RIVER DELL MIDDLE SCHOOL

6th GRADE PARENT ORIENTATION

March 15, 2018

CLUBS, INTRAMURALS &

INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS

Interaction with other students

Develop interests

Stakeholder in school

Promoting school spirit

• Academic Competition Club• Accompanist Club• Ambassadors Club• Anime/Manga Club• Art Club• Art Enrichment Club• Caterers/Chef Club• Drama Club• Environmental Club• Homework Club• Library Club• Literary Magazine• Math Club

• National Junior Art Honor Society• Newspaper Club• Projects & Performances• 7th Grade Robotics Club• 8th Grade Robotics Club• Science Club• Select Chorus• Ski Club• Sound and Lights Club• Spanish Honor Society• Stage (Jazz) Band• Student Government Organization• Yearbook• Yoga Club

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 2018-2019 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 2018-2019 club information and meeting times, please visit the following site in September:

www.riverdell.org/rdms

Click on the “Activities” tab

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

All incoming 7th graders are required to have a physical submitted by the first day of school. All forms are located on the district home page

(www.riverdell.org/riverdell).– Click “Our District” (Tab on top)

– Click “Student Registration” (from dropdown menu)

– Click “Required Health Office Forms and Information” (Tab on left)

– Download required 7th grade physicals and other health forms.

The physical is mandatory as your child needs to be cleared to participate in the physical education program.

Physicals dated between 9/1/2017 – 9/1/2018 will be accepted.

Please either send forms to Mrs. Puleo, RDMS School Nurse, or students may hand them in on the 1st day of school.

The 2018-19 Registration/Emergency Contact form is located on the District home page: www.riverdell.org/riverdell

– Hover mouse over “Our District” tab, then select “Student Registration”

– The form can be emailed to Registrar@riverdell.org, or mailed via the United States Postal Service.

In March, you will receive a letter regarding verification of residency in the district. Your child will not be considered a registered student unless you complete all necessary steps!

This summer, you will receive information on how to register for Community Pass and Genesis.

COUNSELING SERVICES

COUNSELING SERVICES DEPARTMENT

TBD: 7th grade counselor for 2018-2019 school year

Ms. Ross: 8th grade counselor for 2018-2019 school year

Dr. O’Neil: Student Assistance Counselor

Mrs. Boettger: Counseling department secretary

Verify contact information and fill out forms

RD Technology Policy (AUP) Military Release ConsentWeb and Media Release Consent Health Insurance Permission to Share Medical Information with Staff Activity/Athletic Participation

1. Laptop Insurance Fee - $75 (Mandatory: Must pay before September in order for your child to receive laptop)

2. Activity Participation Fee - $50 (Optional: May pay any time during school year if your child plays a sport or joins an Extracurricular activity)

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:– Student Schedule– Report Cards – Daily and Class Attendance Records– Teachers’ Gradebook– Discipline Records

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

Students and parents should check Schoolwires daily

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

Guidance page: Contains our contact info, scheduling documents (Program of Studies Guide, FAQs & Course Selection Sheets), standardized testing details, volunteering opportunities, Naviance, and other various programs

www.riverdell.org

School-issued laptops will be distributed to all students in their Meaning and Style classes in September

Laptops may be brought home to use; Students are responsible for charging them nightly

Students will receive an introduction to their laptops and will learn about the different programs we use at RDMS

Math–Math 7–Advanced Math 7

English 7

Meaning and Style: Integrated Reading and Writing Strategies (New for 2018-2019 School Year)

Math/English/Meaning & Style–Math, English, and Meaning & Style will follow an

ABCD schedule –Math and English will be scheduled during one period

each day of the rotation–An additional period of Math will be scheduled one out

of every four days of the rotation –An additional period of English will be scheduled one

out of every four days of the rotation –Meaning & Style will be scheduled two consecutive days

of the rotation; either on AB or CD days

A B C DPeriod 1 Math 7 Math 7 Math 7 Math 7Period 2 Math 7 English 7 M&S M&SPeriod 3 English 7 English 7 English 7 English 7

7th GRADE CLASSES (cont.)

Science 7

US History/Civics 7

Physical Education/Health 7–Meets every day–All students have Health for 1 marking period

World Language 7–Meets every day–Choices include: Spanish 1AFrench 1AESL (replaces World Language)

Cycle Classes (New for 2018-19 School Year)

– Our school year contains 4 quarters or marking periods, each lasting approximately 10 weeks

– Cycle classes will change each marking period

– Each student will be automatically scheduled for one marking period of: Art Music Studio Nutritional Living & Wellness S.T.E.M.

Chorus/Band (New for 2018-19 School Year)

–Students who participate in Chorus and/or Band will meet during their PE/Health period on a rotating schedule

–Additional time during the day may be added on an as needed basis as the Winter and Spring Concerts get closer

RDMS Counselors have already visited elementary schools to review courses & scheduling

March 6: RooseveltMarch 6: OPS March 15: Cherry Hill

Course Selection Forms will then be collected at each school the following week

March 13: Roosevelt March 13: OPSMarch 22: Cherry Hill

6th GRADE 7th GRADE SCHEDULING

RDMS will send a preliminary schedule home in June

RDMS will send a final schedule in August

Program of Studies is now available online

PERIODSAMPLEA DAY

SAMPLEB DAY

SAMPLEC DAY

SAMPLED DAY

1 PE PE PE PE

2 Science Science Science Science

3 Cycle 7 Cycle 7 Cycle 7 Cycle 7

4 Spanish Spanish Spanish Spanish

5 LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH

6/7 US History US History US History US History

8 Math Math Math Math

9English

Double Period Math

Double Period M & S M & S

10 English English English English

RDMS MATHEMATICS

OVERVIEW

7th Grade−Math 7

−Advanced Math 7

8th Grade−Math 8

−Advanced Math 8

−Honors Algebra 1 (8th Grade & Algebra 1 combined)

If a student satisfies both of thecriteria below, the student is placed intoAdvanced Math 7; otherwise, the student is placed into Math 7.

6th Grade Math Class Test Average ≥ 90%

Placement Test Score ≥ 90%

PARCC Math 7 Test−Math 7

−Advanced Math 7

PARCC Math 8 Test−Math 8

−Advanced Math 8

PARCC Algebra 1 Test−Honors Algebra 1

RDMS

ENGLISH &

US HISTORY/CIVICS

OVERVIEW

Curricular Standards: New Jersey Student Learning Standards in ELA- Writing a Narrative - Part of Realistic

Fiction - Descriptive Writing - Part of the

Science Fiction Genre Study- Persuasive Reading and Writing -

Part of Non Fiction- Integrate poetry as companion

pieces

Literature and informational (nonfiction) text are important

Background knowledge and motivation are critical when learning to read and when accessing complex text

Research provides the opportunity to learn more about a subject and also provides the opportunity to look beyond research to questions left unanswered

Using evidence remains a critical skill, allowing students to ground their thinking in the work of authors and experts in literature and in the content areas

7TH GRADE ELA 8TH GRADE ELA

Non-tracked

Student centered focus

Literature focus

Non-tracked

Student centered focus

Technology Integration

Increased rigor to prepare for 9th grade

7TH GRADE MEANING & STYLE

Non-tracked

Student centered focus

Technology Integration

Learning goals aligned to the core ELA program

Focus on Reading and Writing strategies

8TH GRADE MEANING & STYLE

Non-tracked

Student centered focus

Scaffolded skills experience to prepare for 9th grade

Learning goals aligned to the core ELA program

Focus on Reading and Writing strategies

Curricular Changes: New US History/Civics course Focus on American colonial development,

Revolutionary war, constitutional development, and sociopolitical and economic growth of the United States

Companion Standards for US History

- Focus on reading & writing about history:Texts chosen from among seminal

historical US documents

Students gain the ability to evaluate intricate arguments, cite textual evidence, interpret primary sources and distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment

Students gain the capacity to surmount challenges posed by complex text

Students gain the ability to express ideas in writing

US History is focused on developing students who: Are civic minded and socially responsible

Exemplify fundamental values of American citizenship through active participation in local communities

Make informed decisions about local, state, and national, events based on inquiry and analysis

Consider multiple perspectives, values diversity, and promotes cultural understanding

Recognize the historical foundations of American democratic society

Appreciate the dynamics between people, places, and resources in US history

Utilize project-based learning to investigate political issues and understand how government works

7TH GRADE US HISTORY/CIVICS 8TH GRADE WORLD CIV.

Non-tracked Student centered focus American history 1730-1855 Civics & Citizenship

Non-tracked Student centered focus Technology Integration World Civilizations; India, Asia and

Europe

7TH GRADE PROJECT-BASED LEARNING Scaffold development of skills:

Knowledge and skills are developed through investigation of an authentic question or problem

Source identification Source interpretation and analysis Presentation and collaborations skills

8TH GRADE PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING

Scaffold development of skills: Students develop the question,

learning goals and outcomes Research based project Collaborative skill development Self management skill development

ELA and Math will be paired

Teachers meet consistently to align learning goals

Teachers share a set of students and use data analysis to provide targeted instructional support

Teachers use curriculum that incorporates exploring and solving authentic problems and issues through integrative unit themes, discussion and debate, and in-depth projects across curricula

Mr. Richard Freedman, Principal – richard.freedman@riverdell.orgMr. Michael Giorgio, Assistant Principal – michael.giorgio@riverdell.orgMr. James Cooney, Dir. of Special Services: james.cooney@riverdell.orgMrs. Jennifer Ali, Supervisor of Mathematics – jennifer.ali@riverdell.orgMrs. Lisa Torres, Supervisor of English & SS – lisa.torres@riverdell.orgMs. Marnie Ross, Guidance Counselor – marnie.ross@riverdell.org