August 27 Middle School Orientation

[Anonymous]

My first child is starting middle school.

I know it sounds like a stupid question but ...
What, if anything, do kids need to bring with them that day?

It also seems like it will be an even shorter day than the MCPS Early Release day. Is that true?

[Anonymous]

Are all Middle School's having orientation? I haven't heard anything from Hoover Middle School and there is no information regarding an orientation on the school website or calendar.

In past years, kids would bring a small notebook and a pencil. They would get their schedule and locker assignments. Students then would go to each class for a few minutes at a time, just enough to meet the teachers and learn the layout of the school. It did not count as a school day (no lunch provided) so the kids finished well before noon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are all Middle School's having orientation? I haven't heard anything from Hoover Middle School and there is no information regarding an orientation on the school website or calendar.

In past years, kids would bring a small notebook and a pencil. They would get their schedule and locker assignments. Students then would go to each class for a few minutes at a time, just enough to meet the teachers and learn the layout of the school. It did not count as a school day (no lunch provided) so the kids finished well before noon.

This is accurate. Usually admin gives a short speech at the start. Gym unis are sold by the PE Dept. Students learn their bus number. There may be a building evacuation practice.

[Anonymous]

bring nothing. They learn to open and lock their lockers, walk the halls, see where the classrooms are. It is sort of chaotic and most kids are screaming and hugging each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:bring nothing. They learn to open and lock their lockers, walk the halls, see where the classrooms are. It is sort of chaotic and most kids are screaming and hugging each other.

They do this on Wednesday evening at our middle school, along with being able to purchase gym clothes, if they choose, and getting homeroom assignments. Then at the Thursday orientation, kids get their schedule in the homeroom and go to each class before being sent back home. They don't need to take anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:bring nothing. They learn to open and lock their lockers, walk the halls, see where the classrooms are. It is sort of chaotic and most kids are screaming and hugging each other.

They do this on Wednesday evening at our middle school, along with being able to purchase gym clothes, if they choose, and getting homeroom assignments. Then at the Thursday orientation, kids get their schedule in the homeroom and go to each class before being sent back home. They don't need to take anything.

Thanks for the advice!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are all Middle School's having orientation? I haven't heard anything from Hoover Middle School and there is no information regarding an orientation on the school website or calendar.
From the parent letter, it will be on Thursday the 27th. http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/hooverms/ParentLetter2015Final.doc8.3.15.pdf
In past years, kids would bring a small notebook and a pencil. They would get their schedule and locker assignments. Students then would go to each class for a few minutes at a time, just enough to meet the teachers and learn the layout of the school. It did not count as a school day (no lunch provided) so the kids finished well before noon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are all Middle School's having orientation? I haven't heard anything from Hoover Middle School and there is no information regarding an orientation on the school website or calendar.
From the parent letter, it will be on Thursday the 27th. http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/hooverms/ParentLetter2015Final.doc8.3.15.pdf
In past years, kids would bring a small notebook and a pencil. They would get their schedule and locker assignments. Students then would go to each class for a few minutes at a time, just enough to meet the teachers and learn the layout of the school. It did not count as a school day (no lunch provided) so the kids finished well before noon.

Thank you DC Urban Mom -

I guess if I did not read this blog I wouldn't know to change our vacation plans so my kid could go to the orientation day. No letter has yet to arrive home.

[Anonymous]

All this information was provided in a packet to parents of graduating fifth graders at our elementary school. Maybe contact the elementary school or the middle school to see if you missed out on something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: All this information was provided in a packet to parents of graduating fifth graders at our elementary school. Maybe contact the elementary school or the middle school to see if you missed out on something?

Nothing came home with my child from Beverly Farms regarding an orientation day at Hoover. However, the letter in the above post is dated August 2015 with a 8.3.15 in the link which probably means it was saved on August 3rd. Not likely the letter was given out last spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: All this information was provided in a packet to parents of graduating fifth graders at our elementary school. Maybe contact the elementary school or the middle school to see if you missed out on something?

Nothing came home with my child from Beverly Farms regarding an orientation day at Hoover. However, the letter in the above post is dated August 2015 with a 8.3.15 in the link which probably means it was saved on August 3rd. Not likely the letter was given out last spring.

Maybe that letter wasn't given out, but it's entirely likely that the "information" was given out in a packet to PP's graduating fifth grader, just as PP stated. Why be so critical to someone offering advice?

[Anonymous]

I received an e-mail from TPMS on Tuesday. I'm happy that they are actually holding Orientation. With the construction I thought it was going to be canceled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: All this information was provided in a packet to parents of graduating fifth graders at our elementary school. Maybe contact the elementary school or the middle school to see if you missed out on something?

Nothing came home with my child from Beverly Farms regarding an orientation day at Hoover. However, the letter in the above post is dated August 2015 with a 8.3.15 in the link which probably means it was saved on August 3rd. Not likely the letter was given out last spring.

Maybe that letter wasn't given out, but it's entirely likely that the "information" was given out in a packet to PP's graduating fifth grader, just as PP stated. Why be so critical to someone offering advice?

Didn't mean to be critical. Just stating that no such info has come home yet. I kept all info given last Spring in a file and when I reread through the file, I still found no reference to an August 27th orientation date. I also drive past the school everyday and there has been nothing on the big computerized billboard to announce the orientation coming up in a few weeks. There appears to be a glitch in communication with parents in our community. I have had other kids attend the school so I just thought maybe they ended the practice of having orientation since I was actively looking for an announcement and could not find one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: All this information was provided in a packet to parents of graduating fifth graders at our elementary school. Maybe contact the elementary school or the middle school to see if you missed out on something?

Nothing came home with my child from Beverly Farms regarding an orientation day at Hoover. However, the letter in the above post is dated August 2015 with a 8.3.15 in the link which probably means it was saved on August 3rd. Not likely the letter was given out last spring.

Maybe that letter wasn't given out, but it's entirely likely that the "information" was given out in a packet to PP's graduating fifth grader, just as PP stated. Why be so critical to someone offering advice?

My experience has been that the information about this county wide orientation for 6th graders is communicated through the MS, not the ES. My kids attend 2 different MS and both times, the notification came through the MS summer mailing or email notification.

[Anonymous]

Our middle school, Shady Grove, sent out a notice at end of school year. And has sent home letter as well as email. Obviously not saying our school has best of everything but the communication from our principal is the best.