1. Welcome to Farmwell! Ms. Sherryl Loya, Principal
Ms. Tonya Edwards, Assistant Principal
Mr. Jesse Encapera, Assistant Principal
Mr. Carl LaRue, Counselor
Mr. John Puterio, Dean

2. Required Courses English 8 Physical Science Civics and Economics Math:
8th Grade
English 8
Physical Science
Civics and Economics
Math:
Math 8, Algebra I, Geometry,
Algebra II/Trig
Health and PE 8
2 Electives

3. 8th Grade Courses Sample Schedule
A Day
B Day
English 8
Math
Physical Science
Resource – (90 minutes or 45 if your child has Spectrum)
Civics & Economics
Elective 2
Elective 1
Health and PE/Health

4. Electives are Full Year (Pick Two)
Foreign Languages (Spanish, French, Latin, and German)
Technology Education
Family and Consumer Science
Art 8
Exploratory Dramatics
Technology of Robotic Design (HS credit)
Communications (for students who have not taken it before)
Music Electives: Chorus 8 Band 8 Strings 8 Guitar 8
Resource (full block) or Half with Spectrum 8
Program of Studies: Look on the LCPS Website

5. Important Considerations Core Courses
Teacher Recommendations (best predictor of success)
Each math course delivers content that builds on the previous courses’ material
Strong understanding and performance of Algebra 1 skills are CRUCIAL to success in all higher levels of math.

6. M.S. Math Progression Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Math 6 Math 7
CURRENT 6TH GR:
Math 6
Math 7
Algebra I
Math 8 
Geometry
Algebra I
Accelerated
Math 6/Math 7
Algebra I 
Geometry-
Algebra II or
Algebra II w/ Trigonometry
CURRENT 7TH GR:
Geometry 
Alg II with Trig

7. Foreign Language Electives
Spanish, French, German, Latin
LCPS offers six years of Foreign Languages
-It is recommended that a student earn at least
a “B” in order to progress to the next level of
foreign language study
- Expunge ?

8. Foreign Language Important Notes:
(1) For an Advanced Studies Diploma, students must successfully complete three years of one language or two years of one language and two years of a different language.
(2) Some colleges may require more than the minimum number of foreign language credits currently needed for the Advanced Studies Diploma.
(3) Some colleges are looking for students to continue foreign language through their senior
year of high school.

9. What Should I Take?
In order to select courses that reflect the goal of a balanced academic and extracurricular work load, students and parents should consider the following:
Teacher Recommendations
What grades in the subject over the past few years?
How much of a time commitment will each course require?
Am I involved in numerous outside activities that will limit the amount of time I have for school work?
Do I like the subject?

10. A Student in an Honors Class…
exhibits excitement/enthusiasm about the subject
likes to be challenged
demonstrates self-motivation
goes beyond expectations
completes assignments on time
has an advanced vocabulary and/or knowledge base in the areas of interest
Honors Civics- A LOT of writing (non-fiction), Honors English
Honors Science-Several extra independent projects

11. Naviance/Family Connections http://familyconnections.com/fsms
What is Family Connection?
Family Connection is a web-based service designed especially for high school students and their parents. Family Connection is a comprehensive website that helps students as they make decisions about academic plans, colleges, and careers. Family Connection is linked with Counselor's Office, a service used in LCPS school counseling offices to track and analyze data about college and career plans, so it provides up-to-date information that is specific to each student's school.
What are some key features of Family Connection?
Family Connection provides students the opportunity to explore and record their skills and interests, career and educational plans and allows them to track the activities and goals to create their individual plan for postsecondary educational and career opportunities. Parents are able to view their students' plans.
Students access NAVIANCE through their LCPS GO account.
Recent Tasks- Career Cluster Finder and Road Trip Nation

12. Timeline 2 Electives choices/ 1 alternative elective
The Parent VUE portal will be open
from January 25th to February 28th
for parents to make elective changes and
view course recommendations.
April 1st –Course request letters go out
May 1st –Deadline for any course request changes
2 Electives choices/ 1 alternative elective
Any changes to teacher recommendations
for core course/language must be in writing to
Mr. LaRue

13. **Be sure to pick an ALTERNATE elective.
Phoenix Student/Parent VUE
**Be sure to pick an ALTERNATE elective.

14. High School Programs Academies of Loudoun https://www.lcps.org/acl
Academy of Science (AOS)
Academy of Engineering and Technology(AET)
Monroe Technology (MATA)
Thomas Jefferson HS for Science and Technology (TJHSSST)