EIGHTH GRADE CORNERSTONES AWARDS: Also announced at Closing Assembly are two awards for eighth graders that are based on the Hockaday Cornerstones. The Ela Hockaday Award is presented to an eighth grade student who has been outstanding in her quest to fulfill the goals of character, scholarship, courtesy, and athletics -- the four cornerstones of Hockaday-- to such a high degree that the recipient merits special distinction. Marymegan Wright was voted as our Ela Hockaday awardee this year. The Citizenship Award is presented to those eighth grade girls who have best exemplified the qualities of courtesy, respect, and cooperation throughout the school year. Recipients of the Middle School Citizenship Award this year are Kate Clark, Hudson Johnson, Isabel Malakoff, and Ocean Park.
THIRD TERM GRADES: I will send an email notification to you next week to let you know exactly which day grades will be available for viewing.
ELECTIVES FOR FALL 2017-2018: I have mailed out a selection form for electives that will be offered in the fall. These forms were due to the Middle School Office on Tuesday, May 23. You may fax (214-360-6446), email (aheck@hockaday.org), mail, or have your daughter bring them to Alexa Heck. Electives are offered to give girls a chance to explore areas beyond their regular classes. Each girl takes one elective that meets two times in each rotation. Some electives require a year-long commitment and others will run until the end of January, at which time the students may choose a different elective for the remainder of the year. Girls for whom we do not have a returned elective form will be scheduled in the study hall elective for the fall.
The majority of electives are offered on Day 1 and Day 5 during Flex (11:10-11:40) before lunch. Fifth and sixth grade choir and some orchestras meet twice during each rotation during a portion of D period study hall or Flex Period on days other than Day 1 or Day 5. I’ll provide the specific meeting times on the selection form. If your daughter chooses choir or orchestra, she does need to be aware that choosing an additional elective will reduce her study time during the school day. Once you receive the details, please call me if you have any questions or have your daughter stop by my office for clarification.
MATH PLACEMENT: During the week of in-service in June, all Middle School math teachers and I meet to confer about next year’s math placement for our students. All incoming fifth graders are placed in the same level class. However, we do offer an enriched section of math in grades six, seven, and eight and also a concrete-approach section in eighth grade. Students in these enriched sections follow the same curriculum as the other students in their grade; however, the pace is quicker and the scope and depth of concepts are broader. Our concrete approach offers a more comprehensive, detailed approach when introducing new concepts. Movement into the enriched sections is reviewed at the end of each school year so that the enrollment usually grows to two sections in eighth grade. In our meetings, the math faculty and I analyze a wide variety of criteria: the results of each child’s end-of-year math inventory, report card marks, ERB scores, ability to comprehend new and more abstract concepts quickly and confidently, frequency and accuracy of work on enrichment/bonus (higher level) problems, and comfort with taking risks in class. Most students are placed in our regular sections of math (which are actually advanced in comparison to other math programs). If your daughter appears to be well-placed in an enriched section or the concrete section in eighth grade, I will call you in June to talk about her choices. Again, please note that math placement for any given year is based on your daughter’s current cognitive development in this area; her growth is repeatedly analyzed by our math teachers, and through differentiated instruction and the fluidity of our program, we fully expect to meet her math needs.
SUMMER PLANNING: In planning for the summer and the girls’ return in August, information regarding Middle School summer reading lists for next fall can be accessed on our website. You will receive an email packet from the Middle School Office in late July that will provide back-to-school information and forms. Please note that Middle School Registration for next year is on Monday, August 21 and school begins on Tuesday, August 22.
In closing, I must acknowledge and celebrate the success and dedication of the Middle School faculty. Join me in thanking them for the impact they have on the lives of our students and for sharing their giving spirits and wisdom to your daughters this year. The faculty and I alsoextend our deepest appreciation to you all for the support and partnership you have offered. Your daughters are your treasures, and we are honored to navigate the journey of learning with them each day. So as this school year concludes, I wish you all a glorious summer filled with new adventures and renewal and rejuvenation for your minds, bodies and souls!
Sincerely,
Linda Kramer