Incoming 6th Grade News
We look forward to welcoming our newest Spartans to Shepard! This is where you can find important information just for you about the transition to middle school.
Principal Wegley's Challenge
When Principal Wegley vists 5th graders at Kipling and Walden, he will issue a two-part challenge for the future Spartans:
- Get involved in a club, activity or sport. There is an opportunity for every student! This challenge will increase each student's sense of belonging, and will boost school pride for everyone.
- Inviting others to sit with you at lunch. Walking into the lunch room on the first (or even last!) day of school can be a nerve-wracking experience in middle school. Shepard eases students into middle-school lunch, starting the school year sitting in homerooms, then transitioning to sitting in teams, then moving to sitting anywhere. This challenge is helpful in all of these phases! Find someone new, someone you've known for years, or anyone in between, invite them to sit together, and help us make Shepard the most inclusive place it can be.
We encourage families to talk about these challenges over the summer and into the new school year.
Key Dates & Details
School Supplies
The PTSO coordinates school supply ordering each year – and they make it easy!
Check back for a link to purchase or to find the school supply list to shop on your own.
Spirit Wear
The store isn’t open just yet, but we can’t wait for you to show your Spartan pride and order spirit wear!
Fly Up Day: June 4
Our future Spartans will be joining us at Shepard to meet the teachers, administrative team, and walk the halls to get ready for sixth grade. They'll leave with a better idea of how the schedule works at Shepard, where the classroom areas are, what lunch looks like, and more!
Schedules Posted: TBD
Schedules will be posted in Family Access at the beginning of August. Teachers and building leaders work together to build schedules that foster the best academic and social environment for each student. It's a complex process that takes months and gives focused attention to each student's needs.
We do not take requests for changes, but if there is an error in a schedule, please contact the school office.
Spartan Day: August 12
Spartans will have the opportunity to come to Shepard to pick up their locker locks, set up lockers, and walk their schedules. This is helpful for our sixth-grade students for a few key reasons. Of course, it is helpful to walk their schedules to familiarize themselves with where their classes are and how the flow of their day will go. Also, getting their locker locks is important for the practice they can do leading up to the start of the school year!
Locks are required at Shepard on lockers, and many students have not had experience with them before becoming a Spartan. Taking the locks home to practice will help students feel set up for success at the start of the year! Don't worry, we also help them out in real time if they have any difficulties once the school year starts.
First Day of School: August 17
The first day of school is a half day, from 8:00-11:00am. August 18 is the first full day! (Regular school hours are 8:00am-3:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 8:00am-2:00pm on Wednesdays).
Back to School Bash: August 21
Save the date for a fun-filled event for all 6th graders! The Back to School Bash is Friday, August 21 from 3:00-4:30 pm.
Keep an eye out for details in the fall!