MUSCLE SHOALS
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Sixth Grade Pre-Registration
“WHAT HAPPENED TO
MY SWEET BABY?!
I’M LIVING WITH AN ALIEN!”
CHARACTERISTICS OF
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
Intellectual Development
Physical Development
Psychological Development
Moral and Ethical Development
Social Development
INTELLECTUAL
DEVELOPMENT
Are intensely curious;
• Prefer active over passive learning experiences; favor interaction
with peers during learning activities;
• Exhibit a strong willingness to learn things they consider to be
useful; enjoy using skills to solve real life problems;
• Are egocentric; argue to convince others; exhibit independent,
critical thought;
• Consider academic goals as a secondary level of priority;
personal social concerns dominate
thoughts and activities;
• Experience the phenomenon of
metacognition (the ability to know what
one knows and does not know); and
• Are intellectually at-risk; face decisions
that have the potential to affect major
academic values with lifelong
consequences.
PHYSICAL
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT
•Experience accelerated physical development
marked by increases in weight, height, heart size,
lung capacity, and muscular strength
•Mature at varying rates of speed: Girls tend to
be taller than boys for the first two years of early
adolescence and are ordinarily more physically
developed than boys
•Experience bone growth faster than muscle
development, which may result in a lack of
coordination and awkwardness
•Face responsibility for sexual behavior before
full emotional and social maturity has occurred
•Show changes in body contour including temporarily large noses, protruding
ears, long arms, and often have posture problems
•Are often disturbed by these body changes
•Have ravenous appetites and peculiar tastes; may overtax digestive system with
large quantities of improper foods;
PHYSICAL
DEVELOPMENT
• Are often erratic and inconsistent in their behavior; anxiety and fear are contrasted
with periods of bravado; feelings shift between superiority and inferiority
• Have chemical and hormonal imbalances which often trigger emotions that are
frightening and poorly understood; may regress to more childish behavior patterns at
this point
• Are easily offended and are sensitive to criticism of personal shortcomings
• Tend to exaggerate simple occurrences and believe that personal problems,
experiences, and feelings are unique to themselves
• Are moody, restless; often feel self-conscious and alienated; lack self-esteem; are
introspective
• Are searching for adult identity and acceptance even in the midst of intense peer
group relationships;
• Are vulnerable to naive opinions and one-sided arguments
• Are searching to form a conscious sense of individual uniqueness "Who am I?"
• Have emerging sense of humor based on increased intellectual ability to see abstract
relationships; appreciate the "double entendre"
• Are basically optimistic, hopeful
• Are psychologically at-risk; at no other point in human development is an individual
likely to encounter so much diversity in relation to oneself and others.
MORAL & ETHICAL
DEVELOPMENT
•Are essentially idealistic; have a strong sense of fairness in human
relationships
•Ask large, unanswerable questions about the
meaning of life; do not expect absolute answers
but are turned off by trivial adult responses
•Are reflective, analytical, and introspective
about their thoughts and feelings
•Confront hard moral and ethical questions for
which they are unprepared to cope
•Are at-risk in the development of moral and
ethical choices and behaviors; the primary
dependency on the influences of home and
church for moral and ethical development seriously compromises adolescents for
whom these resources are absent; adolescents want to explore the moral and
ethical issues which are confronted in the curriculum, in the media, and in the
daily interactions they experience in their families and peer groups
SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
• Experience often traumatic conflicts due to conflicting loyalties to peer groups
and family
• Refer to peers as sources for standards and models of behavior; media heroes and
heroines are also singularly important in shaping both behavior and fashion
• May be rebellious towards parents but still strongly dependent on parental
values; want to make own choices, but the authority of the family is a critical factor
in ultimate decisions
• Act out unusual or drastic behavior at times; may be aggressive, daring, boisterous,
argumentative
• Are fiercely loyal to peer group values; sometimes cruel or insensitive to those
outside the peer group
• Want to know and feel that significant adults,
including parents and teachers, love and accept
them; need frequent affirmation
• Challenge authority figures; test limits of
acceptable behavior
• Are socially at-risk; adult values are largely
shaped conceptually during adolescence; negative
interactions with peers, parents, and teachers may
compromise ideals and commitments
"Characteristics of Middle Grade Students,” Caught in the Middle (1989).
Sacramento: California Department of Education, pages 144148.
MSMS WEB SITE
http://muscleshoals.al.msm.schoolinsites.com/
- OR http://www.mscs.k12.al.us
Click on “Schools”  “Muscle Shoals Middle School”  “visit web site”
Daily announcements
Bell Schedule
Calendars
Newsletter
Faculty and staff listing
Faculty and staff e-mail
Course descriptions
Extracurricular activities/honors
Facebook link
Forms
Link to online grades!
“Middle Years” newsletters
“Notify Me” sign-up
“Daily Tips for Parents – 6th Grade”
“School Success Tips”
MSMS WEB SITE
SIXTH GRADE
INFORMATION
•Separate wing – main building for lunch,
P.E., library, exploratory classes
•Multiple security cameras and a full-time
School Resource Officer
•Teaming – two teams with four teachers
•Semester classes for science and social studies
•Dismissal:
•early in the mornings from the gym or lunch room
•to go to lockers by gender or by locker location (memorize
locker combinations!)
•Changing classes without teacher assistance except first few
weeks.
SIXTH GRADE
INFORMATION
• P.E. is with sixth-graders only. Students dress out
each day in black shorts and a white t-shirt. PTO
will sell P.E. clothes in the fall.
• Lunch is with sixth-graders only. Students may eat a
snack after first block (around 9:45 a.m.) because of
a late lunch time.
• School hours are 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (morning
drop-off at 7:30)
• 4 tardies to school per nine weeks = Saturday School
• Saturday School for each subsequent
tardy in that nine-week period
MIDDLE SCHOOL
IS ALL ABOUT…
•
•
Providing a transition between elementary
and high school
Preparing for high school
•
Academics
•
Extracurricular activity interests
•
•
•
•
Socialization
Discovering strengths
Learning how to improve their weaknesses
Finding their niche
ACADEMIC
COMPETITIONS
•Alabama Peace Officers Association Drug and Alcohol
Essay Contest
•Alabama Penman Creative Writing Contest
•Alabama Renaissance Faire Sonnet Contest
•Chess Tournament
•Geography Bee
•Knowledge Master
•Math Seminar Teams
•Scholars Bowl
•Science Fair
•Spelling Bee
CLUBS
• Astronomy Club
• Chess Club
• Crafters Club
• First Priority
• 4-H
• Friends of Rachel (FOR) Club
• Junior Optimist Club
• Readers to Leaders Book Club
• Student Council
• TSA/BEST Robotics
HONORS
• Honor Roll (All A and A/B)
• Citizenship Award
• Duke Talent Search (7th)
• Junior Miss Trojan Beauty
• National Junior Honor Society (8 th)
• National Physical Fitness Award
• Perfect Attendance
• President’s Education Award (8 th)
• Presidential Physical Fitness Award
• Principal’s Award
• Reading 100 Point Award
SPORTS FOR
7TH AND 8TH GRADES
Baseball
Softball
Cheerleading
Wrestling
Volleyball
Football
Boys and Girls
Golf
Basketball
Soccer
Cross Country
Track
Tennis
FINE ARTS
•Art
•Band (Beginning, Concert, Symphonic, Jazz)
•Chorus
•Color Guard
•Drama Club
You can do it
ALL
in middle school!
REGISTRATION
FORM
• Your student
received this in a
meeting with us
today.
• Please sign and
return to your
child’s homeroom
teacher by
Thursday.
REQUIRED COURSES
English
Reading
Social Studies
Science
Math
Physical Education
Elective
ELECTIVE CLASSES
FOR SIXTH-GRADE
STUDENTS
Beginning Band
You may play a sport and still take band while in
middle school!
Exploratory 6 Rotation
may include a twelve week rotation of:
Technology Exploration
General Music
Art
SAMPLE
SIXTH-GRADE SCHEDULE
1st block
2nd
3rd
4th
block
block
block
1st period
Physical Education
2nd period
Band or Exploratory
3rd period
Math
4th period
(Math)
5th period
Science (Social Studies in the spring!)
6th period
(Science)
7th period
English 6
8th period
Reading 6
MATH CLASSES
AT MSMS
6th
Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
9th Grade
7th
grade
book +
8th grade
book /
Algebra I
Algebra I /
Algebra II
Geometry
Enriched
Math
7th
grade
book
8th grade
book
Algebra I
Algebra I
or
Geometry
Grade
Level
Math
6th
grade
book
7th grade
book
8th grade
book
Algebra I
Math
Seminar
(competitive)
MATH SEMINAR & ENRICHED MATH
SELECTION CRITERIA
ARMT+ math score
OLSAT score
STAR math test score(s)
Final Math 5 average
Prognosis Test (Saxon 6 th Grade pretest)
•
•
Math seminar requires a commitment to attend at least five Saturday math
competitions throughout the year. Some (but not all) dates are listed on the
registration form.
If your child does not qualify for Math Seminar or enriched math at the end of fifth
grade, he or she may qualify at the end of sixth.
MATH PLACEMENT
If your child qualifies for Enriched Math, would
you like for him/her to be enrolled in this class?
Circle yes or no
If your child qualifies for Math Seminar (advanced
curriculum with at least five required Saturday math
competitions), would you like for him/her to be
enrolled in this class and agree to a one year
commitment required of math seminar students?
Circle yes or no
OTHER
ADVANCED / HONORS CLASSES
8th Grade – by student choice
Advanced Science
Honors English
Ability, Motivation, Maturity
REGISTRATION
FORM
• Circle math placement
preferences
• Check elective choice
• Parent/Guardian signs
form
• Return form to
homeroom teacher by
Thursday, March 21
“MIDDLE YEARS”
NEWSLETTER
Life with a Middle Grader
Understanding Your Middle Grader
Parenting Through the Middle Years
*all issues available on MSMS web site!
TIPS FROM
SIXTH-GRADE TEACHERS
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•
•
•
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Try not to baby them.
They will have homework every night.
Start developing their study skills.
They need to be prepared with all class materials every day.
Practice organizational skills.
Check your child’s planner and the school web site daily for homework
assignments.
Don’t miss school unless it is absolutely necessary.
Don’t be worried about them being around older children – we are in our own
wing!
THOUGHTS FROM
DR. STEGALL
Academics are vital; you want a well-rounded child.
• Children must be involved in school (helps keep them out of trouble).
• Support music/athletics/extra-curricular activities
• Limit videos; exercise is a must – play outside
• Be realistic – not all students are going to make straight A’s, and not all are going
to play pro ball.
• Create routines – study habits, activities
Develop Responsibility/work ethic
• Work ethic – they need to be assigned chores or you will be taking care of them
for a long time (go forth and work).
• Don’t give, give, and give! Students are taking on more responsibility – let
them.
• No excuses – take responsibility for your actions.
THOUGHTS FROM
DR. STEGALL
Develop Relationships
• You are their parent, not their friend – that comes later.
• They need their parents; they are your responsibility to rear.
• They are trying to become independent and sometimes say they don’t want
you around (but they really do…sometimes).
• They are still children and must have rules and guidelines.
• It’s ok to say “NO.”
Respect for You and Others
• No talking back
• No rolling eyes
• Be kind to all – no bullying or meanness
THOUGHTS FROM
DR. STEGALL
Create Memories
• Spend quality time with them
• Cherish this time – it goes quickly
• Middle School students are fickle but so much fun!
They may be aliens now,
but they will grow out of it with all our help!
SANDRA BULLOCK,
OSCAR-WINNING
ACTRESS
•
•
“I would like to thank what this film was
about for me: the moms [who] take care
of babies no matter where they come
from. Those moms and parents never get
thanked.”
She then thanked her own mom “for not
letting me ride in cars with boys until I
was 18, ’cause she was right…[for] making
me practice every day when I got home,
piano, ballet, whatever it is I wanted to be.
She said to be an artist you have to
practice everyday. And [for] reminding
her daughters that there is no race, no
religion, no class system, no color,
nothing, no sexual orientation that makes
us better than anyone else. We are ALL
deserving of love.”
Dr. Mary Ann Stegall, Principal
mstegall@mscs.k12.al.us
Dr. Matthew Carpenter, Assistant Principal
mcarpenter@mscs.k12.al.us
Mrs. Robyn Garrett, Guidance Counselor
rmgarrett@mscs.k12.al.us
Mr. Nathan Haskew, MSMS Band Director
nhaskew@mscs.k12.al.us