J. Michael Lunsford Middle School

RISING 6TH GRADE PARENT

INFORMATION NIGHT

Building a legacy of excellence

AGENDA

• Welcome

• Introduction of Staff

• School Information

• Middle School Teaming

• The Block Schedule

• 6th Grade Course Information

• Next Steps

Neil Slevin, Principal

Goals for J. Michael Lunsford Middle School

•Be a school for all learners

•Build positive and

collaborative relationships

throughout the school

community

Lunsford – Who are we?• Where are we coming from?

Hutchison Farm

Little River

Buffalo Trail

Liberty

Arcola

Pinebrook

Who was J. Michael Lunsford?

• Director of Transportation,

1995-2009

• Over 40 years of service to

Loudoun County

• Began career as a bus driver at

16 years old

• Well loved and respected

within the Loudoun County

community for his leadership

and kindness

Introduction of Administrative Team

• Paul Rochford

6th Grade Dean

• Kelly Kenworthy,

6th Grade Counselor

• Jennifer Bantle,

Assistant Principal

• Jennifer Brooks,

Assistant Principal

What do we Value?

Positive Relationships

Respect

Competence

Personal Regard

Integrity

Collaboration“Work on building a professional community that

is characterized by shared purpose, collaborative

activity, and collective responsibility among

staff.” - Newmann and Wehlage

Equity

What two assumptions are made when making

this statement?

We believe that all

students can learn.

Equity

Student learn in different ways

Students learn at different rates

We believe that all

students can learn.

Equity

“To treat all children the

same is to favor some

and penalize others.”

J. Michael Lunsford Middle School PTA• Tricia Haneghan, JML PTA President

People to help the transition

Parent Liaison

▫ Stefani Cardone

People to help the transition

Special Education Contact

▫ Jennifer Brooks

People to help the transition

6th Grade Dean

▫ Paul Rochford

People to help the transition

The Teaming Model

• 4 Core Teachers▫ Math▫ Science▫ Social Studies▫ Language Arts

• 120-150 Students Per Team

• Teachers have common planning during students’ resource block

Purpose of Grade Level Teams

• To meet the needs of

all students

• To serve as a

professional growth

group

• To build positive

relationships

• To connect concepts

and skills across the

curriculum

• To establish common

expectations and

procedures

• To speak as “one voice”

with parents

Block Schedule

• 90 Minute Blocks

• Alternating A and B Days

• 4 Classes Per Day

• Language Arts Meets Daily

• 30 minutes every other day for SAMS (Spanish at the Middle School) – through Language Arts classes

Block Schedule

• More time to go in depth

• Provides for more creative

instructional strategies

• Fewer transitions

• Balance of assignments,

projects, and tests

Sample Block Schedule

A Day B Day

Block 1

Math

Block 5

Resource/Music

Block 2

PE

Block 6

Lang Arts

Block 3

History

Block 7

S1 Art/S2 Keybd

Block 4

Lang. Arts

Block 8

H Science

Course Overview

• Language Arts (Honors or Grade Level)

• History (Honors or Grade Level)

• Science (Honors or Grade Level)

• Math (Accelerated Math 6/7 or Grade Level)

• PE/Health

• Art & Keyboarding

• Music (student choice)/Resource

SALTs

▫ Mitch Seipt, SS

▫ Tasmine Poole, Science

▫ Shannon O’Neill, LA/English

▫ Aimee Dunnaville, Math

People to help the transition

Social Studies Sequence6th

U.S.

History

Until 1865

*

7th

U.S.

History

From 1865

*

8th

Civics

and

Economics

*

* SOL Test

6th Grade Topics

Geography of the USA

and the World

Native Americans

Age of Exploration

Colonial America

American Revolution

Birth of a Nation

Westward Expansion and

Social Reform

Civil War

6th Grade Science

• Scientific Method

• Matter

• Water

• Atmosphere

• Space

• Energy

• Resources

• Watersheds

6th Grade Language Arts

*Demonstrate critical thinking skills

*Develop a literary background

*Read challenging literature independently

*Develop grammar, usage, spelling and mechanics through

the writing process

*Implement skills in the use of electronic technology

*Develop oral communication skills

- SOL Test – 6th Grade Reading

Math Progression for 2012-2013

Accelerated/Mathematics 6/7

Algebra I Geometry

Mathematics 6 Mathematics 7

Mathematics 8

Algebra I

Course Overview

6th Grade Music Options:

• Band Instrument

• Strings

• Chorus

• General Music Lab

J. MICHAEL LUNSFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC SELECTION CLINICS

Hutchison Farm ES: Tuesday March 13, 2012 (band: last name A-L; strings last

name: A-Z)

Hutchison Farm ES: Thursday March 15, 2012 (band only: last name M-Z)

Liberty ES: Wednesday March 21, 2012 (band only: last name A-L)

Liberty ES: Monday March 26, 2012 (band: last name M-Z; strings last name: A-Z)

Little River ES: Monday March 5, 2012 (band only) (last name A-L)

Little River ES: Wednesday March 7, 2012 (band: last name M-Z; strings last name:

A-Z)

6th Grade Counselor

▫ Kelly Kenworthy

People to help the transition

Program of Studies

• Available online under “Student Services” and Lunsford’s Counselor Webpage.

• Registering for classes – Pages 1

• Special Programs – Page 6▫ Spectrum

▫ Academy of Science

▫ Thomas Jefferson High

• Math Progression Chart – Page 8

• High School Credit Courses in Middle School – Page 4

• Course Descriptions – Page 9-11

Course Selection Process

• Your student will receive his/her course selection form from their elementary school.

• Elementary teachers will make recommendations to assist you and your child with selections.(Academic v. Honors)

• Math recommendation letters will be sent home to parents from the elementary schools on Tuesday, March 6th based on the students IAAT scores.

• Course Selection Verification will be mailed to your home in Mid-April.

• All changes must be made by JUNE 19.

Transition Continues

• Lunsford Staff will visit your child’s

elementary school this April

• Your child will visit Lunsford on May 29th

• Lunsford Middle School Open House on

August 22nd

• “Lunsford Leap” in August 2012

Assistant Principal

▫ Jennifer Bantle

People to help the transition

After School Activities

Act

ivit

ies

• Drama• Chess• Soccer• Knitting• Dance• SAC• International Night• Basketball• Yearbook• Girls on Track

En

rich

men

t a

nd

Aca

dem

ics • Operation

Montserrat• Math Counts• Twenty Clubs• Homework Club• Public Art Club• Latin Club• Brain Games• Book Club• Shakespeare

Troupe• Odyssey of the

Mind

Ser

vic

e • Leo Club• CUBS• Public Arts Club

PBIS

Student Recognition:

ROAR tickets

Student of the Month

Community Achievement

ROAR Student of the Semester

PBIS is a framework for

teaching children appropriate

behavior and providing the

supports necessary to sustain

that behavior.

Community Involvement

Student involvement

• We want to hear from you!

▫ An invitation to students to write to the

school has been posted to our website.

▫ Any student who writes will receive a free

school spirit item.

What we need from you

• Your input – Family Survey

• Opportunities for Business Partnerships

• Volunteers/PTA organizations

• If possible, attend to Tdap immunization prior to the

end of the school year

Important Dates

• Parent Coffee Question and Answer Opportunities

▫ Liberty – 3/26, 8:30am

▫ Hutchison Farm – 3/27, 8:30am

▫ Little River – 3/28, 8:30am

Questions?

• Visit our school’s website

• Like us on Facebook!

• Follow us on Twitter!

• Contact your child’s teacher

• Contact the Lunsford Staff. We are here

to help!