NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL

COMMUNITY HOUSE
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Note cards on the table are for parent questions
that arise during the presentation. We will collect
them at the end and answer as many as we can
Please include your email so that we may respond
to any we are unable to answer during this
evening.
Congratulations!
You’re A Middle School Student Starting
Today 
Mom and Dad….Stop Worrying….
At CHMS, we are a TEAM. Everyone is
working together to create a successful
experience for your child and you.
Did You Know…
Community House has been an Honor School of Excellence for the past two years
with steady growth in all areas (from 86% to +94% in 4 years!)?
Community House has more students identified for the Duke TIP program than
any other school in the state?
Community House has award-winning Fine Arts, Chess, OM, Math Counts and
Science-Olympiad programs?
Community House has had the CMS Exceptional Children’s Teacher of the Year
for two consecutive years?
Community House was recently selected by the College Board to serve as an
exemplary model of “Pre-AP” program implementation?
Student Demographics
 1587 Students
 Approx. 16% ED
 64.3 % White
 13.8 % African American
 9.8 % Hispanic
 12 % Asian
Growing daily…..
A Typical Day at “The House”
9:15am – 4:15pm
**Before and After-School will have programs at CHMS
 Arrival - Do not drop off prior to 8:45am
 Lockers
 First Block – Academics - tardy if not seated in
class at 9:15am
 Second Block – Academics
 Lunch
 Third Block – Electives
 Fourth Block - Core
 Enrichment Time – Likely between 3rd and 4th
BLOCK SCHEDULE
 Students take 4 core classes per year:
Language Arts, Math, Science & Social
Studies. (LA and Math daily/ Sci&SS every other day)
 Students take 4 semesters of electives per
year. They rotate on an A-Day/B-Day
basis. All students take PE/Health for a
semester.
 Enrichment time **
CHMS Is So Big…Will My
Child Get Support?
 Team Approach
 Guidance Counselors
 Welcome Week
 Ambassadors
 Grade level
administrators
 Tutoring, progress
reports, PAM,
planners
CHMS Is So Big…Will My
Child Have Fun?
 Athletic Events **
 Club Opportunities
 Academic
Competitions
 Middle School
Madness (YMCA)
 School Events
 Cavalier Rewards
Program
 Get Involved!
Some Current Clubs at CHMS
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Battle of the Books – Robin Williams
Beta Club – Alison Drake
Chess Club – Parent – Deborah Reicht – scomfortzone@lycos.com
First Priority – Elizabeth Dockery
Math Counts – Lance Kanter
National Academic League – Karen Brown and Margaret Carey
National Junior Honor Society – Dawn Baker (students are extended invitations after 2nd quarter of
7th grade, please see wiki link on CHMS website for more information)
Odyssey of the Mind – Parent Led – Angie McGraw – McGraw4@carolina.rr.com or Eva Tai –
evaptai@yahoo.com
Programming Club – Keith Bennett
Running Club – Abbey Fernengel
Rugby Club – Jeff Smith
Science Olympiad – Dana Frank
Writing Club – Amy McNelis
Art Club – Kathy Bell
Lego Club – Sara Bryan
Singing Club – Robin Jamison
CHMS Is So Big...Will My Child
Be Safe?
 CSA and SRO monitor/circulate the halls and villas
 Visible Administrators
 Nurse and 3 Trained First Responders
 All Teachers on Duty Before/After School and During Bell
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Changes
Grade level hallways
All Students in the Halls Must Have a Signed Pass
All Visitors Must Sign In and Receive a Badge
Parents Must Show ID when Picking Up a Child
No tolerance for bullying…including cyber-bullying
Will the Children Be Held to
High Behavior Standards?
 School-Wide Discipline Plan – Team Sheets
 Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
enforced equitably
 Dress Code
 Cell Phone/Electronics Policy** (BYOT)
 Tardy Policy
 Bus Expectations
 No Exceptions!
CHMS Is So Big…How Do I
Handle Questions or Concerns?
 Communication protocol
 Always start with the teacher
 Counselor
 Grade Level Administrator
 Make appointments
– Parent Conference Day is Tuesday; call or
email your counselor
CHMS Is So Big…How Will I
Know What Is Going On?
 Every Friday, we publish a newsletter
highlighting the events in our school – The
Community House Courier
 It will be emailed to you. Sign up for our
listserv now…Link on the Website (School
Resources…CHMS Courier Sign Up). You
can begin getting these sent to you NOW 
Ambassadors
Questions from Rising 6th graders answered
by our current 8th grade Ambassadors…
Let’s Get to the Good Stuff…and
“Debunk” some Myths
 How do I get in Honors? I heard it is only EOG score? That means my child is
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tracked beginning in 6th grade!
But my child is TD…he/she should be in a separate class.
My 5th grade teacher did not recommend Honors and we need to meet about
this.
I heard my child must be in Honors so he’s not behind in high school math.
I don’t want my child in class with “those kinds of kids.”
I heard you don’t want to get Ms. So and So…
I heard that you must get Ms. So and So because she teaches the “super
Honors.”
How do we select electives? Are we guaranteed our choices?
I heard some classes at CHMS are only offered online!
Forget what you have heard as I will go over all the current, accurate information
How Do I Select Academic Courses?
All courses have changed to Common Core State Standards
(http://www.corestandards.org/)
 Levels of Math -All students will follow the new Common Core Standards
as this curriculum is the foundation for all higher level courses.
– Honors – This course will follow the CCSS, use a variety of resources
and texts to support the curriculum, and provide consistent extension and
supplementary activities to increase depth of 6th concepts. Strong
mathematical literacy and fluency is a pre-requisite. Pacing may be
accelerated into 7th content as necessary.
– Math 6 – This course will follow the CCSS, use a variety of resources
and texts to support the curriculum, and supplement as needed based on
individual progress within the classroom.
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The new standards require a large amount of critical thinking, mathematical reasoning and
written explanation of conceptual understanding.
If your child struggles with reading comprehension and written expression, you may want to
consider Math 6 as the pacing will provide ample time for your child to build on these skills.
Schedule changes cannot occur once the school year begins. If you select the faster pace and
higher rigor level of Honors Math 6, it may necessitate additional parental support and time
outside the classroom.
How Do I Select Academic
Courses?
 Language Arts
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All of our language arts classes use the full Pre-AP SpringBoard curriculum to
supplement the CCSS. Within this program, individual student needs are targeted
through changes in content, process and/or product. For example, reading material is
differentiated based upon each student’s scale score (EOG) and lexile level.
Additionally, all students are immersed in a comprehensive vocabulary program
grounded in the study of Greek and Latin roots as they apply to an overall understanding
of language. This program is also differentiated according to student need and
readiness. All language arts classes are taught at an honors level with the understanding
that a portion of our students may need additional support throughout the school year.
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The courses with the “Honors” title use the top tier of lexile levels when assigning
novels and other texts. While there is some variance within these tiers, students in an
Honors LA course will be assigned more complex and challenging texts that typically
fall in the 1000+ lexile range. Please be aware that this can sometimes bring increased
maturity in themes**
How Do I Choose Honors or
Standard?
 Use the handout of course descriptions.
 Consider the variety of suggested data points.
 Talk with your child’s current teacher…what
does he/she see on a daily basis in the classroom?
 Parent will have final decision as we are using
open access philosophy…use the data…set your
child on the right path**
 Signature on the registration card is
acknowledgement of the course you desire and
your understanding that there will be no schedule
changes.
How Do I Select Academic
Courses?
 All Students take Science and Social Studies
which are NOT leveled. Teachers differentiate
within the classroom to meet individual needs for
acceleration/remediation. These two courses
generally provide the biggest “discomfort” for 6th
grade students during the first grading period.
 All Students take Health/PE for one semester.
Students must wear CHMS gym uniform for PE
which is purchased through the Athletic Booster
Club.
How Do I Select Electives?
 You may select 3 semesters of electives (PE
is the 4th).
 You may either choose 3 semester courses
OR one year and one semester course.
– If your child wants Band or Orchestra, he/she will select that plus
ONE other course
– If your child DOES NOT want Band/Orchestra, he/she will choose
three semester courses.
– Must complete an Instrument Permission Form
– No guarantees of instrument
– All music students will meet with the band or orchestra teacher
before school begins for instrument assignment purposes
How Do I Select Electives?
 Art Wheels
– One Wheel is 9 weeks of Dance and 9 weeks of
Chorus (performing arts)
– Other Wheel is 9 weeks of Drama and 9 weeks
of Art (visual arts)
– In 7th and 8th grades, these courses are all separate. The
wheel gives them a chance to explore a little of everything
to see what they enjoy
– A child may take BOTH arts wheels; this would equal two
choices
How Do I Select Electives?
 Foreign Language Wheel
– This course is exploratory and is 9 weeks of
Spanish and 9 weeks of French
– It is NOT a pre-requisite for the 7/8 grade
course nor does it guarantee a seat in 7/8 grade
language.
– Foreign Language is NOT a middle school
necessity. **There are new implications for
taking MS foreign language.
How Do I Select Electives?
 Computer Apps I and Computer Apps II are new curricula. Part I will
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include more keying skills.
Exploring Careers STEM will look at careers within the science,
technology, engineering and math fields. Each of these Computer
courses may only be taken ONCE in MS.
Journalism will explore creative writing, news writing and will assist
in publishing a school newspaper
Library Science and Global Leadership*
Be certain to select alternate choices as elective placement is not
guaranteed.
**All classes subject to change based on staffing - 2013/2014 Budget
constraints.
Registration cards due at the end of the week. Select carefully as we do
not do schedule changes. We also do not take teacher requests.
Questions About the Process??
 Please use the Note Cards for questions. For
questions specific to your child, please
include your name and contact information
and someone will be in touch with you
soon.
 We will post this presentation on our web
site.
A Few Last Notes…
T dap Immunization
There will be another Open House in the summer
where you will get to meet your teachers, learn
more specifics, buy PE uniforms and required
readings…school spirit wear 
Be looking for summer assignments…they are
required!
Booster club/ASEP in the lobby
Tour Directions
WELCOME TO
COMMUNITY HOUSE
MIDDLE SCHOOL
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION IS
OUR PRIMARY FOCUS
We Are Glad You Are Part Of Our
Team!

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