The Academic Side of Middle School
Please note the last day to turn in assignments/missing work/retake or redo assignments or quizzes for the 1st Report Card is the week of October 5th. Please have your child speak with their teacher for specific classroom information on turning in or redoing assignments.
The first few weeks of school students may be focused on finding their classes, where their friends are on campus, and remembering their locker combination. In this transition, academics and assignments can sometimes be on the back burner.
Middle school brings major changes. Students juggle multiple teachers, harder classes, and new expectations for independence. Missing assignments often stem from disorganization rather than a lack of caring.
Why Assignments Go Missing:
Executive functioning gaps: Skills like planning, task initiation, and tracking due dates are still developing in the brain.
Overwhelm: Falling behind on a few tasks creates anxiety and avoidance.
Communication barriers: Students may not know how to ask teachers for help or extensions
Actionable Support Strategies:
Focus on systems, not content: Help your child set up a clean workspace, use timers, and check off planner tasks instead of doing the work for them.
Tackle backlogs in chunks: Break missing work into small batches. Have your child complete one or two assignments, take a short break, and then return.
Encourage self-advocacy: Guide your student to email their teachers using a polite template to ask about makeup policies and current status.
Set realistic goals: Celebrate small wins. Moving from multiple missing assignments down to two—or raising a grade by a few percentage points—counts as real progress.
Partner with the school: Review guidance from KidsHealth on attending conferences and staying connected with teachers.
Counselors provide Academic Advising for students around the 9 week period for the fall semester and at the beginning of the 3rd quarter in the second semester. Sixth grade students typically receive Academic Advising before the first report card, while 7th and 8th grade students usually receive Academic Advising after grades are posted for the 1st 9 weeks. Counselors will meet with students who have two or more failing core classes, in addition to students who may be failing a high school credit course. If a student receives special education services/supports within their Individual Education Plan (IEP), their Case Manager will be providing academic advising support.
If your child is taking a High School Credit class, it is important to note the “drop” date, which changes if the class is a semester class vs. a year-long high school credit class. Currently, students may drop high school courses at three designated times during the year: fall semester-long courses in November, EOC (End of Course) courses in January, and yearlong or spring semester-long courses in April. If you have any questions regarding high school credit classes and drop dates, please contact your grade-level counselor.
Attendance is Important!
Students with excessive absences are at risk of losing credit for courses where their attendance falls below 90% attendance. Any unexcused absences could have an effect on a student’s attendance rate. Report cards will reflect withheld credit of 0.0 if credit is denied.
Mental Health Resources
Anxiety in Children and Teens (Parent Resource) (Spanish)
School Refusal (Parent Resource) (Spanish)
Important Dates
August 18 - October 26 - Gifted & Talented Referral Window
September 15 - October 15 - Hispanic Heritage Month
October - Cybersecurity Awareness Month
October - Global Diversity Awareness Month
October 10 - Mental Health Day (Wear green.)
October 12 - Indigenous People’s Day/Columbus Day
October 24 - United Nations Day
October 31 - Halloween
Thank you and we are looking forward to a great school year ahead!
Debra Austrum
6th Grade Counselor and Lead Counselor
(512) 414-3276 x59860
Jennifer Moczygemba
7th Grade Counselor
(512) 414-3276 x59815
Niomi Cryer
8th Grade Counselor
(512) 414-3276 x74040
