R.C. Loflin Middle School 8th Grade Parent Meeting February 1, 2016

R.C. Loflin Middle School “The Key is ME” Damon Patterson, Principal Doug Hampton, 8th Grade Counselor Angela Parkhill, 8th Grade Assistant Principal

Course Selections Mr. Hampton will visit 7th grade technology classes to explain 8th grade Course Selection Forms to 7th grade students. Birdwell—Wednesday, February 3rd Scott—Thursday, February 4th Wade—Friday, February 5th If your student is absent on the day Mr. Hampton visits your student’s technology teacher, Mr. Hampton will have extra copies of 8th grade Course Selection Forms in the counselor’s office and technology teachers will have copies in their classroom. All 8th grade Course Selection Forms are due to the student’s technology teacher by Friday, February 12th. Mr. Hampton will enter the course selections into the computer the following week.

Required Courses General & Honors Math ELA General & Honors Math Pre-Algebra or Algebra I (Honors) Science General & IPC (Honors) Social Studies Exploring Careers/Teen Leadership Physical Education Athletics PE

Elective Courses Art (1/2) Band* (1) Choir (1) General Music (1/2) Conversational Spanish (1/2) Theater (1/2) Teen Leadership (1/2) Outdoor Adventure (1/2) Computer Application (1/2) Computer Technology (1/2) Requires Band teacher signature

Elective Courses Theatre Art II Art II Yearbook/Photojournalism Honors Choir Library Aid and Office Aid Students taking these classes will be chosen by the teacher. * These elective courses are limited in class size

Athletics “Participating in the athletic program is a privilege and we encourage all to participate. However, if during the participation of athletics a student chooses not to follow the JISD Athletic Code of Conduct or prohibits instruction to other participants, that student may be removed from the athletic program.” ….Joshua ISD Athletic Code of Conduct Boys Athletics Football Basketball Track Cross Country Soccer Girls Athletics Volleyball *Students are encouraged to participate and/or try out for at least 2 sports. **IMPORTANT* Physicals must be completed and turned into the trainer the first week of school or your student’s schedule will be changed out of athletics to P.E.

Gifted & Talented Honors English Honors Math (Algebra I) Students qualifying for GT services are served by being enrolled in at least one Honors class at LMS. Honors English Honors Math (Algebra I) Honors Science (IPC) Students do not go to the GT center at the secondary level.

Honors Courses Honors eligibility is based on : The student earning a grade of 90+ yearly average in the previous on-level class in the same subject The student earns a Level III – Advanced Academic Performance on the STAAR Reading or Math test The student has parent permission to enroll in honors classes Students who are already taking Pre-Algebra, Honors Science, and Honors Reading/Writing remain eligible to continue in honors courses for the next school year by maintaining a yearly grade average of 80% and passing state assessments.

Honors Courses Honors ELA Curriculum is more strenuous than regular 8th grade ELA class No high school credit is received for participating in the course. If a student scores below an 80% (for any six weeks grading period), he/she will be placed on probation. If the student shows minimal to no improvement by the end of the following grading period, a teacher or parent may initiate removal. A contract must be signed by the student & parent the first week of school. Summer novel reading is required prior to first day of school.

Honors Courses Honors Math (Algebra I) & Science (IPC) Curriculum is more strenuous than regular math/science courses. High school credit is received for participating in each of these courses. Algebra I students will take the Algebra I end-of-course exam IPC students will take the 8th grade STAAR Science test If a student scores below an 80% (for any six weeks grading period), he/she will be placed on probation. If the student shows minimal to no improvement by the end of the following grading period, a teacher or parent may initiate removal. A contract must be signed by the student & parent the first week of school.

Welcome!!

New Graduation Plan for Freshman & Beyond House Bill 5 made substantial changes to the state's graduation requirements, moving from the current "4x4" graduation plans to a 22-credit Foundation High School Program. The Commissioner has adopted a transition plan to replace the current graduation plans with the Foundation High School Program beginning with the 2014-2015 school year.

Joshua ISD Foundation High School Program (FHSP) 26 Credits   Side by Side of the Graduation Plans Joshua ISD Foundation High School Program (FHSP) 26 Credits Joshua ISD FHSP + Endorsements Distinguished Level of Achievement 26 Credits   4 Credits English  3 Credits Math (*Algebra II required)   3 Credits Science (*chemistry or physics required)  4 Credits Social Studies *  2 Credits Languages other than English  1 Credit Physical Education  1 Credit Fine Arts  .5 Credit Speech   1 Credit Technology   6.5 Credits Elective Courses Special Note:  A student may opt for The Joshua ISD Foundation Plan without an endorsement only under limited circumstances with guardian approval AND with advisement of the counselor/administrator regarding advantages of graduating with one or more endorsements.  4 Credits English  4 Credits Math (*Algebra II required)   4 Credits Science (*chemistry or physics required)  4.5 Credits Elective Courses   Four credits of the 26 required credits must be in a coherent sequence and content-specific to the student's endorsement area. * Pending Board Approval

Endorsements Total of 26 Credits Every 8th grade student will declare their preferred endorsement during their Exploring Careers class for the 2016-17 school year. A school district must permit a student to choose, at any time, to earn an endorsement other than the endorsement the student previously indicated.

Stem Science Technology Engineering Advanced mathematics Note: Algebra II, physics, and chemistry required and Five credits in math Five credits in science

Business and Industry Database management Information technology Communications Accounting Finance Marketing Graphic design Architecture Construction Welding Logistics Automotive technology Agriculture science HVAC

Public Services Education and Training Health Science Human Services Law Enforcement Culinary Arts and Hospitality JROTC

Arts and Humanities Languages other than English Cultural Studies English Literature History Fine Arts Art Band Choir Dance Theater Arts

Multidisciplinary Allows a student to select courses from the curriculum of each endorsement area and earn credits in a variety of advanced courses from multiple content areas sufficient to complete the distinguished level of achievement Four credits in each of the four foundation subject areas to include English IV, and chemistry and/or physics

Distinguished Achievement Total of 26 Credits Requirements include: Curriculum requirements for at least one endorsement Four credits in math, including Algebra II Four credits in science All students entering ninth grade are required to indicate an endorsement in writing on a Personal Graduation Plan A student must earn distinguished level of achievement to be eligible for top 10% automatic admission

Questions??