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Jonas Clarke Middle School5th Grade Parent Orientation

March 28, 2018

Welcome to Clarke!

Jonas Clarke Middle School is a community of individuals committed to the academic, social and emotional growth of all students.

Clarke Administrative Team

My Beliefs

+ Equity and achievement for ALL students is possible when we provide students WHAT they need WHEN they need it.

+ Creating an environment where every member of our school community feels physically, emotionally and socially safe is essential for academic improvement and healthy development.

+ In order to create an environment that fosters the continuous improvement for everyone, a foundation of trust must be established between students, parents, teachers and administrators.

What Makes Clarke Special?

+ A commitment to excellence and continuous improvement

+ We value mistakes and focus on LEARNING from our mistakes

+ We recognize that in middle school learning is not all about the content, but also about the skills!

As Principal, it is my job to…

+ Be the lead learner at Clarke Middle School

+ Model and promote mutual respect and a Growth Mindset

+ Genuinely solicit and actively listen to the concerns of all constituencies

+ Avoid arbitrary actions with proper decision making processes and transparency

+ Communicate effectively

+ Provide consistent and competent management of daily school operations

As a parent of a middle school student, it is your job to…

+ Promote a Growth Mindset at home… The language you use matters!

+ Recognize that your child will make mistakes and embrace the “Gift of Failure”

+ Communicate proactively with us

+ Assume positive intent and ask questions

+ Have an awareness of your child’s digital presence and talk to them about it. We are here to help and promote safety.

+ Help us foster independence and self advocacy in students

Our Team Includes

+ School Counselors• Sarah Shapiro (6th)• Jeff Capuzziello (7th)• Ellen Vera (8th)

+ Social Workers• Pauline Avery• Elizabeth Murphy• Cristina Lund • Habiba Davis, METCO

+ Clarke ETS’s• Rachel Cohen• Maeve Donnelly (ILP)

6th Grade Teams

+ Atlantis+ Columbia+ Quest+ Voyager

The Team Structure

On Team Classes

+ Math

+ Science

+ Ancient Civilizations

+ English

Off Team Classes+ World Language

+ Physical Education

+ Band, Chorus, Orchestra, Music, Drama, Art, Technology Applications, Engineering & Design, Reading

+ Special Education supports

+ General Education Interventions

Schedule

WIN

WIN was developed to meet the needs of ALL students

+ Academic Needs+ Social / Emotional Needs+ Build relationships and community

WIN

+ WIN = What I need+ WIN meets 3x a week (Wed, Thurs, Friday)+ Currently 6th graders have Friday as a Guided

Study w/ a team teacher in HR+ Wednesday and Thursday they can sign up for a

choice of Intervention or Enrichment+ WIN offerings

What if more support is needed?

Extracurricular Opportunities

+ Sports+ Soccer+ Field Hockey+ Cross Country+ Basketball+ Baseball+ Softball+ Outdoor Track+ Intramurals (lacrosse, volleyball, weight training, frisbee)

Extracurricular Opportunities

+ Drama Productions+ Model UN+ Scratch Club+ Science Bowl+ Student Government+ GSA+ Ocean Science Club+ Plant Club+ Debate Club+ Math Team+ Clarke Barker

Positive Behavioral Supports

BARK

+ Balance+ Acceptance+ Resilience+ Kindness

School Wide Activities each quarter for ALL students and staff

Community Service Opportunities

+ Senior Center Visits and Dinners

+ Leaf Raking

+ Food Pantry Collection

+ Trail/ Garden Clean ups

+ Decorating the Senior Center

Parent Communication

+ Our website: www.clarke.lexingtonma.org

+ Daily Announcements

+ Blackboard Communication – phone, emails and texts

+ PTO weekly updates

+ Monthly Newsletters

+

+ Team Websites for homework and announcements

+ Google Classroom

+ Follow us on Twitter! @ClarkePrincipal

+ Parent Conferences / Fall Only

+ Direct questions to your team leader or grade level school counselor - Ms. Shapiro

Technology at Clarke

+ 1:1 program for 7th & 8th graders

+ Laptop carts

+ iPad carts

+ Chromebooks

+ Interactive white boards

+ Document Cameras

+ Google Classroom

+ Google Drive

5th grade visitMay 1, 2018

● Lunch● 6th grade teacher● Art / Drama● PE● World Language● Music

Course Selection

+ World Language+ French, Spanish

or Mandarin (for all 3 years)

+ Performing Arts+ Chorus, Band or

Orchestra+ OR Music 6 /

Drama 6

+ Math – Heterogeneously grouped in 6th grade

Course Registration Process

+ Registration occurs online via the Aspen Portal

+ In school on March 29th your child will receive:+ Permission Slip for the May 1 visit+ Username and password for the Aspen Portal

+ Log in to the Aspen Portal and follow the registration directions

+ 2018-2019 Program of Studies will be posted on our website soon

+ Complete this by Friday, April 6th

Student Information Forms

We want to know more about your child (ren)!

Please take a moment to fill out our online Google Form:

+ What are your child’s greatest academic, social and emotional strengths?

+ Is there anything you would like for us to know about your child or family?

Course Registration Process

Course Registration Process

Jonas Clarke PTO

+ The Clarke PTO - Amazing support for Clarke staff and students!

+ PTO Co-Presidents: Patricia Holguin / Christina Cohen

+ 5th Grade Parent Coffee:

+ May 2, 2018 8:45AM

+ Join the PTO to support Clarke teachers and students

Frequently Asked Questions

+ See The Insider’s Guide to Clarke - online+ Before school and after school protocols+ Absence and tardy information+ Picking up a child during school hours+ Communication Questions+ Special Event info

Welcome to Clarke Middle School

Class of 2025