Grade Five Transition toWesterly Middle School

2009-2010•Informational Meetings

•Consistency of Offerings•Successes and Challenges

• January-March 2009

– Jan 8th –Mr. Curran to tour Westerly Middle School and to discuss logistics of transition

– Jan. 13th –11 parents from Parent Advisory Committee to discuss concerns and suggestions.

– March, 20th –Grade Five Teachers to discuss transition

Transition Timeline

• May 6th and 7th – All five elementary schools visited and toured the Middle School – 225 students. Followed by evening parent night.

• June – Nine balanced class lists were created with the support of a committee comprised of regular and special educators, with the assistance of Grade Five Principal.

• August 27th – Event to facilitate introductions of students and facultyHot Dog Roast – Students met their classroom teachers, toured their Pod areas and learned about the lunch procedures.

• September– Sep. 14th – Back to School Night/Open House– Sept. 23rd – Math/Literacy Ice Cream Social – 100

students

Field TripsCalling All WMS Fifth Graders Veterans Day Parade Saturday, November 7, 2009

URI Field Trip - WEEF FundedPod A – November 12th - Pod B – November 19th

Student Comments:

“I am definitely going to go to college when I grow up.” Jenna

“URI has a major that I want – Marine Biology.” Molly

“The 900 person classroom was really cool.” McKenna

“We went to the green house and I liked that because I want to save the world too.” “Now I know I will make lots of good friends at college and I will have a nice dorm room.” Mitchell

Grade Five Students will sing the National Anthem at the Dunkin Center

on Feb. 21, 2010.

All students will visit Boston in June, 2010. This will be supported by the various Fundraisers – including Dancing with the Stars.

Strawberry Park Fun Day

All 220 students will spend the day celebrating the end of the school year.

Field Trips

A Night Out at the Theatre

WMS Grade Five

Friday, December 18, 2009Westerly Granite Theatre

Showtime: 8:00 p.m.

Pasta Dinner Fundraiser –

January, 2010 to support

Grade Five Field Trips

Grade Five – Specific Fundraisers

More Grade Five Events…

Holiday ConcertMusic Teacher, Dave Harrington is proud to present his Holiday Concert on Thursday, December 16th. Pod A will perform at 6:00 pm and Pod B at 7:30 pm.

Rooster GamesAn event common to all elementary school fifth graders…

After School Programs2:30 – 3:45 pm

– Newspaper Club – 17 participants

– Science Explorations – 15 participants – 6 weeks

– Build a Birdfeeder – 6 participants – 1 meeting

– Fossil Fun and Rockin’ Geology – canceled due to lack of interest

– Math Remedial Program – 24 students – Tuesday afternoons until end of April.

– Recorder Club – 20 Selected student

• Mrs. Wagner's students will be collecting TRAVEL SIZE toiletries to donate to the WARM Shelter. 

• Mrs. Baguchinsky's students are collecting pink Yoplait labels marked "Save Lids, Save Lives".

• Mrs. Dunn's students are selling pencils and erasers before school on Tuesdays and Thursdays to raise money to fight hunger.

• All Grade Five students are also collecting money through the month of December to meet Mr. Feinstein's challenge to fight hunger. 

• Changing the Course of Cancer - $250 was raised to support Mr. Frank Abate’s participation in the Philadelphia Marathon.

• Canned goods were collected for the Johnny Cake Center.

Feinstein Good Deeds

Challenges

• Later gym time which will allow outdoor activity- used to recess at elementary school

• Later lunch – 10:40 early. Looking to rotate with 6, 7 & 8.

Grade Five Library

Grade Five Literacy Closet• Very limited space upon our arrival• Still in process of being organized

• Library is still “under construction” Fifth grade collection Reorganizing of shelving

• .5 LibrarianCurrent schedule limits a comprehensive library program– Research– Reader motivation– Technology instruction

Challenges…• Not enough lockers in Pod Areas• WMS schedule vs. Elementary

schedule has negative impact on special education service providers

• Getting to know one another• Familiarity of building layout • Familiarity of school procedures- fire drills,

dismissal, parent pick ups- Success…started with 30 students down to 8 who remain until buses leave.

Notice – 10/21/09

• Class Placement # of familiar classmates

Parent expectations with familiar teachers Parent Input forms Technology Glitch

• More outdoor time• Seating on school busses• Cafeteria- 5 min. quiet?• Are we Elementary or are we Middle School?

-Parent Conference Day - Students didn’t get lunch but they did at elementary

-Flu Clinic – Parents were not allowed to accompany their child but at elementary schools they were

Parental Concerns

Student Responses• Grade Five students would like to have:

– More interaction with 6, 7 and 8 graders– One code to remember for lunch, library, lockers, etc.– Bathroom doesn’t have enough stalls/urinals– Longer lunchtime– We need recess – we need a break– More after school clubs– After school sports– Want to sit in back of bus– Fifth grade chorus and talent show

• Grade Five Positive Comments:– Enjoy size and condition of school– Extra special allows for more time on task– Get to meet more friends– Better lunch menu– Teachers are awesome

Positive Parent Comments• Transition was wonderful and my child is

enjoying their fifth grade year at WMS

• My husband and I are extremely satisfied with the level of expertise that the grade five teachers are striving for. This is reflected in our child’s work. She is a high performing student and her instruction is being differentiated and she is being provided with the necessary strategies to enhance her learning.

• It was a better transition than I had anticipated. My daughter was anxious about having to leave her elementary school, however she just feel into a routine and has done better academically and socially than expected. We have no homework issues and no complaints. I feel the entire process was much worse for the parents than the students and I feel sorry for the parents who sent their children to other schools than to experience this transition.

• It has been a good learning environment for our son. He seems to be learning a lot more here at the Middle School. There are more computers available for the students use.

• Although I thought it was going to be rough, I am very pleased with the transition – it went very smoothly. It’s a wonderful school.

• Many parents during parent teacher conferences said that they are very pleased with how everything is going thus far and like how the students get to switch between two classrooms everyday for the different subjects! The parents also said that they think everyone is doing a great job and really like how welcoming the middle school was to the fifth grade. – Student Teacher

Administrator ConcernsRunning two buildings has presented many

challenges. • Attempt to maintain consistent schedule • Everything times two! PTO SIT RIT ET IEP Parent Meetings Faculty Meetings Teacher Evaluations• .5 Secretary- share with grade 7• Resolved building aide support• NECAP Nightmare• Not enough time in day- compromise community relations, classroom visits,

working with students, etc.

Thank you!

The faculty and staff working with our fifth grade population is to be commended for their professionalism, commitment to excellence, and patience. The fifth grade transition was a success thanks to their enthusiasm and tremendous support.