Riverwatch Middle School Panther Camp

August 5, 2013

Seven classes for approximately 55 minute periods:◦ 1st Period – Language Arts from 9:00 – 9:59 ◦ 2nd Period – Math from 10:04 – 10:57◦ 3rd Period – Science from 11:02 – 12:23(includes 25 minute lunch)◦ 4th Period – Social Studies from 12:28 – 1:21◦ 5th Period – Enrichment or Math Workshop from

1:26 – 2:19◦ 6th Period – Connections from 2:24 – 3:17◦ 7th Period – Connections from 3:22 – 4:15

Daily Schedule

11:03 – 11:28 Cullen/Thomson seated at tables 1,

2, 3, and 4

11:06 – 11:31 Collins/Kirkley at tables 5, 6, 7, and

8

11:09 – 11:34 Gabbert/Federspiel at tables 9, 10,

11,and12

11:12 – 11:37 Johnson/Shanks at tables 13, 14,

15, and 16

11:20 – 11:45 Hunley/Graves at tables 17, 18, 19,

and 20

11:23 – 11:58 Hitch/Bull at tables 21, 22, 23, and

24

11:26 – 11:51 Purdy/Carothers at tables 25, 26,

27, and 28

11:30 – 11:55 Cline/Masterson at tables 1, 2, 3,

and 4

11:33 – 12:02 Cramb/Athey at tables 5, 6, 7, and 8

Lunch Schedule

Arrival

Early Arrival 8:00 to 8:30 AM in the cafeteria

Normal Arrival is in the cafeteria (car riders) and gym

(buses)

Dismissal to breakfast at 8:45 AM

First Class begins at 9:00 AM

4:15 on normal school days

1:30 on early release days

1st early release day – August 28th

Routine

Dropping off and picking up personal itemsPrior arrangements must be made before school begins for the

day. Students will not be notified. Classes are not interrupted.

For checking in students, parents are not required to come in the front office.

When checking out a student, parents are required to come into the front office.

To check out a student, the person must be on the check-in/check-out card. Please make sure to include yourself when filling out the check-in/check-out card.

All adults checking out students are required to present a photo id.

Procedures

August 21, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.

Parents will experience a PTSA meeting and then rotate through the academic portion of their student’s schedule.

Please join us!

6th Grade Curriculum Night

Curriculum Information -https://www.georgiastandards.org/Common-Core/Pages/default.aspx

Language Arts ◦ Class sets are available during the school day◦ On line textbook available for student use at home

Math◦ Occasional use of textbook in class for work during school day

Science ◦ Class sets are available during school day◦ On line textbooks available for student use at home◦ Limited supply offered for check out in media center after

August 13th Social Studies

◦ Occasional use in classroom◦ Class sets available during school day◦ All other materials are teacher generated for at home use

Textbooks

School-wide Classroom Discipline Plan

◦1st offense Warning/Conference/Parent Contact◦2nd offense Parent contact/Teacher assigned consequence◦3rd offense Teacher assigned consequence◦4th offense Administrative referral

Certain violations may result in immediate action by the school administration.

All students are subject to the Forsyth County Code of Conduct.

Discipline

See the 2013-2014 Code of Conduct and Discipline Procedures for Forsyth County’s dress code policy. The school administration is authorized to determine what constitutes inappropriate dress for the school setting. Questions about the dress code should be addressed with the administration.

Dress Code

H.E.L.P. How to Enjoy Living with a Preadolescent

Common Middle School Characteristics: *Forgetting *Irritability *Power Plays *Friendships *Chores *Worries *Joys

Nature of Middle School Student

Forsyth County Schools encourages students to utilize their personal technology devices.

The purpose of BYOT is to enrich and extend current academic opportunities.

Use of BYOT is limited to classrooms and media center.

Teachers have the authority to limit the use of BYOT opportunities.

BYOT – Bring Your Own Technology

Students who use the internet for social networking are likely to be exposed to pornography, violence, and hate speech.

If your child has access to social networking platforms (twitter, instagram, vine, etc), please have regular discussions with them about safe, appropriate use of these sites.

Visit www.commonsensemedia.org for more information and tips on how to help your children stay safe in the digital world.

Safety apps exist like - http://www.smartshepherd.com/ Talk with your service provider to find one that will work

with your child’s phone.

Internet Safety

“It is not enough to sit by and assume that your kids are going to do the right thing, because good kids, smart kids, that do the right things in lots of aspects of life, still do goofy things on the internet and social networking sites. Kids are going to post photos and personal information..At least moms and dads should learn about what they’re doing. If you don’t know that your child has a Myspace page (Twitter, Instagram, Vine, etc.), you better find out, and you better talk to them about how they are using it and what they are doing to make sure that they use it safely and responsibly.”-Ernie Allen,President and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Internet Safety

Students in Middle School should be learning to ask questions or seek resolution to their problems themselves.

Parents can assist students by:◦ Encouraging them to keep up with their

assignments using an agenda or other organizational tools

◦ Helping them practice approaching and talking to teachers

◦ Following up with teachers to verify that the student came and talked to the teacher

Self-Advocacy

Panther CampPanther Press (monthly)Email – weekly school events updates sent on Fridays or MondaysPhone with voice mailParent Conferences (October and March)Parent Portal (Online access)ITSLearningStudent HandbookAgendasRiverwatch Website with School Calendar

Home/School Communication

Example Panther Press

http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=20928

RMS Website

https://www.itslearning.com/elogin/default.aspx?CustomerId=2174

• Where do I find information about upcoming tests and assignments?

• Where do I find handouts from a current day’s class or from previous classes?

ITSLearning

Parent Portal Log In

How do I monitor my student’s attendance?

How do I monitor my student’s grades?

To get a login please see Mrs. Geren in the front office. Photo id is needed.

Parent Portal

Clubs… Art Club, Builders Club, FCA, etc.

Intramurals in the mornings

Dances (August 23, 2013 – 6th Grade Dance 4:30 – 6:00 PM)

Athletic events (Only 7th and 8th may compete)

Check the calendar frequently for dates!

Panther Spirit… Get involved!

Remember:

◦No need to come to 7th and 8th Grade Open House this afternoon.

◦The first day of school is Thursday, August 8, 2013.

◦Attendance will be taken promptly at 9:00a.m.

Welcome to Riverwatch and thank you for coming today!