Important Dates for the 2019-2020 School Year Coming Soon!
Rising 6th Grade Parent Night at FFMS
FFMS Peer Leader visits to elementary schools
Rising 6th Grade Field Trip - Brookwood ES and Gwin Oaks ES
Rising 6th Grade Field Trip - Head ES and Craig ES
Summerfest at FFMS 8:30-12:30 each day. $110 Pay at MyPaymentsPlus or at FFMS
FFMS Peer Leader visits to elementary schools
Rising 6th Grade Field Trip - Brookwood ES and Gwin Oaks ES
Rising 6th Grade Field Trip - Head ES and Craig ES
Summerfest at FFMS 8:30-12:30 each day. $110 Pay at MyPaymentsPlus or at FFMS
More Information for Rising 6th Graders
Additional information for Rising 6th graders is at the link below including information about SummerFest, band,chorus, and orchestra registration, forms and more!
Student Tips for Middle School Transition
Welcome to FFMS! Middle school is a great opportunity to meet new people and there is no better place than right here at Five Forks Middle. It is common for 6th grade students to feel both exited and nervous about coming to middle school. Here are a few tips to help you with the middle school transition.
1. Stay organized.
Your teacher will give you a FFMS planner when school starts. Use your planner daily. Write down your assignments and their due dates. Also, you’ll want to keep your locker clean and organized and it’s a great idea to clean out your back pack every weekend.
2. Do your homework. Consistently!
You’ll have more homework than when you were in elementary school. Schedule your time wisely. Find a quiet place in your home and set a certain amount of time every night for homework and study. You’ll want to complete assignments on time, waiting until the last minute will cause unnecessary stress and incomplete assignments will cause your grades to drop.
3. Talk to your teachers.
We have amazing teachers at FFMS and they are here to help. If you are unsure of an assignment, what you need to be doing, or of anything, just ask.
4. Get extra academic support when you are struggling.
We have help sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:15am. Use this time to ask your teachers questions, get caught up on missing work, study for assessments or take a reassessment.
5. Regularly check eClass!
Your teachers will post due dates, handouts, slide presentations and additional study materials on eClass. They will show you how to use eClass if you are unsure. You’ll also want to use eClass to check your grades.
6. Get involved in extra-curricular activities.
At FFMS we have so many clubs to choose from. Check out our webpage and listen to the morning announcements for more details. This is a great way to meet new people, find new interests and just have lots of fun!
7. Focus on your grades.
Stay focused in class and take good notes. Make sure you turn in all your classwork & homework and take advantage of reassessment opportunities.
8. Develop a good support system.
Choose your friends wisely. Choose friends who make healthy decisions and are focused on their school work. Find an adult that you trust and talk to them when you have concerns. Remember, your teachers, counselors and administrators are here to help. Also, don’t forget to keep your parents informed of what is going on in your middle school life.
1. Stay organized.
Your teacher will give you a FFMS planner when school starts. Use your planner daily. Write down your assignments and their due dates. Also, you’ll want to keep your locker clean and organized and it’s a great idea to clean out your back pack every weekend.
2. Do your homework. Consistently!
You’ll have more homework than when you were in elementary school. Schedule your time wisely. Find a quiet place in your home and set a certain amount of time every night for homework and study. You’ll want to complete assignments on time, waiting until the last minute will cause unnecessary stress and incomplete assignments will cause your grades to drop.
3. Talk to your teachers.
We have amazing teachers at FFMS and they are here to help. If you are unsure of an assignment, what you need to be doing, or of anything, just ask.
4. Get extra academic support when you are struggling.
We have help sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:15am. Use this time to ask your teachers questions, get caught up on missing work, study for assessments or take a reassessment.
5. Regularly check eClass!
Your teachers will post due dates, handouts, slide presentations and additional study materials on eClass. They will show you how to use eClass if you are unsure. You’ll also want to use eClass to check your grades.
6. Get involved in extra-curricular activities.
At FFMS we have so many clubs to choose from. Check out our webpage and listen to the morning announcements for more details. This is a great way to meet new people, find new interests and just have lots of fun!
7. Focus on your grades.
Stay focused in class and take good notes. Make sure you turn in all your classwork & homework and take advantage of reassessment opportunities.
8. Develop a good support system.
Choose your friends wisely. Choose friends who make healthy decisions and are focused on their school work. Find an adult that you trust and talk to them when you have concerns. Remember, your teachers, counselors and administrators are here to help. Also, don’t forget to keep your parents informed of what is going on in your middle school life.
Parent Tips for Middle School Transition
“Middle school can be an exciting and terrifying time for students transitioning from elementary to middle school. The transition is often complex. As young adolescents are changing school buildings they are also changing hormonally, mentally, and physically. This transition affects young adolescents' academic experiences, motivation, self-perception, and self-regulatory beliefs (Parker, 2013; Perkins, 1995).” If you have a child who is entering middle school for the first time, know that it is normal for your child to express some concern. Our teachers, counselors and administrators are here to help and we are only an email or phone call away. To help ease the transition, here are some tips that can be useful along the way.
~ Association for Middle Level Education
1. Don’t be too anxious about your child going to middle school. Talk about the middle school experience in a positive way! Your enthusiasm and support can help make this BIG change a positive one.
2. Help your child develop an organizational strategy. Many middle school students struggle with organization. They have more classes and they are traveling from room to room. This is new for 6th grade student and most students will need help setting up an organization system. Here are some things to consider.
a. Buy your child the necessary folders and binders to stay organized and have a weekly clean-up of their book bag and binders.
b. Monitor that your child is using their FFMS planner.
c. Help your child identify a good study space and encourage your child to use this space and time regularly.
3. Utilize Five Fork Middle School’s resources.
a. Take a look at the clubs and activities and encourage your child to sign up for something.
b. Regularly access eClass to check grades and progress.
c. Encourage your child to attend Wednesday and Thursday help session. You can drop your child off at the car rider lane. Help sessions start at 8:15am.
d. Check the FFMS’s website regularly for information about special events and activities.
e. Sign up for FFMS Remind & the weekly Hitching Post.
4. Practice a combination lock with your child over the summer. Many students are nervous about their locker. You can help alleviate some of this stress by allowing them the opportunity to practice opening a combination lock.
5. Talk about social skills. Talk about traits that make a good friend. Discuss how words and actions can affect other people. Practice skills needed for difficult social situations.
6. Get involved as a parent. Attend parent-teacher nights, open houses, PTSA meetings and/or other events where you can connect with your child’s teachers and the school.
~ Association for Middle Level Education
1. Don’t be too anxious about your child going to middle school. Talk about the middle school experience in a positive way! Your enthusiasm and support can help make this BIG change a positive one.
2. Help your child develop an organizational strategy. Many middle school students struggle with organization. They have more classes and they are traveling from room to room. This is new for 6th grade student and most students will need help setting up an organization system. Here are some things to consider.
a. Buy your child the necessary folders and binders to stay organized and have a weekly clean-up of their book bag and binders.
b. Monitor that your child is using their FFMS planner.
c. Help your child identify a good study space and encourage your child to use this space and time regularly.
3. Utilize Five Fork Middle School’s resources.
a. Take a look at the clubs and activities and encourage your child to sign up for something.
b. Regularly access eClass to check grades and progress.
c. Encourage your child to attend Wednesday and Thursday help session. You can drop your child off at the car rider lane. Help sessions start at 8:15am.
d. Check the FFMS’s website regularly for information about special events and activities.
e. Sign up for FFMS Remind & the weekly Hitching Post.
4. Practice a combination lock with your child over the summer. Many students are nervous about their locker. You can help alleviate some of this stress by allowing them the opportunity to practice opening a combination lock.
5. Talk about social skills. Talk about traits that make a good friend. Discuss how words and actions can affect other people. Practice skills needed for difficult social situations.
6. Get involved as a parent. Attend parent-teacher nights, open houses, PTSA meetings and/or other events where you can connect with your child’s teachers and the school.
Parker, A. K. (2013). Understanding and supporting young adolescents during the transition into middle school. In P. G. Andrews (Ed.), Research to guide practice in middle grades education (pp. 495-510). Westerville, OH: Association for Middle Level Education.
Perkins, P. I. (1995). Elementary to middle school: Planning for transition. Clearing House, 68(3), 171-173.
Gilewski, C. D., & Nunn, M. L. (2016). Research summary: Transitioning Young Adolescents from Elementary to Middle Schools. Retrieved [date] from http://www.amle.org/ServicesEvents/ResearchSummary/ TabId/622/ArtMID/2112/ArticleID/750/ Transitioning-Young-Adolescents-from-Elementary-to-Middle-School.aspx
Perkins, P. I. (1995). Elementary to middle school: Planning for transition. Clearing House, 68(3), 171-173.
Gilewski, C. D., & Nunn, M. L. (2016). Research summary: Transitioning Young Adolescents from Elementary to Middle Schools. Retrieved [date] from http://www.amle.org/ServicesEvents/ResearchSummary/ TabId/622/ArtMID/2112/ArticleID/750/ Transitioning-Young-Adolescents-from-Elementary-to-Middle-School.aspx
Links to Other Resources
Below are some link with additional resources as well as how to sign up for the FFMS Hitching Post and FFMS & 6th Grade Remind. (How to Sign up for Remind is listed near the bottom of the FFMS Counseling Department Home Page.)