1. Rising 7th and 8th Grade Course Selection Parent information Process
Harper Park Middle School

2. HPMS Course Selection Timeline
Teacher Recommendations:
Teacher recommendations for all grade levels will be loaded into Phoenix this weekend and should be viewable by parents/students on Thursday, February 8th . To view your child's teacher recommendations log into ParentVUE and click on the Course Request tab, you should see the following course recommendations:
English (Honors)
History (Honors)
Science (Honors)
Math-follows progression
Any current 7th grade student taking World Language will see a World Language Recommendation

3. In February, you will notice that your current 6th and 7th grade student’s teacher recommendations in ParentVue will indicate Honors for English, History/Civics, and Science. We will begin the next school year with all three of these 7th and 8th grade subjects having an Honors designation. Math is the only exception as there are no honors designations for Math. Students simply follow the LCPS Math progression.

4. Why all honors?
Label isn’t important-the ability and willingness of teachers to recognize each student’s capabilities
Instruction is designed for mastery of content
Teachers will differentiate as needed and provide personalized learning

5. Rising 7th Grade Timeline
*Mrs. Kole will meet with students during Resource classes beginning February 12th .
* Students will select electives at that time. Core Class (Math, English, Science and History) recommendations and required electives (PE, Tech Ed and FACS) will all be pre-loaded into StudentVUE.
*Parents will have until March 9, 2018 to view and make changes to students ELECTIVES ONLY via Student/ParentVUE. Instructions on how to make changes will be sent via .
*If you would like to discuss a level change to a Math recommendation, or if you have questions about a recommendation, please contact that teacher directly. Once the discussion occurs, the teacher or parent can notify Mrs. Kole if there is a change needed.

6. 7th Grade Required Courses:
All Honors in the following:
English
Life Science
U.S. History
Math:
Students currently in Math 6 will go to Math 7.
Students currently in Accelerated Math 6/7 will go to Algebra 1*.
**Students will NOT make Core selections, they will be automatically uploaded.
Also Required:
Health and P.E.
Technology Education & Family and Consumer Science (one semester of each)
*Math 8 is sometimes recommended
**All 7th graders will have 45 minutes of Resource or Spectrum**

7. 7th Grade Elective Courses
All 7th Graders will choose ONE Fine Arts Elective:
Band 7 (must be currently enrolled in Band 6)
Strings 7 (must be currently enrolled in Strings 6)
Chorus
Guitar 7
Art 7
All 7th Graders will choose ONE Language Elective:
Communication Studies
Spanish 1, German 1, Latin 1, French 1- they are all high school credit classes
(Not all students should start World Language in 7th grade, but it is the only way to reach AP level by Senior year)

8. Rising 8th Grade Timeline
*Core Classes (Math, English, Science and History) recommendations and PE will all be pre-loaded into StudentVUE and should be viewable by Friday, February 9th. *Mrs. Burnett meets with kids during Resource/Spectrum starting February 13th. . Students must make elective choices on the day she meets with them. *Parents/Students will have until March 9th to view and make changes to ELECTIVES ONLY via Student/ParentVUE. Instructions on how to make changes will be sent via . *If you would like to discuss a level change to a Math Course please contact that teacher directly. Once a conversation with a teacher has occurred, either parent or teacher can let Mrs. Burnett know if a change needs to be made to the recommendation.

9. Required Courses-Grade 8
English
Civics- Government/Economics
Physical Science-Physics/Chemistry
Math:
Students who took Math 7 will go to Algebra 1 (some to Math 8)
Students who took Algebra 1 will go to Geometry
Students who took Geometry will go to Alg 2/Trig
Health and PE 8
*Resource-all 8th graders are required to have a 90 minute Resource block every other day.
**Students who take Spectrum will have 45 minutes of Resource and 45 minutes of Spectrum

10. Grade 8 Elective Choices
Students who are not taking a World Language will choose TWO of the following: Band 8 (if currently enrolled in Band 7) Strings 8 (if currently enrolled in Strings 7) Chorus Guitar Level 2 (must have taken Level 1) Technology Education Family and Consumer Sciences Art 8 *Robotics (information on next slides) *Elective availability is subject to the number of students who sign up for it
Students who are taking a World Language will choose ONE of these electives

11. robotics This is a new elective for 8th graders
What you need to know about this course: extremely rigorous, upper level course that will require extra course work and higher level thinking for problem solving. More information to come….we are in the beginning stages of developing the curriculum. There could possibly be a GPA requirement-decision has not been made yet.
This is a high school credit course so the grade will be included in students’ transcripts and factored into their GPA-like world language courses and Algebra 1 and higher math courses.
Students will be selected by lottery to take this class. All students that choose this elective should also choose an alternate elective in case they aren’t chosen.

12. Technology of robotic design-Course Code 803000 Grade(s):8 Credit: 1
Students engage in the study of computers and microprocessors and their applications to manufacturing, transportation, and communication systems. Topics include computer equipment and operating systems, robotics, programming, control systems and social/cultural impact of these technologies. Problem-solving activities challenge students to design, program, and interface devices with computer systems. Learning activities include robotics, computer- aided design, computer-aided manufacturing and design, and control of electromechanical devices.

13. Grade 8 World Language
World Languages and Cultures Level I or II in: Spanish, German, Latin or French *These are all high school credit classes*

14. Do I HAVE to take a World Language?
For an Advance Studies Diploma (which students will be working towards), the minimum requirement is 3 years of one World Language or 2 years of 2 different Languages.
Students who started their World Language in 7th grade and stayed with that same language, will be in the AP level during their senior year.

15. High School Credit Courses
Algebra 1, Algebra 2/trig, Geometry and all World Languages are high school credit bearing courses. This means they will remain on your high school transcript and will be factored into your high school GPA (Grade Point Average).
These courses are fast paced and require time and effort outside of school in order to be successful.

16. What is GPA?
A A A B B B C C C D D D F 59 and below 0.0
Grade Point Average is the numerical average given to grades. All high school credit classes are averaged together to give you your overall GPA.
Once you get to high school ALL classes are factored into your GPA. In middle school it is just Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2/Trig, and World Languages.

17. Expunging Grades Any high school course taken during middle school.
Once expunged, the grade AND credit are gone.
Students would need to retake the course in order to receive credit or to move onto subsequent levels.
Expungement forms will be sent home with all Rising 7th 8th, and 9th grade FINAL report cards. Forms MUST be submitted to the Counseling Departments NO LATER than August 15, 2018:
Rising 9th Graders: Submit forms to HHS
Rising 8th Graders: Submit forms to HPMS (Mrs. Burnett)
Rising 7th Graders: Submit forms to HPMS (Mrs. Kole)

18. What if I want to take a summer class?
If LCPS offers summer courses for advancement purposes (it is always dependent on budget), typically they are online only, and middle school students are typically only allowed to take a math course. It is NOT recommended that a student take Algebra 1 for the first time in summer school.
For course selection purposes you will be registered for the next course in the math progression. If you complete a summer course, we will make changes after we receive your final grade to your course selections.

19. What should you do now?
Watch the course selection videos provided by counselors, WITH your child to discuss elective options. View all of the course selection presentations for your child’s grade level, you can find them on our School Counseling Website:
Look in StudentVue/ParentVue WITH your child to make sure you are ok with your selections.
Discuss with your child, what electives they should register for when counselors work with them in a few weeks. They should be ready to make final decisions that day.

20. Questions?

21. Advanced studies diploma
Academic Areas
Credits
SOL Verified Credits
English 4 2
Social Studies
(World Studies (2), US/VA Government, and US/VA History)
Mathematics
(Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II or above level of Algebra II)
Science
(From 3 of the 4 disciplines: Biological, Chemical, Physical, Earth)
World Language (3 years of one language or 2 years each of two different languages)
3 or 4
Health/Physical Education
Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education 1
Economics & Personal Finance
Electives 3
Student Selected Verified Credit
Total (depends on foreign language option)
26 or 27 9