Welcome to the Sixth Grade!

Our Goals:
The Sixth Grade Team works collaboratively to create a strong synergistic relationship. Our goal is to help develop students who persevere in their studies and take responsibility for their choices. The Team strives for excellence in providing learning opportunities and resources for educating students to become productive citizens in our global society. We try to give every child the necessary academic, emotional, and social skills to become successful middle school students and lifelong learners. We provide a variety of experiences for the students to celebrate diversity, develop an appreciation of the arts, and encourage community service. Continuously updated and aligned with the Massachusetts Frameworks, our curriculum is outlined in the Program of Studies booklet. We welcome the opportunity to work with you and look forward to your participation and support. Best wishes for a wonderful school year!

Contact Information:
Please use the contact information below to reach a member of the sixth grade team.

Academic Teachers:

Shirley Daniels Lincoln School English Teacher sdaniels@lincnet.org 781-259-9400x1143	Kathy Maloblocki Lincoln School Math Teacher kmaloblocki@lincnet.org 781-259-9400x1133
David Trant Lincoln School Science Teacher dtrant@lincnet.org 781-259-9400x1110	Kathryn Wickerham Lincoln School Social Studies Teacher / Team Leader kwickerham@lincnet.org 781-259-9400x1135

Special Education:

Cathy Capizzi Lincoln School Special Education Teacher ccapizzi@lincnet.org 781-259-9400

METCO Staff:

LaToya River Lincoln School Academic Advisor to METCO Program lriverst@lincnet.org 781-259-9400x1141

Christina Horner Lincoln School METCO Director chorner@lincnet.org 781-259-9635

Specialists:

Scott Burke Lincoln School PE / Health Teacher sburke@lincnet.org 781-259-9400x1102	Pamela DiBiase Lincoln School Art Teacher pdibiase@lincnet.org 781-259-9400x1114
Terry Green Mrs. Green's Website Lincoln School Engineering Teacher tgreen@lincnet.org 781-259-9400x2113	Karen Sheppard Lincoln School Music Teacher ksheppard@lincnet.org 781-259-9400x1118

World Language:

Katherine Whitney Lincoln School French Teacher kwhitney@lincnet.org 781-259-9400

Marlenne Vizcarra Lincoln School Spanish Teacher mvizcarra@lincnet.org 781-259-9400x1149

Social Workers:

Amy Hood Lincoln School Social Worker ahood@lincnet.org 781-259-9400x1126

Ilene Spiro Lincoln School Social Worker ispiro@lincnet.org 781-259-9400x1120

Communication:
We value communication and feel it is important to form a strong partnership between the school and the home. To achieve our goals we hold parent conferences, send emails, make phone calls, send out midterm academic reports and report cards.

UNITY

I dreamed I stood in a studio
And watched two sculptors there,
The clay they used was a young child's mind
And they finished it with care.

One was a teacher; the tools he used
Were books and music and art;
One a parent with a guiding hand
And a gentle and loving heart.

Day after day the teacher toiled
With a touch that was deft and sure
While the parent laboured by his side
And polished and smoothed it o'er.

And when at last their task was done
They were proud of what they had wrought,
For the things they had moulded into the child
Could neither be sold nor bought

And each agreed he would have failed
If he had worked alone.
For behind the parent stood the school
And behind the teacher, the home.

Anon. * 1998

Core Beliefs of the Lincoln Public School:

1. The primary responsibility of our school is to promote learning.
2. All children can learn and can rise to individually challenging expectations.
3. Clear, consistent behavioral expectations are essential for effective education.
4. Learning takes place best in an environment where people show each other respect and courtesy.
5. We value diversity within our school community, including differences in race, gender, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
6. Everyone has a right to personal dignity.
7. Collaboration and cooperation are essential to the achievement of goals within the school community.

Homework:
Each student has a planner to write daily homework assignments. Homework is also posted on the web site and updated daily. We do our best to coordinate across curriculum areas so that major projects and tests are not scheduled on the same day. If your child is absent, please notify Anne Crosby in the office as early as possible and request to pick up handouts after school. Ms. Crosby will email the teachers and a packet will be left in the Brooks office.

Additional information about homework can be found here.

"Hot List":
This is a new method of communication in the sixth grade and we thought it might be a helpful tool for parents. We hope to send interesting articles about the middle school experience, reminders of upcoming tests, projects and other activities that are going on in the sixth grade and the school. If you would like to be on this email list please send Kathy Wickerham (kwickerham@lincnet.org) an email with:

1. your name(s)
2. the sixth-grade student's name
3. the email address(s) to which you would like this information sent

Conferences:
Please call Anne Crosby in the main Brooks office if you need to schedule a conference with the Team. The Team may also request conferences with you as the need arises. In addition to the scheduled "conference half-days," we maintain weekly slots of time for parent/teacher conferences. Conferences are meant for the Team to learn about your child, share information with you, and plan appropriate support. We find that this collaborative approach to conferences is the most beneficial for students.

Happy Notes
Achievement is essential to all children and young people. It promotes feelings of pride, and positive self-esteem. To that end, we send home Happy Notes. Each week different children receive these notes. They are awarded for a variety of reasons including good citizenship, honesty, respectfulness, enthusiasm, and dedication to learning.

Interim Reports: If your child demonstrates difficulty with homework completion or missing assignments, we will send a written "Interim Report" listing overdue assignments to your home address. We find that this written record is an effective means of communication to facilitate work completion. We encourage students to complete overdue work, as all assignments are important to understanding concepts and lessons in class. In addition, we emphasize the importance of maintaining a high standard for daily homework completion.

Supplies: We are including a list of supplies your child will need to be successful in the sixth grade. This list is mailed home each year before the opening of school.