The 2010-11 school year is just around the corner and we are very excited to welcome you to the Stivers family! Be sure to mark the dates below on your calendar and call us @ 542-7380 if you have questions. All the forms and an additional newsletter will be available for pick-up at Schedule Preview Day. Unclaimed packets will be mailed home.
Schedule Preview Day – Thursday, August 5, 3:00 – 6:00 P.M. Schedule Preview Day is the first opportunity for students in grades 7 – 12 to pick up draft copies of their schedules. We usually have over 500 schedules that are picked up during this time frame – it is a very busy afternoon! If you would like to make a change to the schedule, there will be a form you may complete and leave it with a staff member. We will work through the requests, make as many changes as possible, and revise the schedule. The revised schedules will be available for 7th graders on August 19 at Orientation. We ask you to make requests for changes PRIOR to Orientation. We will not have the manpower to address your concerns during orientation and schedules will be set by that late date. It is the responsibility of the parent to call either Pam Norman, Data Technician, @ 542-7388 or Erin Dooley, Principal, @ 542-7380 to request any changes. Please note that not all requests may be accommodated.
7 th Grade Schedules All students have seven classes per day. We have prepared schedules that include the appropriate academic and magnet classes listed below. You will have an opportunity to request changes to the schedule that has been created for you. A summary of the classes available for seventh graders is listed below. 1. Arts Magnet Class (orchestra, band, choir, piano, dance, creative writing, visual art, or theatre). 2. Science 7 (aligned to the academic content standards, emphasis on life science) 3. Social Studies 7 (aligned to the academic content standards, emphasis on ancient world cultures) 4. Language Arts 7 5. Pre-Algebra 7 or Math Enrichment 7 Pre-Algebra 7 is the general math course for most 7th graders. Math Enrichment 7 is a course that covers 7th and 8th grade level indicators in one year, preparing students to take Algebra I (for high school credit) in the 8th grade. Students who scored a 440 or higher on the sixth grade Ohio Achievement Test in Math will be placed automatically in Math Enrichment 7.
The 6th and 7th classes may include: 2nd Arts magnet class (year) Intro. to Spanish (7th graders only) (year) Latin (year) Music Theory (required for music students) (year) Music Survey (beginning piano) (year) Computer Literacy (semester) Phys. Ed. (semester) Health (semester) Keyboarding (Word, Power Point) (semester) Reading Lab (intervention for all subjects) (semester) Ceramics (for visual arts students) (semester) Drawing/Painting (for visual arts students) (semester)
If you have questions or concerns about schedules, please contact Ms. Dooley, Principal, @ 542-7380. 7 th Grade Orientation Thursday, August 19 6:30 – 7:30 P.M. Seventh grade orientation will provide students and parents an opportunity to meet many of the teachers, receive information about the school, receive a copy of the class schedule, travel throughout the building to find classrooms, and engage in a Stivers Scavenger Hunt! Stivers spirit t-shirts will be on sale during orientation – cash or checks only.
Transportation Middle school students who are eligible for DPS bus transportation should receive information directly from the transportation department, 542-4010. We will likely have a master list of pick up/drop off times by 7th grade orientation. It is the responsibility of the parent to work with the transportation department to resolve any concerns.
School Attendance Students are expected to report to school daily and on time. The first class begins at 7:12 A.M., and breakfast is served from 6:55 – 7:10 am. Parents who want their child to eat breakfast should plan to drop him/her off by 6:45 A.M. All students will report to the cafeteria in the morning for breakfast and will be released as a group to attend their lockers and 1st period. Dropping off students at 7:12 A.M. will cause them to be tardy to their first class. Please plan early so that your student does not miss any instructional time. Breakfast will NOT be available on the 1st day of school.
If your child is absent from school, you may call the main office to report the absence. Ms. Ileen Finley, is in charge of our attendance and can be reached at 542-7380.
Opportunities for Parent Involvement Stivers has many active parent groups. Each of the eight art magnet areas has a core group of parents who help with productions, ticket sales, cast parties, etc. Look for correspondence from your child’s magnet director for volunteer opportunities.
Seedling Foundation – is a non-profit group made of community leaders, parents, and artists who work collaboratively to raise money to support the arts. The seedling Foundation has raised over $200,000 for two consecutive years to support our adjunct campaign. Adjuncts are professional artists in the community who provide arts instruction, master classes, and private lessons to Stivers students during the day.
Stivers Parent Association – formerly CEC, is a group of parents who meet monthly to support the academic programs, teaching faculty, and student body. This group has done fundraising to provide incentives for students on the honor roll, teacher appreciation luncheons, holiday gifts for staff members, and volunteers at most of our major functions. We have a wonderful core group of parents who are organized and eager to get involved this year. Their first meeting of the new school year is Thursday, August 12, 6:00 P.M., in the Stivers library. All parents are welcome to attend.
Organization is the Key! Please read the attached supply list provided by the 7th grade academic teachers. It is imperative that 7th graders develop strong organizational skills and good work habits to ensure success in both middle and high school. Students are expected to color code their binders as is identified on the supply list – a theme consistently carried through 9th grade. Every student will receive a student agenda that includes calendar pages for planning purposes, recording homework, and scheduling tests and special events. Many of the year’s major events are pre- printed in the agenda to help students plan more efficiently.
Lost and Found Items Please mark lunch bags, calculators, coats, binders and notebooks, etc., with a permanent marker. Middle school students often misplace their belongings and end up in barrels of lost and found shoes, purses, coats, and binders. Taking time to mark items will help us return lost items to your child.
Vaccination Requirements Beginning in the 2010-11 school year a dose of Tdap or Td vaccine is required for all students in Ohio prior to entering the 7th grade. Please refer to the attached letter from the Dayton & Montgomery County Public Health Office.
Electronic Devices Cell phones, IPods, and portable games have become very disruptive at school. Students are permitted to have cell phones in their possession; however, they are to be powered off and put away during the day. Parents are asked NOT to text their students during the school day. There are over 100 telephones in the buildings for students to use and for parents to access. Cell phones are used to text, cheat, take photos, videotape, access the Internet, etc. If your child doesn’t need his/her phone to contact you after hours, please leave the phone at home. It is one less distraction at school. IPods are not allowed in school – kids put their earbuds in and then are completely disengaged from conversation, directions, instruction, etc. They are an additional distraction at school and should be left at home.
Important Phone Numbers
Mrs. Jenifer Burns Language Arts 7 & Cluster Leader 542-7403 Staff member tba Science 7 542-7413 Mrs. Linda Hitchcock Pre-Algebra 7 & Math Enrichment 7 542-7418 Mrs. Cindy Ambrose Social Studies 7 542-7395 Ms. Erin E. Dooley Principal 542-7380 Mr. David Weigand Assistant Principal 542-7382 Ms. Debra Corbin Assistant Principal 542-7391 Mrs. Liz Whipps Arts Magnet Director 542-7448 Ms. Ileen Finley Attendance 542-7380
Summary of Upcoming Dates
Thursday, August 5 Schedule Preview Day, 3:00 – 6:00 pm (schedule pick up) Thursday, August 12 Stivers Parent Association Meeting, 6:00 pm (formerly CEC) Thursday, August 19 7th Grade Orientation, 6:30 – 7:30 pm, Stivers Centennial Monday, August 23 First day of school for all students Thursday, September 2 Fall Auditions, grades 7 – 12 (students may audition for an additional magnet during this event), 3:00 – 5:30 pm Friday, September 3 First 7th grade progress report distributed to 7th graders to be hand carried home Thursday, September 9 Open House, 6:30 – 8:00 pm (more info coming!) Monday, September 13 Picture Day! Lifetouch will photograph all students. See you at Orientation!