Westland Middle School Welcome to 6 Grade th

Westland Middle School
Welcome to 6th Grade
Administrator:
Jake Lee
Counselor:
Maria Kohlerman
Team Leaders:
Melissa Picciano and Alyssa Walstein
By the end of tonight’s
meeting you will have…
• Heard about life in middle school
• Received details about registering for
classes
• Heard about our academic program
from Westland staff
Online Course
Registration
Register now in lab 107.
Staff available to assist.
New Middle School Experiences
• 7 periods, 7 teachers, 7 classrooms
• Class transitions
• New friends
• A student planner
• Hall locker, PE locker
• Bigger school
• Added responsibilities:
Checking Edline, self-advocacy, learning
to work with teachers to solve problems
Lunch & Buses
How to help your child
• Advocate for your child
• Communicate with
teachers
• Check
Edline
• Check their planner
• Check their binders
• Teach your child to set
up STAR
appointments- Tu-Th
• Communicate with
counselor or
administrator for help
• Help them establish a
homework routine
• Please check with
teachers if they say they
never have homework
After school activities
Encourage your child to get involved!
• School sponsored activities include:
– Literary magazine
– Student Government Association
– Yearbook
– Table Tennis
– Volleyball
– Flag Football
– Homework Help
– Running Club
After school activities
Encourage your child to get involved!
• PTA-organized, enriched activities
for a fee include:
Yoga
Robotics
Photography
Chess
Tennis
App Design
Fitness
Lacrosse
• More info on our website
• Scholarships available!
After school activities
Encourage your child to get involved!
• THREE activity buses run to
central stops within our
communities.
• Buses depart Westland at 4:45
pm.
Sixth Grade Highlights
• Outdoor Education
• After School Clubs
• Field Trips
• Student recognition
• Greco-Roman Day
Middle Years Programme
The MYP is:
• All-inclusive (Every Westland student is a part of
the Programme)
• For students in grades 6-10
• A curricular framework of academic challenge
•
Consists of 8 core
subjects, an 8th grade
exit interview, and a
10th grade personal
project
Middle Years Programme
• Conceptually and
inquiry based
instruction
• Interdisciplinary
understanding
• Student-centered
activities
• Action based approach
• Real world connections
Registration Information
th
6 Grade
Online Course
Registration
Register now in lab 107.
Staff available to assist.
Registration Materials
• 2016-2017 Westland Course Booklet- page 9!
• 2016-17 MCPS Course Bulletin- WARNING- not all
courses are available at Westland
• Instructions for completing ONLINE registration
Required Courses- page 9!
• All 6th Grade students at Westland take the following courses:
- English or English for Speakers of Other Languages
- Math
- Physical Education (27 wks) and Health (9 wks)
- Digital Literacy (Reading) or World Languages
- Science
- Social Studies
- Arts and Technology OR Special Education OR another
ESOL class
Elective Courses
• Most 6th Grade students at Westland have the
option of taking an elective class.
- Quarterly Arts Rotation may include:
(Visual Art, Computers, Technology,
Related Studies - Intro to MYP)
- Year-long Band
- Year-long Orchestra
- Year-long Chorus
Online Registration
http://scheduler.mcpsmd.org/public
Use student Login and Password.
Directions are posted on our Website.
Online Registration
Your online registration should be
completed no later than
February 12, 2016
Opportunities for your
student to visit Westland
#1 The elementary schools will visit Westland in May
for a tour of the building.
#2 Students can attend a Sneak Peek session during 2
hours in June or 2 hours in August to learn more about
Westland and practice with lockers.
#3 Students can attend the Orientation Day right
before school starts- likely Aug 25. Students will see
their schedules at this time.
English 6
Every English Unit includes:

Literature Study:

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Anchor texts, Literature Circles, Shared Inquiry,
Vocabulary in context of Literature
Writing Instruction/Common Tasks
Grammar in context of writing instruction
Interdisciplinary connections
Extension and Enrichment: Shakespearean
drama workshop/Poetry Workshop
Math
Math
Physical Education/Health

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27 weeks (3 quarters) of PE
9 weeks (1 quarter) of health
PE unit design: lead up activities, skill
progression, assessment and game play.
Possible units: Aerobics, Archery,
Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Football,
Jump Rope, Soccer, Softball, Street Hockey,
Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Ultimate
Frisbee, Weight Training and…Polar Bear!
Physical Education/Health

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Students must change clothes for PE every
day.
Shirts- white or gray
Shorts- blue, black or gray
Sweat clothes, blue, black or gray
Tennis shoes or other athletic shoes
Physical Education/Health

Health units center around the National
Health Education Standards with a focus
on:


Safety & Injury Prevention
Mental Health
Digital Literacy 6 (Reading)


Digital Literacy is part of the MCPS
curriculum for 6th graders
Focus on informational text
World Languages
Many
6th graders will choose to take a
world language class. Options:
- Spanish 1 AB or FY 1A (slower), or
- French 1 AB or FY 1A (slower), or
- Chinese 1 AB
 Some 6th graders will wait until 7th or
8th grade for world language.
 Spanish Immersion 1AB reserved
for immersion students from RCF.
World Languages
World
language classes take the place of
Digital Literacy (Reading).
World language classes are high school
level classes. The grade the student earns
is reflected within the high school grade
point average (GPA) and on the high
school transcript.
Digital Literacy 6 (Reading)
versus
World Languages


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Select digital literacy for reading support
or reading acceleration.
You may select world language if teacher
recommendation indicates 105730.
World Language students must be ready to
tackle the demands of a high school level
course.
Investigations in Science 6
Units:
• Matter and Its Interactions
• Ecosystems Interactions,
Energy, and Dynamics
• Human Impact on the Environment
• Energy and Waves
→Designed around real life problems to be solved
using STEM (Science Technology Engineering
Mathematics) approach
→Project based units
Social Studies 6


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Patterns of Settlement in the
Ancient and Modern Worlds
Citizenship and Governance:
Classical and Modern
The Impact of Economics in
Ancient and Modern China
Cultural Systems Past and Present
Elective Courses

Quarterly Arts Rotation may include:

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Visual Art, Computers, Technology and Related
Studies (Intro to MYP)
Chorus (full year- no experience necessary)
Band (full year- yes, experience necessary)
Orchestra (full year- yes, experience necessary)
Special Education Services
Collaborate with elementary schools to
plan for a smooth transitions
 Design master schedule with needs of
incoming students
 Deliver services to meet students’ needs

Special Education Services
Outside General Ed: Small grp class of students
with IEPs taught by a special educator.
 In General Ed: General education teacher with
special education support.
 Some students are in some or all general
education courses without special support.

Special Education Services
Resource Class for Some Students
 Addresses organization, study skills,
work habits, test-taking strategies, grade
and assignment tracking, and other skills
as identified by the resource teacher.
 Takes the place of an elective or world
language.
Grouping
English- Comb0 (i.e. 17 advanced
with 8 on-level students)
 ESOL- By Level 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5
 Math- By Level- IM6 or Math6
 World Language- By Level 1AB or
1A
 PE/Health, Reading, Science,
Social Studies, Electives- mixed
ability

Contact Information
Counselor: [email protected]
Online
Course
Electives: [email protected] Registration
Register now
in lab 107.
English, Reading and ESOL:
Staff
[email protected]
available to
assist.
Math: [email protected]
Administrator: [email protected]
Special Education: [email protected]
World Languages:
[email protected]