WELCOME TO MIDDLE SCHOOL
Counselors
Roxanne LeCroy– 7th Grade
Amy Smith – 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 Classes
All 7th graders take
4 Core Classes
English (double-blocked)
Math
Science
Texas 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)
All current 2015-2016 6th grade students will be evaluated for Math 7
PreAP/IB. Qualifications based upon the following: 4th Math STAAR
Advanced Level III, 5th Math STAAR Advanced Level III, 6th first
semester math grade typically a 90 or higher. Students must meet
two of three district criteria for placement.
 Any student who did not meet criteria for advanced math initially will
be re-evaluated using 6th final math grade and 6th Math STAAR
Advanced Level III score. Placement notification will be reflected on
student’s schedule in August.
 There are NO appeals.

If you qualify for Math Pre-AP/IB , you will automatically be enrolled.
Gifted & Talented Classes
AIM in Elementary School
Humanities in Middle School
Humanities includes:
English
History
Reading
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
 Students will have 2 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.)
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.)
On-Level OR Pre-AP/IB ??
6th Grade
7th Grade
Daily Grades = 60%
Quizzes/Tests/Projects = 40%
On-Level
Daily Grades = 25%
Quizzes = 35%
Tests = 40%
Pre-AP/IB
Daily Grades = 20%
Quizzes = 30%
Tests = 50%
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 PreAP/IB to regular coursework, those changes will take
place at the end of the first grading period or at
semester.
Electives
One 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
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 Continued
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
Schedules will not be changed for:
 Teacher change
 Lunch time change
 Elective change if you received your requested elective
 “ I don’t like the class.”
Read the Academic Planning Guide and Course Descriptions very closely when making
class selections
FILL-IN ALL ALTERNATIVE CHOICES.
Athletics
BOYS
 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 continued
GIRLS
 Volleyball
 Basketball
 Off season
Athletics is a full-year elective
A complete Physical is required each year for all students entering
Athletics
•
If you want basketball, you sign up for Girls Athletics.
•
If you want to play Girls Volleyball, sign up for PE Fall and PE
Spring …NOT Girls Athletics!
Volleyball & Basketball are try-out sports.Your schedule will be
changed when you make the team.
Coed PE
All students must take
2 semesters of
PE or Athletics
during Middle School
Try-Out Sports
You must try-out to make these teams:
 Boys Basketball (full-year)
 Girls Volleyball (full-year)
 Girls Basketball (full-year)
 Cheerleading (full-year)
 Golf (Fall - half-year)
 Tennis (Spring - half-year)
OFF-CAMPUS PE
 PE credit can be earned through OCPE.
 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
You must complete an application to be
considered for these classes.
Limited class size!!
1. YEARBOOK: Full-year elective.
2. PARTNERS IN PE: one semester elective.
3. ROBOTICS : one semester elective.
Applications will be on-line next week.
Backpacks
 Students will be allowed to carry backpacks
to class.
 Backpacks must be regular size.
 NO rolling or oversized backpacks
 Students will be expected to carry a book,
lunch and a 3 inch binder or a combination of
binders adding up to 3 inches.
(Examples: one 3 inch binder, three 1 inch
binders)
Cafeteria
4 Lines to choose from:
All Things Chicken
Regular Plate Lunches
Cafeteria
Anything Grilled
Pizza and Pasta Galore
Clubs & Activities
Book Club
Chess Club
Card Club
DOLLS
EE Club
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Friends of Rachel
Math/Science Club
Robotics
Clubs meet before or after school
Required Immunizations for 7th Grade
Texas State Vaccine
Requirements for 7th
graders
Incoming 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-DiptheriaAceullular 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
• 2 doses of Hepatitis A
Health Information
• Proof of Immunizations should be given to the School Nurse.
• 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.
• Healthcare Plans, like the Allen ISD Asthma or Allergy Action Plans:
– A new healthcare plan, signed by the prescribing physician, should
be completed every school year, and given to the school nurse, at the
beginning of the school year. Healthcare provider orders are valid for
one school year.
– The Allen ISD Action Plan forms can be found on the school nurse’s ,
Faculty Web Page, or a paper copy may be picked up at your child’s
school.
Sports Physicals
• Sports physical paperwork should be given to
the coach that instructs your student’s sport.
• Forms and information can be found on the
Allen ISD Athletic Department web page.
• Sports physical forms and information are
kept with the Athletic Department.
• Parents should discuss health concerns with
the coach and the school nurse.
How to complete the
Course Selection Sheet
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Print child’s legal name (no nicknames)
Print Parent/Guardian’s name
Write Parent/Guardian’s phone
number
Mark your child’s choice for On-level
or Pre-AP/IB for: Texas History, English,
and Science. both boxes must be
marked.
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.
If the Elective has 2 boxes, both boxes
must be marked.
Write 2 Alternate Choices in order of
preference. These should be different
than the 4 boxes you marked in the
Electives section.
Parent/Guardian signs form
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 18, 2016
 WHERE:
Curtis Middle School
Cafeteria
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
 TIME:
Coffee with the Counselors – Feb. 19 @8:30 am
Course Selection
Incoming 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
3.
4.
5.
6.
determine what classes you can take in 7th
grade.
Listen to your teachers & do what they ask.
Be on your best behavior at all times.
Work on organization skills, time management
and study habits.
Attend Cougar Camp