Minisink Valley Middle School
STUDENT SUPPORT PARENT NIGHT
INTRODUCTIONS
Mr. Michael Giardina, Middle School Principal
 Mr. Michael Larsen, Assistant Principal
 Mr. Stephen Caldwell, Assistant Principal
 Mrs. JoAnn Westby, Guidance Counselor
 Mrs. Alison Miller, Teacher & Special Education
Department Chair
 Mrs. Jamie Gallo, Teacher
 Mrs. Fran Williams, Teacher

TONIGHT’S AGENDA
Goals for a Successful Student
 Overview of English/Language Arts Program
 Overview of Mathematics Program
 How Can I Help My Child?
 PBIS
 Parent Survey
 Open Forum/Questions

GOALS FOR A SUCCESSFUL STUDENT
To be a critical reader, writer, and thinker
 To be a problem solver
 Be a person who can collaborate with others
 Be an active learner
 Be a person who can communicate effectively

And most of all…
feel happy and supported in the
school environment!
OVERVIEW OF
ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS PROGRAM

Find grade level modules and sample student
work at www.engageny.org

Skills Required:
 Close
Reading
 Annotating
 Context
Clues
 Flagging (Purpose for Reading)
 Citing
Evidence (Quotes)
 Explain and Develop Written Responses
SAMPLE WORK:
ANNOTATING & CONTEXT CLUES
SAMPLE WORK:
CITING EVIDENCE IN WRITTEN RESPONSES
How do Percy’s experiences in Chapter 8 align with the hero’s journey? After reading the
excerpts from Chapter 8 of The Lightning Thief and “The Hero’s Journey,” write a constructed
response that begins with a short summary of the beginning of Chapter 8. Then focus on one
experience in The Lightning Thief and show how Percy’s experience aligns to a stage in “The
Hero’s Journey.” Conclude by describing what we can learn about Percy as a hero from his
response to a challenge he faces. Use evidence from both texts to support your response.
Focus on one experience in The Lightning Thief, and show how that experience aligns to “The
Hero’s Journey.”

In Chapter 8, Percy has begun to settle into Camp Half-Blood and into a routine.
However, he is still struggling with the loss of his mother and he is having a hard time
figuring out his talents. One experience in Chapter 8 that shows Percy on a hero’s
journey is his coming to a new setting. In The Lightning Thief, it says, “Despite all that, I
liked camp. I got used to the morning fog over the beach, the smell of hot strawberry
fields in the afternoon, even the weird noises of monsters in the woods at night.” This
aligns to the Entering the Unknown stage of the hero’s journey. In “The Hero’s Journey,”
it says, “the heroes enter a world they have never experienced before. It might be filled
with supernatural creatures, breathtaking sights, and the constant threat of death.”
Percy is surrounded by supernatural creatures like monsters and cool sights like the
field of strawberries. And he’s definitely scared he is going to die. Percy’s response to
this challenge shows that he is a hero who can adapt to new and difficult challenges.
OVERVIEW OF MATHEMATICS PROGRAM

www.engageny.org
Notes & Examples
 Student Worksheets
 Homework


Skills Required:
Understanding of Vocabulary
 Critical Reading
 Explanation of Answers
 Showing All Steps

SAMPLE WORK:
MULTI-STEP MATH PROBLEM
Kay’s mother taught her how to make handmade ornaments to sell at a craft fair. Kay rented a table at the fair for $30 and set up her work station.
Each ornament that she makes costs approximately $2.50 for materials. She sells each ornament for $6.00.
If x represents the quantity of ornaments sold at the craft fair, which of the following expressions would represent Kay’s profit? (Circle all choices
that apply.)
A.
B. Kay does not want to lose money on her business. Her mother told her she needs to sell enough ornaments to at least cover her expenses
(costs for materials and table rental). Kay figures that if she sells 8 ornaments, she covers her expenses and does not lose any money. Do you agree?
Explain and show work to support your answer.
C. Kay feels that if she earns a profit of $40.00 at this craft fair, her business will be successful enough to attend other craft fairs. How many
ornaments does she have to sell to earn a $40.00 profit? Write and solve an equation; then explain how the steps and operations used in your
algebraic s solution compare to an arithmetic solution.
HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD?

www.minsink.com

District Tab
Sakai
 Parent Portal


Middle School Tab
Faculty/Staff E-mail & Voicemail
 Teacher Web Pages
 Common Core Information & Resources
 Calendar
 Library Resources




www.khanacademy.org
www.learnzillion.com
Student Planner
STEPS TO TAKE IF YOUR
CHILD NEEDS SUPPORT

Contact Individual Teachers
 Ex:
fwilliams@minisink.com
 Directory
 Voicemail Extensions

Guidance (355-5210)
 Julie
Mott A-Gn
 Michele Semco Go-Nz
 JoAnn Westby O-Z
SUPPORT FROM GUIDANCE
Organization Workshop (Grade 6)
 Locker Clean-Outs
 Individual Organization Strategy Meetings
 Planner Usage
 Peer Tutoring
 Get Up & Go Program
 Parent Portal

MV3 & PBIS

Middle School P.B.I.S. efforts started in the Spring of 2012 to
help provide students with a multi-tiered system to help
promote and acknowledge positive and desired behaviors.

We are implementing this program to foster a happy, healthy,
and safe environment for our entire student population.
PARENT SURVEY

Please take a few moments to complete a follow-up
survey by going to our Middle School Homepage:
Survey link
Materials link
OPEN FORUM/QUESTIONS