1

0

Mountain Home Junior High School

7th & 8th Grade Registration

Catalog of Course Offerings 2015-2016

Mountain Home Junior High School 1600 East 6th South

Mountain Home, ID 83647

Phone: 208-587-2590 Fax: 208-587-2597 www.mtnhomesd.org/mhjh

2

District & Junior High Administrators

Mr. James Gilbert Superintendant 587-2580

Mr. Dan Cochran Principal 587-2590

Mrs. Jessica Ward Asst. Principal 587-2590

Committed to Learning Today for Tomorrow’s

World

3

Fees and School Policies

***Fee Schedule is subject to change*** Agenda $ 3.00 Video Production/GT $10.00 Activity Card 7th-8th $10.00 PE Uniform $15.00 (Optional) Art $10.00

MHJH 7th TO 8th GRADE PROMOTION PROCEDURES/CREDITS Promotion Procedure Effective Fall Semester 2010 The Idaho State Department of Education has required that the LEA must implement a credit system no later than grade seven. Idaho Administrative Code IDAPA 08.02.03 1. Attendance- All students in Mountain Home School District shall be in attendance for at least 90% of the school days each

semester. 1. Students enrolled in grades seven through eight (7th – 8th) in the Mountain Home School District must pass with eleven (11)

out of fourteen (14) credits (80%) in order to be promoted to the next grade level and/or high school. Students will not be allowed to lose a full year of credit in one academic area. Students who do not meet the requirements will have an alternate route for remaining eligible for grade level promotion. If a student needs to recover credits, he/she may obtain credits through summer school, IDLA, online courses, or correspondence courses. Parents will be responsible for the tuition of recovery credits.

4

Alternate Path

Students not receiving enough credits and/or failing both semesters of a year-long course may still be promoted to the next grade level through our alternate path. Students proceeding through the alternate path must successfully complete two of the three mechanisms to be promoted: 1) pass the end of course (EOC) assessment of the failed course(s), 2) Must pass either a MA (Math Assessment) or a DWA (Direct Writing Assessment) 3) cumulative yearly GPA of at least 2.0.

MHSD PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS FOR 7TH–8TH GRADES (per year):

Mathematics – 1 credit per semester per year Language Arts – 1 credit per semester per year Reading – 1 credit per semester per year Science – 1 credit per semester per year Social Studies – 1 credit per semester per year Elective - 2 credits per semester per year

Student withdrawal before end of the semester policy: Parents must call the school or send a written request to withdraw their student. It is requested that one (1) day notice be given before the student withdraws. Any student checking out before the end of the semester will be given their withdrawal form which includes their transfer grades (grades to date of leaving). This form should be presented to the school the student will be attending.

5

Guidance and Counseling

Counseling services are available to all students. Guidance services are provided on an individual basis, in small groups and in a classroom setting. These services assist a student to improve skills in problem solving; planning for decision-making; and to understand one’s self sufficiently to be able to maximize individual student achievement, respond to a problem, to achieve personal growth. Each student and parent can seek assistance from the school counselor in:

Academic Planning Career Planning Personal/Social Planning

Career Planning The counseling department offers career planning so that all students can explore a career pathway that blends with their interests and abilities and leads to achievement of personal, educational, and career goals.

Career Information Systems (CIS), www.idahocis.org

Counselors maintain “confidentiality” except in the following situations: disclosure of abuse, abandonment, neglect; disclosure about intent to harm self or others; disclosure of a commission of a crime; to comply with a court order or subpoena; or disclosure of a crime being committed.

6

Graduation Requirements *(Subject to Change)* Class of 2020 & 2021

Credits…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….50

Successful completion of semester = 1 credit English………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..8

Speech (Grade 9, 10, 11, or 12)……………………………………………………………………………..1 Math (must be earned in grades 9-12)………………………………………………………………..6 Science (2 of 4 credits must be a lab science)………………………………………………….6 Economics…………………………………………………………………………...........................................1 Humanities (see A at bottom of page)………………………………………………………………..2 Social Studies……………………………………………………………………………………………………………6

Health……………………………………………………………………………….............................................1 Physical Education………………………………………………………………….....................................2 Computer Technology (see B)………………………………………………………………………………….1 Qualified Electives (see C)………………………………..…………………………………………………....2 Electives……………………………………………………………………………..........................................14

Graduation Credits earned in 9th – 12th grade classes ONLY. Graduation Requirements NOTE: No credit will be received when repeating a class if previous credit was earned. The higher grade earned will be used to calculate GPA.

A) Humanities – any two (2) credits taken from the following: Foreign Language, Fine and Performing Arts, and from History and English courses. B) Computer Technology – one (1) credit of Word Processing and Power point Applications, Advanced Word and PowerPoint Applications, Advanced Spreadsheet and Database Applications, Desktop Publishing, Introduction to HTML, all Drafting courses, all Communications Technology courses. C) Qualified Electives – any two (2) credits taken from the following: Physical Education courses which do not fulfill Graduation Requirements; Humanities, Vocational-Technical (including work-based learning), Family and Consumer Science, Foreign Language, Fine and Performing Arts.

7

Registration

Spring Pre-Registration for 2015/2016 school year: In District students, (grades 7-12), March/April 2015. Students develop their schedules for the next school year. They must select their electives. Alternative subject courses will also be listed. Every effort will be made to provide students with their desired classes. New Student Registration: For all students who are BRAND NEW to this district registration day will be August 6, 2015 from 8:00am to 3:00pm. Please call for an appointment to register your child at 587-2590. Registration information is available on our website www.mtnhomesd.org. Official Online Enrollment (Registration) Day: Parents/Guardians are asked to complete the registration/data updating process online. No Schedules will be given out until the parent/guardian has completed the online registration process. The school will be open beginning August 3, 2014, 8:00am to 3:00 pm to help with this in the event that a parent/guardian does not have internet access. You do not need an appointment. No schedule changes will be made after August 21, 2015.

Bus Transportation

Transportation by bus is serviced for the Mountain Home Public Schools by Caldwell Transportation Company. They are located at 1050 Sunset Strip, and the phone number is 587-8045.

Food Services MHJH maintains a closed campus during the lunch period. Hot lunch will be available for students who wish to eat at school. Lunch tickets may be purchased online at www.MYMEALTIME.com or at registration in August. Prices are $2.65 or $53.00 for 20 days for students. Lunch for adults is $3.50, (Student and Adult lunch prices subject to change), and milk is .50. Some families may qualify for free or reduced lunch. Forms will be available at registration. Only 1 lunch charge will be allowed. Students may also bring a sack lunch from home. Students will also be able to purchase Cup ‘O Noodles, Trail mix, Calzones, Little Debbie snacks, Hot Pretzels, and a variety of other items from the snack bar. Lunch tickets cannot be used to make purchases at the snack bar, cash only.

8

MOUNTAIN HOME SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 193 2015 - 2016 CALENDAR

August January 13 Teacher Workday 5 PD Day – No School 14 Teacher Workday 6 Christmas Bread ends – School Resumes 17 1st Day of School – 1:30 release 18 Martin Luther King Day – No School February September 15 Presidents Day – No School 7 Labor Day – No School 16 PD Day - No School October March 1-2 PD Days – No School 11 Ends 3rd Qtr – 1:30 release 14 End of 1st Qtr – 1:30 release 24 Parent/Teacher conferences – 11:30 release 22 Parent/Teacher conferences – 11:30 release 25 11:30 release 23 11:30 release 28-31 Spring Break – No School

November April 11 Veteran’s Day – No School 4 PD Day – No School 25 Thanksgiving Break – 1:30 release 5 Spring Break ends – School Resumes 26 Thanksgiving Break – No School 27 Thanksgiving Break – No School 30 End Thanksgiving Break- school resumes May 24 2nd Semester Ends – 1:30 release Report Cards – at the end of the day December 25 Teacher Work Day 18 1st Semester Ends – 1:30 release 26 Teacher Work Day 21-31 Christmas Break – No School 27 Graduation Day – 7:00 pm – Tiger Field

9

7th & 8th Grade General Electives

AVID 7 (9631) AVID 8 (9731) Open to: 7th & 8th grade, yearlong. Teacher placement. Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a program that helps students prepare to go to college and be successful. There are many students who want to go to college but don’t believe they have the academic skills or the support to make it to college and be successful. AVID helps students improve their writing, reading, math and study skills that are necessary to succeed in college and in professional careers. In AVID you will receive extra tutoring, career and college counseling, and extensive academic instruction. You will be placed in at least one accelerated class and be working with other students who have the same dream of going to college and being successful. Drawing 7/8 (1061) Open to: 7th & 8th grade, semester. Fees: $10.00 per class. Course Description: This class provides drawing techniques with these mediums: charcoal, pastel, chalk and oil, pencil, colored pencil, marker, and pen & ink. Painting 7/8 (1062) Open to: 7th & 8th grade, semester. Fees: $10.00 per class. Course Description: This class provides painting techniques with these mediums: watercolors, tempera, acrylics, and oil paints. Sculpture 7/8 (1063) Open to: 7th & 8th grade, semester. Fees: $10.00 per class. Course Description: This class provides sculpture techniques with these mediums: Paper Mache, and Sculpting Clay. Computer Applications 7/8 (4810) Open to: 7th & 8th grade, semester. Recommended for 7th grade/required by the end of 8th grade. This course is a continuation of developing keyboarding skills and using the computer. Students will learn basic file management and computer terminology, and basic computer functions. Using their skills students will learn how to create, print, and save documents, access drives, and use the internet to find templates to create business documents. Using these templates students will learn how to format letters, reports, and memorandums. This class is an

10

essential prerequisite for all other computer classes at the senior high school and must be passed with a C or better, and a suggested speed of 30 to 35 words per minute. Students having less than a C should consider retaking the class. Intro to Computer Tech/Science (Coding) (4850) **This course is brand new and still in development stage and may not Open to 7th & 8th grade. Semester class. be scheduled. This is an Exploring Computer Science class that consists of different units developed around a framework of computer science and computational practice. Students are introduced to some basic issues associated with program design and development. Students will experiment with internet search techniques, explore a variety of websites and web applications, and discuss issues of privacy and security. Students will have opportunities to become “computational thinkers” by applying a variety of problem solving techniques for a variety of contexts. Students will take the role of a website developer by expanding their knowledge of algorithms, abstraction, and web design and applying it to the creation of web pages and documents for users and equipment. This course continues at the High School level so students can advance yearly. Health 7 (4801) Open to: 7th grade ONLY, semester. Required elective for 7th grade. This course is to teach students the principals of healthy living. In compliance with the state and national health standards, students will practice and apply the following skills throughout the semester:

1. Analyzing influences that impact health. 6. Health-enhancing behaviors 2. Accessing valid health information. 7. Health advocacy 3. Interpersonal communication skills. 8. Enhancing self-esteem 4. Decision making skills to enhance healthy behavior. 9. Emphasize character education 5. Goal setting skills to enhance health

Leadership 7/8 (8043) Open to: 7th & 8th grade, semester. Must have a 2.5 GPA and a teacher recommendation/vice principal signature. Students will study managerial skills, team dynamics, communication skills and principles of good citizenship, no discipline file. They will study the characteristics of successful leaders from government, business and the community. Students manage the school recycling program and sponsor fundraisers. Students are also responsible for decorating the bulletin boards in the hallway. During the semester students may be asked to help organize and run several school assemblies. This course is highly recommended for those students interested in Student Council in the future.

11

Library Aide 7/8 (4902) Open to: 7th & 8th grade, semester. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. Library aides should have average grades and be dependable and personable, no discipline file and display appropriate library behavior. Aides receive training in library usage and procedures. Their primary jobs are to check books out and in, shelve books, help keep the library organized and running smoothly, and assist students and staff in locating resources. As time permits, research and reference techniques may be covered. Aides will be required to read two books each nine week grading period. Enrollment is limited to two (2) aides per period. Office Aide 7/8 (8011) Open to: 7th & 8th grade, semester. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. Students should have average grades and be dependable, outgoing, and personable, no discipline file. Students learn office procedures, courtesy, and use some of the office machines. Their primary job is to take messages to students & teachers in classrooms, do filing and numerous small office jobs. Study Skills 7/8 (8014) Open to: 7th & 8th grade, semester. This class is designed to assist students with classroom work to help them meet mastery across all academic content areas. Focus is upon re-teaching of concepts when needed, emphasis of organizational skills which allow each student to successfully monitor and prioritize tasks and assignments due, as well as enhance study skills and test taking strategies. Yearbook 7/8 (2058) Open to: 7th & 8th grade, semester. The yearbook student will take photographs of school events, learn to transfer them into the Balfour Galleries, then with Studio Works, design a specific page or pages for the MHJH yearbook. Yearbook students will be expected to do creative writing assignments and to brainstorm creative ideas for their yearbook. Students will be expected to exhibit honesty and integrity while stepping out of their comfort zones to introduce themselves to students and faculty at MHJH. They will use appropriate language skills to ask for permission to take pictures, write body copy, interview students/faculty, and brainstorm creative ideas for designing an excellent yearbook that is representational of MHJH. Students in the yearbook classes will be asked to do creative writing exercises to spark their imaginations so they can find new ideas of expressing themselves through writing and speaking--two skills which are essential for a successful yearbook student.

12

7th Grade Band (5523) Open to: 7th grade, year. Class is at the High School. Activity Card Required Beginning Band.The purpose of the Beginning Band is to start students playing a band instrument. Band instruments include all woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. Students will study and practice the basics of playing an instrument including how to play the instrument properly, reading notes and rhythms, making a good sound, and playing in an ensemble. In most cases, students will need to have their own instrument. The music department has a few instruments; however, these are generally the larger, and/or very expensive instruments such as tuba, French horn, bass clarinet, or euphonium. Percussion students are encouraged to have some background in reading music before they start the beginning band. 8th Grade Band (5514) Open to: 8th grade, year. Class is at the High School. Activity Card Required Pre-requisite of either Beginning Band or permission from the instructor. This band serves a dual purpose as a means to train young musicians in the basic elements of music as well as providing the opportunity to perform in ensembles. The band participates and performs in clinics, band festivals, school concerts, and the Air Force Appreciation Day parade. Student attendance and participation in rehearsals and performances both in and out of the formal classroom are required. An instrument is required. (Year long course) Choir 7 (9663) Choir 8 (5507) Open to: 7th & 8th grade, year. Activity Card Required No prerequisite. This group serves a dual purpose as a training group for young musicians and as a performing ensemble. Special attention is paid to music theory and ear training. The student is pressed to understand the mechanics of choral music. This chorus performs music representing traditional as well as contemporary styles. The chorus participates and performs in school festivals and concerts. Rehearsals and performances outside of scheduled class time are defined as an extension of the formal classroom and as such, student participation and attendance is required. Athletic Fitness 8 (6005) Open to: 8th grade ONLY, semester. Requires a Coach’s Recommendation. This course is held at the High School. This course is designed specifically with the athlete in mind. Emphasis will be on beginning resistive weight training, conditioning, agility, and sport specific skills. This course requires a Coach’s Recommendation form and can take the place of the required PE class.

13

Video Productions 7/8 GT Class (3070) Open to: 7th & 8th grade, semester. Fees: $10.00 Fee. Must have a GPA of 3.0 and a teacher recommendation/signature. If you have participated in the Mountain Home Gifted/Talented Program previously, you automatically qualify to register for this class. It is open to any student who wants to be intellectually and creatively challenged. Students qualify for this class based on good grades, self-motivation, test scores, evidence of creative talent, and/or teachers’ recommendation. If you are interested, see the registrar to get a teacher recommendation form. A course designed to develop an understanding of contemporary communication principles and devices. Students develop graphics and electronic communication projects through the use of various media. Activities will include engineering and technical presentations, and digital photography, audio and video production. Students will learn to apply the elements of good design to communication products.

7th Grade

Required Courses

English Language Arts 7 (3002) Open to: 7th grade, year. Required The course is designed to promote students’ understanding of grammar usage and mechanics, necessary for speaking and reflecting critically on their own use of language. Students engage in writing in journals to generate ideas and prior knowledge; construct writings for different audiences and purposes; respond to literature by generating writing reflections; strengthen listening, speaking and note-taking skills utilizing the Cornell format; collaborate with peers to support the learning of others through inquiry. Language Acquisition 7/8 (8003) Open to: 7th & 8th grade. Year. IELA scores/Teacher Placement. Students in this course will focus on gaining English language proficiency and academic language in order to be academically successful. Student placement in this class will be determined by the counselor/teacher of the course.

14

Lang Skills 7/8 (8074) Open to: 7th & 8th grade. Teacher recommended. The goal of the class is to improve each student’s writing skills which are necessary for academic success in other core and elective classes. A students is placed in English Skills if the result of testing shows the student is more than one year below grade level. Assessment of the student is by teacher evaluation, directed writing assessment, and grades from the previous year. Writing traits assessed will be: ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions.

Math

Math 7/Saxton Course 2 (5002) Open to: 7th Grade, year. Teacher Placement Students enrolled in Math 7/Course 2 study the core standards of ratio and proportional relationships, the number system with operations with rational numbers, using expressions and equations, geometry with angle measure, surface area and volume. The students will investigate change process and look at probability models. Students will compare populations and draw inferences based on statistical measures. Students will use mathematical practices of persevere, abstract reasoning and modeling with mathematics. The class will also include the mathematical practices of the use of appropriate tools, attending precision, constructing viable arguments and looking for patterns in repeated reasoning. Pre Algebra 7/8/Saxton Course 3 (5006) Honors/Advanced Math Course for 7th grade, pre-algebra concepts (or higher) for all 8th grade students. Students will be placed in this class by teacher recommendation. The students will study the core standards from 7th & 8th grade. These standards include the number system, expressions and equations, functions, geometry, and statistics/probability. The topics include, but are not limited to, conceptual building blocks of algebra, basic operations with rational numbers, solving two-step equations, graphing and writing linear equations, use and application of Pythagorean Theorem and special right triangles, basic geometric measurements for perimeter, area and volume and statistical measurements and graphical representation of data. The State of Idaho requires pre-algebra concepts (or higher) for all 8th grade students. Honors/Advanced Math Requirements: Students must pass an assessment with at least an 80% in order to move to the Honors/Advanced math class. Students wishing to take the Honors/Advanced math class without taking the assessment (or passing with at least an 80%) may still do so, but as an elective in addition to the regular grade level math course. Math Skills 7/8 (8070) Open to: 7th & 8th grade. Teacher Placement The Math Skills class provides a curriculum (based upon Saxon Course 1 & 2) that focuses on enhancing and strengthening the students mathematical foundation. This class will be required for students that have been identified as being 2 grade levels behind by the Saxon Placement Test, teacher recommendation, or grade from previous year.

15

Reading

Reading 7 (9638) Open to: 7th grade, year. In this class students will work on skills, such as comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, predicting, summarizing, etc. Students will participate in class discussions, reading groups, and individualized learning. Through the use of trade books and the reading textbook, a variety of genres will be covered. Students are also expected to use part of each hour for independent reading. Honors Reading 7 (9637) Open to: 7th grade, year. Teacher Recommendation required. The honors class is designed to cover skills taught in Reading 7 (9638) such as comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, predicting, summarizing, etc. at a faster pace and with more emphasis on trade books and group projects and discussions. This class will take the place of the Reading 7 class.

Physical Education

Physical Education 7/8 (6001 boys, 6002 girls) Open to: 7th & 8th grade, semester. One semester is required for 7th & 8th grade every year by the state. The physical education program will familiarize you with a variety of sports and activities, inform you of the rules governing these activities, and teach you proper techniques and procedures. This class encourages good sportsmanship, respect for the game, and fair play while promoting good personal health habits, physical fitness, and experiences for you to become aware of your physical abilities and limitations. This is a semester course designed to include four major activity units and a variety of low organized games so that each student’s interests may be met. A uniform consisting of a plain gray t-shirt and plain black shorts is required. A MHJH PE uniform may be purchased for $15.

Science Life Science 7 (6501) Open to: 7th grade, year. This class presents a scientific study of the structure and function of living organisms and their biological relationships. Emphasis is placed on scientific problem solving, characteristics of life, structure and function of cells, genetics/heredity, structure and function of the human body systems, laboratory dissections and related activities.

16

Honors Life Science 7 (9636) Open to: 7th Grade, year. Teacher Recommendation required. This honors class will focus on the same themes and objectives as traditional 7th grade science but students in this course will be further challenged to discover and achieve through increased creativity, rigor, inquiry, and reflection. For example, students will develop ideas through more inquiry based learning activities such as asking questions and writing their own experimental procedures to find answers to those questions. Students will also use a science journal throughout the year to record observations, inferences, experimental designs, and conclusions. This class will take the place of the regular 7th Grade Life Science class.

Social Studies

World Geography 7 (7031) Open to: 7th Grade, year. Students will develop an understanding of their world by studying the geography, history, and culture, both past and present, of the people and nations of the world. Emphasis will be on the nations of the Eastern Hemisphere.

8th Grade

Required Courses English

8th Grade English (3004) Open to: 8th grade, year. Students will work through the steps of the writing process to address a variety of writing genres. Students will also develop proper use of grammar and standard language conventions. They will apply structure and mechanics to their own writing and recognize it in others’. Language Acquisition 7/8 (3001) Open to: 7th & 8th grade. Year. IELA scores/Teacher Placement. Students in this course will focus on gaining English language proficiency and academic language in order to be academically successful. Student placement in this class will be determined by the teacher of the course.

17

Lang Skills 7/8 (8074) Open to: 7th & 8th grade. Teacher Placement. The goal of the class is to improve each student’s writing skills which are necessary for academic success in other core and elective classes. A students is placed in English Skills if the result of testing shows the student is more than one year below grade level. Assessment of the student is by teacher evaluation, directed writing assessment, and grades from the previous year. Writing traits assessed will be: ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions.

Math

Pre Algebra 7/8/Saxton Course 3 (5006) Open to: 8th grade, year. Pre-Algebra concepts for all 8th grade students The State of Idaho requires pre-algebra (or higher) for all 8th grade students. The students will study the core standards from 7th & 8th grade. These standards include the number system, expressions and equations, functions, geometry, and statistics/probability. The topics include, but are not limited to, conceptual building blocks of algebra, basic operations with rational numbers, solving two-step equations, graphing and writing linear equations, use and application of Pythagorean Theorem and special right triangles, basic geometric measurements for perimeter, area and volume and statistical measurements and graphical representation of data. The State of Idaho requires pre-algebra concepts (or higher) for all 8th grade students. Algebra 1-8 (5008) Honors/Advanced Math Course for 8th grade Algebra’s main focus is the common core standards: the number system, expressions and equations, functions, geometry, and statistics/probability. These topics include, but are not limited to, operations with integers, solving multi-step equations and inequalities, basic problem solving, graphing linear equations, writing linear equations, statistical graphs, solving systems of linear equations, graphing and solving quadratic equations and functions, Pythagorean Theorem and right triangle trigonometry, addition and subtraction of polynomials, and factoring polynomials. Promotion to Geometry as a 9th grader recommends that the student earn a 75% or higher for the second semester of Algebra. Honors/Advanced Math Requirements: Students must pass an assessment with at least an 80% in order to move to the Honors/Advanced math class. Students wishing to take the Honors/Advanced math class without taking the assessment (or passing with at least an 80%) may still do so, but as an elective in addition to the regular grade level math course.

18

Math Skills 7/8 (8070) Open to: 7th & 8th grade. Teacher Recommended. The Math Skills class provides a curriculum (based upon Saxon Course 1 & 2) that focuses on enhancing and strengthening the students mathematical foundation. This class will be required for students that have been identified as being 2 grade levels behind by the Saxon Placement Test, teacher recommendation, or grade from previous year.

Physical Education Physical Education 7/8 (6001 boys), (6002 girls) Open to: 7th & 8th grade, semester. 1 semester is required for 7th & 8th grade each year by the state. The physical education program will familiarize you with a variety of sports and activities, inform you of the rules governing these activities, and teach you proper techniques and procedures. This class encourages good sportsmanship, respect for the game, and fair play while promoting good personal health habits, physical fitness, and experiences for you to become aware of your physical abilities and limitations. This is a semester course designed to include four major activity units and a variety of low organized games so that each student’s interests may be met. A uniform consisting of a plain gray t-shirt and plain black shorts is required. A MHJH PE uniform may be purchased for $15.

Reading

8th Grade Literature (3058) Open to: 8th Grade, year Students will explore and interpret selections from a number of literary genres. Literary elements and devices will be covered. Students will be encouraged to read for both pleasure and information. Creative and critical thinking skills will be enhanced through classroom activities. Honors Literature 8 (9639) Open to: 8th grade, year. Teacher Recommendation required. Students placed in this class will have demonstrated an appreciation of literature, self-motivation, academic discipline, and above average comprehension, and interpretation. Class content will cover an in-depth introduction to the major literary genres with an emphasis on basic literary analysis. Students will read together, as a class, and independently for understanding as well as for appreciation and enjoyment. Students will also be expected to develop and demonstrate higher order thinking skills in most activities. This class will take the place of the Literature 8 class.

19

Science

Physical Science 8 (6502) Open to: 8th grade, year. In this course, students are introduced to the basics of chemistry and physics. We will study the elements that make up our world and some of the ways that they react to other elements. We will also learn basic properties of matter, laws of motion, rocketry, and electricity. This course is divided into two parts: approximately 60% of the time, students are involved in lecture, independent work, or classroom demonstrations. The remaining part of the time is spent in lab experimentation where students are allowed to experience the various ideas and concepts discussed in class. Honors Physical Science 8 (6513) Open to: 8th Grade, year. Teacher Recommendation required. This honors class will focus on the same themes & objectives as traditional 8th grade science but students in this course will be further challenged to discover and achieve through increased rigor, inquiry, and reflection. Standards for quality of work, deadlines, and critical thinking will be more strictly enforced than in the traditional science class and students should be prepared for added homework and responsibility. Self motivation and a desire to learn and discover are important traits for success in this honors class. This class will take the place of regular 8th grade Physical Science.

Social Studies

Social Studies 8 (7002) Open to: 8th Grade, year. The class will cover United States History from European exploration of the Americas to World War II. During the class we will be exploring the significance of events in America’s past, how they have shaped the present, and how they may impact our future. We will also discuss and work on skills, techniques, and strategies to help the students become successful throughout their educational experience. Throughout the year students will develop civic competence and focus on learning the civic responsibilities of American Citizenship.

20

Things to Join

Boys’ Basketball Track & Field

Boys’ Soccer Act Out Theater

Cross Country Academic Bowl

Football National Junior Honor Society

Girls’ Basketball Volleyball

Girls’ Soccer Wrestling

21