Welcome to
Mesa Verde Middle School

Home of the Pumas!

September 7, 2010

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Important Dates

MVMS Progress Report dates: October 8, 2010; January 21, 2011, and April 15, 2011
Report cards mailed home a week after: November 19, 2010; March 4, 2011; and June 3, 2011

The Counseling Office

COUNSELORS

The counseling office is staffed with two full-time credentialed counselors. If your student’s last name starts with the letters A-L Mrs. Twitchell is their counselor and if your student’s last name starts with the letters M-Z Mr. Mayer is their counselor. They are available for consultation and guidance throughout the school year. We encourage all students and parents to consult a counselor any time they have concerns relating to class programs, academic progress, or any area relating to school. Students wishing to see a counselor should fill out a “Request for Counseling” slip in the Main Office giving some indication of the nature of the problem and the urgency of the services needed.

Students needing to see a counselor right away, should report to their teacher to have their agenda book signed before going to the counseling office so that the teacher can take attendance.

COUNSELING INTERNS

Currently we have a counseling intern available to hold support groups.

Support groups for students are effective in that they:

facilitate knowledge to help students see how they may have unknowingly been thwarting their own best efforts to acieve what they want
encourage students to “talk about it”
assist in exploring personal histories
identify self-destructive behaviors
provide for brainstorming of solutions and encourage students to act on those solutions
enable members to see how others respond to them
allow students to look at their behaviors from others’ points of views
provide opportunities for “on the spot” self-definition (how one comes across, looks and feels)
provides safe environment to practice new behaviors

Support groups run for six to ten weeks and vary in theme: identity problems, difficulty getting along or making friends, fmaily crisis/struggles, grief or death, interest in smoking or alcohol/drugs, difficulty with studies and academics, managing anger and conflict, learning responsibility, improving coping skills, or special issues that concern and involve students. These groups meet during school hours and students must sign up with the counseling intern and complete the parent permission form to participate.

Study Skills

SOME PARENT INTERVENTIONS

Agenda Book: Your student can ask their teachers to initial the agenda book everyday and you can communicate by writing a note to teachers in the agenda book.

Check your student’s Weekly Progress Report.

Use some ideas from the MVMS Study Skills Guide (available in counseling office).

Set-up a conference with your student’s teachers.

Contact your student’s school counselor.

SOME STUDENT STUDY SKILLS

Prepare to learn as you begin each class (notebook open, materials ready, homework ready to turn-in, focus on the subject…)

List your homework (from the classroom homework board) in your Agenda Book.
Ask your teachers to sign your Agenda Book everyday.
Follow the exact directions given by your teachers on tests and assignments.
Sit as close to the front of the classroom as possible.
Write all important information from the whiteboard or overhead into your notebook.
Always ask your teacher a question when you don't understand something in class.
Ask your parent, teacher or counselor for help whenever necessary.
NEVER DISRUPT CLASS- Use class time for learning!
Do all your homework and class work. Turn it in on time, even if you struggle and don’t understand all of the assignment.
When you begin your homework prepare like a professional student; (eliminate distractions, have all materials ready, study for short periods then take a quick break, set short-term study goals like; watch T.V. after all homework is finished…).
Study/do homework in multiple 15 to 20 minute sessions.
Call your "Study Buddy" when you need help with homework. (Get phone numbers from responsible classmates. Be a "Study Buddy" for a classmate.)
Start long-term assignments the day they are assigned.
Study for tests a little every day and as many days as possible before a test.
Meet with your counselor and review the MVMS study skill guide.
Improve your reading skills by reading age-appropriate books for ½ hour each evening.
Learning the course material and earning passing grades will make you proud and your parents proud and you will not have to attend summer school! J

No student may receive more than a total of four (4) failing grades (Fs) on trimester report cards in the year in order to be assigned automatically to the next grade. Students who do not meet these standards may be assigned to alternate educational settings such as extended-day program, variable schedule, independent study, or county services. Students also have to attend and pass summer school in order to promote to the next grade.

College Planning

The question is “Where will my student go to college?” rather than “Will my student go to college?” By viewing the chart below you can see how important it is for your son and/or daughter to attend college. Not only does a person’s salary increase according to their level of education but the employment rate decreases with higher levels of education.

Unemployment Rate in 2002
(percent)

Education Attained

Median Earnings in 2001
(dollars)

2.8

Masters Degree

56,600

3.1

Bachelor's Degree

47,000

4.0

Associate Degree

36,400

4.8

Some college, no degree

34,300

5.3

High School Graduate

29,200

9.2

Some High School, no diploma

22,400
Source: Unemployment rate, 2002 annual average: Bureau of Labor Statistics; earnings, March 2001: Bureau of Census.

Concerned about the cost of college? There are many practical ways to pay for college. Go to www.collegeboard.com or www.FAFSA.ED.GOV to find out when, where, and how to apply for financial aide and scholarships.

Is your student thinking about college? Middle school parents and students should not stress about college, but can begin the enjoyable process of college exploration. Take a family outing to a college one weekend. Walk around a college campus so your son or daughter can see what college is like. Have your son or daughter explore their personal interests and what kinds of careers fall in those categories. Have them search the internet or check out a book from the library and gather information on different types of careers.

Moorpark High School is holding their Annual College Fair & Workshop on April 16th between 7:00 and 9:00PM in the Moorpark High School gym.

Retention Policy

School Board Policy 5123: Promotion/Retention/Acceleration was adopted in June 1999 as required by CA Ed. Code 48070.5. This policy sets minimum achievement standards for students in order to proceed to the next grade level. The policy applies mainly to students in grades 2-8… A pupil’s teacher, working with the Student Study Team, shall determine whether or not the pupil meets the minimum standards for promotion between eighth grade and ninth grade based on an objective analysis of multiple assessments in reading, language arts, and mathematics.