Assessment for Learning

The CH-UH School District believes that student learning is its ultimate goal. The District embraces an instructional philosophy in which the monitoring of student progress is a natural and ongoing part of instruction. Students in the middle school take quarterly web-based diagnostic assessment tests in the areas of Reading, Math, and Science. Using electronic assessments allows staff to access the results immediately and use the results as they plan for instruction.

Teachers also use classroom assessments, student observations, homework, and chapter tests to determine the degree of student learning and/or the student's needs. Back to Top

Automated Phone Message System

What is it and when is it used?

The District uses an automated phone messaging service called ConnectEd. Periodically throughout the school year, middle school principals, the Superintendent, and other District personnel will send important messages and updates through this service. The notices include calls regarding school conferences and parent meetings, school closings, and other announcements.

General messages are sent in the evening to the primary home phone number listed in the student’s record. In order to ensure that messages are received throughout the year, it is important that parents notify the District’s Department of Student Services if their phone number changes. Back to Top

Bike Racks

Bike racks are available for students riding their bikes to school. Students need to lock their bikes to the racks for security. For safety reasons, they are to avoid riding in the driveway and the parking lot. Back to Top

Books for Families

Parents have recommended these books

• GET OUT OF MY LIFE, but first could you drive me and Cheryl to the mall?: A Parent’s Guide to the New Teenager by Anthony E. Wolf, Ph. D.
  

• To Be Popular or Smart: The Black Peer Group by Jawanza Kunjufu

• 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey

• Cliques: Eight Steps to Help Your Child Survive the Social Jungle by Charlene C. Giannetti and Margaret Sagarese

• Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood by William Pollack and Mary Pipher

• Girls Will Be Girls: Raising Confident and Courageous Daughters by Joann Deak and Teresa Barker

• The Rollercoaster Years by Charlene C. Giannetti and Margaret Sagarese

• The Middle School Survival Guide by Arlene Erlbach

• Too Old for This, Too Young for That!: Your Survival Guide for the Middle School Years by Harrriet S. Mosatche and Karen Unger

• Ten Talks Parents Must Have With Their Children About Drugs & Choices (Ten Talks Series) by Xenia Becher and Dominic Cappello

• Motivating and Preparing Black Youth for Success by Jawanza Kunjufu

• More than a Label: Why What You Wear or Who You’re With Doesn’t Define Who You Are by Aisha Muharrar

• Stay Strong: Simple Life Lessons for Teens by Terrie Williams

• Queen Bees and Wannabees by Rosalind Wiseman

• Stick Up for Yourself: Every Kid’s Guide to Personal Power and Positive Self-Esteem by Gershen Kaufman, Lev Raphael and Pamela Espeland

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Emergency School Closing

If a school is closed due to weather or unforeseen events, an automated phone call will be made to the student’s home phone number on file in the school office, along with announcements broadcast over local television and radio stations and a message posted on the District’s information line: 999-2484. Please do not call your child’s school. Listen to the local media outlets for information. In case of a civil emergency, you may report to the school office to pick up your child. Back to Top

Dress Code

Students are asked to dress appropriately for school. Coats, hats, outerwear, jackets, and sunglasses are not to be worn during the day. See the student handbook for other specifics. Back to Top

Gifted Students

How are they identified?

Standardized tests, called the OLSAT (Otis-Lennon School Ability Test) and Stanford 10 tests are administered to grade 7 students and can be used to identify students for gifted programming and/or other types of academic intervention services.

In any grade, however, parents/guardians, teachers, principals, administrators, counselors, and/or students may refer a student for testing for the purpose of gifted identification. Once a Consent for Screening form has been completed by a parent/guardian, students may be tested up to twice per year.

In the State of Ohio, once a student is identified as gifted, they are always gifted. Students identified as gifted in Math, Reading, Social Studies, Science, or Superior Cognitive Ability in elementary school will retain their gifted identification through 12th grade and do not need to be re-tested to be identified as gifted. The MSSP pull-out enrichment program requires only a gifted identification in one of the aforementioned areas. All middle school students who have been identified as gifted in at least one of these areas qualify for the MSSP program. Gifted programs offered at the elementary level have their own eligibility requirements. Students who were enrolled in the ESSP pull-out enrichment program or ACT Math or Reading programs definitely qualify to participate in the MSSP program. ACT Math and ACT Reading students will be further assessed at the end of 5th grade to determine eligibility for the accelerated math and/or honors reading programs offered at each middle school.

When students who were in gifted programs transfer into our district, we review any available test records to determine existing areas of gifted identification and/or potential areas of identification. Students transferring from within Ohio who were already identified as gifted in a different district will maintain their areas of identification in our district. Records from students transferring from out of state will be reviewed to see if any test data within the past two years meet the Ohio Department of Education guidelines regarding State Approved Tests used for the purpose of gifted identification/screening. If the data presented is from test(s) on the state approved list and the student meets the state criteria for gifted identification on this test, the student will be identified as gifted in this area(s). If test records have not been received and the parent/guardian wishes for us to do assessment immediately to determine a child’s eligibility for a program, we are happy to facilitate testing. Back to Top

Grades and Report Cards

There are four grading periods that make up the school year. Report cards are mailed to the student’s home address after each grading period. Each grading period is about 9 and 1/2 weeks long. Interim report cards are sent home by mail midway through each grading period to inform families of their child’s performance. Teachers are required to report a grade if the student has a “D” or below. Back to Top

Gym

Where can I buy a gym uniform and does my child need a combination lock?

P.E. teachers will send information home at the beginning of the school year on how and where to purchase a gym uniform as well as information about cost and other gym needs. Back to Top

Heights Association for Gifted Children (H.A.G.C.)

H.A.G.C. meets regularly and provides ongoing workshops for families of gifted students. For additional information, please contact the H.A.G.C. President. Back to Top

Homework

What if my child is having trouble with homework?

You should expect your middle school student to have homework in at least one subject every night. All middle school students are given assignment books or “planners” to use. They are expected to write down their assignments in these books. In addition, some middle schools have “homework hotlines” that your child can call if he or she forgets to write down an assignment.

It is not unusual for a new middle school student to become disorganized (even one who was organized in elementary school!) and need help keeping track of time and materials to complete homework. Remember, too, that teachers are available for extra help at the end of the school day and that a child who is having trouble can often do their homework with the teacher at that time. Back to Top

Honors Programs

An honors reading/language arts program was started in the middle schools during the 2006-2007 school year beginning with eligible 6th grade students and was expanded to the 7th grade for the 2007-2008 school year. These programs seek to provide challenging and enriching opportunities for our most capable students. Additional accelerated opportunities exist based upon the individual needs of our gifted students. For more information, contact the Coordinator of Gifted/Enrichment at the Board of Education. Back to Top

Levels

If you have a question about what subject/class level your child has been placed in, you should contact your child’s school and ask to talk to his or her teacher and guidance counselor (see “Navigating the System”). Levels for 6th graders are decided based on recommendations from the student’s 5th grade teacher. Families are their children’s best advocates. It is always important to know and understand the level your child is in and how those decisions are made. Back to Top

Lunch

The middle school cafeterias serve hot food, sandwiches, beverages, and desserts. Students may also bring lunch from home and just buy beverages or dessert. The cost of lunch in the cafeteria depends on what students select to buy. All food must be eaten in the cafeteria. Students are not permitted to leave the building during lunch period.

Students may purchase lunch each day OR they may pay a lump sum to the cafeteria cashier that will be held in the student’s account. Purchases will be deducted from the account if funds are available. Each student will be assigned an account number that they will enter on a keypad at the cashier station to access their account.

Students are assigned to lunch tables and have a set amount of time to eat lunch. Back to Top

Lockers and Locks

My child is worried about having to go to his/her locker. How can I help?

Suggestion: During the summer between 5th and 6th grade, buy a combination lock and practice with your student. This will help them feel comfortable opening their locker combination and their gym lock.

Two lockers are assigned to each student – a hall locker and a gym locker. The hall locker has a built-in combination lock. It is used for storing the student’s lunch, school materials, and outdoor clothes. At some middle schools, students are asked to leave their bookbags/backpacks in their lockers during the school day and only carry necessary items to class. You will receive information about whether this is a policy at your school.

The gym locker is used for storing gym clothes and books and regular clothes while the student is attending gym class. Some gym lockers have built-in locks. The P.E. teacher at your school will let you know at the beginning of the school year if you need to purchase a lock. Back to Top

Medical Information

Medical immunizations for Middle School

Students in grades 6 through 8 must have the following immunizations:
1. Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTP, DtaP, DT, Td): Four doses are required.
2. Polio (OPV, IPV): Three (3) doses are required.
3. MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): Two (2) doses are required.
4. Hepatitis B: Three (3) doses are required.

Does my child need a physical in order to play sports?

Yes. Physicals are offered in the summer (each middle school has an assigned day) at the UH Suburban Medical Center on Green Road. A copy of a current annual physical done by your family physician is adequate.

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Music

Can my child join orchestra or band if he/she has never taken lessons before or is just a beginner?

Yes. However, although not required, music lessons are always recommended. Back to Top

Navigating the System

Whom do I call when there is a problem?

We recommend that you talk with your child’s teacher first. The following flow chart shows what other steps you can take. Phone numbers are listed on each middle school’s home page under “Helpful Contact Information.” Back to Top

• Call the school office and schedule an appointment to sit down and talk to the TEACHER .
• Call the school office and schedule an appointment to sit down and talk to your child’s GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.
• Call the school office and schedule an appointment with the ASSISTANT
  PRINCIPAL or PRINCIPAL (be sure to mention that you have already spoken to the teacher and guidance counselor involved).
• Call and schedule an appointment to talk to the Assistant Superintendent (be sure to mention that you have already spoken to the Assistant Principal or Principal).
• Call and schedule an appointment to talk to the Superintendent (be sure to mention that you have already spoken to the Assistant Superintendent).
• Call or write a member of the Board of Education (be sure to mention that you have already spoken to the Superintendent).

Parent – Teacher Conferences

Parent - Teacher conferences are scheduled two times each school year, in the fall and again in the spring. During the conferences, families have an opportunity to meet with their child’s teachers or counselors. We encourage families to take advantage of these conference evenings even if their child seems to be adjusting well to middle school. This is an opportunity to meet the student’s teacher, hear about how their child is doing in class, and share important information.

If your child is struggling in class, you do not have to wait until the official conference evening to schedule a meeting with either the teacher, the counselor, or the entire team. Families can always ask for meetings with individual teachers or with all the teachers on their child’s team.

Teachers can be reached by phone (call the school office and ask for the teacher’s voice mail) or by email (all CH-UH staff have emails). You can access staff emails on the District’s web site at www.chuh.org and going to “Staff Directory.” Families can check the District calendar for the dates and times of conference nights for a specific middle school. Back to Top

Phones

Office phones may be used by students for emergencies only, including contacting a parent/guardian when students are ill. All cell phones are to remain in lockers and turned off. Back to Top

School Supplies

Elementary school families are usually used to buying their supplies early in the summer or stocking up throughout the year. Middle schools usually don’t give out the supply list until the first week of school. But there are some basics everyone can stock up on such as: lined loose-leaf paper (college ruled), colored pencils, regular pencils, pens, highlighters, and tissues. Back to Top

Sports

Middle school offers numerous opportunities to participate in sports. Sixth graders can join intramural sports programs after school and can be a team manager for any 7th or 8th grade team sports. Some sports may not be offered at all middle schools. Back to Top

Sports available for 7th and 8th graders include:

Fall: football, volleyball, soccer, tennis (girls)
Winter: basketball (girls and boys), wrestling
Spring: baseball, fast pitch softball, track (boys and girls), tennis (boys)
Middle school sports schedules can be found at www.highschoolsports.net (select Ohio, then select the desired middle school).

Summer Bridging Program

This innovative achievement-enhancing collaboration with John Carroll University provides enrichment experiences for students moving from 5th to 6th grade and from 8th to 9th grade. These students, invited to participate due to their high aptitude in mathematics, gain important understanding of the challenges and opportunities before them as they transition from either elementary school to middle school or from middle school to high school. Back to Top

Team/School Fees

What are they for?

Team fees help fund field trips and enrichment experiences for the students. Fees are usually no more than $20 per year. Back to Top

Testing

Assessment of Learning

There are two types of standardized achievement tests administered during the middle school years.

The first is the Ohio Achievement Test, which measures the level of a student’s achievement in Reading and Math for grade 6; Reading, Math, and Writing for grade 7; and Reading, Math, Science and Social Studies for grade 8. In previous years this test was given during the month of March. This year, however, the State has moved the testing dates back to May to allow for a longer window of classroom instruction.

The second type of standardized tests, which were previously administered in grades 2 and 5, are the OLSAT (Otis-Lennon School Ability Test) and Stanford 10 tests for grade 7 students. These tests give the District a general cognitive ability score. The results are then used to identify students for gifted programming and/or other types of academic intervention services. Back to Top

Transportation

Students enrolled in grades 6, 7, and 8 living two (2) miles or more from their school of attendance are eligible for transportation service to and from their assigned resident school at the beginning and end of the school day. The District policy on transportation states:

“Measurement of distance originates at a point on the traveled portion of the roadway nearest the primary entrance to the place of residence and then along the most direct route traversable by motor vehicle to the school bus loading area nearest or opposite the entrance door used by pupils transported.”

“The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education shall not be required to transport pupils to and from a non-public school where such transportation would require more than thirty minutes of direct travel time as measured by a school bus from Cleveland Heights High School, the Centralized collection point for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, as designated by the Coordinator of Transportation, appointed under Section 3327.011 of the Revised Code, for the attendance area of the district of residence.”

Families with questions about whether or not their child is eligible for transportation can contact the Supervisor of Transportation. Back to Top