Volume 2, 2018-2019

The 8th Grade Counselor’s Corner

Special events happening on

Campus This Report period:

November 14th- Great American

Teach In /Quarter 2 Progress
Reports Go Home/Spirit Night at
Tijuana Flats

November 15- Kona Ice (3$)**

November 19-23- Thanksgiving

Break
Happy holidays from my family to yours!
November 27th-Faculty vs Staff
Volleyball game (3$)**

December 4th- Discovery Hello Thunderbird Family and Friends,

Night for Cambridge program (5p-
6p)
December 5th- Boys Basketball
(Largo)-HOME
December 10-Girls Basketball
(Osceola)-HOME
December 12- Girls Basketball
(Oak Grove)-HOME
December 13- Talent Show (6p-
7:30)
December 20-Coffee with the
Counselor @8:15am **
December 21- 8th Grade Bowling
Field Trip to Sunrise Bowling
(16$)**
December 24-January4- Winter
Break
January 7- Teacher Planning/No
School
January 9- Field trip to Richardson
High School (Details TBD)
January 10- Girls Basketball
(Seminole)-HOME
January 18- Report Cards Go Home
**Event Sponsored by 8th grade
House
Can you believe that we are almost at the half way mark of the 2018-2019
school year? In this volume, we will explore District Applications and what you
will need to know, important dates and how to schedule a shadow experience for
your student. As always, I am available to schedule a Parent-Teacher conference
or meeting to discuss your student’s individual needs.
District Application Program Information
Recently, Ms. Sanchez, USF WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF
Intern School Counselor, and myself DAPs?
held a parent workshop titled ‘Coffee
FUNDAMENTAL PROGRAMS
with the Counselor’ to discuss District
application programs. Here are the ○ STRUCTURED, FAMILY-ORIENTED,
ENVIRONMENT THAT FOCUSES ON STUDENT
‘who, what, when, where’ and why’ of
our meeting details. Thank you Ms. RESPONSIBILITY AND SELF-DISCIPLINE.
Sanchez for providing this information!
● MAGNET PROGRAMS
○ THEME-BASED CURRICULUM PROGRAMS
WHAT ARE DISTRICT APPLICATION THAT FOCUS ON TOPICS SUCH AS
PROGRAMS? (DAPs) TECHNOLOGY,
DAPs are special school programs that THE ARTS, INTERNATIONAL STUDIES,
students must apply to for admission. SCIENCE & ENGINEERING, ETC.
They:
● HIGH SCHOOL CAREER PROGRAMS
● Provides choice opportunities to
○ PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SPECIFIC CAREER
address students’ talents, interests and
Abilities AND COLLEGE PATHS; PROVIDE
● Membership is a privilege; students in OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN CERTAIN
these programs are expected to exhibit CERTIFICATIONS.
exemplary achievement and conduct.

Grad-Venture will be
May 5, 2019. Sooner than
we know, it’ll be here.
The 8th grade House will
begin taking deposits
and payments after the
Christmas break. So,
students, make sure that
Santa knows you want
Grad-Venture coverage
for Christmas. January
10th, we will take the
first deposit. Exact
payment amounts are
TBD and we will
communicate to our
families as soon as the
costs are given to us.
Christmas/toys help?
Need help with
Thanksgiving meal?
Help with School
Uniforms?
Mrs. Norton can help you with
that. Contact me if you are
requesting assistance.
Counselor’s Corner Page 2
District Application Information Continued……
When is the application & please see Ms. Stubbs, PPMS Registrar
acceptance periods? or you may go to any Pinellas County
School to obtain yours. You will need
● Application Period your driver’s license or state ID.
○ OPENS: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9th Applying: STEP 1
○ CLOSES: FRIDAY, JANUARY 18th ● GET A PARENT I.D. AND PASSWORD
● Acceptance Period ○ Same info used to login to parent
portal and check grades
○ BEGINS: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY
13th ○ To request ID & password, bring your
○ ENDS: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY PHOTO I.D. to nearby school
Please, PLEASE remember that you ○ Mrs. Stubbs can do this for you at our
school
must have your PCS PARENT focus
user ID and password to apply online. ○ Only one User ID & Password needed
It is an online process only. If you per family.
don’t have your user and password,
High School Programs….Who do I contact?
Below are some of the high school programs from the high schools nearest us. If you would
like to schedule a tour of the school/program and/or set your student up to shadow,
please contact the contact person noted below. Shadowing is an EXCUSED absence, as long
as you provide documentation (provided from the school) to Ms. Ullmann.
MOST POPULAR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR PPMS STUDENTS
CAMBRIDGE-Dixie Hollins High [Contact for shadowing: Ms. Citek, 727 547 7876 ext. 2314]
CRIMINAL JUSTICE- Pinellas Park High [Contact for shadowing: Ms. Bogatz 727-538-7410
ext. 2120]
FIRST RESPONDERS- Pinellas Park High [Contact for shadowing: Mr. Peppers, 727-538-
7410]
CULINARY-Dixie Hollins High [Contact for shadowing: Ms. Citek, 727 547 7876 ext. 2314]
ARTS- Dixie Hollins High- [Contact for shadowing: Ms. Citek, 727 547 7876 ext. 2314]
TECHNICAL Programs (Marine, Tech, Construction)- Richard O. Jacobson High- Contact
for tours 727-545-6405]
❖ PAGES 10 -14 IN PROGRAM GUIDE provided to your student last week has more programs
and information.
Academic Information
Need another
By theguide?:
time yourMrs.student
Norton has
has finished
them! middle school, they will need to have
earned 12 credits in Math, Science, Language Arts and History. That’s one grade level
contain the pictures in this template, click Options on the Tools menu, click the View
credit
tab, andfor each
then course.
select the If yourboundaries
Text student is struggling
check box to make
under satisfactory
Print and Webprogress
Layout towards
promotion,
options. it is not too late. Failed a course? You should sign your child up for the
Extended Learning Program (also known as ELP)
If your student signs up for ELP, they will get free dinner immediately after the
program as well as the support they need to earn the best grades possible. There is also
an ELP bus with limited stops that can help your child get home. If you are interested,
please obtain an application from the front office. ELP is Mornings (8-9:30) and after
school (4:15 until 5:30) Monday-Thursday. Join now as space is limited! ELP bus ONLY
stops at the following locations:
Broderick Park Nina Harris Pinellas Park Elementary Lealman Innovative School
Sheriff PAL and Dixie Hollins High
District Application Programs Cheat Sheet for Mid-South County
Schools
By Mrs. Norton, 2018
** Program has Entrance criteria, See DAP book for details

Program School Contact Phone

Number
Fundamental** Boca Ciega Ms. Vandora 893-2780 ext 2016

Wellness and Medical Boca Ciega Ms. Fabrizio 893-2780 ext 2017
Professions

Advanced Technologies Lakewood High School Mrs. Mitchell-Brown Mitchell-

brownb@pcsb.org

Academy of Information Northeast High Mr. Andrew 570-3138

technology

Criminal Justice Academy Pinellas Park High Ms. Bogatz 538-7410 ext 2120

First Responders: National Pinellas Park High Mr. Peppers 538-7410

Guard Center for Emergency
Management
Cambridge AICE** Dixie Hollins High Ms. Citek 727 547 7876 ext. 2314

Culinary Arts Academy Dixie Hollins High Ms. Citek 727 547 7876 ext. 2314

Academy of Entertainment Dixie Hollins High Ms. Citek 727 547 7876 ext. 2314
Arts

See DAP program guide for more information and programs

 Counselor’s Corner Page 3
Page 2 of 3

Pinellas Park Middle School

6940 70th Avenue North
Pinellas Park, FL, 33781
Phone:
(727)-545-6400 ext 2062
Fax:
(242) 555-0168
E-Mail:
nortons@pcsb.org
Mrs. Norton on the Web!
Visit my website at:
mrsnortonschoolcounselor.wee
bly.com
Living the Dream......
‘Staying Organized’ by Mrs. Norton
Donna Goldberg, who wrote “The Organized Student” says that a student’s
ability to locate his or her class notes, bring home the right textbook, and
complete and deliver an assignment on time is just as vital to their school success
as their ability to read or write. What this means is that for our students, being
organized is an important skill that our students must learn to be successful. Well,
how does a student stay organized? Here at ‘The Park’, our students have 7 classes,
which may that they can have up to 7 different teachers, 7 different classrooms,
and/or 7 sets of class materials! AHHHH! How does a Thunderbird keep up? Here
are some tips for your Thunderbird to stay on top of organization:
1. Keep an Organized Backpack. Everything in the backpack needs to categorized
by subject. There should be a designated place /’home’ for everything. Check the
backpack regularly, throwing out unneeded items.
2. Use the Pinellas Park agenda to write down assignments, important dates,
upcoming tests, and homework. The agenda also has supplemental information for
students such as the current dress code, US history information, the periodic Table
of Elements, and even a place for teachers to mark students’ progress.

3. Manage time wisely. Students should keep track of immediate deadlines,

projects, calculate how much time they have to complete their work, and block
out study time/homework completion time in their schedule. For example, your
Thunderbird should have a planned schedule for after school which designates time
for chores, homework/studying, leisure, and preparation for the next day. The
Thunderbird agenda will help with this as well.

4.An organized Thunderbird has an organized bedroom. Your student should

have designated places for work and sleep. It is important that the bedroom is
functional, and not necessarily neat!

5. Seek help when needed. Your grade level counselor is here to assist students
who need more help with organizing. Contact your Counselor if your student needs
more assistance.
Hoping that these tips can help your Thunderbird stay organized and successful this
year. For more tips, read “The Organized Student” by Donna Goldberg.

Here’s How Thunderbirds are getting the extra academic boost to push
through the last year of middle school!
✓ Frequently checking Portal/Focus
✓ Studying class notes every night and going on clever, Mathia and Khanacademmy for
additional practice
✓ Scheduling teacher help (lunch bunch, test makeups, before school help)
✓ Signing up for ELP
✓ Utilizing a study buddy or homework text friend
✓ Using their Thunderbird Planner
✓ Being on Mrs. Norton’s Success Plan
✓ Coming to school everyday, on time
✓ Eating a healthy, hot breakfast, which is provided free to all students at the
‘Thunderbird Deli’
✓ Having a positive, ‘can do’ attitude