R.C. Loflin Middle School 8 th Grade Parent Meeting February 2, 2014

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

Course Selections Mr. Hampton will visit 7 th grade technology classes to explain 8 th grade Course Selection Forms to 7 th grade students. Birdwell—Monday, February 2 nd Scott—Tuesday, February 3 rd Wade—Wednesday, February 4 th If your student is absent on the day Mr. Hampton visits your student’s technology teacher, Mr. Hampton will have extra copies of 8 th grade Course Selection Forms in the counselor’s office. All 8 th grade Course Selection Forms are due to the student’s technology teacher by Thursday, February 12 th. Mr. Hampton will enter the course selections into the computer the following week.

Required Courses ELA General & Honors Math Pre-Algebra or Algebra I (Honors) Science General & IPC (Honors) Social Studies Exploring Careers (Plan Your Path) 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) Speech (1/2) * Requires Band teacher signature

Elective Courses Theatre Art II Art II Yearbook/Photojournalism Honors Choir Students taking these classes will be chosen by the teacher. These will not be on the course selection sheets.

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 Girls Athletics Volleyball Basketball Track Cross Country *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 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 8 th 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 8 th 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.

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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 school year. 15 New Graduation Plan for Freshman & Beyond

16 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 Credits Social Studies * 2 Credits Languages other than English 1 Credit Physical Education 1 Credit Fine Arts.5 Credit Speech 1 Credit Technology 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 Side by Side of the Graduation Plans

In the spring of the school year, a student will need to declare their preferred endorsement area. A school district must permit a student to choose, at any time, to earn an endorsement other than the endorsement the student previously indicated. 17 Endorsements Total of 26 Credits

ScienceScience TechnologyTechnology EngineeringEngineering Advanced mathematicsAdvanced mathematics 18 Stem 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 19

Education and Training Health Science Human Services Law Enforcement Culinary Arts and Hospitality JROTC 20 Public Services

Languages other than English Cultural Studies English Literature History Fine Arts Art Band Choir Dance Theater Arts 21 Arts and Humanities

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 22 Multidisciplinary

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 23 Distinguished Achievement Total of 26 Credits

Questions??