What will the daily schedule be for 6th graders in the middle school?
At the middle school, each sixth-grade student will have English, mathematics, science, social studies, lunch, a trimester elective [STEAM/art/computer science], and music [chorus/band/orchestra] three days per week split with physical education two days per week. The English and mathematics courses are 84-minutes in length whereas all others are 40-minute periods.
Sixth grade will follow a school within a school model. Sixth-grade teachers will either teach English and social studies OR mathematics and science and be partnered with a teacher who teaches the other two subjects creating a teacher-pair. The students will be scheduled to a teacher-pair.
This teacher-pair offers cohesion among a smaller number of students within the larger student population in sixth grade. Students from all of the elementary schools are randomly assigned to a teacher-pair that is balanced by gender and ability. For lunch music, and their trimester class, the student will be mixed in with other sixth-graders. Students are notified of their teacher-pair and schedule in mid-August.
Will 6th graders still follow a 6-day schedule in the middle school?
No. The middle school follows a 5-day schedule as detailed above.
Will 6th grade have teams?
No. Students will be scheduled to one of the eight teacher-pairs. The student will be in the same section (class) as their first period classmates for each of their four core courses.
How will 6th graders spend the last 30 minutes of each day?
Following periods 1-9, sixth-graders will finish with their homeroom period. Their homeroom teacher will be one of the teachers in their assigned teaher-pair. All of their courses each day, homeroom included, will be sixth-graders only.
Approximately two days a month, in lieu of going to homeroom, students will go to their club activity, which could include seventh- and eighth-graders. Approximately one day a month, in lieu of going to homeroom, students will go to their advisory day, which will include 3-4 students in all three grades.
Regardless of where they are, all students are dismissed each day at 2:50 p.m.
How will 6th graders be scheduled in the middle school?
Sixth-graders in the middle school will be scheduled the same way seventh- and eighth-graders are scheduled. Students will not be grouped by their elementary school.
Will 6th graders change classes with the 7th and 8th graders?
No.
Will 6th graders be in their own "wing" in the middle schoool?
Yes.
Will 6th graders eat lunch with 7th and 8th grade?
No. Each grade will have its own separate lunch period in the middle school.
Will 6th graders have gym with 7th or 8th graders?
No.
Will bus routes change with the addition of 6th grade at the middle school?
No. While bus routes can always change from year-to-year, families should not expect any major changes as a direct result of sixth-graders in the middle school.
What will the GATE program look like for 6th graders in the middle school? Will it be the same as it is in the elementary schools?
No. The sixth grade GATE program in the middle school will look similar to the seventh grade GATE program. Seventh and eighth grade GATE includes strength and interest-based projects and activities aligned with Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP) of each student. The GATE teacher establishes GATE time for students as well as collaborative time with content teachers.
Will 6th graders still participate in the Wonders of Wonders presentation?
Yes. The Wonders of Wonders presentation is part of the sixth grade curriculum.
Will there be a back-to-school event for rising 6th graders before the 2020-21 school year?
Yes. A back-to-school social will be held for students entering sixth and seventh grades on August 5, 2020 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Students will have the opportunity to explore their new school while on a scavenger hunt through the building. The event will also feature food trucks, games and activities, a spirit wear sale and more. Orientations/curriculum nights will be held for all grades (sixth, seventh and eighth) in August of 2020 like they currently are for seventh and eighth grades.
What will music look like for 6th graders in the middle school?
Sixth grade music in the middle school will look like seventh and eighth grade music. Students will have their choice of band, orchestra, chorus or general music, and that course will be scheduled opposite of their physical education course. As a result, sixth-graders in the middle school will have significantly more music classes than sixth-graders currently have in the elementary schools.
What will happen to events like the 6th Grade Band Tour and nursing home orchestra performance?
The band tour and orchestra performance will continue to be sixth grade events. As it’s been, the sixth grade band will visit the elementary buildings in May and the sixth grade orchestra will continue to visit a nursing home to perform.
Will 6th graders have recess at the middle school?
No. Recess is only held in our elementary schools. Sixth-graders can participate in an intramural sports club which meets during homeroom in the gym.
Will 6th graders be able to participate in middle school clubs?
Yes. Sixth-graders can participate in all clubs currently offered at the middle school. View the complete list.
Will 6th graders be able to participate in middle school club sports?
Yes. Sixth-graders can also participate in club sports when that club’s governing body permits sixth graders to participate. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL) permits teams to carry sixth-graders on their roster, i.e.
Will 6th graders be able to participate in middle school interscholastic sports?
No. Per the National Federation of High School Sports and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), school-sponsored athletics begin in seventh grade. Sixth-graders can participate in club sports when that club’s governing body permits sixth graders to participate. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL), i.e., permits teams to carry sixth-graders on their roster. Sixth-graders will also be able to participate in community sports as they currently do.
Will 6th graders be able to participate in middle school dances and activity nights?
Yes.
Will 6th graders be able to participate in middle school plays?
Yes.
Will 9th graders still be in the middle school play?
No. After the 2019-20 school year, the middle school play will be for grades 6-8. High schoool plays and musicals will be for grades 9-12.
Will 6th graders take field trips in the middle school?
Yes. Field trips occur in the middle school and are sponsored by fundraising. Teachers decide on field trips and they can occur by class, by team or grade-level. The eighth grade class has historically taken a larger class to Washington, DC, Hershey Park or Kennywood.
Do parent volunteers chaperone field trips in the middle school?
No. In general, parents do not attend student field trips.
Is there a PTA, PTO or PTSO in the middle school?
No.