Moving Forward To Middle

School

Grade 5 Parent Orientation Meeting

May 5, 2015

Agenda

Understanding the changes your child will go through as they move into adolescence – Mrs. Evangeline B. Villagonzalo, Counselor

Discussion of what to expect in the Middle School at CIS – Mr. Neil Walton, Principal

Understanding Your

Child in the Middle School

Understanding Your

Child in the Middle School

Body parts may grow at different times and rates. “My feet are growing faster than my body!”

Physical Changes

Both girls and boys who never before gave much thought to their looks may suddenly spend hours primping, worrying and complaining—about being too short, too tall, too fat, too skinny or too pimply.

As a result…..

Early adolescence often brings with it new concerns about body image and appearance.

Physical Changes

Girls develop physically sooner than boys

They become concerned about their physical attractiveness to others

They worry about being normal

Display shyness, blushing and modesty

Interests and clothing style influenced by peer group

Movement Towards Independence

Less affection may be shown to parents, with occasional rudeness

“You don’t understand me!”

Moodiness

Improved ability to use speech to express one's self

Complaints that parents interfere with independence “ I am not a baby anymore!”

But…

Tendency to return to childish or immature behavior, particularly when overwhelmed or stressed

Movement Towards Independence

Increased capacity for abstract thinking:

better problem solvers

Intellectual interests expand and gain in importance Greater ability to do work (physical, mental, emotional) Interests focused on the present, with some thoughts of the future

Future Interests and Cognitive Changes

Develop ideals and select role models Greater testing of rules and limits

Experimentation “What happens if …”

Experience plenty of decision-making opportunities and conflicts

Morals, Values, and Self-Direction

Roles and Responsibilities

at home and school

Social Family

CONFLICTS ADOLESCENTS most likely encounter

Family Conflicts

•Showing respect to parents•Quarrelling with siblings•Relationship with household helpers and grandparents

Conflicts about Responsibilities

•Chores•Earning and spending money•Keeping rooms neat•Using the car•Using telephone, computer, internet•Messy bedroom

Social Conflicts

•Choice of friends•Choice of dating partners•How often they can go out•What kind of activities they can attend•Curfew•Age allowed to date•Riding in cars with friends•Going steady•Clothes and hairstyles

Conflicts about school

•General attitudes toward classes and teachers•Behavior (disrespectful, tardiness, truant)•Homework•Study habits•Grades•Project deadline

Adolescent’s Common Conflicts

Source: Feinstein, Sheryl (2009). Inside the Teenage Brain. United Kingdom: The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

Adolescents usually require some privacy

Limit the teasing: they easily get embarrassed or self conscious

Despite challenging authority, they need or want limit setting – predetermined and negotiated rules and regulations

This allows them a safe boundary in which to grow and function.

Some parenting tips …

Some parenting tips for easing transition to MSGet Organized- Keep track of announcements, homework etc.- Create a system that works for both you and your child

Know the players- Who are their teachers, educ. specialist, club advisers, etc.- Use emails, some online communication- Who are their new peers, friends, social networking

Stay Involved- Keep an eye on special activities (SPTC, Int’l Fair, Family Day, Coffee Morning, etc.)

Accept and embrace change - This is the time for new boundaries and rules- Get help when you need it

Some parenting tips for easing transition to MS

Get connected

- use all media of communication

Try to maintain open lines

Thank you!

Sources:Adolescent Development in Middle School(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology)

Feinstein, Sheryl (2009). Inside the Teenage Brain. United Kingdom: The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

CIS Mission StatementThe Mission of CIS is to recognize and nurture potential and to empower all members of our community to have a positive impact on our changing world.

Together we are

Responsible, Respectful, Prepared.

In the middle school… Students will be given a lot more

responsibility for their time and work

Students will be placed in situations where making the respectful choice will not always be easy

Students, with the support of their families and the school, should make time to regularly prepare for the increased expectations.

Differences from Elementary Teachers are all subject specialists Students are on their own at lunch

time More long term homework Group work/group projects Students are responsible for their own

locker They go to classes on their own Homeroom

Schedule TIME DAY A DAY B DAY C DAY D

7:30 – 7:55 Homeroom Homeroom Homeroom Homeroom

BLOCK 1

8:00-9:30MATH ENGLISH SCIENCE SOCIAL

STUDIES

9:30-9:45 Break Break Break Break

BLOCK 2

9:45-11:15

SEM-1 DTSEM-2 IT

SEM-1 MUSIC SEM-2 ART

FOREIGN

LANGUAGES PE

11:15–12:00 Lunch Break Lunch Break Lunch Break Lunch Break

BLOCK 3

12:00–1:30SCIENCE SOCIAL

STUDIES MATH ENGLISH

1:30–1:40 Passing Time Passing Time Passing Time Passing Time

BLOCK 41:40–3:10

FOREIGN

LANGUAGES PESEM-1 DTSEM-2 IT

SEM-1 MUSIC SEM-2 ART

Responsibility Reduced parent involvement More freedom Long term deadlines More peer pressure

Golly, no, Mr. Johnson, my dog didn't eat my homework, but he did delete it from my computer before I could print

it out

Challenges to being prepared

Planning ahead, budgeting time Balancing school work with

distractions Comparisons to classmates Peer Pressure Students for whom school work has

come easily, may not have the “tools” to deal with challenges

For consideration… Where do you draw the line between

supporting your child and helping them develop independence and responsibility?

Grade 5 - Grade 6 “Shadowing” Tomorrow, May 6th half the Grade 5s will

shadow the current Grade 6s. Thursday, May 7th the second half of Grade

5s will shadow the Grade 6s Pick up on your child’s shadow date will be

at 3:10 pm (if they are not attending a club)

If you are not sure what day your child is shadowing a Grade 6 student, see me after this meeting

Grade 5 Moving-Up Ceremony 7:30am: Homeroom

8:00-9:15am: All School Final Assembly

9:15-10:45am: Class parties (this is also time for Gr 5 and 8 students to get ready for Moving-Up)

11:00am-12:15pm: Moving-Up Ceremony (also attended by grade 3-11 classes)

12:15pm: Refreshments (Studio)

Grade 5 – Moving-Up Ceremony

BOYS: White, long sleeved

shirt & tie White under shirt Black pants Black socks Black leather shoes

GIRLS: Sunday/Party

Dress below the knee

(No mini-dresses) No spaghetti

straps/strapless/off shoulders

Any flat closed shoes

Light make-up or no make-up

Questions?