2 of 19

The Learning Collaborative

at Dent Middle School

Principal, Tamala Ashford

Lead Teacher, Amanda Abram aabram@richland2.org

3 of 19

Agenda

Teacher Introductions

Magnet Overview and Mission

Magnet Policies

Field Studies, Summer Programs, & Summer Enrichment

TLC Foundation

4 of 19

TLC

Program Discription

The Learning Collaborative has been serving Richland School District Two since 1991 as a program of choice for middle school students. TLC is specially designed to meet the needs of high achieving, highly motivated students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades by providing a specialized, rigorous, intellectually-stimulating learning environment. This learning environment encourages intellectual and creative abilities through collaboration as we prepare students for high school and beyond.

TLC

Program Description

5 of 19

TLC Honor Code

(This information is in student folders)

TLC Students are expected to to represent themselves and their work on the following ways

Honesty

TLC students are expected to be truthful of themselves and others
Academic honesty and integrity is very important.

No plagiarism, copying others work, cheating on test, etc.

2. Respect

Students are expected to be respectful of the learning environment.
Treat themselves and others with respect.
Respect school and personal property.

3. Responsible

TLC Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that promotes a positive educational environment.

The purpose of the TLC Honor Code is to hold students ACCOUNTABLE and protect the integrity of the TLC educational process.

6 of 19

Academic Policy

Satisfactory Academic Standing:

Students must maintain at least a 70% cumulative average (C average) in the four core academic subjects (Science, Social Studies, English Language Arts, and Mathematics). This is checked at the end of each quarter.

7 of 19

Academic Policy

Unsatisfactory academic standing:

Students who earn a cumulative average of less than 70% at the end of any quarter grading period will be placed on academic probation. The lead teacher and student will conference and parents will be notified with a letter.
A parent conference will be held and an intervention plan developed for any student who fails one or more of their core classes. This plan remains in effect for the remainder of the school year and is reviewed each quarter.
However, the probationary period will end when a student improves the cumulative average (not interim) to a 70% (C level) or higher.
A student who consecutively has a cumulative average of less than 70% will be considered for removal from the program at whatever point in the school year this may occur. This is up to the administration and lead teacher.

8 of 19

Foreign Language Elective (Intro to Latin)

Required Courses 6th Grade

Stem Words

Greek Olympian Pantheon of Gods

Roman Gods and Goddesses

Greek heroes and heroines

This introductory course for 6th grade only is designed to explore different aspects of ancient Greek and Roman culture. Students will read and analyze Greek and Roman myths and how those myths have influenced our modern culture.

9 of 19

Coordination of homework, tests, and graded assignments

Teachers carefully assign homework to be meaningful and important, not redundant.
Teams communicate in order to coordinate overall quantity of homework, due dates and tests.
TLC values the out-of-school activities of students and their families, and demonstrates this through managing and coordinating the workload of students.

10 of 19

Weekly Newsletters: Each grade level emails out a weekly newsletter with updates and important dates.

Parent Square: Please make sure you have updated your email in Parent Square as this is a primary way for teachers to communicate with you about your student.

Google Classrooms: All google classrooms have a calendar for students to see when important dates are. Teachers will also communicate these. If possible we would love for your student to have an agenda next year to help them organize important information.

Email: Please also make sure your email is updated in Parent Portal and PowerSchool.

Phone: Please make sure phone numbers are updated in Parent Portal and PowerSchool

Communication

11 of 19

Tutoring

Each teacher holds consultation 1 day per week, from 3:30pm until 4:30pm. This time may be utilized for a variety of reasons:

Students who are on academic probation are strongly recommended to attend those consultation for class(es) for which they are on probation.
With approval from the consultation teacher, students may complete make-up work and missing assignments.
If you would like to schedule a consultation session, please do this by emailing or calling the teacher. Students are to report to their consultation sessions promptly at 3:30pm. Students must be picked up at 4:30pm.

12 of 19

Carpool

A carpool interest form will be emailed to parents. The QR code is in the summer work packets. If you submit the form, keep the following in mind:

You are responsible for contacting people on the spreadsheet to arrange a carpool.
Email addresses and phone numbers are not to be used for any other purpose.
If you want contact information shared with you, you must be willing to share your contact information.

13 of 19

Summer Enrichment

Summer enrichment is designed to reinforce concepts and skills that are needed to be successful when the new school year starts.

Summer enrichment packets will be located at the summer work table. Check out a book from Mr. Chappell and pick up a packet.

All summer enrichment work will be linked on our TLC website.

14 of 19

Summer Programs

6th Grade Transition Camp

July 15 - 16
Registration and Payment Required
Information will be emailed at a later date

Step Up to 6th

Registration NOT required.
August 4
8:00 am- 12:00 pm

First Day of School

August 5

15 of 19

Current Richland 2 Students

Registration

If you have not already done so, please login to Parent Portal to complete the annual student information update. It is important to complete this process before school gets out for the summer to prevent delays in your student’s registration for the 2026-2027 school year.

This process includes providing proof of residence, verifying student Information and reviewing and completing parent or guardian agreements. If your student’s information has not changed from the previous school year, you still need to log into the system, confirm your information and review agreements that must be completed each year as required by policy or law.

If you have any questions about the annual student information update process, please contact Ms. Shelby Geter at SGeter@richland2.org
Students from other Districts -- Go to the Richland 2 website (www.richland2.org) and click the link Enrollment & Annual Registration

16 of 19

Major Field Studies

6th Grade- Camp Inside Out at Camp Tekoa

September 28 - 30, 2026
approximately $350

7th Grade- Williamsburg, VA

March/April 2027
Approximately $900

8th Grade- Washington, DC

November 2026

Deposits are required for all field studies. We will work to plan our field trips quickly this summer and get payment schedules out to parents as soon as possible.

17 of 19