MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELING SERVICES
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESIONS (FAQs)
1. How many courses does my child take in middle school?
Each student takes 7 courses at the middle school level. Five are required-English, math, social studies, science, and physical education. Electives fill the other 2 courses.
2. What is a modified block schedule?
With a modified block schedule, all seven periods meet on one day of theweek (usually Monday). The remainder of the week is divided into odd and even days with a constant period (3 rd period this year) meeting on both odd and even days. On odd days, periods 1, 3, 5, 7 meet; on even days, periods 2, 3, 4, 6 meet.
3. Who do I contact if my child is sick?
Contact the attendance line at 703-426-1186.
4. Who do I contact for make-up work when my child is sick?
Contact the appropriate sub-school office: 703-426-1110 (grade 8) and 703-426-1120 (grade 7)
5. Can I contact my child's teachers?
Parents are encouraged to contact their child's teachers when they have questions about a specific class. However, if parents would like to discuss a child's progress in middle school, parents are encouraged to contact their child's counselor. The counselor and you will discuss your concerns and then determine if a team meeting is necessary. The counselor will then arrange the meeting between parents and the team teachers.
6. How does my child make an appointment to see his/her counselor?
Your child comes to the guidance office after notifying the teacher of the class he/she is missing. If the counselor is available, your child will be seen immediately. If the counselor is working with another student or a parent, the child will complete a Counselor Request Form and return to class. In normal circumstances, your child will be seen no later than 1 day after the request has been submitted. Please tell you child to alert the receptionist if he/she needs to be seen immediately.
7. Can my child change his/her electives?
As teacher staffing and course offerings are based on student request during spring registration, it is often difficult to change electives. No electives will be changed the first two weeks of the semester to give students time to adapt to the class and peers. If a student still wishes to pursue an elective change, he/she then needs to set up an appointment with the counselor to see if an elective change can be accommodated. At the time of the appointment, the student also needs to bring written permission from the parent to make this change.
8. Can my child earn high school credits in middle school?
Yes. High school courses offered in middle school are foreign languages, Algebra I Honors, and Geometry Honors. As the grades for these courses become a part of your child's high school transcript, parents are encouraged to look at a child's ability AND work habits before enrolling for any high school credit class. High school credit classes increase the amount of independent work that is required at school and at home.
9. Can parents living in different households receive copies of interims and report cards?
Yes . Contact our guidance assistant at 703-426-1106 to make this request. You will then need to provide 8 stamped, self-addressed envelopes to the office of counseling.
10. Can my child obtain a work permit if he/she is in middle school?
If your child is 14 years old, he/she can obtain a work permit. To do so, they need to get work permit forms from the grade 8 sub-school secretary. One form needs to be completed by the employer; the parent form needs to be notarized or signed in front of the sub-school secretary. Both employer and parent forms along with a birth certificate need to be taken to the grade 8 sub-school secretary to complete the process.
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