Mark Twain Intermediate School for the Gifted and Talented - IS #239 Mark Twain ...

Mark Twain
Intermediate School
       for the
Gifted and Talented

Would Like To
 Welcome

the

Class
 Of

2022

Congratulations
 You have been accepted into New
  York City’s premier intermediate
   school. We pride ourselves on
providing students with a wonderful
 blend of academic rigor and visual
  and performing arts curricula. In
   addition, our supportive cluster
  model will help ensure a smooth
     transition for all students.

Overview
• Today we will be discussing
   • Student Schedules
   • Key Staff Introductions
   • After School Activities
   • Clusters and Classes
   • ID Cards

Agenda
• WELCOME TO MARK TWAIN!
         Karen Ditolla, Principal
• PEER TALENT ORIENTATION SESSIONS
  (Students Only)
• PARENT ORIENTATION SESSION
• After School Information
• Transportation Options

Student Peer Orientation Sessions
TALENT                 BREAKOUT ROOMS

•   Art                221 -   Shlayan

                       325 -    Zelley

•   Athletics          GYM - Fioretta, Cohen, L”Etoile,
                             Avena

•   Creative Writing   237 -   Wallach

                       239 -   O’Brien

•   Dance              174 -   Principato

•   Math/Computer      301 -   L. Sutera, P. Rubin, Rizzi

Student Peer Orientation Sessions
            TALENT                BREAKOUT ROOMS

•   Science                       374 -   Daly

•   Strings                       101 -   Tavolacci

•   Theatre                       149 -   DeCaro

•   Visual Media                  303 -   Checkett

                                  333 - Trubnikov

•   Vocal                         163 -   Chiang

•   Winds                         165 -   Faiola

•   Private + Parochial Parents   125 –   Carbonaro, Kreisberg

•   IEP Families                  Library – Sciascia, Russo

Schedule
• The school day begins at 8:00 AM.
• There are 8 periods in the day, including
  lunch, and the school day ends at 2:31PM
  every day.
• Each students schedule is different each
  day of the week. For example, you may
  have math 1st period on Monday, but on
  Tuesday you have it 7th period.

Homeroom
• Homeroom meets everyday in the
  morning and in the afternoon.
• In Homeroom, your official
  attendance is taken and you hang
  your coat, etc.
• During homeroom, you are
  expected to read, listen to
  announcements, and receive school
  notices that are distributed.

Breakfast / Lunch
• Breakfast and Lunch are FREE FOR
  ALL! Breakfast served @ 7:30am

• Students get one period a day to eat
  lunch
    •6th   Grade- Period 4 (10:35)

Clusters
• Students are organized into clusters.
• Each cluster has about 150 students.
• Each cluster has its own Math,
  Science, English and, Social Studies
  teacher.
• 5 Homerooms per cluster
• 6th Grade students travel with their
  homeroom from class to class.

Cluster Operations
• Each cluster has a cluster coordinator
  who oversees the entire cluster.
• The teachers in a cluster meet to discuss
  various matters.
• If parents have concerns they can
  arrange a meeting with the cluster
  teachers.
• There will be an orientation to discuss
  these and other matters regarding the
  upcoming year.

Classes
• You will have English, Math,
  Science, and Social Studies
  throughout the week.
• You will have English and Math
  state tests in each grade.

Honors Classes
• Students that excel in core classes
  will be offered honors classes in the
  7th grade.
• When you get to 7th grade you will
  be able to take Math and Science
  honors and Regents level classes.
• 8th grade offers honors English, as
  well as, Regents level Math and
  Science.

Talents
• You have your talent class up to 6 periods
  throughout the week. There are 5 talents
  in each cluster, but some talents like
  math, are in each cluster.
   oEx. Art is in 2 of the 3 clusters while
     Math is in all 3.

Foreign Language
• In 6th - 7th grade you will have the
  class twice a week and in 8   th

  grade you will have it 3 times a
  week
• In 8th grade you will also have the
  opportunity to take the Foreign
  Language Proficiency Exam

Technology / Enrichment
• 6th and 7th graders will attend
  enrichment classes during the
  week.
• The enrichment cycle gives
  students the opportunity to
  experience different talents and
  meet requirements.

After School
 Activities

N.I.A. Programming
• Neighborhood Improvement
  Association (N.I.A.) is our dynamic
  afterschool partner.
• Afterschool, Monday-Friday students
  have the opportunity to express
  themselves through various art forms,
  discuss social issues, complete
  homework, and participate in fun
  sports! Programming menu changes
  throughout the year.

N.I.A. Programming
• This program is provided at NO
  COST! However, parents must
  arrange pick – up. There is no
  transportation provided.
• Program begins at the end of the
  school day and usually ends at
  5:30pm. Parents must arrange for
  student pick – up. Transportation is
  not provided.

Academic
• Our school prepares students for
  the Specialized High School Exam
  during lunch and after school.
• We offer Math and English
  classes for extra help in these
  areas.
• Regents Prep is also offered.

Clubs
²Chess
²CHAMPS
²Social Awareness
²Young Naturalists
²Show Choir
²Girls Who Code
²Law & Debate
²G.S.A.
²We add new clubs each year! Stay tuned.

Summer Work
• All students, please look online
  for summer course work prep .
• Check the website often!

Summer Work
  Parents, we have work for you too!
Recommended reading for all parents is:
            The Gift of Failure
                     - Jessica Lahey
                    &
         Most Likely to Succeed
                        - Tony Wagner &
                               Ted Dintersmith
    - Check out their TED talks as well!

Transportation
• Yellow DOE busing is ONLY provided to students
  who live in District 21. You should already know
  if that applies to you.
• Students who meet the DOE distance
  requirements will be issued a metro card on the
  first day of school.
• Private Busing / Car Pools are COMPLETELY
  independent of the school and DOE regulations
  and supervision. They are private contracts not
  bound to the same oversight.

Communication
• Please join us on twitter

          @twain239

REMIND
• Remind is free, safe, simple
  messaging tool that helps teachers
  share important updates and
  reminders with students & parents.
• For school news and updates text
  @is239 to 81010.

Constant Contact
• Our Parents’ Association and school
  suggest that all new Twain parents sign up
  with Constant Contact. In addition to our
  school website, and Pupil Path, Constant
  Contact is yet another way we can reach
  parents via email and mobile devices.
• See our website to sign up for
  Constant Contact emails ASAP.

Supplies
• Students will be informed of the specific
  supplies that they need during the first
  week of school.
• To ease the transition, teachers utilize
  color coding systems for each subject
  area. You can purchase colored folders
  and small plastic binders to get started.
  Check the website closer to school
  opening for specific cluster supplies.

Important Dates
• First day of school- September 5th
• Middle School Parent Conference Cluster
  Orientations – September 19th
• September PA Meeting- September 19th
• Rosh Hashanah (No School) – September 30th –
                                        October 1st
• Yom Kippur (No School) – October 9th

21ST CENTURY SKILL DEVELOPMENT

•   Critical Thinking
•   Problem Solving
•   Communication / Collaboration
•   Innovation
•   Mastery Learning
•   Emotional Intelligence
•   Technology as a Tool
•   Meaningful Work vs. Compliance / Completion

TRUST

TRANSPARENCY

Why are we ALL here?
      • PURPOSE
    • RELAVANCE
      • RESPECT
      • MINDSET
PARTNERSHIP = SUCCESS

AND REMEMBER

 CLASS
  OF
 2022 ...

KEEP
CALM
 AND

TWAIN
 ON