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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 (see Bell Schedule p. 30). 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
Rotating each marking period, these 9-week courses are part of every student’s schedule. 6th graders take study skills and technology. 7th graders take technology, public speaking, and/or consumer science. 8th graders take journalism, world cultures, technology, and/or performing arts. Selected 8th graders will take part in a Peer Leadership Cycle Course for 18 weeks.
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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 Placement
Students are placed in honors math and/or language arts courses based on a review of multiple criteria which include grades earned, scores on placement tests (April time frame), teacher recommendation, standardized test results, and in language arts, the student’s portfolio. Incoming students receive a letter during the summer to notify them of placement. Student performance is regularly reviewed during team meetings to ensure placement in the appropriate level. Adjustments may be made during the school year if necessary.
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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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