Question about 6th grade lockers:
Until they get lockers, they can carry a bookbag.
They do need to carry their lunch, even when we get lockers.
When lockers are issued, they'll use their lockers after they get off the bus
(on their way to homeroom)to get the materials they'll need for periods 1-4.
THEN they use their lockers at the end of 4th period (around 2:30)
and get what they need for PE/connections, as well as whatever they need to
go home.
-------------------------
Other questions from 6th grade parents...
1. How much homework should the kids expect? ....If your child is in ALL 4
AC classes, expect 1-2 hours per night (more some nights if your child
procrastineate)
2. Are the students allowed to keep a water bottle with them?? --yes, but
lids must stay on in case they spill
3. Are they allowed to bring & eat a snack in the afternoon? usually not,
but it's ultimately up to the teacher (if there's a health reason for the
snack, like diabetes, then definately YES)
4. Are they dismissed from their 6th period class or do they go back to
their homeroom for dismissal?--they are dismissed at 4:15 directly from their
6th period class (no going back to lockers)
-----------------------
E-mail sent out August 2nd for 6th grade parents and for students new to East
Cobb Middle School:
Here’s a few “Q&A’s” I thought of (others are answer on our teacherweb site
(click on PARENT PAGE)):
1. When does my child get his/her schedule?..........the first day of school
in homeroom
2. What time does school start/end?..........1st period begins at 9:15 (note
that homeroom and 1st period is the same teacher for 6th and 8th grade);
school ends at 4:15pm
3. If my child does not ride a school bus, when can I drop my child
off?..........if your child arrives at school before 8:45am, he/she should
report to the cafeteria (next to the media center), unless he/she is going to
band practice, schedule tutoring, Science Olympiad, etc. Students should NOT
be dropped off before 8:15am, unless prior arrangements have been made with a
teacher (Science Olympiad, for example, begins at 8am)
4. How can I get more information about Science Olympiad?..........go to the
ECMS Science Olympiad website:
http://www.teacherweb.com/GA/EastCobb/sciolympiad
(contact Mrs. McMullan for other questions about Science Olympiad)---and YES
we are looking for coaches and assistant coaches
5. What does my child need to know the first day of school?........(1) what
team he/she is on or his/her homeroom teacher, (2) bus number (we’ll tell
the kids where the bus will be in the afternoon), (3) student ID number
(also called “lunch number”), which is a 6-7 digit number (I have a list if
needed)—if your child was in a Cobb County school last year, it has not
changed
6. Where do we go if my child is late or needs to leave early?..........the
attendance office (when you come into the front of the school, turn right,
and it’s the first door on your right)
7. How long are the class periods?..........academic classes are about an
hour (periods 1-4), while PE/Connection classes are about 45 minutes (periods
5-6)
8. Where does my child bring medicines?..........see Ms. Becky in the clinic,
and be sure to have meds in the original container, as well as the Cobb
County form (found at:
http://www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/studentsupport/schoolhealth/medicine.htm)
9. How much is a school lunch?..........$1.75 (I REALLY SUGGEST YOU PACK A
LUNCH THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS because it’s hectic in the lunch room during
the first day or two)---I also suggest that you send in a check to pay for a
week or month at a time OR pay online (MealPay).
10. What is the student dress code?.......more details will be in the agenda
students get Monday morning, but for now, use common sense (no sagging pants,
no short shorts, no bellies exposed, shoulder straps need to be at least 2
inches, no undergarments showing, etc.) Here’s the Cobb County School
Board’s rules:
http://www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/adminrules/J_Rules/Rule%20JICA.htm
11. How do I know which bus my child rides?......there will be bus routes
posted in the hallway; the on-line bus locator should be working soon:
http://edulogwebs1.cobbk12.org/edulog/servlet/WebQueryRequestController
12. What about sports?...... http://www.cobbk12.org/EastCobb/jrwildcats.html
13. When do the students get lockers?........usually near the end of the
first week (when all paperwork has been returned to the homeroom teacher)
14. When do students use their lockers?..........during homeroom and at the
end of 4th period (around 2:30pm)---NOTE: no rolling bookbags (they do not
fit in the lockers)
15. What about cell phones?........students may have cell phones at school,
but they are not to be used, seen or heard—only used with permission for
emergencies (no I-pods, Gameboys, etc are allowed). MY SUGGESTION….check
your phone bill to see if your child is making calls or texting during school
hours
16. Will the teachers call if my child’s grades are low, etc?.........no
usually because you will have access to an online grading program called
PINNACLE (more information soon); if you do not have Internet access, please
let the teachers know when you want grade sheets
17. How do I contact teachers?......through e-mail (most teachers do not
check their voice mails very often, but they check their e-mails about 10
times a day)
18. What if my child is not in an AC class?....... Current AC placements were
based on ITBS scores, be we know this does not always tell the complete story
of a child. All 6th graders that are not in all AC classes will be
REevaluated for additional AC classes at the end of the first semester.
We'll look at grades, teacher recs, and CRCT scores (as well as writing
samples for AC LA). Please be patient; we cannot screen one child without
screening all. (note: there is no re-evaluation for math 6/7 at the end of
the semester--as far as I know.); students will be re-evaluated twice in 7th
grade----over the summer with CRCT scores, then again in December with ITBS
scores (class size will still be a big factor)
--------------------------------
E-mail sent July 18th for 6th grade parents only:
Our list is down 23 to parents that have not responded ("Are you coming to
ECMS?"). -see e-mail for the list of parents. If you know phone numbers or e-
mails of any of these parents, please let me know and I'll TRY to contact
them. You are welcome to call them and BEG them to e-mail me so I know if
they will be part of our AC program in 6th grade. This is very important if
we want schedules to be accurate August 10th.
If your child is on the waiting list (refer to the blue sheet I sent home in
May), we will place as many as possible AFTER NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION (July
30th). I'll e-mail you if your child has been added to an AC class. I can't
do anything until this time.
Please note that I am not in charge of placing kids in math 6/7.
If you want this information sent to other e-mail addresses, just let me know
(include receiver's name and student's name).
------------------
E-mail sent July 17th:
August 5th is ECMS’s Meet-and-Greet (Sneek-a-Peek). Stop in anytime between
5:30-7pm. You’ll want to stop by the cafeteria FIRST. There is NO MEETING.
Here's the 2009-10 school CALENDAR:
www.cobbk12.org/generalinfo/calendars/2009-10/2009-10SchoolYearCalendar.pdf
(early release, including conference week is at 2:15pm)
School LUNCH MENU:
http://www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/foodservices/SchoolMenuPages/index.htm
(I would suggest putting money on your child’s account because kids can lose
or forget their lunch money)
If your child EVER takes MEDICINE at school (even if it's Motrin once a
year), please fill out the CCSD form(s) and bring in the form(s) and medicine
(in the original contain) as soon as possible. I hate seeing kids hurting
while they wait for medicine to arrive from home.
To get the forms, go to:
http://www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/studentsupport/schoolhealth/medicine.htm
(on the left side of this page is links for other medical forms)
If your child has food allergies, here's a great website...
http://www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/foodservices/index.htm
(then click on ALLERGENS on the left)
Information about East Cobb Middle School can be found at:
http://www.cobbk12.org/EastCobb
--------------------
E-mail sent July 14th:
If your child is interested in Georgia State's Saturday classes (I recommend
them), go to:
http://education.gsu.edu/saturdayschool/NewFolder/classes_offered.htm
----------------------
E-mail sent July 2nd:
Here are three of websites you will need to be familiar with:
1. http://www.teacherweb.com/GA/eastcobb/AC (this is used by all AC
teachers, except for math).
There is a link for SUPPLIES near the bottom.
2. For science (on-level or AC): http://my.hrw.com
(summer username: temporary4)
(summer password: m6z5a)
!!!!No matter if you are in AC or on-level, this will be your 6th grade
science textbook. Please spend at least an hour exploring this website,
including all the tabs. Let me kwow if you have any questions.
3. www.brainpop.com (this is paid for my our wonderful ECMS Foundation).
It is meant to be used for ALL SUBJECTS.
Username=ecobb Password= ecobb
(please do not share the password with other schools)
In AC science, I will expect students to use this website frequently, but a
lot of other teachers use this site too.
------------------------------
------------------END of Notes to Parents-------------
From LAST year....
****************
If you missed open house Aug 28th, and your child has Mrs. McMullan,
you can view her PowerPoint presentation at:
http://www.slideshare.net/mcmullan/mcmullans-open-house-presentation
************************
**********************************
Notes to parents (from our open house Aug 28th):
1. Advanced Content (AC) is for gifted students, as well as high achieving
students. INITIAL placement is only based on ITBS scores (see below)
2. Positives of Advanced Classes: prepared for high school (challenging)
and usually smaller class size (allows for more authentic assessment)
Negative: stress level (more work) ---be careful what you wish for!
***Look for a balance
3. Placement for AC:
a. Grades (looking for solid �A�s�)
b. NATIONALLY NORMED Achievement tests
i. ITBS (5th grade) --and 8th grade this September
ii. Stanford
c. AC Science: Look at math, science, & reading subtests and grades
d. AC Lang Arts: Look at reading and Lang Arts subtests and grades
e. AC Social Studies: Look at reading and SS subtests and grades
f. Advanced Math is not part of the AC program, so they have differerent
criteria (see Ms. Rita McGinley for questions)
g. �Exceeds standards� cannot place a student into an AC class, but
it MAY allow Mrs. McMullan to retest with a Stanford test
(assuming grades are solid A's!!)
h. Only if space available and student�s schedule allows
4. Continuation criteria for AC
a. If 9-week (quarter) grade drops below an 80%, student is placed
on �probation�
b. If this happens again, the student is removed and placed in an on-
level class
c. A student can come back to an AC class eventually, but he/she
must do exceptional work in the on-level class
5. Communication
a. www.teacherweb.com/GA/eastcobb/ac (not just for students)
**More than just homework and classwork
b. E-mail is the best way to contact us (you can also leave a voice mail
or send a note)
c. It is the student�s responsibility to make up work when absent (late
work is generally not accepted)
6. Clubs:
a. Science Olympiad (need parent coaches)�meeting after Labor Day
b. Robotics
c. F-1
d. Science/Math Quizbowl at KSU
e. Academic Bowl
f. OM team (one parent coach needed for each group of 7 students)
g. Student Forum
7. High School placement:
a. Magnet/IB: (must apply to be accepted)
i. Wheeler
ii. Kennesaw
iii. South Cobb High
iv. Pebblebrook
v. North Cobb High
vi. IB (Campbell)
b. Honors classes also available�based on 8th grade GRADES
8. Duke University Search
a. Only 7th grade
b. Website: www.tip.duke.edu
c. Applications from Ms. Gibson after Labor Day
9. Georgia Association of Gifted Children
www.cobbchapter-gagc.org
10. How can parents help?
a. Support the teachers!
b. Encourage, advise, and help your child, but do not do the work for
them
c. E-mail Mrs. McMullan if you have an AC question or a scheduling
problem
d. Check our website AND I-parent at least once a week
11. If you have not signed up for PICASSO (new program), go to the front
office any school day (9am-3pm).
