2. Tonight’s Agenda  7 th and 8 th grade course review  Looking ahead to high school  High school programs that begin in the 8 th grade  Summer opportunities

3. What to Expect for Next Year  Required 7th grade courses Language Arts (one block only) Life Science U.S. History 1865-Present Math Health/PE 7 One semester of Family and Consumer Science (FACS) One semester of Technology Education

4. What to Expect for Next Year  7th grade electives Select one Language Arts elective: ○ Communication Studies ○ Accelerating Literacy Skills ○ Foreign Language (more on that later!) Select one Fine Arts elective ○ Art 7 ○ Chorus 7 ○ Band 7 ○ Strings 7 ○ Guitar 7 ○ Fine Arts elective splits with Resource/Spectrum

5. Have you ever wanted to create a commercial, argue in a debate, or perform a skit in front of your classmates? Then…

6.  What is it? ALS is an interactive, student-driven reading and writing workshop. It is NOT language arts part 2, but it will help you to be more successful and confident in your language arts class!  What do we do in ALS? Literature Circles Reading Comprehension Activities Journaling Read Alouds Weekly Spelling Study Literacy Learning Stations Writing Mini-Lessons Writing Workshop & Conferences Silent Reading Time Author Shares Computer Lab Time Reader’s Theatre…AND MORE!!! Accelerating Literacy Skills

7. Foreign Languages  These classes are high school level.  You will learn to speak, listen, read, and write.  The grades you get on your report card will count for high school.  You will take a semester and final exam.  You will need to study for these classes every night!  PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

8. Language Choices:  French -pronunciation is a bit tricky, helps if you want to study literature, official language in 40 countries  Spanish -widely spoken in Northern VA, FLES and SAMS  German -what you see is how you say it, many similar words to English, its spelled like it sounds, good for careers in business and technology.  Latin -unspoken language, helps with vocabulary and the SAT, useful for people in the medical or legal fields  SFS - taught like an English class for Spanish speaking students

9. What to Expect for Next Year  Required 8th grade courses: English 8 Math – Math 8, Algebra I,Geometry, Algebra II with trig Civics and Economics Physical Science Health/PE 8 Full block of Resource 8 or Spectrum 8

10. What to Expect For Next Year  Select two full-year 8th grade electives: Art 8 Chorus 8 Band 8 Guitar 8, Level 1 or Level 2 Strings 8 FACS 8 Tech Ed 8 Foreign Language: Spanish 1 or 2, SFS 1or 2, French 1 or 2, Latin 1 or 2, German 1 or 2

11. Thinking About High School

12. High School Credit Courses: What you should know…  Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II  Foreign Language  High School Transcript  Expunging process-NEW PROCEDURES-Any “F”, after each year

13. The Course Selection Process  Program of Studies  Teacher Role  Counselor Role  Family Role

14. Teacher Recommendations  Honors vs. Academic Reading level Independent, self-advocating Higher-level thinking Push your child to try an honors level class if they haven’t taken one in the past  Contact specific teacher with questions

15. High School Programs  Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology -Early October-Open House for Admissions -Parent Info Night: April 30 th at 6:30 PM  Loudoun County Public Schools Academy of Science -Information Session: May 8 th @7:00 PM DHS Auditorium -Early August-Part I of the application should be available  CAMPUS

16. Summer Enrichment Opportunities 1. Loudoun County Public Schools Summer School (more details to come) June 23 rd -July 11th Loudoun County Public Schools Summer School (more details to come) 2. Volunteer Loudoun Volunteer Loudoun 3. Loudoun County Parks and Recreation Camp Loudoun County Parks and Recreation Camp 4. The Aerospace Camp Experience (Aerospace Museum) The Aerospace Camp Experience (Aerospace Museum) 5. Fairfax Collegiate Summer 2013 Fairfax Collegiate Summer 2013 6. UVA ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Science Summer Camp UVA ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Science Summer Camp 7. Penn State Weather Camp (students entering grades 8-12) Penn State Weather Camp (students entering grades 8-12)