Welcome to
6th Grade
Introduction to creating a
community of intellectual
thinkers
Prayer
Serenity
God, grant me
The serenity to accept the things I cannot
change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
The Big Picture
The mission of the Catholic schools in the
Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is to
educate children by passing on our faith
through word and action in order to help
our students develop a friendship with Jesus
Christ and a love for His Church.
Introductions & Purpose
Purpose of this Session: To give interested
caregivers an overview of 6th grade.
2 minute – Introductions
An overview of Religion
 “Demonstrate
knowledge of the Old
Testament and our Jewish spiritual heritage.”
 Review key prayers; recite and explain the
Apostle’s Creed, Hail Holy Queen
 Actively participate in liturgy, meditation, and
community service projects
 Study the lives of designated saints
Saints Project
How you can help your student in
Religion
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Reread the scripture for that day, and clarify or
discuss the meaning
Daily Family Prayer
Model for your child “Christ-like” behavior
Thoughtfully communicate with your child daily
Refer your child to scriptures and the catechism
when faced with difficult choices
Retell personal experiences about your
conversion with your child
Your student should have their Bibles by Labor
Day.
Three Good Reasons to Love
Middle Schoolers
 Middle
schoolers thinking is much more
sophisticated. They can think about
possibilities, think abstractly, think multidimensionally, and think how it is relevant.
 Middle schoolers are emotionally labile—
can empathize.
 Middle schoolers are social because they
love to talk!
What happens during
“middle” school
(Boy and Girls Learn Differently!—by Michael Gurian)
Males
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Hormones begin to increase;
more likely than ever to use
aggression to resolving
differences
Channel surfs
Attention seeking
Good at reading maps,
deciphering directions, and
chess
Seek peer approval
Focused on action, and
exploration
Females
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Hormones begin to increase;
Estrogen generates greater
activity in the brain—increased
concentration
Able to watch one program
for an extended amount of
time
Sings in tune
Focus in on communication
and relationships; seek peer
approval
Good at learning foreign
language, and fine motor skills
Middle School
6th Grade
7th-8th
Rotation to different
subjects
3 teachers
6 teachers
Dress code (see
handbook)
Lunch: 12:05, and free
time
X
20-25 MINUTES ON
PLAYGROUND
X
10-15 MINUTES IN
COURTYARD
VBS (see info)
X
X
House
X
X
Study Hall
X
X
Electives
X
X
After School Service and
Study Groups
X
PS on Tests
X
Interactive agendas
X
Travel time
Random Locker Check
Hall Passes
4 minutes
3 minutes
Weekly
X
X
What is free time?
 Extra
Help Time (behavior/academics)
 A time to “catch up”
 Reteach behavior guidelines
 Reteach a concept in academics
 Discussion and/check in time
 Relationship building
A snapshot of Mrs. Kelly
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Fourth year at Sacred Heart; Took early retirement from
USD204 so that I could teach in Catholic Schools;
Teaching is my second career choice, but I consider it
my true “calling.” I have taught for “many” years.

I am a member of St. Peter’s Cathedral; I went to
elementary school at St. Peter’s, Bishop Ward for high
school, KCKCC, associates degree, St. Mary’s for a B.S. in
Education, and K-State for certification in instruction for
English Second Language Learners.

My priority is your child. My own personal experiences
taught me how an adult can impact a child’s wellbeing, so I will do everything to make sure their
educational experiences are positive and show
evidence of growth.
A Snapshot of Mrs. Joerger
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This is my second year at Sacred Heart. Before I
was given the amazing opportunity to teach at
Sacred Heart, I spent two years in Leavenworth as
an elementary Special Education teacher.
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I am a parishioner at Queen of the Holy Rosary. I
graduated from Bishop Miege and then from
Benedictine College.

Thank you for allowing me to play a role in your
child’s life. I grew up with the foundation of a
Catholic school education. My goal is to give your
child that same solid foundation. The success of
your student (mentally, emotionally, and spiritually)
is my first priority.
The Road to Success
 Homework
is important(If the student does
not do it, they are behind, and usually
stay behind during that class period.)
 Be
prepared for class with all the
necessary materials. (Forgetting supplies
and books, makes the student anxious.
Anxiety leads to the inability to focus on
what we are doing.)
Example of Homework
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Homework Assignment: Download your favorite
song’s lyrics.
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Next Day: Figurative Language. After reviewing
examples of different types of figurative language,
look at your song lyrics and identify examples of
figurative language. Exchange song with a
partner, and with a different color of pen or
pencil, identify examples of figurative language.
Closure: How did figurative language help in
creating your favorite song? If you could add a
type of figurative language to the song, what
would it be and why.
As a parent you can:

Make sure you check your student’s agenda—insist
that they use it.
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Don’t just ask “Did you do your homework”—ask them
to show it to you.
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Remember all the “hard stuff” is done at school—
homework is to either get them ready for the in-class
work, or to give them practice or reflection time about
that day’s subject.
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Some homework will require the use of technology,
and ALL homework has deadlines. Extra Credit is not
an option.
Grade Card
Grading System
In class work: WRN’s,
projects, daily work,
group work, handouts,
bell work, exit slips,
admit slips; checks for
understanding (90%)
In class work
Homework
Work Skills
Homework: Assignments that
students need to do after
class to be prepared for
next day. (5%)
Work Skills: class on time, Supplies,
Assignments completed on time,
Quality of Work, 21st Century Skills-(Collaboration, communication,
creativity 5%)
Tests – 50%
Quizzes, Projects, in
class work – 40%
FYI
Grades updated every Sunday
(exception – Projects)
All unit tests require parent
signature
The Gradebook is weighted
What is happening in the
classroom Daily
 Students
Talking and Moving
 Mandatory
 Students
Participation
participating in witnessing and
making connections with their faith
Communicating with Parents
Weekly or Bi-Weekly updates through WordPress
website (joergerkelly6)
 Respond to inquiries through appropriate resource
(email)
 We do not have the opportunity to check our
emails until 2:20 on most days. If you need to get a
message to your child, please go through the
office.
 Keep appropriate documentation on your
student’s growth
 No surprises!
(Please do not leave messages on the phone to
call—email us instead to call you)

Behavior Expectations in the
6th grade Classrooms
1.
Respect yourself.
Stay focused and do your best work
2.
Respect the community members.
Be kind to everyone, and treat
them in the manner you would like
to be treated.
3.
Respect the environment
Keep our school clean and safe
See school VBF guidelines for specific expectations
Virtuous Behavior Formation – Stars
- Each student has a card that they carry around
with them all day.
- When we see them being a “Smart decision
maker”, “Hospitable”, “Organized”, or a “Joyful
Christian”, then we reward them with a star.
- Once they have 20 stars, they have filled their
card and their card is placed in a school wide
drawing.
- As a grade, students will determine goals and
rewards.
VBF Flow Chart
Step 1 - Slow Down card and/or Verbal Warning
Step 2 - Stop Card or Verbal indication of loss of break
time...Dialogue w/ Teacher.
Step 3 - Blue Card or Verbal indication that student will
complete 4 Quadrant Sheet.
Step 4 - Morning Meeting - after loss of 3 Break Times Parent signs Morning Meeting Sheet.
Step 5 - Student meets with Mrs. Feist during lunch,
parents contacted, and staff discussion of possible
behavior plan.
Step 6 - In-School Suspension
Certain behaviors will result in immediate morning
meeting.
ELA
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Literature Study
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Speaking and Listening
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Speeches w/presentation
(communicating/collaborating)
Language Foundations
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3+ books a quarter (readers response journals)
Pronouns, Figurative, connotative, & denotative
Language; Conventions of Language
Writing
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Argument essay w/text evidence
Personal Narratives
Blogging/Quick Writes
How you can help your
student be prepared for his or
her ELA class
 Schedule
text
a time for reading & responding to
 Assist
in organizing, and seeing the value of
education, in particular reading & writing
 Check
in frequently with your student about
supplies and homework.
 Parent
Signature on appropriate documents
A look at the coming year in
Math
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First Quarter: Ratios, proportions, expressions
and equations, number system
Second Quarter: Geometry, number system
Third Quarter: Statistics and Probability,
Geometry
Fourth Quarter: Statistics and probability
Subject to change
How you can help your
student be prepared for Math
 Ask
you child what we covered in math
today.
 Have them explain their notes to you.
 Let them put math into their own words.
 Try to bring math into their real world.
 Help them stay organized and encourage
them to use their planner.
 When your child thinks they have the right
answer, challenge them to defend their
answer.
An overview of Science and
Social Studies
Science
- Movement of
First
Lab safety &
Earth’s crustal plates
equipment
- Waves; p & s
Science Process Skills - Boundaries
Science as Inquiry between plates
- Volcanoes &
Second
Introduction to
Earthquakes
Fourth
Matter:
- Properties of
Diversity of singlematter
celled
- Mixtures and
Organisms
solutions
- Monerans &
- States of Matter Protists
- Physical and
- Human Health &
Chemical Changes Disease- Virus
- Parts of
Third
Plate Tectonics:
Microscope
-Theory of
Continental DriftsAlfred
Wagener
Subject to Change
- Earth’s Layers
Social Studies
Ancient Civilizations
 Ancient India and
China
 The Roman Empire
 Ancient Egypt
 Ancient Greece
 Early Americas
 Middle Ages in Europe
Ancient Judaism & the
Hebrew culture will be
covered in Religion class
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Closing Comments
 Standards
come from the Archdiocese
 All our topics/concepts will be faith
infused
 Prayer is a constant throughout our day
 Education and Faith are interwoven and
our priority
 Failure is part of the learning process
 Having adequate and appropriate
technology is part of 21st century learning
Questions?

Write them on the index card given to
you at the beginning of this session.
 We
will respond in a FAQ section on our
blog.