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Welcome and General Information

School Counselors

Mrs. Theresa Kaleal

Class of 2030 - 7th

Mrs. Martina Kwolek

Class of 2029 - 8th

Administration

Mrs. Ashley Turner

Associate Principal

Mr. Bryan Seward

Principal

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Reminder from our District Nurse

Required Vaccinations to enter 7th Grade

Meningitis
Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)

District Nurse: Megan Welch

Megan.Welch@nordoniaschools.org

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Middle School Structure

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Instruction

Nordonia Middle School utilizes the Professional Learning Community (PLC) process. PLC’s consist of grade level, content area teachers, and are designed to allow teachers to analyze and utilize student data in efforts to guide instruction.
Collaboration between teachers helps ensure that every student is provided the same level of rigor and instruction, in each subject area, across all teams.
The primary goal of each PLC is to increase student achievement, provide intervention and enrichment opportunities, and ensure that every student leaving Nordonia Middle School is has the academic foundation to be successful at Nordonia High School.

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3 Big Ideas of PLC and our 4 Questions

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Middle School Teams

Through the Teaming process, students share the same four Core Content area teachers (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies). The goal of teaming is to allow for faster, student centered, communication and problem solving during the Middle School years. Each Team is meant to foster students’ academic, social and emotional development, as well as efficient communication with families.

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Myths of Teaming

Myth

All of the Band and Choir students are placed on their own teams.
All of the “smart kids” are placed on one team and all the “bad kids” are placed on another.
My previous middle schooler was on team…..The best teachers are on Team……

Fact

Student Placement is random. All teams have access to Band and Choir.
Student Placement is random. All teams have access to the same courses and opportunities. Past student behavior is not known or considered.
All content teachers work and plan together through PLC’s to ensure the all courses are taught with the same rigor across teams. Students take pride in their teams and build relationships with their teachers throughout the school!

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Curriculum Information

Middle School Math Pathways
Elective Classes
Courses for High School Credit

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Middle School Math Pathways

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Traditional Math Pathway

Geometry - 10th grade

Algebra I - 9th grade

Pre-Algebra - 8th grade

7th Grade Math

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Opportunity for Acceleration

Geometry - 9th grade

Algebra I - 8th grade

Algebra II - 10th grade

7th Grade Math

Show Content Mastery by achieving 90% overall grade or better in 7th grade Math
Show Consistency in work completion throughout
Average 85% or better on ALL Summative Assessments
Score Proficient or better on the 7th grade OST

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Additional information for Algebra I and Geometry

End of Course Exam is required and counts toward High School Graduation
Final grade is listed on the High School Transcript
A Scientific Calculator is required for Algebra and beyond

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Elective Courses

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Encore Classes

Art
Band
Choir
Exploratory Spanish
Health
High School Health- 8^th grade only
Jazz Ensemble
Physical Education
Cadet Corps

Today’s Music
Spanish 1- 8^th grade Only
World Cultures
*Computer Science for Innovators and Makers
*Flight and Space
*Medical Detectives
*Robotics and Automation

*Available Biannually

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Courses for High School Credit

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Courses for High School Credit

Algebra I and Geometry
Spanish I

Available to 8th grade students. This is a High School Credited Course and is typically taken in the 9^th grade. Prerequisite: Students must receive a teacher recommendation, based on previous academic performance, and have earned an average grade of at least a B in 7th grade ELA to enroll in Spanish I.

High School Health

Available to 8th grade students. This is a High School Credited Course and is typically taken in the 9^th grade, Prerequisite: Must have earned at least a B average in 7th grade Health

Cadet Corps

Available to 7th and 8th grade students. This is a High School Credited Course and is taken at the High School beginning at 7:20 am

***All courses taken for High School Credit will be listed on the student’s High School Transcripts (though not factored into the G.P.A.) and are taught using the same curriculum, pacing, and rigor of the same course taught at the High School. Students are strongly encouraged to be realistic about their work habits, preparedness, personal schedule, and reasoning for enrolling in a High School course.

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Scheduling Process

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Academic Advising

Your child’s counselor will send an informational academic advising video to all current 6th grade teachers
6th grade teachers will show the video to students during class time
This same information and video will be sent to parents and guardians to review together

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Schedule Google Form

This 7th grade schedule form will be sent to parents and students electronically as part of the schedule information

Students (along with their parents) will be asked to rank the top 4 encore classes they would like to take next year

Please make sure that you are listing 4 different classes, not the top choice of class 4 times

The Google Form is set up to only allow a request to be submitted from a Nordonia student email account one time

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7th Grade Scheduling Google Form

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MS Counselors visit to 6th Grade at Lee Eaton

Middle school counselors will visit Lee Eaton to enter schedule requests with students

The counselors will individually conference with each student, review the form the students completed, and confirm the encore classes that were selected

Students will have an opportunity to ask questions at this time

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Sample

Student

Schedule

Lance

Class Period Time Course Name

Period 1 8:00 – 8:50 Health

Period 2 8:53 – 9:43 Social Studies 7

Period 3 9:46 – 10:36 Math 7

Period 4(A,B,C) Advisory

4A 10:39- 11:06

4B 11:09- 11:39 Lunch

4C 11:42- 12:12

Period 5 12:15 – 1:05 ELA 7

Period 6 1:08 – 1:58 Science 7

Period 7 2:01– 2:51 Art

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Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities

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Extracurricular/Co-Curricular Activities

Nordonia Middle School offers a wide variety of extracurricular and co-curricular offerings. Athletically, students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of interscholastic sports, competing in the Suburban League. Co-Curricular offerings allow our musically inclined students to not only learn skills in the classroom, but an opportunity to show them off through concert participation. The Middle School also offers many clubs and activities that provide leadership and performance opportunities. Students are highly encouraged to take part in extracurricular activities!

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Music and Co-Curricular

7th and 8th Grade Band
7th and 8th Grade Choir
Jazz Band

Second Semester ONLY for 7th Grade

Knight Rhythm

Audition based extracurricular group

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Activities

B.U.D.S.- Building Understanding of Differences through Social Interaction
Drama Club/School Musical
G.I.R.L.S. Club
Interact Club
Knightly News
Media and Innovation Club

NMSDEIC- Nordonia Middle School Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Club
Power of the Pen
Science Olympiad
Ski Club
Spelling Bee
Student Council
Yearbook Club
Youth to Youth (Y2Y)

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Athletics

Boys and Girls Cross Country
Football
Volleyball
Cheerleading - Football and Basketball
Wrestling
Boys and Girls Basketball
Boys and Girls Track

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Important Dates at a Glance

Week of February 5th, 2024 - Academic Advising
Monday February 26, 2024 - Schedule Google form due
February 28 - March 1, 2024 - MS counselor visit to 6th grade
Tuesday, April 9th 4:30-6:00 - Activities fair and walk through
After Tuesday, August 13th - Scheduling information available
Wednesday August 21, 2024 - First Day for 7th grade Students!!!

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