CounselorsDebra Day – 7th Grade

Heather Youngquist – 8th Grade

Purpose for Meeting

Learn about Middle School Discuss Core classes offered Discuss Elective classes offered

General Information

All students take 7 classes everyday.

7

School day begins at 8:30.

School day ends at 3:30.

8:30 – 3:30

Core ClassesAll 7th graders take 5

Core ClassesEnglish/Reading

double block

MathScienceTexas History

Advanced Classes Pre-AP/IB Math Pre-AP /IB Science (No prequalifying criteria) Pre-AP/IB English (No prequalifying criteria) Pre-AP/IB Texas History (No prequalifying criteria)

Advanced Academics Committee will screen every 6th grader for Pre-AP/IB Math using 4th Math STAAR Advanced Level III, 5th Math STAAR Advanced Level III, 6th grade first semester math grade typically a 90 or higher.  Students must meet two of three district criteria for placement. If you qualify for Math Pre-AP/IB , you will automatically be enrolled.

Any student who did not meet initial criteria for Math Pre-AP/IB will be re-evaluated using 6th grade final math grade and 6th Grade Math STAAR Advanced Level III score.

There are NO appeals!

Gifted & Talented Classes

AIM in Elementary SchoolHumanities in Middle School

Humanities includes:English HistoryReading

If you are in AIM now, you will automatically be enrolled in Humanities.

On-Level OR Pre-AP/IB ??

On-Level Pre-AP/IB Students will have 3

days to turn in their late work for a maximum grade of 70

Students can expect approximately 45 to 60 minutes of homework per night (excluding projects, test preparation, etc.)

Students will have 2 days to turn in their work for a maximum grade of 60

Students can expect approximately 3 hours of homework per night if taking ALL Pre-AP/IB courses (excluding projects, test preparation, etc.)

Points to consider when choosing Pre-AP/IB classes

Time spent participating in extra-curricular activities (Athletics, select sports, dance, etc.)

Student’s strengths, abilities and interest Organization and time management skills Parents and students should carefully consider

how many Pre-AP/IB courses the student will be taking and the amount of coursework that is required.

In the event that the student wishes to drop from Pre-AP/IB to regular coursework, those changes will take place at the end of the first grading period or at semester.

ElectivesOne Semester Electives:o Career Portal in Human Services

o Career Portal in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

o Career Portal in Communications and Media Arts Science

o Career Portal in Health Science

o Career Portal in Business

o Career Portal in Finance

o Exploring Careers

o Technology Applications in Computer Graphics

o Exploring Speech Communications

o Introduction to Art

o Intermediate Art (Prerequisite: Introduction to Art)

o Introduction to Theatre Arts

o Advanced Theatre Arts (Prerequisite: Introduction to Theatre Arts)

Electives ContinuedWARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

WE CANNOT GO BACK AND CHANGE ELECTIVES. MAKE SURE YOU FILL-IN ALL ALTERNATIVE CHOICES.

AthleticsBOYS Football Basketball Off season

Athletics is a full-year elective. A complete Physical is required each year for all

students entering Athletics

If you sign up for Boys Athletics, you will play Football.If you only want to play Basketball, sign up for PE Fall

and PE Spring …NOT Boys Athletics!Basketball is a try-out sport. Your schedule will be

changed when you make the team.

Athletics continuedGIRLS

VolleyballBasketballOff season

Athletics is a full-year elective

A complete Physical is required each year for all students entering Athletics

Volleyball & Basketball are try-out sports.

Coed PE

All students must take

2 semesters of PE or Athletics during Middle School

Try-Out SportsYou must try-out to make these

teams: Boy’s Basketball (full-year) Girl’s Volleyball (full-year) Girl’s Basketball (full-year) Cheerleading (full-year) Golf (half-year - Fall) Tennis (full-year)

OFF-CAMPUS PE PE credit can be earned through Off –

Campus PE. Approval process, applications and

explanations can be found on the AISD “Athletics” homepage under “Off-Campus PE” or contact Coach Debbie Evans at the Athletic Office.

Full Year Fine Arts Electives

Band

Orchestra

Choir

You must be in Band or Orchestra in 6th grade to be in Band or Orchestra in 7th grade.

Application Electives

YEARBOOK: Limited class size Full-year elective

You must complete an application to be considered for an Interview.

PEER HELPER:Limited numberFull-year or half-year elective

Applications are in the counselor’s

office

PARTNERS PE:Limited numberFull-year or half-year elective

Cafeteria

4 Lines to choose from:

Red Rooster - ChickenFord Fabulous Grill – BurgersPark Place – Pizza Mustang Diner – Regular lunch line

Clubs Anime Club (Japanese Animation) D.O.L.L.S. (Daughters of Our Loving Lord & Savior) FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) Technology Club Guitar Club (must have your own guitar) Sewing/Knitting Club Video Gaming Club

Clubs meet before or after school. And change year by year.

Required Immunizations for 7th Grade

Texas State Vaccine Requirements for 7th gradersIncoming students are required to get up to three (3) vaccines to enter 7th grade, per Title 25 Health Services 97.61-97.72 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC).

It is recommended that proof of immunizations, for incoming 7th graders, be delivered to the current elementary school nurse, prior to the end of the current school year.

Student shot records may be accessed through Parent Access.

Proof of current vaccinations are required prior to the start of 7th grade.

1 dose of Tetanus-Diptheria-Aceullular pertussis (Tdap), if at least 5 years have passed since the last dose of tetanus-diptheria (Td or Tdp) vaccine was received

1 dose of Meningococcal 2nd dose of Varicella required if

the first dose was received on or after the first birthday. If student had chicken pox disease, evidence of disease must be on file with the current school

Health Information Parents should contact the school nurse:

if their student has a medical concern that the school should be aware of.

for any medication administration at school. Proof of Immunizations should be given

to the School Nurse. Please note that all topics covered in the

Allen ISD Student Handbook apply to all students in the Allen Independent School District.

Sports Physicals

Sports physical paperwork should be given to the student’s coaches.

Sports physical forms and information are kept with the athletic department. Forms and information can also be found on the Allen ISD Athletic Department web page.

Academic Planning Guide

No Hard Copies – find course descriptions and information in the

academic planning guide 2015-2016 online at the Ford Website – the link is on the left side of the main page under “In the News”

http://www.allenisd.org/fordms

How to complete the Course Selection Sheet

7th Grade Ereckson Middle School Course Selection Sheet 2013 – 2014

Name: ________________________________________ COUNSELOR INITIALS__________ Parent/Guardian Name (please print)___________________________________ Phone Number __________________ CORE COURSES: Choose 1 Social Studies, English and Science Course

Math

On Level Pre-AP/IB

SS1TXA Texas History 7 OR SS2TXA Texas History 7 Pre-AP/IB LA1D7A English 7 OR LA2D7A English 7 Pre-AP/IB SC1S7A Science 7 OR SC2S7A Science Pre-AP/IB

ELECTIVES: Choose a TOTAL of 4 boxes from any of the Elective Categories highlighted (Semester Courses = 1 box / Full Year Courses = 2 boxes)

Fine Arts:

Physical Education/Athletics:

Communications: Career and Technical Education:

Advanced Technology:

ALTERNATE COURSES: Students must list 2 additional courses in order of preference. 1._________________________________________ 2.__________________________________________

Parent Signature Required

Your student will automatically be placed in these courses. (See Middle School Academic Planning Guide regarding Pre-AP/IB qualification.)

FA1BCA Boys Choir 7/8 FA1G7A Girls Choir 7

FA1CBA Concert Band (Must be in 6th Band) FA1COA Concert Orchestra (Must be in 6th Orchestra)

FA1ARC Introduction to Art 7/8 FA1AAC Advanced Art 7/8

FA1ITC Introduction to Theatre Arts 7/8 FA1ATC Advanced Theatre Arts 7/8

Boys Girls PEFB7A Boys Athletics 7 (Football) PEVB7A Girls Athletics 7 (Volleyball, Basketball)

PEGFBA Boys Golf (Fall) PEGFGA Girls Golf (Fall) PETNBB Boys Tennis (Spring) PETNGB Girls Tennis (Spring)

Boys - If you are wanting to try-out for Basketball, you must sign-up for PE Fall and Spring.

Track and Cross Country are before and/or after school. You do not need to be enrolled in PE or Athletics to participate.

CO1XSC Exploring Speech Communications 7/8

TA1TAC Technology Applications in Communication 7/8

TA1CGC Technology Applications in Computer Graphics 7/8

FC1HSC Career Portal in Human Services 7/8 BM1FMC Career Portal in Finance 7/8

BM1BSC Career Portal in Business 7/8 BM1ECC Exploring Careers 7/8

PECOA PE Fall 7/8

PECOB PE Spring 7/8

HS1HSC Career Portal in Health Science 7/8 TA1STC Career Portal in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) 7/8

PM1CMC Career Portal in Communications and Media Arts Science 7/8

1. Print child’s legal name (no nicknames)

2. Print Parent/Guardian’s name

3. Write Parent/Guardian’s phone number

4. Mark your child’s choice for On-level or Pre-AP/IB for: Texas History, English, and Science. both boxes must be marked.

5. Mark a TOTAL of 4 boxes from the Electives section. The Electives section is from Fine Arts through Advanced Technology. Do not mark 4 boxes from each Electives section.

6. If the Elective has 2 boxes, both boxes must be marked. (Except girls track)

7. Write 2 Alternate Choices in order of preference. These should be different than the 4 boxes you marked in the Electives section.

8. Parent/Guardian signs form

9. The back side of the form is a worksheet to help you. Students will make course selections based on the front side of the Course Selection Form.

PARENT MEETING WHEN: February 17, 2015

(Tuesday)

WHERE: Ford Middle School Gym

TIME: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Course Selection

Rising 7th grade students will register on their Elementary Campus with

their Elementary Counselor during the

school day.

**Date set by Elementary Campus

Tips for being successful in Middle School

1. Do your best in 6th grade…it can determine what classes you can take in 7th grade.

2. Do your best on your STAAR tests…it can determine what classes you can take in 7th grade.

3. Listen to your teachers & do what they ask.

4. Be on your best behavior at all times.5. Work on organization skills, time

management and study habits.