Dear Parents,
This week begins a brand new school year for all of us. We would like to welcome all of you to Middle School. As always, the start of a new school year holds the promise of new discovery and learning, as well as the prospect of personal growth in all areas.
We have put together a handbook of information to help you and your child become familiar with our expectations for the school year. We have done this to ensure success for every student. Please take a day or two to read through this information, discuss it with your child(ren), and then sign your names on the last page of this book. This page will need to be returned to the home room teacher by
We are committed to providing your child with the best possible learning experiences. Please keep in touch with us regarding any questions, concerns, or situations that will help us in reaching our goal. We look forward to a great school year.
Sincerely,
Email addresses:
The Middle School is completely departmentalized with each teacher responsible for the content of their classes. In this handbook is information that will help guide you and your child through the school year. The expectations are clearly outlined; this handbook should be kept in a handy place for reference throughout the year. Our goal is to prepare the students for the rigors of high school by emphasizing core-curriculum, organizational and study strategies, and teamwork while enjoying the learning process. We’re looking forwarding to sharing our love of learning with your children.
Mrs. Chvatal
Reading 6th – 8th
This year in
During our novel studies, students will complete chapter logs. These logs are able to be used on novel tests. Students will also be given appropriate assignments to aid in their understanding of the novel and to help them analyze the literature.
English 7th – 8th
The focus of English for the 7th and 8th graders will be on the Six Traits of Writing. Students will cover each of the traits and learn how to improve their writing using these traits. We will alternate our writing units with grammar units. Our focus in grammar will be on the eight parts of speech and how to use them correctly within our writing. Students will also continue to develop their diagramming skills throughout the year.
In addition to the Six Traits and grammar, students will receive a list of vocabulary words or roots each week. They should plan on spending 5-10 minutes each day studying these words and roots. Students will need to know how to spell the vocabulary words correctly, their part of speech, and their definitions. When studying roots, students will be required to spell it correctly, know it’s meaning, and be able to give examples of the root within words. Students may create note cards for vocabulary and roots as an
Mr. Maline
Math
The middle school math curriculum is set as follows:
6th grade……………………Course 1 or 2 Math
These books consist of traditional math including computation
as well as problem solving and geometry.
7th grade……………………Course 3 Math
This book wraps up any loose ends from course 2 and moves
into some pre-algebra pretty intensely. It is one of the leading
non-labeled pre-algebra books on the market.
8th grade……………………Algebra
This text includes all topics relevant to beginning algebra.
Each class will be taught individually, however, there are some blanket type rules that are used with all. Pencil work will be the only acceptable work in my classroom. There is too much room for error in computating math answers. There will be quizzes given every Friday that cover material gone over during the week. Tests will be given after each chapter in the book. NO retakes will be offered in this class, but corrections can be done to tests only on a separate sheet of paper to receive half of the missed points back.
Math help will be offered on a need basis. If your child is struggling in my class, you will be notified and dates will be arranged for tutoring.
Grading in this class is done on a straight points scale. Every assignment will be assigned a number of points and graded accordingly. Traditionally, homework is usually worth 100 points, whereas tests will be worth 200 points.
Science
Science in this classroom will be very hands-on. The students will be asked to do readings, make flashcards, write vocabulary and notes in a notebook, and work cooperatively in groups. Labs will be scheduled approximately once a week, with as many more as possible. There will be an updated list of supplies needed to carry out these labs in my weekly newsletter to parents.
The scientific method will be a base for our class. The students will be asked to reflect on how the method proves itself relevant everyday in science and life. Real-life situations and articles will be used as much as possible.
Tests will be given at the end of each chapter with a study guide and review session offered to enhance their readiness. NO retakes will be offered in this class. Quizzes will be given periodically as pop quizzes. Homework for this class will take on different form. There may not be as much outside work as in my math classes, but students will be expected to complete all work promptly.
Grading in this class is done on a straight points scale. Every assignment will be assigned a number of points and graded accordingly. Traditionally, homework is
Miss Meidlinger
Religion 7th-8th
Students will delve a little deeper into the Catholic faith in these two years by focusing a little bit on apologetics. Basically, the students will be learning why the Catholic Church teaches what it teaches. In order to do this we will use resources such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church and writings of various saints and popes as well as our textbook “Living Our Faith.” Students will be encouraged to ask lots of questions as we seek answers to questions about the Catholic faith together.
Prayer is a huge part of our lives. Because it is so important, we will be spending some time discussing prayer, its importance, and the different prayers of the Catholic Church. Prayers that we will be talking about include the Rosary, the Liturgy of the Hours, and other Catholic prayers and devotions. The Liturgy of the Hours is a style of prayer that all priests and religious promise to use for the rest of their lives. They all have what’s called a breviary (it looks like a mini Bible) and they read the prayers up to 5 different times during the day. The main prayers that are said are Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer. It is a beautiful style of prayer that involves the psalms, readings from other parts of the Bible, petitions, readings from saints and much more. I look forward to teaching the 7th and 8th graders more about this style of prayer.
The format of both classes will be very similar, but each class has their own set of books, so different topics will be covered in each class. One topic that will be very prevalent in the 8th grade classroom will be the sacrament of Confirmation. A lot of energy will be spent getting them ready for the day they publicly proclaim their faith and are received fully as adults into the Catholic Church.
There will be no retakes on tests and quizzes in this class.
English 6th
Students will have a chance to expand on their knowledge of the writing process this year. 6 trait writing will still be a big focus of writing for the 6th graders as they become more seasoned writers. We will spend a lot of time looking at examples of good writing so that students have a chance to learn how to write from some of the best authors in the world.
Throughout the year we will be alternating between grammar and writing. Every other week will be dedicated to different areas of grammar. When students are not working on another skill in grammar, they will be working on putting their grammar skills to use in writing.
Vocabulary and roots will also be a big part of this year. These two things will also be taught every other week. One week will be dedicated to vocabulary; the next will be dedicated to roots. On the weeks that we work on vocabulary, the students will learn 2 new vocabulary words a day. These words will be tested the following Monday. The weeks that the students are not working on vocabulary, they will be learning about the different roots of words. Students will be tested on their knowledge of the roots they have learned each week.
The students will be given an opportunity to make flash cards to help them remember their roots and vocabulary words for extra credit.
There will be no retakes on tests in this class. The students will be given the option of correcting their mistakes on lined paper for half credit.
Science 6th
This year will be spent learning about Life Science. There are five books that are included in the 6th grade series. These books include “From Bacteria to Plants,” “Animals,” “Cells and Heredity,” “Human Biology and Health,” and “Environmental Science.”
Science is a class that requires a lot of hands-on activities for students to fully grasp the concepts. In light of this, I will be having many experiments throughout the year. I hope that this will help solidify some scientific concepts for the students. I also hope that students will be able to see the practical application of science in their lives.
I will not be allowing retakes on these tests. The students will be given the option of correcting their mistakes on lined paper for half credit.
Mrs. Simons
Social Studies 6th-8th
The focus of sixth grade social studies is in the western hemisphere. The students will be covering the countries of
Extra credit (up to 5 points) can be earned by making study flash cards and turning them in the day of the test. No credit will be given if they are not turned in on the test day ~ no exceptions. No retakes or corrections will be allowed on tests.
Religion 6th
Students will take religion notes during our study of our textbook, Walking By Faith. Students will begin prayer recites on Fridays. They will rotate recite prayers with DWP skills. A quarterly schedule of recites will be available. Students will also study Circle of Grace terms as outlined in the Omaha Archdiocese standards. These terms will be used in one lesson to help promote a safe environment.
Other religion activities will be study of questions for the test which occurs at the annual Vocation Day field trip. There are prizes awarded for top scores. Every 6th grader in the metro takes this test! The study of the Bible and practice questions for the Bible Bowl Competition will also happen weekly. We would love to earn another trophy for St. Patrick’s! Lastly, the study of saints will be incorporated into weekly lessons.
Class Expectations
Part of getting ready for Middle School is understanding the expectations. It is important to know what is expected of you, as well as what you can expect from us. This will assist you in developing skills of organization, responsibility, note taking, preparation for quizzes and tests, becoming a more proficient proofreader, and allow you to enjoy your subjects.
You can expect Mrs. Chvatal, Mr. Maline, Miss Meidlinger, and Mrs. Simons to create classrooms conducive to learning. Our goal is to create an environment that fosters success. A multitude of teaching approaches will be implemented to help you reach your potential. Work completed following preset guidelines will be returned in a timely manner so you have the opportunity to evaluate ways to improve your work before errors become habitual. We will do our best to ensure that lessons are presented in an interesting, informative manner.
A quote that we live by is, “If you plan to learn, you must learn to plan.” Know that it is your responsibility to write down assignments word-for-word from the board in the school-provided assignment notebook and mark incomplete/complete tasks. Open communication between school and home is essential to success. The agenda, binders, web page, and weekly newsletters will provide advanced notice and allow you to share your progress with your parents daily. Assignment notebooks for the 6th graders will be checked for parent signatures for the first quarter. Averages will also be recorded in the assignment notebooks. These averages will be taken from edline weekly.
Organization is a necessary life skill. Be prepared to maintain your binders daily. This task will only feel like a mammoth chore if you choose to neglect it over a period of time. The binders will include daily assignments, essays, quizzes, tests, notes, and other important information.
Grading
All work turned in should be your own. Plagiarizing and/or copying other’s work will result in a zero for those involved. Talking during quizzes or tests will also result in a recorded zero. Your work is a reflection of your effort. Any scribbled-on work will be returned and considered late until resubmitted.
Daily homework will be given to the students. The homework will consist of written work as well as studying and reading. The assignments are expected to be returned the next class day, unless otherwise stated. On average, there will be 60 minutes of homework and study time each night. Late work is unacceptable; plenty of time will be allocated for each assignment. The students are also to be using their daily study hall time wisely.
If you choose to turn in work late without an excused absence, it is your responsibility to make it up within one day. The highest score a late paper will receive is 75% of the possible points. A “0” will be recorded for work that is not turned in by the next morning. Remember that anything is better than a “0” and that keeping up with your assignments allows you to avoid the stresses associated with the “make-up” game.
For every day a student has an excused absence, he/she will have one day to complete the make-up work. If the student is absent on the day a long-term assignment/project is due, the assignment must be turned in that day (the due date), unless other arrangements have been made through his/her teacher. If it is not turned in, then the project falls into the late project category.
It is the student’s responsibility to make up all work missed due to illness or unexcused absences. If a quiz or test is given the day of the absence, the student is expected to make it up on the day of his/her return. Make-up homework needs to be turned into the appropriate subject teacher. Regular attendance will also help you feel prepared. Show up daily and give us your best, and we’ll do the same!
Medications
All medication is to be administered through the office. The exception to this rule is cough drops, which the students may have as long as they have a signed note from the parent/guardian. If you want your child to have the ability to take aspirin or ibuprofen, then the medication sheet indicating so must be on file in the office.
Discipline Cycle
Our discipline cycle is in place to ensure student success. Behavioral expectations are high at St. Patrick’s. Our DWP program is a major part of our curriculum, and it is critical that our students recognize that success results when all students learn and follow the behaviors and expectations taught in the program. Choosing to follow the steps outlined in our D.W.P. program ensures a positive learning environment with minimal distractions. The incentives for choosing the proper behaviors include strengthened focus during class time, pleasant passing periods, a sense of pride in a job well done, and a quarterly drawing (for a gift card) of students’ cards that have not received demerits during the monthly period(s). In the event that a student strays from the expectations, he/she will earn a demerit.
Demerits are formal signs that student actions are in direct conflict with St. Patrick’s behavioral guidelines. Accumulations of demerits indicate a lack of self-discipline and on-going behaviors which could prove detrimental to the school community and St. Patrick’s educational mission.
The staff at St. Patrick’s will work with students to create an effective learning environment. Inappropriate student behavior will be consistently corrected, and staff members will give demerits if/when necessary. Demerits are cumulative over the course of each month. Students will receive a new card at the beginning of each calendar month, allowing them to start with a “clean slate.” The demerit card provides students and parents with a tangible record of behavior and should be reviewed regularly. Merits will also be given as students demonstrate exemplary behavior.
Students are required to carry their demerit card during the school day. Failure to produce the card as requested by a staff member constitutes in lack of preparation and cooperation, resulting an automatic demerit.
**Lost or intentionally destroyed cards will result in an automatic 30-minute detention. The time the detention is to be served is at the discretion of the teacher monitoring the detention.
Specific consequences for accumulating demerits and the corresponding formative action follow.
Level Consequence Formative Action
5 demerits Same day detention (30 minutes) Parent notification by phone
8 demerits 2- 30 minute detentions Parent notification by phone
10 demerits Saturday School Parent- notification/Conference
with principal
15 demerits In School Suspension Parent and student conference
with principal
Above 16 demerits ** As determined by principal Parent/student/principal
conference
Positive consequences include quarterly prize drawings, Friday recess privilege, and extra free time. We will have fun while gaining valuable information. All it will take is all of us doing our best. Get ready for a fantastic year!
Middle School Terms
Oftentimes, students & teachers have a language all their own. Below is a list of terms that will be at St. Patrick’s for Middle Schoolers. It should prove useful to you as you help direct them in their educations.
Dates to Know – This is the portion of the weekly newsletter that provides a “heads up” about upcoming assignments, quizzes, & tests.
Assignment Book – St. Patrick’s provides each student with an assignment book & offers instruction on the use of the book. Daily, students are required to write in their assignments for each class. They are to indicate “X” = no homework, “O” = homework, or “S” = study for each assignment covered in each class during the day. These books will also contain notes in the last column, if necessary, so teachers can correspond with parents. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain a parent/guardian signature daily for the 1st nine weeks. The students’ weekly averages will be taken from edline and recorded in the assignment notebook each Monday. Parents are expected to look at their child’s averages weekly. Bonus will be offered to those students who have a parent signature in the assignment notebooks.
Binder – The binder will serve as the essential element for organization. Students will create dividers for each section. Their binder will contain all the materials necessary for success in Middle School. The red binder is for Math and Science, the white binder is for Language Arts, and the black binder is for Social Studies and Religion.
Circle of Grace Terms – These terms are covered throughout the Archdiocese of Omaha about respecting all of God’s people and keeping our environment safe. They will cover two terms each day until they have accumulated ten terms. They will have weekly quizzes in Religion over these terms.
Chapter Logs – Students will write chapter logs for each novel covered in class. The typical log is a minimum of 5 lines and relates to the specific chapter indicated. An acceptable set will follow form for papers, have one log for each chapter, contain information about characters, setting, plot, & them, and be well organized. Many of these are created during class on the board based on student feedback. This allows students to develop their summarization skills, ask any questions about the reading while its being covered, and demonstrate understanding of the materials. Logs are graded at the end of each novel.
Friday Recess – On Friday when possible students may earn the Friday Recess privilege. They must have no more than 2 demerits on their card for the week.
Forms for Papers – This guide provides a thorough explanation of what a quality paper will look like. It is imperative that students take pride in their final products. Proper headings are expected on all papers. Each teacher will provide an example of what heading they will use.
Homework– Students will need to prepare for classes outside of class. A commitment of 5 – 10 minutes daily for quiz & test preparation from the beginning of a unit should suffice. Our goal is to have students learn time management skills & avoid cramming the night before.
Mass Expectations – Each student will be expected to serve as a model for younger students. All behaviors during Mass are expected to demonstrate respect & participation during the Liturgy. Reflections will be made after every Mass, & students will need to listen and respond in order to participate.
Math Help – This is an after-school session that will help your child understand the homework concepts.
Newsletter – Each Monday, our class website will be updated with a newsletter from each teacher. This will include a listing of upcoming assignments and due dates. Newsletters serve as an essential, informative guide for our class. Newsletters outline what our students have accomplished & what is scheduled for the future. Please make it a habit to
Progress Report – Student averages will be updated each Monday. Students will record their averages in their assignment notebooks to share with their parents. Those students who obtain a parent/guardian signature will receive bonus from their homeroom teacher. The goal is to keep students and parents informed. If you have a question about the score, ask your child (ren) to show you the materials in his/her binder. Children are not “surprised” by their averages; they will receive assignments back in a timely fashion. If the response isn’t clear after discussing it with your student(s), feel free to jot a note in the assignment notebook. We will respond quickly by reviewing it with the student and providing feedback to the parents. Open communication is essential. Formal mid-quarter reports will be sent home as noted on the school calendar.
Retakes – Will be left to the discretion of each individual teacher. Please check out that section on their individual edline page. We strongly encourage all students to do their best the first time. Corrections will also be left up to each individual teacher.
Stewardship – The Middle School classes each have a special task assigned to them as their class stewardship. The 8th graders serve as Mass Mentors at all school masses. The 7th graders serve as after school student tutors. The 6th graders serve on safety patrol. Schedules will be posted as needed. D.W.P. skills will be modeled for all students (K-8) during this time and will allow each child to demonstrate leadership.
Weekly Recites – Each Middle Schooler will be provided with a copy of the quarterly prayer recite expectations. Students are responsible for keep these copies in their binders.
Please sign and return this page to your student’s home room teacher BY
If both parents live in the home, a signature is required from both.
We have read the Middle School student handbook.
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parent or guardian signature
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parent or guardian signature
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student signature
Please complete the attached information form.