Academics

In each grade level, students attend 4 academic classes each day: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Students also participate in 2 academic art classes every day. These academic art classes appeal to a wide variety of interests and include: Art, Media Arts, Project Lead The Way, Chorus, Strings, Band, Physical Education/Health, and Spanish.

At Bluffton Middle School we prioritize well rounded education of the whole child. We have opportunities, such as Advisory and Flex Time, that students engage in daily to support social and emotional learning as well as celebrate academic growth.

Daily Schedule

Sixth Grade		Seventh Grade		Eighth Grade
8:45 - 9:05	Advisory	8:45 - 9:05	Advisory	8:45 - 9:05	Advisory
9:09 - 9:59	Academic Arts	9:09 - 10:07	First Period	9:09 - 10:07	First Period
10:03 - 10:53	Academic Arts	10:11 - 11:09	Second Period	10:11 - 11:09	Second Period
10:57 - 11:55	Third Period	11:13 - 11:33	Lunch	11:13 - 12:11	Third Period
11:59 - 12:57	Fourth Period	11:33 - 11:53	Flex	12:15 - 12:35	Lunch
1:01 - 1:21	Lunch	11:57 - 12:47	Academic Arts	12:35 - 12:55	Flex
1:21 - 1:41	Flex	12:51 - 1:41	Academic Arts	12:59 - 1:57	Fifth Period
1:41 - 2:43	Sixth Period	1:45 - 2:43	Sixth Period	2:01 - 2:51	Academic Arts
2:47 - 3:45	Seventh Period	2:47 - 3:45	Seventh Period	2:55 - 3:45	Academic Arts

Advisory

Advisory, from Responsive Classroom, is a twenty-minute period of time where students will be greeting one another on arrival and hearing any important announcements from their teacher. They will then engage in what is referred to as acknowledgements. This portion is where students will respond to one another in a round table format to a teacher directed prompt. This gives students the opportunity to practice positive public speaking skills and to learn how to accept compliments or share dissenting opinions in a respectful manner. Finally, their teacher will have an energizing activity prepared for them. This dedicated twenty minutes at BLMS allows for positive relationships to be built between classmates and their teacher which helps students feel safe in their environment to allow them to take the necessary risks to grow academically.

Flex Time

Grading Policy

Grading Principles

BLMS strives to maintain grading practices that are common for the same course or grade level subject. Students will be provided with common classroom experiences and course expectations by their grade level teachers. Teachers will administer graded assessments in each weighted category (minimum of 1 grade weekly per formative assessment and 1 grade every two weeks per summative assessment). Gradebooks should be organized by standard based categories to coincide with curriculum maps. Grades will be entered weekly to provide consistent feedback to students and parents on assessments to ensure continuous communication on student progress. Students will be given the opportunity to retake assessments in order to demonstrate content proficiency. Through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) grade level teachers will collaborate to design appropriate grading instruments to evaluate student work. Teachers will use assessment grades as tools to support student learning with appropriate feedback, re-teaching, and opportunities to improve performance.

Grading

Numerical grades are mandated in SC Middle Schools and the minimum passing grade is 60%.

Grade Calculation

A student’s quarter grades will be determined using the 60% summative/40% formative grade weights.

View our full grading policy here.

Advanced Placement Criteria

Criteria for Advanced Math

Criteria for Accelerated Math

Criteria for Algebra I Honors

For placement into Algebra I Honors in 7th Grade, a student may be eligible if the following criteria is met:

· Math SC Ready (or previous state test) score of “Exceeds” AND Math MAP percentile of 93 or higher

(during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)

· 80% or higher probability of success on the state Algebra I End of Course exam based on the predictability component of EVAAS (state data tool)

For placement into Algebra I Honors in 8th grade, a student may be eligible if the following criteria is met:

· Math SC Ready (or previous state test) score of “Exceeds” AND Math MAP percentile of 90 or higher

(during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)

· 80% or higher probability of success on the state Algebra I End of Course exam based on the predictability component of EVAAS (state data tool)

Criteria for Geometry Honors

Criteria for Advanced ELA Placement

Criteria for English I Honors Placement

For placement into English I Honors in 8th Grade, a student may be eligible if the following criteria is met:

· English SC Ready (or previous state test) score of “Exceeds” AND Reading MAP percentile of 90 or higher (during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)

· 80% or higher probability of success on the state English I End of Course exam based on the predictability component of EVAAS (state data tool)

Criteria for Advanced Science Placement

For placement into 6th, 7th, or 8th Grade Advanced Science, a student may be eligible if two of the three criteria are met:

· Science SC PASS score of “Exemplary”

· English and Math SC Ready (or previous state test) percentile of 75 or higher

· Reading and Math MAP percentile of 75 or higher (during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)

· English SC Ready (or previous state test) score of “Exceeds”

Reading MAP percentile of 90 or higher (during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)

Criteria for 8th Grade Honors Earth Science Placement

For placement into Earth Science Honors in 8th Grade, a student may be eligible if the student has successful completion of Algebra I Honors (grade B or better) or is currently enrolled into Algebra I Honors, and one of the three criteria are met:

· Science SC PASS score of “Exemplary”

· English SC Ready (or previous state test) score of “Exceeds”

· Reading MAP percentile of 90 or higher (during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)

Criteria for Advanced Social Studies Placement

For placement into 6th, 7th, or 8th Grade Advanced Social Studies, a student may be eligible if two of the three criteria are met:

· Social Studies SC PASS score of “Exemplary”

· English SC Ready (or previous state test) percentile of 75 or higher

· Reading MAP percentile of 75 or higher (during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)

PBIS & LiveSchool

PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports)

At BLMS, effective classroom management and preventive school-wide discipline are essential for supporting teaching and learning. PBIS is an approach for assisting school personnel in adopting and organizing evidence based behavioral interventions. The approach enhances academic and social behavior for all students. PBIS emphasizes effective classroom management. Students who have upheld the BLMS principles will participate in PBIS celebrations at the completion of each quarter.

LiveSchool

We utilize the online platform of LiveSchool to recognize the positive behaviors in our school through point tracking. Students earn points daily in all of their classes for meeting building wide expectations. These points are accumulated and managed in a student profile through LiveSchool. Students have to earn a designated amount of points per quarter to attend our PBIS celebrations. In addition, students can use their points to receive special rewards and incentives throughout the year. We also have the students placed in “Houses” that are randomly selected and each student’s points count towards their assigned House’s points. We provide incentives quarterly for the House who has received the most points.

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