Welcome to Junior
High
2013-2014
September 2013
We look forward to meeting and welcoming all the new and returning students to our St. George School family for 2013-2014. Please welcome Mrs. Rivera as the 6th-8th Language Arts teacher, as well as the 6th grade homeroom teacher. Ms. Garcia returns this year as the 6th-8th grade Religion and Social Studies teacher, and the 7th grade homeroom teacher; and Mr. Khoshkbariie (Mr. K) as the 6th-8th grade Math and Science teacher, as well as the 8th grade homeroom teacher. Last, we welcome back Mr. Ramirez as our co-Math teacher.
As students prepare for high school and beyond, our students experience success in all curriculum areas because they are challenged and taught by some of the best teachers around in their individual subject areas. We are very proud of our program, and we are happy that you have given us the opportunity to be a part of your child’s educational experience.
Parents, it is vitally important that you make it a point to stop by the classroom of your child’s homeroom teacher or contact that teacher bye-mail within the first weeks of school in order that we can understand your expectations for your child during this school year. It is through parents and teachers working togetherthat children are provided with the best educational opportunity. Each of us is available every day, Monday through Thursday, after school until 3:30 p.m. or by e-mail at any time at the addresses given at the end of this student/parent handbook. Additionally, we invite parents who might have something of interest professionally to share with our students to contact us. We would like to set up as many classroom visits as we can this year.
We look forward to the opportunity to work with you and your children this year!
Ms.GarciaMr. Khoshkbariie
7th Grade Homeroom 8th Grade Homeroom
Religion and Social Studies Math and Science
Mrs. RiveraMr. Ramirez
6th Grade Homeroom
Language Arts Co-Math
September 2013
Dear Parents:
In this parent packet you will find copies of the classroom rules & discipline policy, the daily departmentalized schedule, the homework policy, and much more information crucial to your child’s success.
Additional information (such as Dress Code and Schoolwide Disciplinary Plan, etc.) may be found in the PARENT HANDBOOK, available from the school office. Please also visit the school’s website at stgeorgeontario.comfor other important information
Good communication is essential between parent and teacher. We, your child’s teachers, will promptly get in touch with you if the need arises. Likewise, if you wish to speak with any of us, you may reach us by contacting the office, or you may reach us by e-mail at our addresses indicated below.
Be assured our goal is to work with you to ensure the success of your child this year. Please take the time to review the information we have included for you in this packet together with your child, then sign and return the form below.
Sincerely,
Ms. Garcia Mr. Khoshkbariie
7th Grade Homeroom 8th Grade Homeroom
Mrs. RiveraMr. Ramirez
6th Grade Homeroom Junior High Co-Math
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I have read the 2013-2014Junior High Parent Packet and I have discussed it with my child.
Parent Signature______Date______
Student Signature______Date______
September 2013
Dear Parents of Junior High Students,
Your student has been issued the following textbooks for the current school year. Each book is marked with your student’s ID number for easy identification.
Replacement Value $
6th-8th Grade English30.00
6th-8th Literature90.00
6th-8th Grade Science80.00
6th-8th Grade Social Studies80.00
6th-8th Grade Math from 80.00-90.00
6th-8th Grade Religion25.00
Language Arts Core Curriculum Novels from 9.00-12.00
Your student will be responsible for caring for these books and for turning them in at the end of the year in the same condition as they were issued. The cost of any books not turned in or rendered unusable at the end of the school year (or upon leaving school in the case of early withdrawal) will be added to your final bill.
Please sign, date, and return the form below. Thank you for your cooperation.
I/We understand the responsibility and care of the St. George School books issued for this school year.
Student sign & date______
Parent sign & date______
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE 6TH – 8TH GRADE CURRICULUM
SUBJECT
/ 6th / 7th / 8thRELIGION / We are God’s People
Family Life / Creed
Old Testament
Family Life / Morality
New Testament
Family Life
MATH / Algebraic Expressions, Geometry, Practical Thinking / Pre-Algebra / Algebra
SOCIAL STUDIES / Ancient Civilization / Medieval & Early Modern Times / American History (1776-1914)
SCIENCE / Earth Science / Life Science / Physical Science
LANGUAGE ARTS / English Grammar; Vocabulary & Usage; Writing Skills; Reading Fluency & Comprehension (see Book Report handouts for novel titles at each grade level) / English Grammar; Vocabulary & Usage; Writing Skills; Reading Fluency & Comprehension (see Book Report handouts for novel titles at each grade level) / Writing Curriculum: Types of Writing – Expository, Research Reports, Descriptive, Narrative, Persuasive, News Article, Letter Writing;
Vocabulary & Usage;
Reading Fluency & Comprehension
(see Book Report handouts for novel titles at each grade level)
COMPUTER / Hands-on basic keyboarding & computer skills, including Excel & Power Point / Hands-on basic keyboarding & computer skills, including Excel & Power Point / Hands-on basic keyboarding & computer skills, including Excel & Power Point
PARTNERS IN EDUCATION: THE RESPONSIBILITIES
Students are responsible for:
- Knowing what the assignments are and completing all assignments on time.
- Working quietly, listening attentively and participating actively in group and classroom activities.
- Not interrupting teaching time yet knowing to ask for help when they need it.
- Demonstrating safe practices and showing care with school materials and books.
- Always putting forth their best effort.
- Maintaining neat and organized notebooks in all subjects.
Parents are responsible for:
- Reading and reviewing the junior high handbook with their student, then signing and returning the required forms to the teacher.
- Reading to or with their student at home on a regular basis.
- Discussing school events daily.
- Showing support to the school and teachers.
- Checking and monitoring their student’s learning and assignments. Do not approve work that does not show a best effort! (It’s OK to make them redo it!)
- Regularly reviewing and discussing the “Agendas” student day planner/calendar with their student and contacting the teacher if there are any questions or concerns.
- Creating a quiet working area for students at home.
The Teacher is responsible for:
- Instructing the grade level curriculum in a safe learning environment.
- Individualizing and modifying as needed through ongoing assessment of student progress.
- Encouraging and pushing students to always work to their individual potential and not accepting work that does not show a personal best effort.
- Recognizing responsibility, effort and attitude.
- Making sure all assignments and due dates, test dates, and other necessary information is clearly posted in the classroom and reviewed for students to log into their student day planners/calendars.
- Communicating with home.
DEPARTMENTAL DISCIPLINE PROGRAM JUNIOR HIGH
Lifelong success depends in great part on learning to make responsible choices. We will encourage students to make good decisions about their behavior and follow positive behavior guidelines at all times. Your child deserves the most positive educational climate for his/her growth. By stating the discipline plan, we anticipate our students will behave in a positive manner.Sometimes, however, there may be circumstances requiring steps to correct negative or inappropriate behavior. If a student chooses to display negative behavior, consequences will ensue.
Please refer to the St. George School Student-Parent Handbook for an itemization of schoolwide rules, as well as the disciplinary actions that may occur after specific violations.
At the junior high level, teachers will always attempt to correct misbehaviors that arise in class in a timely and appropriate manner. There will be occasions when a teacher-assigned disciplinary assignment will be given to a student. These assignments must be signed by the parent and returned to the assigning teacher the next day in order for the student to be admitted to class. Failure to do so means that the student will be sent to the office to go home for the day to get the assignment done, or phone a parent to come to school and sign the disciplinary assignment before returning to class.
HOMEWORK
The general purpose of homework is to practice skills already taught in class, or devote an extended amount of time on a report or project. This practice at home allows the teacher to see what skills have been learned and which ones need reinforcement.Therefore, homework is due the following school day following the day it is assigned, unless otherwise indicated by the teacher. Homework will be considered late and will receive only partial credit (“C”) if turned in one day late. Students who miss homework due to absence may turn homework in late one calendar day for each day absent. It is the student’s responsibility to get work missed due to absence, and to complete the work in a timely manner to be checked or graded.
In an effort to improve our students’ organization and study skills, and to facilitate better communication between school and home, all junior high students are encouraged to purchase a Student Planner at the beginning of the school year. Students are required to record all daily assignments and long-term projects in their “Planners”, in addition to any other information that teachers wish to go home with the students. Parents should review these day planners with their student and may be asked to sign or initial student entries. In addition to the daily verbal assignment of homework in each class, teachers have daily homework assignments in the classroom and on Teacher Web. There might not always be time in class to work on assignments, so students will have to budget time at home to allow for completing homework, studying for tests, reading and book reports, and for paper and project assignments
Please don’t write notes to teachers asking for more time to complete homework. Late assignments make it impossible for teachers to keep track of content that needs more work.
In addition, homework is expected to be completed with a student’s best effort. Neatness is required on all assignments. This includes not only handwriting, proper heading, papers without wrinkles or tears. Difficult to read and/or messy assignments will be returned to students to be redone. “Redo” assignments need to be returned the next day in order to receive full credit.
All homework is evaluated according to the attached “Homework Rubric.” Sometimes students are required to redo assignments. All work being redone for credit is due the next day.
Help is available for anybody needing it Monday through Thursday after school in study hall from 3:00-3:30 p.m. All athletes will be required to attend study hall before practice. No one will be allowed to leave study hall before 3:30 unless picked up by a parent or coach. Other teachers are also usually available and always willing to help.
MISCELLANEOUS
FIELD TRIPS
The junior high teachers plan to schedule about two or three field trips for all classes and going as a larger group to something of common interest. We will visit museums and attend events or productions that relate directly to junior high curriculum and complement our classroom experience. Permission slips and details will be sent home before the field trips.
TRIMESTER REPORTS AND PROJECTS
Please refer to the attached Trimester Paper/Project Schedule for the nature and timing of papers and projects for the school year.Specifics about these assignments will be given to the students with sufficient time to do the work required. Parent help and support of our students in these projects is always appreciated, but we ask that you don’t do the work for them! The work and learning experience they have in the process of doing their own work will serve them well in years to come.
BOOK REPORTS AND SSR LOGS
Junior High students are required to read a minimum of 8 books of 200 pages or more and complete reading logs and reports about the books they read. Specific book report assignments, a list of book genres and book report due dates will be issued to the students. Failureto complete book reports and SSR logs may result in a failing grade in that class.
In addition to the books required for book reports, students will be reading one or two novels in class per Trimester.
MEMORIZATION AND RECITATION
Students will be expected to memorize and/or recite orally some of the traditional prayers of our Church and all mass responses, spontaneous prayers and petitions, as well as the prayers of our classroom saints. Students will also be assigned other memorization and recitation presentations. Such assignments may include poetry, major religious passages (i.e. 1 Corinthians 13), major secular passages (i.e. Gettysburg Address), and specific subject-area terminology and content such as Math terms, the United States Presidents, or World Countries and Capitols. The exact assignments, due dates, and grading rubrics will be distributed to students.
MASS
Every Thursday we attend church as a school community; and as a school community we help by supporting the Jubilee House. Every time we go to mass we ask each child to bring in a donation of a canned food, box of cereal, toiletries or any non-perishable item. We bring it up at the offering as our gift to the community. Church uniforms are required on Mass days. Mass is at 8:30 AM.
BIRTHDAYS
We are aware that your children’s birthdays are important; however we have decided at the Junior High level that we will not have birthday parties during class time. No exceptions will be made. However, the Parent Handbook does allow for your child to wear free dress on their birthday, as long as it is not a Mass day. In addition, your child may only pass out birthday invitations, ONLY if they are distributed to every student.
ST. GEORGE SCHOOL 2013-2014
TRIMESTER PAPER/PROJECT SCHEDULE
SUBJECT: LANGUAGE ARTS
GRADE / 1ST TRIMESTER / 2ND TRIMESTER / 3RD TRIMESTER6TH / BOOK REPORT PROJECT
7TH / BOOK REPORT PROJECT
8TH / RESEARCH REPORT / BOOK REPORT PROJECT
SUBJECT: MATH & SCIENCE
GRADE / 1ST TRIMESTER / 2ND TRIMESTER / 3RD TRIMESTER6TH / SCIENCE PROJECT/REPORT
7TH / SCIENCE PROJECT/REPORT
8TH / SCIENCE PROJECT/REPORT
SUBJECT: SOCIAL STUDIES & RELIGION
GRADE / 1ST TRIMESTER / 2ND TRIMESTER / 3RD TRIMESTER6TH / S. STUDIES REPORT / RELIGION REPORT
7TH / S. STUDIES REPORT / RELIGION REPORT
8TH / S. STUDIES REPORT / RELIGION REPORT