Switzerland Point Middle School Home of the Raiders!

1. Switzerland Point Middle SchoolHome of the Raiders!

2. Introductions Principal Lisa Kunze Assistant Principal Allyson Breger Curriculum Coordinator Stacy Stackhouse Counselor, 6th and 7th A-L Barbara Seaton Counselor, 7th M-Z and 8th Tanya Moseley Testing Coordinator Lisa Mason

3. Schedule • SP students take 7 courses on a hybrid alternating day schedule. • Silver Day – 3 classes plus a “skinny” class • Black Day – 3 different classes plus the “skinny” class • Wed – 1pm dismissal

4. Arrival to School • Students are released from the buses and media center at 7:30am • Parent drop-off starts at 7:10am. • Students have 10 minutes to visit locker. • Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri – students report to homeroom for 10 minutes. • Wed – go to HR for pledge and attendance (2 mins)

5. Parent Drop-off & Pick-up • For school parent drop-off & pick-up is in the front bus loop. • Drop-off starts at 7:10am • Please pull all the way up the car in front. Students need to have materials in hand and exit quickly. • Afternoon pick-up – students have to look for your vehicle. Cell phones can NOT be out. • Drop-off & Pick-up for dances or large events is in the back in the bus loop.

6. Bus Behavior • Students are expected to remain seated and to follow the bus driver’s instructions. • Safety of all is the number one concern. • Students can receive a bus referral and can be suspended from the bus. • NO bus passes are allowed to ride a different bus home.

7. Attendance • You do not need to call or email us when your child is absent. • The student has 2 days to bring in a note and deliver it to the guidance office. • Reasons for excused absences are illness, serious illness or death in immediate family, health related appointments, and religious holidays. • Pre-Approved absence form on home page of website. Must be submitted 2 weeks in advance.

8. Expectation Assemblies • We conduct Expectation Assemblies 4 times a year. Student expectations and consequences are reviewed with all students. • Biggest lesson in middle school – take responsibility for your actions. • Accept the consequence • Learn from the experience • Change behavior and move on

9. Behavior Expectations Be Respectful • Keep your hands to yourself • Don’t touch/take other’s belongings • Words do hurt – be considerate of other’s feelings. Be Responsible • Tell an adult if something is going on that we need to know • Don’t make excuses – accept the consequences for your actions Be Safe • Walk • Horse playing should not occur in school

10. Demerit System • Demerits are recorded and are cumulative by all teachers • Consequences of Demerits 1st – warning – email or phone call from teacher 2nd – warning – email or phone call from teacher 3rd – warning – email or phone call from teacher 4th – referral to dean – lunch detention 5th – referral to dean – 1 day In-school detention (loss of reward activity) 6th – referral to dean – 2 days of In-school detention 7th – referral to dean - Out-of-school suspension • Demerits are cleared at the end of the 1st semester

11. Raider Bucks • Raider Bucks are earned by showing good character, being motivated, answering questions in class, etc. • Ways to spend Raider Bucks • 1 RB to eat outside on the patio at lunch • 2 RB to purchase ice cream on Friday during lunch • Two for Tuesdays – buy a friend out • Holiday Store to purchase gifts for parents and siblings • Dodgeball – students vs. teachers • Guitar Hero tournaments • Just Dance tournaments • Snow cones at different events

12. Gum Gum is NOT allowed at Switzerland Point MS! Anyone caught chewing gum goes to In-school Detention.

13. Tardies Tardy to Class • It is important that students report to each class on time. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action. On the third (3rd) tardy to class, a lunch detention will be issued by the Dean. Two lunch detentions will be issued by the Dean for the fourth (4th) tardy. In school detention will be issued by the Dean for each subsequent tardy. Be responsible. Tardy to School • Students arriving to school after 7:50am are officially tardy. Failure to bring notes with an acceptable excuse will result in an unexcused tardy. An acceptable excused tardy includes illness or illness of a member of the immediate family. Oversleeping, excessive traffic, or missing the bus is not considered an excused tardy.

14. Back packs • Large backpacks can be carried to and from school. Upon arrival they must be placed in the locker. • ONLY a drawstring bag can be carried from class to class. The drawstring should carry loose items, such as, pens, pencils, calculator, post-it notes, index cards, etc. • Binders and books should not be carried in the drawstring bags. Yes No Before & After school Vera Bradley

15. Cell Phones • Must be OFF and kept in locker, purse, or drawstring bag. • Students may not use the cell phone during the day. • Please do not call your student during the school day. A phone is available in the main office for emergencies. • A phone will be taken if it is out during the day. 1st violation we return to student at end of day. 2nd or more violation, we keep overnight and a parent has to pick-up.

16. Deliveries • Only lunch money or a lunch will be delivered to your child. • We do not interrupt class to deliver textbooks, homework, projects, etc. • Help your child create a checklist that can be used in the morning or night before to ensure they are ready for school.

17. Dress Code • Shorts & Skirts can’t be shorter than 4” above the knee • No tank tops or sleeveless shirts • No shirts that reveal midriffs • No lace or shear shirts with tanks underneath • No shirts off the shoulder that show straps • No holes in jeans that show skins 4” above the knee • Sandals are allowed, but no backless shoes

18. Lost and Found • Located in the main office • Items are donated to charity a few times a year. • If there is a name on the item, we find the student and return the item.

19. Lunch • 30 minutes for lunch – students can talk, but not walk around • There are 3 lines – 2 ala carte and 1 traditional. • We do NOT monitor what your child eats. You can monitor, if you use PayPams. • Can pay with cash daily or use account. Account transfers from previous school. • Students were given an account number the first day of school. • Weekly traditional lunch menu is posted in Raider Rap • Sit outside for free on Friday, if you wear Spirit wear • Can use Raider Bucks to buy a friend out on Tuesdays – “Two For Tuesday”

20. NurseClinic – Beccard • All Rx medications must have a medication form signed by both the parent and physician ordering the medication. Medication must be kept in the clinic and dispensed by the nurse. • All Rx medications must be received in the original container with the current prescription label, including student’s name, dosage, frequency, physician’s name and expiration of medication. • Rx medication can not be transported between home and school on a daily basis. Separate containers should be kept at home and at school. Expired medications will be disposed of on the expiration date. • Over the counter medications must be in the original unopened container and have an over the counter med sheet with the medication and be approved by the nurse. The form can be found on the Swiss Point website on the parent page. As long as student has form completed and on them, the medication can be carried • No medication should ever be sent to school in a plastic bag. • Under no circumstances should a student ever give medication to another student.

21. Conferences • If you are wanting to meet with an individual teacher, please contact them directly for an appointment either before school at 7am or on Tue or Thu after school at 2pm. • If you would like a group meeting, please contact the appropriate guidance counselor to schedule the meeting on Tue or Thu at 2pm.

22. Organization = Success • Write assignments in planner • Check Edmodo site • Put homework in the correct class folder/notebook • Study Buddy • Do homework for today’s classes THAT night. • “Chunk” projects in planner • Schedule on inside of locker – “A” & “B” day classes • Color code Silver & Black day materials • A “study area” at home with limited distractions – TV, cell phone, video games, etc. • Plenty of sleep and a good breakfast

23. FL is standards-based • Teachers are required to teach the standards for each course. These standards are determined by the FL Department of Education. • New Florida Standards in Language Arts and Math. • Next Generation Sunshine State Standards in remaining courses.

24. Scales • Used in every class. • Describe a progression of learning to meet the standard. • Level 3 is the target (Standard) – If the child knows the standard that should put their grade somewhere in the high C or B range. • Students should be using the scale to know where they are in their learning. • Parents should use the scale to help children study.

25. Common Assessments • Teachers at Swiss Point write and administer common unit summatives. • The summatives are written with the cognitive complexity levels of 20% low, 60% moderate, 20% high. • Low – Simple recall or recognition (Level 1 & 2 on scale) • Moderate – 2 steps in thinking (Level 3 on scale) • High – 3 or more steps in thinking (Level 4 on scale)

26. Classroom Grades • 2 categories for core classes: • 80% is summative • 20% general OR 10% general & 10% homework • Summative Category: common summatives, projects, essays, or DBQs that measure what a student knows or can do in regards to the standards. If less than a 75 is made, students can retest. Highest grade earned is 75% • General Category: will contain classwork, participation, homework, etc • Formatives – may be recorded, but do not count toward the grade – they provide information

27. Lowest grade is a 50 • Why? • Zeroes skew a grade – 75, 80, 78, 0 = 59 (F) 75, 80, 78, 50 = 71 (C-) • Helps motivate students to keep working and learning, which is our ultimate goal. • Some teachers record 49.9 when assignment or test is not done versus a 50 when the grade is lower.

28. District Quarter Exams • District exams are administered every quarter in ALL core courses. • These exams are administered across the entire county. • They are counted in the summative category as a regular test grade. • The testing window is ALWAYS the last week of the quarter.

29. Course Grades • Most courses are year-long and each quarter will be averaged for a final course grade. • Students MUST pass Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies to promote.

30. Standardized Testing • Progress Monitoring – only level 1 or 2 students in reading (FAIR) or math (Discovery Education) • NEW Florida Standards Assessment (during 4th quarter) • Reading • Math • Writing • State End –of-Course Exams (EOC) Algebra, Geometry & Civics – 30% of final grade. Algebra EOC must be passed for high school graduation. • District End-of-Course Exams (DEOC) – ALL other courses

31. Home Access Center(HAC) • Grades are updated at scheduled intervals throughout the quarter. • Please check frequently. • Have your child speak to the teacher if there is an error.

32. Communication • Weekly electronic newsletter – Raider Rap • Website • Alert Now messages • Daily news show • Afternoon announcements • Home Access Center • Contact with teachers – email & phone calls first, then if necessary, conferences

33. Students have all been registered for an Edmodo account. • All teacher assignments will be posted through Edmodo. • Best feature – combined calendar • Best feature for teachers – unlimited storage

34. We DO need you!!!! Venues for volunteering have changed……… Homeroom mom – 6th grade only FSA & District EOC proctoring PTSO – organizing events for students (dances, carnival, fundraising) Work in the library or office School Advisory Council (SAC) Activities – Band, Drama, Athletics

35. Questions