More Information Who can I talk with if my child is having any difficulties? Depending on the nature of the difficulty, parents are able to speak with a wide range of staff members including teachers, administrators, counselors, school nurse and the school resource officer.

Galvin Middle School Mr. Adam Colantuoni, Principal Ms. Therese Jarmusik, Assistant Principal Mr. Andrew Tetrault, Assistant Principal 781-246-6410 (phone) 781-224-5009 (fax)

wakefieldpublicschools.org

Camp Bournedale Overnight Camp Bournedale, located on Cape Cod, is a long standing 5th grade tradition that provides students an exciting experience with science-based activities. In September, parents and students will learn about the overnight trip including chaperone opportunities. Wakefield Academy The Galvin offers many after school enrichment programs through Wakefield Academy. These programs vary from year to year and run on 8 or 10 week cycles. Information will be provided each cycle to parents and students. Music Program Wakefield is very proud of its music program and the Galvin offers musical instrument lessons and chorus. All students may participate in a music program of their choice including Band, Orchestra or Chorus. P.T.O. The Galvin Middle School has a strong tradition of partnership with the P.T.O and we encourage all parents to seek opportunities to get involved. Monthly meetings are held at the Galvin and P.T.O. updates are provided to parents. Please check out the P.T.O. link on the Galvin website

We hope that the Galvin Middle School will be a wonderful, exciting experience for your child and are looking forward to September.

Grade 5 Information Booklet Homeroom assignments will be emailed home in mid August. How do 5th graders interact with each other? Each individual team determines the amount of interaction between students. They typically move between classes on team by homeroom however teachers may flexibly group students as needed. Specialists classes are mixed by homeroom across the 5th grade to allow for additional peer interaction. How is the makeup of each class determined? Grade 4 teachers provide Galvin Middle School staff pertinent information regarding learning styles. A team of teachers/ administrators from the Galvin reviews that information carefully to create thoughtful teams. We ensure that every child will be placed in a class with at least one familiar face from their elementary school. The Galvin School maintains an open door policy at all times and welcomes your communication.

Can I bring in items that my child needs during the school day that were left at home? There is a drop box for each grade level located outside the main office for parents to drop off items. We discourage bringing in items as much as possible for students because of the interruptions to their education. Will I know ahead of time if a teacher would like to keep my child after school? Yes,, teachers will always get permission from parents if they want students to stay after school for extra help or discipline. With whom do parents meet during conferences? In most cases, parents will meet with the team teachers however all specialists and students support staff are available during conferences. What if my child needs medication? The school nurse must be notified if medication needs to be given during school hours. The children are allowed to visit the nurse for Tylenol with permission from their teacher. The pain relievers on hand are not chewable. Is there a basic supply list? A list of highly recommended supplies will be posted on the Galvin Middle School website during the summer months along with an email to parents. Will my child ever see children from the upper grades? The 5th grade is located on the first floor of the school. They may cross paths with older students when traveling to various classes such as art, music, PE. They may interact with other students if they take the bus or attend morning breakfast. The Galvin has a proud history of providing opportunities for older students to peer mentor younger students.

How do I receive communication from the school? Parents should sign up for Iparent through the Galvin website to receive all emails and messages. Teachers will also maintain regular two way communication with parents. You can also follow the Galvin on Twitter @ GalvinMS and on Instagram. What is the 6-day rotating schedule? The Galvin runs a 6 Day cycle with 7 periods of classes per day. If there is an unexpected day off, the following school day will be considered the next day in the chronological order of the numbering system. The schedule rotates so that students will not have the same class at the same time each day. Is there a snack time? Students are provided a morning snack time in 5th grade. What is the homework policy? Teachers on each team communicate weekly to plan homework, tests and assignments. Each team develops its own homework policy. What is the drop-off procedure? The Ice Cream Social orientation will provide detailed drop off procedure practices for 5th grade parents and students. What specialists do 5th graders take? Students will have two specialists a day with students from across the 5th grade. Each class meets every other day for either a full year or half year.

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5th grade Specialists PE - full year Music - full year (students choose Band, Orchestra, or Chorus) Health - half year Computer - half year Technology Engineering - half year Art - half year