Seventh and Eighth grade course selection For the 2018-2019 School Year

7th Grade Assistant Principal: Dustin Schmeits 7th Grade Counselor: Julie Atwood 8th Grade Assistant Principal: Angelica Knight 8th Grade Counselor: Erica Thornton

PROMOTION to 7th & 8th GRADE To be promoted to 7th grade and 8th grade You must have an overall average of 70 or higher in 3 of the 4 core subject areas: English and Reading Math Science Social Studies Students who do not meet these requirements must either attend summer school or repeat the 6th or 7th grade.

Course Selection Process Course selection presentations will be during P.E. classes on January 23rd. Course selection sheets go home on January 23rd. The student and parent must sign the form. Return your completed, signed/initialed course selection sheet to your social studies teacher by Friday, February 2nd. Students will enter 7th grade course selections in the computer Monday, February 5th. Course selections for 8th grade will be entered Tuesday, February 6th.

Course Requests Overview Course sheets must be returned to social studies teachers by Friday, February 2nd. If you are moving or planning to move, you must fill it out anyway. Both the student and parent must sign the course sheet. All 7th grade students must sign up for the following courses: 1. English 2. Reading 3. Math 4. Social Studies 5. Science 6. PE or Athletics 7. One elective and two alternate electives

GT Students Students must be screened and identified to be eligible for GT courses. If you are a 7th grade English and Reading GT student, you will sign up for the combined GT English/Reading class G710. The combined GT English/Reading class will allow you to sign up for an additional elective.

PREAP PROGRAM INFORMATION Students must meet the following criteria for PreAP classes: 1. Have parent approval. 2. Students taking PreAP English must also take PreAP Reading. (7th Grade) 3. Students and parents sign the PreAP commitment on back of course selection sheet. The PreAP Course Commitment form is included on the back of the course selection sheet.

PREAP Program Information PreAP courses are designed to challenge motivated students and prepare them for success in advanced coursework. These courses: typically move at a faster pace, are academically challenging, require more independent learning, and require more time outside of class The PreAP Course Commitment form is included on the back of the course selection sheet.

PREAP Program Information Students may exit a PreAP course during the first 6-weeks grading period or at the end of the 1st semester. The student must have teacher and parent approval to exit. If the student’s 6-weeks average falls below 70, it is recommended to exit the class at the end of the grading period. The PreAP Course Commitment form is included on the back of the course selection sheet.

PE & Athletics All incoming 7th grade students will be placed in PE. Students may not sign themselves up for athletics. Please see the coach if you are interested in playing a sport next year. Coaches will give the counselors a list of students to be scheduled into the athletic period later this semester.

7th Grade ELECTIVES Band – Beginning or 2nd Year Choir – Beginning or 2nd Year Boys or Girls Orchestra – Beginning or 2nd Year Theater Arts – Beginning or 2nd Year Art – Beginning or 2nd Year Career Readiness Publications – Yearbook (application required) Meeting January 25th during advisory applications due with course request on February 2nd.

Other Courses Math Lab - designed to help refine and review math skills in preparation for the STAAR test. Reading Elective - designed to help improve reading level and basic reading skills in preparation for the STAAR test. If students do not pass the Math or Reading 6th grade STAAR test. This class replaces the elective.

8th Grade Course Requests All 8th grade students must sign up for the following courses: English Math Social Studies Science P.E. or athletics Two electives and three alternate electives

8th Grade ELECTIVES – Not High School Credit Band – Beginning, 2nd Year or 3rd Year Choir – Boys or Girls Orchestra – Beginning, 2nd Year or 3rd Year Theater Arts – Beginning, 2nd Year or 3rd Year Art – Beginning, 2nd Year or 3rd Year

8th Grade ELECTIVES – Not High School Credit Continued Publications – Yearbook* *Application required Student Aide Career Readiness

High school credit courses Algebra I (J0211) Art I (J7511) Spanish I (J6319) Spanish for Spanish Speakers I (J6361) – fall semester, 1 credit Spanish for Spanish Speakers II (J6362) – spring semester, 1 credit Semester grades and grade points earned in all high school credit courses become a permanent part of the student’s high school transcript.

High school credit courses Continued Principles of Human Services (J8353) An introductory CTE course supporting the Public Services endorsement. Principles of Applied Engineering (J8616) The first course in the Engineering pathway for the STEM endorsement. Students who complete this course in 8th grade may enroll in the second course in this pathway, Engineering Design & Presentation, in 9th grade. Principles of Manufacturing (J8043) The first course in the Manufacturing pathway for the Business & Industry endorsement. Semester grades and grade points earned in all high school credit courses become a permanent part of the student’s high school transcript.

HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT COURSES If you take a high school credit course in 8th grade, you MUST NOT request the same course in high school. You CANNOT repeat a course for which you have already earned credit. No credit is awarded for a duplicated course.

Other Courses Math Lab - designed to help refine and review math skills in preparation for the STAAR test. Reading Elective - designed to help improve reading level and basic reading skills in preparation for the STAAR test. If students do not pass the Math or Reading 7th grade STAAR test. This class replaces one elective.

REMEMBER! Course selection sheets are due to social studies teachers by Friday, February 2nd. Keep the course selection sheet neat and clean. Take good care of it. Choose your courses wisely – think carefully about your choices. Talk to your teachers about PreAP placement. Choose the elective that’s most interesting to you. 7th grade list two alternate electives. 8th grade list three alternate electives. Sign and return the course sheet on time.

Final notes And finally, both the 2018-2019 course catalog and this presentation are available online for easy reference. http://www.katyisd.org/dept/campusadmin/Documents/Graduation%20Requirements/2018-2019%20Course%20Catalog_FINAL_8x10.pdf