Pearson's Corner Elementary School
School Counseling Department
Dear Families of Fifth Grade Students,
It’s hard to believe that it’s already time to begin thinking about registration for our 5th Graders for middle school! The year seems to be flying by. Rest assured, we have several activities planned to help make this transition as smooth as possible!
First, rising 6th Grade Chickahominy Middle School students will meet with Donna Blot, the rising 6th Grade Counselor, as well as two other CMS School Counselors who have all served as the 6th grade Counselor, on Friday, December 12th for a 45 minute lesson. Rising Oak Knoll Middle School 6th Graders will also meet with the rising 6th Grade Counselor, Angie LePeter, at this time as well. Counselors will discuss course offerings during this time with students as well as answer any questions. CMS students will receive their Program of Studies booklet during this presentation. I will send home booklets with OKMS students before this as they will be needed at Parent Night. The Program of Studies is also available online, http://hcps.us/pos/HCS_POS15_WEB.pdf . Please review the courses offered in this booklet with your child and be sure that they understand the courses that you both have chosen. When considering registering for advanced Math courses or a World Language, your child’s teacher will be the best source of information in making this decision. Please contact the teacher if you have any questions regarding your child’s readiness or their suggested math placement. As the transition to middle school is a time of changes, it is important that we ensure students are challenged but not placed beyond their ability to achieve.
Second, I will be hosting a Parent Coffee for families of rising Chickahominy Middle School 6th Graders on Thursday, December 18th from 9-10 AM. During this time, the rising 6th Grade School Counselor, Donna Blot; the 6th Grade Senior Teacher, John Sheridan; and Mark Beckett, CMS Principal will be available to answer questions concerning middle school. The RSVP form will be sent home in Thursday folders on December 4th. If you would like to attend, please complete and return the form or contact me at school (723-3660 or chammond@hcps.us) by Monday, December 15th.
Additionally, the Rising 6th Grade Night and Elective Fair at Chickahominy Middle School will be on Thursday, December 18th beginning at 630 PM in the cafeteria. Three different events will be conducted at CMS on this night-an Elective Fair from 630-7PM, a Parent Presentation at 7-730PM, and a concurrent Student Presentation. Topics that will be discussed include registration information-core academics and electives, transition tips, and preparing for middle school. The Rising 6th Grade Parent Night at Oak Knoll Middle School will be held on Wednesday, December 3rd at 7PM in the cafeteria. The middle schools request that you bring your child’s Program of Studies to these meetings as they may be needed.
Finally, I will begin registering students on Thursday, January 8th and will meet with each student individually in the coming weeks. Students should be prepared to tell me their selections that day even if I don’t meet with them immediately. I will send their registration form home the day I meet with them. Please review the form, make any changes, sign and return it to me the next day. When the form is returned to me, I will send home a copy for you to keep. If you have any questions about courses or would like to discuss your child’s selections with me prior to registration or make a registration appointment, please contact me at 723-3660. I would be delighted to assist you in any way that I can.
Please make sure your child understands the importance of making good choices in regards to their elective classes. Making changes later in the spring greatly decreases their chances of getting their first choices. To give our students the best chance of getting their first choice of electives, it is very important that you send the registration form back to me the next day. This will expedite my processing of the forms so that I can send them to the middle schools as soon as possible. This does not guarantee your selections, but does increase the chances of your child being placed in his/her preferred classes.
Finally, we also have middle school tours and shadow days scheduled in the spring to introduce students to their new schools for the upcoming year. There will be more information about this in the coming months and information will also be posted on the PCES Guidance Webpage about upcoming events. The address is http://hanover.k12.va.us/guidance/pces/ .
This is an exciting time for your child and I look forward to meeting with him/her to register for classes. Please do not hesitate to call (723-3660) or email (chammond@hcps.us ) if you need any assistance in your decision making process or have any questions.
Best,
Christy Brown Hammond, Ph.D.
School Counselor
Pearson's Corner Elementary School
Email: chammond@hcps.us
Website: http://hcps2.hanover.k12.va.us/pces/index.htm
Location: 8290 New Ashcake Road, Mechanicsville, VA, United States
Phone: 804.723.3660