• Komachin is organized into 3 houses; each with ~350 students.
• Each house is organized into teams of social studies, language arts, and science teachers.
• Math and other specialists serve students from more than one team based on individual needs.
• This creates smaller learning environments within the larger school to better meet the needs of our students.
• Whenever possible, students stay with the same advisor and social studies, language arts, and science content teachers for two years.
  • This strengthens relationships between students, teachers and families as we get to better know the specific needs of each student and foster those relationships over the course of two years.
  • We keep students and teachers together for two years through what we call looping. Looping means 7th and 8th grade students are in the same classes together.
• We have a 2-year curriculum cycle
  • At the end of two years all students who leave Komachin will have received the same curriculum, but not in the same sequence as would be the case in a traditional 7th and 8th grade structure.

• Students have 6 of these classes:
  • Language Arts
  • Social Studies
  • Science
  • Mathematics
  • Physical Education
  • Health
  • Learning Support
  • Enrichments

• Students have 2 periods each day all 4 quarters to take a variety of PE and enrichment classes. This totals 8 sections over the course of the school year.
  • All students take a minimum of 2 quarters of Physical Education; when space is available, some students enroll in 3 or 4 quarters of PE by choice.
  • All 7th graders take 1 quarter of Health
  • Students enrolled in Band, Orchestra, or Choir commit to 4 quarters of music enrichment

• Sample Learning Support and Enrichment classes:
  • Language Tools
  • Vantage Writing
  • Poetry
  • Creative Writing
  • Reading Rewards
  • Science-Inquiry
  • Math-Problem Solving
  • Music-Band/Choir/Orchestra
  • Applied Tech
  • Art

• Most days, students only attend 5 of their 6 classes:
• Science and Language Arts are “chunked” together for 2 periods; students only attend 1 of these content classes each day.
• Enrichment, Math and Social Studies classes are attended daily.
• Advisory is also scheduled every day.

• Every student at Komachin participates in our advisory program. The majority of our teachers serve as an advisor to one group of students.
• The role of the advisor is to assist students in goal setting, academic progress, behavioral issues and generally to act as a positive adult role model and mentor to the students.
• Like the content classes, students stay with the same advisor for two years when possible.
• Advisors are also the key point of contact and communication between the home and school.

Homework

• You can expect to have homework each night.
• The general guideline is ~10-15 minutes for each year of your grade level. So, 7thgraders can expect ~70 minutes each night.
• Keep track of your homework in your Komachin planner.

• Middle school classes are on a quarter system:
  • 1stQuarter: Fall (September-November)
  • 2ndQuarter: Winter (November-January)
  • 3rdQuarter: Winter (February-April)
  • 4thQuarter: Spring (April-June)
• Progress reports can be accessed any time online using Family Access.
• Report cards are sent home at the end of each quarter.

• Grades are monitored every four weeks by the principal and counselors.
• Struggling students may be requested to attend a before or after school study hall.
• Passing grades are required to participate in activities, athletics, and rewards.
• Students can often get extra help from teachers before or after school, during study hall, and sometimes at lunch.

• KMS has two counselors, Mrs. Pinto and Mrs. Nye. Each is attached to one of the two houses and can assist students in a variety of ways:
  • Academic Concerns
  • Behavioral Issues
  • Social Adjustments
  • Scheduling

• Students can participate in all sports activities:
  • Fall Season: Girls Volleyball and Boys Soccer
  • Winter I Season: Girls Basketball and Wrestling
  • Winter II Season: Girls Soccer and Boys Basketball
  • Spring Season: Track
• Other student activity offerings such as clubs and extra-curricular music opportunities depend on the success of our Fall fundraiser.
• Students participating in extra-curricular activities will require their own transportation home following practices and events.

• Before and After School Help
  • Study Hall
  • Math skill workshops
  • Teacher help sessions
  • Make-up opportunities
  • Student leadership
• Other ASB Activities
  • Fundraisers
  • Student Council and ASB Cabinet
  • Student committees
  • Service Learning

• Students in middle school have a lot more freedom

• With freedom, comes responsibility

• We have one over-riding expectation at Komachin:

• Behavior Expectations
  • Assemblies and advisory lessons the first week of school
  • Student handbook in the Komachin planner
  • Rewards and progressive discipline
  • Good to know:
    • No Skateboards, rollerblades, scooters
    • No Electronics (cell phones turned off and stored away)
    • No Permanent markers, aerosol sprays
    • No Wearing hats and hoods in the building
    • No Short skirts, low cut tops, sagging pants

• Progressive discipline system:
  • Infractions with demerits
  • Parent conferences
  • Detentions, in school suspensions
  • Out of school suspensions, expulsions
  • Loss of privileges and reward

• Treats for positive behavior
  • Ice cream, cookies, chips
  • Every 4 weeks
  • Starts over each cycle
  • Lacey ACT Nights monthly
• Quarter reward activities:
  • Celebration Party
  • Skate parties
  • Movies

• Certificates
  • Scholarship
  • Wellness
  • Pride
• Seasonal Awards Assemblies
  • Honoring achievement, attendance,
    effort, improvement, positive choices
• Seal Activity
  • End of the year party here or at another location!