Transitioning to Middle School:
Making the Move Fun For All!
Sarah Armstrong
Traci Curry
Auburn City Schools
J. F. Drake Middle School
655 Spencer Avenue
Auburn, Alabama 36830
334-887-1940
On your handout…
Make a list of the three major
concerns, fears, challenges that
parents often have as children
make the transition from 5th to 6th
grade (for most, elementary to
middle school).
WELCOME TO
“CAMP DRAKE MIDDLE”
How did we get here?
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J. F. Drake Middle School
◦ Over 1000 students in 6th-7th grades
◦ 500+ sixth graders all coming from six
different neighborhood elementary
schools
◦ Location of Drake is intimidating to many
◦ Parental concerns related to the “Big Bad
Middle School”, new friends from other
schools, lack of familiarity with staff, etc.
◦ We needed a way to stop the fears before
they escalated through the summer
months.
Middle School:
The Uncharted Territory
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You must start planning for
orientation early!
Principal meets with all 5th
graders in the spring
5th grade parents are invited to
attend last PTA meeting of the
year
5th grade students visit and tour
each spring
5th graders are notified of their
team placement on the last day
of school!
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Their specific Camp DMS dates are included on their team
notification
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Test scores are not back by then – homeroom lists,
advanced math placement information not available
The hurdles in the beginning?
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Are our teachers paid to be there in the
summer for this afternoon?
◦ Dates are announced early – this year we were
given 2011 Camp DMS dates on the first day of
school in 2010.
◦ PTA luncheon
Do you ever have teachers refuse to
attend?
 What if they can’t attend?
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Getting Ready for “CAMP”
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Teachers must ALL attend
Teams make plans for students
(Powerpoint, Get to Know You
activities, handouts, etc)
Building clean and as ready as
possible to receive first time
visitors
PUBLICIZE THE EVENT on signs,
websites, flyers
DMS/Team Color shirts
Folders with supply lists, bus
routes, staff information, lunch
account information, etc.
 Pre-made by front office staff, each
team has a color folder for summer
pickup after Camp DMS
H2O bottles/rubber bracelets
Parent volunteers/ Student
volunteers
 ID tags for teachers
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Opening Day 
They (parents and students) tend to arrive early so be
ready!
 Balloons and banners outside, students greeting at
the door
 Selling t-shirts and team merchandise at the door
 Music Playing: We are Family, Celebration, etc.
 Parents and students sit in bleachers in the cafetorium
until program begins
 Student volunteers, teachers, administrators, all
clapping and getting parents and kids excited.
 Brief welcome and a few administrative introductions
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◦ Parents leave with principal for parent presentation
◦ Students leave with teachers and go to rooms
Student Program
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Student Program
◦ Meet teachers
◦ Meet other students
◦ Scavenger hunt to tour the
building
◦ Get familiar with lockers
◦ Supply list and expectations
◦ Meet former team
students and ask questions
•Team building
“Teammates like Me!”
• Turn Toss
• Find Someone Who
• Line ups
Parent Program:
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Parent Program
◦ Request siblings not attend
if possible
◦ JOIN PTA!!
◦ Parents meet parents of
upcoming teammates
and also hear from
parents of former
Panthers for advice
◦ Parent presentation
**attempt to include
anything about which they
may be nervous!
Skills for a Successful Year !
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Use planners
Study Skills
Time Management
Organization
Parent Involvement
Conferences
Teaming: What is it ???
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4 teacher teams
Location of teams
Common planning
Common activities
Team parent meetings
Family and “home
base” within the
larger school
Teaming to Us…
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Students have a “home” = they are plugged
in and connected to a group
-T-Shirts
-Celebrations
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Team Spirit
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Bonds
-Pep Rallies
-Home Room Activities
– Teacher/Teacher
– Students/Teacher
– Student/Student
– Parent/Teacher
Teaming to Us…
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Academic Success
Thematic Units
Collaboration:
– Curriculum
– Team Meetings
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Team notebooks help with
documentation
Team leaders are link from
administration to the team
– Grade Level Meetings
– Faculty Meetings
(cont.)
Team Pride
Dress for Success!
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School clothes must
be appropriate
No skin
No sagging pants
Fingertip length
shorts/skirts for girls
When in doubt don’t
wear it
Parents WILL BE
called for new
clothes
LOCKERS
•Purchase lockers and
practice (throughout
summer even!)
•May have locker
mirrors, magnets,
shelves, organizers
•No stickers!!!
•Protect your
combination!!!
Daily
Rotating
Schedule
Arrival Procedures:
•Arrive between 7:30 – 7:55. School begins at 8:00.
•All students will arrive by bus and car in the front loop of the school.
•7th graders will be dropped off at the new gym. 7th grade parents will loop
through the parking lot of the new gym and proceed out with the other cars in the
front loop when exiting.
• Buses and cars will be in the same loop. Cars DO NOT pass buses. Please be
patient. Wait until they unload and follow out.
•After you proceed through the loop a CPO officer will direct you to turn right or left
at the bottom of the hill
•If you must park and come into the building DO NOT park in the front loop. Park
in the lot by the new gym.
Dismissal Procedures:
Cars waiting for students will be stopped at both entrances of the front loop until all buses
are loaded and off of the school grounds.
Cars will then be allowed to procede up the loop to pick-up their child. Please make sure your
child is looking for you and loads quickly.
We will stop approximately 15 cars. Load the cars and all will leave at once. We will then
bring in 15 more cars, load, leave, and continue the process.
When it is not raining the students will be outside and not under the overhang. They must
be looking for your car.
Both arrival and dismissal will be difficult this year. We need for all car riders to be patient
and know that it will be time consuming. We will do our very best to get the students loaded
quickly and safely. Once our new building is completed, our arrival and dismissal will be fast
and easy.
If we see problems with this procedure we will notify all parents of any changes necessary.
Discipline Procedures
High Expectations
 ACS Policies
 DMS Procedures
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◦ PBS - ROAR
Team Rules
 Strong Discipline
System
 Parental
Involvement
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Challenge:
Making learning fun and exciting for
middle school kids.
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Cooperative Learning
Thematic Units
Field Trips
Activities outside of the
class
Connecting Material
(basketball math)
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Room arrangements
Hands-on instruction
Speakers/visitors
Pacing guides
Curriculum support
Visiting other teachers
Starting the Year off Strong !
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Team Building
Nurturing
Procedures
Tours
Get to know
parents
Lockers/Planners
Teams within
classrooms
Positive parent
contact
 Parent night
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DATES TO REMEMBER:
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6th grade Meet the
Teacher time:
August 11th 1:00 – 3:00
Visit teachers and tour the
building again to make
students comfortable
“one more time”.
 Planners, and detailed
schedules will be given
out 1st day of school –
AUGUST 15th!!!
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Meeting the Challenge!!
Meeting the Challenge!!
Meeting the Challenge!!
ssarmstrong@auburnschools.org
Sarah Armstrong
tcurry@auburnschools.org
Traci Curry
http://www.auburnschools.org/drake/panthers
CEU CODE: PM2
Auburn City Schools
J. F. Drake Middle School
655 Spencer Avenue
Auburn, Alabama 36830
334-887-1940