Q: Bobby -- What do you know about school hours for the 2011-2012 school year?
A: At Oak View, the 2011-12 student day will be from 8:25 to 3:05. Students may not be in the main part of the building before 8:00 a.m. without a pass from a teacher, but may wait in the entry way if they need to be dropped off earlier than that time. After regular school hours, students either need to be at a school-sponsored activity, with a teacher, or leave the building within ten minutes after the end of the school day.

Q: Dear Bobby - Is there a supply list for Oak View Middle School?
A: Yes, it can be found on this website by clicking here. Supplies required may vary from grade to grade, and some teachers may request additional supplies after the school year starts or as the year goes on. Throughout the year there is a school store where students can purchase basic supplies. Hours are usually before school on Fridays; listen for announcements for the exact hours.

Q: Bobby, what's this I hear about an alternating day schedule?
A: in years past we had an alternating schedule for all classes.  Starting in September, 2010, we returned to the traditional seven period schedule with no blocking.  Most 6th grade students will still have music and physical education on alternating days.

Q:  Hey Bobby - What's the deal with agenda books?
A:  An agenda book is provided by the school each year for each student and serves several purposes:

Students are required to carry the agenda book with them at all times, and need to purchase a replacement if they lose it.

Q: Bobby, what can you tell me about sixth grade math?
A: Sixth grade math students could be in any one of several math courses, including Math Six, Math Six Block, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, or Advanced Math. Student placement is based on MAP scores in math the previous spring, as well as performance in math classes. Of the several courses, significantly more sixth graders are placed in Math Six than any of the other courses.

Q: Bobby, if I get lower than a B in Pre-Algebra, Algebra, or Advanced Math class in sixth grade, will I be asked to switch to a different math class?
A: If you get a grade lower than a B in an accelerated math class, you are not automatically switched out. We look at reasons why you may not be at a B or above. Maybe you missed a lot of days or maybe you struggled with just one of the chapter tests. However, if you are consistently scoring below a B average, it might be because at this point in time the work is too difficult for you or moving too fast for you, and moving to another math class may help you learn better.

The accelerated math classes are faster paced than the Math Six course, and cover more advanced material. If a student ends the year below a B average in an accelerated math class, s/he probably would not be recommended for accelerated math the next year. So, if a student moves from accelerated math one year to regular math the next year, s/he could actually be repeating some of the same content during the second year, so it might be better to make the switch before the end of the year if there is difficulty so you can be in the best learning situation for you for both years.

I would recommend talking with your teacher about your math situation a little more in order to get the help you need and to make a good choice about your math placement.

Q:  OK, Bobby, then what about reading?
A:  At Oak View, and all Anoka-Hennepin middle schools, all sixth graders have a reading class, but it is part of a class called "Integrated Language Arts" or ILA, which also includes materials from a typical English class.  There is an Advanced ILA class for students who have scored very high on the ILA-related portions of their MAP tests the previous spring. In additon, there are many opportunities for enrichment within the regular ILA class.  Also, all students are expected and required to do independent reading (in books of their choice and at their reading level) throughout the year as part of their ILA work. 

Of course, students with special needs in reading and language arts get extra help as necessary. Students who could use a boost in their reading skills may be placed in a class called Reading Strategies.  This class is in addition to the regular ILA class.  Reading Strategies meets in small groups, reinforces what happens in the regular class, and this class does not have homework - all work is completed during class.

Q: OK Bobby -- Something of great concern to me -- lunch!
A: Oak View's cafeteria serves quality meals to a large number of students each day. The lunch menu can be found by clicking "Secondary Lunch Menu" under "Parent/Student Info" above and to the left. Each day students have new meal choices, as well as as choices for salads, hamburgers, chicken or veggie burgers, or pizza. Students also have the option of selecting some snack-type items during lunch. And of course, students can bring their own lunches to eat. By the way, all food and drinks need to stay in the cafeteria. No eating of snacks is allowed in other parts of the building for cleanliness and health reasons.

Q: Bobby - What about the honor roll?
A: At Oak View we have an A honor roll and a B honor roll.  The honor rolls are based on a student's grade point average (GPA), and include the grades for all of a student's courses from that quarter. The average is computed using a weighting system, with credits being based on the number of minutes a course meets per week as well as the number of quarters a course meets. To achieve the A honor roll, a student's GPA needs to be between 3.5000 and 4.0000. In order to earn a place on the B honor roll, a student's GPA needs to be between 3.0000 and 3.4999. The honor roll for each quarter is published a few weeks after the end of the quarter after grades have been finalized.