6th Grade Course Selection Overview—2019

William Diamond Middle School

The course selection and team placement processes for the 2019-2020 school year are about to begin!  Please note the following about how those processes will unfold:

March: Diamond staff visit the 5th-grade classes at Estabrook, Fiske, and Hastings to talk with students about Diamond.

Wednesday, March 27, 7:00 p.m.: parent information session in the Diamond auditorium at 7:00 p.m. for all parents of fifth-grade students entering Diamond. Slide Show from March 27, 2019

Thursday, March 28: 5th graders receive copies of the Student Information Form and personalized Course Selection Directions.

Between March 28 and April 5: parents help their children log into the child’s new Aspen Portal account to select 6th-grade world language and performing arts courses.

April 26: Return completed Student Information Form to your child’s current homeroom teacher.  We will use the Information Form as we create teams for next year and to help your child’s new teachers get to know your child.  Please do NOT make requests for specific teams or teachers. Also, note that we typically do NOT honor friend requests unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Wednesday, May 1:   5th-grade students attend an orientation program at Diamond.

Early August: Final placement decisions.  In early August, we make a number of adjustments to student schedules, especially as we use MCAS scores, final grades, and additional teacher and parental input for those students who may benefit from our intervention programs (e.g., Mega Math or Guided Learning).  Affected students will be notified over the summer.

Late August: we mail home team placement letters.

First Day of School: students receive their schedules on the first day of school.

Thank you in advance for helping us with the course registration process.  With your input and the input of your child’s teachers, we hope to create learning environments in which all students are challenged and supported as they grow academically, socially, and emotionally.