Welcome Highlanders

1. Welcome Highlanders

2. Chris McCord • Principal

3. Welcome • Looking forward to a new year • New challenges for students in secondary education • New responsibilities • New opportunities

4. McCullough Junior High • TWHS-McC will become McCullough Junior High (7-8) in 2005-2006 • Located at 3800 South Panther Creek Drive • Staff will be relocating this summer

5. The current BC Campus • Beginning in 2005-2006 will be The Woodlands High School Ninth Grade Campus • Students will attend the campus at 10010 Branch Crossing Drive as freshmen

6. The Incoming Seventh ClassSchool Progression • McCullough Campus for seventh grade (2005-2006) • McCullough Campus for eighth grade (2006-2007) • TWHS Ninth Grade Campus (2007-2008) • TWHS Research Forest for 10-12

7. Transition for our building • The people that make up our campus will be moving to the building which currently houses TWHS-McC

8. Our Staff Transition • We will be moving to the McCullough building in June • Same staff as now • Many of us have worked at McC before as a junior high • Excited about space for kids and teachers • Will be able to link to our webpage through the district site

9. Information on Building Transition • Look for a wealth of information to come home via both children and mailouts • Drop off and Pick Up • Student Orientation • Testing data • Initial placement • Please review all documentation closely

10. Our Goals • Prepare kids academically • Keep students safe • Prepare young adults for high school in 360 working days

11. A Typical Day • Students can begin arriving at 8:00 • Go to classes at 8:32 • Lockers/Backpacks • School Starts – 8:45 • Lunch/3rd Period • 11:40 • Students encouraged to eat breakfast • Advisory – 1:55 – 2:19 • School Ends – 3:50 • Pick-up • Car ( in front of school) • Bus

12. The Schedule(No fine arts or athletics) Students have Language Arts and Math everyday

13. The Schedule(Athletic Schedule) Classroom portion of athletics meet every other day Come early before school only during season

14. The Schedule(Seventh Grade Private P.E.) Student will leave at 1:48 each day with parent/guardian for outside of school physical education training

15. The Schedule(Band, Choir, Orchestra) Each utilizes two elective choices as these electives meet both semesters

16. Advisement • Meets each day (1:55 – 2:19) • Distribute information • Work on homework • Tutoring • Announcements • Meets each day

17. Very Important Documents Coming Home • Course Request Sheets for Elective Classes • Sent home week of January 24 • Extras are at Intermediate Campuses • Sheets are due back to intermediate campus by February 4th • Course Description Guide • Available online now • Everything you need to know

18. Form was sent home January 24th

19. Elective Information Night • Occurs on February 1st • Will occur at Branch Crossing • 6:30 until 7:30 • Very informal • For parents/guardians and any interested students • Representatives from each elective field will be present to answer questions

20. The Elective Course Registration Process • Our administration and counselors will sit down individually at the intermediate campuses with each incoming seventh grade student to discuss his/her elective requests

21. The Elective Course Registration Process • We will review the Elective Request Sheet with the child for accuracy • Answer any questions the student may have

22. The Elective Course Registration Process • The request will be entered into our MIS system with the student at each intermediate campus

23. The Elective Course Registration Process • Wilkerson February 8th • Mitchell February 9th • Collins February 9th • Coulson Tough February 10th We will be on these campuses on the dates listed above to meet with students. If a student is absent, we will enter his/her requests based on sheets turned in on or before February 4th.

24. Choosing Classes • Requested elective courses are initially entered in February at the intermediates, but the deadline to make a change is not until May 6th at 4:00 p.m.

25. First Mailout to Your Home • Sent to post office on March 18th • Delivered to each student’s address as recorded in our MIS system • Next year information • Parent newsletter The Pride • Elective Course request verification sheet

26. First Mailout • Please check this sheet very closely to confirm these are the elective courses you wanted your child to request for next year • Diagnostic testing score sheet • This sheet will also indicate core courses which your child has been initially placed in based on testing

27. Last Mailout • Sent to post office on April 15th • Delivered to each student’s address as recorded in our MIS system • Athletic Information included • Parent newsletter The Pride

28. Last Mailout • Final Elective Course request verification sheet • Check closely • Indicates assignment of core classes and elective requests

29. Staffing (based on enrollment) Availability of Course Core Course Selection Course selection by students Seniority Specialty Classes Athletics Fine Arts Algebra Number of electives 12 unique choices Will take 4 Factors which affect individual student’s schedule formation

30. High School Information “Mr. McCord, why are we talking about high school”.

31. Looking ahead to high school What is the Advanced Placement (AP) Program?

32. What is the Advanced Placement Program? • College level courses taught in high school • 35 nationwide courses in 19 subject areas (TWHS offers 26) • Examinations whose scores can lead to college credit and which validate program success • An opportunity for students to think, read, and write critically and analytically.

33. How are teachers trained? • Each Pre-AP teacher from McCullough attends a College Board sponsored conference for training and access to the latest AP information before ever teaching a course • These teachers return to these conferences periodically for updated training.

34. English Language English Literature Computer Science A & AB Spanish Language Calculus AB, BC US History Chemistry Government and Politics Macroeconomics Latin Literature and Vergil Human Geography Environmental Science French Literature German Language French Language Spanish Literature Music Theory Statistics Art History European History Studio Art Physics B, C World History Psychology What AP courses does TWHS offer?

35. Why AP? • Challenges students • Consistent teaching strategies • Prepares them for college • Provides opportunities for our young people to compete post high school • Opportunities to earn college credit in high school (up to 45 hours) • Saves parents $$$$

36. Interpretation of Test Scores • 5 – Extremely Well Qualified • 4 – Well Qualified • 3 – Qualified • 2 – Possibly Qualified • 1 – No Recommendation

37. AP and College Success Students who take AP courses and exams are much more likely than their peers to complete a bachelor’s degree in four years or less. Source: Camara, Wayne. (2003). College Persistence, Graduation, and Remediation. College Board Research Notes (RN-19). New York, NY: College Board.

38. So How Well Do TWHS Students Perform on the APTests? Fact:: In 2003, TWHS administered 1492 tests to 784 students Fact: The average score was 3.64 Fact: 85% of the students passed with a 3 or higher Fact. TWHS consistently ranks in the top schools in the world in the number of tests given Fact: TWHS consistently scores well above national and state averages

39. Who Should Take PreAP or AP Courses? • The most successful AP students are willing to work hard. More than ability, whether the student (not just the parent) is willing to invest the time and energy to be successful is most important. • The earlier the preparation, the easier the transition.

40. Is MY Student Capable of Taking These Courses? • If he/she is willing to put in the time and energy necessary • Different students have different strengths. Some excel in science, others in art. There’s a place for both students. Capitalize on those strengths.

41. Grades in Secondary Schools • Everyone wants As • Grades in Pre-AP courses of a B or high C may very well indicate tremendous learning and hard work by the student

42. Adventure into Academics Core Subject Information

43. State Required Courses – 7th grade • Language Arts • Mathematics • Science • Texas History • Physical Education • Substitutes • Athletics • Private P.E. • Electives – 4 choices

44. Science • Resource Science • Science • Pre-AP Science • Strongly encourage any student be enrolled in Pre-Algebra • Math Skills • Science Fair Project • Time • Independent

45. Language Arts • Resource Language Arts • Language Arts • Pre-AP Language Arts • Need to be self-motivated reader and writer • Grade differential

46. In order to properly choose classes for seventh grade students, it is extremely helpful to know where you would like for your child to finish his/her senior year. This applies most directly to the math progression.

47. Where will I finish in math? • To make good choices for placement in seventh grade, it is critical to know where you as a parent, as well as your child, want to finish his/her senior year • Applies most directly to math due to its linear nature • Refer to guide in back of Course Description Guide

48. Where will I finish in math? • Dangerous to bypass steps in the math sequence (i.e Pre-Algebra) • Unlike the other disciplines, hard work alone in math may not always ensure success • Can repeat Pre-Algebra in eighth grade

49. Math Courses for Seventh Grade • Resource Math • Math • Pre-Algebra (one year ahead) • Algebra (high school course, two years ahead)

50. Math(Regular Progression for TWHS Feeder) • 7th Grade - 7th Math • 8th Grade - Pre-Algebra • 9th Grade - Algebra • 10th Grade - Geometry • 11th Grade - Algebra II/Pre-Calculus • 12th Grade – Calculus This is also diagrammed in our Course Description Guide