Orientation Plan for the 2013-2014 School Year

A successful school year begins when each member of a students school life has a defined role. As pre -service week supplies the orientation for the role of faculty and staff, so does the orientation for students and parents. All kindergarten through eighth grade parents will attend the welcome in the MPR. First through fifth grade parents will be invited to attend a classroom orientation. While parents learn about classroom expectations, students will learn about school safety practices, manners, digital citizenship, library privileges, and lunchroom procedures. After parents complete their orientation, students will return to their classrooms to learn about new materials, routines and expectations. Middle school students (6th-8th) begin the first day of school following an abbreviated schedule. They learn about the organization of their materials, planners, Renweb, digital citizenship, communication, and classroom/school expectations. After visiting classes, students will gather by advisory and board the buses for a trip to Ocean Breeze Water Park. This venue allows for students and teachers to become reacquainted, and serves as a platform for welcoming our 6 th graders and new students to the middle school. Middle school parents are invited back on the evening of Tuesday, September 10th (6PM) for a parent orientation. We have designed the middle school orientation to occur a few weeks after the first day of school to allow time for our middle school students to convey information home first. This evening orientation gives teachers an opportunity to talk with parents about the classroom specifics, expectations, and to answer any questions. We believe that expectations for a successful school year begin on the first day of school and during orientation. The relationships that form between teachers, students and parents begin on the first day of school and build throughout the school year as we work together to educate the whole child. In an effort to facilitate a successful opening of the school year, we have set up the following orientation schedule: August 22th 5:00 pm - Kindergarten Parent classroom orientation held prior to the New Parent Dinner. August 26th First day of school K-8 Parent Welcome and 1st -5th grade Orientations 8:00 am 1st -8th STUDENTS are dropped off on the playground. Kindergarten students should be dropped off directly to the kindergarten classroom and PARENTS should attend the brief welcome and orientation in the MPR. PARENTS may gather in the MPR for an informal meet-and-greet prior to orientation. 8:15 9:15am 1st -8th STUDENTS are dismissed from the playground to their classrooms. Kindergarten and middle school students will remain in the classroom for the first day of school. PARENTS of students in grades K-8 will gather in the MPR for a brief welcome and orientation. 9:15am (Kindergarten and 6-8 PARENTS may leave) Kindergarten PARENTS already having had their orientation the previous Thursday may leave after the MPR orientation. 6th -8th grade PARENTS may also leave after the MPR orientation. PARENTS will return on Tuesday, September 10th for a 6:00pm orientation. 9:20- 9:50am (1st 5th PARENTS Classroom Orientation) 1st-5th grade STUDENTS are dismissed from classrooms to attend the student orientation in the MPR. 1st 5th grade PARENTS are dismissed to attend orientation in their childs classroom. PARENTS that only have one orientation to attend may leave at 9:50am. 10:00 10:30 (1st 5th PARENTS Classroom Orientation Repeat performance of 9:20 orientations) 1st-5th grade STUDENTS remain in MPR for the student orientation. 1st 5th grade PARENTS with more than one student may use this time to attend a different orientation