To all parents and students joining our family at Culver City Middle School.

Let me introduce myself my name is Richard Garcia, I am one of five 6^th grade social studies teacher at Culver City Middle school teaching 6^th grade social studies. I started my student teaching at the middle school during the 1991-1992 school year and officially started as a teacher during the 1992-1993 school year. To date unofficially this is my 26^th year and officially 25^rd year at Culver City Middle School.

I am so excited for this New Year at CCMS for all new students and parents.  I know how stressful this can be entering a new environment, no longer in the safety of your previous elementary school that is comfortable and safe.  Now all of you head into the abyss of the unknown, not knowing what to expect. This in itself can be a monumental challenge.

I assure you that all of the new students entering this wonderful school have nothing to fear.  Your are entering a family environment that will painstakingly do all their best to make you feel safe and welcomed in your new environment.  This I promise you 100%.  

Now I may be a bit biased, but all of you are entering the best district and middle school in the state, if not the country.  Each and every one of you will get the best possible education this world has to offer, I guarantee it. 

Every single teacher will do their job implanting the best education possible, but it is very important that students, as students give your best in absorbing this education, this success can be accomplished through dedication, hard work, and a drive to learn.  It is you, and only you that will succeed and thrive as a CCUSD student.  All of you need to know, the success is yours to have, by your hard work.

I know this is a lot to read, but it is important information!!!! 

Students, let me inform you that this class will either be your favorite, or at least one of the top two favorite class you will have this year. Not to say I’m vain, but, I love my job, and don't tell anyone but I get paid for this job. I want all of you to know that I will always try to inspire you to expand your knowledge whether in school or not. I will try to burn this phrase into your minds, and pray that it takes hold in inspiring your future goals.

Confucius say’s ”Find a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” I haven't worked in 26 years, amazing huh?

My job this year is to introduce you to the aspect of Ancient Civilization but, remember I can only touch the tip of the ice berg doing this. There is so much information about each and every civilization we will be learning this year that it is impossible to deeply get into the substance. What I will be doing is getting you ready, by introducing you to research, historical essay writing, map making and the reasons why things happened, that of course leads up to today, and how all of us live our lives. 

What is needed for all of my students .

Student’s, every single one of you must understand that you have to be in school. The moment you understand and agree that school is your future, school will be fun and rewarding. Without an education all of your dreams and desires in your life will be limited. An education will open up anything and everything you may desire to do in your life, and only you, will stop this from happening, not mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, siblings, aunts, uncles or friends! You are the creator of your wants, desires and dreams, and only you can fulfill them. Remember that always!!! 

Every school year is a total of 183 days put into August to June, nine months and two weeks. We are in school from 8:20 until 2:20 a total of 6 hours. Our school has block scheduling meaning each class Tuesday to Friday is 90 minutes long so, social studies, math, science, language arts, P.E., and your elective will be broken into periods.

Wednesday day and Friday will be period 2, 4 and 6, 90 minute block periods

Tuesday and Thursdays will be period 1, 3 and 5, 90 minute block periods 

Monday will be called “Stack Day,” in which you will be going to all of your classes that will be 50 minutes long 

What this breaks down to, is you will only have three days of any class. My students will only see me three days a week. For example. If you have me on Wednesday and Friday, I will not see you on Tuesday and Thursday, and of course if you have me Tuesday and Thursday, I will not see you Wednesday or Friday. This schedule will make it feel like the year will go by extremely fast, and of course it will. 

On Monday the bell rings at 8:15, and you have 5 minutes to get to class. When period 1 ends you will again have 5 minutes to get to period 2, and the same goes with the rest of your classes. Just getting to class accounts a total of 30 minutes a day, then there is lunch which is 35 minutes. So, a total of 1 hour and 5 minutes is eating and getting to class. So on Monday you are not in class 6 hours, but 4 hours and 55 minutes.

On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday there are five 5 minute transition or 25 minutes, on top of 35 minutes for lunch and 30 minutes for PAWS, in total that is 90 minutes going to class, eating and PAWS. Subtract that from the 6 hour day and students are in class a total of 4 hours and 30 minutes. Wednesday is an early day ending at 1:35 p.m., of a 5 hour and 15 minutes of the school day, lunch is 35 minutes and three transition is 15 minutes or a total of 50 minutes, bringing your school day to only 4 hours  and 25 minutes. 

There is a lot of information that needs to be taught to all of you this school year and in the beginning it going to seem impossible, but do not worry, as hard as it seems all of you will adjust, and be successful as a 6^th grade student. All of you are scared, excited and most of you are ready for a new school year. I have extreme confidence in all of you that you will succeed and thrive at Culver City Middle School. 

Welcome, and I cannot wait to start teaching all of you Ancient History

Your wonderful and amazing Teacher

Mr. Garcia :)

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