VBMS Rising VBMS Rising SIXTH GRADESIXTH GRADE

Information NightInformation Night

“All In for Every Student; Every Day”

VBMS SIXTH GRADEVBMS SIXTH GRADEThe MIDDLE SCHOOL CONCEPT aims at developing the “whole child” through core teams, exploratory and elective classes, clubs, and activities.

The TEAM CONCEPT gives students and teachers the feeling of belonging to a group with common goals. To promote this, each student is assigned to a core team. Currently there are two core teams at VBMS: the Red Foxes and the Tree Frogs.

VBMS SIXTH GRADEVBMS SIXTH GRADE

ACTIVITIESBefore & after school clubs and activities

Fall sports are football, boys’ & girls’ soccer, cheerleading, and debate– Try-outs for cheerleading will be in the spring.– Try-outs for the other fall sports will be in August.

PLANNEREvery student at VBMS is issued a planner the first week of school. The planner is for writing down assignments and used as a hall pass.

MY SCHOOL MAIL You may sign up on our homepage to have the homework

emailed to you nightly.

LOCKEREvery 6th grader is issued a locker at VBMS.

SCHOOL NETThrough Parent Portal, parents can monitor

student performance and attendance.

SIXTH GRADE SCHEDULE

HR/BELL 1 9:25 – 10:15BELL 2 10:18-11:08BELL 3 (ELECTIVE) 11:11 – 12:06Bell 4 (LUNCH/ADVISORY) 12:09 – 1:04BELL 5 (ELECTIVE) 1:07 – 2:02BELL 6 2:05 – 2:55BELL 7 2:58 – 3:50

Extra HelpExtra HelpAfter School Support

After school English and Math support sessions are offered and

transportation is available. Sessions are designed to help students

recover missing knowledge and prevent a declining trend in their

grades. After school support concludes at 5:20 and students can

take the activity bus home if needed.

Academic SupportAny student with grades below average (D’s and/or E’s) are placed in academic support instead of an elective for the

nine-week period.

SOL RemediationStudents not passing a 5th grade SOL may be placed in SOL Remediation beginning

the first nine weeks .

ENGLISH 6ENGLISH 6Who should take Advanced ENGLISH 6?

Students should have several of the following criteria for Advanced English placement :

• Reading level is two years above current grade

• A or B average in Grade 5 English

• 85% or above on Grade 4 English Stanford 10 test

• 85% or above on VBCPS standardized assessments

• Pass Advanced score on Grade 5 English SOL test

• Independent and collaborative worker

• Good work habits regarding homework, independent reading, and classroom activities

• Recommendation from Grade 5 English teacher

English 6English 6 Students analyze literary

elements from stories and selections in the Elements of Literature and Holt Reader texts.

Students acquire basic grammar skills which are reinforced and re-taught through individual writing and the Warriner’s Handbook text.

Students focus on using correct punctuation, proper subject-verb agreement, and simple, compound, and complex sentences in the writing strand.

Students experience guided reading and writing activities using various novels.

Students analyze, generalize, organize, and compare literary elements using the Elements of Literature and Holt Reader texts, and selected novels.

Students write in a variety of forms for different audiences, select vocabulary to achieve a mature voice and tone, and expand ideas and sentence complexity.

Students experience more independent activities in the reading and writing strands using more challenging novels.

advancedcore

UNITS of STUDYUNITS of STUDY

CORE ENGLISH 6

The Search for Identity

Passages and Challenges

Acceptance

Exploration and Reflection

ADVANCED ENGLISH 6

The Search for Identity

Passages and Challenges

Acceptance

Exploration and Reflection

SCIENCE 6SCIENCE 66TH & 8TH grade S.O.L.’s

PH Physical Science text6th grade S.O.L.’s

PH Science Explorer text

COREadvanced VS.

Who should take Advanced SCIENCE 6?

Students should have several of the following criteria for Advanced Science placement:

•Maintain an “A” in 5th grade science

•Attain Pass or Pass Advanced score on the 5th grade science S.O.L.

•Score at or above 80% in reading, math, and science on standardized tests

•Work independently

•Demonstrate good work habits regarding homework and class activities

•Receive teacher recommendation

UNITS of STUDYUNITS of STUDY

Advanced SCIENCE 6

MatterChemistryEnergyForce & MotionLight & SoundSpace

Core science 6MatterChemistrySpaceSunAir & AtmosphereEnergyWater

Science SequenceScience SequenceAdvanced

6th grade Advanced Science 6

7th gradeAdvanced Science 7

8th grade S.O.L. test at the end of the 7th grade year

8th gradeEarth Science*

*High school credit-bearing course

Core

6th grade Science 6

7th gradeLife Science 7

8th gradePhysical Science 8

8th Grade S.O.L.

SOCIAL STUDIES 6SOCIAL STUDIES 6

UNITS of STUDY North America Before 1500: The Land and the People European Explorers and the Clash of Cultures Colonial America The American Revolution Forming a New Government Building an American Identity The Age of Jackson: Social, Political, and

Economic Change Manifest Destiny The Road to Civil War The Civil War

Math Course Math Course SequenceSequence

  OPTION A OPTION B OPTION C

Grade 5 Grade 5 Math Grade 5 Math Grade 5 Math

Grade 6 Pre-Algebra Advanced Math 6 Math 6

Grade 7Algebra I Honors

Advanced Math 7 Math 7

Grade 8Geometry Honors

Algebra I(Honors or Series)

Math 8

Grade 9 Algebra II/TrigGeometry(Honors or Series)

Algebra I Series

Grade 10 Math Analysis Algebra II/Trig Geometry Series

Grade 11 AP Calculus Math AnalysisAFDA or Algebra II

Grade 12AP Statistics or Dual Enrollment

AP CalculusTrig, Prob/Stat, Discrete

2016-2017 2016-2017 is going to be a great year! is going to be a great year! We look forward to working We look forward to working

with your child.with your child.