planning for 2015-2016 bush middle school. bush counselors counselors are assigned based on...
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Planning for 2015-2016
Bush Middle School
Bush CounselorsCounselors are assigned based on students’
last names.
A-F Mrs. Sandoval
G-N Mrs. Wendorf
O-Z Mr. Ansley
Counseling Office: 210-356-2961
Open Access to Rigorous Courses
• Pre-Advanced Placement courses in middle school are available to any students willing to take on the academic challenges
• Students wishing to rank in the top 10% of their high school class need to pursue rigorous academic courses to prepare for high school
College & Career Readiness• NEISD has an initiative to ensure that after
high school, all students are prepared to enter
A four-year college or university
A junior or community college
A trade or technical school
The military or
The workforce
Taking rigorous courses in middle school prepares students for college and career course work in high school.
Success in High School Requires Planning
• Preparation for high school success and rigor requires students to
Take rigorous middle school courses
Develop meaningful goals
Learn and utilize strong study habits
Plan for the future
Graduation Requirements Foundation HS Program
With Endorsement(s) Students in the state of Texas are
required
To earn 26 credits to graduate
To take four years of Math,
Science, and English to graduate To take three years of Social Studies to graduate
What Does This Mean in Middle School
• Preparation through rigorous foundation courses is important in 6th – 8th grades
•GT students will still be in a separate program, but the curriculum is aligned with the high school requirements in mind
Course Selection Process• Students and parents will have
opportunities to carefully examine course offerings.
• 6th grade students’ choice sheets are due back to their science teacher by Wednesday, February 4th.
• 7th grade students’ choice sheets are due back to their science teacher by Friday, February 6th.
7th and 8th Grade Courses• 5 academic courses
• PE (4 semesters in middle school: a semester each year with 1 full year of PE)
• Maximum of 3 electives
• AIM is highly recommended
• Remember: 1 semester of a
fine art required by the state of Texas, but NEISD recommends 1 full year or 2 semesters of a fine art
Pre-Ap English
• Pre-Ap English is a challenging
course that requires a parent and student signature on the Advanced Program Expectation and Course Agreement form
• Pre-AP English must be taken with Advanced Contemporary Literacy (ACL)
• It is strongly recommended that
you consult with your child’s English teacher.
Advanced Contemporary Literacy (A.C.L.)
• Advanced Contemporary Literacy is offered in 7th and 8th grades.
• Any student may enroll in this class, but it is strongly advised that you consult with your A.C.L. or reading teacher.
• A parent signature is required on the Advanced Program Expectation and Course Agreement form.
• ACL must be taken with Pre-AP English.
Pre-AP Math• Pre-AP Math is pre-algebra in the
7th grade and algebra I in 8th grade
• Pre-AP math must be taken in 7th grade in order to take algebra I in 8th grade
• These are advanced courses
• A parent signature is required on the Advanced Program Expectation and Course Agreement form
• It is strongly recommended that you consult with your child’s math teacher.
Electives
•8 period day
•Choose 5 electives and rate them 1-5
•Go over course descriptions
AIM• This class is designed as an enrichment
opportunity for students to review academic concepts, seek assistance in solving academic problems, promote independent skills in time management and learn strategies for success such as vocabulary development, agenda use, binder organization, goal setting and character education.
Band, Choir and Orchestra
• 7th and 8th grade Band, Choir and Orchestra are a continuation of the 6th grade program.
• Year long fine art electives
• These classes are for students who are dedicated to Band, Choir or Orchestra
Semester Theatre Arts
• This fine art course is for the student learning the fundamentals of theatre arts
• This is a semester course
Theatre Arts II•Year long theatre arts is for
the 7th grade student who is interested and dedicated to learning about theatre
•Theatre arts I is a pre-requisite
•Counts as a fine art
Theatre Arts III
•Theatre Arts II is required to participate in Theatre Arts III in 8th grade
•This is a year long fine art course
Debate• A semester or year long course
• Open to all grade levels
• Excellent reading and writing skills
• Debate does not count as a fine art
Art I•Art I is a semester long fine art course designed for the student to learn the fundamentals of art.
•This course is available to 7th and 8th grade students. There is a separate course for 6th grade students.
Art II•Art II is a semester or year long fine art course•This course is available to 7th and 8th grade students•Prerequisite is Art I•Students develop advanced art skills in the Art II course
Art III•Art III is a semester or year long fine art course•This course is available to 8th grade students only•Prerequisite is Art I and Art II•Students taking the Art III course have a passion for art and have advanced art skills
Athletics• After school
participation
• Open to all 7th and 8th graders with passing grades
• Coaches signature required
• Athletics is a year long elective
• Counts as a PE credit
• Contract
Pre AP Courses Offered in 7th Grade
• Pre AP Math
• Pre AP English and ACL must be taken together
** A parent and student signature is required on the Advanced Program Expectation and Course Agreement form.
Pre AP Courses Offered in 8th Grade
• Pre AP Math (Algebra I)
• Pre AP English and ACL must be taken together
• Pre AP Science
• Pre AP American History** A parent and student signature is
required on the Advanced Program Expectation and Course Agreement form.
Office/Teacher Aides8th Grade Elective
• Office/Teacher Aide classes are semester or year long courses
• Pick up application in counseling office.
• Fill out completely• Turn in with choice sheet,
staple to back
PALS: 8th Grade Only
• Application comes later in the year
• Sign up for another elective now
• PALS is a
year long
course
SubjectSubject 66thth GradeGrade
77thth GradeGrade
88thth GradeGrade
English/English/ReadingReading
Reg/RegReg/Reg
oror
PreAP/PreAP/
GT&ACLGT&ACL
Reg/RegReg/Reg
oror
PreAP/PreAP/
GT&ACLGT&ACL
Reg/RegReg/Reg
oror
PreAP/PreAP/
GT&ACLGT&ACL
MathMath PreAPPreAP
GTGTRegularRegular
PreAPPreAP
GTGT
RegularRegular
PreAPPreAP
GTGT
ScienceScience& Social & Social StudiesStudies
RegularRegular RegularRegular RegularRegular
PreAPPreAP
High School Credit Coursesfor 7th and 8th Grade Students
• Principles of Arts, Audio Video Technology, and Communications
(0.5 credit)
• Principles of Manufacturing
(0.5 credit)
• Spanish IA (7th Grade) and
Spanish IB (8th Grade)
(1.0 credit for both courses)
High School Credit Coursesfor 8th Grade Students Only • Concepts of Engineering and
Technology (0.5 credit)
• Health (0.5 credit)
• Spanish IA (7th Grade) and Spanish IB (8th Grade) (1.0 credit for both courses)
• Spanish I
• Algebra I PreAP
• Algebra I PreAP/GT
STAAR Reading and STAAR Math
•Schedule changes due to STAAR scores
•Students will be placed in a class for help with STAAR
•Remember: DO YOUR BEST!!
•Please contact your child’s counselor if you have any questions on concerns.
•Thank you so much for your attendance tonight!
•Mrs. Sandoval, Mrs. Wendorf, and Mr. Ansley