Rising Sixth Grade Parent Night
March 2015
Vision Statement
EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE FOR ALL
Mission Statement
The mission of Simpson Middle School is to
facilitate life-long learning through a multitude
of educational experiences that enable students
to become self-directed learners, perceptive
thinkers, and effective oral and written
communicators. By developing these skills,
students become contributors in the school and
in the diverse world.
Beliefs
• All students can learn.
• All students can become proficient writers.
• All students can become proficient in mathematical
problem solving.
• Everyone is accountable and responsible for his or her
actions.
• All students are guaranteed a quality curriculum.
• All stakeholders are partners in the educational process
through effective communication.
• All students can strive and excel as self-directed learners,
and effectively participate as a collaborative team
member.
The Middle School Student
• All children develop differently but you may
notice the following traits as your child attends
Sixth Grade.
• Want to be together in groups and teams.
• Have the patience to work toward short-term
goals.
• Form cliques and friendships with own sex and
age group.
• Seek status through excellence in skills and
knowledge of grown-up things.
• Are fairly competitive in team and individual
activities.
• Have a growing concern with their physical
size and appearance.
• Like to make, do, and collect things.
• Boys and girls work and socialize in programs
where they share planning responsibilities.
• Students enjoy being mischievous, daring, and
trying things they would not have done in
Elementary School or at Home.
At Simpson Middle School
• During the first few weeks of school, it will be
our goal to help your child make the
adjustments from elementary to middle
school.
• Your student will be encountering many new
experiences including class changes, lockers,
gym clothes, lunch periods, and schedule
rotations.
• Your student will have a schedule to follow
and a locker combination to remember.
• Once school is in session, students will have 7
periods during the day.
• Five will be academic, English Language Arts,
Math, Reading, Science, and Social Studies
and each will be 53 minutes long.
• The other two will be a combination of two of
the following: Physical Education, Art,
Technology, Band, Chorus, or Orchestra.
• We will help them with suggestions to
organize their passing period time so they will
be able to go to their locker or to the restroom
and still get to class on time.
• To minimize passing period confusion,
teachers are in the hallways to help your child
with locker and/or scheduling problems.
• We will be there to help them with these
changes.
Soaring Day
• To help transition students into sixth grade we
have a sixth grade camp.
• It will be held the week before school starts on
Thursday, July 30th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
• Students
– Will get their lockers and have time to practice their
locker combinations
– Will get their schedules
– Meet their teachers
– Tour the building
– Go through their schedule prior to the start of school.
Middle School Concept
• An effective middle school program is designed
around the unique developmental needs of early
adolescents (11-14 year olds).
• Because the intellectual, social, physical, and
emotional needs of this age group are different
from either elementary or high school students, a
customized educational program is necessary.
• The middle school is a bridge between
elementary school and high school.
• It is not an exaggerated elementary school nor a
miniature high school, but a blend of the two.
Pod Approach
• A pod is a group of 5-6 teachers who have the
same group of students (140 - 160) every day.
• Together, Pods teach English language arts,
Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Social
Studies. Special education teachers also
works with the Pods.
• We are planning to have 2 pods next year.
• Students will be randomly assigned to one of
the two pods.
Bring your Parent to School Day
• Simpson encourages visitations by parents
during Bring Your Parent to School Day.
• This is an opportunity for you as a parent to
experience what your child is going through as
a student.
• This opportunity is offered in September
• September 15, 16, and 17, 2015.
Other Opportunities for Sixth Grade
Parents
• Soaring Day – July 30, 2015 - Parent meeting at 3:00
p.m.
• Open House – August 18, 2015, 6:30 p.m.
• Sixth Grade Parent Curriculum Night – October 6, 2015
6:30 p.m.
– An opportunity for sixth grade parents to meet and discuss
the first two months of sixth grade, see where students
are, and where they are headed.
• Coffee Chats
– Second Friday of every month
– Opportunity to come in and chat with the principal,
administrators, and other parents.
The Mission of the Simpson Middle
School Counseling Program
• To implement a comprehensive school counseling program that
addresses the needs of all students in the domains of academic,
personal/social, and career development. Counselors will serve as
student advocates, collaborate with school staff and students to
identify and remove barriers to learning, and provide interventions
as needed.
• Students are assisted in acquiring appropriate attitudes, knowledge,
and communication skills through classroom guidance, advisement,
and individual counseling.
• The professional school counselors will promote an environment
that fosters academic progress, personal/social responsibility, and
productivity for all students.
• Ms. Taijah Davis, Taijah.Davis@cobbk12.org
• Mr. Reese Barnard, Reese.Barnard@cobbk12.
Teachers
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Mr. Atchison
Mrs. Frederick
Mrs. Peters
Mr. Whiting
Ms. Donn
Mrs. Ridgeway
Mrs. Murphy
Mr. Smart
Mrs. Waller
Ms. Crain
Mrs. Gammon
Mrs. Stilz
Mrs. Carr
Ms. Judkins
Mrs. Leverett
Mrs. Page
Mr. Smith
Mr. Watts
Ms. Dent
Mr. Hernquist
Mrs. Werner
Ms. Chokshi
Mr. Oats
Mr. Lynch
Mr. Potthast
Ms. Stevens
Ms. Windham
SIMPSON MIDDLE SCHOOL PTSA
What does PTSA mean? Parent Teacher Student Association
PTSA Committees and Volunteer Opportunities
•Parent Family Involvement (staff front office, school store, duty free
lunches, copying for teachers, special projects, Fall Dance, 8th Grade Dance)
•Health/Youth Services (Red Ribbon Week, Consequences of Crime, Vision
and Hearing Screening, Special Services, Spring Cobb Hobbler Run)
•Education Enrichment (Soaring Day, Meet and Greet, Student Recognition,
Staff Appreciation, Hospitality, Activity Nights)
•Communications (email lists, Eagle Weekly, calendar, website)
•Arts in Education (Reflections, Honoring our Heroes)
•Membership
SIMPSON MIDDLE SCHOOL PTSA
What We Do:
 Support our Students:
 Provide a school agenda for EVERY one of 900 students at a cost of $3.00 each
 Help fund important programs like Consequences of Crime, Health & Wellness, Honoring Our
Heroes, Spring Fun Run and Red Ribbon Week.
 Encourage Parent & Family Involvement:
 Fund Student Activity Nights, Simpson Soaring Day, Fall & 8th Grade Dances
 Support our Teachers & Staff:
 Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week & Luncheons
 East Cobb Council, PTSA Website & Administration
 Support our School and Improvements:
 This year paid for padding for gym walls
 Help fund painting murals to beautify our school and/or new front office (after renovations)
 And much, much more,…
Simpson PTSA spends over $13 per student but only receives
$1.25 from each $7.00 membership after State & National PTSA fees
How YOU Can Help:
 YOUR Membership – Supports the administrative portion of Simpson’s PTSA involvement
 YOUR Support – Volunteering your time for PTSA committee or Simpson MS
 YOUR Tax-Deductible Donation - 100% of Donations stay at Simpson!
Be a part of YOUR PTSA!
Support your child and donate today!
SIMPSON MIDDLE SCHOOL PTSA
The 2014-2015 PTSA Board Members/Positions
• President – Janelle Crowell
• Vice-Presidents – Sandi Tompkins & Joy McClain
• Secretary – Trudi Bayless
• Treasurer – Latha Krishnan
Needed- Committee Chairs for 8th Grade Dance, Community
Involvement, Red Ribbon Week, Vision Screening, Reflections
SIMPSON MIDDLE SCHOOL PTSA
Best ways to get information
PTSA Calendar & Eagle Eye Weekly Newsletters
There are many ways to get involved.
If interested in volunteering and to get on the
newsletter distribution list
please send email to
simpsoneaglenews@gmail.com
Volunteer sign in sheets and spirit store items
in lobby
If you cannot donate your time to Simpson,
please consider making a donation to the PTSA
SIMPSON FOUNDATION
• State and local education budget cuts have left
gaps between what our students need and
what gets funded.
• Our purpose is to provide funding for
opportunities at Simpson that would
otherwise not be funded.
SIMPSON FOUNDATION
Our contributions to Simpson include:
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Paid a technology manager’s salary for over three years
Equipped over 30 classrooms with a Smart Board or Writing Pad
Provided multiple LCD projectors and image producing Elmo’s
Raised $10,000 for science lab equipment and supplies
Sponsored a Study Skills Seminar for students and parents
Awarded teacher grants
Sponsored teacher attendance at a Model Schools Seminar
And much more…
SIMPSON FOUNDATION
The Foundation is an independent
non-profit organization.
We pay no fees to any state or national organization.
EVERY DOLLAR DONATED STAYS AT SIMPSON!
SIMPSON FOUNDATION
The Foundation is our opportunity to give our
kids every benefit and advantage they deserve.
Please help by making a donation or volunteering
to help oversee our organization.
For news and information visit our website at
simpsonfoundation.net
Two Great Ways To Support SIMPSON
PTSA
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Educational Enrichment
Whole Child Development
Teacher & Staff Support
Volunteers
Parent/Community
Involvement
FOUNDATION
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Capital Improvements
Technology Investment
Tech. Mgr. Salary
Program Funding
Teacher Grants
Questions
Lets Go View the School
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Sixth Grade
Cafeteria
Music Wing
Art and Technology
Physical Education