Welcome to Upper Merion Area

Middle School

Community of Caring School 2009 National and Pennsylvania School of Character 2010 National Network of Partnership School Awards 2011 and 2012

Administrative Team

■ Mr. Adam Slavin Building Principal■ Mr. Eric Erb Assistant Principal grades 5 and 6■ Ms. Angela Regrut Assistant Principal grades 7 and 8

Pupil Services

■ Mrs. Mandi Donahue 5th grade counselor■ Mr. David Burns 6th grade counselor■ Mrs. Kim Corbi 7th grade counselor■ Mrs. Kara Howell 8th grade counselor

■ Ms. Pat Berger Social Worker■ Mrs. Ro Foote Psychologist

COMMUNITY OF CARING®

Building Character in Every School with Every ChildAll Day Long.

Community of Caring Core Values

CARING RESPECT

RESPONSIBILITY TRUST

FAMILY

A Sample of Our School-Wide Initiatives Under the

Community of Caring Umbrella

CAST

MentorsPeer Buddies

Peer Mediation

PTC Junior Optimists

National Junior Honor SocietyPASS

C.R.E.A.T.E.Tutoring

Transition Day

Parenting EducationThematic Units Anti-Bullying

Student Council

Extra Curricular Activities

Business Education Partnerships

Service Learning iPad Evenings

Community of CaringComponents

■ Values In and Across the Curriculum■ Student Leadership/ Forums■ Service Learning/ Community Service■ Family and Community Involvement■ Inclusion of All Students

WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF CARING!

■ Middle school students with specific allergies ■ Create a safe environment for all students

■ Latex ■ Balloons are prohibited!■ Purchase latex free supplies

■ Food allergy (egg/ peanut)

■ Education to teachers and students on team and class section

Opening Week Transition

■ Escorted to classes■ Assistance in reading the schedule■ Assistance with lockers■ Cafeteria assistance■ Caring, nurturing environment to

ensure students feel welcome, safe and secure

School Day

■ Students arrive at the middle school starting at 7:30 a.m.

■ The first class begins at 8:00 a.m.■ Dismissal time is 2:55 p.m.■ Busses depart from the middle school

at 3:05 p.m.■ Busses drop-off and pick-up at the

front of the middle school

Bus pickup in the A.M.

■ Students should arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time

■ Supervisor of Transportation Marsha Wagner (mwagner@umasd.org) 610-205-6484

School Day

■ Parent drop-off and pick-up is at the rear of the building (Crossfield Road)

■ Students arriving after 8:00 a.m. are to be dropped off at the main entrance, proceed to the main office attendance clerk with a note stating the reason for lateness.

School Day (cont.)

■ When the 5th grade students arrive at school they are to proceed to the auditorium until they are dismissed at approximately 7:50 a.m.

■ The students go to their lockers and get materials necessary for their first class of the day. The bell for the beginning of the first class rings at 8:00 a.m.

Student Schedule

■ The schedule consists of 3 academic blocks, each 90 minutes in length. The blocks consist of Language Arts, Math, and Integrated Science and Social Studies.

■ Students will have 2 Unified Arts blocks, which are 43 minutes in length consisting of Art, Music, Tech Ed, Keyboarding, Family/Consumer Science and PE/ Health.

■ Students will also have a 30 minute lunch.

Student Schedule

■ Block 1 8:00 - 9:33 Academic■ Unified Arts 9:36 - 10:19■ Lunch 10:22 - 10:52■ Block 2 10:55 - 12:24 Academic

Block 3 12:27 - 1:10 Academic■ Unified Arts 1:13 - 1:56■ Block 3 1:59 - 2:55 Academic

School Store in Cafe

Lockers

■ Each student has their own locker with a combination

■ Teachers work with students to help them access their locker

■ Students should not give the combination to other students

Activities■ Community of

Caring Club■ Intramurals

■ Junior Optimist Club

■ Drama Club

■ Student Council

■ Band, Orchestra and Chorus

■ C.R.E.A.T. E. Club

■ Technology Student Association Club

■ Robotics Club

Activity Busses

■ Activity busses are provided for students staying after school for clubs, activities or extra help.

■ Activity busses pick up at the FRONT of the school at 4:30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

Lunch/Cafeteria InformationDirector of Food Services: Penny Bartlett

www.schoolcafe.com

School Store

■ The school store is open in the cafeteria. Parents may purchase gym uniforms and school supplies.

Open House

■ September 22nd – 6:30 p.m.■ Parents will have the opportunity to

meet their children’s teachers■ Parents can complete applications for

the parent portal. Applications are found on the district and middle school websites

PTC■ President Kira Ziebis■ Treasurer Kelly Reid■ Secretary Lisa Maffei

@UMAMS_Vikings

Transforming Learning and Teaching

with iPads

Transforming Learning and Teaching with iPads

21 Century Skills:

● Critical & Creative Thinking

● Collaborating & Communicating

● Information Literacy

● Digital Citizenship

Transforming Learning and Teaching with iPads

We still have paper and pencil

and textbooks, but now we’ve

added...

Podcasts, eBooks, Music, Photos, Videos, Interactive Texts, Camera, Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Presentations, Hundreds of Apps...

“Never lose another piece of paper again!”

Transforming Learning and Teaching with iPads

Enhance how students; Draw, Create, Share, Collaborate, Discuss…

Technology Integration in the Classroom:

The SAMR Model

Middle School Library

5th Grade Library Classes

• Library Skills• Taught in library class• Integrated with

curricular projects

• Exposure to high quality literature, new books, classics

• Meet approximately every other weekStudents come to library

*Before school

*During lunch—with pass

*With classes

DESTINY• Library’s Electronic Catalog

• iPad=24/7 Individual Access• Students can search the collection• Review own accounts

BryteWave• Reader for Library’s collection

of ebooks• Collection just started

iPads and the Middle School Library

25 Book Challenge

• Individual challenge of reading 1 Million Words

• Individual and group incentives– One a quarter LA

classroom competitions

– End of year awards

45,215 books circulated45,215 books were re-shelved by our fabulous volunteers!We need your help.

Assisting Your Child In Middle School

Middle school years are a time of growth. A move from childhood to adolescence. They become more independent. They want their parents’ support, help and approval but they also want to forge out on their own. During this time of transition there are many things you can do to assist your child to be successful in school.

How You Can Help:

● Have all basic supplies ready for home and school before the first day.

● Daily school attendance and on time arrival.

● Avoid appointments during the school day. If made during the school day, promptly return your child to school.

Some More Ways You Can Help:

● Monitor your child’s upcoming assignments through our LMS: Schoology

● Have a regular place and time for your child to do homework.

● Have a “charging station” in the house for your child’s iPad (not in their room).

● Use the middle school’s website to stay up to date on activities, classwork and grades.

● Register for the Parent Portal and Schoology, regularly check on your child’s progress.

SCHOOLOGY VS SAPPHIRE:

Where do I go?

Parent Portal Sign Up

● Option to sign up tonight in Room C218 (second floor above the 5th grade wing)○ Complete online application, print, and verify

address by showing us your driver's license

● Link for directions

http://www.umasd.org/Page/5955

...And Finally:

■ If your child says there is no homework, require 30 minutes of reading. Good readers make good writers.

■ Expect your child to take initiative.

■ If you have concerns or questions contact your child’s teacher or guidance counselor.

Tonight's Tours

■ Tours will be given by our very own Middle School students.