The Real Deal
A kid-to-kid guide through Maplewood Middle School for our new 6th
Graders
Written and published by:
The MLK Cultural Horizons
Club
Dear Incoming 6th
Graders:
The MLK Cultural Horizons Club
welcomes you
all to Maplewood
Middle School. We
at MMS are here to
help you, not discourage your. It is not only a place for learning,
it is also a social place.
MMS is what you make of it. If you
fool and
clown around, it won’t be a good experience for you. On the other hand,
if you
do your work, while still having fun, doing it here will be a good
experience
for you.
To help you get through the sixth
grade, the
Martin Luther King Cultural Horizons Club has prepared a handbook for
you. It
was written by students, for students. Even though
you will
receive a much bigger student handbook from the adults, we hope our
will give
you a first look at your new school. Inside this handbook there is
information
about many of the types of things that go on in our school. It’s all
that, and
then some! This info is about announcements, the nurse, telephones,
cafeteria,
hallways, bathrooms, dances, etc.
Hopefully, Maplewood Middle
School
will be a very good experience for you. If you ever have any questions
or
problems, don’t dare hesitate to contact any MLK Cultural Horizons Club
member!
Again, from every MLK member, we
say Welcome!
In the
morning
You will need to gather outside
the sixth
grade door. You are allowed to enter the building at 8:12 a.m. You will
not be
able to come into the school before that unless
you have a pass from a teacher or other adult who works at MMS.
Once you are in the building, you
should go
straight to your locker to get all the things you will need to start
your day.
Remember to leave your backpack, coat, hat and gloves in your locker.
You will want to get to your class
as
quickly as you can so you won't be late. You will hear a warning bell
at 8:19
a.m. to let you know you only have one minute to reach class. You will
need to
be in your seat at 8:20 a.m.
Announcements
Announcements are usually read in
the
morning, and in the afternoon during last period. If there are
important
announcements during the day, someone will come on the loudspeaker.
Important news is given over the
loudspeaker. The announcements keep you informed about everything that
is going
on at MMS, in town, and with the recreation departments for Maplewood
and South Orange.
Please have respect and listen
quietly until
announcements are finished. That way you won't miss anything important.
Mrs. Epstein is not only a
qualified school nurse, she is also your
friend. Because she is your friend,
she trusts you and believes that when you go to her office you are
really sick.
We would all appreciate it if you
would never pretend
to be sick, just to get out
of class. If you did that, it would take Mrs. Epstein's time away from
those
students who really were sick and in need of her help.
If you are supposed to take
medicine at
certain times during the day, remember to go to Mrs. Epstein's office
to take
it. We all want you to be well and healthy!
Telephones
Need to make a phone call during
the day?
Get a pass from your teacher and use the pay phone in the front
hallway.
The office phones are only used
for
emergencies. If you need to use a phone at any other time:
- get a pass
- go to the pay phone
If you have a cell phone, it must be turned
off and put away out of sight in your locker, book bag or purse during
the
school day.
Lockers
Lockers are your best friends.
They hold
your books, clothing and other personal belongings.
Your locker may give you trouble
at first,
but you'll get used to it very quickly. If you do have a problem
getting your
locker open, don't get angry or scared. Find a teacher who will help
you, or
who will help you find a custodian, if that's who you need.
Easy-opening tip to remember:
1. Turn right to first number
2. Turn left to second number
3. Turn right to last number.
Homeroom
The reason we have homeroom is so
that every
student can have a "home base" in
school. Our homerooms are where we meet every morning before we start
classes,
where we get important information to take home in communication
envelopes and
where we get to know the other people in the homeroom.
Remember, homeroom teachers are
there to
help you.
Team: A/B
You will hear older students
talking about
"Team A" or "Team B."
This is how it works:
Grade 6 / Team 6A or 6B
Grade 7 / Team 7A or 7B
Same team as in grade 6
Grade 8 / Team 8A or 8B
Same team as in grades 6 and 7
We all belong to the same school,
and we
work together. There are times, though, when the grades have fun
competing
against each other, like at the battle of the classes.
Cafeteria
When in the cafeteria, please:
-
pay attention
for, and follow, the hands-up signal
-
eat your
lunch
-
throw away
your garbage
-
pick up and
throw away any garbage near your table (tables get dismissed as they
are
cleaned up)
-
do not scream
or yell
-
follow all
rules so you can be a Cafeteria Superstar
Also, the only time you should be
standing
up is when you need to throw out garbage or when in line to get
food/snacks.
Visit with people at your table.
Don't go to
other tables.
Hallways
In the hallways, we need you to
make sure
you stay to the right so you don't run into anyone.
We always walk in the halls. We
never run.
MMS is a big place, with lots of
people
moving all the time. The halls are like the sidewalks and streets
outside. If
we follow the rules, everyone is safe from accidents.
And remember, Shhh! Classes are going on.
Loud voices distract other
students.
Bathrooms
-
Flush the
toilets
-
Wash your
hands
-
Throw garbage
in the cans.
Clubs
Being cooped up in class all day
is hardly
something we look forward to. Teachers recognize this, so we have
clubs. This
is our time to relax and unwind. There are sports clubs, study &
homework
clubs, service clubs, student lounge clubs, walking clubs, dessert
clubs, plant
& rocket clubs, model-building clubs, nail polishing clubs and so
many
more.
You get to pick the clubs you want
for one
day per week. Your team teachers and advisors will schedule the
activities for
the other midday periods.
Clubs are treated the same as
classes when
it comes to being on time and bringing any necessary equipment.
Canteens
Canteens are really fun!
Canteens are where you can party
with your
friends from the sixth grade, kick back, eat pizza, play games and
dance.
Stay out of trouble in school so
you can go
to all canteens!
(Canteens = After
school fun, in school)
The Real Deal
Written by the MLK Cultural
Horizons
Club