CROSSROADS MIDDLE SCHOOL

Our mission, at Crossroads Middle School, is to form a partnership between our school and community that nurtures and inspires life-long

learners through a balanced program of academic excellence and social, emotional, cultural, and physical development within a safe and caring

environment during this “crossroads” in our students’ lives.

SIXTH GRADEPARENT ORIENTATION

Welcome to Crossroads Middle School !

6th Grade Units

7th/8th Grade Units

ApolloUnit

AuroraUnit

PhoenixUnit

ChiUnit

OmegaUnit

GammaUnit

DeltaUnit

AlphaUnit

BetaUnit

6th Grade Units

7th/8th Grade Units

Comets Unit

Neptune Unit

Polaris Unit

KappaUnit

SigmaUnit

ZetaUnit

TauUnit

ThetaUnit

RhoUnit

Library

Encore

World Lang.

P.E.Instructional

Support

Crossroads NorthCrossroads North Crossroads SouthCrossroads South

Assistant Principal for 7th/8th Grade Hinson

Principal FamousPrincipal FamousPrincipal DanielsPrincipal Daniels

S.P.S.Counselors

C.S.T.

S.P.S.Counselors

C.S.T.

Special Ed.Supervisor

Math/ScienceSupervisor

MusicSupervisor

EncoreSupervisor

L.A. / S.S.Supervisor

World Lang.Supervisor

Health/P.E.Supervisor

TechnologyCoordinator

Assistant Principal for 6th GradeKmiec

Extra Curricular / Athletics

Club 678Fehte

Crossroads Middle School 2013-2014

SHARED

STAFF

CROSSROADS MIDDLE SCHOOL STRUCTURE

Three 6th Grade UnitsApproximately

125 students per unit

Unit Names

NORTH: Comets, Neptune, PolarisSOUTH: Apollo, Aurora, Phoenix

LANGUAGE ARTS•Literature •Writing MATHSCIENCESOCIAL STUDIES

Units:Flexible Schedule5 Core Subjects

Changing Classes and Teachers

Sixth Grade Language ArtsLiterature Studies: Core Novels (Crash; Of Beetles and Angels; Jackaroo;Catherine, Called Birdy; Gathering Blue)

Non-Fiction / Informational TextUSE OF EVIDENCE FROM TEXT TO SUPPORT IDEASCLOSE READING OF COMPLEX TEXT

Literature CirclesIndependent Reading (P.A.T.T.E.R.N.S.)Read-AloudShort StoriesMythologyPoetry

•

Summer Reading

•Summer Reading List and Assignment: sent home by elementary school and posted on the Crossroads website at www.sbschools.org.

• Summer Reading Challenge:• http://www.scholastic.com/summer/

INDEPENDENT READING PROGRAM: PATTERNS

Parents and Teachers Together, Encouraging the Reading of Novels and Nonfiction

NOVELIST Database found in EBSCOhttp://search.ebscohost.com

North user name: S9769288

password: passwordSouth

user name: crossroadspassword: vikings

Writing / Composition Studies:

•Writing Process, Timed Writing, 1st Draft•Compose in all Genres: Expressive / Narrative, Argumentative / Persuasive,

Informational / Expository, Poetry

USE OF EVIDENCE FROM TEXT TO SUPPORT IDEAS

•Conventions of Language and Author’s Craft, using mentor texts and applications of compositional risk

•Word Study

•Grammar, Usage, Mechanics, Spelling

* Language Arts Instructional Support Lab for selected students

Sixth Grade Social Studies: World History & Ancient Civilizations to 1600

Era 1: India, China, Greece, Rome

Era 2: Byzantine/Muslim, Africa, China/Japan, Middle Ages, The Americas

Interdisciplinary research project

Sixth Grade Language Arts and Social Studies Assessments

Social Studies•Research Task•Era Pre- and Post-Tests

Language Arts•Research Task•Grammar•Word Study Assessments (end of trimester)•NJASK (spring)

•to be replaced by PARCC in 2015

6th Grade Mathematics •Common Core Mathematics Standards:

• Ratios and Proportional Relationships• The number System• Expressions and Equations• Geometry• Statistics and Probability

•6th Grade math courses:• Unit Mathematics• Transitions Mathematics

•Math placements are based on the following data:• Math Matrix • End of 5th Grade Test• 6th Grade Placement Test• The NJASK Test – Both Math and Language Arts

•Math Lab Support•Math Counts Club

6th Grade Science Program Students follow the NJCCCS for science

•Scientific Practices•Physical Science•Life Science•Earth Science

Hands-on

Four Major Units over the course of the year:•Geology•Astronomy•Phylogenetics•Systems

Enrichment opportunities:•6th Grade Science Fair•Mini-Med Club•Forensics Club

•

• Encore Classes – Art Integration, Music Integration, Health, Digital Tools 1

• Physical Education - Fitnessgram, Team Sports, Individual Sports, and Lifelong Activities

• Prime Time - Enrichment time for students

• Common Time – School-wide on alternating days, chorus and access to teacher support

World Language - Spanish, French, or Latin

A Student’s Typical Week

•Interscholastic Athletics- Sports Program open to 7/8 Grade Students

•Extracurricular Activities – Club Program open to All Grade Levels

All clubs and activities are pay-to-participate using CommunityPass

School Musical Mini Med School

Forensics Club Math Counts Team

Photography Club Special Olympics Club

Art Club Academic Challenge Teams

Online School Newspaper Odyssey of the Mind Teams

Chess Club Student Council

Flag Football Indoor Soccer

Volleyball Ski Trips

Tennis Club Cricket Club

Instruction in all of our MUSICAL PERFORMING GROUPS is aligned with

the 2009 NJCCCS

All of our choirs, orchestras, and bands are comprised of students from all three grades.

Vocal Performing Groups

• Treble Choir rehearses during Common Time

• Concert Choir rehearses during Common Time

• Vocal Ensemble rehearses before school and is subject to the $75.00 Pay-to-Participate fee.

• NOTE: Vocal Ensemble is an auditioned group. Interested students will be screened by the instructor.

Each of these groups is a graded class. Your child's participation and progress can be tracked on Parent Connect!

Co-curricular music offerings are charged a pay-to-participate fee and include: Men’s Ensemble Women’s Ensemble Hand Bell Choir School Musical

Instrumental Music Groups Concert Orchestra*

Symphonic Orchestra* Concert Band*

Symphonic Band*Jazz Band*

Jazz Ensemble*

Students are placed in a group based on a screening and/or teacher recommendation.

* denotes before school rehearsal and a $75.00 Pay-to-Participate fee.

Each of these groups is a graded class. Your child's participation and progress can be tracked on Parent Connect!

Field TripsHomework •45-90 minutes as a nightly expectation. •Agendas

After School Program • Club 6/7/8 – Community Education

Reporting System • Electronic Mid-trimester Progress Reports• Report Cards/Year (3) • Letter Grade System• Parent Connect Online Grade Book

SPS (Student Personnel Services) • Health Office, Counselors• Child Study Team

Communications•Friday Folders & Friday E-Mail•Daily Announcements (AM/PM)•Daily Bulletin in PowerSchool•Parent Conferences•Unit Meeting Times•Joint PTO (North and South)•Principal’s Newsletter•School Website

Lockers • Hallway/Gym

Lunch 34 Minutes; Middle School Menu; ID Card

Arrival & Dismissal•8:10 (N) or 8:15 (S) Homeroom Bell•3:05 (N) or 3:10 (S) Dismissal Bell•5:15 Late Bus (Monday - Friday)

Health Concerns

•Required Immunizations for 6th Graders•Special Health Concerns•Medication Policy•Absences and Gym Notes•Helping Your Child Make Good Nutritional Choices in Middle School

Placement into Units Based on Criteria• Balance in Numbers • Heterogeneous Grouping • Gender Balance• Learning/Teaching Styles • Assessment Information • Parent Requests - Additional information about your child, learning style, connections with other students or conflicts• Send via e-mail to the building principal on or before June 30, 2013

Summer Communication• Late August: parents will receive unit and math placement via Family ConnectSTUDENT PLACEMENT

CLOSING THOUGHTS...

• CODE OF CONDUCT

• SCHOOL CLOTHES

• SCHOOL SUPPLIES

• CELL PHONES

• ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• SNACKS