Welcome to the Middle School!
by Sean Dunphy
August 09, 2008
Dear Middle School Parents and Students:
Fall is upon us! School days are about to begin again, and Mr. Means and I welcome you all to the new year! There have been some changes in the way we operate, and we wanted to give everyone some vital information concerning the first few days of school. We know there are many questions you might have about how things will work here at the Middle School.
Here are some answers:
1. Important Parent Meeting Dates
• All parents of students who are new to the Lewis Central School District are invited to attend an informational meeting with the Superintendent, Dr. Mark Schweer, on August 14th at 7:00 P.M. at the Middle School Auditorium. The format for this meeting is mainly question-answer oriented.
• 6th grade parents are invited, along with your student, to attend the 6th grade orientation meeting on August 18st at 6:30 P.M. in the Middle School Auditorium. While not required, this meeting is an opportunity to hear important information, meet our 6th grade staff, tour the building, practice locker combinations (schedules and locker info will be handed out at the meeting), and drop off school supplies.
• The Middle School Open House is August 26th from 6:30-7:30 P.M. The building will be open for you and your student to tour the building, visit classrooms and meet teachers, and see the accomplishments of the first week of school. Please come!
2. Schedule For The First Day of School
The first day of school is August 20, 2008. As we have done in the past, the morning of the first day is deemed “Titan Camp” and is for 6th GRADERS ONLY! School starts at regular time for all 6th graders (breakfast starts at 7:00 A.M. in the cafeteria, 7:35 A.M. is the beginning of class) and bus pick up times are provided by the District Transportation Office at registration.
7th and 8th Graders will be picked up on a 4-hour delayed schedule on the first day of school. This means they will be arriving at school between 11:00 and 11:30 A.M. Bus pick up times for 7th and 8th graders shift accordingly. For example, if you were to be picked up at 6:45 A.M. on a regular school day, you will be picked up at 10:45 A.M. on the first day.
Dismissal time on the first day of school is our normal dismissal time – 2:48 P.M.
3. Instructional Teams
Core academic teaching staff at all grade levels are divided into instructional teams, consisting of 5 or 6 teachers. Likewise, students are assigned to one of the grade level teams. Each team is physically located (rooms, lockers, etc.) in a distinct hallway to make transitions between classes easier. We have done this purposefully to provide what we feel will be a more familiar and comfortable surrounding for students. Staff members have pursued this change diligently, even to the point of moving their entire classrooms and changing grade levels so that this could be accomplished. We are all excited about what true middle school teaming will mean for our students – academically and socially. This teaming structure opens up opportunities for our students that will unfold as the year goes on.
Exploratory classes remain as they have been, and students from all teams at a particular grade level will intermingle and join together for instruction in the exploratory areas – art, music, physical education, etc.
4. Student Schedules
Students received their first trimester schedules at registration. Changes to student schedules will be made only with administrative approval. We have worked hard to ensure that a maximum number of students are able to take the classes they signed up for last spring. The schedules produced are the results of our best efforts.
Because of the nature of teaming, and the balance of class sizes in core academic areas, changes in team assignments or core instructors will not be considered at this time.
5. Website
Visit our website often! Articles from myself and other staff, daily bulletins, and the monthly Titan Times can all be found at www.lewiscentral.org. Click on the Middle School links!
6. Become a VIP – Very Involved Parent
Our Middle School parent group in called “The VIPs” or Very Involved Parents. Our VIP parents help chaperone dances and other events, provide assistance to classroom teachers, volunteer to help in the library and in other areas, raise small amounts of money for special projects, and most importantly they stay informed and involved in their child’s school experience. Contact Lorna Woods by email at lwoods@lewiscentral.k12.ia.us or call her at 366-8251.
We are looking forward to a productive and successful year at Lewis Central Middle School. There are many other new and exciting things on the horizon, all being initiated with one goal in mind – Student Success!
Sincerely,
Sean Dunphy, Principal Tim Means, Asst. Principal
