Countdown to starting 8th Grade
The Overlake School
2016-2017
Required Summer Reading
Every 8th grader must complete assigned reading during the summer for English and Social Studies. Information
about required reading will be available on the Overlake website in early June.
Required FUN (actually it’s optional, but highly recommended )
Join us for Summer 2016 at Overlake!
Last summer we embarked on an ambitious goal - crafting a summer program that would replicate the fun,
collaborative spirit that is alive and well here on campus during the regular school year. Summer 2015 didn’t
disappoint. In fact, we exceeded our expectations in participation. We are looking to repeat that success this year by
encouraging you to take full advantage of Overlake’s Summer Program! Students will have the opportunity to
create, collaborate, and challenge themselves in a variety of class offerings with the end goal of having fun. Our MS
Program will offer three, two week sessions from June 27th – August 5th where students will engage in projectbased, hands-on learning experiences to not only develop their intellect, but spark their creativity. Our classes will
range from Debate, Girls Create!, Wearable Art, Coding, and The Tinkering Workshop to our very own Summer
Musical. We will also continue our wildly popular Sports Camps and Outdoor Education Trips this summer. Flexible
scheduling enables families to select just morning or afternoon sessions or a full-day program. There’s also extended
care available until 5:30pm. The Summer Program is open to all students regardless of whether or not they are
students at Overlake, so have your child invite a friend along from your neighborhood. For more information –
http://www.overlake.org/programs/summer
New students should also lookout for information from Parent Ambassadors about fun summer social events!
Purchasing Books
In early July, parents will receive an email notifying them that their child’s schedule is available online. Embedded in
the schedule are the names of textbooks, workbooks, etc. needed for each class. The most common ways to
purchase books: at University Book Store, through independent online book stores, or through the PFSA Hootie’s List
program (an internal system where parents can purchase books from one another). Please purchase all novels,
textbooks, and workbooks so that they arrive before the first day of school. Pay special attention to the ISBN
number provided for each book. It is vital to purchase your child’s books based on ISBN to ensure s/he has the
correct edition and the page numbers match the rest of the class. When purchasing novels, it is urgent not only to
purchase according to ISBN but also to purchase a novel that has no handwritten information in the book since
students will be required to write their own annotations in it as part of their study.
Purchasing Supplies
＿ Algebra 1b: notebook with perforated GRID paper
＿ Geometry: notebook with perforated paper
＿ Calculator: simple 4 function is fine
＿ Straight-edge
＿ 3-ring binder (for Science)
＿
＿
＿
＿
Small sticky notes (like Post-Its) in various colors
Highlighters in various colors
Pens, pencils, erasers
Lined paper
Note: For PE, students dress down daily and “action” clothes are all that is required. Each week, tennis shoes, socks,
shorts, a t-shirt and sweatshirt are brought to school and stored in individual lockers in the Field House. All new
students will receive a lock through the PE Department which will be used throughout their Overlake PE experience.
Technology:
All Overlake students are required to bring a computer to school as part of our Student Device Initiative. You can
learn more about the requirements at https://www.overlake.org/programs/technology#byod/guidelines. Using their
personal devices, students will use Microsoft Office365 to access Microsoft’s suite of productivity tools. Students
also use Canvas, which is Overlake’s learning management system, to manage homework, calendar,
announcements, and much more. Any questions about technology can be sent to [email protected], or the Jay
Heath, Director of Technology, at [email protected]. New students can expect to receive their OWL-IDs in August
before school starts, and will learn more at the new student orientation before school starts.
Advisor Contact
In late July or early August, students will be contacted by their 8th grade Advisor. This contact may come via email,
phone, or postcard. This is a great opportunity to check in about summer work or to get questions answered about
events at the start of the school year.
New Student Orientation
All 8th grade students who are starting their first year at Overlake are invited to attend New Student Orientation on
Friday, August 26th from 8:30am to 12:30pm. This program gives new students a chance to meet teachers, advisors,
and other new students; to ask questions and learn about their schedules; and to explore their new school
environment. Please mark your calendars now and plan to have your child attend!
Setting up an Organization System (before first day of school)
Backpack: Students need to set up an organizational system that works for them, so they can take and store notes,
locate current material, and quickly access all necessary items. Suggestion: establish a particular “drop spot” for the
backpack to be stored each night, packed and ready to grab each morning.
Home: Set up files (or another system) to store materials throughout the year, decreasing weight of backpacks.
Teachers will guide students on knowing what to store at home and what to keep in backpack.
Computer: Set up an organized system for saving, naming, and organizing documents effectively for the coming
year. Discuss how to effectively name files to distinguish each assignment for each class.
First Day of School
The first day of school is Monday, August 29th. Middle School students start the day in Discovery Hall at 8:10am. On
the first day, students will need to bring paper, writing utensils, and clothes to be active in P.E. Students planning to
turn out for a sports team should also bring whatever clothing and equipment is necessary for practice.
8th Grade Retreat (Thursday & Friday – September 1st & 2nd – first week of school—not an overnight retreat)
All 8th graders will participate in two days of retreats during the first week of school. One of these days involves a
hike, so being ready for exercise will be helpful. More information will follow in mid-August. Eighth grade students
do not sleep overnight for this fall retreat because they have a multi-night overnight trip in the spring.
7th/8th Grade Family Potluck
Please plan to join the PFSA for the 7th & 8th Grade Family Potluck on Wednesday, September 7th at 6:30pm in the
Campus Center. This program offers parents a chance to learn how they can get involved in grade-level and schoolwide programs and events. Just as importantly, it provides a wonderful way for families to begin the year as a
community. There is always lots of food and laughter, so please come.
Back-to-School Night
Mark your calendars now and plan to attend our annual Back-to-School Night program on Thursday, September 15th
at 7pm. Parents travel to each of their child’s classrooms to hear directly from teachers about curriculum, classroom
processes, and student expectations.
Purpose: This document is intended to paint a picture of the year ahead for students in the 8th grade. It does not
encompass every experience, emotion, or situation that will come up for students or parents in the grade, but instead
highlights some of the major themes. We hope this document will provide a framework to support the dialogue
between teachers and parents over the coming school year.
What to expect in your child’s development this year:
Personally
Academically
- continuation of growth spurts and
- continued growth in ability to think
puberty
abstractly
- skin problems typically emerge
- increased ability to make deep
- boys’ voices begin to deepen
connections across and between
- personal appearance becomes a
content areas
major focus for many
- most have a strong sense of
- more introspective; begin to keep
themselves as learners/students
thoughts and feelings quiet and be
and will use strategies learned in
less talkative, especially with adults
the past few years to perform well
- emotions flare up easily
in classes
- want to be thought of as mature,
as a leader
Overarching goals for your child from the teachers:
Personally
Academically
- should seek help when needed
- improve ability to manage longer
- increase self-advocacy skills
assignments and not procrastinate
- improve skills in thoughtful
- strengthen note-taking skills;
decision making
understand what to take notes on
- continue to work on taking,
- learn how to study for a test
accepting, and seeking
- improve ability to identify
responsibility (socially,
academic needs and seek help; use
academically, communicating with
study hall to meet with teachers
adults such as parents, teachers,
- plan ahead
coaches)
- be organized and prepared by
- improve awareness of one’s impact
establishing an organizational
on others
system that is successful for
- continue to establish personal
him/her
integrity
- know how to use technology and to
manage it well
- take ownership and responsibility
for own work; know when to work
with a friend and when not to
- communicate directly with
teachers about missing classes and
making up the work
Socially
- close friendships are extremely
important
- casual friendships develop more
easily (i.e. I wouldn’t call you on the
weekend, but I enjoy working with
you in class.)
- increasing desire to test boundaries
in social settings
- romantic relationships more
prevalent than they have been
Socially
- make thoughtful decisions
- initiate conflict resolution
- handle peer pressure
- balance free time and getting help
- know how to use technology and
manage it well
- be inclusive
- recognize personal impact on
others
Major differences from 7th grade:
• Assignments will be longer, multi-part, and expect more high-level thinking (critical analysis and application of
material).
• Social media becomes more important for some (twitter, snapchat, etc.).
• Teachers will have different policies, expectations, and organizational systems, and 8th graders are viewed as being
sophisticated enough to adapt and adjust to the differences.
• Teachers allow students to see the impact of their decisions. If students choose to hand in an assignment late,
teachers do not necessarily follow up with them to hand it in. Teachers want students to learn to follow through and
to learn to initiate the necessary conversations for late work.
How to support your children when struggles occur:
Personally
Academically
- help them balance all the
- encourage personal responsibility
demands on their time (sports,
- help them learn to talk to
school, others lessons) to include
teachers/coaches about absences,
time to relax
extra help, or letters of
- help them learn when to say no
recommendation
so that they are not over- focus parental pressure on input
extended
(work habits/effort) rather than on
- help them learn to evaluate if
outcomes (grades)
their lives are over-extended
- if they are not getting the grades
- help them understand that
that they hoped (or you hoped)
establishing physical boundaries
help them reflect on the whole unit
is important; just as important as
preparation in addition to how they
it is to respect others’ boundaries
are studying day to day
- help them seek extra help
- encourage them to use study hall
to meet with teachers
Socially
- Actively counsel wise use of social
media and technology
- help them find their voice
- help them be a self-advocate
- help them use the school
counselors or an adult on campus
with whom they connect
Information in this document reflects a combination of the cumulative experience of the 8th Grade Advisors and the
following print resource: Wood, Chip. Yardsticks: Children in the Classroom Ages 4-14. Turner Falls, MA: Northeast
Foundation for Children, 2007
Updated May 2016