Attended: Danielle Lowe, Jennifer Davis, Jody Kelly, Susan Reese, Nancy Smith, Tina Palmer, Darryl Price, Tina Haas, Patti Pitoscia, Skeeter Lee and Marianne Auson.

 

The meeting began with Mr. Lee going over upcoming Middle School events.

- 11/30 – 12/4 Book Fair (Library)

- 12/4      Geography Bee, 8:30am, Gym
- 12/5      Storytelling Celebration, 12 -4pm

- 12/8      MS Ancient History Fair, 6:45pm, Gable (changed from 12/10)

- 12/9      Band and Chorus Concert, 6:45pm (Gable)

- 12/10    Mix-it-up Lunch

- 12/11    8th Chorus Grade Trip to Emmaus House (10-12:30pm)

- 12/15 – 12/17 MS Exams (12/15 & 12/16 dismissal at 12:15pm & 12/17 dismissal for holiday break at 11:45am)

- 1/5        School Resumes

- 1/8        MS Spelling Bee, 8:30am, Gable (flip-flop 1st and 8th Period)

Exams for middle school Math, English, Science, Foreign Language, Social Studies and Religion classes will be given December 15 – 17. Exam dates are half days for middle school students (No Explorers). The exam schedule consists of two exams per day, each exam lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes with a break in-between each exam. Students and parents will receive the testing schedule in early December and the subject teachers will explain exam dates and times with students. Dismissal on Tuesday, December 15 and Wednesday, December 16 is at 12:15 p.m. via the carpool line. Dismissal on Thursday, December 17 is at 11:45 a.m., pick-up from the gym.

 

The date for the History Fair has been changed from December 10 to December 8. 6th grade students and parents have received instructions for the project. Projects should be the work of the student, but parent input is welcome. Any questions about projects can be directed to 6th grade social studies teacher, Neil Conrad. 6th grade parents are invited at 6:45 p.m. to view students’ projects and hear a special speaker, Brendan Breed.

 

The 6th and 7th Grade Spring Trips will be managed by Grand Classrooms this year. This is the same organization that has run our 8th grade trip to the Grand Canyon for the past four years. The itineraries will remain relatively the same as in year’s past. 

 

Question: What is the expectation of the volume of homework and the impact on 6th grade students?

Response: 6th grade students will have anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 ½ hours of homework per night. 7th and 8th grade students will be doing more homework. If any student is struggling on a regular basis with more than 1½ hours of nightly homework, or for students who are doing very little homework, parents should arrange a meeting with Mr. Lee.

 

Question: Would SMES consider supplying fruit during snack time to middle school students?

Response: Parents may send fruit with their student as desired. Fruit poses some health and sanitation issues, but it is done in a few high schools. 

 

Question: Why are letter grades given for co-curricular classes?

Response: We find that letter grades motivate students to take co-curricular courses seriously. 

 

Question: What is appropriate for classroom management vs. punitive punishment?

Response: If a child feels that classroom management is punitive punishment, please contact the teacher as a first line of communication to discuss the issue. As necessary, contact Mr. Lee to investigate the situation to ensure that the punishment is reasonable.

 

Question: Is extra help available from every teacher?

Response: Contact the teacher to see if extra help can be worked out.

 

 

Next meeting: January 21, 8:25 a.m., Ground Floor Conference room.

6th Grade: Jennifer Davis, Susan Reese and Nancy Smith

7th Grade: Danielle Lowe, Tina Palmer and Darryl Price

8th Grade: Tina Haas, Jody Kelly and Jewell Sanders