Grade 6 Math Placement Guidelines
We’d like to inform you of the math placement guidelines we will be following to place students in the appropriate math program in grade 6 for the next school year.

Why are all students not placed into the same math program?
We know that children develop cognitively at differing rates just as they develop physically at different rates.  We also know that the developmental readiness of a student is an important factor in determining the type of math in which a student will be successful.  Developmental readiness is not a measure of potential, but rather, a measure of the developing maturity of student thinking skills.  Thus, our Grade 6 Math Program has been specifically designed to provide appropriate and challenging math opportunities for all students.  Grade 6 contains two separate core math programs.  By providing two different core programs in grade 6, we believe we will be able to provide a challenging math curriculum, based on readiness, for all students.

What are the different math options for students in grade 6 next year?
– Math 6
– Math 6  Advanced

How will students be placed in grade 6 for their math?
The MS Math Department and Admin will meet before the end of the school year and review the following for each student and make placements taking into account the following:
·    Grade 5 Teacher recommendations
·    Habits of Learning assessments on end of year report cards
·    MAP scores and growth shown on the MAP assessments (Fall to Spring)
·    Pre-Assessment of the Math 6 curriculum
·    Standards-based assessments communicated on semester report cards

When will placements be made?
Based on the information above, while finalizing next year’s MS schedule over the summer, all students will be scheduled into the Math Program we feel is best for each student for the coming school year in August.

Is this placement final?
No,  during the first week of school in August, all students will be taking the pre-assessment for the math course they are placed in.  At that time, any student who performs significantly well on the pre-assessment, will be considered for possible shifting into the next math program level.

Our goal is to have a Middle School Math Program that provides opportunities for us to challenge each student at their level of readiness and to enrich their study of math.  It is our ultimate goal at ISB Middle School to foster in all students a love of Mathematics together with the conviction and confidence that they can enroll in, and master, the most challenging Mathematics in high school and university.

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Troy Regis, MS Mathematics Department Head
Maurilio Baron-Toaldo, MS Vice-Principal
Tom Burgess, MS Principal

MS Concert Next Tuesday, 14 May 2013
John Secomb
johns@isb.ac.th

Grade 5 students – Are you interested in singing or playing a stringed instrument?  Then come to the MS Choir/String Concert next Tuesday at 6:30 pm.  You will hear the Grade 6 Choir and the Beginning and Concert Strings.  This may help you choose your music course for next year.

Beginning Band Drive
Brent W. Poling Brentp@isb.ac.th
Kentaro Udagawa kentarou@isb.ac.th

If your grade 5 child will be choosing band as the music elective in grade 6, please read and fill out the on-line form.   This MS sign up process usually happens earlier, however, with a new schedule in the works details have not been completed.  Since the Beginning Band Drive is scheduled to occur soon after the Songkran holidays, we are sending this out to let you know about the day your child can try out a variety of instruments.

In getting a head start for the next school year, we are planning a “Beginner Drive” set for Saturday, May 18, 2013.  It will begin at 9:00 am and will finish at 12:00 pm.  At this time you will be able to meet the MS Band teachers at ISB and your child will have the opportunity to try out various instruments; from flute to tuba and French horn to percussion, all wind and percussion instruments will be available.  We will be looking for which instrument best physically suits your child as well as finding the instrument that he/she can excel on the fastest.  This is a very important process because some children may not be physically capable of playing certain instruments or may be limited to minimal success.  For example, a child with a teardrop shaped upper lip will have a difficult time excelling on the flute.  A child with an under-bite will have an extremely difficult time playing saxophone or clarinet.

We will split up the three-hour session by the last name of the student.  It is as follows:
9:00-10:00       Last name beginning with A-J
10:00-11:00     Last name beginning with K-R
11:00-12:00     Last name beginning with S-Z

Knowing which instrument your child will be playing in advance will help the school year begin smoothly and successfully.
The link to the on-line form is here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dENWd1Y2LUhmR0RoMEJMLU80aEFaNkE6MA

(if the link doesn’t work, try copying and pasting into an empty page in your browser)

Thank you all so much for your time.  We anxiously wait the day that we get to meet you.  If you have any questions, please contact
Brent W. Poling                                                Kentaro Udagawa
Brentp@isb.ac.th                                             kentarou@isb.ac.th

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