COMMUNITY HOUSE
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Note cards are for parent questions that arise
during the presentation. We will attempt to
answer as many as we can during this evening. If
your question is not answered, please put your
email on the note card and drop your card in the
basket at the end of the evening.
Congratulations!
You’re A Middle School Student Starting
Today 
Mom and Dad….Stop Worrying….
At CHMS, we are a TEAM. Everyone is
working together to create a successful
experience for your child and you.
Did You Know…
Community House ranks third among ALL Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Schools (second among middle schools) in growth composite.
Community House ranks fifth among all middle schools in the state of
North Carolina for growth composite.
100% of the CHMS teachers met or exceeded growth expectations on
all state assessments.
Community House has more students identified for the Duke TIP
program than any other school in the state.
Community House has award-winning Fine Arts, Chess, OM, Math
Counts and Science-Olympiad programs.
Student Demographics
 1658 Students
 Approx. 16% ED
 62.5 % White
 13.4 % African American
 10.6 % Hispanic
 14.4% Asian
Growing daily…..
A Current Day at CHMS
9:15am – 4:15pm
**Before and After-School will have programs at CHMS
 Arrival - Do not drop off prior to 8:45am
 Lockers
 First Block – Academics - tardy if not seated in
class at 9:15am
 Second Block – Academics
 Lunch
 Third Block – Core
 Fourth Block - Electives
 Enrichment**
**We are currently exploring scheduling options with our
SLT and it is possible that there will be adjustments
BLOCK SCHEDULE
 Students take 4 core classes per year:
Language Arts, Math, Science & Social
Studies.
 Students take 4 semesters of electives per
year. They rotate on an A-Day/B-Day
basis. All students take PE/Health for a
semester.
CHMS Is So Big…Will My
Child Get Support?
 Team/Community
Approach
 Guidance Counselors
 Grade Level
Administrators
 Ambassadors
 Welcome Week
 Tutoring
CHMS Is So Big…Will My
Child Have Fun?
 Athletic Events **
 Academic
Competitions
 Middle School
Madness (YMCA)
 Dances
 Team Spirit Week
 Grade Level
Celebrations
 Club Opportunities
Some Current Clubs at CHMS
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Art Club-Ms. Bell
Battle of the Books – Mrs. Landis, Mrs. Wormick
Beta Club – Alison Drake
Blanket Blessings- Mrs. Carey
Cavalier Crusaders- Christy Babao
Chess Club – Parent – Deborah Reicht – scomfortzone@lycos.com
First Priority- Mrs. Dollinger
Magic the Gathering-Mrs. Dollinger
Math Counts – Lance Kanter
National Academic League – Bruce Schulman
National Junior Honor Society – Christy Babao (students are extended invitations after 2 nd quarter of
7th grade, please see wiki link on CHMS website for more information)
Odyssey of the Mind – Parents
Programming Club – Keith Bennett
Running Club – Abbey Fernengel
Rugby Club – Jeff Smith
Sack Attack- Mr. Mathew
Science Olympiad – Dana Frank
Lego Robotics Club – Mrs. Watkins
WCHM- Robin Williams
Writing Club-Ms. Howard
CHMS Is So Big...Will My
Child Be Safe?
 CSA and SRO monitor/circulate the halls and villas
 Grade Level Hallways
 All staff and students are required to wear ID badges
 Visible Administrators
 Full time Nurse and 3 Trained First Responders
 All Visitors Must Sign In and Receive a Photo Badge
 Parents Must Show ID when Picking Up a Child
 No tolerance for bullying…including cyber-bullying
Let’s Talk About Cyber-Behavior
 One of our biggest behavior challenges
results from Social Media. Mom and dad,
are you familiar with:
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Twitter
Instagram and Snapchat
KIK
Ask.fm
Vine
**We will host Teens and Technology sessions in the fall. Your
attendance is highly recommended
Will the Children Be Held to
High Behavior Standards?
 School-Wide Discipline Plan – Team Sheets
 Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
enforced consistently
 Dress Code
 Cell Phone/Electronics Policy** (BYOT)
 Tardy Policy
 No Exceptions
CHMS Is So Big…How Will I
Know What Is Going On?
 Every Friday, we publish a newsletter
highlighting the events in our school – The
Community House Courier
 It will be emailed to you. Sign up for our
listserv now…Link on the Website (School
Resources…CHMS Courier Sign Up). You
can begin getting these sent to you NOW 
 All teachers are required to have a webpage
where class information is updated weekly.
Ambassadors
Questions from Rising 6th graders answered
by our current 8th grade Ambassadors…
Let’s Get to the Good Stuff…and
“Debunk” some Myths
 How do I get in Honors? I heard it is only EOG score?
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That means my child is tracked beginning in 6th grade!
But my child is TD…he/she should be in a separate class.
My 5th grade teacher did not recommend Honors and we
need to meet about this.
I heard my child must be in Honors so he’s not behind in
high school math.
I don’t want my child in class with “those kinds of kids.”
I heard you don’t want to get Ms. So and So…
I heard you don’t always get the electives you want.
How Do I Select Academic Courses?
All courses follow the Common Core State Standards (http://www.corestandards.org/)
 Levels of Math -All students will follow the Common Core Standards as
this curriculum is the foundation for all higher level courses.
– Honors Math 6 – This course will follow the CCSS for 6th and 7th grade
standards. Strong mathematical literacy and fluency is a pre-requisite as
the pacing will be more rapid than the standard course, allowing
acceleration into 7th grade content.
– Math 6 – This course will follow the CCSS, use a variety of resources
and texts to support the curriculum, and supplement as needed based on
individual progress within the classroom.
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The new standards require a large amount of critical thinking, mathematical reasoning and
written explanation of conceptual understanding.
If your child struggles with reading comprehension and written expression, you may want to
consider Math 6 as the pacing will provide ample time for your child to build on these skills.
Schedule changes can rarely be accommodated once the school year begins.
See handout for further information on Math trajectory.
How Do I Select Academic
Courses?
 Language Arts
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All of our language arts classes use the full Pre-AP SpringBoard curriculum to
supplement the CCSS. Within this program, individual student needs are targeted
through changes in content, process and/or product. For example, reading material is
differentiated based upon each student’s scale score (EOG) and lexile level.
Additionally, all students are immersed in a comprehensive vocabulary program
grounded in the study of Greek and Latin roots as they apply to an overall understanding
of language. This program is also differentiated according to student need and
readiness. All language arts classes are taught at an honors level with the understanding
that a portion of our students may need additional support throughout the school year.
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The courses with the “Honors” title use the top tier of lexile levels when assigning
novels and other texts. While there is some variance within these tiers, students in an
Honors LA course will be assigned more complex and challenging texts that typically
fall in the 1000+ lexile range. Please be aware that this can sometimes bring increased
maturity in themes**
How Do I Choose Honors or
Standard?
 Use the handout of course descriptions.
 Consider your child’s standardized test scores, classroom
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performance, and work ethic.
Talk with your child’s current teacher…what does he/she
see on a daily basis in the classroom?
Parent will have final decision as we are using open access
philosophy…use the data…set your child on the right path.
Signature on the registration card is acknowledgement of
the course you desire and your understanding that there
will be no schedule changes.
**We will permit changes in June should your EOG
data indicate the need for a different level. Please
email Ms. Brooks if this is the case.
How Do I Select Academic
Courses?
 All Students take Science and Social Studies
which are NOT leveled. Teachers differentiate
within the classroom to meet individual needs for
acceleration/remediation. These two courses
generally provide the biggest “discomfort” for 6th
grade students during the first grading period.
 All Students take Health/PE for one semester.
Students must wear CHMS gym uniform for PE
which is purchased through the Athletic Booster
Club in August.
How Do I Select Electives?
 You may select 3 semesters of electives (PE
is the 4th).
 You may either choose 3 semester courses
OR one year and one semester course.
– If your child wants Band or Orchestra, he/she will select that plus
ONE other course
– If your child DOES NOT want Band/Orchestra, he/she will choose
three semester courses.
– Must complete an Instrument Permission Form
– No guarantees of instrument
– All music students will meet with the band or orchestra teacher
before school begins for instrument assignment purposes
How Do I Select Electives?
 Art Wheels
– One Wheel is 9 weeks of Dance and 9 weeks of
Chorus (performing arts)
– Other Wheel is 9 weeks of Drama and 9 weeks
of Art (visual arts)
– In 7th and 8th grades, these courses are all separate. The
wheel gives them a chance to explore a little of everything
to see what they enjoy
– A child may take BOTH arts wheels; this would equal two
choices
How Do I Select Electives?
 Foreign Language Wheel
– This course is exploratory and is 9 weeks of
Spanish and 9 weeks of French.
– It is NOT a pre-requisite for the 7/8 grade
course nor does it guarantee a seat in 7/8 grade
language.
– Foreign Language is NOT a middle school
necessity. **There are implications for taking
MS foreign language.
How Do I Select Electives?
 Computer Apps I will focus on Word Processing and Digital Literacy
 Exploring Careers STEM will look at careers within the science,
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technology, engineering and math fields. Each of these Computer
courses may only be taken ONCE in MS.
Journalism will explore creative writing, news writing and will assist
in publishing a school newspaper
Be certain to select alternate choices as elective placement is not
guaranteed.
**All classes subject to change based on staffing - 2014/2015 Budget
constraints.
Registration cards due March 5. Select carefully as we do not do
schedule changes. We also do not take teacher requests.
Questions About the Process??
 For questions specific to your child, please
use the note cards and include your name
and contact information and someone will
be in touch with you soon.
 We will post this presentation on our web
site.
A Few Last Notes…
T dap Immunization
There will be another Open House in the summer
where you will get to meet your teachers, learn
more specifics, buy PE uniforms and required
readings…school spirit wear 
Be looking for summer assignments…they are
required!
Booster club/PTO
Informal Touring
WELCOME TO
COMMUNITY HOUSE
MIDDLE SCHOOL
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION IS
OUR PRIMARY FOCUS
We Are Glad You Are Part Of Our
Team!