Welcome to Being a Middle School Parent

Natalie Nesbitt

7-12 School Counselor

BC Middle School/High School

Tonight’s Agenda

• Explore the development of a middle school student

• Provide information regarding the middle school structure

• Answer questions about procedures and expectations

Looking Back

• Middle School Years can be a great memory or a hard memory.

• Take a minute or 2 to record 1 happy memory and 1 challenge during those years.

Looking Back

• These memories will help you to shape how you work and interact with your child.

• Let’s explore some common themes

Changes & Challenges

• Middle School students face a number of changes as a result of puberty– Physical Growth – Brain Growth– Hormones – Social Change/Growth

Changes & Challenges

• What can I expect as a parent of a middle school student?– Absentmindedness or Forgetfulness– Moodiness– Friendship shifts, changes, and struggles– Frequent displays of emotion– Desire to discover an identity– Desire to try new things (positive and negative

risk-taking)

What can I expect MS to be like for my child?

• Time of change

• A time for increasing responsibility

• A time to plan for the future

• A time for increasing independence

Things to Watch For

• Online Issues (Facebook, MySpace, chatting, Twitter etc)

• Cyberbullying (Online and via text messaging)

• Bullying Behavior (Boys and Girls)

• Mental Health Issues(body image, depression, cutting)

• Dating/Relationships

• Alcohol/Drugs

• Perfectionism

• Involvement

• Risky Behavior

What Can I Do???

• Consistency is key• Recognize that students fears and anxieties are real and

immediate to them• Be upbeat and reassure• Hold your child accountable for inappropriate or poor

behavior• Allow for opportunities to make decisions• Allow them the freedom to make mistakes, and the

support to learn from them• Model behavior• LISTEN!

Necessary Partnership

• Keep an open line of communication open with teachers– PowerSchool– Email– Phone Calls– Conferences

• Keep an open line of communication open with counselor and principal if needed

Middle School Team

• The middle school is organized into 2 teams- 7th and 8th grade.

• Teams work together on curricular areas, expectations, and procedures

7th Grade Schedule

• 1- Academic Class

• 2- 7th Exploratory

• 3- Academic Class

• 4- Academic Class

• 5- Lunch & Activity Period

• 6- Academic Class or Band

• 7- Academic Class or Vocal

• 8- Academic Class or Vocal

• Homeroom

Classes

• 4 Core Classes– Math– Science– Language Arts– Social Studies

These classes meeteveryday all year long

• Exploratory Classes– Agricultural Science– Art– Careers– Health– Industrial Technology– Technology– SCR*

These classes meet on a 30day rotation* SCR- meets all year long

Classes

• PE and Vocal

These classes meet on a 2 day rotation (Blue or Gold)

• Elective Options– Band

– Jazz Band

These classes meet

opposite of each other

for the full year.

Course descriptions are available as a hand-out.

How to View Your Schedule:

• Go to the Benton Homepage

• Click on Powerschool for Students and Parents

• Login (username and password are case sensitive)

• Click on Additional Features

• Click on Schedule

PowerSchool

• Powerschool is the grade management system.

• Use it to track grades on your student

• Set-up to send updates weekly (can be changed)

Middle School StaffCore Classes

Language Arts: Mrs. Theresa Thompson

Math: Mr. Marty Thomae

Science: Mr. Matt Svare or Mrs. Krista Olen

Social Studies: Mrs. Krista Olen orMr. Wade Riley

Special Education

Ms. Kelsey Kearns Ms. Emily O’Connell

Ms. Shelly Sindt –Special Ed Assoc.

PE/Vocal/Band/ Study Hall

PE: Mr. Andy Kauder Vocal: Ms. Alyssa Schmuecker or Mr. John Hayden

Band/Jazz Band: Mrs. Michelle Lampkin

Study Hall: Mrs. Cheryl Lieb

Exploratory Classes

Ag Science: Mrs. Krystal Wright Art: Mr. Nathan Platt

Careers: Mrs. Natalie Nesbitt Health: Mr. Andy Kauder

Industrial Tech- Mr. Steve Allman Technology: Mr. Jeremy Suiter

MS Handbook

• Available at – www.benton.k12.ia.us– Click on Middle School at the top– Right hand side is link for MS Handbook– OR- http://www.benton.k12.ia.us/Middle

%20School/MS%20Handbook%2013-14.pdf

• All electronic if you would like a hard copy please ask.

ActivitiesMiddle School is a great time to try something new!

• Student Council• Volleyball• Cross Country• MS Annual• Show Choir• Vocal

• Football• Basketball• Wrestling• Track• Concert/Jazz Band

Common Concerns

• Organization– Help develop good habits– Help cleaning bag– Provide options for organization– Provide space and time for homework– Reinforce time management skills

Common Concerns

• Work Load– Students will have homework most nights

• AR Books- must read 2 books per quarter and complete an AR quiz

• Encourage planner use

• Talk with them about what homework was assigned

• Do periodic checks

• Look at Powerschool

Common Concerns

• Homework Help– Use the book– Review examples– Help student decide on where to look for

information– Use online resources– Use homeroom and class time– Seek help during study hall

Common Concerns

• Social Media– Technology is apart of our students lives

• Become/remain familiar with how the selected media works

• Monitor usage for the amount of time and how it is being used

• Talk with them about how their words can be interpreted or misinterpreted.

• Remind them that a real person lives on the other end

• Talk to them about safety issues

Common Concerns

• MS Procedures– Attendance

• Contact building secretary- Bonnie Sherwood• Students inform teachers of known absences• Make-up Work- # of days absent +1

– Homework• Benton Webpage- Middle School Tab- Middle

School Lesson Plans• Request by 10:00am to pick up after 2:00pm• Responsibility of student to find out what was

missed due to absence

Final Thoughts

                                                                                 

Wrap- Up

Questions

Please remember to complete the survey on the

tables