5th Grade Transition to Middle Schools for Families New to U.S. Public Schools

5th grade Information Night For Families NEW to the US public school System

Click here for link to PPT

Presented by –  Equity and Family Partnership Department and Student Intervention Department

Big Transition from Elementary School

• No recess – biggest surprise for some families and students​
• Lunch - 30 minutes – most schools have microwaves​
• Lunch - Many schools have activities/play during last 15 minutes of lunch​
• 4–5-minute transition time between classes (locker and bathroom)​
• Lockers – all students will be assigned a locker​
• Books – online books, some textbooks to class, many schools have class sets of books so students can keep books at home or use the online textbooks, (fees if books lost or damaged)​
• Class supplies – material/supply list online, some teachers may have additional requirements and students will be notified the first week of school, Don’t need all the supplies the first few days of school (teachers will let students know what is needed and when the first few days)​
• After school clubs and sports opportunities offered at all ISD middle schools  – (afterschool activity bus available)

Middle School - Transition years

• Students become independent learners

• Caregiver/Parent as coach and mentor to help student self-advocate

  • Student learns to be the ADVOCATE for their own learning
  • Caregiver/parent is the coach to help the student learn how to talk to the teacher as needed
  • Caregiver/parent should model and teach students how to email a teacher for questions or get help (students have Office365 accounts and Canvas accounts to send emails)
  • Caregiver/parent can also encourage and talk to students about asking for help from the teacher (when, how, etc.)
  • Teachers work with students to show how to advocate for their learning
  • More communication between the student and the teacher

How Middle Schools communicate with home

Moving from ISD elementary to middle school 

• Automatic – all paperwork is transferred. Parent does not need to re-register or re-enroll for middle school if your child currently attends an ISD elementary school.  
• EVP – Enrollment Verification Process in August required for all ISD families each year (confirmation of attendance and required paperwork completion process). 
• Course selection - Families will need to do course selection for 6th grade child in February (more information on course selection later in presentation) 
• Transportation – verified during EVP, check Bus route website for route information
• Lunch account – carries to new middle school, much more lunch options (more a la carte items also)
• Highly capable - integrated in secondary schools, classes self-select
• If your child has a 504, IEP or health plan – the plan or accommodations will follow them to ISD middle school.  5th grade IEP teacher meets with the IEP teacher in middle school to review information.
  • 504 plan (504 is a plan with accommodations for children with disabilities)
  •  Health plan for diabetes, asthma, hearing or other health needs
  • IEP (Individualized Education Plan) for students with special services

Required Classes in 6th Grade

• Language Arts (full year)
• Social Studies (full year)
• Math (full year)
• Science (full year)
• Health and PE – 1 trimester of Health and 2 trimesters of PE 
• Homeroom class – for all students – school business, daily announcements, etc

Electives

• Most students can take one elective class each trimester in 6th grade 
• Band, Chorus, Orchestra are year-long elective
• Other elective based on each Middle School – some schools offer electives such as leadership, drama
• Students who are in the Multilingual/ELL program will take an MLL class for their elective class. 

A Day in Middle School

• A school day is divided into 6 period days – each period is 50 min long with a lunch and a "Homeroom* 
• Students move classrooms each period. 
• Different set of classmates each period.
• Class sizes between 24-35
• Core classes stay the same all year – same teacher (Math, Science, Social studies and English Language Arts)
• Homeroom teacher is the same all year.
• 6 weeks progress reports – ½ way through trimester, teachers are required to update Canvas so parents are aware of the child’s progress, Skyward grades are the official grades
• Final trimester grade available approximately 1 week after the end of each trimester
• Canvas in an important tool used by teachers to communicate with students and families. 
• The school year is divided into three trimesters.  Each trimester is 12 weeks long.  Report cards are available on Family Access at the end of each trimester. 
• End of trimester: Trimester 1 - November 28 (½ day school on Dec. 1st)
  • Trimester 2 – March 18, 2024 (½ day school)
  • Trimester 3 – June 18, 2024 (June 14 and June 18th are ½ days)
  • **On Friday after the last day of  trimester – Early release days, check schedule

Middle School – 1:1 laptops

• All students in the middle schools are provided a district issued laptop.
• All ISD students have an Office365 account that they use frequently to complete and submit assignments. This is the same account they may have used in elementary school. 
• Many of the school textbooks are online so students can access their textbook from their Canvas account using their laptops.
• Students need to take their fully charged laptops to school each day.

Canvas

• Learning Management System (LMS) used at ISD middle and high schools
• All course information, grades, syllabus, and expectations for each teacher is posted on Canvas
• Primary ways families can check weekly progress of the student – weekly grade, missing assignments, comments from teachers, etc.
• Student and Family account access is different – the families do not have access to class rosters, class discussions, ability to post or conduct assignments.
• Students use Canvas daily to see daily assignments, projects, submit assignments and access textbooks, other apps used in class
• Teachers in 6th grade will teach all students how to use Canvas and more specifically navigate their Canvas site
• Canvas parent workshop event will be held by Family Partnership Team in September (check ISD website or bulletins)
• 6th grade students will learn about and access their Canvas account the first week of school.
• 6th grade families will be able to set up their Canvas account the first week of school. 
• Monitoring your child's academic progress on Canvas is the best way to support your child in 6th grade. 

Role of School Counselor

• Usually, middle school counselors are the main point of contact for general support (not Homeroom teacher).
• Academic Counseling (discuss course selection)
  • Scheduling for courses, advanced class choices and selection of pathways, elective questions
  • Liaison between teacher and parents
• Point of contact for financial assistance and basic needs
• Social and Emotional Counseling
  • Not a stigma to talk to counselor – support person in high school
  • Talk to students about social and emotional issues
  • Connect students with mental health resources available on campus
  • Rise of anxiety and depression in schools around the country and world

Counseling and Mental Health

• Two school counselors at each building.
• Counselors are assigned based on last name.
• Student will have same counselor for all middle school years.
• Students can request to see a counselor by requesting a meeting with counselor.
• Social Emotional Learning 
  • Second Step curriculum used to teach skills during Homeroom time at the schools
  • Social Emotional Resources for Families
• School Based Swedish Mental Health counselors available at each middle school. 

Homework

• Read the class syllabus for each class (posted on Canvas) at start of year.
• Homework is often assigned in core classes – most frequently in math and science
• Amount of homework dependent on teacher 
• Assignments and due dates posted on Canvas page
• Grades frequently updated on Canvas. 
• Parents and students need to check Canvas.  It is the main method of communication with parents. 
• When absent, work needs to be made up.  Check with teacher.
• Teachers have policies regarding missed work, late work or absent work
• Some homework is graded, other marked for completion, depending on assignment and teacher decision.

Testing and Grading System

• Teachers in all classes may have tests and quizzes periodically.
• SBA tests in 6, 7 and 8th grade (like 3rd, 4th and 5th grade SBA test)  -(SBA – Smarter Balanced Assessment - the state assessment)  
• Grading scale in schools – letter grade based on percentage (no longer 1, 2, 3 or 4 scale)
• Letter grades – A, B, C, D and F (D is considered below average but passing, F is failing)
• No ranking of student (Grade Point Average will help determine if student is eligible for honor society).
• Students may have projects they will need to complete individually or in small group.
• Colleges don’t see middle school grades (except for high school credit 8th grade classes)

Attendance

• Punctual attendance is a key component to student success.
• Students are accountable for being in class on time and prepared to learn.
• Students may be subject to school consequence if frequently tardy (Check school’s attendance policy in the School Handbook on the website). 
• To participate in any after-school activity, sports, theatre, concert, etc., a student must attend class for at least one-half of the school day.
• Students are typically allowed one day for each day of absence to complete homework/classwork (check school policy).
• Students responsible for work missed when absent.
• Extended absences for travel are discouraged in middle school.

MLL (Multilingual Learners) Program

• For students who are in 5th grade MLL and not proficient – they will continue in the MLL program in 6th grade
• WIDA (annual English language test) in February/March to check student’s level of English language proficiency – only given to students who qualify for the MLL program (students who took screener test when they started at a school).
• In middle school, MLL students take one English Language Development class from a certificated MLL teacher.
  • Class focuses on academic language needed for content classes so students can succeed in math, language arts, social studies and science
  • Reading, writing, listening and speaking of academic English language critical for students’ success in school

Health Room and SCHOOL NURSE

• All school in the Issaquah School District have a health room (nurse full time?).
• A school nurse supports students in the following ways:
  • Protects and promotes student health
  • Facilitates optimal development
  • Advances academic success
• Reach out to your school nurse if:
  • Your student has an allergy that a doctor has prescribed an Epipen.
  • Your student has diabetes
  • Your student has asthma and an inhaler has been prescribed
  • Your student has a seizure disorder
  • Your student has any medical condition that impacts school performance
  • Your family needs assistance with resources, such as food, clothing or medical insurance. 

ASB

• ASB – Associated Student Body (IMS) (CMMS)
• Group of students at each school who contribute to a fund that helps support clubs, sports and other events at the school
• Students are elected to represent the grade levels and group to run the organization, plan and support student engagement on campus.
• Students who plan on participating in sports, clubs and attend ASB sponsored events need to pay and have an ASB card (can pay online during the Enrollment Verification Process (EVP) or anytime during year)
• $35 membership fee for ASB (part of Fees and Fine payment in August and can pay anytime through the year)
• Financial aid available for ASB, sport and other fees.  Speak to the school counselor.

Fees and Costs

• ASB card –  usually required for all sports, clubs, and music programs ($35)
• Sports fee – $50 for Junior Varsity (JV) and Varsity and $20 for intramural per sport
• PE uniforms (check with individual school)
• Yearbook 
• Science/Lab fee
• Elective class fee – depending on type of elective (art, drama, etc. - usually 7th and 8th grade)
• Instrument rental (as needed for students taking Band or Orchestra as an elective)
• Financial assistance is available to families who qualify check with school counselors.

*Most fees and expenses paid in August during Enrollment Verification Process (EVP) or before school begins families can go to the school office. 

Clubs and After School Bus

• All middle schools offer a variety of afterschool club opportunities. 
• Students must have an ASB card to participate in clubs (pay in August during EVP as part of school material fees)
• Check the school's website – Student Life – Activities – Clubs - to learn more including the clubs, times and dates club meets, room location
• Each year, the club opportunities may vary since club availability depends on student interest and advisory availability. 
• If students would like to start a club, contact school ASB teacher.
• After school buses are available for students (who take a school bus) who participate in clubs and sports. 
• After school buses do not stop at the regular bus stop so please check the bus route – all school bus information on Programs and Services – Buses tab on ISD website. 
• Additional after school opportunities available through PTSA and the Issaquah Community Center.

Advice from Parents

• Understand that MIDDLE SCHOOL is a transition year – they are learning how to be organized, develop good studying skills, personal skills, etc.
• Help your child be organized – strategies for binder, locker, classroom behavior
• Time management strategies – when to go to bathroom, locker, lost and found, office or counselor
• If you and your child need support – who to talk to for help? School counselor
• Check students’ planner and teacher websites frequently with your child in 6th grade for the first few months
• Help them learn how to open their lockers
• Remember – no specific parent-teacher conference date, if you need to communicate with teacher or counselor, you need to initiate contact with specific teacher or a school counselor.

Middle School Welcome Events

(Dates are posted in the elementary school bulletin – check the elementary school bulletin for more information
Middle schools will be sending emails to families with this information also.
Check your email (junk folder) 

Questions?

Click below for presentation in Espanol

Información de transición de quinto grado​
 

Click below for presentation in Chinese

ISD 五年級過渡信息說明會