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Useful information about:
Advisory
Students meet with an advisory teacher once a week for 45 minutes for the Peer Connections Program. During this session, students participate in team-building activities and character education will be reinforced. In addition, one period each day will be extended, where students will hear announcements and receive information about upcoming events and extracurricular activities.
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Curriculum
It is academically sound that adolescents have a broad range of exploratory content areas in order to provide greater exposure to an academically challenging curriculum. A complete and rigorous academic program features four 60-minute core classes each day (language arts, math, science, and social studies), and lunch. World language classes, including Spanish, French, Italian, and Mandarin for sixth graders, also meet daily. Three 40-minute periods of music, physical education, health, art and cycle courses will follow an A/B schedule. Music choices include band, orchestra and chorus; all other students take art or music appreciation. Students work in mixed ability groups with the exception of honors math and honors language arts.
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Cycle Classes
Students will have an array of cycle classes while at the Junior School. 6th graders take study skills, entrepreneurship, and introduction to engineering 7th grade cycle includes 9 weeks of technology and public speaking, as well as a half-year of consumer science. 8th graders will have an opportunity to take part in an elective program are able to choose from the following classes: Design Squad (STEM), 21st Century News, Scratch (Programming), Guitar, International Sports and Games, Craft Studio, Drawing and Painting (Fine Arts), and Performing Arts. Selected 8th graders will take part in a Peer Leadership cycle course.
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Extra Help
All teachers are available for walk-in help after school dismissal time at 2:43 p.m. Students are encouraged to use this resource as often as they like. Extra help schedules are posted in each classroom. Teachers often make additional accommodations for extra help by offering it prior to the start of the school day, if necessary.
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Grades
Grades are based on a combination of scores on quizzes and tests, homework assignments and participation/work completed in class. At the beginning of the year each teacher explains his or her grading system to students; a grade sheet is provided to help students track progress throughout each marking period.
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Homework
Students receive assignments on a regular basis. The purpose of homework is to reinforce skills learned in class and to develop worthwhile educational and leisure-time activities that foster student learning. Student planners are provided by the school to help students continue to develop strong organizational and study skills. It is important to encourage your child to complete his/her homework.
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Honors Criteria (Placement Requirements)
5th Grade to 6th Grade Honors Math:
Student must acquire 4/5 or 5/5 in the following categories to qualify:
- NJASK-250 or higher
- Grades-A or A-
- Placement Test-17 out of 27
- Cumulative-88 out of 100
- Teacher Recommendation-Yes
6th Grade to 7th Grade Honors Math:
To remain in Honors Math:
- The student must have a B+ average.
- The student must have fifteen or more points on the Problem Solving Assessment.
6th Grade to 7th Grade On-Level Math:
- The student must maintain a C+ or higher average to move into one-year pre-algebra class.
- If the student has any grade lower than a C+ they will be placed into the two –year pre-algebra class.
6th Grade to 7th Grade Honors Language Arts:
- Student must maintain a 95 average for the first three marking periods.
- Student must have 5/6 or 6/6 on the end of the year writing prompt.
- Student must be advanced proficient on the NJASK.
- Student must have a teacher recommendation based on study skills.
7th Grade to 8th grade Honors Math:
To remain in Honors Math:
- The student must maintain a B+ average or higher for the year.
- Probationary students must have an 85 average or higher in any given marking period.
7th Grade to 8th grade Math:
- One-year pre-algebra students must maintain at least a C average in all four marking periods to move into Algebra.
- If a student has a grade of a D or F in any marking period they will be repeat the second half of the Pre-Algebra Curriculum.
7th Grade to 8th Grade Honors Language Arts:
To remain in Honors Language Arts:
- The student’s final average must be a B+ or better, with no more than one B- for all four marking periods.
- To enter honors from a 7th on-level Language Arts class a student must do the following:
- Must earn an A each marking period, with no more than one A- in any of the four.
- The student must have a teacher recommendation for honors based on in-class performance and assessments.
- A writing sample must be submitted based on the NJ State Holistic Scoring Rubric.
- The student must have a study skills rating of 5 with no history of late or missed work.
Honor Roll
High Honor Roll students must receive all “A’s” and no more than one “B” (83%) in all graded subjects and “P” in pass or fail courses for a marking period. Honor Roll requires nothing less than “B-” (80%) in all graded subjects and nothing other than “P” in pass or fail courses. All courses which receive a grade, including band, orchestra and chorus, count toward honor roll and high honor roll. After each marking period, a list of honor roll students is published in the Madison Eagle. In addition, students receive a congratulatory letter from the school principal and are invited to attend a before-school breakfast to celebrate their achievement.
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Team Model
Students in grades 6, 7 and 8 are divided into two teams of about 90 students each. Each student benefits by being taught and overseen by the same language arts, math, social studies and science teachers. The teaching team meets daily to discuss student progress both academically and socially, to coordinate testing schedules and to discuss other issues that contribute to their work with students. Click here to more about the team model.
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