7 th grade Course selection 2019-2020

1. 7th grade Course selection 2019-2020 TEX HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL

2. Tex Hill Leadership Team Dr. Charles Reininger Principal Jonathan Campbell Asst. Principal 6th grade A-L and 7th grade Christina Pelletier-RottoAsst. Principal 6th grade M-Z and 8th grade Joana Richards Academic Dean Tiffany Johnson Counselor 6th grade A-L and 8th grade Lesley Reichert Counselor 6th grade M-Z and 7th grade Jenna Ross Special Education Coordinator As questions arise regarding the selection of courses for next year, please contact the Tex Hill Counselors. Students who do not complete the registration process will have a schedule created for them by their assigned counselor. Please call or e-mail us, we will be glad to assist you in making these important decisions. Tex Hill Middle School Counseling Office: 210-356-8030 Mrs. Choni Carranza - Counseling Clerk Mrs. Jane Murray- Data Processor

3. Open Access to Rigorous Courses • In middle school, Pre-Advanced Placement courses and high school credit courses are available to any student willing to take on the academic challenges. • Students wishing to rank in the top 10% of their high school class need to pursue rigorous middle school courses to prepare for high school.

4. College & Career Readiness NEISD has an initiative to ensure that after high school, all students are prepared to enter: • A four-year college or university • A junior or community college • A trade or technical school • The military • The workforce

5. Academic Courses

6. Success In High School Requires Planning Preparation for high school success and rigor requires students to • Take rigorous middle school courses • Develop meaningful goals • Learn and utilize strong study habits • Plan for the future

7. STUDENT SCHEDULE 7th grade student will take the following courses: 1./2. English/Reading Block Regular grade level or PreAP or GT 3. Math Regular or Pre AP or GT (ONLY if you were in PreAP math in 6th) 4. Science 5. History Regular 6. P.E. or Athletics or P.E./Dance 7. Elective 8. Elective

8. PRE-AP COURSES English Pre-AP, Reading Pre-AP, and Math Pre-AP are offered to all 6th,7th, and 8th grade students. Science Pre-AP and History Pre-AP are only offered to 8th grade students. **Important for all students registering for a Pre-AP course: the exit point for a Pre-AP course is either at the end of the first three weeks or the end of the nine-week grading period. If these exit points are missed then the student will remain in the course for the remainder of the semester. Documentation for these level change requests will be found with the Tex Hill Counselors. The form must be turned in to the student’s counselor the week prior to the exit point. ** A parent/guardian and student signature is required on the Advanced Program Expectation and Course Agreement form. If the Advanced Program Expectation and Course Agreement form is not signed by both a parent/guardian and student, the student will not be placed in a Pre-AP class.

9. ENGLISH/READING PRE-AP English Pre-AP is a challenging course that requires a parent and student signature on the Advanced Program Expectation and Course Agreement form Any student may enroll in this course, but it is strongly advised that you scored well in the subject area Level III on STAAR 80 or above in previous Reading course A parent signature is required on the Advanced Program Expectation and Course Agreement form.

10. MATH Pre-AP In 7th grade, Math Pre-AP is Pre-Algebra Students must be in Math Pre-AP in 6th grade to be in Pre-Algebra in 7th grade and in 7th grade Pre-Algebra to be in 8th grade Algebra I. Students enrolled in Algebra I will take the state mandated Algebra I end of course (EOC). A parent signature is required on the Advanced Program Expectation and Course Agreement form.

11. ELECTIVES

12. Middle School Fine Arts Requirement • All students are required to take two semesters or one year of a Fine Arts course or courses throughout middle school. This could include: • Art • Band • Choir • Dance • Orchestra • Theatre Arts

13. Academic Individual Motivation(A.I.M.) The focus of AIM is to enhance the curriculum by providing enrichment and/or support to the core academic subjects. AIM may also provide students with critical skills such as study habits, note-taking, test taking strategies, organizational skills, time management, goal setting, and character education. If time allows, students may also receive study hall support.

14. ART Art is offered in both 7th and 8th grade as a full year elective. Art is designed for the student to learn the fundamentals of art.

15. BAND • All Band courses are only offered as a year long elective • Students must be willing to commit to outside of school practice sessions/performances and to remain in the program for the entire year. • The Band teacher’s recommendation is necessary for Band II, Band III, Symphonic, and Honors Band.

16. CHOIR Choir is offered as a year long course. Students must be willing to commit to outside of school practice sessions/performances.

17. DEBATE In this course, the topics covered are: logic, persuasion, and speaking and debate formats. Competitive events covered in the course include impromptu speaking, modern oratory, Student Congress, Public Forum debate, and Lincoln Douglas debate. Students will research, write, and present original works as well as critically evaluate works from others. Excellent reading and writing skills are necessary. Debate is offered as a year long course.

18. STRING ORCHESTRA • All Orchestra courses are only offered as a year long elective. • Students must be willing to commit to outside of school practice sessions/performances and to remain in the program for the entire year. • Teacher recommendation is necessary for Orchestra II and Orchestra III.

19. YEARBOOK • Students will hold editorial positions and gain laboratory experience, along with interpersonal communication skills. • Instruction in magazine production procedures. • Students in 7th and 8th grade may enroll in this course. • An application is required from Ms. Semik.

20. THEATER ARTS Theater Arts is for the student learning the fundamentals of theater performance. Theater Arts I , Theater Arts II and Theater Arts III are offered as full year courses. Theater Arts I is a pre-requisite for Theater Arts II. Theater Arts II is a pre-requisite for Theater Arts III. Theater Arts II and III need teacher recommendation.

21. Dance This introductory/intermediate course is designed to focus on various mediums of dance, including ballet, modern ja and folk/ethnic. Emphasis is on training the student to coordinate elements of dance and to enhance student confidence, poise and collaborative skills. Aerobic activities and fitness activities will be incorporated.

22. SSI Courses If you don’t meet the minimum passing requirements for STAAR test, electives courses will be substituted with enrichment courses. http://www.duncanvilleisdnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/staar.jpg

23. PHYSICAL EDUCATION

24. PHYSICAL EDUCATION • All 7th grade students must take a full year of either P.E. or Athletics or P.E./Dance. **4 semesters of PE/Athletics are required throughout middle school and, at least, one semester per school year.**

25. ATHLETICS All students who participate in the Athletics course must play a minimum of two sports. The options are football, basketball, or track (boys) or must be volleyball, basketball, or track(girls). This course can be taken in place of Physical Education and is a year-long commitment. After school participation is required A physical is required PRIOR to try-outs and participation

26. High School Credit Electives

27. Principles of Art/AV/Communication This course develops a strong background in computer and technology applications, a strong academic foundation, and a proficiency in oral and written communication. The student applies information technology applications when completing Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications projects. The student is expected to use information management, email, Internet, writing and publishing, presentation and spreadsheet or database applications. This course is offered for the entire year and 1.0 Career and Technology High School Credit will be earned.

28. Principles of Information Technology • Students develop computer literacy skills to adapt to emerging technologies used in the global marketplace. Students implement personal and interpersonal skills to prepare for a rapidly evolving workplace environment. • Students enhance reading, writing, computing, communication and reasoning skills and apply them to the information technology environment. • This course is 1.0 high school credit.

29. Principles of Applied Engineering This course provides an overview of the various fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematic and their interrelationships. Students will use a variety of computer hardware and software applications to complete assignments and projects. Upon completing this course, students will have an understanding of the various fields and will be able to make informed decisions regarding a coherent sequence of subsequent courses. This course is 1.0 high school credit. .

30. SPANISH IA . Spanish IA is the first year of a two year middle school Spanish program designed to introduce students to the formal study of the Spanish language. The middle school program allows students more time to acquire the fundamental language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish. This course is 0.5 high school credit.

31. Choose your electives wisely… Students and parents will have opportunities to carefully examine course offerings and course descriptions. All Electives are a full year commitment. Fill out your course card and use it to reference while you register your classes on line. Then turn your course cards in to your science teachers. The deadline to submit your course selection sheet is Friday, February 8, 2019.

32. Things to Remember • Students can switch into a Pre-AP class within the first two weeks of school • Course cards and Course Descriptions are posted on the Tex Hill Website • All Electives are a full year commitment. • Elective changes will not be made after June 6, 2019 • *** NEW this year - students will return a course card AND enter course selection online through Skyward ***

33. Course Card Directions • Be sure to write your name & ID number • Place an “X” by your selection of either Regular or Pre AP for your Core Classes • Number your top 5 choices for electives 1- 5. This will help when you are registering online. Choices 1 and 2 will be with your requested classes. Choices 3-5 will be your alternates. • Be sure to have required signatures • Return to your School Counselors by Friday, February 8th

34. Skyward Course Selection

35. Students will have: 4 core classes, 1 PE/PE or athletics or PE/Dance and their top two elective choices.

38. Tex Hill Counselors are here to help: If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your Tex Hill Counselor by email or phone. Mrs. Johnson (6th A-L/8th grade) tjohns29@neisd.net (210) 356-8032 Mrs. Reichert (6th M-Z/7th grade) lreich@neisd.net 210) 356-8033 Please refer to the Tex Hill MS course catalog for course descriptions on the Tex Hill Guidance and Counseling website at www.neisd.net/hill/guidance.