2019-2020 Mt. Horeb - Sixth-Grade Handbook Middle School Welcome to Mt. Horeb Middle School
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2019-2020
Mt. Horeb
Middle School
Sixth-Grade Handbook
Welcome to Mt. Horeb Middle School
1Dear Parent/Guardian,
We would like to welcome you and your child to the middle school. The middle school years are a unique time
in a child’s life. Your child is entering a new stage of development where he/she may be experiencing many
changes physically, socially, and emotionally. During these years, you will see your child striving for
independence, yet still seeking reassurance from parents and other significant adults in his/her life. Since you
are the most important person in your child’s life, your involvement and support mean a great deal to us as we
begin this endeavor together.
The middle school years are ones in which your child is expected to assume more responsibilities, i.e. finding
out information about assignments missed when absent, taking care of personal belongings, seeking a teacher’s
help when needed, etc. Some students will find these tasks easy while others may struggle. We will work to
assist your child in being successful. Please notify us if your child is struggling with these responsibilities.
We understand you may have many questions about a new grade, new teachers, and a new building. This
booklet has been organized to help answer some of your questions. If there is information missing, please let us
know so that we may address your concerns.
Sincerely,
The Sixth Grade Team
Ken Tucker Julie DeHaven Bret St. Arnauld Tiffany Forseth
Barb Hutchison Tim Killinger Marsha Lichte Michael Loger
Staci Meister Christa Olsen Carol Parrell Melissa Piscitelli
Brad Miller Barb Rozeboom Anna Weber
HOUSE TEACHERS
Club House Homeroom Teachers Tree House HomeroomTeachers
Marsha Lichte – Language Arts & Literacy* Julie DeHaven – Language Arts & Literacy *
Michael Loger – Math & Literacy* Tiffany Forseth – Math & Literacy *
Staci Meister – Science & Literacy * Barb Hutchison – Science & Literacy *
Christa Olsen – Social Studies & Literacy * Melissa Piscitelli – Social Studies & Literacy *
Tim Killinger– Technology Education Krisann Weier—Guidance Counselor
Brad Miller– Art Education Barb Rozeboom– Family and Consumer Science (FCS)
Jodi Baber-Information Technology (Info Tech-computer skills)
Ken Tucker – Resource Teacher
Anna Weber – Resource Teacher
Carol Parrell – Literacy Teacher for both houses
2*Throughout the year, students may rotate among the house teachers for various literacy units, projects, or to
better meet individual student needs.
GENERAL SCHEDULES
Club House Schedule Viking Hour✧
1st Social Studies, Lang. Arts, Math, or Science
Viking Hour✧ 2nd
Social Studies, Lang. Arts, Math, or Science
1st Social Studies, Lang. Arts, Math, or Science 3rd Applied Arts**
nd
2 Social Studies, Lang. Arts, Math, or Science 4th
Applied Arts**
3rd Applied Arts** LUNCH
th
4 Applied Arts** 5th
Social Studies, Lang. Arts, Math, or Science
LUNCH 6th
Literacy
th
5 Social Studies, Lang. Arts, Math, or Science 7th Band, Orchestra, choir and/or Guided Study
th
6 Band, Orchestra, choir and/or Guided Study 8th
Social Studies, Lang. Arts, Math, or Science
7th Literacy
th
8 Social Studies, Lang. Arts, Math, or Science
Tree House Schedule
✧Viking Hour is mini class period which begins our day. It starts with attendance and announcements,
followed by activities that support team and community building, goal setting, PBIS (Positive Behavior
Intervention and Support) lessons, independent reading, career exploration, etc.
**Applied Arts consists of Art, Music, Technology Education, and Family and Consumer Science (FCS)
which are daily classes that rotate each quarter. Information Technology (keyboarding/business education) and
Health are courses which meet on an every-other-day schedule. Physical Education classes meet all year
opposite Info Tech or Health.
COMMUNICATION
ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOK
Students are expected to have an assignment notebook with them for each class during the
day. At the start of the day during Viking Hour they fill in any homework assignments.
Parents/Guardians should ask to see the notebook every evening, especially through the first quarter. This is a
great way to stay informed and ensure your son/daughter is current with all assignments.
We highly encourage that you hold your child accountable for his/her assignment notebook throughout the year,
because it will help him/her to stay organized and avoid late work, and as the year progresses we hope that
students will independently take on this responsibility.
GOOGLE LINK
There is a Google link available so that parents and students can view our assignment sheet from home!
3INFINITE CAMPUS
Assignment scores and grades are available on Infinite Campus at all times. Students will be given log in
passwords and shown how to access their grades. We encourage parents to choose a weekly day where they
have their child log in to Infinite Campus, look for any missing work or low grades, and then have their
parent(s) look at the data and any flagged messages. If you do not have Infinite Campus parent log in
credentials, please contact Tammy Beranek for help with your Infinite Campus account.
beranektammy@mhasd.k12.wi.us
COMMUNICATION (continued)
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Every Thursday you will receive our newsletter in your email inbox! Each house sends a weekly newsletter
(The Club House Chronicle or Tree House Tribune) via email with a google doc containing core class updates,
upcoming events, and general reminders. If your email address changes, please update your Infinite Campus
information
GUIDED STUDY
Guided Study is a supervised learning period in the day. Our objective is to teach students to develop good
study habits and work completion. Students are expected to complete homework, but Guided Study period is
also a great time for students to receive individual help from their core teachers, organize lockers, read, and use
the library.
SIXTH-GRADE LATE WORK PHILOSOPHY
It is the responsibility of the child to complete his/her assignments in the time frame
given. The late work policy is based on the concept that work is most meaningful when
completed on time. Work loses its connection to the topics studied when completed too late. Then a student
tends to concentrate on turning in late assignments rather than focusing on current work, and the result is often
harmful to the student’s learning of the content.
If the child is absent from school, he/she is allowed an equal number of days to make up the work. For example,
if your child is sick for three days, he/she has an additional three days, after returning, to hand in the missed
work.
All assigned work must be completed. This may mean staying after school, staying in at recess, or missing
end-of-quarter activities in order to get work finished. A student’s score will not be lowered as a result of
handing in the work late.
4GRADING SCALE
A 94-100 B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69 F 0-59
A- 90-93 B 83-86 C 73-76 D 63-66
B- 80-82 C- 70-72 D- 60-62
LITERACY CURRICULUM
Literacy Elements: Students will read a variety of short stories identifying various story
elements (plot, setting, characters, theme, and point of view) while reviewing and practicing
reading strategies.
Facing Fear: This is a collection of writings with facing fear as a central theme.
Animal Intelligence: Students will study a collection of work focusing on how animals are intelligent.
Mythology: Students read a variety of myths, look at the vocabulary that originated from mythology, and how
mythology influences our architecture, art, and our everyday lives.
Realistic Fiction: Students will read multicultural books with change as the main theme.
Mystery: Students will identify characteristics of mystery literature and read a mystery novel as a class.
Vocabulary: Students learn rich vocabulary words throughout the year and are encouraged to use and find
these words in speech and writing.
Independent Reading Requirement: All students will have a quarterly “independent reading requirement”
that must be met and makes up a portion of their overall reading grade. Students choose books to read and take
computer tests (Reading Counts program) to earn points toward this quarterly goal. The quarterly goal is 25
Reading Counts points.
MATH CURRICULUM
Number and Numeration
Recognizing place value in whole numbers and decimals; using exponential and scientific notation; finding
factors and multiples; converting between fractions, decimals and percents; ordering positive and negative
numbers
5Operations and Computation
Solving problems involving whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and positive and negative numbers; applying
properties of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
Measurement and Reference Frames
Using formulas to calculate area, circumference, and volume; naming and plotting points on a coordinate grid
Geometry
Measuring and drawing angles; understanding properties of angles; identifying and modeling similar and
congruent figures; drawing to scale; exploring transformations of geometric shapes
MATH CURRICULUM (continued)
Patterns, Functions, and Algebra
Creating and extending numerical patterns; representing and analyzing functions; manipulating algebraic
expressions; solving equations and inequalities; working with Venn diagrams; applying algebraic properties;
working with ratios and proportions
*The above curriculum is the sixth grade level curriculum covered in Glencoe Math Course 1. Students in all
math classes will be given a journal that contains examples, references, and assignments that will be used
throughout the year.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Writing Process: Students will practice prewriting (including brainstorming for topics), drafting,
editing, revising, creating final drafts and sharing of final products. Writing trait vocabulary will be
used: ideas/content, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation.
Formal writing is done on Google Classroom.
Various Forms of Writing: We will cover different writing forms to help
stimulate the creativity in every child. Some of the topics will include the
following (emphasis on bolded):
● Expository - biographies and research skills
● Persuasive - editorials and advertising techniques
● Narrative - personal narrative and journaling
● Poetry - various forms and figurative language
Grammar and Mechanics: Skills to be covered will include parts of speech, synonyms, antonyms,
homophones, capitalization, and punctuation (especially the use of commas, semi-colons, and quotation
marks).
Speaking and Listening Skills: This includes impromptu speaking, poetry recitation, as well as active
listening and critiquing skills.
6Spelling: We will focus on high frequency words and spelling rules used in student writing. Some
spelling instruction is done as a class, but often spelling instruction will be done individually through
each student’s writing.
Vocabulary: Our focus is on words that contain common prefixes.
SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM
The sixth-grade Social Studies text is titled History Alive! The Ancient World.
Major areas of focus this year will include:
1. Early Hominids and the Rise of Civilization
2. Ancient Mesopotamia
3. Ancient Egypt
4. Ancient Greece
5. Ancient Rome
In addition to a text, students will write about their learning in an
Interactive Student Notebook and keep a social studies notebook.
Throughout each lesson there are a variety of activities designed
to supplement the material being covered.
SCIENCE CURRICULUM
Scientific Practices
Lab safety, observation skills, experimentation, and controlling variables
Weather and Climate (Earth Science)
Warming Earth’s Surface, The Water Cycle, Cloud Formation, and Air Masses, Wind and
Air Pressure, Ocean Currents, Storms, Predicting Weather, Tracking Severe Storms, Climate Change
Research, Impact of Climate Change
7Forces, Motion, and Energy (Physical Science)
The Force of Gravity, The Force of a Rubber Band, The Force of Friction,
Magnetic Forces, The Earth’s Magnetic Force, Motion Energy, Fan Car Motion,
Mousetrap Car Motion, Roller Coasters, Potential and Kinetic Energy
Structure and Function (Life Science)
Cells, Cell Organelles, Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration, Levels of Organization,
Human Nervous System
SIXTH GRADE ACTIVITIES
There are many new activities offered to sixth graders at Mount Horeb Middle School. Some of these include:
Cross Country Wrestling
Band Geography Bee
Orchestra Science Olympiad
Art Contests and Exhibits Math Team
Writing Contests Student Council
Challenge 24 Ski Trips
WordMasters Model Airplane Club
Spelling Bee Forensics
Future Problem Solving After School Socials
Washington, D.C. trip (available every other year - next trip is summer of 2021)
Contact Information
Middle School Phone # (608) 437-7306
Club House Teachers Tree House Teachers
Marsha Lichte – 437-7389 Tiffany Forseth – 437-7361
lichtemarsha@mhasd.k12.wi.us forsethtiffany@mhasd.k12.wi.us
Michael Loger - 437-7391 Barb Hutchison – 437-7378
logermichael@mhasd.k12.wi.us hutchisonbarb@mhasd.k12.wi.us
Staci Meister - 437-7396 Melissa Piscitelli – 437-7354
meisterstaci@mhasd.k12.wi.us piscitellimelissa@mhasd.k12.wi.us
Christa Olsen – 437-7341 Julie DeHaven – 437-7344
8olsenchrista@mhasd.k12.wi.us dehavenjulie@mhasd.k12.wi.us
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resource Teacher Resource Teacher
Ken Tucker – 437-7335 Anna Weber – 437-7192
tuckerkenneth@mhasd.k12.wi.us weberanna@mhasd.k12.wi.us
Literacy Teacher Guidance Counselor
Carol Parrell - 437-7322 Krisann Weier - 437-7349
parrellcarol@mhasd.k12.wi.us weierkrisann@mhasd.k12.wi.us
School Nurse School Social Worker
CJ Goodwin - 437-7352 Tara Hoseth - 437-7375
goodwincheyenne@mhasd.k12.wi.us hogsethtara@mhasd.k12.wi.us
Principal Associate Principal
Paul Christiansen – 437-7331 Melissa Hanson – 437-7332
christiansenpaul@mhasd.k12.wi.us hansonmelissa@mhasd.k12.wi.us
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