MMS 7-White Community

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September 7, 2011

WELCOME BACK!!!  We are already off to a great start with our new 7 White Community, and we are 
looking forward to a great school year.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions, and check 
back here often for updates.  The homework page is a valuable asset that we hope you will find 
useful.  Additionally, every parent and student has access to the online grading program, Infinite 
Campus, which is another great resource.  Check in with Mrs. Gallagher in the office if you need your 
login information.  Our new email addresses this year are through Google, and follow the following 
pattern: firstname<dot>lastname<@>rsu35<dot>org, as in emily.stauffer@rsu35.org, randall.leavitt, 
diane.mcfarland, richard.young, etc...

Thanks!

April 9, 2011
TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM

We are implementing a new structured system for the last trimester
of the school year to try and help students stay on target producing quality
work and taking responsibility for their grades. The system has been named the
Traffic Light System. 
Green:
•	Student is completing homework assignments  
•	Work (classwork/homework) is appropriate and meeting standards 
•	Student is passing all class (C or better) 
Yellow: 
•	Student is not up to date with work in one or more classes 
        (due to absences or incomplete homework) 
•	Quality of work fluctuates and does not always meet the standards  
•	Student is in the D range in one class 
Red:
•	Student is not completing homework assignments or classwork 
•	Quality of work is well below the standard  
•	Student is in the D range in 2 (or more) classes or failing 1 (or more)

•	If the student is in the green range they are doing great and should not
worry.  
•	Students in the yellow zone need to sit down with the corresponding teacher
to figure out a plan. This can include lunch detention/study hall or
after school help until they are back in the green. At the yellow level
students have a say in what the plan will consist of. 
•	Red zone students are required to talk to their corresponding teacher(s) and
the teacher makes a plan to get the student caught up and into the yellow
range, where the plan can be renegotiated.

Students on red or yellow will get a slip of paper on Tuesday.  They need to
get it signed by a parent, and return it on Wednesday.

February 2011

Dear Parents,

Two years ago, our staff read the book Outliers: The Story of Success, by
Malcolm Gladwell.  The author analyzes the reasons behind people’s successes
and failures.  Success is often realized through a combination of many
factors, not the least of which is luck.  However, of all the “controllable”
factors determining success, practice is definitely paramount:  Gladwell cites
the “10,000 Hour Rule,” which defines the number of practice hours one must
have in order to truly master a discipline.  This rule applies equally well to
virtuoso violinists as to visionary computer programmers, like Bill Gates.  If
you want to be truly successful, you’ll have to put in the time to get there.

Another perennial focus at MMS is Art Costa’s Habits of Mind.  These habits
include our abilities to manage time, prioritize, and organize.  Some other
areas of focus are introspection, persistence, and emotional control.  Our
ability to assimilate these habits into our everyday lives often underlies the
reasons for our success, or lack thereof.

The examples above are mentioned for a reason:  We have noticed that many of
our students are not putting enough time and effort into their schoolwork. 
From Outliers, we’ve learned that practice is necessary for mastery.  Though
10,000 hours of homework might be a bit much (!), we can take away the
important reminder that success does not happen by magic.  And if we look at
the Habits of Mind, we see that we all have innate strengths... and innate
deficits.  Whether it’s procrastination, distraction, or disorganization that
stands in your child’s way, a little extra effort might make all the difference.

Homework might not seem like the most important (or fun) way to spend your
time when you’re twelve or thirteen, but it is important.  It’s important
because it helps students learn important concepts and practice important
skills - concepts and skills that will be necessary for success at the next
levels in life (not so different from video games, right?).  By failing to
practice, we’re shortchanging our potential, now and for years to come.

We plan to discuss these concepts with students in the upcoming weeks, and we
hope that you will join in the conversation, too - around the dinner table or
by sharing your thoughts with us.  
Expect to see an enlightening math assignment about time management at home
tomorrow night.

Thanks for taking the time to read this letter.

Sincerely,
The 7W Teachers

August 2010

7 White Community Supply List

You will need:
A heavy-duty two-inch binder (no Trapper Keepers, please)
Dividers for Math, Social Studies, Science, Allied Arts, and Language Arts
Five folders
Filler paper
A calculator (a basic inexpensive one is fine)
Pencils (Lots of these, especially if yours frequently "disappear"!!)
Colored pencils
Blue or black pens
Highlighters
Post-it notes and/or index cards

Optional, but useful:
Pencil-top erasers
A ruler with inches and centimeters
A fine-tipped, black Sharpie permanent marker
A small pencil sharpener
A pencil pouch for your binder
Scissors

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