Seventh Grade



Frank Black Middle School

Eighth Grade Professional Learning Community

Optimism ( Empathy ( Mindfulness ( Compassion ( Grit

Welcome to the eighth grade! All of our work this year will be to prepare the students for a successful four years of high school. In order to get our students to where we believe they need to be, we have outlined the following eighth grade policies and class requirements. Please read this letter entirely and have your student return the signed portion of this form to Ms. Peters. We look forward to seeing you at Open House on Tuesday, September 6th from 5:30pm to 7pm.

Grading Policy:

The grading system consists of four categories with their respective weights.

• Tests: 30%

• Quizzes: 25%

• Class work: 35%

• Homework: 10%

Progress reports are sent home in the middle of each six-weeks grading period. You and your students can check their grades online through GradeSpeed. Visit for more information. Parent/Teacher conferences will be held on the day of report card distribution as needed and can also be scheduled at your convenience.

Student Agendas and “Muy Importante” folders:

Each student will be assigned a Student Agenda book and a “Muy Importante” folder in which they will keep their weekly homework packet, any forms or notices for parents, and calendar events. Parents should check these folders nightly and make sure students are using them to organize their work. Both items will be distributed in the first few weeks of school.

Homework Packets:

During Advocacy each Monday, each student will receive a packet containing the week’s homework from all five core content classes. Students will complete the packet by Friday and return the packet to their Advocacy teacher on Friday morning. Individual teachers may issue additional homework over the week, but students should expect this packet each week.

Tardy Policy:

Students have three minutes between classes. They may not be late to class. The first tardy will result in a warning, with the second tardy resulting in a grade level detention. Failure to attend a grade level detention will result in administrative referral which could lead to Saturday detention, SRC, or Suspension.

Panther Points Incentive System

Every morning, students can earn five points during Advocacy. These points can be used every three weeks to bid on various rewards. Points are awarded if the student is present, on time, in dress code, has their ID badge, and has their agenda and “Muy Importante” folder.

Dress Code:

Students are to follow all of the requirements of the school dress code. Highlights of the dress code include:

• All shirts must be either a collared navy blue shirt or a BMS school shirt and be size appropriate.

• Pants must be khaki-colored and worn at the waist.

• All undershirts must be solid white.

• Boys must tuck in shirts. Girls must tuck in their shirts unless the shirt is fitted (not baggy, but not too tight) and extends past the pockets of their khakis.

• Only solid-color sweatshirts without hoods or BMS sweatshirts may be worn in the classroom. All other outerwear must be kept in the lockers.

8th Grade Behavior Policy:

Our 8th grade students are the leaders of our school and must present a good example for younger students. Therefore students must be present, on time, and respectful. They must work hard 100% of the time. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in classroom discipline measures, grade-level detention, or an administrative referral.

Detention:

The 8th grade team will hold detention every Thursday from 3:15 to 4:45 in room 227. If a student receives a detention, the teacher will give the students a notice to bring to their parents. The parent will sign the notice and the student should bring it back to the teacher who issued the detention. Failure to attend a detention will result in an administrative referral and possibly a Saturday detention.

Consequences:

1. Verbal warning

2. Student/teacher conference

3. Parent/guardian contact

4. After-school detention.

5. Referral to Assistant Principal. (A serious offense will result in immediate referral.)

Required School Materials:

• Combination lock for hall locker (students will be required to use their locker)

• Black/blue pens and pencils

• Notebook paper

• One spiral notebook for Ms. Davis’s History class

• One box of tissues and one bottle of hand sanitizer for Advocacy class

• 3 composition books

*Additional supplies may be requested by individual teachers as needed.

*Please notify teachers if student is unable to purchase any of the items above.

Hannah Swanson, Reading hswanson@

Kristen Sheils, Language Arts ksheils@

Thomas Ramey, Math tramey@

Lisa Davis, U.S. History ldavis3@

Jillian Peters, Science, PLC Leader jpeters@

Barbara O’Finan, All Subjects bofinan@

Roseline “Ibe” Emeghebo, All Subjects remegheb@

Janet Barnwell, All Subjects jbarnwel@

Ms. Meilin Jao, Campus Principal mjao@

Ms. Crystal Richmond, 8th Grade Assistant Principal cardoin@

Frank Black Middle School (713) 613-2505

“I have read the eighth grade letter stating the policies of the eighth grade Professional Learning Community and I understand the rules and consequences for the 2011-2012 school year.”

Student name (please PRINT): ______________________________________

Parent/Guardian name (PRINT): ______________________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature: ______________________________________

Phone Number: ______________________________________

Email Address: ______________________________________

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