Apex Middle School March 2016

 Today Counselor will discuss courses for next year and elective choices.  After today Go home, sign into PowerSchool, discuss elective choices with parents, finalize, and click submit. Have parents sign a copy.  By April 15, 2016 Return signed copy to homeroom teacher.

 Math  English Language Arts  Science  Social Studies  Healthful Living  Elective(s): Yearlong or 2 semester electives

 We will look at descriptions of the different electives that you can choose from for next year.  You can write notes about the classes if you want to remember anything for later.

 Keyboarding & Basic Word Processing/Digital Literacy  Introduction of Office Productivity & Applications (prerequisite is keyboarding/digital literacy)  Exploring Interpersonal Relationships & Childcare/Nutrition & Wellness  Exploring Apparel & Interior Design/Personal Finance & Hospitality  Exploring Technology Systems : Engineering  Exploring Technological Systems: Technical Drawing  Exploring Technological Systems: Small Engines  Exploring Technological Systems: Woodworking

 You will learn valuable skills that will help you throughout the rest of school, work & life - lots of real world application!  A portion of the course will help you master the touch type method  You will also learn how to format and create: s (using your own WCPSS student ) Tables Reports in MLA with Works Cited Personal business letters (you will write to a real company!)

Students report that keyboarding & basic word processing is a class that they learn many valuable skills from to use in many other areas of their life! After middle school, you would have to pay to take a course that teaches you to use the touch typing method.

 Digital Literacy Understand the computer system; learn how to refine Internet searches and stay safe on digital devices  Desktop Publishing Scanning, menus, brochures, flyers….  Spreadsheet Basics Microsoft Excel – formulas, functions, tables, graphs…  Database Basics Microsoft Access – develop forms with fields and records  Presentation Skills Microsoft PowerPoint & other software programs to develop solid 21 st century presentation skills. You will be entered in a contest to win money for your classwork.

 Do you think you will work in a business field or start your own business one day?  This course will let you explore the different components of business operations including starting one  Marketing includes advertising and getting people to want to buy something  A variety of industries could be looked at including: banking, fashion merchandising, public relations, travel & tourism, information technology………  You will do a lot of work on the computers to complete the projects in this class

 Family Focus or  Consumer Focus

ARC Babysitters Training Personal Communications Basic Food Prep Red Cross Certification available Children’s Book CUPCAKE WARS!

Hospitality & Food/Meal Preparation Personal Finance & Resource Mgmt. Intro to Interior Design Apparel / Hand & Machine Sewing eFood Handlers Certification Everfi Vault Financial Certification Design your own bedroom Pillowcase dresses for Africa & Haiti

 There is no specific order for taking the FACS courses You can take Consumer Focus and then Family Focus or vice versa

 Exploring Technology Systems 1A: Technical Drawing – TE022YB 71 Will be the ending number for 7 th grade 81 will be the ending numbers for 8 th grade  These extensions, 71 or 81 will be very important to remember to register for this class  Also, there will be a comment on PowerSchool's that tells you that this will be Technical Drawing Class

Make technical drawings Use drafting equipment Create 3-D models

Design your own inventions. Draw building plans. Learn to read technical drawings

 Exploring Technology Systems 1A: Engineering – TE022YB 72 Will be the ending number for 7 th grade 82 will be the ending numbers for 8 th grade  These extensions, 72 or 82 will be very important to remember to register for this class  Also, there will be a comment on PowerSchool's that tells you that this will be Engineering

 Create, Design, Build, Collaborate!  Learn how to solve problems  Learn how the things around you work  Learn how to draw and design and then create products  Hands-on projects: CO 2 cars Puzzle Cube Rube Goldberg

 Exploring Technology Systems 2A: Woodworking - TE022YC 73 Will be the ending number for 7 th grade 83 will be the ending numbers for 8 th grade  These extensions, 73 or 83 will be very important to remember to register for this class  Also, there will be a comment on PowerSchool's that tells you that this will be Woodworking Class

Learn the names and uses of common tools. Learn and master woodshop skills

Design and build your own invention. Build a wood project from a set of plans. Learn to make accurate measurements

 Exploring Technology Systems 2A: Small Engines - TE022YC 74 Will be the ending number for 7 th grade 84 will be the ending numbers for 8 th grade  These extensions, 74 or 84 will be very important to remember to register for this class  Also, there will be a comment on PowerSchool's that tells you that this will be Small Engines Class

 Learn about using tools and machines  Learn how the internal combustion engine works  Learn about the different types of measurements and instruments and then apply that to engines  Learn about basic manufacturing processes  Teamwork and Problem Solving!

Small Engines Running Engines Tools Measurement Basic Manufacturing Engine Parts How engines work

 Visual Arts Visual Composition Pottery/Sculpture  Performing Arts Chorus Drama Band (7 th : Intermediate / 8 th : Advanced)

 2 different courses that are offered to both 7 th and 8 th graders Visual Composition and Pottery/Sculpture  You can take both courses in middle school but you can only take each course once

 Chorus Students may take Chorus in both grades – different content each year 8 th grade is yearlong only 7 th grade is semester only  Drama Students may take Drama in both grades – different content each year (but only 1 semester each year)

 Band 7 th grade: Intermediate Band 8 th grade: Advanced Band  You need to have been a Beginning Band student  Instruments and additional band groups are discussed with Mrs. Bishop

 Spanish is offered at Apex Middle  7 th grade: Beginning Spanish You do not need to have taken Spanish before this course Semester course  8 th grade: Advanced Spanish (Spanish I) This is a high school credit course Yearlong course Need to have taken a semester of Beginning Spanish in 7 th grade

Jugamos lotería (We play bingo) We learn about Hispanic culture estudiamos la geografía (We learn about geography) Y mucho más… (and much more!)

La Rancherita El día de los muertos Scavenger Hunt

 7 th and 8 th graders can apply to be student assistants Media Center Front office Student Services Peer Helpers  This requires filling out an application (with an essay) and getting teacher recommendations  There are very few spots available

Steps for online registration: 1) Go to the Apex Middle School website and click on Home Base.

2) Students need to click on the Student Sign in button. Students cannot register through the parent PowerSchool account.

3) Students sign into the cloud using their student ID number as their username, and the password that they created.

4) Once in PowerSchool, students need to click on the class registration tab.

5) On the registration page, students sign up for 2 elective choices, and then must select 2 alternates as well. To make your selections, click on the small box with the pencil, next to the red exclamation mark.

6) Students click on the classes they would like to take. Year long classes must be selected twice. Once they are done they click submit.

7) After students have selected 2 electives and 2 alternates they need to click the submit button on the bottom of the page. After the selections are selected, please return a copy of election selections with a parent signature.

 Make sure you are choosing either 2 electives and 2 alternates or 1 yearlong class.  Healthful Living is a required elective.