1. INCOMING 6 TH GRADE PARENT NIGHT Tuesday, February 23th

2. ❧ Our Mission The mission of Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is to be THE BEST. We will promote good citizenship and prepare, motivate, and encourage each student to reach his or her full potential within a safe, caring, cooperative environment by providing an effective and enduring education.

3. ❧ HMS Facts: School Colors: Navy and Gold Mascot: Broncos Enrollment: 923 Year Opened: 1992

4. ❧ ❧ Scott Saettel- Principal ❧ Jeff Mishoe- Assistant Principal (A-K) ❧ Cheryl Harrison- Assistant Principal (L-Z) ❧ Susan Talbert- Counselor, A-K ❧ Marsha Fields- Counselor, L-Z ❧ Department Heads ❧ Elective Teachers Introductions

5. ❧ ❧ School Day: 8:10-3:25 ❧ 7 Period Schedule ❧ Focus Time ❧ Textbooks ❧ 1:1 Student Laptops ❧ No Lockers- Backpacks allowed ❧ School Supplies- Order forms from PTA in Spring HMS Important Topics

6. ❧ ❧ First stop: Heritage Middle School Webpage ❧ Upcoming events and dates ❧ Administration webpage ❧ Counseling webpage (5 th -6 th grade information) ❧ Teacher webpages ❧ 1:1 technology information ❧ Mr. Saettel’s weekly parent newsletter, Twitter, and monthly Principal’s coffee meetings ❧ Remind messages/emails from Counseling ❧ GCISD website for district specific information Communication- How to stay informed

7. ❧ Counselors will be meeting with students at each elementary campus to discuss registration, academic and elective classes, and online registration on the following dates: ❧ Grapevine Elementary- Monday, February 22nd ❧ Bear Creek Elementary- Tuesday, February 23rd ❧ Heritage Elementary- Wednesday, February 24th Elementary Visits

8. ❧ ❧ In the meeting with the Counselors, your student will receive a Course Selection Sheet for registration. ❧ With your help, your student will: ❧ Pick four core courses at the appropriate level ❧ Select a Language Arts elective ❧ Select between PE or Pre-Athletics PE ❧ Select an elective and an alternate elective ❧ Students and parents sign the course selection form ❧ Return to their homeroom teacher by deadline Course Selection for 2015-2016

9. ❧ ❧ Program of Studies is available online at GCISD website and the HMS Counseling website ❧ Program of Studies includes valuable information about: ❧ General Middle School Information ❧ Sixth Grade Required Courses ❧ Sixth Grade Elective Courses ❧ Accelerated Math and Science Recommendations ❧ Requirements for G/T Program ❧ High School Graduation Requirements ❧ For All Four Middle Schools- Not ALL courses are offered at HMS To make these decisions, you’ll refer to… the GCISD Program of Studies

10. ❧ ❧ Regular (On Level) Courses- Offered in Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies ❧ Pre-AP Courses- Offered in Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies ❧ Accelerated Courses- Offered in Math and Science ❧ Gifted and Talented- Offered in Language Arts and Social Studies for identified GT students Levels of Course Offerings

11. ❧ ❧ Students are encouraged to take advanced levels courses when appropriate. They should be CHALLENGED but not overwhelmed. ❧ Talk to your student’s elementary Counselor and current teachers to determine appropriate levels for your student. What level is appropriate?

12. ❧ ❧ 6 th grade students will have the opportunity to take Pre- AP classes in: Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. ❧ Middle School Pre-AP courses provide the foundation for entering the Pre-AP/AP program at the high school level. ❧ 6 th grade TEKS will be taught with Pre-AP strategies incorporated throughout the course. ❧ Students will engage in learning of 6 th grade curriculum with increased depth and complexity. Pre-AP Classes

13. ❧ ❧ These two courses cover content from multiple grade levels with compacted curricula. ❧ Recommendations for accelerated placement are: ❧ 115+ on an aptitude test for specific subtest ❧ 85% or above on an achievement test in specific subject area ❧ 85+ GPA in the specific subject area ❧ Accelerated Math leads to PAP Algebra I in 8 th grade. ❧ Accelerated Science leads to PAP Biology I in 8 th grade Elementary counselors will be working with students and parents to determine if Accelerated Math and Science is appropriate. Accelerated Math and Science

14. ❧ Math Sequence Examples 6 th Grade- Accelerated Math 6 th Grade- Accelerated Math 7 th Grade- Accelerated Math 7 th Grade- Accelerated Math 8 th Grade- Pre-AP Algebra I (for high school credit) 8 th Grade- Pre-AP Algebra I (for high school credit) 9 th - Geometry 10 th - Algebra II 11 th - Pre-Calculus 12 th - Advanced Math 9 th - Geometry 10 th - Algebra II 11 th - Pre-Calculus 12 th - Advanced Math 6 th Grade- Pre-AP Math 6 th Grade- Pre-AP Math 7 th Grade- Pre-AP Math 7 th Grade- Pre-AP Math 8 th Grade- Pre-AP Math 8 th Grade- Pre-AP Math 9 th - Algebra 10 th – Geometry 11 th - Algebra II 12 th - Pre-Calculus 9 th - Algebra 10 th – Geometry 11 th - Algebra II 12 th - Pre-Calculus

15. ❧ Science Sequence Examples 6 th Grade- Accelerated Science 6 th Grade- Accelerated Science 7 th Grade- Accelerated Science 7 th Grade- Accelerated Science 8 th Grade- Pre-AP Biology I (for high school credit) 8 th Grade- Pre-AP Biology I (for high school credit) 9 th - Chemistry 10 th - Physics 11 th - Advanced Science 12 th - Advanced Science 9 th - Chemistry 10 th - Physics 11 th - Advanced Science 12 th - Advanced Science 6 th Grade- Pre-AP Science 6 th Grade- Pre-AP Science 7 th Grade- Pre-AP Science 7 th Grade- Pre-AP Science 8 th Grade- Pre-AP Science 8 th Grade- Pre-AP Science 9 th - Biology 10 th - Chemistry 11 th - Physics 12 th - Advanced Science 9 th - Biology 10 th - Chemistry 11 th - Physics 12 th - Advanced Science

16. ❧ ❧ 6th grade identified GT students may take World Discoveries courses to replace Language Arts and Social Studies. ❧ To take the World Discoveries courses, a student must meet the district criteria for Gifted and Talented placement. ❧ Testing for students who are nominated for Gifted and Talented placement will be done this Spring. Please contact your elementary counselor if you have any questions. Gifted and Talented

17. ❧ ❧ Students will choose one of the following required Language Arts elective pairings (one semester of each course when two courses are listed): ❧ Young Adult Literature/Media and Technology Literacy ❧ Young Adult Literature/Creative Writing ❧ Young Adult Literature/ 06436S GT Independent Study ❧ Must meet GT qualifications ❧ Future Problem Solvers- Community (full year) ❧ Must complete application and be accepted ❧ Future Problem Solvers- Global issues (full year) ❧ Must complete application and be accepted ❧ AVID (full year) ❧ Must complete application, interview, and be accepted Language Arts Required Electives

18. ❧ ❧ Each 6 th grade student is required to take Physical Education/Health ❧ Students may choose between PE and Pre-Athletics PE ❧ Students are required to dress out in proper uniform. Online store will be open later this Spring to purchase. ❧ Students will be issued a lock Physical Education/Health

19. ❧ ❧ 6 th grade students may choose one of the following electives: ❧ Art ❧ Band ❧ Choir ❧ Theatre ❧ Careers in Engineering and Coding ❧ All electives are year-long classes and should be considered carefully when choosing. Students visited HMS on February 19 th to experience a preview of electives classes. At the conclusion of this presentation, you will have the opportunity to visit the elective teachers of your choice. 6 th Grade Electives

20. ❧ ❧ The STEM Academy at Grapevine Middle School is open to current 5th and 6th grade students district-wide via a lottery process. Learn more about STEM at GCISD website (under Departments and Programs) or at: ❧ http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/42205 (STEM=Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) ❧ Students who are interested in STEM will need to enroll in the following courses: ❧ Pre-AP Language Arts ❧ Pre-AP Social Studies ❧ Accelerated Math ❧ Accelerated Science ❧ STEM at Grapevine Middle School

21. ❧ ❧ Characteristics of a STEM student ❧ Passionate about learning math and science ❧ Interest in learning English and social studies through the lens of STEM ❧ Ability to learn math and science at a faster pace ❧ Enjoyment of using technology ❧ Likes problem solving and engineering ❧ Details regarding the lottery process, which closes March 2rd, can be found at http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/42205. More about STEM at GMS

22. ❧ ❧ Will use Skyward student login and password to access registration. ❧ Elementary counselors will be working with students to register but parents should review selections by March 25 th. ❧ Be sure to select Heritage Middle School from drop down at the top. ❧ Now until March 25 th to make changes Skyward Student Access

23. ❧ ❧ The deadline to make changes to course requests in Skyward Student Access is Friday, March 25th. ❧ You will receive a letter with course requests in April. If you wish to make course changes, please do so at that time by returning the form by the due date. ❧ BRONCO CAMP!! August 11 th ❧ First day of school: Monday, August 22 nd Important Dates

24. You may now visit with electives teachers in the designated locations in the gym.