Welcome to Dorseyville

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Welcome to Dorseyville!

• Parent Orientation
• March 22, 2007

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Adolescence

• Its all about CHANGES,
• BIG CHANGES!

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Changes in the Young Adolescent

• Physical Changes
• Height and weight
• Physical abilities
• Sexual development
• Self-consciousness

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Changes in the Young Adolescent

• Intellectual Changes
• Need for competence and achievement
• Concrete to abstract thinking
• Learn by experimenting
• Forgetting

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Changes in the Young Adolescent

• Social Changes
• The Great Search for Ones Identity
• Conforming to their peer group
• Still need positive social interaction with
  adults

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Changes in the Young Adolescent

• Changes in Moral Development
• Ceaselessly conscientious?
• Champions for what is fair
• Need for values reinforcement and clarification

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Changes in the Young Adolescent

• Emotional Changes
• Brought on by all the other changes!
• SENSITIVITY!
• IRRITABILITY!
• Creative expression can be an outlet

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• Thank goodness we only have them seven hours a
  day

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So What Happens...

• On the team?
• In Homebase?

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Well Enjoy Exploratory Time (ET)

• Friday afternoons, 45 minutes
• 70-75 choices
• Hobbies, activities, special interests
• Games Puzzles Movies Videos
• Foods (candy, pizza) Sports, Aerobics
• Principals ET Dance, Walking
• Writing Workshop Models, Model Rocketry
• Arts and Crafts Star Trek, UFO
• Music TV production

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We Can Get Involved in

• Interscholastic Sports
• and
• Intramurals

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We Can Get Involved in

• Other student activities

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We Are Here To Help!!

• Meet with students
• Groups
• Work with Teams
• Answer questions and give support.
• We will be in this together for the next 3
  years!!!

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Academic Support Programs

• Pat Clark, Assistant Principal

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Academic Support Programs

• Instructional Support Team
• Student Assistance Program
• Learning Support

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Instructional Support Team

• Goal Enhance learning for students requiring
  academic support
• IST Members
• Parents
• Instructional Support Coordinator
• Students Guidance Counselor
• Students Teachers
• Administrator
• Parents, teachers, counselors may submit requests
  for Instructional Support

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IST Continued

• Sample Services
• IST Database provided to teachers listing
  strengths, concerns, and interventions for
  students previously serviced through IST
• Sources of homework assistance identified
  Agenda Book, Homework Hotline, Homework Hub, Peer
  Tutors, Student and Adult Tutors
• Strategies provided to address learning
  difficulties
• Student progress is monitored by the team. If
  necessary, the student may be referred for
  additional testing by school psychologist.
• Contact Person Bev Weston (VM 2163)

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Student Assistance Program (SAP)

• Goal Assist students whose learning may be
  affected by mental health difficulties, substance
  abuse, or other life stressors
• SAP Core Team Members
• Behavior Specialist
• School Nurse
• Administrator
• Case Manager from students team
• IST/SAP Coordinator
• Mental Health/DA Liaison
• School Psychologist
• Social Services Liaison
• Students Guidance Counselor

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SAP Continued

• Sample Risk Factors Warranting Referral
• Excessive absenteeism/truancy
• Behavioral concerns
• Drug or alcohol concerns
• Mental health concerns
• (anxiety, depression, self injury))
• Poor peer relations
• Other life stressors
• (divorce, death of family member, move)

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SAP Continued

• Sample Services
• Academic interventions identified
• Assistance in accessing community services
  parents/students
• Behavior plan developed and supported
• Behavioral specialists services accessed
• Mental health and drug alcohol
  pre-assessments
• Support groups (anger management, families in
  transition, grief and loss, social skills,
  stress management, study skills)
• Transition planning (following
  hospitalization or other placement)
• Contact Person Bev Weston (VM 2163)

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Learning Support

• Educational Support
• There is one learning support teacher per team.
  These teachers co-teach and support students in
  the classroom
• Support teachers adapt and modify assignments
  as needed according to each students IEP.
  Support teachers and classroom teachers work
  together to implement all specially designed
  instruction.
• The Educational Support Program includes three
  resource classes (Reading, Language Arts and
  Math) as well as a study support class for
  identified students, if needed
• Contact person is Linda Siegel (VM 2023)

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Learning Support Continued

• Life Skills Support
• In addition to academic support, students are
  involved in a variety of experiences planned to
  strengthen their abilities to function in school
  and the community.
• The program combines academic support with
  practice in daily living skills
• Contact person is Molly Blose (VM 2116)

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Learning Support Continued

• QUEST
• Maintains a pullout model and differentiation
  within classes
• Seminars focus on Social Studies, Science and
  Language Arts on a rotating basis
• Special events are offered throughout the
  year. These are selected by the students based on
  interest and need
• There will be an open house for Quest families
  in August
• Contact person is Cathie Gillner (VM 2062)

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Sixth Grade Curriculum and Schedule

• Matthew Harris, Assistant Principal

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The 6th Grade Academic ProfilePennsylvania
Standards-based Instruction
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Pennsylvania Department of Educationwww.pde.sta
te.pa.us
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Unified Arts

• Includes Art, Family and Consumer Sciences,
  Keyboarding and Technology Education
• Students rotate among the above every grading
  period

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Exploratory World Language

• Includes Spanish, German, French and Latin
• Students change languages every grading period
• World Language alternates days with Physical
  Education and Music

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Music

• Courses offered
• Band 6
• Orchestra 6
• Chorus 6
• General Music 6

ELECTIVE CARDS DUE APRIL 13
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6th Grade Bell Schedule
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The 6th Grade Schedule
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More About Math

• Sallie Peck, Math Dept. Chair

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Everything you always wanted to know about 6th
Grade Math Placementbut were afraid to ask!
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Math Courses Available to 6th Graders

• Math 6
• Math 6 (with remedial component)
• Math 6.1
• Algebra 1
• Resource Math 6

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How Is Placement Decided?

• Five-Pronged Process

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What Are The Five Prongs?

• Report Card grades for the first 3 nine weeks of
  the 5th grade school year
• Homework completion/turn in
• Demonstrated abilities/math habits chart
• Standardized Test Scores
• Score on Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test

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Who Takes The IAAT?

• Selection process begins on first day of 5th
  grade.
• Data collected all year and submitted to DMS in
  early April.
• DMS placement team reviews data. Students who
  meet minimum qualifications are tested.
• Parents of students to be tested will receive a
  letter with information about the test date.
• Fifth Grade testing is not yet scheduled but will
  be late April or early May.

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Frequently Asked Questions From Parents

• If my child places into Math 6, will he be behind
  his peers?
• Will there be enrichment opportunities for my
  child in Math 6?
• What if my child places into Math 6 but matures
  over the summer and is ready for Math 6.1 by
  September?

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Frequently Asked Questions From Parents

• If my child places into Math 6, will there be
  other opportunities for acceleration?
• Will placement into Math 6 affect my childs
  chances for being accepted into the college of
  her choice?

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Frequently Asked Question From the Math Department

• Why?

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Remember

• Its not NO

Its NOT YET
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• I will be available after the presentation to
  answer student-specific questions.

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Thank you for attending!