1. Counselors Renae Perez – 7 th Grade Kim Petty – 8 th Grade

2. Counselors Debra Day – 7 th Grade Heather Youngquist – 8 th Grade

3. Counselors Roxanne LeCroy– 7 th Grade Jolene Johnson – 8 th Grade

4. Purpose for Meeting  Learn about Middle School  Discuss Core classes offered  Discuss Elective classes offered

5. General Information  All students take 7 classes everyday. 7  School day begins at 8:30.  School day ends at 3:30. 8:30 – 3:30

6. Core Classes All 7 th graders take 5 Core Classes English/Reading double block Math Science Texas History

7. Advanced Classes  Pre-AP/IB Math  Pre-AP /IB Science (No prequalifying criteria)  Pre-AP/IB English (No prequalifying criteria)  Pre-AP/IB Texas History (No prequalifying criteria)  Advanced Academics Committee will screen every 6 th grader for Pre-AP/IB Math using 4 th Math STAAR Advanced Level III, 5th Math STAAR Advanced Level III, 6 th grade first semester math grade typically a 90 or higher. Students must meet two of three district criteria for placement. If you qualify for Math Pre- AP/IB, you will automatically be enrolled.  Any student who did not meet initial criteria for Math Pre-AP/IB will be re-evaluated using 6 th grade final math grade and 6 th Grade Math STAAR Advanced Level III score.  There are NO appeals!

8. Gifted & Talented Classes AIM in Elementary School Humanities in Middle School Humanities includes: English History Reading If you are in AIM now, you will automatically be enrolled in Humanities.

9. On-Level OR Pre-AP/IB ?? On-LevelPre-AP/IB  Students will have 3 days to turn in their late work for a maximum grade of 70  Students can expect approximately 45 to 60 minutes of homework per night (excluding projects, test preparation, etc.)  Students will have 2 days to turn in their work for a maximum grade of 60  Students can expect approximately 3 hours of homework per night if taking ALL Pre-AP/IB courses (excluding projects, test preparation, etc.)

10. Points to consider when choosing Pre-AP/IB classes  Time spent participating in extra-curricular activities (Athletics, select sports, dance, etc.)  Student’s strengths, abilities and interest  Organization and time management skills  Parents and students should carefully consider how many Pre-AP/IB courses the student will be taking and the amount of coursework that is required.  In the event that the student wishes to drop from Pre- AP/IB to regular coursework, those changes will take place at the end of the first grading period or at semester.

11. Electives One Semester Electives: o Career Portal in Human Services o Career Portal in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) o Career Portal in Communications and Media Arts Science o Career Portal in Health Science o Career Portal in Business o Career Portal in Finance o Exploring Careers o Technology Applications in Computer Graphics o Exploring Speech Communications o Introduction to Art o Intermediate Art (Prerequisite: Introduction to Art) o Introduction to Theatre Arts o Advanced Theatre Arts (Prerequisite: Introduction to Theatre Arts)

12. Electives Continued WARNING! WARNING! WE CANNOT GO BACK AND CHANGE ELECTIVES. MAKE SURE YOU FILL-IN ALL ALTERNATIVE CHOICES.

13. Athletics BOYS  Football  Basketball  Off season Athletics is a full-year elective. A complete Physical is required each year for all students entering Athletics If you sign up for Boys Athletics, you will play Football. If you only want to play Basketball, sign up for PE Fall and PE Spring …NOT Boys Athletics! Basketball is a try-out sport. Your schedule will be changed when you make the team.

14. Athletics continued GIRLS  Volleyball  Basketball  Off season Athletics is a full-year elective A complete Physical is required each year for all students entering Athletics Volleyball & Basketball are try-out sports.

15. Coed PE All students must take 2 semesters of PE or Athletics during Middle School

16. Try-Out Sports You must try-out to make these teams:  Boy’s Basketball (full-year)  Girl’s Volleyball (full-year)  Girl’s Basketball (full-year)  Cheerleading (full-year)  Golf (half-year - Fall)  Tennis (full-year)

17. OFF-CAMPUS PE  PE credit can be earned through Off – Campus PE.  Approval process, applications and explanations can be found on the AISD “Athletics” homepage under “Off-Campus PE” or contact Coach Debbie Evans at the Athletic Office.

18. Full Year Fine Arts Electives Band Orchestra Choir You must be in Band or Orchestra in 6 th grade to be in Band or Orchestra in 7 th grade.

19. Application Electives YEARBOOK:  Limited class size  Full-year elective You must complete an application to be considered for an Interview. PEER HELPER:  Limited number  Full-year or half-year elective Applications are in the counselor’s office PARTNERS PE:  Limited number  Full-year or half-year elective

20. NO Lockers!!!  Students will be allowed to carry backpacks to class.  Backpacks must be regular size.  NO rolling or oversized backpacks  Students will be expected to carry a book, lunch and a 3 inch binder or a combination of binders adding up to 3 inches. (Examples: one 3 inch binder, three 1 inch binders)

21. Cafeteria 4 Lines to choose from: Red Rooster - Chicken Ford Fabulous Grill – Burgers Park Place – Pizza Mustang Diner – Regular lunch line

22. Clubs  Anime Club (Japanese Animation)  D.O.L.L.S. (Daughters of Our Loving Lord & Savior)  FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes)  Technology Club  Guitar Club (must have your own guitar)  Sewing/Knitting Club  Video Gaming Club Clubs meet before or after school. And change year by year.

23. Required Immunizations for 7 th Grade

24. Texas State Vaccine Requirements for 7 th graders Incoming students are required to get up to three (3) vaccines to enter 7 th grade, per Title 25 Health Services 97.61-97.72 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC). It is recommended that proof of immunizations, for incoming 7 th graders, be delivered to the current elementary school nurse, prior to the end of the current school year. Student shot records may be accessed through Parent Access. Proof of current vaccinations are required prior to the start of 7 th grade.  1 dose of Tetanus-Diptheria- Aceullular pertussis (Tdap), if at least 5 years have passed since the last dose of tetanus-diptheria (Td or Tdp) vaccine was received  1 dose of Meningococcal  2 nd dose of Varicella required if the first dose was received on or after the first birthday. If student had chicken pox disease, evidence of disease must be on file with the current school

25. Health Information  Parents should contact the school nurse:  if their student has a medical concern that the school should be aware of.  for any medication administration at school.  Proof of Immunizations should be given to the School Nurse.  Please note that all topics covered in the Allen ISD Student Handbook apply to all students in the Allen Independent School District.

26. Sports Physicals  Sports physical paperwork should be given to the student’s coaches.  Sports physical forms and information are kept with the athletic department. Forms and information can also be found on the Allen ISD Athletic Department web page.

27. Academic Planning Guide No Hard Copies – find course descriptions and information in the academic planning guide 2015-2016 online at the Ford Website – the link is on the left side of the main page under “In the News” http://www.allenisd.org/fordms

28. How to complete the Course Selection Sheet 1. Print child’s legal name (no nicknames) 2. Print Parent/Guardian’s name 3. Write Parent/Guardian’s phone number 4. Mark your child’s choice for On-level or Pre-AP/IB for: Texas History, English, and Science. both boxes must be marked. 5. Mark a TOTAL of 4 boxes from the Electives section. The Electives section is from Fine Arts through Advanced Technology. Do not mark 4 boxes from each Electives section. 6. If the Elective has 2 boxes, both boxes must be marked. (Except girls track) 7. Write 2 Alternate Choices in order of preference. These should be different than the 4 boxes you marked in the Electives section. 8. Parent/Guardian signs form 9. The back side of the form is a worksheet to help you. Students will make course selections based on the front side of the Course Selection Form.

29. PARENT MEETING  WHEN:February 17, 2015 (Tuesday)  WHERE:Ford Middle School Gym  TIME:6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

30. Course Selection Rising 7 th grade students will register on their Elementary Campus with their Elementary Counselor during the school day. ** Date set by Elementary Campus

31. Tips for being successful in Middle School 1. Do your best in 6 th grade…it can determine what classes you can take in 7 th grade. 2. Do your best on your STAAR tests…it can determine what classes you can take in 7 th grade. 3. Listen to your teachers & do what they ask. 4. Be on your best behavior at all times. 5. Work on organization skills, time management and study habits.