John Muir Middle School

John Muir Middle School Counseling Enriched Class 2014-2015 Mr. Mah, Mr. Morlock, and Ms. Nanette, Mr. Antonio, Ms. Alisa

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students:

My name is Ryan Mah and along with Nanette Lewis (paraprofessional), Antonio Flaggs (behavior counselor), and Mike Morlock (therapist), we will be working with your student this year in the Counseling Enriched Program at John Muir Middle School (JMMS). I have been working in the field of special education since 2003 and I am looking forward to beginning a new year at JMMS. The purpose of this letter is to provide you information regarding school policies and expected behaviors for the class. Please review this information for yourself and ensure that your child is familiar with the following procedures.

School Policies

 Cell Phone, Electronics, and Detention Policies: All students are expected to follow the new cell phone policy and detention policy as outlined in the parent/student handbook or the daily planner. Consequences as outlined in these pages will apply to violation of these policies.  Dress Code: Please review the school-wide dress code with your child. Any student wearing inappropriate clothing will be asked to change into their P.E. uniform.  School Rules: 1. Be in the room, in your seat, with materials by the second bell. 2. No gum, food, or beverages in the classroom and hallways. 3. Cell-phones and other electronic devices have to be stored in the student lockers during school hours. 4. Follow the dress code.  Falcon Code of Conduct: 1. Be respectful 2. Be productive 3. Be safe 4. Be responsible 5. Be prepared  Anti-Bullying Policy: Our John Muir vision states that John Muir is a safe and inclusive school where everyone is actively engaged in learning. Our mission is to prepare each student for academic, emotional, and social success. Therefore, we will not tolerate bullying of any kind, including cyberbullying. Our classroom, school wide, and district wide polices will seriously address any form of bullying from students or adults.  For additional information regarding school policies, please refer to the beginning section of your child’s planner. Counseling Enriched Classroom Policies

 Classroom Rules: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible 1. Follow Directions 2. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself 3. Use appropriate language at all times 4. Be prepared to learn  Classroom Rewards: 1. Students will earn daily points on a point sheet 2. The class will also be working towards a community goal, which will be monitored on a chart inside of the classroom. When the entire class performs a specific behavior, their progress will be marked on the chart. When the class reaches a certain number of marks, a class party will be held. 3. A four leveled behavior system will also be used, which will be detailed in an attached document.  Classroom Consequences: If a student is having a difficult time following a rule, the following procedure will take place. 1. The student will receive a reminder to maintain appropriate behavior. 2. The student will receive a warning. 3. The student will engage in a brief conference with the teacher, addressing the behavior that is not being performed (2 minutes). 4. If the student continues to have a difficult time, he/she will be removed from the classroom with supervision and their behavior points/level may drop. 5. The principal will be called and the student will be sent to the office. 6. The parents will be contacted if a student is referred to the office. Academics

1. English: The students in the CE class will participate in literature circles, where they will read books as a group and discuss them accordingly. There will be a focus on writing that will be connected to the common core standards. 2. Mathematics: The students in CE class will be instructed by materials tied to California State Math Standards and supported by publishers such as SRA. 3. Science: The students will be able to participate in a Science Curriculum that focuses on Life Science. The book will be from the publisher Holt. 4. History: History instruction will cover World History and American History as well. 5. Physical Education: PE will take place in the general education setting and will be taught by Mr. Paxman. Grading Policy

 Students’ grades will be based on the following criteria: Behavior (30%), Class work (40%), Tests/Quizzes (10%), Homework (10%) and Participation (10%). 1. Behavior: Students can earn up to 100 points in one day. 2. Class Work: Students can earn up to 5 points a day/academic period for completing their workbook or taking notes. 3. Tests/Quizzes: Small tests and quizzes will be administered on a regular basis. 4. Students can earn up to 5 points a day for participation.

Counseling Services

 Individualized and group counseling services will be provided next door, by Mr. Mike Morlock from the East Bay Agency for Children.

How to Contact Me

 If you have any questions regarding the program or would like to discuss your child’s progress, please feel free to call me at 510-618-4400, extension 3746.  You can also e-mail me at: [email protected]

There is a very supportive JMMS team that will help your child in the CE class and we expect to have a safe, productive, and engaging year.

Sincerely, Ryan Mah

Please Review this information with your child.

Parent Signature ______

Student Signature ______