Welcome to Welcome to Hillcrest Intermediate Hillcrest Intermediate

SchoolSchool

The Intermediate YearsThe Intermediate Years

• Physical, social and emotional growth and maturity

• Rapid physical growth, deepening friendships, new responsibilities and academic challenges

• Children need help to mature emotionally and intellectually but need more freedoms

• Strong relationship between school and home provides benefits to children during these years

2014-20152014-20153 person teams3 person teams

• Three classrooms create a team.• Students switch for:

– Math– ELA (English Language Arts)– Science and Social Studies

• Students move as a homeroom to their specials.

• ER (Enrichment and Remediation) 4 days a cycle.

• Accelerated Math in 5th grade begins next year for students who qualified.

Homeroom and Team Homeroom and Team AssignmentsAssignments

• Homeroom assignments will be made over the summer.

• A letter will be sent to your home the end of July in time for the August 7, 2014 (1:00-3:00) visitation with his/her room assignment along with the list of supplies to purchase for school.

• Example Room assignment: 103A– Room 103 Team A

Fifth Grade Core Fifth Grade Core CoursesCourses

• 6-day cycle• Mathematics (86 minutes per

day)• ELA (86 minutes per day)• Science (43 minutes per day)• Social Studies (43 minutes) • ER (43 minutes -4 days per

cycle day)• Activity period (end of every

day)

Fifth Grade Specials”Fifth Grade Specials”

• Informational Technology (1 time per cycle)

• Library (1 time per cycle)• Art (2 times per cycle)• Music (2 times per cycle)

– Chorus or Band or Strings for 2 days in a cycle

• Physical Education/Health (2 times per cycle)

Homeroom in the Homeroom in the MorningMorning

• The day begins with a moment of silent meditation, the Pledge, morning announcements, daily exercises and words of wisdom

Other Classroom Other Classroom Activities Activities • Whole Grade Activities

– Hillcrest Environmental Learning Program (H.E.L.P.)

– STEM Day– Fun Day in May – Jump Rope For Heart– Valentine’s For Grace– Heavenly Hat Parade– Food Drive

Evaluation and Report Evaluation and Report CardsCards

• 9-weeks in a grading period• Skyward electronic report

cards• Family Access provides real

time feedback on student progress (must register for the service)

Grading ScaleGrading Scale

A = 92% and aboveB = 82% - below 92%C = 70% - below 82%D = 60% - below 70%

F = below 60%

Activity PeriodActivity Period

• 28 minutes at the end of every day. • Activities such as chorus, band,

orchestra, art club or Principals Council meet during activity period.

• Students can go to any of their teachers during activity period to ask for help.

• School Store is open 3 days during activity period

PTA Sponsored PTA Sponsored ActivitiesActivities

•Reflections•Science Fair•Book Fairs

(Fall and Spring)

•Yearbook•Assemblies

Arriving at SchoolArriving at School

• Students can begin entering the building at 7:35 AM.

• Students arriving between 7:35 AM and 7:45 AM go to the cafeteria to wait until it is time to go to homerooms.

• School Breakfast Program is available.

Riding the BusRiding the BusGrades 5 through 8 ride the same busesHillcrest students sit in the FRONT of busMiddle School students sit in the BACK of the busBus drivers may assign seatsPrincipals may assign seats

Busing Busing –– Dismissal Dismissal

Dismissal starts at 2:50 and continues until the last bus arrives

at approximately 3:10.

There are three waves of buses that load over 250 children every 4 – 6

minutes.

Bus RulesBus RulesStudents must ride their assigned bus.Eating and drinking on bus is prohibited.The drivers (or building principals) may choose to assign seats.Bus activities are video taped and periodically reviewed or requested when bus incidents are reported.Communication with the Middle School Principals occurs concerning bus behavior.

Drop-off and Pick-upDrop-off and Pick-upBus riding is STRONGLY encouragedStudents must walk on sidewalksDrivers are to stay in their carsDrivers must follow direction from school personnel – NO PASSINGSchool vehicles and buses have the right of wayStudents will be supervised between parking area and the school by teachers.

Drop-off and Pick-upDrop-off and Pick-upDrop-off times are between 7:35 and 7:50 AM.

Drop-off is in the lower lot.

NO Non-School vehicles are permitted in the loop while buses are loading or unloading.

Pick-up is after all the buses depart – approximately 3:10 PM

Drivers may pull into the loop after the last bus departs to pick-up students

AttendanceAttendance

• Attendance is extremely important• An e-mail or voice message is not a legal

excuse• Excused Absences

– Illness– Death in immediate family– Quarantine– Impassible roads

• Unexcused Absences– Hunting/fishing– Oversleeping– Missing the bus

AttendanceAttendance

• Tardiness – excuse required• Early Dismissal – note required

– Parent must pick student up in the office

• Educational Vacations - prior approval required

AttendanceAttendance

• 7 days of absence will cause a letter to be generated stating that a medical excuse may be required.

• 10 days of absence will cause a letter to be generated requiring a medical excuse for each absence.

• 3 days of illegal days of absence will result in charges being filed before a magistrate.

Food Services Food Services –– Cafeteria Cafeteria

• Food Court style cafeteria• “Regular lunch menu” plus extras• Lunches are served during 10:14 AM to

12:10 PM

2013-2014 prices• Breakfast price – $1.25• Lunch price - $2.30• Milk is $0.60

Food Services Food Services – – BreakfastBreakfast

• Hot and cold meals available• Meals served from 7:30 – 7:50

AM• Daily breakfast price - $1.25

Cafeteria - Buying your Cafeteria - Buying your mealmeal

The self-serve style of cafeteria at Hillcrest is new to most students.

The teachers and cafeteria staff try to be exceptionally helpful in the

first few weeks of school as students adjust to this new meal

service style.

LunchLunch• Three Lunch Periods: Lunch 1: 10:14-10:44 Lunch 2: 10:57-11:27 Lunch 3: 11:40-12:10

• Students sit with their homeroom then team for the first 4-6 weeks to socialize with their teammates.

• 30 minutes to eat lunch and socialize.

• Teachers escort their class to and from the cafeteria.

• Teachers monitor the lunches along with Mrs. Banasick and currently Mrs. Dvorchak.

Norwin Food Services Norwin Food Services Financial ProceduresFinancial Procedures

• Students are warned when account funds become low.

• Students are notified with a reminder note when there are no funds in their lunch account.

Goals

• An end to bullying.

• An improved professional relationship between students and all

professional and support staff

personnel.

• A platform for students to build the attributes of

good character.

• An opportunity for professional development.

• An opportunity to improve service learning.

Character Education in Character Education in Norwin Norwin

Through quality educational

experiences, the Norwin School

District prepares students to become

productive andresponsible citizens

in an ever-changing society.

The Seven Character Traits

• September – Respect • October – Responsibility

• November – Courage • December – Caring • January – Fairness

• February – Honesty • March – Perseverance • April & May – Honoring

students who have demonstrated all traits

Character Education Character Education in Norwin in Norwin

How does Character How does Character Education Support Education Support

SWPBIS? SWPBIS? • What is Character Education? Comprehensive character education

addresses many tough issues in education while developing a positive school climate. Character education includes educational approaches such as whole child education, service learning, social-emotional learning, and civic education. All share a commitment to helping young people become responsible, caring, and contributing citizens.

• How does Character Education Support SWPBIS • Goal setting • Simialr vocabulary with traits and keys • Demonstration of traits leads to school wide reinforcers• District wide K-12 Curriculum character

School-Wide Positive School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Behavior Support

Program Program • A proactive systems approach for creating and maintaining safe and effective learning environments in schools, ensuring that all student have the social/emotional skills needed to ensure their success at school and beyond, It focuses on efficient use of data to guide decisions for improving schools.

• A proactive approach to discipline that promotes appropriate student behavior and increased learning with explicit teaching of the expectations.

• Hillcrest was awarded a $15,000 grant in 2011-2012 from the state to implement SWPBS in 2012-2013 .

• A team of core teachers analyzed the data from a teacher survey to identify the areas of need.

• Homework and bullying were areas that could be improved upon through a research based approach.

• The staff met and identified the matrix of areas in the building where students have less self discipline and behavioral expectations were identified on posters.

• The “Keys to the Castle” evolved with the ‘Keys to the Classroom,’ ‘Keys to the Hallway,’ ‘Keys to the Cafeteria,’ ‘Keys to the Restroom’ and ‘Keys to the Bus’ were created.

• 2012-2013 was the first year the program was implemented with fidelity resulting in Hillcrest being recognized at the PBIS Sate Implementers Forum in May , 2013 as a Pennsylvania PBIS school. In May , 2014, Hillcrest is presented a badge recognizing our success in implementing with fidelity Tier 1.

Hillcrest Intermediate School Expectations MatrixExpectation Cafeteria Bus Hallway Classroom RestroomsRespectYourself

Voice #1 ID Ready Voice #0 for

dismissal

Voice #1 Kind words Sit facing

forward, feet on floor

Hands to self

Stay seated

Voice #0 Look where

you are going

Take stairs one step at a time

Stay to the right

 

Voice #0,1 Bring a

positive “I can” attitude

Bring all materials needed for class

 

Voice #1 Go, flush,

wash, return Wash hands

thoroughly Go right

back to class

RespectOthers

Hands and feet to self

Use manners: chew with mouth closed

Kind words: please, thank you

Sit in correct spot

Wait your turn in line

Hands and feet to self

Kind words: please, thank you, excuse me

Allow bus driver to focus on driving

Hands and feet to self

Walk to the right

Single file line

Use kind words: excuse me

Allow others to pass

 

Take care of your own property

Use kind words: please, thank you, excuse me

Clean up after yourself

Respect privacy of others

Kind words: please, thank you, excuse me

RespectProperty

Area cleaned up before you leave

Trash thrown away

“Leave it better than you found it.”

Bus is trash and graffiti free

Backpacks stay closed

Keep belongings to yourself

 

Hallways are trash and graffiti free

Work displayed on walls is untouched

Only open your own locker

Care for your own and other’s property

Leave other’s property untouched

 

Bathroom products used sparingly

Trash is thrown in can

Bathroom is graffiti and clutter free “Leave it better than you found it.”

Teaching the Keys to the Café

•Daily •Interactive•Formative

• Gaining Influence• Recognizing Barriers • Follow Through

• Universal• Achievement

Focused • Personalization

• Ownership • Visible • Interdependen

ce

Ever-changing, Sustainable, student Ever-changing, Sustainable, student guided Motivationguided Motivation

Reality TourReality Tour• CANDLE, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit that has developed the

innovative parent & child drug prevention program called the Reality Tour sponsored by the Norwin Lions Club.

• Reality Tour is…..• an evening program for children age 10+, who must be accompanied

by their parent. 

• a 3 hour interactive program that gives families the tools needed to reduce the risk of substance abuse. 

• an award winning program recognized locally, nationally, and internationally!

• Held at the JB Bright Beginnings School (formally Scull School) the second Tuesday of the month.

Reality Tour Student/Parent Reality Tour Student/Parent Comments Comments

Thank You

Thank You

For

For

Attendin

g!

Attendin

g!

Questions?Questions?