Welcome to Grade 8!

Mrs. CarllRoom 316

On your desk...

You will find your agenda. Please make sure you have the following items inside:

• Student ID, locker number and combination

• Class schedule

• Student information sheet

• Right to Information form

• Parent’s guide to the new report card

• Attendance Matters pamphlet

Morning Routine

Mornings at SMS:

At the 8:15 bell, students have the option of coming inside for the breakfast club, or going to their grade level wing.

The breakfast club will be starting up in late September. Please note, getting breakfast is not an excuse to be late for homeroom.

Before each class…

Make sure you have everything you need for class before you enter the room.

You are not permitted to go to your locker between classes or during class time.

Homeroom:

If there are any items to discuss or money to collect, we will do so during homeroom.

When the bell rings, you’ll be dismissed and you’ll line up quietly outside your next period class along the lockers until you are invited inside.

O Canada:

O Canada begins immediately following the 8:30 bell. Stand at your seat, facing the flag until the music has stopped.

O Canada:

If you are in the hallway or at your locker, stop what you are doing and wait.

A student is considered late if they arrive after O Canada.

Morning Announcements:

Morning announcements will happen right before nutrition break this year.

When the announcements begin, stop what you’re doing and listen quietly.

Lockers:

o Permitted at locker in the morning, break, lunch and after school.

o A clean locker in a happy lockero Must be locked at all times.o Do not give anyone your

combination.o Lockers are subject to inspection

at any time by administration.

Your Schedule:

PRA – Mrs. Fisher, Mrs. Duncan, Mrs. Palmer LA – Mrs. CarllPIF – Mr. Clancy Gym – Ms. ReickerScience – Mr. Brown Math – Mr. JohnstonArt – Mrs. Carll Social Studies – Mr. Brown

Your PRA Schedule:

September 6 – October 20

Health with Mrs. Palmer

October 23 – December 8

Music with Mrs. Fisher

December 11 – January 31

Tech with Mr. MacPherson

February 1 – March 23

Health with Mrs. Palmer

March 26 – May 11

Music with Mrs. Fisher

May 14 – June 22

Tech with Mr. MacPherson

SMS Student Code of Conduct

SMS Code of Conduct:1. Students will treat all people in the school with respect.

o Teachers

o EAs

o Guidance counselor

o Intervention worker

o Librarian

o Secretary

There is only one way to treat people – the right way. We will show you how.

o Cafeteria staff

o Bus drivers

o Guest speakers

o Volunteers

o Visitors

o Students

Code of Conduct:

2. Students are to use appropriate language.

Code of Conduct:

3. Students are responsible to take their agenda planners to every class.

Code of Conduct:

4. Students are responsible to positively interact socially with others.

Physical contact such as pushing, hitting, play fighting, hugging, holding hands or kissing are not acceptable social behaviours at SMS.

Code of Conduct:

5. Students will complete their class work and assignments to the best of their ability.

Code of Conduct:

6. Students will dress for school and school activities in an appropriate manner that follows the school dress code.

Code of Conduct:

7. Students are responsible to actively support a bully-free learning environment at SMS.

– What is bullying?

– What is the difference between bullying and conflict?

Dress Code:

o Hats are to be removed when entering the building.

o Shirts that expose the midriff or undergarments, spaghetti straps, strapless tops are not for school.

o Respectable shirts with appropriate logos/language.

o Indoor shoes in the gym.o No winter boots in class.o These rules apply at dances

as well!

Prohibited at SMS:

• No tobacco/vapes

• No lighters

• No illegal drugs or alcohol

• No energy drink

• No scented deodorant or perfumes

• No peanuts

Emergency Procedures

Fire Drills:

We need someone to be in charge of closing the windows.

We also need someone to make sure the door is shut behind us.

Fire drills during class time:

1. Line up at the door.

2. Exit the room to the right.

3. Go down the stairs and out the side door.

4. When you get outside, follow your teacher around the parking lot to 8C’s assigned meeting place.

5. Line up and listen for roll call.

Fire drills during break or noon:

1. Leave the building immediately.

2. Make your way, quickly, to your class meeting spot.

3. Homeroom teachers will meet you there.

4. Line up and listen for roll call.

Let’s Practice

Internal Lockdown:

1. When an internal lockdown is called, the curtains are closed, the door is locked and covered with the chart paper by the door.

2. Everyone in the room will gather against the wall in the back corner away from the door. There can be absolutely no noise! An intruder may be in the hallway.

3. Wait patiently for the “all clear” to be sounded.

• Remember, no cell phones are to be used during a lockdown!

External Lockdown:

1. When an external lockdown is called, the curtains are closed, the door is locked and covered with the chart paper by the door.

2. Everyone in the room will gather against the wall underneath the windows.

3. There can be absolutely no noise!

4. Wait patiently for the “all clear” to be sounded.

• Remember, no cell phones are to be used during a lockdown!

Lockdown:

If you are in the hallway or in the bathroom when a lockdown in called, go to the nearest classroom and wait there.

Don’t risk running back to your homeroom.

Let’s Practice

SMS Behaviour Matrix

Respect, Responsibility, Reach Higher

In the classroom:

Be Responsible and Prepared

• Follow adult instructions• Be in your seat• Be on time• Bring your stuff (Agenda, pen/pencil, LA binder,

homework)• Keep work area tidy• Be engaged• Use technology as allowed by teacher

Be Respectful • Talk when it’s time• Include others• Speak kindly• Use good manners• Respect personal space

Reach Higher • Help others• Participate• “Build up” others

In the hallway:

Be Responsible and Prepared

• Walk on the right• Use indoor voice• Keep hallways tidy (pick up what you drop)• Use hall pass during class time

Be Respectful • Quiet voice• Respect personal space• Use “school cool” language• Hands and feel to self• Make room for others to pass

Reach Higher • Offer help to another person• Pick up what others drop

*Make sure you wait outside of your destination until you are given permission to enter.

In the cafeteria:

Be Responsible and Prepared

• Remain seated• Keep cafeteria tidy• Use indoor voice• Push in chairs• Be polite to cafeteria staff• Use vending machines responsibly• After 12:05, stay where you are at until lunch is over

Be Respectful • Clean up garbage• Respect personal space• Use “school-cool” language• Respect line up

Reach Higher • Help clean up• Thank cafeteria staff• Sit with someone who is alone

In the bus line:

Be Responsible and Prepared

• Follow adult instructions• Be on time• Remain in your bus line (stay on the curb)• Walk to your bus in single file

Be Respectful • Respect personal space• Use “school-cool” language• Keep hands and feet to yourself

Reach Higher • Let someone else go first• Greet and thank your driver

On the school grounds:

Be Responsible and Prepared

• Play safely• Stay within school boundaries• Take care of equipment• Return borrowed equipment

Be Respectful • Be kind• Respect personal space• Use “school-cool” language• Keep hands and feet to yourself

Reach Higher • Include others• Return equipment someone else has forgotten

On the school grounds:

o You must stay within the play ground boundaries.

o Food is not permitted outside.

During assemblies:

Be Responsible and Prepared

• Cell phones stay in your locker

Be Respectful • Pay attention to the presenter• Be serious if the topic is serious• Keep hands and feet to yourself

Reach Higher • Be part of the fun

SMS Dances:

• Dances are for SMS students only.

• Students must be present at school the day of the dance in order to attend.

• All school work must be up to date and library books returned.

• Follow the SMS Code of Conduct and the SMS dress code.

SMS Dances:

September 28 February 22

October 26 March 22

December 21 April 26

January 25 June 14

My Classroom Expectations

Rule One:

Follow directions quickly the first time they are

given.

o Starting assignments

o Passing out papers

o Submitting homework

o Lining up

Rule Two:

Use appropriate language.

o No put downs, teasing, or other inappropriate words.

Rule Three:

Raise your hand for permission to speak or get my

attention.

o Interruptions waste time, cause distraction, and show disrespect.

o If you have a question or need my help, stay in your seat and I will come to you.

Rule Four:

Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

Not following the rules results in:1. A warning

2. Noon hour reflection

3. A phone call home

4. A trip to the office

Are there any other rules we should add to this list?

Electronics:

Cell phones are not to be used during class time.

o They can be used in the morning, at break, at noon, and after school.

o Phones are to be left in your locker during assemblies.

o Take advantage of my cell phone charging station by my desk to charge your phone while you aren’t using it.

Electronics:

Taking pictures, audio, or video recordings

without the person’s permission and posting on the internet violates Canadian privacy laws and may be investigated by the RCMP.

Leaving class:

In order to leave any classroom for any reason, you must have permission first.

1. Bring your agenda to the teacher or EA with the time and reason for leaving already written in your book.

2. The teacher or EA will sign their initials.

3. Sign out by the door.

4. Leave and return quietly.

Any staff member may ask to see your agenda if you are in the hallway during class time.

Language Arts

For LA you will need:

1. A small binder or duotang

2. Loose leaf

3. A pen or pencil

4. Your agenda

5. A book to read every day

The classroom library:

All books stay in the classroom unless they have been signed out.

Please remember these are my books that I have paid for with my money. Please treat them carefully so we can all enjoy them.

Grade 8 LA:

• Poetry

• OCA

• Descriptive and explanatory report

• Spelling

• Grammar

• Reading comprehension

• Genre studies

• Short stories

• Novel study

• Literature circles

Next year, in grade 9, you will write the ELPA(English Language Proficiency Assessment).

This is a reading comprehension assessment that you need to pass in order to graduate high school.

Starting class:

o Sit down at your assigned seat and check the front board for messages or the schedule for the period.

o Read silently until I give you the cue we are ready to begin.

If you need help:

o Quietly ask the person beside you.

o Raise your hand and wait for me or an EA to come to you.

o I’m always here at noon hour.

o Don’t expect your teachers and EAs to do your work for you!

When you are finished:

Work on other assignments or read a book.

If you’re absent:

YOU are responsible for any work you have missed while you were away. If you miss a test, it is up to you to speak with me about rescheduling it.

If you’re absent:

My homework site is a very useful way to keep track of what you’ve missed while you’ve been away.

Homework:

You will have LA homework in grade 8.

If homework isn’t completed, you will stay in a noon do the missed work and receive a late deduction.

Homework is also assigned if class time is wasted. If you don’t finish something during LA, I expect it to be completed by next class.

Homework Site:

Every week I post a brief summary of what we are doing in class on my homework page along with any of the notes we have gone over or dates of upcoming assignments.

Please use the site to your advantage!

Class Assignments:

You will use MLA format for all assignments to be passed in.

Submitting Work:

All work to be passed in for marks must go in the blue homework basket located near my desk.

If an assignment goes missing because you did not place it in the basket, it will be your responsibility to make up that work.

Dismissal:

The teacher dismisses the class, not the bell. Stay in your seats until you are given the cue to leave.

When the bell rings at the end of class, pack up your things and push your chairs in.

Don’t worry, we’ll practice until we get them right 100% of the time.

Those are my expectations.

Take this time to complete the student survey