McCarthy Middle School
A Smooth Transition to Middle School
Agenda
• Introduction 6:00-6:10PM
• PowerPoint Presentation 6:10-6:30PM
• Curriculum Discussion/Tours 6:35-7:00 PM
(Cafeteria/Around the building)
• Curriculum Discussions/Tours 7:00-7:25 PM
• End of the evening 7:30PM
Communication
• Continually improving communication is part
of our School Improvement Plan
• Electronic Communication
– Email/Connect Ed
– X2 Aspen Family Portal
– X2 Teacher Pages
– McCarthy home page and calendar
How to Make a LARGE School Much
Smaller: Teams!
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Four Grade 5 Teams
2 classroom teachers per team
Approximately 46-48 students per team
Students spend the majority of the school day with
these two teachers
• Team planning time to collaborate on student needs
and curriculum
TEAM ORGANIZATION
• Two person teams for Grades 5 and 6 include a teacher
for Math and Science and a teacher for LA and Social
Studies
• Teams meet with guidance counselor and resource
teachers on a regular basis
These team teachers work
together to discuss lessons
and create projects that
span the subject areas
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Placement Process
Meeting with elementary teachers
soliciting their information
Parent input via letter (Due May 26)
– Learning style
– Please separate from… OR try to
place with…
– We do the best we can to
accommodate
Students are heterogeneously
grouped into classes
No leveling in grades 5 & 6
Factors affecting placement
– Support services received
– School input
– Parent input
ACTIVE LEARNING
ACTIVE LEARNING is essential for the Middle School learner
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Investigations
Problem solving
Cooperative learning
Interdisciplinary research
projects and integrated
technology
Technology Integration
Technology Integration Across the Curriculum
• Three Computer Labs/mobile labs (laptops/ipads/chromebooks)
• Most Rooms have interactive white boards with ceiling mounted
projectors.
When specific projects are
Grade 5 & 6 Computer lab students have scheduled time in
the computer lab and library.
done, links are placed on the
website by the Technology
Integration Specialist and
Librarian to support student
research in many curriculum
areas.
Real World Experiences
Grade 5 students enjoy enrichment activities in school
and on field trips
A field trip to Drumlin
Farm allows students to
explore a real working
farm and a wildlife
sanctuary.
Students learn about
Colonial
life and crafts at the
Concord Museum
Students
enjoy a
visit from
Barry
Burbank!
The Museum of Science visits
McCarthy to teach about
electromagnetism
Arts Block & Specialists
• The Chelmsford Public Middle Schools offer a
comprehensive program in:
– Art/General Music OR Performance Music
– Physical Education
– Health
– Library
– Computer
Arts Block Offerings
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5th grade Students choose one of the
following options:
– Band
– Orchestra
– Chorus
– Art/General Music (two terms of
each)
We are asking you to make a
decision. Forms were delivered to
your schools recently.
Please note that certain support
services are offered during the arts
and specialists block. Therefore,
depending on the services your child
receive, he or she may not be able to
take these courses.
Typical Schedule
• 8:00- Drop off begins (CPD side)
Supervised in Café until 8:10
• 8:09- Buses unload
• 8:19-8:24 Homeroom
• 8:25-10:22 ELA/SS
• 10:25-11:09 Arts Block
• 11:12-12:22 Math
• 12:25-1:05 Lunch/Recess
• 1:08-1:52 Specialists
(2xPE/Health/Library/Computer)
• 1:55-2:40 Science
• 2:46 Buses leave McCarthy
• 2:45-3:45 After School Activities (Tues.Wed.-Thurs.)
• 3:45-4:10 Late Buses leave McCarthy
(Tues.-Wed.-Thurs.)
SUCCESS FOR ALL
• We value the importance of daily homework.
• We feel it is critical for success.
• All students will receive a Reminder Binder on
the first day of school.
• Students have an average of 30-60 minutes a
night of homework.
SUCCESS FOR ALLWhat do we do when students do not learn?
• Get Extra Help from
the classroom
teacher
• Attend McASAP
SUCCESS FOR ALL
• How else do we support kids?
• Try to create a safe, comfortable learning
environment for all students
• Created and implemented a schoolwide
bullying rubric
• Chelmsford’s bullying policies are in
accordance with the state policies and are
available on the main Chelmsford School
webpage.
• Please let us know as issues arise.
Our Social Contract
McCarthy Middle School is a PRIDE-ful community.
We agree to:
• Be hardworking and pursue our goals
• Honor each others’ differences
• Be honest and responsible for our actions
• Put time and effort into our work and community
• Acknowledge other people’s feelings
SUCCESS FOR ALL- OUR COMMUNITY
• Recognizing “Paws-itive” & PRIDEful behaviors
• Student Advisory Program- Building relationships
• Research has shown student achievement increases when a student feels
connected to their school
• Student are assigned in small groups to a teacher
• Meet weekly
• Theme based (Decision making, Goal-setting, current events, community building,
community service projects)
• Supports for our students include:
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Guidance Counselors
School Psychologist
Supervisor of Students
Special Education Services
Reading Specialists
Health Services
Community Service
• Community service experiences such Pennies For Patients, Coats for Kids,
and Project 300 for families in need during the holidays drive give
students a sense of connection to the larger community.
Project 300
After School Activities
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After school clubs are an important offering to our students
Community Service Organization
Cross Country
Track
Art Club
Backstage Crew
McASAP
Writer’s Society
Math Counts
Yearbook
Select Choir
Orchestra
Jazz Band
Musical- Drama Club
Intramural Sports
Game Club
Science Olympiad
To Sum It All Up
• We offer a creative,
challenging, engaging
curriculum in a caring
environment.
• We have a “Whatever It Takes”
attitude to support success for
all students.
• We educate the whole child.
• We are proud of our schools’
and our students’
achievements – and we always
seek to get better.
• Active, supportive PTO!
Thanks for joining us!
• School tours for your children
–Byam & Harrington- June 6@ 1:00
– Center- June 1@ 9:30
– South Row- June 2 @ 9:30
Thanks for joining us!
• Feel free to contact us if you have additional
questions
– Kurt McPhee, Principal
• [email protected]
– Donna Martin, Assistant Principal
• [email protected]
• @McCarthyMS_AP (Twitter)
– Elyse Seero, Guidance Counselor
• [email protected]