Middle school orientation for incoming 6th graders

[Anonymous]

Trying to plan a summer vacation and I am wondering what the deal is with orientation. According to the MCPS website, there are dates during the summer for orientation that the student can choose from and then there is also a test run of the buses and classes for a half day the Thursday before school starts. Is it recommended to attend both? And what is the difference?

[Anonymous]

The one at the end of the summer is the most important one. They will get their schedules and briefly attend all of their classes.

[Anonymous]

Agree with pp. Do not miss the one before school starts since kids get their schedules and lockers but the one in the middle of the summer is not necessary. Certainly nice of the school to do it but do not plan vacation around it.

[Anonymous]

So what is the one in the middle of the summer?

[Anonymous]

We skipped it but I heard the administrators talked etc. I think there was also a scavenger hunt around the school.

[Anonymous]

That sounds pointless.

[Anonymous]

Our MS offers two dates for the kids to visit during the summer. June 16 or August 6. You choose one. Then there is a mini-day a few days before school starts on August 27. I think the dates vary slightly depending on the school. Ours already has them posted on the website. Or you could call.

[Anonymous]

Some kids have anxiety about going to a larger school. The middle of the summer allows them to get the lay of the land without a ton of people around. They can also meet some of the staff and kids in their class. Cuts back on families requesting tours over the summer or just popping in to look around. The orientation the week before is the most important. They do a mock day: ride the bus, practice with the locker and run through their schedule. Works out the kinks of the first day without the older kids there.

[Anonymous]

When does the mini day usually fall? Is it the Friday before school starts or earlier?

OP, thanks for asking this! Had not occurred to me that I needed to plan around this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When does the mini day usually fall? Is it the Friday before school starts or earlier?

OP, thanks for asking this! Had not occurred to me that I needed to plan around this!

The important one, which lasts half a day, is the Thursday before school starts. The other one is usually offered twice - last week in July and first week in August. It is a couple of hours. It's good if you have a kid who is anxious about starting MS, but if you can't do it, no big deal. Our MS also offers a third - the Wednesday evening before school starts. That's when the kids get their homeroom assignment, lockers and PE clothes. That's another really important one if your school offers it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When does the mini day usually fall? Is it the Friday before school starts or earlier?

OP, thanks for asking this! Had not occurred to me that I needed to plan around this!

See 21:29 for your answer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When does the mini day usually fall? Is it the Friday before school starts or earlier?

OP, thanks for asking this! Had not occurred to me that I needed to plan around this!

The important one, which lasts half a day, is the Thursday before school starts. The other one is usually offered twice - last week in July and first week in August. It is a couple of hours. It's good if you have a kid who is anxious about starting MS, but if you can't do it, no big deal. Our MS also offers a third - the Wednesday evening before school starts. That's when the kids get their homeroom assignment, lockers and PE clothes. That's another really important one if your school offers it.

Do you agree that the mini-day is important?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When does the mini day usually fall? Is it the Friday before school starts or earlier?

OP, thanks for asking this! Had not occurred to me that I needed to plan around this!

The important one, which lasts half a day, is the Thursday before school starts. The other one is usually offered twice - last week in July and first week in August. It is a couple of hours. It's good if you have a kid who is anxious about starting MS, but if you can't do it, no big deal. Our MS also offers a third - the Wednesday evening before school starts. That's when the kids get their homeroom assignment, lockers and PE clothes. That's another really important one if your school offers it.

Do you agree that the mini-day is important?

Well, I've been throught it twice already and here's my thoughts. If your kid is anxious or nervous about starting the new school, it is probably a good idea. They get to meet other kids and connect with their current friends in the new environment. They get to wander the school without all of the bigger kids (the difference in size between 6 and 8th grades is amazing) to intimidate them. So, by the time they go to school, they know some people and they have experience in the environment. They also get to know the school counselor and a couple of teachers. But, if it were inconvenient for me, I wouldn't bother with the mini day. I would definitely do the Thursday before school and, if your school offers it, the Wednesday night. The Wednesday night one is the only one that parents can attend at our school and a lot of kids need help with things like the locker. I know each time I attended, I had to teach about ten kids how to open the locks.