| Q: |
Why are some 6th grade students going to remain at the
elementary level? |
|
| A: |
Poughkeepsie Middle School is in the process of planning
for restructuring the school and is very close to having more severe
measures applied by the State Education Department to improve academic
outcomes. Based on the fact that we regularly see a drop in achievement in
the 6th grade from the 5th grade, we will provide students with the
opportunity to participate in a 6th grade experience that is more like an
elementary setting than a junior high school setting. We believe it will
strengthen student achievement and give more time for students to mature
before they experience a fully departmentalized setting. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
Will the 6th grade students in all of the schools be in
departmentalized or self-contained classes? |
|
| A: |
The model for the 6th grade in all of the buildings will
be a self-contained one in which the students spend the majority of the
day with the child’s teacher. Students in all settings will have
“specials” instruction. The focus of the instructional day is on
strengthening the amount of time spent on academic work. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
What are the “specials” that students will receive? |
|
| A: |
Students will receive instruction in art, music, physical
education and library on a weekly or, in some cases, bi-weekly basis.
Specials periods will be approximately 35 minutes in length. Students will
be escorted to and from specials instruction. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
Will 6th graders receive foreign language instruction? |
|
| A: |
Currently, only selected 6th grade students are scheduled
for foreign language instruction. Student selection to take a foreign
language is based on teacher recommendation and Terra Nova scores. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
What about the PACE program? |
|
| A: |
The administration is currently examining the issue of
what format to continue the PACE program in. There will be a rotating PACE
program available on a pull-out basis. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
What instructional materials will be used by 6th grade
students in the elementary schools? |
|
| A: |
The textbooks currently in use in the 6th grade will be
issued to students in the elementary schools. Class sets of textbooks will
be made available at the elementary level as they are at the middle
school. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
What about participating in instrumental music programs? |
|
| A: |
Students at Smith School will continue to have access to
the school’s band and string instruction. Students at Krieger will be
afforded instrumental band opportunities, as will 6th grade students at
the middle school. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
Will 6th grade students be able to participate in
after-school programs? |
|
| A: |
Students in Krieger, Smith and PMS will have access to
existing after-school programs in each building. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
Will 6th grade students who live in the Krieger and Smith
bussing areas be bussed to those schools? |
|
| A: |
Students who live in areas that entitle them to
transportation at Krieger and Smith will be bussed from and to regular bus
stops. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
Will there be 5th grade graduations at Smith and Krieger
this year? |
|
| A: |
5th graders at Smith and Krieger will have moving up
ceremonies this year. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
Will all 6th graders receive swimming instruction? |
|
| A: |
Swimming is a minimal part of physical education at the
middle school and it will not be offered to all sixth graders. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
Will the Krieger and Smith libraries have additional
research and reading materials appropriate for 6th graders? |
|
| A: |
Yes, both Krieger and Smith libraries will have grade
appropriate materials. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
What kind of training will be available for teachers who
will be teaching 6th grade who have not previously taught all 6th grade
subjects? |
|
| A: |
All elementary teachers are certified N-6. In-service
training will be provided this summer for teachers who have not previously
taught 6th grade or who have not previously taught all 6th grade subjects.
The training sessions will be designed to 1) familiarize staff with the
materials and curriculum content, 2) discuss best practices for conveying
content, 3) provide information about the new state 6th grade assessments
and their instructional impacts. Professional development will be ongoing
throughout the school year. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
Will guidance counseling be provided? |
|
| A: |
We do not have guidance counselors at the elementary
level. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
What teachers will be teaching 6th grade next year? |
|
| A: |
The district must, by contract, give teachers a general
notice of assignment for the upcoming year by June 1. In order to do this,
we will need to identify all of the possible open positions within the
district in the elementary certification area, advise teachers of what is
available, receive information from tenured teachers about their preferred
assignments, then make assignments in the best interest of the district.
We will be undertaking that process between now and the end of May. |
|
| |
|
|
| Q: |
What happens if a parent of a child at Smith or Krieger
does not wish his/her child to remain at the elementary level? Similarly,
what if a parent at Clinton, Columbus or Warring would like his/her child
to remain in an elementary school for 6th grade? |
|
| A: |
Parents who do not wish to have their children remain at
Smith or Krieger must put their request in writing to the Superintendent.
Parents of children from Clinton, Columbus or Warring who would like their
children to attend Smith for 6th grade may apply to attend Smith as a
magnet school or apply to Krieger on a transfer request form. In the case
of applicants to Smith or Krieger, some form of lottery will be held to
select students if the number of applicants exceeds spaces available. |
