Welcome to LMS!
Information for Rising Sixth Graders (2023)
We Are Looking Forward to Meeting You!
How Is Placement In Accelerated Courses Determined?
Any changes in course placement that occur between June 11 and June 21, would be made at the middle school level, aka through us at Leonardtown Middle! For example, if a student has been placed in an on-grade level class, but is interested in being placed in accelerated, they would reach out to Mr. Engel-Cope, the sixth grade assistant principal, about placement. From there, I would look at the student's data (previous county and state assessment scores), and then work with the parent/guardian to set up a time for the student to take an additional placement assessment for the accelerated curriculum to determine if the placement would be appropriate.
What Does The Sixth Grade Schedule Look Like?
Most courses run for a 45 minute class period, with the exception of Math and English and Language Arts class being blocked for two periods (an hour and a half total)! Students also have a 30 minute lunch and 15 minutes of recess either at the beginning or end of their lunch period.
Each student's schedule is going to look a little different, but please click the picture below to get an idea of what a sample sixth grader's schedule may look like!
What Do I Learn About In Sixth Grade?
In the Core Math course, you will be exposed to a range of mathematical concepts that will prepare you for Algebra. Students will focus on geometry, ratio and proportions, number system operations, expressions and equations.
Accelerated Math
In an accelerated math course, you will be required to learn all of the 6th grade math concepts and half of the 7th grade math concepts. In addition to the 6th grade content, you will be exposed to integer operations, multi-step equations, and experience higher-level thinking problems. In order to successfully learn all the material needed, this class moves at a faster pace than a core math course.
Core English and Language Arts
In Core English and Language Arts, students learn how writers try to influence readers while discovering how they can do the same in their own prose. They focus on examining how authors use reasons to make their points and support their arguments with evidence, analyzing both the structure and content of complex, grade-appropriate texts. They also share their findings in class discussions, practicing how to logically sequence ideas and highlight the themes and key details they find most persuasive.
Accelerated English and Language Arts
The Maryland College and Career Readiness Standards expect students to apply skills they learned in earlier grades to make sense of more challenging books and articles. By performing close readings of a variety of grade-level complex texts, provided in the CollegeBoard SpringBoard curriculum, students will develop the ability to cite textual evidence to support their analyses. The middle school years provide a powerful opportunity to help all students acquire the knowledge, concepts, and skills needed to engage in higher levels of learning. With this in mind, our accelerated courses are aligned with the content and concepts taught in high school Advanced Placement English Language and Composition and Literature courses, starting with sixth grade.
Science
In Science, we study patterns in the solar system, and examine the Earth's place in the universe. Then we examine our planet with a closer lens, where we examine the circulation of Earth's air and water, the process of erosion, the weather and climates, and natural hazards. We will investigate how the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object. We close the year with analyzing resources in Earth's systems and how the human species impacts Earth's systems.
Social Studies
In Social Studies, we will examine the history of the Ancient World from its earliest accounts (the Neo-lithic Revolution) to the fall of Rome (roughly 5th century AD) and to the 15 century AD for the Americas. We will cover the ancient civilizations and societies that have much of the modern world including Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Persia, Ancient Israel and Judaism, Ancient Greece and Athenian democracy as well as philosophy; Ancient Rome; the rise of Christianity, Ancient India, Africa, China, and the Americas.
PE/Health
PE aims to provide students with a developmentally appropriate, and personally challenging program that advances the knowledge, confidence, and motivation needed to engage in a lifelong, healthy, active lifestyle. Physical Education provides students with opportunities to learn motor skills, develop fitness, work alongside others and gain understanding about the importance of physical activity. Health provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to be healthy throughout their lifetime. The intent of a comprehensive health education program is to motivate students to maintain and improve their health, prevent disease, and avoid or reduce health related risk behaviors.
Sixth Grade Elective Course Descriptions
All students are required to be enrolled in PE and a Fine Arts class. Students in sixth grade may choose from the following Fine Arts Courses: Art, Strings, Band, Chorus and General Music. All course offerings are created based on student choice, so not all courses may actually run during the school year. Please note that all course offerings are contingent upon staff availability and class size. Students will need to indicate their first and second choice for all electives.
Band
In this course, students are learning how to play a band instrument in a larger, mixed instrumentation class. Students will expand their knowledge from elementary school or begin from scratch. New students are always welcome. A wider variety of instruments will become available including Bass Clarinet , Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, French Horn, Baritone, and Tuba. Don't have an instrument? We have school rentals available for the students that need them. More public performances and honor opportunities will become available this year along with Jazz Band and Percussion Ensemble. If you are new to playing please email Mrs. Czechanski at mlczechanski@smcps.org to discuss opportunities available.
Orchestra
In this course students will build and expand upon knowledge from elementary school. Instrument opportunities for this course include violin, viola, cello, and string bass. Students will learn new orchestra repertoire, string techniques, aural skills, sight reading and more. Additional public performances and honor opportunities will become available this year. It is recommended that students have at least one year of previous experience. School rentals are available for students in need. If you are new to playing, please email Ms. LaGamba at krlagamba@smcps.org to discuss available opportunities.
Visual Arts
In this course students will paint, draw and gain a deeper understanding of the elements and principals of art. This will include a variety of medium including paint, ink, pencil, and clay. Students will develop skills in drawing, sculpting, and painting. Units will vary and an example of an art project completed is the creation of the ugly jugs.
General Music
In this course, students will explore various types of music. Students performance units may include playing mallets, guitar, and/or World Drumming. Classes will use Schoology to explore instruments and careers in music, and the history of music including jazz, pop and rock. No previous music knowledge is required for this class.
Chorus
In Chorus, students will sing a variety of musical genres while practicing techniques for healthy singing. In addition, students will work on music reading skills through many different methods. Students will learn music of increasing difficulty in two and three parts. No previous singing experience is needed.
Teams in Sixth Grade - How Does This Work?
Lockers
Our Jaguars Are PAWS-itive!
P - Positive and Polite - We love for our students to be encouraging towards others, and accept challenges with hopefulness and excitement! Students should show genuine enthusiasm for being in the school building, and for getting to work with their teachers and classmates!
A - Accept Responsibility - We expect our students to bring all materials to class - their laptop, their laptop charger, an agenda, a pencil, notebooks, etc.! We encourage our students to take responsibility for their grades and show good work ethic by using homeroom time to complete course work and/or make up work after an absence! But above all, we teach our students to own their mistakes, work to fix them, and accept feedback so they can improve and do better next time!
W - Work Hard - We encourage our students not just to set the bar at completing some of their assignments, but to complete ALL of them! It is so important that our students are always putting their best foot forward to show their best work, with detailed responses and answers, and then even go the extra mile of completing extension activities!
S - Safety First - We expect out students to always consider how their actions may affect their well-being, as well as others! That means that we expect our students to walk, NOT run through the hallways, and to keep their hands and belongings to themselves!
PAWS Tickets, PAWS Ticket Classrooms, and PAWS School-Wide Events
PAWS Tickets
PAWS Ticket Classrooms
PAWS School-Wide Events
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and Contact List
Leonardtown Middle School
If you need anything from us to support you during this unprecedented and challenging time, please reach out to us.
Website: https://schools.smcps.org/lms/
Location: 24015 Point Lookout Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650
Phone: 301-475-0230