Ms. Corey C. Guzman

UPDATE: \| Announcements \| Counseling \| Social Skills \| Individual Planning \| Testing \| Parenting \| Grade 5 \| Grade 6 \| Grade 7 \| Grade 8 \| 8th Grade Advisor \| Study Skills \| Career \| Student Council \| UpdateIndex \| Help

VIEW: \| Announcements \| Counseling \| Social Skills \| Individual Planning \| Testing \| Parenting \| Grade 5 \| Grade 6 \| Grade 7 \| Grade 8 \| 8th Grade Advisor \| Study Skills \| Career \| Student Council

Visit the TeacherWeb® videos to learn about the features, modifications, and customizations available on your website. Click here to learn more. 8th Grade Advisor small medium large Eighth Grade Handbook for Parents/Guardians Enclosed in this packet is information I hope will answer many of your questions. 8th Grade Schedule at a Glance September • September 4, 2008 –Open House • September 4, 2008 -1st 8th Grade Parent Meeting October • October 27, 2008- 2nd 8th Grade Parent Meeting November and December • November 20 and 25, 2008 -Students will have the opportunity as a class to visit ACT Magnet School, Bolton, Lyman, Windham and Windham Tech, our five designated high schools. The purpose of these visits is to see the facilities and receive an overview of each school’s offerings. • November 5, 2008 -Windham Tech Open House • November 20, 2008- Lyman High School Vo-Ag Open House • December 10 2008 (Hand in to Ms. Guzman) Windham Tech Applications Due • December 17, 2008- ( Hand in to Ms. Guzman) Lyman High School Vo-Ag Application Due • Date to be announced -ACT Magnet School Open House January • January 8, 2009 8:00 A.M. -Guidance Breakfast This is an opportunity for parents to ask specific question about the high school that they are considering for their child. Principals and school counselors from Bolton, Windham, Lyman Memorial, Windham Tech, and ACT Magnet High School will address concerns and answer questions. The Guidance Breakfast is scheduled from 8:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. in the Porter Conference Room. January and February • The student, school counselor, and parent/guardian will meet to discuss high school and course selection for each child. The eighth grade teachers will make recommendations of appropriate course levels for each student based on student grades, ability, interests and work ethic. Appointments for these meetings will be available during the day as well as in the evening and all meetings will be held before the February vacation. • Each receiving high school will host an Open House for all incoming freshmen. A notice will be mailed to parents/guardians from each high school. Parents are encouraged to attend these informational evenings with their children. • February 1, 2009 -ACT Magnet High School Application due • February 15, 2008 – Lyman High School Vo-Ag Program Interviews should be scheduled before this date. • End of February- During the a Notification of Admission from Windham Tech High School will be sent home March/April • Students who applied to the Lyman High School Vo-Ag Program will receive information regarding acceptance and a commitment about attending must be made by the student May • Order Caps and Gowns for Graduation June • Class Trip- First Week in June • June 8, 2009 -8th Grade Class Picnic • Last Day of School (may change with additional snow days)- Graduation High School Choice Occasionally a student or a parent/guardian is uncertain as to which high school best meets the individual student’s needs. You should discuss your concerns with the eighth grade team, school counselor or anyone at the school that you feel will help you make a decision. Also, Windham High School will be giving the option of shadowing an older student. Please have your child speak to the school counselor at Porter for information on how to “shadow” during the winter months. If you would like your child to shadow at any other school, the arrangements should be made directly with that school and confirmed with the Horace Porter School Counselor. Designated High Schools 1. ACT Magnet High School 896 Main Street Windham, CT 2. Bolton High School 73 Brandy Street Bolton, Connecticut 3. Lyman Memorial High School 917 Exeter Road Lebanon, Connecticut 4. Windham High School 355 High Street Willimantic, Connecticut 5. Windham Technical School 210 Birch Street Willimantic, Connecticut Permission Slip During your child’s eighth grade year, there are many planned class outings that will take place. This includes all events related to high school exploration, parents and guardians should remove the permission slip, fill out the pertinent areas, and return it to the School Counselor by November 3, 2008. Other permission slips may be necessary during the year for additional outings. Your child will be responsible for bringing the slip home for your signature. During the school year you will be reminded of these events as they will appear in the monthly school calendar. Fundraising The opportunity to fundraise will be available this year. If students and their parents would like to be involved in this, please let the class advisor know. This year parents are asked to fill out the enclosed form and return it to the 8th grade class advisor by November 3, 2008. This form asks parents if they want their student to go on the trips and details a payment schedule. If parents and students decide to fundraise, money will be returned to them as they meet the financial goal all events scheduled at the end of the year. All fundraisers must be pre-approved by the Columbia Board of Education. The following fundraisers have been approved in the past and used to offset the cost of eighth grade expenses. • 8th Grade Reader’s Digest Magazine Sale • Windham High School Tag Sale • “Butter Braids” Fundraiser • Election Day Bake Sale • Holiday Wreath Sale • February Middle School Dance • Candy Bar Sale • Spaghetti Dinner, Basket Raffle and Middle School Dance • 8th Grade Tag Sale with the PTO • 8th Grade Car Wash Individual Fundraisers A separate account is maintained for each student. Once a student reaches the required amount to cover his/her individual trip costs, excess monies are then put into the general fund. Periodic reports detailing individual student accounts will be mailed home during the school year. • Magazine Sale—37% of individual student sales are placed in the students’ individual accounts. This takes place in September. • “Butter Braid” –Each student will receive $4.50 per “Butter Braid” they sell. • Candy Sale—50% of individual student sales are placed in their individual accounts. Candy may be sold in school, at after school activities, or on buses. Students who do not adhere to this policy will lose the privilege of selling candy. • Working at 8th Grade Fundraisers—Students are given the opportunity to sign up to work shifts at various fundraisers. Each student is credited $5 per hour, with the total credited to the student’s individual account. We encourage and try to let as many different students work as possible throughout the year. Students will also be able to earn $5 per hour if they volunteer to clean up after the 8th grade dances. • General Fund Account—All monies raised at these fundraisers go into the General Fund of the 8th grade class. Some fundraisers that are considered general fundraisers are The Spaghetti Dinner and Basket Raffle, the Election Day Bake Sale, and the Holiday Wreath Sale. Money in this account is divided evenly among all students in the 8th grade, after expenses are taken out. Bills are then sent home to cover the remaining cost of the trip. Ms. Guzman is responsible for all individual student accounts. Please feel free to contact her with any questions. Graduation Activities • Caps and Gowns o Each student buys his or her own cap and gown to keep. Our school colors are black and gold. Approximate cost is $16. • Yearbook o Jostens Yearbook Company and Mrs. Marian Lowry oversee the class yearbook. The yearbook will be available for purchase by the entire school. Approximate cost is $20. Further information explaining the process will be provided during the school year. • Graduation o The ceremony takes place at Windham High School in the Nasin Auditorium with the awarding of diplomas and a full ceremony at 4:00 P.M.. Students are expected to remain in school until 1:10 P.M. on the day of graduation. Graduating students should not wear: blue jeans, sneakers or shorts under their gowns. Students should be at the high school by 3:30 P.M. No tickets are required to attend the ceremony. There is no assigned seating for the graduate’s family and friends. • Graduation Dance o Each year there is an 8th grade dance held at from 7-10 P.M. on the evening of graduation. This activity is free of charge to all Porter’s 8th grade students. Porter’s seventh grade students are welcome to attend this event. • Video/DVD o In past years, a parent of an 8th grader has volunteered to collect photos of each student as well as several group photos, which have been made into a video to be sold at the end of the 8th grade year. The video is shown at the beginning of the 8th grade graduation dance and copies can be purchased for approximately $20. Possible Outings and Trips • 8th Grade Picnic Options o Fun in the Sun!  The 8th grade class will spend an all day “fun day” at Porter, giving the 8th graders time to sit back and relax. Pizza lunch, all you can eat sundae bar, cotton candy, and blow-up rentals such as: a slip and slip, joisting set, and a bungee run. Cost of this trip is $13.00 per student. o Or Holiday Hill  The 8th grade class will spend an all day “fun day” at Holiday Hill, located in Mansfield, CT. The resort provides a wide variety of sport activities, has a beautiful pool, tennis and basketball courts, and an all you can eat buffet. The cost of this has been incorporated into the total money needed for the over night trip. In 2008 the individual cost was $20.00. • Class Trip o Due to the increase in the cost of the 8th grade trip parents will be given the choice between class trip to New York and class trip to Boston. o The students will travel to New York City or Boston and enjoy the educational and cultural opportunities offered in this area. This activity will only take place if parents are willing to follow the fundraising arrangements and agree to the financial plan for payment. If we have the trip, it will take place in the spring. Student participation is at the discretion of the parents and Horace Porter School. Students will be considered eligible based on academic success and appropriate behavior. Please see the enclosed letter and permission slip further discussing this trip. Please note: If you have a financial hardship, funding can and will be provided to your child for any and all activities. Please contact Ms. Guzman with concerns. Horace Porter School Columbia Connecticut Field Trip Permission Slip and Medical Release I give permission for my son/daughter to participate in the following field trip to: 1. ACT High School, Lyman High School, Windham Tech High School, and Windham High School on November 20th, 2008 Purpose: to visit receiving high school Time: 8:45 to 3:00 Travel by: Bus Cost: $0 Student may bring money as we will stop at McDonalds/Burger King on our return trip to Horace Porter School 2. Bolton High School on: November 25th, 2008 Purpose: to visit receiving high school Time: 8:45 to 10:45 Travel by: Bus Cost: $0 Students will be back by scheduled school lunch time 3. WHS for Graduation Practice on the last day of school before summer vacation Purpose: to organize and practice for the 8th grade graduation ceremony Time: 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Travel by: Bus Cost: $0 We understand that the school expects students to conduct themselves in a manner that will enhance their self-esteem and bring respect to Horace W. Porter School and that they will work closely with their chaperones to maximize this educational experience. We also give permission for our son/daughter to receive proper emergency medical treatment in case of an accident or illness, even if we can not be reached first. Parent Signature:__________________________________________________________ Home Telephone:_________________________________________________________ Work Telephone:_______________ Emergency Phone Number:____________________ Name of Physician:____________________________Phone #:_____________________ Name if Insurance Company:________________________________________________ Insurance #:______________________________________________________________ Student Signature:_____________________________________Date:_______________ Print Student Name:_______________________________________________________ Please fill out and return by November 3, 2008 Class Trip to New York City or Boston I give permission for my child to go on the class trip to either New York City or Boston and will pay according to the schedule below. I understand by signing this packet I agree that my child will attend the class trip and that Ms. Guzman will reserve a spot for my child to participate in the class trip. I understand that if my child cannot attend the class trip because of an academic or behavior issue, my money will not be refunded. If my child is ill or there are other circumstances beyond my control that will prevent my child from attending the class trip, Ms. Guzman will refund all money that can be reimbursed to the family. Parent Name Printed: _________________________________________________ Parent Signature: ______________________________________________________ Date: ________________________________________________________________ Child’s Name: _________________________________________________________ The class trip costs approximately $400 to $500. I ask that each family make a deposit of $250 into their child’s individual account. If your child participates in our fundraising efforts, I will reimburse money after expenses. If there is a final balance owed, a bill will be sent home. Payment Plan: Payment: Due Dated: $100.00 November 1, 2008 $75.00 December 1, 2008 $75.00 January 9, 2009 The total deposit of $250.00 is due by January 9, 2009. The deposit must be accounted for by that date to reserve a spot for your child. Please make checks payable to Horace Porter School In January 2009, a bill with the remaining balance owed will be mailed home If you feel that your child will not be participating in the class trip in June of 2009, please notify me in writing by November 3, 2008t. If we do not have written confirmation that your child will not be going on the trip we will buy tickets for him/her and you will be responsible for the total cost of the trip. Please return to Ms. Guzman no later than November 3, 2008 8th Grade Class Needs Your Help!!!! End of the Year Activities Fundraising Efforts 2008-2009 Please check the following areas that you are willing to help with and sign below. ___I will be the chairperson for the bake sale in November ___I will work at the bake sale in November 4, 2008 ___I will be the chairperson for the wreath sale in November and December ___I will help organize the wreath sale ___I will chaperone at a HWP Dance/Sports Night/Activity Night • February 2009 • April 2009 (There will always be at least 10 parent chaperones at each dance or the dance will be canceled!) ___I will be the chairperson for the Spaghetti Dinner (April 2009) ___I will work at the spaghetti dinner ___ I will work the 8th Grade Car Wash in May of 2009 ___I will be the designated parent to organize all parent volunteers ___I would like to _________________________________________________ ___I am not interested in fundraising and will pay for my child to participate in the school trip to New York City. I will gladly let you know the full cost ASAP. You may start paying at any time but your child must have a balance of $300 in their account by January 9, 2009. Any money that you send will be kept in you child’s individual account. I appreciate anything and everything that you can help with. Thank you for you time and effort in making this a memorable school year for your student! Thank you, Corey C. Guzman HWP School Counselor 8th Grade Advisor for the 2008-2009 School Year Name: __________________________________________________________________ Phone Number: __________________________________________________________ E-Mail Address: __________________________________________________________ Please return to Ms. Guzman no later than November 3, 2008 Or, would you like to view and optionally restore one of these previous versions? Password: Forgot your password?

Ms. Corey C. Guzman

8th Grade Advisor

© 2000-2009 TeacherWeb.com