Welcome TO Middle School class of 2025!

1. Counselors: Loren Clanton – A - G , Roxanne LeCroy – H - O Amy Smith – P - Z Welcome TO Middle Schoolclass of 2025!

2. Purpose of Presentation • Learn about Middle School • Discuss Core classes offered • Discuss Elective classes offered

3. General Information • All students take 7 classes everyday. • All students have 1 homeroom period. 7+1 • School day is 8:20 until 3:30 daily • ID cards must be worn everyday and to every AISD event • Your ID card is used to purchase your lunch

4. Core Classes All 7th graders take 4 Core Classes English (double-blocked) Math Science Texas History

5. Advanced Classes • Pre-AP/IB Math (must meet qualifying criteria) • Pre-AP /IB Science (No prequalifying criteria) • Pre-AP/IB English (No prequalifying criteria) • Pre-AP/IB Texas History (No prequalifying criteria) • GT/Pre –AP Science (Must be identified in the GT program) • All current 6th grade students will be evaluated for Math 7 PreAP/IB.  Qualifying students will receive  notification as it will be reflected on student’s Course Selection available in May through Skyward (parent portal).  Qualifications based upon the following:  4th Math STAAR Masters, 5th Math STAAR Masters, 6th first semester math grade typically a 90 or higher.  Students must meet two of three district criteria for placement. • Any student who did not meet criteria for advanced math initially will be re-evaluatedusing 6th final math grade and 6th Math STAAR Advanced Level III score.  Placement notification will be reflected on student’s schedule in August.   • There are NO appeals. • If you qualify for Math Pre-AP/IB , you will automatically be enrolled.

6. Gifted Education Middle School Program (GEMS) AIM in Elementary School Humanities in Middle School Humanities includes: English (1 class period) History (1 class period) Leadership through Literacy (1 class period) Reading If you are in AIM now, you will automatically be enrolled in Humanities.

7. GEMS/Pre–AP Science • Qualification based upon GT identification • This course will prepare students for advanced sciences at the high school level through Project Based Learning and STEM experiences to support depth of exploration and engagement. • The study of science in this course is interdisciplinary in nature; however, much of the content focus is on organisms and the environment at a higher level of rigor. The class involves laboratory and field investigations in which students will be using critical and creative thinking skills to analyze data and solve problems. • Students will also be offered the opportunity to participate in Science Fair; an outside of class experiment-based or engineering based projects.

8. GEMS Science • Qualification based on GT identification • Course is self-select (only available to students who are identified GT) • If student furloughs GT Humanities (English & History), they may still self-select GT Science

9. On-Level OR Pre-AP/IB On-Level Pre-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. On-Level OR Pre-AP??

11. On-Level OR Pre-AP/IB ?? 6th Grade 7th Grade On-level 7th Grade Pre-AP

12. 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.

13. Electives One Semester Electives: • Investigating Careers in Human Services • Investigating Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) • Investigating Careers in Communications and Media Arts Science • Investigating Careers in Health Science • Investigating Careers in Business • Investigating Careers in Finance • College and Career Readiness • Technology Applications in Computer Graphics • Introduction to Art • Intermediate Art (Prerequisite: Introduction to Art) • Introduction to Theatre Arts • Advanced Theatre Arts (Prerequisite: Introduction to Theatre Arts) • Introduction to Robotics – New this year!

14. Electives Choices WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! Schedules will not be changed for: Teacher change Lunch time change Elective change if you received your requested elective “ I don’t like the class.” “It’s not my thing.” No drops, adds, or schedule changes will be allowed after the fifth instructional day of the semester. Read the Academic Planning Guide and Course Descriptions very closely when making class selections FILL-IN ALL ALTERNATIVE CHOICES.

15. Boys Athletics Football Basketball Off season To play football, sign up for Boys Athletics. Everyone plays!! If you onlywant to play Basketball, sign up for PE Fall and PE Spring. Basketball is a try-out sport. Athletics is a full-year elective. Practices start before school and transportation is not provided. A complete Physical is required each year for all students entering Athletics

16. Girls Athletics Volleyball Basketball Off season Volleyball & Basketball are try-out sports. Athletics is a full-year elective A complete Physical is required each year for all students entering Athletics If a student does not make a volleyball or basketball team in 7th grade, her schedule will be changed to regular CO-ED PE.

17. CO-ED PE All students must take 2semesters of PE or Athletics during Middle School to be promoted to High School. Cheer, Boys/Girls Athletics, Tennis, Golf, Coed PE, and Off-Campus PE are all considered Physical Education

18. 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 (Fall - half-year) • Tennis (Spring - half-year)

19. 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 McCullough at the Athletic Office.

20. Fine Arts Electives (Full year) Band Orchestra Choir You must be in Band or Orchestra in 6th grade to be in Band or Orchestra in 7th grade. Students will be placed in the appropriate level of class based on individual audition with the director and a balance of instruments within the ensemble.

21. Yearbook Application Required • Students will learn to take quality pictures, to design and organize the pages, and to cooperate with fellow classmates • Must be self-disciplined, responsible, and able to meet deadlines • Limited class size ** Application deadline: To be determined

22. Partners in PE(application required) • Partners in PE is a PE class which uses peer helpers (as buddies) to aid students with limited abilities in achieving their PE goals. • One or two semesters • Characteristics of a “Great Partner” include, but aren’t limited to:-a desire to help others-dependable & trustworthy-compassionate-patient with others & understanding

23. Cafeteria 4 Lines to choose from: *Sit where you like *Buy lunch, bring lunch, or buy a snack

24. Required Immunizations for 7th Grade

25. Texas State Vaccine Requirements for 7th graders • 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 Quadrivalent Meningococcalconjugate, vaccine must be identified, Menactra, Menveo, MenACWY, or MCV4. Incoming students are required to get up to two (2) vaccines to enter 7th 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 7th graders, be delivered to the current elementary school nurse, prior to the end of the current school year. Student immunization records may be accessed through Parent Access. Proof of current vaccinations are required prior to the start of 7th grade.

26. Health Information • Proof of Immunizations should be given to the School Nurse. • 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. • Healthcare Plans, like the Allen ISD Asthma or Allergy Action Plans: • A new healthcare plan, signed by the prescribing physician, should be completed every school year, and given to the school nurse, at the beginning of the school year. Healthcare provider orders are valid for one school year. • The Allen ISD Medication Administration and Action Plan forms can be found on the school nurse’s, Faculty Web Sites page, or a paper copy may be picked up at your child’s current school.

27. HOW TO REGISTER FOR CLASSES! You must share this information with your parents, SO LISTEN CAREFULLY!

28. How to complete the Course Selection Sheet Print child’s legal name (no nicknames) Print Parent/Guardian’s name Write Parent/Guardian’s phone number Mark your child’s choice for On-level or Pre-AP/IB for: Texas History, English, and Science. both boxes must be marked. 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. If the Elective has 2 boxes, both boxes must be marked. Write 2 Alternate Choices in order of preference. These should be different than the 4 boxes you marked in the Electives section. Parent/Guardian signs form 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. ACADEMIC PLANNING GUIDE (APG) All courses discussed in this presentation can be found in the APG. The Academic Planning Guide is on the Curtis Website. Look under the Academics tab. Click on Academic Planning Guide. Click on 2019 – 2020 Middle School Academic Planning Guide Link to the 2019- 2020 APG for Middle School

30. PARENT MEETING • WHEN: February 12, 2019 • WHERE: Curtis Middle School Cafeteria • TIME: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Coffee with the Counselors: 2/22/19, 8:30-10:00 AM

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

32. Tips for being successful in Middle School • Do your best in 6th grade and on your STAAR test…it will determine what classes you can take in 7th grade. • Listen to your teachers & do what they ask. • Be on your best behavior at all times. • Work on organization skills, time management and study habits. • Attend Cougar Camp to learn about clubs and organizations on campus.