INCOMING GRADE 6
FEBRUARY 27, 2013
Core Values – 4 R’s
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The only thing we may
know about education is
that inquisitive minds
respond to it.
-- Paul Nix
YOUR EMERGING
MIDDLE SCHOOLER
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 ‘Learning How to Kiss a Frog’ – Dr. James Garvin
 ‘It seems as though it happened overnight’
 Developmental Stages - Growth, Onset of Puberty,
Cognitive Development, Social Being
 Going through awkward stages, inconsistent
behavior, curious, preoccupied with self, desire to feel
autonomous and competent
 Our job is to steady the course with you
Meeting Their Needs
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 Growth - Provide opportunities for growth and
mistakes
 Puberty - Provide appropriate learning experiences
to channel energies
 Cognitive thinking - Shape new thinking ability so
that the students can begin to use reasoning power
wisely to problem solve and plan appropriately
 Social Beings – provide parameters and structures;
bring them back to ‘reality’
 NURTURE AND CHALLENGE
What Can We Do?
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Understand major changes are taking place
Help students develop to their fullest potential
Support and acknowledge their successes
Tell them we care
Be positive role models
Be honest and provide genuine praise
Be a good listener
Find ways for students to grow, flourish, and
succeed
NURTURING A
COMMUNITY
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Cluster Model: Koalas, Otters, Sea Turtles
Academics and Related Arts
Connections and Connectedness
Kelly Campbell – Dean of Students
Matt Marenghi – Guidance Counselor
Nurturing a Community

 Positive and supportive school climate
 Cluster Model
 Curriculum/Delivery rooted in adolescent needs –
integrated curricula, cooperative learning,
differentiated instruction
 Hands-on and experiential learning
 Heterogeneous class design/structure
 Advisor/Advisee Program
 Related Arts
Core Content Areas
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English
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Parts of speech
Elements of fiction
Poetry
Writing
Open Response
E.T outline
Six traits
Personal narrative
Harris and Me
by Gary Paulsen
Fever 1793
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Tom Sawyer
by Mark Twain
Grade 6 Science
Integrated Science
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Scientific Method
Matter
Minerals & Rocks
Fossils
Geologic Time
Weathering & Erosion
Inside Earth
Grade Six Social Studies
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 Discover what geography is all about
 Learn the difference between social science and science
 Strong emphasis upon physical geography and human
geography
 Focus on current events throughout the school year
 December we look at economics
 Largest Unit is Africa
 Spring time we visit Peabody Essex Museum in Salem
as part of our unit on China
MARS
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Math and Reading Seminar
Inclusion
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 Anna Lassoff – Special Education
Coordinator
 Academic Support
 Learning Center
 Related Services (Speech, Psych, O/T,
PT)
Related Arts Courses
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Art
Health
General Music
Related Rotation
World Language (Spanish, French, Mandarin)
Physical Education
Music (Band, Chorus, Orchestra)
Plus Classes
Weekly Schedule
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MON
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
Period 1
MATH
MATH
SCIENCE
SCIENCE
MATH
Period 2
PHYS ED
FRENCH
ENGLISH
ENGLISH
LIB/MEDIA
Period 3
SCIENCE
SCIENCE
HEALTH
FRENCH
SCIENCE
Period 4
ENGLISH
ENGLISH
SOC STUD
SOC STUD
ENGLISH
Period 5
MARS
MARS
MARS
MARS
MARS
Period 6
FRENCH
ART
MATH
MATH
PHYS ED
Period 7
SOC STUD
SOC STUD
BAND
BAND
SOC STUD
Medical Notes - Physicals
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 Copy of 6th Grade Physical
 Booster dosage of tetanus vaccination (Tdap)
 Second dose of chicken pox vaccine (Varivax)
 For those students who have not had chicken
pox
Tricia Williams, RN 508-242-8554
Blake School Nurse twilliams@medfield.mec.edu
Blake Intramural Program
 General Information:
 Three Seasons for ~ 8 weeks
 1 hour sessions - $6/hour
 Benefits:
 Meet new students
 Learn new skills/information
 Make a connection with an adult in the building
 Offerings This Year:
 TV Production, Walk in the Woods, Introduction to Wrestling,
Dodgeball, Homework Club, Board Games, Creative Writing,
Field Hockey, Google Sketchup, Game Design, Naturalist
Club, What’s Cooking at Blake, Knitting Club, …
 Adults in the Room: You can be involved!
 Share a skill and advise a club!
 Email Brian Gavaghan (bgavaghan@medfield.mec.edu)
Essence of Blake

If you haven’t made any
mistakes lately, you must be
doing something wrong.
-- Susan Jeffers
Blake CSA
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Support Technology Programs
 iPad Pilot
 Communication boards
Sponsors initiatives such as author visits and special programs:
 Shakespeare Now Theatre performance for 6th grade
 Latino Dance Troupe for 8th grade
Scholarships for 7th grade Natures Classroom and 8th grade Washington DC
trip
Courtyard beautification
Picture frames to display student artwork throughout the school
Microphone and speaker sets for social studies classrooms
Teacher appreciation luncheons
Snacks for students during MCAs testing
Supplies for nurse’s office
How you can help CSA get its
funds
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 Participate in the summer reading book sale at Park
Street to get your child’s required reading
 Purchase SCRIP
 Frequent Royal Pizza and Subway on the designated
promotion nights
 Collect Box Tops
 Support the Innisbrook fundraiser of wrapping
paper and other items
Participate in CSA at Blake
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 No more room parents…CSA keeps you
informed on what is going on in your child’s
school
 Sign up to help out on specific initiatives or
chair an event – online sign ups start in June
 Board and volunteer positions open for
2013-2014 school year
 Attend monthly meetings…4 in the am and 4
in the pm
TRANSITION
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Handout – Communication – Blog and Twitter
Transitional Meetings
Parental Insight
6th Grade Summer Reading List
Cluster Placements
Transition Day
Enjoy the summer!
Questions???