GARNET VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

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GARNET VALLEY ELEMENTARY
BETHEL SPRINGS ELEMENTARY
TOGETHER WE ARE

• GARNET VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

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GARNET VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

• Welcome
• Introductions
• Administration
• Dr. Kenneth L. Acker, Principal
• Mr. Sean P. Burns, Assistant Principal
• Ms. Dawn J. Papa, Assistant Principal
• 2009-2010 Counselors
• Ms. Christie Heller, Gr. 6
• Mrs. Wendy Horne, Gr. 7
• Mr. Daniel Palmer, Gr. 8

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Garnet Valley Middle School Mission

• The mission of Garnet Valley Middle School is to
  foster a positive and supportive culture, which
  appreciates the uniqueness of each individual in
  the learning process. To develop life-long
  learners, we will prepare students to be
  self-motivated, independent, reflective, and
  compassionate adolescents able to successfully
  evolve in the ever-changing world.

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The Middle School Structure

• What is a team?
• A team is a small learning community of students
  and teachers.
• Developmentally appropriate for middle school age
  children.
• Each GVMS 6th Grade team represents approximately
  100 of the 370 projected students.
• Each 6th grade team consists of a Language Arts,
  Math, Science, Social Studies, Learning Support
  Teacher
• 6th Grade Teams
• Garnet, Gold, White, Blue

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The Truth about Teams

• Students are assigned randomly.
• Each team is equal in student ability.
• All academic courses are offered on all four
  teams.
• Teams make it easier for students to manage the
  middle school!

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The Schedule

• Bell Schedule
• Homebase 730 738
• Per. 1 740 824
• Per. 2 826 911
• Per. 3 913 958
• Per. 4 1000 1044
• Per. 5 1045 1131
• Per. 6 1133 1217
• Lunch 1219 1249
• Per. 7 (UA/HPE) 1251 134
• Per. 8 (UA/HPE) 136 221

Student Schedules are not provided in the summer
mailing. HB/Team assignments will be provided in
summer mailing
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The Academic Program

• 6th Grade is a continuation of the elementary
  experience.
• Standards Based Curriculum
• Language Arts
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies
• Students experience a full complement of
  specials.
• Unified Arts
• Health and Physical Education
• World Language Rotation

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Grading

• Traditional grading system A through F.
• Standards Based Checklists in
• Mathematics
• Language Arts
• Report Cards mailed home following each marking
  quarter.
• Online grade viewer.

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Mathematics

• 4 Academic Levels
• Pre-Algebra
• Enrichment Mathematics
• Level 1 Mathematics
• Level 2 Mathematics
• The Math curriculum is aligned to PA Mathematics
  Standards and Assessment Anchors.
• For qualifying students.

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Language Arts

• 3 Academic Levels
• Enrichment Language Arts
• Language Arts, Level 1
• Language Arts, Level 2
• Meets daily for two periods.
• Curriculum aligned to PA Standards.
• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing

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Science Social Studies

• SCIENCE
• Heterogeneously grouped
• Meets daily
• Curriculum focuses on Earth Science/Catastrophic
  Events
• Method of Instruction is Inquiry/Discovery Based
  Learning through laboratory investigations

• SOCIAL STUDIES
• Heterogeneously grouped
• Meets daily
• Curriculum focus on Ancient Civilizations,
  Geography, Ancient Egypt, China, Greece, and the
  Medieval/Renaissance Period.

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3rd Period

• 6-Day Cycle (A,B,C,D,E,F)
• World Language (1 day out of 6)
• Trimester of French, Spanish, German
• Approximately 12 meetings
• ATP (2 days out of 6) for qualifying students
• Band/Chorus/Orchestra (2 days out of 6) if
  applicable
• Study Hall
• Supported for Learning Support
• Supported for Reading
• Example ATP student who is also a member of the
  Band
• A day Band
• B day ATP
• C day Band
• D day ATP
• E day World Language
• F day Team Study Hall

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Unified Arts/Health PEPeriods 7 and 8

• One period of Unified Arts
• 5 Rotations (36 class meetings in each rotation)
• General Music
• Technology Education
• Computers
• Family Consumer Science
• Art
• One Period of
• Health and Physical Education Year Long
• 3 consecutive days of PE
• 3 consecutive days of Health

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Band, Chorus and Orchestra

• Band, Chorus and Orchestra are GRADED classes and
  are selected at course request time.
• Chorus meets at a regularly schedule time
• Band and Orchestra lessons are pull out lessons.
• Students are pulled from academic classes to meet
  with the teacher or group.
• Dropping these courses is difficult.

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Library Services

• Instruction
• Flexible schedule, allowing for optimum
  collaboration with classes and individuals.
• Information literacy instruction based on
  American Library Association standards. 
• Guiding students through the research process as
  critical seekers and evaluators of information.
• Instruction in the ethical use of information
  learning about plagiarism, note-taking, writing
  in ones own words, and source citation.
• Developing Life-Long Readers
• Curriculum-based library collection of gt14,000
  titles age-appropriate topics.
• Online resources POWER Library databases and
  GVMS subscription databases. 
• Annual author visits by well-known young adult
  authors.

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Guidance Services

• The Role of the Counselor
• Point person for concerns or questions regarding
• programming
• scheduling
• social/peers
• family
• Counselors are case managers for students with
  504 Service Agreements
• Counselors may serve as an LEA for an IEP meeting
• Coordinates Parent Conferences
• Occur on designated days during 8th period (136
  to 221)
• Member of Student Assistance Program (SAP)

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Guidance Services

• Groups
• Social Groups
• Making Friends
• Stress Management
• Organization
• Classroom Lessons
• Other Important Names in Guidance
• Guidance Secretary Mrs. Mango
• Student Assistance Program Coordinator Mrs.
  Falcone
• School District Social Worker Mrs. Smeins

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Student Services

• Special Education (IEP Services)
• Available for students who qualify and are in
  need of specially designed instruction.
• Itinerant Support in regular education classrooms
  for support.
• Resource Room for students in need of Math and
  Language Arts support.
• Resource Room for Emotional, Autistic, Life
  Skills Support.
• All students are fully Included for Social
  Studies, Science Unified Arts.
• Related Special Education Services
• Speech and Language
• Occupational/Physical Therapy
• Vision Therapy
• Auditory if applicable
• School Psychologist Mr. Davis

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Student Services

• Academically Talented Program (ATP) (in lieu of
  study hall)
• ATP Teachers Mrs. Valerio Mrs. Hansell
• For Qualified Students with GIEP.
• Pull out during study hall period.
• Seminars based on selected topics.
• Reading Support (in lieu of study hall)
• Reading Support Teacher Mrs. Cunningham
• Fully included in regular English classes.
• Direct instruction with Reading Specialist during
  3rd period.
• English Language Learners (ELL)
• DCIU program for students with limited English
  proficiency.
• Pull out during study hall period.
• Various levels of support.
• Beginning
• Intermediate
• Advanced

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Clubs

• A Club Fair will be held during the month of
  September

2009-2010 Clubs and Activities Art
Club Communications Club (GVMS-TV) Drama
Club Board Games/Chess Club Library Club Math
Club Outdoors Club
Peer Mediation Pep Club Peer Buddies Science
Olympiad Service Club Student Council Yearbook
Club
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Activities

• School- Based Activities
• Intramurals for 6th Grade (Team Sports)
• Soccer (Sept Oct)
• Swimming (Fall)
• Basketball Wrestling (Feb March)
• Parent/Student Thanksgiving Luncheon (November
  2009)
• Concerts (Winter and Spring)
• Spelling Bee (April, 2010)
• Assembly Programs
• Pep-Rally (Fall, Winter, Spring)
• Red Ribbon
• Anti-Bullying
• Visiting Author
• HSA Sponsored Activities
• Currently under review

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Garnet Valley Middle School Athletics
Mr. James Connor GVMS Athletic
Director 610-842-0762 connorj_at_garnetvalleyschools.
com
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Nationwide Focus

• Facts based on research from the
• Positive Coaching Alliance
• Number one reason kids play sports in school is
  to have fun
• Kids also play sports in school for Connectivity
  Social Reasons

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Garnet Valley Middle School Athletics
School Wide Focus

• Academic Eligibility Student First, Athlete
  
• 
  Second
• Discipline and Demeanor How do we carry
• 
  ourselves in school?
• Community Service Giving Back through
• Sports
• Sportsmanship Fair Play, Character, and
• Respect
• Jaguar Spirit Events Promoting School Spirit

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Garnet Valley Middle School Athletics
Future Program Goals

• Mission and Vision Committee
• Supervision and Safety of Student-Athletes and
• Student Fans
• Improve methods of communication between
• Athletic Program stakeholders
• Interscholastic Middle School Eligibility
  Policy
• Build an appropriate, supportive, and positive
• bridge to our High School Athletics

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GVMS Home and School

• Current Co-Presidents
• Mrs. Lisa Daughen Mrs. Kim Champagne
• Meetings
• Second Monday of identified months.
• Summer School Store
• Pre-packaged Team Items
• Activities for Students
• www.garnetvalleyschools.com/gvms/hsa

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Important Dates for Transition Elementary to
Middle

• April 2009
• Parent/Teacher Conferences April 1-3
• Course Recommendations by 5th Grade teachers
• Performing Music Event April 20, 2009_at_ GVMS
• May 2009
• Week of May 4, 2009
• Correspondence from the MS to 5th Grade Parents
• Information regarding MS course recommendations
• Information regarding upcoming transition events
• 5th Grade Visitation Day, May 11, 2009
• Counselor Lessons, Week of May 18, 2009
• Yikes Im going to Garnet Valley Middle School
  Book.

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Transition Camp

• August 18th 19th (2 days Must attend both
  days)
• 830 to 1130 am
• Team Building
• Scavenger Hunt
• Learn the Building
• 25 Fee to cover the operating costs for the
  camp.
• Registration forms will be mailed in May with
  your course recommendations.
• Over 300 students participated in the camp last
  year with huge success!!

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Whats New in 2009-2010

• Technology Integration
• Completion of renovation of both library student
  computer labs.
• Two new portable laptop carts
• I-Mac lab in Art Education
• An increase of SMARTboards in our classrooms
• District
• Home and School Initiative
• Student Response Systems (SRS)
• Redesigned computer curriculum
• Blogs
• Wikis
• Advanced MS applications
• Internet Safety

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GVMS GOALS for 2009-2010

• Ongoing implementation of the This We Believe
  Philosophy of Middle Level Education for GVMS
  sponsored by NMSA.
• Carrying out our vision mission
• Implementation of a Thematically-Based middle
  school program
• 4 Critical Connections to guide the instructional
  process
• Character Based Traits centered on teacher
  passions
• Curriculum alignment
• Culminating activities

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In Closing ..
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What we believe makes for a successful transition!

• Communication, Communication, Communication
• E-Alerts
• www.garnetvalleyschools.com/gvms
• Broadcast messaging
• Be involved!
• Back to School Night
• Field Trip Chaperones
• Home and School participation
• For Students
• Student Planners
• Supportive Parents

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What does the first day look like for the kids?

• 6th Graders will report to the auditorium.
• Teachers assist students in navigating the
  building through the first few weeks of school.
• Locker assignment and practice occurs.
• 1110 a.m. dismissal for students

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Video
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THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!!We invite you to
explore the building at this time.Tonights
presentation will be available on-line at
www.garnetvalleyschools.comon the MS homepage.