Preparing for Middle School

Principal - Robert Baker

Assistant Principal - Angie Southworth

Dean of Students - David Sinopoli-Smith

School Resource Officer - Det. Julie Warren

 

Counseling Team: 

Last Names A - K - Lori Ultch

Last Names L - Z - Amy Kilgore

Middle School is a key stage of transition in a student's life. They are growing independence, seeking identity and they are identifying friend and activity groups.  Bodies are growing and changing and middle schoolers have elevated emotions, they are pushing boundaries, challenging authority and themselves as they seek to understand the world around them.  

You can support your students as they navigate their middle school years by establishing some executive functioning skills like planning and creating schedules or to do lists. You can help to identify good study habits by identifying a dedicated space and time, what to study and how to proceed when they get stuck.  Helping students develop self-advocacy skills and communicate their needs to their teachers and peers. 

It is also important for students to feel connected to their school community.  Encourage your student to try out a new club or sport which is an opportunity to make new friends, step out of their comfort zone and gain a sense of school pride.  

Help your student to develop a positive digital presence by setting boundaries and modeling good digital citizenship. Monitor the apps that they download and use, and clearly articulate your expectations of when and how they use their devices. 

As you prepare to have a middle school aged student in your home, a book that may provide some advice is Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond - and How Parents Can Help by Phyllis L. Fagell, LCP

In the elementary schools in Novi, kindergarten through 4th grade, students have one teacher and rotate to specials.  They enjoy recess most days. 

At Novi Meadows 5th and 6th grade, students have two to four main teachers, but have limited travel between classes and have the opportunity for recess.  There are a few opportunities for students to participate in clubs at this level. 

Novi Middle School has 7th and 8th grade. Students will have 7 different teachers throughout the school day. They travel between each class each hour. Students no longer have recess, but they now have 5-minute passing time between each class where they can go to their lockers and talk with friends. Students begin to have choice in elective and world language offerings and this is the first level where they will have letter grades. Novi Middle School offers a variety of after school activities such as athletics, clubs and interest groups. 

We use two systems, PowerSchool and Schoology to communicate student information including attendance and grades. The two systems house different information.

Regular Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:11 p.m.

Half Day Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

 

Daily schedule

Academic 20: 8:30 - 8:50 a.m.

First hour: 8:55 - 9:46 a.m.

Second hour: 9:51 - 10:42 a.m.

Third hour: 10:47 - 11:38 a.m.

Fourth hour:

 

A Lunch

Lunch: 11:38 a.m. - 12:08 p.m.

Class:  12:13 p.m. - 1:18 p.m.

 

B Lunch

Class: 11:43 a.m. - 12:13 p.m.

Lunch: 12:13 p.m. - 12:43 p.m.

Class: 12:48 p.m. - 1:18 p.m.

 

C Lunch

Class: 11:43 a.m. - 12:48 p.m.

Lunch: 12:48 p.m. - 1:18 p.m.

 

Fifth hour: 1:23 p.m. - 2:14 p.m.

Sixth hour: 2:19 p.m. - 3:11 p.m.

Lockers: Students are issued lockers to store their belongings. Backpacks and coats are to be kept in the locker until prior to 6th hour. Students are encouraged not to share their locker combination with any other students. Lockers are NCSD property and are therefore subject to search at any time. 

Dress code: We support student self expression and individuality while maintaining our educational environment. We ask that students consider Novi Middle School to be a professional place of learning and wear clothing that reflects this practice. It is also important that we do so in a way that is appropriate for our environment and is conducive to learning.We do allow students to wear hats and hoods. It is expected that students will wear attire with school-appropriate language and messages and that covers from the collarbone through to the mid-thighs (no-bare torso) and no visible underwear. Any fashion (dress, accessory, or hairstyle) that disrupts the educational process or presents a safety risk will not be permitted.

Cell phones/Electronics: Students are expected to bring charged Chromebooks or computing devices to school each day. They can complete course expectations with these devices. During the school day from 8:30 AM until 3:11 PM we do not want to see cell phones or AirPods (or like devices). They must remain out of sight throughout the day, as they tend to lead to distractions and disruptions. Infractions will lead to office visits and the need for parents to meet and/or pick up devices. 

Early pick-up or late entry to school: Building access and student entrance/exit during school hours is on the east side of the building - by 11 Mile Road. You have to have your ID to enter the building during school hours and to pick up a student. We require ID to release students to parents or pre-identified adults.

Transportation: 

• Bus: Students who register to ride a bus will be issued a bus letter for AM pick-up and PM drop-off by the transportation department which is viewable in PowerSchool. Buses drop-off and pick-up students on the east side of the building. In the afternoon, the buses do not arrive in the same order every day.  Students MUST walk up and down the sidewalk and look for their bus letter when dismissed from school. Students who miss the bus can go to the Attendance Office to call for a ride.
• Car: The car drop-off and pick-up is on the west side of the building. Please pull all the way forward to release students from your vehicle and drive carefully through the parking lot.

Read and refer to NCSD Student Code of Conduct for specific information.

We value collaboration with our parents and want to keep open lines of communication.  Please keep your contact information current in PowerSchool(email and phone).

Our teachers, counselors, and administrators are available by email, phone, or in person.

We send out weekly newsletters via Smore which contain lots of information about upcoming events in the school.  These newsletters are e-mailed to via School Messenger and are sent on Fridays.    

Our students access information about what is going on in the school from WNMS. This is a student news program produced by our own NMS students.  It is shown to students a few times a week.

7th grade is another immunization verification checkpoint. Immunizations have to be up-to-date the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL for all 7th grade students. Students may not attend Novi Middle School until immunization paperwork is on file.  If you choose to use a waiver, documentation must be provided to the school.

Please reference the CDC.gov's Immunization Schedules

There are 2 immunizations needed for this age group:

• Tdap (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
• Meningococcal (meningitis)

 

Immunization records are updated at the state level.  For more about immunizations and health protocols for NCSD, please visit the Health page on the Novi Community School District website. 

7th grade required classes

• Academic 20

• English Language Arts 7 (ELA)

• Math (Math 7, Math 8, Algebra I, Geometry)

• Science 7

• World History 7

• Required Rotation*:  Personal Fitness, Health, Computers, World Language (9-week courses - may occur in any order)

Optional classes

• Either one full-year elective  OR

• (4) 9-week elective courses

Our students start their day with Academic 20 where they have 20 minutes in a smaller class setting to build relationships, seek out support from their teachers, and learn about events going on in the school. We also have Novi POWER class meetings on Fridays where students participate in discussions and activities that create community and support a positive school culture. 

• 20 minutes daily school-wide before 1st period

• Assigned to all teachers, providing 1:20 teacher/student ratio.

• Time allotted for homework, organization and planning.

• Allows access to any teacher for clarification and support.

• Time intended for clarification rather than work completion.

• Class meetings every week for Olweus Bullying Prevention, restorative practice, and community building.

For more information about the elective offerings, please refer to the Novi Middle School Course Catalog.

Friday, March 1, 2024: Scheduling information distributed to 6th grade students at Novi Meadows.

Thursday, March 7, 2024: Paper schedule selections sheet due to students' homeroom teachers.

On Tuesday, March 12th and Wednesday, March 13th the Novi Middle School Counselors will be visiting A-60 classes to assist students entering schedule selections in PowerSchool.               

The week of May 13th, 6th grade students will be coming over to visit and take a tour of Novi Middle School to familiarize them with the space and some of the staff members. 

On August 13, 2024 we will have 7th grade orientation day. This will be a drop in from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM.  Come in at any time that is convenient to you and your family during that time.  This is when students will receive their schedules and can tour the building to find their lockers and classrooms. 

August 13, 2024: Drop in any time between 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

At the orientation students will: 

• Order yearbook and spirit wear

• Put money on lunch account

• Take School Photo & Get Student ID

• Turn in sports paperwork 

• Get locker combination –practice!

• Get class schedule

• Tour the building and find classes

There will be a make-up orientation date announced soon.

For more information about the content and curriculum for each math class offered at Novi Middle School, please refer to the NCSD website for Teaching and Learning and Atlas Rubicon where all course curriculum is outlined. 

Testing Out or Summer School

Our research has indicated that the most successful students are those who have taken all math courses during the school year. 

Students who take a math course in the summer are not as successful in the next sequential math course as students who have successfully tested out of a course. 

As a math department, it is our recommendation that students take math courses during the school year. Students who take full year courses have higher grades and a more complete understanding of math content than those students who either tested out or took summer school courses.

Test Out

A good question for a family to consider is WHY your child wants to test out of a class?

Test Out is offered for high school credit courses such as Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II. 

• Students who pass the test out of a HS course will have TO (test out) and RC (received credit) on their transcript.
• No grade is applied to the HS GPA.
• You must register to be able to attempt to test out of a high school credit class. For more information, please visit the NCSD website about test out. 

Math Placement Test 

In the spring, students also have the opportunity to take a math placement test for Math 7 or Math 8.  The Math 7 test and criteria is communicated by Novi Meadows.  The Math 8 placement test is to show mastery of the Math 8 content.  For more information, please visit the NCSD website about math placement. 

Summer School 

NCSD offers summer school for the following math classes: Algebra I, Geometry, Honors Geometry, Algebra II, and Honors Algebra II

• Upon successful completion of a course, students are placed in the next sequential math class regardless of the grade they receive.

• Students who take a HS course during summer school will have SS (summer school) and the achieved grade on their transcripts. 

For more information please consult the Community Ed section of the NCSD website.

Ways to support your student in Math class

At the beginning of the school year parents/guardians will be provided a parent access code to SCHOOLOGY. Please make sure that you get access to the parent view of the course to be able assist your students and see their interactions with Schoology. 

Some other suggestions are: 

• Math teachers post extra copies and answer keys and keep an updated schedule with upcoming tests and quizzes in Schoology.

• Ask you student to see the homework and check over it together with your child.

• Check Schoology for grades often! Your child should be able to explain his/her grade. 

• Encourage your child to ask questions and talk to their teacher if they are having trouble.  They can seek extra support from their math teacher during Academic 20 in the mornings. 

• The middle school also has a Math Specialist who can provide extra support when needed. 

At Novi High School, students will need 22 credits to graduate.  Each semester course equals .5 credits. 

The Michigan Merit Curriculum requires the following credits for High School graduation: 

• 4 credits English Language Arts

• 4 credits Mathematics (through Algebra II)

• 3 credits Science

• 3 credits Social Studies

• 2 credits World Language (Credits must be in the same language)

• 1 credit Fine/Applied/Performing Arts

• ½ credit Physical Education

• ½ credit Health

At Novi Middle School, there is no specific credit requirement.  Students simply complete 6 courses each quarter. 

MS students can choose to take a few high school-level courses which will count for credit at Novi High School.

• Spanish 1, Japanese 1, French 1, German 1

• H. Algebra 1, H. Geometry, H. Algebra 2 (in line with your math progression)

• Please note: Grades in the above classes do appear on the high school transcript and impact GPA

We believe that students who feel connected and have a sense of belonging in school are more likely to be successful. We encourage our students to explore and try new things and get involved in something at school outside of their academic classes. We offer a variety of opportunities for students through clubs, activities and athletics here at Novi Middle School.  To learn more about these opportunities, please visit the Novi Middle School website. 

Clubs and Interest Groups: Student Council, Math Club, Yearbook, Newspaper, Ski Club, Golf Club, Auditorium Crew, Science Olympiad, Robotics, Coding Club,  Gay/Straight Alliance Club, Chamber Music Club, Jazz Band, Dance Club, Art Club, Model United Nations, Spokesperson Artistry Initiative

Activities: Theatre Company, Musical, Spelling Bee, Senior Citizens Luncheon, 8th grade Washington, DC trip

Athletics: Football, Wrestling, Track & Field, Basketball, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Softball, Soccer, Cheer, Pom, Swimming, Cross Country, Girls Field Hockey, Tennis. Tryouts will be announced for these sports well in advance through student announcements, on the Novi athletics website, and in our weekly newsletter.