
- Parent permission
- Conference with Counselor and or Principal
Currently there are no middle school advanced programs in…
- Science
- Social Studies
Specific Criteria to qualify for 8th grade STEM
The top 22 students – overall average from ELA, Math, Science, Engineering, and Computers
Assessments
Sixth and Seventh Grade Students take the following New York State assessments
- ELA in March
- Math in May
Reaching NYS Proficiency Levels
ELA
- Local Passing Requirment-65 or above
- State Proficiency Requirement- approx. 75 or above according to previous cut off levels on NYS assessments
MATH
- Local Passing Requirement- 65 or above
- State Proficiency Requirement- approx. 80 or above according to previous cut off levels on NYS assessments
Academic Intervention Services (AIS)
Reasons for AIS: Multiple Measures to identify
- NYS Mandate – did not reach state required proficiency level on NYS assessment
- STAR assessessments
- Local grades
- Teacher Recommendation
- Parent Recommendation
Types of AIS
- Direct Instruction
- Progress Monitoring
Attendance
Policy
- If absent, parents/students must have a written excuse to the school within a 10 day period
- If unexcused tardy or ISS/OSS – student will NOT be able to participate in ANY after school activity on that day. This includes band, clubs, games (as a participant or spectator)
Excused Absences
- Illness
- Illness or death in the family
- Religious observance
- Quarantine
- Required court appearance
- Participation in a school sponsored activity
- Approved cooperative work programs
- Related absences with the approval of the building administrator
Transportation
- There are no late buses, except for academic/discipline issues.
- Students must ride their own bus home and they are not allowed to go to a friend’s house.
Behavior
Discipline
- Counseling
- Lunch Detention
- Day Detention
- In-school
- Out of School
- Bus Suspension
- Academic Make up
- Work Service
Success
We recognize success!
- Students of the month
- Straight A luncheon
- Honors Night
- PBIS events/incentives
- Students are recognized on our website
- Town Meetings
Character
What can I do to be a good person?
- Stick up for others – stand up to bullies
- Appreciate the differences of others – acceptance
- Help others in need
- Say please and thank you
- Be responsible and respectful
- Do your best
PBIS: Positive Behavior Intervention Support
“Gotcha Tickets” – Catching students doing the right thing! Tickets can be used to enter quarterly drawings or worth .25 in the school store
What can I do to be successful?
- Always write your assignments in your agenda.
- Stay organized.
- Pay attention in class.
- Do your homework…on time…all the time!
- Be a good school citizen.
- Ask for help if you need it.
- Good attendance.
Communication
What are the best ways for me to communicate with the school?
- Website: http://www.bpcsd.org
- Email or call teachers
- Email or call Mr. Bell: bellw@bpcsd.org, Office: 954-2700, Fax: 954-2709
- Call Homework Hotline: 954-2735 (follow prompts for the Voyager Team)
School Counselors:
- Jennifer Steele: 954-2722, steelej@bpcsd.org
- Stephanie Hotaling: 954-2704, hotalings@bpcsd.org
School Psychologist:
- Lisa Yang: 954-2775, yangl@bpcsd.org