Hingham Middle School
Program of Studies
For Students Entering
Grades 7 and 8
Why Are We Here?
Our goal is to work together to design a
schedule that will best meet your child’s
academic needs. It should be . . .
■ Engaging
■ Appropriately challenging
■ Well rounded
TIMELINE FOR COURSE
SELECTION PROCESS
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March 4
Teachers Post Recommendations
■March 7 - 11
Counselors meet with students
March 7 - 17 Request Page Open to Students and
Families
April 26
Due date for Parent Override Forms
Your Resources:
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THE PROGRAM OF STUDIES GUIDE
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PROVIDES INFORMATION ON EACH COURSE FOR GRADES 612
AVAILABLE ON-LINE AT WWW.HINGHAMSCHOOLS.COM
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Link to HMS and click on Program of Studies
PASSWORDS AND INSTRUCTIONS
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Issued earlier this year. Contact the guidance secretary if you need
help.
Who Can I Ask for Help?
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TEACHERS
SCHOOL COUNSELORS
ADMINISTRATORS
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS
Your Child’s Schedule
REQUIRED COURSES
ENGLISH, MATH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES,
PHYSICAL EDUCATION, FOREIGN LANGUAGE
RECOMMENDED COURSES
READING LAB, MATH PREP, STRATEGIES FOR LEARNING
ELECTIVE COURSES
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
ELECTIVE COURSES
FOR GRADE 7
Based on the number of recommended courses, the number of electives your
child can select may vary. Requests for changes in electives will not be
honored after the end of the second week of school.
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Art 7
Drama 7
Wood Technology
Family & Consumer Science 7
Middle School Concert Band
Middle School Chorus
Middle School Strings Ensemble (Orchestra)
Directed Study
ELECTIVE COURSES
FOR GRADE 8
Based on the number of recommended courses, the number of electives your child can select may vary.
Requests for changes in electives will not be honored after the end of the second week of
school.
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Art 8
Drama 8
Introduction to Television Production
Technology Education
Family & Consumer Science 8
Middle School Concert Band
Middle School Chorus
Middle School Strings Ensemble (Orchestra)
Directed Study
Course Selection Process
Step 1 – Log-in at ma-hingham.myfollett.com
The Course Selection Process
Step 2 – After logging in, click on the “My
Info” tab
Step 3 – Click on the “Requests” side
tab
Step 4 – View Course Selections
Click on Select to view courses.
Step 5 – Select Courses
Make course selections here.
(Recommended courses are preselected.)
Guidelines for Selecting Electives
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Under “Primary Requests” students
should choose 3 Elective Courses.
Under Alternate Requests students
should select 2 additional Elective
Courses as “back-ups”.
Step 6 – Post Selections
The course selection window will be opened from March 7 - March 17.
After all selections have been completed, click the “Post” button as
shown below.
HMS Departmental Recommendations
Academic Levels at HMS
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Level 2 – Challenging coursework that will
require a good deal of independence on the
part of the student.
Level 3 – Majority of students are
recommended for this level. High academic
standards and rigorous daily work.
Level 4 – Recommended for students who
require additional support within the
classroom.
Factors Used in Making Level
Recommendations
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Reading
Writing
Communication Skills (Speaking and
Listening)
Critical Thinking Skills
Student’s Level of Independence
HMS English Department
Reading
Writing
Speaking/Listening
Level 2
Demonstrates independence
in the following areas:
∙
Critical reading and
thinking
∙
Inferential reasoning
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Pace, fluency
Demonstrates independence
in the following areas:
∙
Structure, logic, and
development of ideas
∙
Mechanics
∙
Expression
Demonstrates independence
in the following areas:
∙
Verbal articulation of
ideas
∙
Analysis/synthesis of
ideas
Level 3
Needs some support in the
following areas:
∙
Critical reading and
thinking
∙
Inferential reasoning
∙
Pace, fluency
Needs some support in the
following areas:
∙
Structure, logic, and
development of ideas
∙
Mechanics
∙
Expression
Needs some support in the
following areas:
∙
Verbal articulation of
ideas
∙
Analysis/synthesis of
ideas
Level 4
Needs ongoing support in
the following areas:
∙
Critical reading and
thinking
∙
Inferential reasoning
∙
Pace, fluency
Needs ongoing support in
the following areas:
∙
Structure, logic, and
development of ideas
∙
Mechanics
∙
Expression
Needs ongoing support in
the following areas:
∙
Verbal articulation of
ideas
∙
Analysis/synthesis of
ideas
HMS Math Department
HMS Math Department
Grade 6 to Grade 7:
The following factors are considered in recommendations :
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Student Independence
Grade 5 MCAS
local results on the CAT
term 2 grade in 6th grade
6th grade fraction/decimals benchmark test
6th grade chapter 7 test
More specific rubric on HMS website.
HMS Math Department
Grade 7 to Grade 8:
From L2 Pre-Algebra: Students with strong B averages or
better are considered in conjunction with their math acuity and
computational speed for L2 Algebra 1. Students with lower B
averages are recommended for Algebra 1 - Quadratic Emphasis.
Other students are recommended for Math 8 with Algebra.
From Math 7 Students who have earned a B- or above in Math 7
typically take Math 8 with Algebra.However, students who have
earned a strong A may be recommended for Algebra 1 - Quadratic
Emphasis. Students who earn below a B- typically take Math 8.
In all instances, teachers must take into account a student’s ability
to work independently and whether the student’s grade reflects
significant extra help with or revision of tests and quizzes.
HMS Science Department
HHS Science Curriculum
HMS Science Department
HMS Science Department
Grade 7
Life
Science
Grade 8
I.P.S.
HMS Social Studies Department
Course Scope and Sequence
Grade 6: Ancient World History
Grade 7: World Geography
(Levels 2, 3, 4)
Grade 8: United States History to 1877
(Levels 2, 3, 4)
Grade 9: Humanities/World History I
(Levels 2, 3, 4)
Grade 10: World History II
(Levels 2, 3, 4 plus A.P. World History)
Grade 11: American Studies/United States History
(Levels 2, 3, 4 plus A.P. United States History)
Grade 12: Electives
(Levels 2, 3, 4 plus A.P. European History)
HMS Social Studies Department
Reading
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Writing
Historical Thinking
Demonstrates independence in the
following areas:
● Critical reading and thinking
● Inferential reasoning
● Pace, vocabulary
Demonstrates independence in the
following areas:
● Structure, logic, and
development of ideas
● Mechanics
● Expression
Demonstrates independence in
the following areas:
● Causation, comparison
and contextualization
● Analysis/synthesis of
historical evidence
Needs some support in the following
areas:
● Critical reading and thinking
● Inferential reasoning
● Pace, vocabulary
Needs some support in the
following areas:
● Structure, logic, and
development of ideas
● Mechanics
● Expression
Needs some support in the
following areas:
● Causation, comparison
and contextualization
● Analysis/synthesis of
historical evidence
Needs ongoing support in the following Needs ongoing support in the
areas:
following areas:
● Critical reading and thinking
● Structure, logic, and
● Inferential reasoning
development of ideas
● Pace, vocabulary
● Mechanics
● Expression
Needs ongoing support in the
following areas:
● Causation, comparison
and contextualization
● Analysis/synthesis of
historical evidence
Foreign Language – Level 3
An upper standard foreign language student :
- exhibits above average to average ability
- needs more practice with speaking, listening
reading, writing
- needs to reinforce skills to incorporate into
knowledge base
- handles rigorous daily work in an appropriately
paced class
- meets high expectations for learning
- is appropriately challenged
Foreign Language – Level 2
An advanced foreign language student :
- exhibits excellent ability in all 4 skills (speaking,
listening, reading, writing)
- integrates new vocabulary and grammar concepts
into language base with ease
- works quickly, identifies and corrects errors
- participates actively, communicates easily both orally
and in writing
- is self-directed, works independently
- handles fast-paced, in-depth curriculum
Seventh Grade Medical
Requirements
In accordance with Massachusetts state law, all students entering seventh grade are required to
have a physical. In addition, state regulations require written documentation that each child
has satisfied the following immunization requirements:
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1. A second Measles, Mumps, and Rubella shot (MMR#2)
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2. A series of #3 Hepatitis inoculations
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3. A Tetanus-Diphtheria (Td) inoculation, given within the last 5 years.
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4. One dose of Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine or a physician’s verification that the child has a
reliable history of the disease.
Failure to comply with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations will result in
your child’s exclusion from school. Exemptions are allowed only for the following two situations:
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1. A medical exemption, if a physician submits documentation that an immunization is medically
unadvisable.
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2. A religious exemption, if a parent/guardian submits a written statement that immunizations
conflict with their sincere religious beliefs.
Philosophical exemptions are not allowed by Massachusetts state law.
You will be receiving a letter from the school nurse regarding these requirements. Please complete and
return all forms to the school nurse before the start of school in September so that your
child can begin school with his/her class.