New Year - lots to look forward to!!

Hi Parents,
Hope you are all staying nice and warm inside today!
Yesterday, we had our first visit from the Middle School principals, Allan Davenport from Hill and Kimberly Cornish from Still. They gave a presentation on the options available for incoming 6th graders. You should have received a packet of information about this in your child's folder today. Please read through this carefully. You need to choose an option with your child and sign and return the registration form by this Thursday. The schools need this information so they can begin planning for next year.

Speaking as a parent of a 5th grader, I understand that this form could be a little confusing, so let me try to help you through it. You are choosing an option for 6th grade only. You are not locking your child into one track for all 3 years of middle school. If you look at the back of the registration form, you can see how choosing that option for 6th grade can then work for them in 7th and 8th, allowing for more foreign language courses or electives. If your child is currently in band, orchestra, or chorus and you want them to continue in 6th grade, you will choose either option 1 or 3. Your child must get the orchestra or band teacher to sign the registration sheet. If your child is not currently in band or orchestra as a 5th grader, they will need to do some sort of private lessons and then will test in to the subject for middle school. The elective classes are defined in the packet, please let me know if you have any questions. Of course, the question arose.."Won't we have to take any other classes??" Yes, your child will have math, language arts, science, and social studies every year as well.

Your child will have foreign language offered to them in high school (it is required) but one of the benefits of having your child take foreign language classes in middle school is that they can earn one year of credit and then in high school, they can begin in year 2 of that specific language. This is the time to think about what you might want your child to have available to him or her in high school (I know that is hard to think about right now when they are still in elementary school).

On the Planning guide sheet with the 4 options listed, if a class takes up one whole line, the student takes that class for one whole year. If a class takes up half of a line, it is a semester class, and if the class takes up 1/4 of a line, it is a quarter class (4 quarters in the year - 2 semesters in a year). Right now, you are just choosing which option you want for your child for 6th grade. You are NOT choosing electives. That will come later.

I strongly suggest you taking time to talk to your child about this time in their life. It is both exciting and scary. Some of them had a bewildered look on their face yesterday as Mr. Davenport and Mrs. Cornish were talking. After the presentation, the room was buzzing as they all talked about what option or elective they are interested in. Of course, we can steer them in the direction we want them to go, but letting your child be part of this planning process will enable them to take some ownership in their education now and in the coming years. It can help them make an emotional investment in their future.

Hope that all helps a bit. Let me know if you have any questions. Just a reminder, our trip to Robert Crown is coming up on Jan. 20. Please visit their website at www.robertcrown.org, click on programs tab, then grade 5-6 program. This will give you an idea about the program your child will experience. Please take the time to let them know you are there to talk about any questions they have now or in the future.