DAILY SCHEDULE QUESTIONS

What are start and end times for secondary students?

Secondary schools (56G, BMS, RMS, and HHS) in the district start school at 7:50 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m. On early release days, students start school at 7:50 a.m. and are dismissed at 11:15 a.m.

NEW for the 26-27 SCHOOL YEAR: 56G will participate in TTT - Early Dismissal Wednesdays, along with BMS, RMS, and HHS, where students are dismissed from school at 2:20 p.m. every other Wednesday. A calendar of these TTT - Early Dismissal Wednesdays is communicated to families at the beginning of the school year.

Do 5/6 students ride the bus with older students?

Yes, 56G students ride the bus with students from BMS and HHS.

What are the procedures for morning and afternoon pick up if my child is a car rider?

For morning drop off, we have a drop off zone where students unload out of the vehicles.  Students then enter the main doors.  Fifth grade students go to the cafeteria, and sixth grade students go to the gym. At dismissal, all car riders are dismissed out the front doors to the parking lot and head straight to their cars.

How long is recess?

Fifth grade students have two recesses.  One recess is part of their lunch block and is 15 minutes.  The second recess is 15 minutes.  

Sixth grade students go outside during their lunch block for approximately 10 - 15 minutes.

Is it possible for my fifth and/or sixth grade student to attend before and after school care?  

Before and after school care will be offered to our 5th grade students only. This is consistent with our programming across the district and aligns with our childcare license to provide service to students through 5th grade.  This programming will be offered at Georgetown Elementary School.  Details about child care are shared with families from the Early Child Care Center.  

How much passing time do students get between classes?

Fifth grade students go between two or three core teachers throughout the day.  Students have ample time to gather their materials to switch classes effectively.  Teachers walk students to and from their specials’ classes.

Sixth grade students have five minutes of passing time between classes.  Students’ lockers are near their core academic classes so they do not have far to travel.

How long is the lunch block?

Both fifth and sixth grade students have 30 minutes for the lunch and lunch recess.  

Do fifth and sixth graders eat lunch together?

56G has three lunches. One lunch is a fifth/sixth grade split lunch. Fifth grade eat on one side of the cafeteria while sixth grade eat on the other side of the cafeteria. Fifth and sixth grade students do not have lunch recess together.

CORE CLASSES, SPECIALS, AND ELECTIVES

Why is my child required to take a music elective as one of his/her elective choices?

This was a district wide decision for all sixth grade students to get an opportunity to dive deeper into a music (performing arts) elective of their choice. One of our goals as a district is to grow our music program. By exposing all students to the various types of music as a sixth grade student, we can help increase participation in our music program offerings. We also looked at the latest research in regard to how music programs impact students and their performance in schools as well as looking at programming of other 5/6 buildings in our area. The latest research shows that students who take music in middle school score significantly higher in Algebra in ninth grade than their counterparts who do not take music; have more enhanced fine motor skills that support their writing skills, computer skills, and other physical activities; and show an increase in language development that supports their skills in the areas of reading and writing. Finally, local 5/6 buildings in our area have similar programming by requiring students to take a music elective starting in either fifth or sixth grade. These districts also made this decision based on the research tied to students' academic performance and providing students with opportunities to explore music at a deeper level than what was offered in the elementary general music classes. (Research sources linked here.)

Is my child able to move up or take accelerated math or ELA classes?

At this time, our district does not have accelerated math or ELA classes for fifth or sixth grade students across the district. Accelerated math is offered in eighth grade.

Are there opportunities for before or after school help/support/tutoring for students?

Tutoring opportunities are determined at the beginning of each school year based on funding.

Can you clarify what is meant by Academic Support/Enrichment?  

Academic support and enrichment opportunities are provided at 56G during Super Switch based on their academic needs.

Will my fifth grade child be in classes with kids from their original elementary school?

Students are intermixed with other students from the four feeder elementary schools (Alward, Bauer, Georgetown, and Park).

BUILDING SET UP AND FEATURES

Do students have cubbies or lockers?

Students have their own lockers located near their core teachers’ classrooms.

Do students have Chromebooks, and where do they get stored or charged?

Fifth grade students have a Chromebook that is kept at school in a cart.

Sixth grade students have a Chromebook that they take to and from school.  Students are responsible for keeping their Chromebooks charged.

Is the upper floor for fifth or sixth grade students?  Do  fifth and sixth grade students intermingle with one another?

The upper floor is for sixth grade and the lower floor is for fifth.  They do not have recess or classes together.  The only times that they intermingle are before school, after school, lunch (if in the mixed lunch), assemblies, afterschool activities, or PTC sponsored events.

Is there AC?

Yes. The building is equipped with air conditioning.

Can we get in the building to look around before school starts?

Yes.  We have spring tours for incoming fifth grade students and a scheduled walk-through for 56G students and their families in August.

Special Education Services

What does a typical day look like in the ASD/CI categorical classroom?

Students have access to the ASD/CI classrooms throughout their school day. Based on the student's individual needs, student schedules are created to provide time in the general education classrooms and their special education classroom. The ASD/CI classrooms have direct access to a sensory room and are in close proximity to bathrooms, the office, and other special education classrooms.