Welcome TO Middle School

Counselors Kim Petty– 7th Grade Renae Perez– 8th Grade Thomas H. ereckson Welcome TO Middle School

Leaders of the “Pack” Principal: Kim McLaughlin Assistant Principal: Paul Harper (7th) Assistant Principal: Jay Stafford (8th)

Purpose for Meeting • Learn about Core classes offered • Communicate differences between On-level and Pre-AP classes • Review Aim/Humanities qualifications • Share Elective classes offered • State Required Classes/Vaccinations • Examine Middle School Expectations

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) (English will be listed twice on class schedule) 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) • Advanced Academics Committee will screen every 6th grader for Pre-AP/IB Math using 4th grade Math STAAR, 5th grade Math STAAR, and 6th grade first semester math grade. Students must meet two of the above district criteria. • 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 score. • There are NO appeals!

Gifted & Talented Classes AIM in Elementary School = Humanities in Middle School Humanities includes: English (1 period), History(1 period), Reading (1 period) If you are in AIM now, you will automatically be enrolled in Humanities. Sign up for Pre-AP English and Pre-AP History If interested in this program email gifted@allenisd.org Deadline is March 7, 2014 4:00pm

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.)

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 Pre-AP/IB to regular coursework, those changes will take place at the end of the first grading period or at semester.

Electives One Semester Electives: • Career Portal in Human Services • Career Portal in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) • Career Portal in Communications and Media Arts Science • Career Portal in Health Science • Career Portal in Business • Career Portal in Finance • Exploring Careers • Technology Applications in Computer Graphics • Exploring Speech Communications • Introduction to Art • Intermediate Art (Prerequisite: Introduction to Art) • Introduction to Theatre Arts • Advanced Theatre Arts (Prerequisite: Introduction to Theatre Arts)

Electives Continued WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! MAKING ELECTIVE CHANGES ONCE SCHEDULES ARE FINALIZED ARE RARELY DONE. FILL-IN ALL ALTERNATE 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 Volleyball & Basketball are try-out sports.

Track and Cross Country • Students do not need to be in Athletics or PE to participate in track or cross country • Practices take place before or after school • If student only wants to participate in track or cross country, do not sign up for athletics • Student will not receive PE credit for track or cross country.

Wrestling • Wrestling practice is after school • Boys and girls may participate • Students do not receive PE credit for wrestling

Coed PE All students must take 2semesters of PE or Athletics during Middle School

Try-Out Sports You 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 (Fall - half-year) • Tennis (Spring - half-year) ** Golf and Tennis may be selected. If you do not make the team, your schedule will be changed to PE.

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. • Athletic Department / Off Campus PE • *Applications for OCPE for the 2014 Fall semester will not be accepted until late July.

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 Elective YEARBOOK: • You must complete an application to be considered for Yearbook. • Limited class size • Full-year elective • Application is due March 21st @ Ereckson

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)

Clubs • Robotics (application and interview required) • Environmental club • Theater Club • Fellowship of Christian Athletes • Art Club • D.O.L.L.S. • Rocket Club • Dodge Ball Club Clubs meet before or after school.

Required Immunizations for 7th Grade

Texas State Vaccine Requirements for 7th graders • 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 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.

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.

How to complete the Course Selection Sheet 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.

Academic Planning Guide The Academic Planning Guide is a resource to use when choosing classes for middle school. Core and elective courses are listed along with a brief description. This will be a valuable tool to use when making class decisions for the upcoming year. We highly encourage you to choose electives that interest you. Middle school is a great time for you to explore your interests and experience many new and exciting things. Choose your electives wisely. Making elective changes once school begins is rarely done The link to the Academic Planning Guide is on the Ereckson Middle School main page (look under In The News on the left side). MS APG 2014-2015.pdf

Course SelectionRising 7th grade students will register on their Elementary Campus with their Elementary Counselor during the school day. **Date set by Elementary Campus

Thank you for attending • Please visit the information tables in the hallway and library • Boys Athletics meeting will February 13th @ 6:30 pm (Ereckson) • Counselors will be in the cafeteria to answer questions • Coffee with the Counselors is 2/18/14 from 8:30 am to 9:30 am • Please visit the counselors’ webpage under “class 0f 2020” for tonight's presentation and FAQ

Welcome TO Middle School