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2015-2016 School Year

Welcome to Middle School at Nettelhorst!A brand new school year has arrived, and we, the middle school team, sincerely want to create a safe, enjoyable, and productive learning community—academically, socially, and emotionally—for you and all Nettelhorst students and their families. To make this happen, we are setting high-yet-reachable expectations, all in line with the CPS Code of Conduct, for each middle school student. Our goals are for student actions and attitudes to promote learning and for all students to reach their greatest potential and receive all the rewards of membership in Nettelhorst Middle School.

Nettelhorst Middle SchoolExpectations for Success

Your Middle School Teachers:

Ms. Laura AprilELL and 8th grade literacyljberger@cps.edu

Ms. Anna Chu6th & 8th grade scienceachu4@cps.edu5

Mr. Mark DonlinMusicmdonlin1@cps.edu

Mr. Chris EvansPEcwevans@cps.edu

Ms. Katie HannaPEkhanna@cps.edu

Ms. Donna Hempe6th & 7th grade language artsdehempe@cps.edu

Mr. Troy HoffMiddle school resourcetlhoff@cps.edu

Ms. Laura Holmes6th grade language arts and social studieslholmes2@cps.edu

Mr. Chad KimmelDramacmkimmel@cps.edu

Mr. Joshua Marburger6th, 7th, & 8th grade math jrmarburger@cps.edu

Mr. Jason Merel7th & 8th grade social studiesjimerel@cps.edu

Mr. John Nieciak8th grade language arts6th & 7th grade social studiesjanieciak@cps.edu

Ms. Aurora ProudfootLMCalmorales1@cps.edu

Ms. Lauren Scherer6th & 7th grade math, algebralscherer@cps.edu

Ms. Stacey Shroyer-PiotrowskiArtsjshroyer@cps.edu

Ms. Pamela Sims6th & 7th grade sciencepdsims@cps.edu

Ms. Alisha SuvadaMiddle school resource amsuvada@cps.edu

Ms. Beth WielandMiddle school resourcebhwoodward@cps.edu

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MathIn the 6th, 7th, and Pre-Algebra classes, we will use Big Ideas textbooks. Students have access online to the textbook for free by going to bigideasmath.com and clicking on “student.” In the drop down menu, select “Common Core 2014,” and then just click on the correct color book.

Algebra students will use Holt McDougal as their textbook. The book can be found online at my.hrw.com. Students will receive a unique login during the first week of school. All textbooks are on loan from the school and the replacement fee is $70.

In addition to our curriculum, students will be using Khan Academy (khanacademy.com) and Front Row (frontrowed.com). We will give students logins and passwords for both programs.

Students are required to bring the following materials to class everyday:• Pencil (no other writing implement will be allowed in math class)• Both composition notebooks (one is a journal and one is for

homework)• Textbook• Calculator

Social StudiesOur goal for social studies is for the students to become independent critical thinkers who are ready to participate in their communities as responsible, thoughtful, and informed citizens exhibiting moral and civic virtues.

All social studies students begin the curriculum year with a study of identity and community, and how those two things shape one another. Sixth grade social studies then concentrates on the world’s first communities in the ancient world. Seventh graders dive into U.S. history, beginning with Columbus and European contact through the Civil War. Eighth grade picks up with Reconstruction and moves through immigration and industrialization, the two world wars, and the Civil Rights Era to today.

In addition to the curriculum, students have opportunities to take part in field trips, talk with guest speakers, and participate in History Fair. History Fair is mandatory for 8th grade and optional for 6th and 7th.

Grading Categories• Homework - 10%• Participation - 10%• Homework, quizzes, and

projects - 20%• Standards-based

assessments - 60%

Grading Categories • Homework - 25% • Tests & Quizzes -

25% • Projects - 30% • Class work - 20%

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Language ArtsLanguage arts instruction and expectations are similar classroom to classroom. The work we do integrates reading and writing as guided by the Common Core Standards. We’ll work toward being able “to exhibit, with increasing fullness and regularity, the capacities of a literate individual.” The goal is for all of us to...

• become independent• know our content• be able to write to various audiences about a variety of topics• understand and evaluate what we read• value evidence and support• use technology and digital media strategically and capably • come to understand other perspectives and cultures

Writing Grading Categories• Workshop - 25%• Writing process - 25%• Published pieces - 50%

Reading Grading Categories• Workshop - 15%• Vocabulary - 20% • Literary essays - 25% • Tests/Quizzes - 20%• Classroom Literary Discussions - 20%

Science In science, middle school students will be doing a combination of conducting hands-on investigations, analyzing data, reading nonfiction texts, and creating scientific explanations. 6th graders learn about Earth systems science, focusing on topics of rocks & minerals, erosion & deposition, plate tectonics, weather, atmosphere, and space. 7th graders learn about life science, focusing on topics of cell biology, body works, genetics, ecology and evolution. 8th graders learn about physical science, focusing on topics of chemistry of materials, water, energy, forces & motion, and waves. A major component of middle school science is learning the scientific method through a science fair project for presentation. This involves formulating a question, developing a hypothesis, designing an experiment, and analyzing data.

Grading Categories • Projects & Class Assignments - 25% • Tests & Quizzes - 30% • Labwork & Participation - 30% • Homework - 20%

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Communicating ElectronicallyWe all live in a technological world, and it’s our job to teach students how to communicate effectively with various audiences in a variety of mediums. Texting, for example, has a language all its own—great for texting, far from great in blogging or article writing. Most of our written communications with students and families take the shape of email, and we do our best to respond to every message we receive. We do, however, have a couple requests:

• Allow 24-48 hours for a response Monday through Friday• Try to limit messages to one paragraph (If you find your message growing long, it may be a good idea to request a conference.)

Students and parents, here is an example of an impressive email to emulate when writing to your teachers (and colleagues, prospective bosses, grandparents, etc.).

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Out-of-Uniform FridaysAll 6th-8th graders are given the opportunity to earn weekly out-of-uniform Fridays. To earn the privilege of out-of-uniform Friday, students must be in proper uniform attire Monday through Thursday and cannot have any behavior checks for that week. Out-of-uniform clothing, must follow the guidelines for length and sleeves on Fridays and at all school-related activities. The Nettelhorst uniform is a combination of white, light blue, and navy blue/black. Here’s the way to ensure that every Friday is an out-of-uniform Friday for you:

Bottom: Solid navy blue or black slacks, shorts, or skirts (no denim of any color). Shorts and skirts must reach a length of, at most, 2-finger widths above the knee (9-inch inseam). Leggings, jeggings, tights, and skinny jeans are not school appropriate and do not transform a mini-skirt into a skirt of proper length. Leggings can be worn only under a skirt of proper length, as long as they are of uniform color. All pants should be worn at waist-level and undergarments may not be exposed.

Tops: Solid white, light blue, or navy blue collared or crew-neck shirts. Make sure those crew-necks are genuine crew-necks. Undergarments must not be visible. A shirt worn underneath must be of uniform color and design-free. Hoodies of appropriate uniform color this year are okay, as long as hoods are not worn in the building. All clothing must be logo-free, with the exception of clothing with a Nettelhorst logo. When it comes to cold weather, all sweaters and sweatshirts must be white, light blue, or navy blue. Outerwear jackets cannot be worn throughout the school day.

Footwear: No flip-flops and no shoes with wheels, such as "Heelys."Gym shoes must be worn on PE days or the participation grade may be affected.

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Homework and AbsencesHomework is due the day it’s due. Homework turned in one day late will receive half credit. After that, it will receive a zero.

When you are absent, you as the student are responsible for determining what work you missed, no matter how many days you are absent. Your teachers will not take care of this; this is your responsibility. You must approach all of your teachers, check their websites, or contact a friend to determine what you need to do. Per CPS policy, you have one day to make up work for each day missed. For example, if you miss two days, upon your return you have two days to turn in work from your absence. Work turned in one day after this will be late.

Homework that was due while you were absent is due upon your arrival back to school. If not turned in the day you return, it will be counted late.

Homework is frequently used as part of class discussions the next day, and so it is important that homework be completed on time. It’s also very important after an absence that you keep up with current homework while trying to complete missed homework.

We strongly believe that every assignment we do in class is meaningful and important, and it is expected to be completed on time to the best of your ability. Please understand we will not be offering extra credit opportunities.

Special education: Curriculum will be adapted and modified to meet the needs of our unique learners. Additionally, instruction will be individually tailored to meet the specific needs of each student as outlined in their individualized education or 504 plan.

Student Expectations• Students will come to class

prepared.

• Students will come to class ready to learn.

• Students will be respectful.

• Students will effectively use our time together.

• Students will follow the code of behavior outlined in the Middle School Expectations for Success which is in line with the CPS Code of Conduct.

Teacher Expectations• Teachers will be prepared with

rigorous, thought provoking challenges for you every day.

• Teachers, upon request, can be available before, during, and after school to help students and parents.

• Teachers will have a positive attitude and encourage all students.

• Teachers will treat students FAIRLY, which does not always mean EQUALLY.

Parent Expectations• Parents will respectfully contact

teachers.

• Parents will act responsibly when reacting to situations and contact the teacher appropriately.

• Parents will ask their student about their day and check to make sure homework is completed to the best of their student’s ability.

• Parents will attend school functions to the best of their ability to support their student and school.

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Fun & EnrichmentGuest Speakers and Partnerships:Students will have many opportunities throughout the year to interact with outside partnerships. For example, we have developed a great relationship with Northwestern and have had their soccer and hockey teams come in to develop the relationship between math, science, and sports. We’ve also had awesome speakers come in to talk us about meteorology, architecture, high school, and more! We continue to build relationships with outside sources to provide enriching learning opportunities for our students.

Team BuildingBuilding relationships is one of our top priorities as teachers. Students will participate in a variety of team building activities throughout the course of the year. Team building will occur during homeroom time, during a class called “Second Step,” and during class instruction.

Enrichment ClassesStudents will partake in a variety of enrichment classes throughout the year. All students will take Number Works, Literacy Lab, STEM, Health, and Second Step. Sixth graders will also take “Guide to Ruling the World,” a study skills and organization class. Seventh and eighth graders will take an advisory class, led by our counselor to prepare them for high school. Eighth graders will also participate in SEE8 and “Take A Stand.” These classes will provide fun enrichment opportunities across the curriculum.

Pi DayEach year we celebrate Pi Day by gathering together and throwing pies at the teachers as a fundraiser! This is one of our favorite days of the year because of the community spirit and joy it brings to both the students and teachers. In recent years we’ve added pie to eat, and this year we’ll be adding Pi t-Shirts! Look for forms to come home in February!

Spirit WeeksThroughout the course of the year, Nettelhorst will have Spirit Weeks in an effort to raise funds for various trips, like Washington, D.C. and Outdoor Ed. You will receive advance notice of these dates and instructions on how to dress up. The cost is $1/day for each student who chooses to participate.

Field Trips Learning can happen anywhere, and we hope to experience as much as we can outside the classroom as opportunity affords. Our teachers are always searching for ways to enhance the curriculum, so please know we are planning to take a number of trips this coming year. Additionally, our team is looking for some middle school parents and families to assist us in the planning of these trips and we'd love your help. We’ll be emailing you!

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More Fun & EnrichmentAward CeremoniesEach quarter we celebrate students who have earned a place on the honor roll, received no checks, and displayed effort and responsibility. Sometimes this is done in the homerooms, sometimes as grade levels, and sometimes as a whole middle school. Look out for e-mail blasts at the end of the quarter for dates.

DancesOver the course of the year, there will be a variety of school dances. These dances will be a way for students to celebrate and socialize. Students who have two or fewer checks in a given quarter will have the opportunity to attend dances.

Science and History FairsScience Fair and History Fair provide great opportunities to foster our passion for discovery learning. Sixth graders will learn how Science Fair works throughout the course of the year. Seventh graders start in the fall and will finish projects for competition in December. We’ve had students move on to city-wide competitions the last two years! Eighth graders will have the option to participate in Science Fair, as they will be required to do a History Fair project. Sixth and seventh graders have the option to do History Fair. It’s always exciting to see all their projects line the hallways!

SEE 8SEE8 is an exciting opportunity for 8th graders to explore product design, engineering and creative problem solving. Students work with professional mentors to design, manufacture, and sell a project. In a previous year, a student even earned an internship through this program!

Author VisitsThroughout the year, the Language Arts classes look forward to welcoming authors into the classrooms to share their expertise and writing process. This gives our young authors the opportunity to learn from the pros.

Talent Show An exciting end-of-year celebration is the talent show. This gives students an opportunity to share their talents with the school community while students not participating in the show are welcomed as the audience. This is a perfect way to support each other and learn about our talented community.

Field Day The culminating event of the year is our annual field day in the park. Students who have two or fewer checks in the fourth quarter will have the opportunity to join field day.

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Extra-Curricular OpportunitiesResearch suggests that participation in extracurricular activities may increase students' sense of engagement or attachment to their school, but research aside, extra-curricular activities are just plain fun! Many of our extra-curricular activities fall under After-School All Stars, which is free programming for any student. Sign up when After-School All Stars* information comes home in a few weeks.

Academic Programs*After-school academic programs are offered for middle school students to support students needs and interests, including mathematics and literacy programs.

Art Club*Be on the lookout to join art club with Ms. Shroyer. Past clubs have created large-scale murals and collaborated with student council to design the hallway space outside the middle school classrooms. That project will continue to develop this year.

Band and ChorusIf you haven’t joined band or choir yet, but are looking to do so, information will be sent home in fall about how to sign up. Music is a great way to participate in after-school programming and can lead to many opportunities in high school and beyond. Many of the middle school teachers were in band or choir at some point...make sure to ask them about it!

Battle of the Books*Love to read? Love to talk? Then Battle of the Books is for you. On our 4th-6th grade team and 7th-8th grade team, members read and discuss books to compete with other teams to see who knows the books best. It’s fun!

Debate Team*In debate club, we research, discuss, and analyze social issues across a wide range of topics...and then argue a position as fiercely as a politician! We hope to compete with students from around the city.

SportsNettelhorst offers a variety of sport opportunities each year. Possible sports include volleyball, basketball, soccer, flag football, and cross-country. Go Stallions!

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Extra-Curriculars (continued)Student CouncilThe Student Council is a group of dedicated students who share a desire to make our school and our community stronger. This year, Student Council representatives will be planning fundraisers for various organizations and performing community outreach services, among other things. Students will be expected to attend bi-weekly meetings, keep grades up to a satisfactory level, and serve as model students both in and outside of school.

Yearbook* Middle School gets its very own yearbook! You can order a yearbook in April. It is a treasured memento you will have for decades to remember all the fantastic things you and your friends did in middle school each year.

ProceduresHallway expectationsBecause we share our building with elementary students who are in class when we transition classes, we use a Level 1 whisper voice (and at times Level 0) in the hallway. Level 1 is a whisper.

Should you need to leave a classroom during instruction, you must sign out of the classroom and carry a pass.

Cell phones—Off. Not seen. Not heard.Our cell phone policy is still all phones must be off, not seen, and not heard on school grounds (including the playground during school hours). Cell phones that are seen and/or heard during school hours will be confiscated and given to the office for parent pick-up. The cell phone policy is in place after school until you have stepped out of the building.

Tech contractThe middle school has gone one-to-one with technology in every class. Each student will have access to an assigned Chromebook or iPad in every class. Please see the technology contract you signed in your welcome packet for guidelines

regarding responsible use of school technology.

Bin and locker contractBins and lockers are a privilege and you must take care of them. All students will sign a contract to keep their space clean. Students do get homeroom time to learn and practice organizational skills.

Kindles and other electronicsKindles or electronic books are okay, as long as they are used for reading. You as the student are absolutely responsible for any electronic device. The school will not be responsible for any lost or broken property.

Take Care of Our Environment

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Tardies and AbsencesPlease call the school office for any student absences. Upon return please bring an absence note for the office.

Due to the middle school schedule, attendance will be taken immediately upon entering the building. Please be sure you are on the playground and ready to enter the building at 8:10. Should you arrive late, go straight to the office to collect a tardy pass before going to your first-period class.

Attendance will be taken at the start of each class. Students arriving late to a class without a pass will receive a check.

ChecksThe word “checks” is short for a behavior check-in. Teachers will check-in with students whenever students choose to not follow school-wide expectations. Students often receive a redirection or gentle reminder before a check-in becomes necessary. When a check-in is needed, it will be documented as a check in the homeroom binder.

• First check: student reflection signed by parent/guardian and contact with home• Second check: student reflection signed by parent/guardian, contact with home, and a teacher check-in• Third check: student reflection signed by parent/guardian, contact with home, and community service on

Friday• Further check(s): student reflection signed by parent/guardian, contact with home, community service on

Friday, and a parent or administrative conference

Failing to turn in a signed reflection sheet in a timely basis can result in another check. Community service must be completed during the week it is assigned; if not, it will be referred to administration. The check-in system resets each quarter giving students a clean slate.

Community ServiceCommunity service takes place every Friday from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. Students earning a third behavior check will take part in community service the same week in which the third check was earned. Community service is a part of taking care of our environment and allows students to right situations.

Welcome to the fun, challenging, and adventurous world of middle school!It is an exciting time to learn, build relationships, and become

independent. We look forward to a fantastic year!

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Nettelhorst Expectations for SuccessNettelhorst Expectations for Success

Child’s name Homeroom

Parent’s/Guardian’s nameParent’s/Guardian’s name

Parent’s/Guardian’s phone number(s)Parent’s/Guardian’s phone number(s)

Parent’s/Guardian’s email(s)Parent’s/Guardian’s email(s)

Parent/Guardian

My signature below acknowledges that I have seen and read the Middle School Expectations for Success for the 2015-2016 school year. I am aware of the expectations of my student concerning academics, enrichment, and behavior at school.

________________________________________ _______________________________________(Parent/Guardian signature) (Date)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Student:

________________________________________________________________________________ (Print your name)

My signature below acknowledges that I have seen and read the Middle School Expectations for Success for the 2015-2016 school year. I am aware of the expectations concerning academics, enrichment, and behavior for myself, at school.

________________________________________ _______________________________________(Student signature) (Date)

Please sign and return this form no later than Friday, September 11, 2015.