Planning for Middle School Beginning with the End in Mind Shady Grove Elementary January 22, 2015

Planning Guide for Students and Parents 2015-2016 A Program of Studies Grades 6 - 12

Why worry about this now? Choices about course selection in grade 6 can affect whether a student has the necessary prerequisites for admission to a high school specialty center, the International Baccalaureate Program, and the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School. Decisions about course selection in grade 6 can affect course selection through high school graduation.

What’s in the Planning Guide? Educational Plan Worksheet Diploma Options & Graduation Requirements Advanced Placement and Dual Credit Courses Eligibility for Athletics Technical Programs Specialty Centers Course Descriptions Directory Information

Academic & Career Plan Pencil in courses that interest your child through graduation. Remember this is a work in progress - this plan will change throughout the years.

Diploma Options & Graduation Requirements pages 8-14 Requirements based on the year the student enters 9th grade for the first time. (2017-2018) Standard Diplomas p.10 Advanced Study Diplomas p.13 Modified Standard Diplomas p. 14

Verified Credits Verified Credits are awarded for successful completion of course requirements and achievement of a passing score on the SOL Test for that course. Any course with an end-of-course SOL test is marked with a check mark in the course description section. More information can be found on pages 29-31.

Standard Diploma - Page 10 Requires 22 course credits and 6 verified credits. New: Complete 1 virtual course. 4 English, 3 Math , 3 Lab Science, 3 History & Social Studies, 2 P.E. courses, 2 World Language/Fine Arts/Career Education/ Technical Education Courses, 1 Economics and Personal Finance Course & 4 electives Verified credits include 2 English tests, 1 Math test, 1 Laboratory Science test, 1 History or Social Studies test and 1 student selected end- of-course test.

Advanced Studies Diploma Page 13 Requires 26 course credits & 9 verified credits. 4 English, 4 Math, 4 Lab Science, 4 History & Social Studies, 3 World Language, 2 P.E. 1 Fine Arts or Career and Technical Ed.,1 Economics/ Personal Finance Course, and 3 electives. Verified credits include 2 English tests, 2 Math tests, 2 Science tests, 2 Social Studies tests &1 student selected end-of-course test.

Modified Standard Diploma Page 14 Requires 20 course credits. Course credits include 4 English, 3 Math, 2 Science, 2 History & Social Studies, 2 P.E., 1 Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education course and 6 electives. Must pass the 8th grade English SOL test or pass the 11th grade English SOL test. Must pass the 8th grade Math SOL test or earn a verified credit in high school math.

Advanced Placement and Advance College Academy, Page 18 High School students are offered the opportunity to take advanced placement courses and advanced placement exams which may award them college credit or advanced placement at participating universities. Advance College Academy program allows student to earn an Associates Degree in Social Science (Tucker) or Business Adm. (Highland Springs) from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College while earning an advanced studies high school diploma.

Eligibility for Athletics Page 22 To be eligible for Middle School athletics, students must pass English, Math, Science, Social Studies and one additional course Fall eligibility is based upon the previous year. Winter eligibility includes previous year and first semester of current year if the season goes into second semester. Spring eligibility is based upon first semester.

Career Paths & Technical Centers Pages 34-40 show course selections offered for career clusters. Programs offered at the Hermitage and Highland Springs Technical Centers are listed on page 38-40.

Specialty Centers Pages 42-69 Sample Curriculums and Course Descriptions are given for each Specialty Center Program, the IB Middle Years Program and the IB Diploma Program. Please note the recommendations and requirements prior to enrollment listed below each sample curriculum.

Course Descriptions Pages 70 - 100 Gives descriptions of courses offered in grades 6 - 12. Courses are grouped by subject. Please note that not every course listed in this section is offered at every school.

Directory Information Pages 101-106 Provides phone numbers for Educational Specialists, Specialty Centers, Technical Centers, Middle and High Schools and Administrative Staff for Instruction.

What do I need to know about Middle School?

Academic Courses 5th grade teachers recommend placement. Teacher recommendation letters have been sent home. Advanced/Accelerated and collaborative classes are available upon teacher recommendation or I.E.P. specification.

6th Grade Courses All sixth graders enroll in 7 classes: 4 Core:English, Math, Social Studies, Science, Physical Education. SPMS has BRIM and HMS has Huskie 21 and Electives. HMS: Participate in reading course and 1 Elective. SPMS: Participate in 2 Electives MMS: Foreign Language and 1 Elective * TAG and ESL

HCPS Guidelines for Placement in Advanced/ Accelerated Classes Desire to be challenged academically with rigorous content. Adjusts easily to change Exhibits an ability to think and verbalize critically Independent High interest in the subject Maintains an A or B average in Grade 5 specific class: Language Arts, Science or Social Studies Scores at 75th percentile or higher on nationally normed test for specific class: English 6 Advanced:Reading comprehension Life Science Accelerated: Reading comprehension and Math total Social Studies Accelerated: Reading Comprehension

Electives- SPMS SPMS requires 2 electives: Band - Y Strings - Y Chorus - Y Art -Y Exploratory Wheel – 9 weeks per course Reading* ESL* Gifted Enrichment* Foreign Language: New this year!

Electives- HMS HMS requires 1 elective: Art Band Strings Chorus Exploratory Wheel/ 9 weeks per course Foreign Language

Electives- MMS Art 6 – By application Chorus Band Strings Exploratory wheel: Teen living. Intro to Tech., Art, TAG

English Courses English 6 English 6 Advanced English 6 (Collaborative - I.E.P.)

English Course Progressions English 6 > English 7> English 8 English 6 Advanced> English 7 Advanced> English 8 Advanced Students can be moved from Advanced English 7 in 7th grade or English 8 in 8th grade Students can move from English 6 to Advanced English 7 or from English 7 to Advanced English 8

Math Courses Math Course 1 Math Course 2 Math Course 6 (Collaborative - I.E.P.)

Math Course Progressions Math Course 1>Math Course 2> Algebra 1 Math Course 2 > Algebra 1> Geometry Math Course 1> Math Course 2> Math Course 3 Progression for students needing further math skill development before taking Algebra 1

Science Courses Introduction to Earth and Environmental Science Life Science for Accelerated Grade 6 Introduction to Earth and Environmental Science (Collaborative-IEP)

Science Course Progression Introduction to Earth and Environmental Science> Life Science>Physical Science Life Science Accelerated> Advanced Physical Science> Earth Science 8th graders can take Physical Science and take Earth Science as an 8th grade elective or take Earth Science in summer school to move to Biology in the 9th grade.

Social Studies Courses US History 1 US History 1/Civics Accelerated US History 1 (Collaborative - IEP)

Social Studies Course Progression US History I/ US History II / Civics US History I> US History II Accelerated with Civics > World History I US History I Accelerated> US History II Accelerated with Civics > World History Taking World History in 8th grade opens up an elective in the 10th grade.

Middle School Daily Schedule Modified Block Schedule All classes meet on Mondays 3 academic courses Tuesday - Friday Elective or P.E. Tuesday - Friday Class periods are approximately 90 minutes long.

Course Selection Process New process: Power School- all on-line. Parents create parent account: directions emailed from HCPS and going home today. Parent – Teacher conferences February 18 as necessary. Parent portal in PowerSchool: February 16- 20. Parents and students finalize elective choices and confirm Teacher recommendations. Specific “How To” information will be sent home February 13th.

Helping Your Child Prepare for Middle School Attend the 6th Grade Transition Program! SPMS -August 13, HMS- TBD Take your child to fee day - posted on marquee the week before school opens. Talk about your experiences with transition.

Questions? Counselor Blog: Blogs.Henrico.k12.va.us/slaskins