Administration

Dear Arundel Middle School Family,

We have gotten off to a great start of the 2009-2010 school year. We started the school year off with
conducting grade level assemblies on the first and second day of school. Expectations for school academics, attendance, and behavior were addressed by Administration, and Guidance. This year, Administrators took the time to personally go into classrooms and present the Code of Conduct with students. I ask that you, as a partner with us in working with your child, remind your child of our expectations. We expect all students to be responsible for: Demonstrating a positive attitude toward learning, Showing respect towards their peers and adults every day, attend school regularly, arrive on time to all of their classes, bring required materials and supplies to every class, and exhibit appropriate conduct at all times.

We know that all this IS possible as long as students are showing their WILDCAT PRIDE! This means that they are coming to school daily as Professional Respectful Individuals Determined to Excel, and they also remember that Fair is not Always Equal; Fair is not everyone getting the same thing; Fair is everyone getting what they need to be successful.

In regard to attendance, the Anne Arundel County board of Education has strict polices for student attendance. For your information, students are considered excessively absent if they miss six or more days from school per semester. This includes illness or vacations. Absences due to vacation are considered unexcused. Students who are excessively absent will receive a failing grade in all subjects.

Our faculty and staff are extremely committed to providing a successful school experience for all of our students. We know that middle school students have a difficult time organizing their day. To help all of our students, this year we instituted the One Binder Concept. This Concept is used in the AVID Program, and has proven to be successful in helping students be organized and ready for learning. With our new Sixth period day schedule, the One Binder, allows students to maintain all of their classes in one place. It is very important that every student use his or her Agenda book daily. It is also an excellent communication tool if you want to write a note to a teacher. Please check your child’s Agenda Book frequently at home.

Thank you to the many parents who joined us for Back To School Night on September 15, 2009. We were so excited to see the increase in attendance from our families, especially during our Pre-Parent meeting. During this time, Administration and Guidance conducted two workshops to provide parents with information on our discipline practices and on the Counseling Department. I hope that you found the evening very informative and hope that you will continue to support our efforts at Arundel Middle School by becoming a volunteer. We have an Open Door Policy, and invite you to join us throughout the year assisting our teachers in their classrooms, on fieldtrips, or working in the office. Our PTA and Mr. Brown, Assistant Principal, would love to add your name to our volunteer pool; thereby increasing collaborative school/parent/community relationships. I encourage all parents to communicate with teachers before assuming and making judgments about a given situation. Please use our guidance counselors, school psychologist, Resource officer, and Assistant Principals, as resources to help

you work through any issues or problems that you may have.

One of our main academic focuses this year is to improve the rigor in our classrooms by utilizing the concepts of Differentiated Instruction to meet all student‘s needs. We will be spending time in faculty meetings and staff development sessions, reviewing content class objectives and their alignment with student assessment, classroom instructional strategies, and initiating student profiles to access their specific learning styles, so that they can access the content in the manner in which they learn. Our Advisory Program this year is now being conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students will receive lessons on AVID and study skill strategies, bullying, character education, multicultural, service learning, math and language arts intervention in preparation for MSA Testing.

During the month of October, we have School Pictures that will take place on October 13th – 15th. Voung’s Karate will conduct a Bully Busters Program with 6th graders, and 7th and 8th grade will follow in the next couple of months. On November 20th, we will be having a Career Day. If you are interested in sharing your careers with our students, please contact our Guidance Office. Parent Conferences will take place November 23rd and 24th. This is opportunity to hear about how your child is performing in their classes and how you as a parent can support the programs and activities your child is involved in at Arundel Middle School.

In closing, remember that we must all work together to provide the best instruction program for our students. I know that working together will ensure that all of our students become professional, respectful, individuals determined to excel. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and thank you again for all of the support you continue to provide to Arundel Middle School.

Sincerely,

Shawn Ashworth

Principal