Q&A from SCMS Incoming Gr. 6 Articulation Meeting

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1	Silver Creek Middle School Incoming Grade 6 Articulation Parent Meeting, January 21 Questions & Answers
2	Questions	Answers
3	What performance data you are referring to for Math, Please clarify	MAP M; MCAAP, math course grades; testing.
4	is the recommended reading course based on map R scores as well?	Yes, the MAP-R score is used to help make reading placement recommendations. The ACCESS for ELL students, other reading inventories, and classroom performance data is also used when making recommendations.
5	Has Silver Creek considered adding a “star” class like Westland, or some sort of homeroom/study time?	Thank you. We do have a homeroom class called Husky Huddle for this purpose.
6	Are sixth graders in Math 7 just with other sixth graders? Or are the classes a combination of sixth and seventh graders?	Great question. 6th graders in Math 7 will be with just 6th graders (no 7th graders).
7	will kids in AIM be with other grades?	The AIM course will be for 6th graders only.
8	How do you determine the level of english language for students? Do you test for that?	ESOL student levels are determined by the state required WIDA ACCESS assessment; The test is given each year in the winter. This year it may be given in the spring.
9	Can you give some examples of what 6th graders can expect to read in Advanced English?	Right now, 6th grade students are reading the novel A Wrinkle in Time and next unit they will read Hatchet. Novel study texts may change from year to year.
10	Will every section of English use the same level texts?	Teachers differentiate by offering different leveled texts for many assignments. All students receive the same advanced curriculum.
11	Are those leveled texts uniform in a given section?	Yes the texts are uniform among the sections of English
12	Is there an advanced history course for 6th graders?	Yes, it is called Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities 6. SCMS is provided criteria and a list of students that qualify to participate from the MCPS office of Accellerated and Enriched Instruction.
13	Can you clarify what the difference is between world studies 6 and global humanities 6? is it the same content but just accelerated? Or different content… Would the content be similar to regular social studies i.e., ancient world?	Global Humanities is a combination of History and Humanities. The Historical Inquiry in WS 6 curriculum is the foundation for the Global Humanitions course. Students dive deeper into the content, the course moves at a faster pace, and connections are made to current day looking for patterns in history. Students begin responding to a Document Based Question using multiple sources in 1st quarter. There are additional readings included in the curriculum. Regular Historical Inquiry in WS6 has a great level of rigor; however, students only participate in 2 major writing task and there are no additional readings.
14	Are most students for global humanities from the enriched program at cces?	Students from all three of our feeder elementary schools meet the criteria to participate in our Accelerated and Enriched courses: AIM and Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities 6. Students do not have to have attended an enriched program in order to qualify.
15	what was the criteria in previous years?	In previous years the verbal & nonverbal scores from the CogAt was used (test administered in 5th grade), the spring of 4th grade English/Lang. Arts MCAP score, the Fall of 5th grade MAP-R (reading) score, and level in reading (on or above). We do not have CogAt or MCAP scores as we did in the past because of COVID, school closures in the spring, and virtual learning this year. We do have MAP-R scores and students' reading level. This is why the county had to determine new criteria. We should receive this new criteria and a list of students that have met the criteria to participate in Global Humanities by the second week in February. This is the tenative timeframe we have been given. Once we receive the data, review it, and solidify our class sections we will send letters home notifying students/parents that they have met the criteria to participate in Global Humanities.
16	Can students enter Global Humanities in the second half of their first year or in 7th grade ?	If students aren’t admitted into Global Humanities in 6th grade, there may be an opportunity to enter in 7th grade. Again, it is based on data measures from the county. One is MAP-R scores.
17	where do you see what you teacher recommended for you?	The only recommendations made were to determine if a reading course was needed. Students can ask their current 5th grade teacher if they were recommended for a reading class. Otherwise, we will send letters to all families later in the spring letting you know the courses that you child has been enrolled in.
18	What is the average class size?	The MCPS class cap for almost all courses is 32 students. English and regular reading courses like our Digital Literacy class are capped at 29. Of course, we work to keep our classes as small as possible. We start with smaller numbers and try to balance enrollment in a class across the number of sections we need. Of course, as additional students enroll throughout the spring and summer our class sizes will increase. Usually they fall somewhere between 26-28 students.There will be classes at 30 and even 32 students. Our reading and math intervention classes are kept much smaller with no more than 15 students per section.
19	How many 6th graders and how large are classes?	There are approximately 275 -280 incoming 6th grade students.
20	Can you take both art classes? one each semester? Are all art classes paired with coding/robotics or can my child take just art as an elective? * Is the art elective only offered when paired with coding/robotics?	In 6th grade you will need to choose either Digital or Studio. In 7th and 8th grade we have the semester of Digital Art and Semester of Studio Art that are paired to create a full year of art. Yes, in 6th grade the Art classes are paired with the coding class. In 7th grade students can take full year of art with 1 semester of Digital and 1 semester of Studio. * There is a new technology requirement for all middle schools. This is why we have paired our coding robotics course with art so that this requirement is met.
21	How many sections of the Global Humanities course are there?	Typically there are 3-4 sections of Global Humanities.
22	in the past, students were able to take Chinese at BCC. Is that still an option?	Chines is still an option for 7th and 8th grade students. SCMS students still go to B-CC for Chinese 1 & 2. Chines is not open to 6th grade students.
23	Will SCMS host a zoom session for rising 6th graders with a student panel?	This is an excellent idea and something we will consider when planning our spring visit and summer sessions.
24	Is there a cheerleading or dance squad?	We currently have a Poms dance team as one of our intramural sports. Intramural offerings may change from year to year.
25	Is the current leadership team confirmed for the 21-22 yr?	All leadership postions should be confirmed prior to July 1. We follow the MCPS hiring and transfer process that takes place in the spring each year.
26	It looks like the registration form can only be filled out with an MCPS account. Are we supposed to log on with our child's account to fill it?	It is easiest if you log in and use your child's account. However, we have adjusted the settings so you should be able to access the Googl Registration form regardless of the account you are using.
27	can you provide the MAP-M score ranges that determine placement and/or movement in math alignment?	In geral, students follow the MCPS math pathway. If they are currently in Math 5 as a 5th grader then they will proceed to Math 6 as a 6th grader. If students are in compacted Math 5/6 then they will either progress to Math 7 or AIM. The MCPS Office of Accellerated and Enriched Instruction will provide us with the criteria used and lists of students that qualify to participate in AIM. If a student in compacted Math 5/6 does not qualify to participate in AIM, then they will be placed in Math 7. If a student in Math 5 scores a 240 or above on the Fall MAP-M, a 245 or above on the winter MAP-M or a 250 or above on the spring MAP-M, then we may consider skipping Math 6 and placing the student in Math 7. If this occurs, an SCMS counselor will call and speak with the family about placment options.
28	how do we know if we are accepted into a magnet school?	timeline for criteria-based magnet schools: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oSXhZHEBsrPxbJOPD8xyIu3zmr_ThCruYAnaLjDZwMk/edit
29	is there an after school coding opportunity for boys?	the coding club is open to all students
30	are there other forms besides the google doc currently that we need to fill out?	There are no other forms to complete except the Google Course Registration Form linked HERE: https://forms.gle/YeefZiiAcnYtH5FL8
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