Academic Expectations
We believe it is important to set high academic expectations for our school and for you as a student. It is expected that each Marshall Springs student will try to learn and achieve to the best of his or her ability. We want everyone to “go as far as they can from September to June.”
Our intent is to help you assess your abilities realistically, learn study skills you can use to improve your achievement, and monitor your progress toward high but attainable academic goals.
Our school year is divided into three terms (trimesters) for elective (option) courses. Academic subjects are organized into two substantial term periods to allow teachers a significant amount of time to work with and evaluate your learning prior to the issuing of each report card.
Programs
Marshall Springs offers the full range of programs described in the Alberta Education Program of Studies. The basis for a good education is sound academic preparation. The Middle School years are a time to sample a few exploratory areas and in this regard we offer all Alberta Education sanctioned complementary subjects. These complementary subjects may include Foods, Fashion, Industrial Arts, Art, Outdoor Education, Technology Education, Drama, Band and French. We also offer classes in computer keyboarding, computer graphics, ceramics, and desktop publishing (yearbook). Students and parents interested in reading the program of studies (curriculum) for students in Alberta can go to My Child's Learning: A Parent Resource.
Program Overview
Grade 6
Grade 6 students will receive daily
instruction in Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science, Physical
Education/Personal Living Skills (Health). Students will also have 6 electives
per year (Art, Music, Technology, Drama, Foods and French).
Grade 7
Grade 7 students
will receive daily instruction in Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science,
Physical Education/Personal Living Skills (Health). Students will have the
option of taking half year *Band. The following electives courses are
offered quarterly: *Art, *Ceramics, Technology, *Construction, Drama, Fashion,
Film Studies, *Foods, French, Photography, and Recreational Leadership (Sports
Performance).
*While the per student fee
covers most of the electives cost at Marshall Springs, there is a nominal fee
for selected electives.
Grade 8
Grade 8 students will receive daily
instruction in Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science, Physical
Education/Personal Living Skills (Health). Students will have the option of
taking half year *Band as well as the following electives courses which are
offered quarterly: *Art, Marketing and Management (Business), *Ceramics,
*Construction, Drama, Drama Performance, Fashion, Film Studies, *Foods,
Photography, Recreational Leadership
(Sports Performance), Technology, and *Wildlife (Outdoor Education).
*While the per student fee
covers most of the electives cost at Marshall Springs, there is a nominal fee
for selected electives.
Grade 9
Grade 9 students will receive daily
instruction in Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science, Physical
Education/Personal Living Skills (Health). Students will have the option of
taking full year *Band as well as the following electives courses which are
offered quarterly: *Art, Marketing and
Management (Business), *Ceramics, Technology, *Construction, Drama,
Drama Performance, Fashion, Film Studies, *Foods, French, Photography and Recreational Leadership (Sports Performance).
*While the per student fee
covers most of the electives cost at Marshall Springs, there is a nominal fee
for selected electives.
Homework
One way for teachers to help you to learn and to be successful is to assign appropriate and meaningful homework. At Marshall Springs Middle School, teachers may give you homework for several reasons:
- To reinforce (get it into your head) learning through further practice and application of material
- To enrich (make even better) your learning through independent study, individual research and experimentation.
- To develop independent study habits
- To enable you to complete assignments that you weren’t able to complete in class
- To work on projects of a long-term nature
The amount of time you spend on homework is contingent on many factors: how quickly you read, how much you did (or didn’t) finish in class and the knowledge base you’ve brought with you from other places and schools. This means that it is difficult to put a precise, standard number of minutes on the amount of time you should spend studying. If you are having difficulty judging the amount of time you need to spend on homework, Marshall Springs suggests the “5 minute rule” as a loose guideline. That is, 5 minutes per grade level per evening, taking into account that some electives might require you to spend additional time on independent study.
- Grade 6 – about 30 minutes daily
- Grade 7 – about 35 minutes daily
- Grade 8 – about 40 minutes daily
If you find that the amount of time you’re spending varies dramatically from the above guidelines, you will want to seek help from your teachers or the school counselor.
Organization is the key to successful independent study. Some good tips.
- Use an electronic planner to record homework assignments and double check them on D2L or your teacher’s blog.
- If you can, do your homework on the night that it is assigned. This keeps you one step ahead and will give you time to seek help from your teacher if needed.
- Do your homework in a quiet place with no distractions. It is impossible to gauge how much time you’re spending on homework if you’re also multitasking on Instagram and watching a movie. If fact, turn off the internet unless you’re specifically using it for your homework.
- Keep all of your supplies where you will need them for homework. Return them so you won’t waste time locating them.
- Work in chunks of time and take short breaks in between.
A few other homework/tests need to knows.
- Test will not be given, nor long term assignments due, on the first day of school after a long holiday weekend or school vacation.
- Homework will not be assigned on extended holidays such as Winter and Spring Break. The holidays allow students, as lifelong learners, the opportunity to explore and expand various interests.
- If you are absent from school, you are responsible for making up missed assignments. In case of absences, we will give you adequate time to make up missing work or assessments.
- Try new things! Become involved in the middle school outside of the classroom. Participation in activities helps you identify your interests and allows you opportunities to make friends with students who share your interests.
- Helping students improve their time management skills
- Working with parents and students on a plan to complete assignments
- Creating supervised and structured opportunities for students to complete their work
- Negotiating with students to submit assignments in stages
