account will be through Gmail, but the address itself will be an @friendscentral.org address that is managed by our Technology department. w C anvas: Canvas is our classroom management and work-
flow program used by teachers and students. Parents also have their own Canvas account where they can view their students’ assignments and access other community resources and information. If you are having trouble with Canvas, please view our helpful blogs under IT Help on the Parent Page of the website. w G oogle Drive: Google Drive is the place where students
produce much of their work. It allows students to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. This work is stored in the cloud, so students can access it from any device connected to the Internet.
GRADES & REPORT CARDS We provide both letter grades and narrative comments on our report card in the Middle School. We are currently on a semester system, so you will receive report cards in late January and early June. Between the report cards, we do write mid-semester reports in which teachers provide brief progress reports for your child. The mid-semester report for the first semester is conveyed face-to-face during the November 5 Conference Day. The face-to-face parent-teacher conferences enable advisors to share observations about the beginning of the school year and to allow parents to help us know their child better. Our first Getting-to-Know-You Conference Day will be on Wednesday, September 8. Parents will be able to schedule a 20-minute in-person or video conference with their child’s advisor. Your child’s advisor will look forward to getting to know more about your child and your family, as well as sharing information about what to expect from your child in the first weeks of school. Our fall Conference Day for 2021 will take place on Friday, November 5. You will be able to sign up electronically, via Veracross, for your conference time a few weeks before the Conference Day. ADVISORY We find that most students have a very smooth transition, one that is supported by caring teachers, small classes, and 9
welcoming students. The advisory system is an important component of the transition to Middle School. w Your child’s advisor is their homeroom teacher. Their advi-
sor will be their point person, advocate, and cheerleader! The advisor is charged with overseeing your child’s overall progress and social-emotional well-being. They are also meant to be a point person to answer questions for parents and to connect you to the School. w There is an advisory period for 35 minutes every day. This
gives your child time to work on homework, to seek help from teachers, or to work on group projects. w During their advisory period, students may also participate
in Chorus, Orchestra, or Jazz Band.
