RIVER DELL MIDDLE RIVER DELL MIDDLE SCHOOLSCHOOL

66thth GRADE PARENT GRADE PARENT ORIENTATIONORIENTATION

FEBRUARY 7, 2013FEBRUARY 7, 2013

CLUBS, CLUBS, INTRAMURALS & INTRAMURALS &

INTERSCHOLASTIC INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTSSPORTS

Interaction with other students

Develop interests

Stakeholder in school

Promoting school spirit

Academic Competition Club

Art Club

Drama Club

Environmental Club

Geography Bee/Spelling Bee

Homework Club

Library Club/Student Library Aides

Literary Magazine

Math Club

Newspaper

Robotics

Science Club

Select Chorus

Ski Club

Stage (Jazz) Band

Student Government Organization

Yearbook

Offers students to be River Dell Middle School news anchors for the school

Seventh and eighth grade intramurals are held

after school in the gym. Intramurals is a fun,

organized group that plays a variety of pick-up

games, such as basketball, hockey, and

softball. Students are required to wear

sneakers, sign in upon arrival, and have

medical clearance

from the school nurse.

During the 2013-2014 school year, RDMS will offer the following

interscholastic athletic programs:

FALL SPORTSBoys and Girls Cross Country

Girls Volleyball

WINTER SPORTSBoys and Girls Basketball

SPRING SPORTSBoys and Girls Track

For club information and meeting times please visit:

(www.riverdell.org)River Dell Middle School website

Click on “activities”

Click on “clubs”

Fees: Pay $50 activity fee to join any sport or club. This fee covers as many activities your child would like to participate in

Payment options: – Credit card on Community Pass– Check submitted to Board Office

COUNSELING SERVICES COUNSELING SERVICES DEPARTMENTDEPARTMENT

Ms. Ross: 7th grade counselor for 2013-2014 school year

Ms. Brown: 8th grade counselor for 2013-2014 school year

Dr. O’Neil: Student Assistance Counselor

Mrs. Boettger: Counseling department secretary

Each faculty member maintains their own School Wires page (including teachers, counselors, nurse, club advisors & administration)

Students and parents should check School Wires daily

Teachers’ pages: Contain course overview, contact info, grading policy, homework assignments and due dates, tests/quiz dates, & long term projects

Counselors’ pages: Contain our contact info, scheduling documents (Program of Studies Guide & Course Selection Sheets), team meeting times, NJ ASK details, volunteering opportunities, Naviance, and other various programs

The Genesis Parent Portal is a safe, secure way to view your child’s school record for the current school year

As a parent, you will have access to the following information:– Marking Period, Exam and Final Grades– Report Cards– Daily and Class Attendance Records– Teacher Gradebook Averages– Discipline Records– Contact Information Updates

www.riverdell.org

Science 7 English 7 World Civilizations 7 Math

­Pre-Algebra 7­Advanced Pre-Algebra 7

Physical Education 7– Meets every day– All students have Health for one

marking period

World Language –Spanish 7–French 7–ESL 7 (replaces World Language)

Study Support 7–Meets every day–Students in the Special Education program

21st Century Learning Strategies 7–Meets on A Days or B Days

Computer Literacy 7– Meets on A Days or B Days

Basic Skills Program: Math Plus 7 & Language Arts Plus 7– Provides basic skill reinforcement in Math or

Language Arts; designed to enhance students’ ability to perform effectively in both their seventh grade courses and on state standardized tests

Art 7Cadet Band 7Chorus 7Inventions & Creativity in Technology

7Projects & Performances 7 World of Music & Music Technology 7

Electives – Meets on A Days or B Days– Students choose 4 electives (2 are used in schedule and 2 are used as alternates)

Our schedule consists of A Days and B Days

A cycle is three days long; rotating between three A days in a row followed by three B days in a row throughout the school year

AAA BBB AAA BBB AAA BBB AAA

Weekends, vacations and holidays do not count in a cycle; In case of an emergency closing, we skip the letter and resume the cycle as scheduled

RDMS Counselors began visiting elementary schools last week to review courses & scheduling

Course Selection Forms are then collected at each school

–Roosevelt: Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 –Cherry Hill: Jan. 30 and Feb. 6–OPS: Feb. 4 and Feb. 11

66thth GRADE GRADE 77thth GRADE GRADE COURSE SELECTIONCOURSE SELECTION

During our orientation, we distributed:

–Program of Studies Guide: Listing of all courses that RDMS offers; for your review

–Course Selection Sheet: Where you choose electives and World Language

66thth GRADE GRADE 77thth GRADE GRADE COURSE SELECTIONCOURSE SELECTION

RDMS will send a preliminary schedule home in the end of June

Counselors must be notified of all schedule change requests by July 12th

RDMS will send a final schedule in August

Focus and Coherence–A few key topics at each grade level–Coherent progressions across grade levels

Balance of concepts and skills–Require both conceptual understanding and procedural fluency

Mathematical Practices–Foster reasoning and sense-making in math

7th GradePreAlgebra 7Advanced PreAlgebra 7

8th GradeAlgebra 8Advanced Algebra 8

Math placement is determined by River Dell after reviewing the following:

The student’s scores on unit assessments in their current math class.

The student's score on the math placement test.

The student’s score on the math section of the NJ ASK 5.

Input from the student’s current math teacher.

We expect more from our middle school students than ever before.

Students are expected to gain both conceptual understanding and procedural fluency in math.

All students have the possibility of reaching Calculus in high school.

Access Community Pass online at RDMS home page

1)Provide your contact information

2)Fill out necessary forms:– Student information form– Athletic form

3)Pay $50 participation fee to join any sport or club (Optional)

▪ All incoming 7th graders are required to have a physical that is to be submitted on the first day of school.  A health packet will be distributed to every student to bring home. 

▪ You will also be able to access this packet by going to www.riverdell.org

▪ Click on “Middle School”

▪ Click on “Health Services” under Quick Links

▪ Click on “7th Grade Health Packet – Incoming 6th Graders”

Registration Forms were already handed out to 6th grade students. Oradell forms were due January 25 and River Edge forms were due February 1st. If you haven’t already turned them in you must do so in order to register your child at RDMS and receive a schedule.

You will receive information on how to register for Community Pass and Genesis this summer.