- in the middle school are we allowed to bring coffee, tea, juice, etc. as long as they are sealed?
A. Only water is allowed during the school day. Other drinks are acceptable in the lunchrooms during lunch time.
Grapevine and PlainFacts Archives – Middle School
Latest Grapevine and PlainFacts Posts - Middle School:
- Where is the Middle School Auditorium located — where the middle school parent information meetings will be held this week?
A. The middle school auditorium is located in Gowana.
- Can i use my locker neighbors old locker to store my own stuff? They moved away and told me the combo so i could use it(middle school)
A. You are only authorized to use the locker that has been assigned to you.
- Hi, I am a 6th grade student and I was wondering how do you get a talk with your counselor? I have been wanting to have a meeting to talk about something but I don’t know how you get a time where you can talk to your counselor. I’m guessing it’s not as easy as just writing a pass and going during a study hall. Thanks,
A. You can walk in the counseling office and let the counseling secretary know that you need to speak to your counselor. The secretary will set up an appointment for you.
- Hi, in Gowana today the social-studies teachers had to show a presentation on cyber-bullying. It said one of the bad things to do was to say things that were “Hate Speech”. It should not be included in the presentation because that is a very controversial topic. Tell me, what DEFINES “Hate Speech”? You can’t answer that for everyone because some people think somethings are hateful while others do not. Also, this was not brought up in the presentation, but isn’t a simple solution to this just to block the person in question?
A. Hate speech is speech that attacks a person or group on the basis of attributes such as race, religion, ethnic origin, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
- When looking at my classes I noticed that period zero was from 7:15-7:55. Is this correct?
A. Period 0 for middle school is 8-8:40am.
- Are middle schoolers allowed to wear hats or chew gum while in school?
A. No hats. Gum is at the discretion of the teacher.
- As a concerned parent my child has told me the 8th Grade Social Studies final is going to be taken through edoctrina, and I have heard of the disaster that was the NYS testing and I feel this is going to cause a vast amount of trouble, and I don’t want my students to be forced to use this flawed system or have their tests delete. Can we change this?
A. Middle school students took final exams with a web-based software platform that is different than the one used for NYSED testing. Students have been successfully using this platform all year for tests and quizzes in many English, Social Studies, Science, and Math classes
- if you fail a LOTE class, will you have to go to summer school to make it up? 8th grade
A. No, you are only recommended for the 2-week summer review course if you fail the Checkpoint A exam on June 18.
- why aren’t students allowed to go on their phones in lunch in the middle school, as 9-12th graders are? i believe everybody should have the privilege until proven they cannot handle it. students are monitored throughout lunch, so if they ever used their phone inappropriately, it would be seen and managed.
A. Cell phone use in not prohibited in the MS during the instructional day. Students are encouraged to keep their cell phones in their locked locker throughout the instructional day. Use during lunches would lead to an increased number of students with their cell phones in their possession during subsequent classes. Also, unlike the HS, […]
- I’m a middle schooler and i have a chrome book it is hard for me to carry all of my books and the chrome book bucause the case is very big and adds a good amount weight but i was wondering if i could use my own laptop sleeve to carry it around?
A. Sorry but middle school students are required to use the school-issued Chromebook case.
- When are 5th grade students notified of which middle school they will be attending in the fall?
A. It is posted on the website at: https://www.shenet.org/about-us/district-maps-and-boundary-info/school-attendance-by-street-name/
- Do Middle School grades count against college applications?
A. No, unless you are accelerated and taking high school classes in middle school.
- So in Gowana, there is a Gold star program where good students can nominate other students. I don’t think this is done fairly. Many people who were chosen are really bad in class or don’t do anything. One person who was chosen spoke without the teacher’s permission in multiple classes and got multiple lunch detentions including on the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL and is really rude to other students. Is any checking done when people are nominated?
A. Random Acts of Kindness are appreciated and awarded with a Gowana Gold Star. Students who are disrespectful in classes receive a referral and possible disciplinary actions. The events are treated separately.
- Homework for my sixth grader is taking hours each night. I thought homework was supposed to be limited to one hour?This is causing a lot of stress for our family.
A. Please reach out to your child’s teachers to discuss your child’s homework load directly. There are many factors that contribute to how long homework completion will take and this may vary student by student (e.g., other distractions such as TV or phone, fatigue, working at a slower pace, course load). Hours, meaning two hours […]
- What subjects count torwards my child’s average in middle school?
A. Every course except physical education.
- Where can a student drop off their lacrosse equipment if their parents can’t drive them everyday? (Acadia.) Thanks.
A. Yes, in the attendance office.
- Where can I find the Middle School Club descriptions. I know where the club listings are located on shenet.org but the descriptions for each club don’t seem to be available any longer.
A. The middle schools do not provide them for posting anymore. You can e-mail your middle school principal.
- For 7th grade is summer schools optional
A. If the person fails 1 or more classes, Summer School is optional.
- I have Koda Student Council every other Friday morning. It’s hard for my parents to get me there considering they have to go to work at the same time. Is there anyway I can take the high school bus and have them drop me off at the middle school or just an early bus?
A. You can get a pass from student council and take a high school bus in anytime. The bus will drop you off at Gowana. Make sure you show the pass to the driver.
- For the 8th grade trip to Great Escape are the kids divided into groups with chaperones?
A. Students are required to check in half way through the day to their chaperone. Otherwise, they are free to roam the park on their own.
- How early can I drop off my child at Acadia? Is there a place for him to wait for the start of school? Library? Cafeteria?
A. 8:40 unless participating in a club or intramurals, etc., then it is 8:00
- What are the requirements for the National Junior Honor Society? Is this the only middle school honors program? I heard there was something for those with averages over a 95%. I can’t find information on the district website. Thank you.
A. All of the middle school NJHS clubs have webpages. https://www.shenet.org/MS-extra-curricular-clubs/
- I was not aware that a principal can make a school/building policy without BOE/District review. Mr. Burns has made a Acadia policy not to allow students to decorate a locker for any occasion (i.e. B-Days, school spirit, support or recognition). It is my understanding that he made this policy after a parent complained that their son or daughter couldn’t have their locker decorated. Kids have been decorating lockers for school spirit, accomplishments and birthdays for a long time and it is part of the experience of school. I really hope that this will be looked at more closely and the appropriate action be taken to have this policy removed and let the kids have some fun and express themselves. A SIS message to the Acadia parents would be helpful to understand what the policy is going forward. Thank You.
A. Schools are able to make their own policies when it comes to the day-to-day operations. This decision was made to be consistent with the two other middle schools.
- I know numerous students who are trying to get into 6th grade math honors. Is it possible to switch halfway through the year? If yes, what are the requirements?
A. It is not possible to make the change at this point. In most cases, these sections are full. Students are placed in Math 6 Honors based on multiple criteria including grades, NYS assessment scores (if taken), common assessments, and quantitative CoGAT scores. Students may be recommended for Math 7 Honors at the end of […]
- What is your policy on the new “All Gender” bathroom in the Acadia 7th Grade wing? Who is this bathroom supposed to be used by? Can it be used casually by any student?
A. They are not new. They have always been there. This is a single stall bathroom available to students, not bathrooms with multiple stalls.
- What exactly do students and parents do at the middle school ice cream socials?
A. Eat ice cream and socialize.
- Has any thought been given to revising the school supplies lists for the middle schools. After buying items some teachers have added materials or said to disregard what was asked for on the list and asked us to get something different.
A. The supply lists are reviewed by the teachers on a yearly basis.
- Im going to be an 8th grader in Gowana this upcoming school year and I was wondering if I could skateboard to school and back on paths only and put it in my locker during shool hours. I would not ride it in the school and I would also get their before buses arrive.
A. The administration would recommend using the bus transportation provided by the district.
- Can a student change their team assignments? I.e. 7-1 to 7-2?
A. That requires a discussion with your counselor.
- If a student is attending a period 0 class in a middle school, what time can he be dropped off?
A. A student can be dropped off in the Gowana Cafeteria after 7:30am.
- How is the dress code enforced in the middle school, and what are the punishments for violating it?
A. Students who violate the dress code are sent to the office and/or asked to change their clothes.
- How to achieve a Superintendent’s award at the end of 8th grader?
A. The student had to have a 90% cumulative average for all of 6th and 7th grade and the first three quarters of grade 8.
- How much do finals count towards a student’s final grade for middle school?
A. Final exams will count towards a student’s final average as listed below: 6th Grade – 5% of the final grade 7th Grade – 10% of the final grade 8th Grade – 10% of the final grade Courses with High School weight – 20% of the final grade
- Is there a rule of not carrying a backpack in middle school?
A. Students are not allowed to carry backpacks until the last period of the day.
- I lost my student I.D. for the 8th grade semi-formal, but have a ticket, dress and shoes and really want to go. Is there any way I can still go to the dance?
A. Students should go to their counseling office and ask them to print off their summary sheet with their picture on it.
- can a little bit of skin be showing for the 8th grade semi? Like an inch?
A. If referring to the midriff, midriffs should be covered.
- Do eighth graders who are taking some of their regents have to return to school after the exam? If so, will a bus take them, or do their parents have to take them over? All of the students most likely will not finish at the same time, so that is why I am unsure. I do think that if they have to return to school, that it would be unfair considering that high school students get the rest of the day off after regents exams.
A. A shuttle bus will provide transportation for MS students to return from HSE to the Middle School during Regents Week.
- What’s the grade for the president award
A. Students have to maintain a 90% for all of 6th and 7th grade in addition to the first two quarters of 8th grade.
- How do you get a award for 8th grade graduation? Do you need a certain grade
A. Yes for the Presidential Award but teachers select the candidates for other awards.
- What are the grade ranges for the high achievement and achievement lists for middle school?
A. 85-90 Achievement (honor roll), 90-100 High Achievement (high honor roll)
- How and when are MS students chosen for the MS Honor society?
A. Please see the clubs webpage for information: https://www.shenet.org/MS-extra-curricular-clubs/
