Middle School Update - Fall 2007

Academics
:: Roycemore recommends that Middle School students engage in a minimum of 60-90 minutes of homework and/or quiet study each night, with 7th & 8th graders working on the high end of that range. It is important, during the Middle School years, for students to begin to understand that homework is not always WRITTEN work, and that reviewing one's notes, previewing chapters to come, and looking over challenging material covered recently is also one's responsibility. This helps prepare Roycemore's middle schoolers for success in Upper School, as in-class tests become increasingly important to measuring academic progress. It may also be worth noting that students in Roycemore's 7th grade complete 90 minute semester examinations in English and Mathematics in January and June, while 8th graders complete semester examinations at the same time in English, Mathematics, History, Science and Foreign Language, again, all in preparation for success in high school and beyond. The only 6th graders who complete semester exams are those placed in advanced mathematics classes. 5th graders. continuing their gradual transition into a departmentalized academic program and adjusting to actual letter grades and increased expectations for organization and greater independence, do not take semester examinations.
 
:: The first academic quarter concludes on Friday, October 19th, with grade reports scheduled to be reviewed by students in Advisory on October 24th and mailed home to parents late that week. Students earning no grade for the quarter lower than an A- earn STAR HONOR status. Students earning a minimum of a B average in their coursework earn HONOR ROLL status. Roycemore's semester grades, those that appear on formal transcripts, are a combination of two academic quarters, and for students in grades 7 & 8, scores on semester exams, as well.
 
:: Did You Know? That one of the three primary areas of focus for the Middle School faculty this year is fine tuning instruction in our Division? This will help ensure that all teachers are explicit about the most important concepts and skills contained in each lesson, and that the logical structure of each lesson lends itself to encouraging retention of key concepts and skills by students. Roycemore's dedicated, talented teachers are its greatest strength, in large part because of their ongoing focus on fine-tuning their craft and on basing decision-making on what best serves their students' needs. Mrs. Dreiling, Assistant Division Head, will lead discussions at faculty meetings this year on this and other areas of focus for the MS faculty (including sustaining a culture of kindness in the Middle School, and nurturing our adaptability to changing needs).   
 
Advisory
Middle School students selected faculty Advisors in early September, and recently established individual goals for the year and reviewed Midquarter Reports in Advisory sessions. Mrs. Dreiling manages the Advisory programs for both the Upper and Middle Schools, and works closely with Advisors to offer conversation and activities of relevance to early adolescents. Our small, nurturing Advisory groups offer support for all students, while faculty Advisors also work closely, one-to-one, with advisees on all aspects of school life (from resolving social conflicts to encouraging involvement in activities, and from addressing academic issues with other teachers to helping students find meaning in disciplinary action when misconduct has occurred). This program plays a crucial role in sustaining a culture of kindness in our Division. If you have a suggestion for an Advisory topic or activity, please send it along to Mrs. Dreiling at sdreiling@roycemoreschool.org, anytime. The Advisory program is intended to help early adolescents learn how to resolve problems with greater independence, while at the same time encouraging thought and reflection on key developmental and ethical issues for pre-teens today. Your feedback, as always, is appreciated! 

Olympics
The MS Olympics program helps ensure that our students have the opportunity to practice teamwork and fair play, while also not taking themselves OH so seriously! All middle schoolers belong to an Olympic team, with a faculty sponsor and student captains (usually 8th graders). Throughout the year, there are 16 events, some team events that include every MS student, and others designed for a smaller number of representatives from each team. Events held recently, during the lunch period, have included the Team Water Balloon Toss on September 11th, the Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest on September 17th, and the Four Square Tournament on September 24th. Upcoming events this fall include the Team Tug-O-War on October 3rd, the Team Relay Race on October 17th, the annual Spelling Bee on November 14th, and the Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament on November 19th. At the conclusion of the Olympic year in early June, there is an ice cream social for all middle schoolers to celebrate their participation.