Gillette Road Middle School

Fifth Grade Orientation

May 9, 2012

7:00 P.M.

Administration

Mrs. Barbara Poole

Building Principal & House II Principal

Mr. David Cordone

House I Principal

Mrs. Nikki Slater

House III Principal

The Middle School Child

While your child is a middle school aged student, you can expect to see many developmental changes.

About Our “House” System

Gillette Road Middle School is divided into four houses

•Houses I, II and III consist of two or three interdisciplinaryteams for grades 5 & 6, and one interdisciplinary teamfor grade 7.

•House IV consists of all special area teachers (music,art, physical education, technology, health, home careersand LOTE (languages other than English)

Benefits of the House System

•Provides a small school experience in a large school

•Simplifies the transitional experience for students from one grade to the next

• Allows for increased communication between your child’s team of teachers

•Allows teachers of the same interdisciplinary team to be near their team members

Interdisciplinary Teams

Each interdisciplinary team consists of two or three teachers.

Students will have at least one class with each of the teachers on a team.

Each team determines who will teach each of the core areas for the team

Schedule for 2013-2014

Each 5th grade student will receive 80 minutes of instruction in ELA and math per day

Each fifth grade student will receive the equivalent of 40 minutes of social studies and science per day

The Benefits of a Team Approach

Teachers can focus more intensely as they make instructional plans for fewer content areas.

Students experience a variety of teaching styles.

Teaming allows students a smoother transition to the educational experience of the secondary level.

House I Fifth Grade Team

Ms. Barrett Mrs. Mezzo

House I Fifth Grade Team

Mrs. Gower Mr. Moran Mrs. Roffo

House II Fifth Grade Team

Mrs. Conners Mrs. Tackley Mrs. Wasiluk

House II Fifth Grade Team

Mrs. Kadlecik & Mrs. Bertone

House III Fifth Grade Team

Mrs. Conese Mrs. Kosakowski Mrs. Harris Mrs. Bradt

House III Fifth Grade

Mr. Downs Mrs. M. Coon

How will my child be placed?

Students are grouped randomly and heterogeneously into classes

It is not possible to request a teacher or a house

Gillette Publications

There are numerous ways we at Gillette communicate with our parents, but we have transitioned to a “paperless” approach. A limited number of hard copies will be available in the main office for each of the following publications:

Gillette’s Student-Parent Handbook

This publication provides parents and students with information from Board policies like the Code of Conduct to report card dates and information on school procedures at Gillette

The Student Agenda

This booklet is an organization tool provided by the District for each student to record their daily assignments and it is a vehicle which teachers may communicate to parents

“What’s Up Gillette?”

This booklet contains a listing of all of the extracurricular activities available to students at Gillette. Some are one-time events, while others may be offered for specified period of time.

Monthly Newsletter

Gillette has a monthly newsletter with a message from our building principal and highlights for upcoming events to be held.Our monthly newsletter is available on line.

School Hours & Transportation

School begins at 8:00 AM and the last class ends at 2:40 PM each day

There are two bus line-ups at Gillette dropping off in the AM and picking up students in the PM

Late busses for after school clubs and activities pick students up at 4:10 PM (there are six area busses)

Gillette’s Friendly Support Staff!

Other staff members who make Gillette a great place to

learn and to grow!

Our Security Guard

Mrs. Colunio

Sign-in/Sign-out

Like all Schools in our district, Gillette has a sign-in and sign-out procedure for students. Parents are asked to sign into the building and report to the attendance office with their child when students arrive late. When picked up early, parents are required to show proper ID to our staff

in the Attendance Office. To expedite the process, parents are encouraged to send a note ahead of time.

Parents are always welcome to

our building, but arrangements to visit a classroom must be made with the teacher in advance

» .» .

Office Staff

Ms. Sweeting Mrs. Davern

Our School Resource Officer

Deputy Katie Hayes (Shared with Roxboro Road Middle

School)

Office Staff

Mrs. Brown Mrs. DiRoma

Attendance Office

Mrs. Setter

Health Office

Mrs. Copani Mrs. Myers

Student Support Services

Mrs. Waters Mrs. Ormsbee Ms. Burrows

What support services are offered?

Newcomers groups Groups that support social skill

development Peer-to-Peer Program with our elementary

schools Crisis Intervention Team

Resource Teachers

Mrs. Mulvihill Mrs. Howieson Mrs. Kopp Mrs. MacKenzie

5th & 6th Grade Choruses

All interested students may participate with parent permission

Chorus will meet after school from 3:00-4:10 P.M. There is a minimum of two night performances, Festival of

the Arts show, and some assemblies Students who participate in chorus are also eligible to

participate in the Show Chorus for the annual musical

Instrumental Music

Orchestra Students who perform at a

certain level are allowed to participate.

Meets Mondays & Wednesdays until 3:15 P.M. (grades 5 & 6)

7th grade meets during the school day

Lessons offered through rotating schedule

Students must make up work for classes missed

Orchestra students receive a grade

Band Students who perform at a

certain level are allowed to participate.

Meets Tuesdays & Thursdays until 3:15 P.M. (grades 5 & 6)

7th grade meets during the school day

Lessons are offered through rotating schedule

Students must make up work for classes missed

Band students receive a grade

Instrumental Music Teachers

Mr. Liccione Mr. Turner Ms. Stephenson

Art

– Mr. Heidemann

Physical Education

Mr. Aldrich Ms. Kapelewski Mr. Merrick

Media Center

Mrs. Watson, our Library/Media Specialist invites you to stop by our new Media Center.

Does Gillette have an active parent group?

The Officers for the 2013-2014 school year are:

President:

Co-Vice President:

Secretary:

Treasurer:

Gillette has a very active PTG! It will meet one Monday of every-other-month at 6:30 P.M. Please refer to the monthly newsletter.

Prohibited Items

Consistent with our Code of Conduct, there are some items that are not allowed in school. These items tend to be distracting to the learning process, and they also become items that are stolen from time-to-time. Some of these items are:

I-Pods, CD players, Cameras, and cell phones

Summer Expectations

The reading list for 5th grade will be posted on the website

A letter indicating a student’s placement will be mailed to parents the third week of August

A general supply list will posted on our website

Questions???

Before we take you on a tour of Gillette, can we answer any

questions?

Thank You

On behalf of the Gillette Staff, we thank you for coming this evening. We look forward to sharing a wonderful middle school experience with you and your child.