Rolland-Warner 6/7 Campus
January News
Principal's Message
I hope you had a Merry Christmas and wish you a Happy and Safe New Year!
Here is a list of few important items in the newsletter below that you will want to scroll down to and read more about:
- Exam Schedule
- Winter Wonderland Dance
- Scheduling for 2020-2021
- NWEA map & M-Step Tests
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Second Semester Schedules
I also want to welcome our 5th grade parents to their first Rolland-Warner Newsletter! You are receiving the January RW Newsletter as it has a couple sections that deal with scheduling for 2020-2021. I look forward to going around to the elementary buildings and introducing myself to your children in January and if you have any questions, seeing you at one of our Parent Night sections. You are welcome to peruse the entirety of the newsletter to get a feel for the building, however, the following sections deal with information for 5th graders as well:
- Scheduling for 2020-2021
- NWEA map & M-Step Tests
- Opportunity Night
Looking forward to having a great start to a new decade with all the smiling faces after break!
Wyatt
Buffalo Wild Wings
How it works:
- Go to BWW on Jan 6, 13, 20, & 27 between 5-9pm!
- Present "Ticket" found below (Put the student's name on back of ticket for a drawing for a gift card!!! The more times you go the better the odds of winning gift card!!!) or present "Ticket" on phone.
- Enjoy!
Get your friends, grandparents, family and neighbors to go and take a "Ticket" with your child's name on it for better chance at a gift card!!!
Exam Schedule
Wednesday, Jan. 15th – Full Day
Thursday, Jan. 16th – Early Release (9:24am to 1:34pm)
Friday, Jan. 17th – Early Release (9:24am to 1:34pm)
On Wednesday, Jan. 15th (full day), Thursday, Jan. 16th (Early Release), and Friday, Jan 17th (early release), Rolland-Warner will be on the exam schedule for all secondary schools. While not every class is having exams, many are and a special schedule is required to make this happen. Since we share teachers with Zemmer and LHS, we need to be aligned with their schedule. Additionally, we have 0-Hour and PLTW to account for. In short, there are only so many solutions and none of them are perfect.
Therefore, on these three days all 0 Hour classes are cancelled. All Rolland-Warner students will start at the standard 9:24 start time. Students who normally ride the early busses in for 0-Hour/PLTW, will instead ride the regular Rolland-Warner Busses or can be dropped off from 9 to 9:15, on those three days. Individual reminders will be sent home directly with students, a phone blast will be sent home as a reminder, and the transportation department will send letters to all 0-hour students letting them know when and where they will be picked up by the busses. Should you have any questions about bus pick-up time or bus number please contact the transportation department at 667-2433.
Any students who have a 0-Hour at Rolland-Warner will take their 0-Hour exams on the Monday and Tuesday of that week in their normal 0-Hour class.
Please note that on the early release days, lunches will not be served to students. They will want to make sure to eat breakfast on that day. It sounds like a long time, but because of the late start our students usually don’t eat breakfast until 9am. Students will ride their regular buses home on these days so be aware they will be arriving earlier than a normal day. Students should be picked up at 1:34 in the car rider loop as is normal, just at an earlier time.
Please see the schedule below for details of each day!
Scheduling For 2020-2021
Current 5th Graders Transitioning to 6th Grade @ RW
RW Counselors and myself will be coming to the elementary schools to introduce ourselves and talk to the 5th graders on the following schedule. We will concentrate on class choices, but will answer some other questions to put minds at ease! Your child will be completing Winter NWEA MAP testing soon at their school and these results, along with M-Step, will be used to determine placement in interventions and advanced courses (see NWEA MAP & M-Step Testing section below). 5th grade students are to turn their completed schedule sheet into their homeroom teacher by February 7th.
5th Grade Presentations
1/27/19 1:30-2:30pm Murphy Elementary
1/28/19 9-10am Mayfield Elementary
1/28/19 1:30-2:30pm Schickler Elementary
1/29/19 9-10am Turrill Elementary
1/29/19 1:30-2:30pm Lynch Elementary
We also understand the importance of keeping parents informed of the many choices students have in the transition to RW and have scheduled the following Parent Nights specific to 5th grade student's class choices in transitioning to RW. We have scheduled two traditional students sections and one specific to year-round students. Know our RW Counselors are also available by phone (see below to contact the correct counselor).
Parent Meetings
5th Grade Transitioning to 6th Grade
January 29th - 6th Grade Traditional Session 1; 5-6pm
January 29th - 6th Grade Traditional Session 2; 6-7pm
January 29th - 6th Grade Year-Round Session; 7-8pm
For your convenience I have added events below that you can RSVP.
5th Grade to 6th Grade Parent Scheduling Meeting - Session 1
Wednesday, Jan 29, 2020, 05:00 PM
Rolland-Warner Middle School, West Genesee Street, Lapeer, MI, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
5th Grade to 6th Grade Parent Scheduling Meeting - Session 2
Wednesday, Jan 29, 2020, 06:00 PM
Rolland-Warner Middle School, West Genesee Street, Lapeer, MI, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
5th Grade to 6th Grade Parent Scheduling Meeting - Year-Round
Wednesday, Jan 29, 2020, 07:00 PM
Rolland-Warner Middle School, West Genesee Street, Lapeer, MI, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Current 6th Graders Moving to 7th Grade @ RW
RW Counselors will be bringing our current 6th graders to the Media Center during their social studies class on January 23, 2020 to explain the choices they have moving to 7th grade. 6th graders are to turn in completed schedule to their social studies teacher by January 31st.
We also will be having a Parent Night on January 28th, 2020 from 6-7 pm in the RW Cafe. This meeting will be specific to 7th grade class choices should parents have questions after receiving their surveys. Know our RW Counselors are also available by phone (see below to contact the correct counselor).
6th Grade to 7th Grade Parent Scheduling Meeting
Tuesday, Jan 28, 2020, 06:00 PM
Rolland-Warner Middle School, West Genesee Street, Lapeer, MI, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
RW Counselor's Corner
Time for scheduling for 2020-2021! Our counselors are Mrs. Price, who works with students with last names A-K, and Mrs. Tibbitt who will be working with students with the last name L-Z. They can be reached at:
Mrs. Price 810-538-2339 or cprice@lapeerschools.org
Mrs. Tibbitt 810-538-2338 or mtibbitt@lapeerschools.org
Current 7th Graders Transitioning to 8th Grade @ Zemmer
Zemmer Counselors will be coming to Rolland-Warner on February 11th & 12th to meet with current 7th graders in the Media Center to discuss choices moving to Zemmer. 7th graders are to turn completed schedule into their social studies teacher by February 21st.
Zemmer will be having a Walk-In/No Appointment Needed Night for scheduling questions on February 19th at Zemmer from 3:30-7:30 pm.
7th Grade to 8th Grade Scheduling Night
Wednesday, Feb 19, 2020, 03:30 PM
Zemmer Middle School, West Oregon Street, Lapeer, MI, USA
Importance of NWEA MAP & M-Step Tests in Scheduling for 2020-2021 & 2nd Semester
Although standardized assessments are not the perfect tool to analyze student progress and performance, they do provide a comprehensive view into how a student is performing compaired to their peers across Michigan and the Nation, as well as monitoring their growth from year to year. Here at Rolland-Warner we place tremendous emphasis on our two main standardized tests that are given during the year (M-Step and NWEA MAP). There are several reasons for this:
- The tests provide valuable information about the students’ individual academic ability; as well as provide a picture for Rolland-Warner to focus instruction.
- These tests are two important factors in the scheduling of classes here at Rolland-Warner; including both intervention classes to assist students to become proficient and advanced classes for those that ability show they need to be challenged as part of our MTSS process.
- Tests such as these will play an integral part in students’ future direction and career path. Not only do we use these tests for placements, universities use similar tests (ACT & PSAT) for admittance and financial scholarships.
- The State of Michigan places stresses the results of these tests. They can result in “Reward” or “Focus” school status, as well as influence the school’s “Report Card” given by the State.
- These tests impact teacher evaluations.
For the above reasons, we strongly encourage parents to have conversations with their child about the importance of these tests! In November test results for both M-Step and NWEA MAP were sent home, both reports not only show current performance levels, but can be compared to prior years to paint a picture about student progress. It is important that students understand the results as well these tests importance in the larger picture of their education. Know that your child’s ELA and Math teachers also have copies of these reports and have and will continue to review them with your student here at RW as well to set goals for this year!
Future Testing Schedule:
- Winter NWEA MAP testing will occur at RW January 7-10 for students below the 40 percentile for intervention placement for second semester, so I strongly encourage those students to take this test seriously and try their best. We truly want the students placed into intervention classes that require the assistance to become proficient as part of our MTSS process.
- M-Step testing will occur at RW beginning the first week of May. A full schedule will be included in an upcoming newsletter.
- Spring NWEA map testing for all students at RW will occur during the first part of June.
Winter Wonderland Dance
Students will have the opportunity to dance in the cafe, play basketball and volleyball in the gym, ping pong in a classroom, karaoke, and partake in the photo booth.
Parents please click on the below button and sign up if you would like to volunteer (remember you need a volunteer form on file).
Second Semester Schedules
Students will receive their schedules for 2nd semester on Wednesday, January 15th during the shortened 5th hour of the exam week. Please help students remember these schedules on January 21st which is the first day of the 2nd semester. A good tip we give students is to snap a picture of their schedule on their cell phones. This way, the picture is always with them and even if they forget their schedules they can view a copy of it on their phone.
As is the case often in grades 6-12, students may be switching teachers at the semester break, even for core classes (Science, Math, ELA, and Social Studies). All classes are at the same point once we reach the end of the semester so students don’t have to worry about being in a different spot than their last class was in. If you have any concerns about your child’s schedule, please contact the counselors for assistance. Although the schedule is very tight with little wiggle room, we really try to do our best to ensure students are placed appropriately.
For year-round students, their 2nd semester started on January 6th, except for their elective classes. Because year-round and traditional students share elective classes, we are unable to start the new electives until January 21st, when traditional changes. All year-round students will receive a new schedule during the traditional calendar exam week which will reflect their changes in elective courses.
Week of Jan 6 - Optimism/Hope
You expect the best from the future and work to achieve it.
Hope and optimism represent a state of hopefulness and confidence about the future (both short and long term). People with this strength are future oriented. They have a positive vision of what the future holds and maintain confidence that they will get there. They keep a positive attitude despite setbacks – and often find ways to convert what seems like an obstacle into a stepping-stone to achieve their goals.
Week of Jan 20 - Prudence
You plan for the future and achieve your goals by making careful everyday choices.
Prudence is the ability to do the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason. It's a future-oriented way of thinking that helps a person set goals, make plans, and have the discipline to accomplish them. It is cognitive – more a strength of the head than of the heart.
Week of Jan 27 - Perseverance
You complete what you start despite obstacles. You never give up.
The concept of perseverance can most often be found in one’s active pursuit in overcoming obstacles. Perseverance is a uniquely human characteristic that identifies an individual’s ability to spend long periods of time devoted to a single goal or set of goals. Those who persevere are able to set goals for themselves and then take active, calculated steps toward those goals. People demonstrating high levels of perseverance are able to handle significant, sometimes repeated, setbacks in pursuit of goals.
Student Handbook Notes
Each month a couple areas of the student handbook will be highlighted. Don’t forget the full student handbook can be found under the “Parents & Students” tab on our website at http://rw.lapeerschools.org/
BULLYING – A pattern of intentional inappropriate conduct that negatively impacts other students’ educational, physical, or emotional well-being. It would include, but not be limited to, such behaviors as cyber bullying, hazing, stalking, intimidating, menacing, coercion, name-calling, taunting, making threats. Suspension up to ten days or expulsion.
Bullying is definitely a hot button issue right now, not just for students and staff, but in the media. It is also a very complicated problem with many layers to it. One of the hardest parts about “bullying” is actually determining what constitutes bullying and helping students to understand what it looks like. Is this really bullying or are you having a disagreement/argument with a friend? The most important thing that students should know is that if they feel they are being bullied, they MUST contact an adult in the building. Students can fill out slips to see an administrator or counselor in the office at which point they will be brought in to discuss the problem. The administrative staff spends a great amount of time investigating complaints and working through solutions with students. If your child has mentioned to you they feel like they are being bullied, please encourage them to see an administrator in the office. There are several methods and strategies we have to deal with these issues but we can’t address them if we don’t know they exist.
Rolland-Warner PAC Meetings
What an awesome conversation at the last PAC meeting and a great way to improve our school with input from our parent stakeholders! We welcome you to attend!!!
Here is a list of the PAC meetings for the year that will occur close to the third Friday of the month at 9:30 am-10:30 am in the Rolland-Warner conference room, so you can put on your calendar: Feb. 24, Mar. 20, Apr. 17, and May 15.
Title 1 & 31a Happenings
Any item purchased with grant funds is required to be labeled with the funding source, and the year that it was purchased. An inventory is kept for each school that tells the materials that have been purchased with grant funds and where the items are located in the building.
Box Tops for Education has went Digital!!!
Opportunity Night
Please join us at Lapeer High School on January 9th from 5:30pm to 8:0Opm for our annual LCS Opportunity Night. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the wide variety of programs we offer in grades 6-12. Understanding the various opportunities at this level will enable you to help guide your student’s academic decisions.
Winter II Sports
Washington DC 2020 Trip
Washington DC Informational Meeting was held on Tuesday, October 29 at 7 pm in the RW cafetorium for all 7th grade students and their parents interested in traveling to Washington, DC in November 2020. Sign up information was distributed at this meeting and buses will fill on a first-come first-serve basis based on the date of registration on the BrightSpark website. If you were unable to attend the paperwork and fundraiser information can now be found in the front office!
Candy Bars
World's Finest Chocolate Bar Fundraiser went home before break (distributed in Social Studies classes) and is due on January 14th and distribution on January 29th.
Curriculum Update
Kagan Cooperative Learning Strategies
This fall secondary teachers were trained in the use of Kagan Cooperative Learning Strategies. These instructional strategies are designed to promote cooperation and communication in the classroom, boost students' confidence and retain their interest in classroom interaction. It is built on a single tenet: When students are engaged and motivated, "learning sticks." It's impossible to hide in a Kagan classroom because each student "participates frequently and approximately equally." While traditional teaching can lead to an ever-widening gap between high and low achievers, this method has proven to help close the gap.
Upcoming Dates
January 6th - Welcome Back!
January 9th - Opportunity Night @ LHS
January 15th - Full Day Exams (1st and 6th Hour)
January 16th - Early Release Exams (2nd and 3rd Hour - Release at 1:34pm)
January 17th - Early Release Exams (4th and 5th Hour - Release at 1:34pm)
January 17th - Winter Wonderland Dance (1:34 pm -4:00pm)
January 20th - No School (Secondary Teacher's Record Day)
January 21st - 2nd Semester Starts
Rolland-Warner Contact Information
Email: rshrontz@lapeerschools.org
Website: rw.lapeerschools.org
Location: 3145 West Genesee Street, Lapeer, MI, USA
Phone: (810) 538-2334
Facebook: https://facebook.com/RollandWarnerMiddleSchool
Twitter: @Lapeerschools