Principal Laurie Francis Asst. Principal Adam Camacho Counselors Toni Zurcher Karen Infantino

Introduction - Administration - Counseling - Why middle school? Nuts & Bolts - Dress Code - Traffic - Communications - Lunch Accounts Use of Technology/Electronic Devices - Policy change Discipline - Academic Honesty - Fact vs. Legend Counseling: - Student success - Tips for parents - Parent Portal

Why Middle School? CDE – Taking Center Stage, 2000 Middle Schools: - student centered - instruction: standards based, relevant - effectively connect and communicate - foster fitness - address developmental needs/empower students - staff expertise in adolescent development

Brain shift: concrete to abstract thinking Learning connections to the real world Biological clock shifts Sleep is vital Adolescents use different part of the brain to

interpret information = misinterpreting what an adult says (sound familiar?)

Frontal lobe is under construction = judgment vs. impulse control

Hormones trigger impulse behavior

Dress Code for CVMS is clearly spelled out in the Student Agenda (please review with your student)

Students may be required to wear a “loaner” for the day or have proper attire sent to school

Progressive Discipline will be enforced for dress code violations

Traffic/pick up & drop off: ◦ Traffic is congested on Mykonos Lane between 8:10

a.m. – 8:30 a.m. and again between 2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. (Strongly consider picking up your student after 3:15 PM, if possible)

◦ Four points of entry/exit

1) Mykonos Lane 2) Sidewalk path from Carmel Country Rd. (between The

Heights & Elysian condos).

3) Sidewalk path from Townsgate Dr. next to Community Center & then up ramp to black top

4) Sidewalk path from Pell Pl. ◦ We highly encourage students to come to school in

a way other than a car: Bus (for passes and routes, visit www.sduhsd.net) Drop off blocks away from school and walk Bike Please note: Skateboards are no allowed on campus ◦ If you DO drive to campus, be sure to obey traffic

laws

Communicating with Teachers & Counselors:

• E-mail addresses and phone extensions can be found on the school’s webpage • Encourage your student to communicate with teachers before you become involved (“advocating skills”) • Always make an appointment with a teacher if you want to meet with him/her. Please do not show up unannounced & expect to meet with a teacher or counselor. • Always check in at the front office before going anywhere on campus

Deficiency Notices: Only for D/F grades at 5-week point of each quarter

Quarterly Progress Reports: Weeks 9 & 27 Semester Report Cards: All students receive

grades for all classes; weeks 18 in Jan. & 36 in June

All grade reports will be posted online ONLY this school year (paperless)

Online Lunch Account (PayPams) - allows parents to create a lunch account,

fund account, monitor balance & view purchases (www.paypams.com)

School-based Lunch Account - parents can use cash or check to fund

account - no online access with PCS account - PCS lunch account form can be turned in to office at any time

i-Pods/Pads, Tablets, Cell Phones, Electronic Devices, etc. 67% of CA Middle Schools / High Schools do NOT allow mobile devices in class. 39 % of California students feel that there are too many technology rules. My school is doing a good job using technology to enhance student achievement. 18% vs. 62%

Source: Project Tomorrow www.tomorrow.org

Electronic Devices continued….

Are we fighting the wrong fight? We believe we are! General Rule:

ALL electronic devices MUST be off & put away prior to entering each classroom. Electronic device usage will be guided by each teacher in his/her respective classroom and will be used for instructional purposes only.

Academic Honesty for SDUHSD is clearly spelled out on page in Student Agenda (please review with your student)

Honest behavior is an expectation for all CVMS students

Academic Dishonesty is not tolerated; this

includes ALL classes (PE not an exception)

An honest look at suspension statistics… 2010-11 School Year: In-House Suspensions – 24 Formal Suspensions - 31 * 73% were repeat offenders Violations included: theft, harassment,

alcohol/drug possession, dangerous objects, and fights.

Bullying is defined as “an act of repeated aggressive behavior with the intention to hurt another person physically, mentally or emotionally”

Contact an administrator immediately if you believe your student may be a victim of bullying & not simply typical middle-school “drama”

Bullying is NOT tolerated on our campus and will be dealt with swiftly, directly, and fairly

Substance 7th Grade Carmel Valley

7th Grade San Diego County

Tobacco 97% 94%

Alcohol 98% 90%

Marijuana 97% 93%

Substance 7th Grade Carmel Valley

7th Grade San Diego

County Tobacco 2% 17%

Alcohol 13% 23%

Marijuana 2.5% 9%

Inhalants 7% 12%

Substance 7th Grade Carmel Valley

Tobacco 24%

Alcohol 28%

Marijuana 13%

Discuss Academic Expectations Utilize Agenda Book Your student’s academic responsibilities Monitor & Support Academic Progress Consistent attendance and joining

extracurricular activities promote academic success

Scheduling specific study/academic time Check agenda for assignments & help

prioritize assignments Start HW on night it is assigned Planning ahead for upcoming tests & projects

(long-term planning) Let your student work independently

Check assignments for completion; avoid excessive revision

Be sure all completed work/supplies are in student’s notebooks & backpack

Utilize Parent Portal & teacher email Have student complete HW in a relaxing

environment without distractions

Teachers have huge caseloads (approx. 170 students); be proactive in monitoring student’s progress

Utilize teacher webpages for clarification Utilize Parent Portal every couple weeks to

monitor student grades If student begins to have trouble, contact

teacher Discuss progress with student on regular

basis; have student also self-monitor his/her progress

Allows you to check student course schedule, grades, assignments, etc.

Can be accessed through the “Parent Portal” link on webpage (www.sduhsd.net/cv)

New families to receive a letter in Sept. with username/password/directions

Support your student in becoming a self-advocate as much as possible

Refrain from doing work for your child Help student see the connection between

actions (or inaction) & positive or negative consequences of their actions (or inaction)

Tutoring (teacher specific; school wide; Boys/Girls Club; Private Tutoring)

HW Support Program (space is limited; designed for students who do not have support at home; doesn’t begin until October)

Intervention/Support Classes (Before School Enrichment for Lang. Arts/Math; designed for students basic or below on CST)

Counselors (assist students with helping find appropriate academic, social, emotional support)

Class/Teacher Changes * Student schedules are available in PAC first day at 7:50am * See counselor for needed schedule changes; no changes can be made after the 4th week of school * No teacher changes based upon student/parent preference or so students can be with friends

Encourage your student to join clubs, sports (through the Boys & Girls Club), music, drama, study buddies, other campus activities, etc.)

Club Day is scheduled for Friday, September. 16th at lunch!

Studies show that students who are connected to school generally do better academically & socially than those who are not

The teenage years can be a roller-coaster ride for both parents and teens.

All pre-adolescents experience changes to one degree or another. ◦ Their bodies and hormones are changing ◦ Intellectual development is not complete

Here are a few things to expect and some ideas on how to continue to love and support this

new person in your household.

They are anxious They do not want to be different They are “dying of embarrassment” on a regular basis!

Focus on their strengths Empathize

Personal power vs. Parental

control To avoid battles - allow safe

choices

Remember, feelings are not right or wrong Parent calmness counters teen emotionality Don’t let your teen’s moods rule your moods

Their minds are preoccupied with issues Encourage them to keep their agenda

updated, and help them keep their room clean by working with them

Avoid nagging – but expect to help! Impose a scheduled time for certain tasks,

including homework Homework time ends with packing the

backpack and planning for the next day

Needing to belong is a priority Being seen in the company of your parents is not

cool Your child needs to be with peers, but only in a

supervised environment Teens are often impulsive and subject to “group

think” Role-play possible situations with your teen, and

talk about choices and ways to get out of potentially dangerous situations

In an effort to foster a strong self-image, many parents devote

themselves to protecting their children from any situation or experience

which may be difficult, upsetting or stressful. However, over-protection may actually handicap your child’s confidence. Overcoming obstacles

gives children confidence and a sense of their own abilities.

One way to achieve this is learning to

be an active listener Validate their reality and separateness

as a person Clarify and restate, reflect feelings,

summarize

Clearly communicate your expectations Talk to your child about possible issues Get to know your child’s friends and their

families Supervise and structure their free time Seize the teachable moments

Please refer to the Counseling link on the CVMS website for more articles and information. Please contact us if you have questions or want a bit of help!

Toni Zurcher A-K x3009 Karen Infantino L-Z x3007