Arts Middle School Family Update
Wednesday, August 29th, 2018
Hello Arts Middle Families,
Changes in 2018 at Arts Middle
Literacy Instructional Standards of Excellence
Volume Reading
•50+ minutes daily combined across grade level
•Tracking pages or words read per week
•Create a standard number of books, poems, and magazine articles read per year in each genre
Writing about the reading
•Write daily in all classrooms – especially argument writing
•Surface Learning- Notetaking, charts, graphic organizers
•Deep Learning- Constructed responses and organizing and transforming notes
•Transfer Learning- extended writing, synthesizing information, and performance tasks
•Editing and revising authentic student writing
•Reading and sharing of common rubrics, success criteria, and exemplars across all literacy classrooms
Discussion (and Questioning) about the reading
•Formal discussions about the reading: pairs, small groups, book clubs, debates (generating and defending claims), and socratic seminars
•Common norms, expectations, and rubrics for discussions
•Questioning- planned, targeted, and to advance thinking
•Accountable Talk and listening expectations
Math Instructional Standards of Excellence
Quality of Tasks
•Do-Now focused on prior knowledge, prerequisite skills, and progression of learning
•Solving and discussing tasks that promote mathematical reasoning and problem solving
•Support productive struggle and perseverance
•Low level and high level cognitive demand tasks (requires complex reasoning, planning, and explanations of thinking)
Communicate Mathematically
•Questioning- planned, targeted, and purposeful used to assess and advance thinking
•Reading, writing, listening, and representing visually
•Common norms, expectations, and rubrics for discussions
•Accountable Talk
•Academic vocabulary as part of instruction
•Whole and small group discussion balance
•Explain, justify, and elaborate thinking on mathematical ideas
•Make sense of problems and solutions, construct viable arguments, listen carefully, and critique reasoning of others
Evidence of Learning Targets
•Daily in-class formative checks for understanding and evidence during closure
•Common formative assessments used to measure learning over a 3 week span
•Student self-grading, charting progress, and identifying areas for growth
Arts Instructional Standards of Excellence
Promotion of the Arts
•Find ways to celebrate and highlight the arts
•Discuss work to highlight on a monthly basis
•Promote, review, analyze, and discuss Share Days, Evening of the Arts, Concerts, and Plays
•Create more performance opportunities for a wide variety of students
Presentation Skills
•Students sharing their work to class
•Common norms, expectations, and rubrics for presentations and audience members
•Accountable Talk
•Listening skills during presentations
School Hours
- Student Drop-Off is 7:25 - 7:30
- Student Pick-Up is 2:35
Important Dates
Monday, September 3rd - No school - Labor Day
Tuesday, September 11th - Back to School Night from 6 - 8
Wednesday, September 12th - Half day - dismissal at 12:00
Parent Drop off and Pick
Phone Policy
Dress Code
All students are expected to dress appropriately and to maintain personal appearance reflecting the high standards of Arts Middle. In order to maintain an environment conducive to the learning process the items listed below from being worn during the school day.
Headphones and ear buds are not allowed in classrooms, the hallway, or bathrooms
Cell phones are not allowed in classrooms, the hallway, or bathrooms
Hats, hoods, wave caps, headbands, kerchiefs, bandanas, curlers (unless headwear is part of a student’s religious practice) should be placed in the student’s locker upon arriving to school
Shirts need to be lock enough to cover the abdomen; No bare midriffs
Any clothing that reveals any part of an individual’s undergarments or is transparent
Any clothing marked with obscene, suggestive language, or indecent pictures, writing, inappropriate slogans, sexually suggestive and/or drug/alcohol advertisements
Any item that may be used as a weapon or which may present a safety hazard to the student, other students or staff
Flip-flops and sandals are a safety concern – It is recommended that students wear footwear with a closed toe
Students in violation of the dress code must correct the violation or remain out of the student population until a parent is able to bring in suitable clothing.
News from the office
Parents, please be sure to complete your online Power School registration. If you did not receive it, please contact our office at 860-724-0685.
Free/Reduced Online Application: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Home/DistrictRedirect/CAPITOLREGION_CT?langid=1
Information on Food Services: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12-QGI84PVrd353gTHhynngS0CFqZnDoK/view?usp=sharing
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CREC ARTS MIDDLE SCHOOL CALENDAR 2018 - 2019
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The Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Middle School
ALL students will achieve at high levels both artistically and academically. ALL means ALL!
Email: aamsoffice@crec.org
Website: http://haams.crecschools.org/
Location: 75 Van Dyke Avenue, Hartford, CT, United States
Phone: (860) 724-0685
Facebook: facebook.com/crecartsmiddle
Twitter: @crecartsmiddle1