Welcome Class of 2019
Utley Middle School
Orientation
Administrators
Todd Bradford- Principal
Shenequa Miller - Assistant Principal A-L
Dave Girardi- Assistant Principal M-Z
Counselor
Shanda Riley – Counselor A-L
Michele Jensen- Counselor M-Z
Registrar
Connie Bennett
Attendance
Shawna Seabolt
Nurse
Susan Edwards
Athletic Coordinator
Kody Hergert
Technology
Instruction- Alan Engle
Technical- Megan Houser
School Resource Officer
Officer Woodruff
People to Know
Students received:
1. Academic Planning Guide (electronic on
website)
2. Letter about upcoming important dates
3. Course selection sheet due back by January 31
4. Pre AP Contract (required if want to take a Pre
AP course)
5. Skyward Log in -used to register on line
6. Personal information to update if needed
Course Selection Time
Please complete course selection sheet or
complete online registration
 Sections
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Required Courses
Physical Activity Electives
Academic Electives
Counselor Contact information
Schedule change conditions
Pre AP Contract on the back of sheet
Course Selection Sheet
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Is Pre AP or Regular for you?
◦ Do you have an A average in regular core
classes or at least a solid B average in an
Advanced class?
◦ Did you score 80 or 90 percent correctly on the
past STAAR test?
◦ Do you have time in your schedule for
homework most nights and weekends? (1 ½ -2
hours)
◦ Do you have the motivation for summer
reading and other large projects that may fall
over school breaks?
Pre – AP Courses
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U.S. History
◦ U.S. History 8
◦ Pre AP U.S. History 8(contract required)
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English
◦ English 8
◦ Pre AP/GT English 8(contract required)
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Science
◦ Science 8
◦ Pre AP Science 8 (contract required)
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Math
◦ Math 8
◦ Pre AP Algebra I (contract required)(HS credit
calculates into high school grade point average)
Core Classes
All students must take a physical
education class both years while in
middle school. This took effect the 200809 school year.
 Choices are:
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◦ Athletics- Boys (football) and Girls (volleyball and basketball)
◦ Cheerleading- Tryouts - Must have physical on file
 Cheer tryout week
 Fittings
◦ Drill Team
 Officer Tryout week
 Fittings
◦ Gymnastics tryouts
◦ FREE Physicals are offered Heath Baylor Medical Center across from Cain MS
usually in May
Physical Education
Outdoor Education Curriculum:
This is an 8th grade class ONLY.
Will learn the
Following:
 Hunter Safety
 Boater Safety
 Fishing Education
 Archery
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Dutch Oven Cooking
Survival Skills
GPS/Compass use
Will join PE students
for some units
Outdoor Education – Year Long
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Physical Fitness
Strength & Conditioning
Team Sports
Positive Attitudes
Intramurals
No tryouts
PE clothes
Physical Education - PE
Sports fundamentals
 Conditioning
 Strength training
 Sportsmanship
 Teamwork
 Competitive
 Weekly games and weekend tournaments
 Physicals– Heath Baylor Medical Clinic across
from Cain MS- times to be announced at a later
time (usually February)
 Boy’s football equipment pick-up before school
starts
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Be in athletics and develop a winning
attitude
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Sign up for Football only
Students who do not want to participate in
football will have an opportunity to try-out for
basketball before the season starts (schedules
will be changed into athletics during the yearmust contact coach if want to tryout)
Tennis, Track, Cross Country and Soccer are
before or after school
Basketball and cross Country try-outs first week
of November
Boys Athletics
Volleyball (shorts are $20)
 Basketball
 Tennis, Track, Cross country and Soccer
are before or after school sports
Girls will tryout for each sport.
Girls must have participated in two
sports in 7th grade athletics to be
automatically placed into 8th grade
athletics. If tryout first week of
school and make team, schedule will
be changed.
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Girls Athletics
Cheerleading camp Tryouts required Fittings –
 Promotes school pride
 Cheer at home football and basketball games
 Perform at pep rallies
 You learn to dance, cheer and jump
 May require after school practices
 Uniform and camp costs around $350
 More information to come about parent meeting,
fittings & summer camp (August)
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Cheerleading
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Drill team fitting
Officer Tryout practice
Promotes school pride
Perform at home football and select basketball
games
Perform at pep rallies
You learn to dance
No prerequisites
May require after school practices
Uniform and camp costs around $350
More information to come about parent
meeting, fittings & summer camp (August)
Drill Team
Main Goal – prepare for High School
Gymnastics
 Basic Skills – cartwheels, handstands,
class 7 through class 5 routines
 Tryouts to determine skill level
 Pick-up a gymnastics packet
 Students will participate in meets
throughout the school year
 May require before or after school practice
 Cost for boys will be $30 and girls
$150
 Tryouts
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Gymnastics
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Art I / Art II
AVID I / II
Band
BIM I Business Information Management(high school
credit)
Choir / Select Choir
Concepts of Engineering and Technology(high school credit)
Health / Speech (high school credit)
Orchestra
PALs
Spanish I (high school credit)
Theatre Arts I / Theatre Arts II
Yearbook
Academic Electives
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Art I provides for inventive and imaginative
expression through materials and tools. The
student learns the basic elements and principles
of art through drawing and a variety of media.
Art appreciation and history are also included.
Students are required to purchase art supplies
(Fee is $45 and due at the beginning of the
school year)
Art II- Pre-requisite of Art I and an application
must be turned in by January 31st.
Art
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AVID is an elective class that prepares students
in the academic middle of college eligibility and
success. Students receive instruction in writing,
inquiry, collaboration, and reading strategies in
addition to note-taking and organizational skills
that are necessary for academic success. AVID
students must enroll in at least one Pre AP
course in addition to the AVID elective class.
Tutors are provided during the AVID class to
support student success in all courses.
Application due by January 31st.
AVID
7th Graders – Stay in Band!!!!
Continue to learn to play your instrument
to prepare for the Mighty Hawk or Orange
Wave marching bands!!!
Work and learn to perform at football
games, band contests, and festivals!!!
All bands have great social activities!!!
Auditions in May for Honors, Symphonic,
or Wolf band.
Band
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BIM I prepares students to implement
personal and interpersonal skills to
strengthen individual performance in the
workplace and in society and make
successful transition to the workforce and
post secondary education. Students will
be provided the opportunity to apply
technical skill through word processing,
spreadsheet, database and electronic
presentation software. Course can count
for one high school credit and in grade
point average.
Business Information
Management(BIM)
Choir provides music appreciation and
enjoyment, the development of vocal
skills, and sight-reading abilities are the
emphasis of this course. Performances
and competitions are an exciting part of
choir and student participation will be
required.
 Auditions for the Select Choir will be
held in April after school until 5 pm..
8th graders are encouraged to
audition.
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Choir
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Communication application fulfills the
graduation requirement for speech.
Students identify, analyze, develop and
evaluate communication skills needed for
professional and social success in
interpersonal, group and professional
interactions and presentations. Course will
count for ½ of high school credit and
count into grade point average.
Communication Applications
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Concepts of Engineering and Technology(Synergistic
Lab) provides students the opportunity to rotate
through a modular computer laboratory- based
course designed to introduce the application of
technology to solve problems and meet human needs
and wants. At the conclusion of the course, students
will have an understanding of the various fields
related to science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics and their interrelationships. Students
will work on a design team to develop a product or
system and will use multiple software applications to
prepare and present course assignments. Course will
count for 1 high school credit and calculate into grade
point average. There will be at $10 charge for
materials for this class.
Concepts of Engineering and Technology
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Health - Students learn health concepts
recommended for comprehensive health
instruction. This survey course includes
instruction in mental health, family and social
health, the life cycle, body systems, personal
health and physical fitness, nutrition, medicines
and drugs, diseases and disorders, community
and environmental health, consumer health and
safety and emergency care. Course will count for
high school credit and calculate into grade point
average.
Health
Team work
 Join with your
friends
 Field trips
 Social events
 Cool music
 Specialize in an
instrument
 Contests and
trophies
 Tryouts required
for classes
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Orchestra
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Peer Assistance Leadership provides an
opportunity for selected 8th grade
students to become peer helpers to other
students in the school. Students are
trained to be peer mentors and
mediators. They are involved in school
and community projects such as
newcomer parties, promoting abstinence
of drug and alcohol use, and publication
of a newsletter informing others of their
activities. The selection criteria include
teacher recommendation, academic
performance, and citizenship.
Applications are due by January 31st.
PALs
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Spanish I is an introduction to the Spanishspeaking world, its language and its people. The
main emphasis is on the early acquisition of the
spoken language while developing listening,
reading, speaking and writing skills. The
grammar skills will be introduced through both
oral and written expression. Students should
purchase a Spanish/ English dictionary.
To continue with Spanish II as a 9th grader,
students need to maintain at least an 85 in
Spanish I. They need to spend at least 30-45
minutes on Spanish homework each evening for
the language to be learned. Course will count
toward high school credit and calculate into
grade point average.
Spanish I
Theatre I- Basic acting techniques are
taught through improvisations and
pantomimes. Memorization is important.
For putting on plays, students must learn
their lines.
 Theatre Arts II- Theatre Arts I is a prerequisite. This course is a continuation of
theatre techniques emphasizing stage
performance. Students will be required to
perform in one evening performance per
semester. Application due by January
31st.
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Theater Arts
 Yearbook
is an elective, two
semester course. Students will
publish a yearbook for the school.
The student will learn skills in
planning, word processing, page
layout, graphic design, writing and
marketing. Interested students must
apply to be accepted into the class.
Applications are due by January
31st.
Yearbook
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Art II
AVID
Library Worker
PALS
Theater II
Yearbook
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Applications are due by January 31st to the
counseling office. Students will notified
letting them know if they have been accepted
in the class.
Classes may fill up and alternate choice may
be substituted.
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Electives through Applications
Tutoring is available Monday–Friday 8:00 AM 8:35 AM
Teachers tutoring days may vary.
School Begins at 8:45 AM
School Ends at 3:45 PM
Bell Schedule
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Chess Club
Crime stoppers
RADD
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
Friends of Rachel (KC Kids club in ES)
Girls for God
Promise Makers
Student Council
WOLF TV
Clubs at Utley
January 31st- Registration forms are due to History teacher
 Januray 31st- Applications for academic electives
 February - Free Physicals at Baylor Medical Center
 Cheerleading
Cheerleading Parent meeting March 5th UMS Library
Cheerleading Tryout Week – March 17-21 UMS Gym
Cheerleading Fitting TBA at 4:00 pm
•Drill Team
Drill Team Parent Meeting and Fitting –May 1st
Drill Team Officer Tryout Week- May 19-22- UMS Gym
Drill Team Officer Tryout – May 22- UMS Gym- 4:00-6:30 pm
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•Gymnastics
Boy’s Tryouts May 6th 6:30-8:00
Girl’s Tryouts May 6th 5:00-6:30
Important Dates
Thanks for making the transition for the
Class of 2019 a success.
2014-2015