North Ridge Middle School th 7 Future Grade

North Ridge Middle School th 7 Future Grade Course Selection

Required Courses What do I have to take? English Ø Reading Ø Math Ø Social Studies Ø Science Elective Choices Ø (year long class = 2 semesters of electives)

On-Level v. Pre-Advanced Placement Classes: Pre-Advanced Placement Classes Also called PAP Classes: (All Core Classes Offered) n n Courses are more challenging Take more time Increased Reading load Sophisticated writing assignments and projects

Qualifications for PAP Classes Overview of Qualifications for PAP Classes *Teachers have to recommend students for all PAP Classes based on two criteria: 1. Readiness to Learn - Students ability to learn the required content and academic preparation. 2. Task Commitment – Students desire to participate and complete tasks which might require perseverance. (If the student receives a NO in either category from a teacher, the student is switched over to an on level class)

PAP Math Class PAP Math Sequence: § § 7 th PAP Math is a COMPACTED course that COMBINES 7 th and 8 th grade math 8 th is Algebra I (This is a high school credit class) You have to qualify to take PAP math in 7 th grade and 8 th Grade

3 Data Points PAP Math 7 th Grade

QUALIFICATIONS FOR PAP Math and PAP English Language Arts Entrance into 7 th & 8 th grade PAP math and English Language Arts will be determined by a combination of 3 data points: *May STAR Universal Screener n *Final grade in current math course n *Raw score on STAAR test n

3 Data Points PAP English/Language Arts 7 th Grade

BLOCKED MATH CLASS *On level math class will be blocked for the 20172018 school year for 7 th & 8 th grade students. This means that students will have 2 class periods of math. *PAP math class will be for only one class period.

Electives P E

Physical Education in Middle School Physical Education – Need two semesters of some type of physical education in the 7 th grade. Students can sign up for athletics, tennis, gymnastics, or PE class. There is a cost for a PE or athletic uniform.

Electives – Year Long Athletics Competitive team sports requiring time involvement outside the school day. Physical is required ($) Boys – Football, Basketball, Cross Country, and Track Girls – Volleyball, Basketball, Cross Country, and Track

Boys Athletics No off season for Football – Everyone Plays If I only want to play: Basketball – Everyone is welcome to tryout for basketball. Tryouts will be before/after school. If you make the team a schedule change will be made. Cross Country – Everyone is welcome to tryout for cross country. Practice is before and after school. No schedule change needed. Track – Everyone is welcome to tryout for track. If you make the team a schedule change will be made.

Electives – Year Long Gymnastics/ Tennis – Competitive classes offered before 1 st period at the Shannon Center for gymnastics and the Richland Tennis Center for tennis. Parents are responsible for transportation to those facilities. Bus service from the facility to campus provided by the district. Tryouts required.

Electives – Year Long Band *Play self-owned or school-rented instruments *Private lessons are also offered ($) *Practice time & some extra curricular time is a requirement *Cost for performance attire *Students will be placed into a band *Sectionals before and after school are required *Concerts are mandatory

Electives – Year Long Choir *Learn fundamental vocal technique and music theory *Some extracurricular time is required outside the school day for concerts *Private lessons are also offered ($) *Cost for performance attire and choir shirt *Concerts are mandatory

Electives – Year Long Show Choir *New for the 2016 -2017 school year *Teacher approval needed Choral singing with dance, sometimes context of a specific idea or story. Tryouts are required and student must be enrolled in theatre or choir class.

Electives – Year Long or Semester Theatre – Students learn the mechanics of stage production and actually perform in a play.

Electives – One Semester Career Tech Education (Wood Shop) – Students learn to operate machinery. Design and construct projects. Introductory class ($) for materials.

Electives – One Semester n Art – Introductory class for those students who have never taken Art before. Small cost for art supplies.

Gateway to Technology One Semester ½ credit Engineering Classes: Gateway to Tech 1: Design & Modeling/Automation & Robotics – Introduction to the engineering design process and tools used. Model mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation and computer control systems. Gateway to Tech 2: Science of Technology/Magic of Electrons – Explore science and relevance of chemistry, physics and nanotechnology. Acquire knowledge and skills in the behavior and parts of atoms, basic circuitry design and sensing devices. Gateway to Tech 3: Energy & the Environment/Flight & Space – Investigate the importance of energy in our lives and explore the history and science behind aeronautics and space flight. (Any of these classes meets the technology credit for high school graduation)

NRMS Semester Classes Are: n *Offered in the fall or spring semester. n Have a “Bank” class to go along with it. n *Bank classes are taught the same class period but different semester. For Example: A student might take art the fall semester and theatre the spring semester. These two classes are considered “BANK” classes.

REMEMBER ELECTIVES ARE… *Not guaranteed – they are requests *Based on class size *might not fit into your schedule

When do I return the form? n Return your registration form to your Math Teacher by Monday, February 22, 2016. All forms and this Power. Point can be found on the North Ridge Middle School Website: Click on Counselors’ Corner Click Future 7 th Graders