Welcome

1. Welcome Rising Wells Middle School Wolverines! 7thGrade to 8thGrade – Friday, March 21, 2014

2. Wells Principal Dr. Lenny Hardoin Wells 8th Grade Assistant Principal Mrs. Deedra Davis Wells 8th Grade Counselors Mrs. Chaka Lawton – Boys Mrs. Chandra Johnson-Pearson - Girls

3. ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM Dr. Lenny Hardoin Principal

4. A D M I N I S T R A T O R S Mrs. Deedra Davis 8th Grade Assistant Principal Mrs. Elaine Sam 7th Grade Assistant Principal Mr. Jeremy Hubbard Dean of Instruction Mr. Carlos Lewis, Jr. 6th Grade Assistant Principal

5. Counselors Mrs. Chandra Johnson-Pearson (Mrs. J-P) 6th Grade Counselor 8th Grade Girls’ Counselor Mrs. Chaka Lawton 7th Grade Counselor 8th Grade Boys’ Counselor

6. Doing things the wells way

7. THE WELLS WAY • Do Quality Work • Respect Others • Try My Best • Be Kind • Cooperate • I Am Responsible

8. THE ROAD TO SUCCESS TRAVELS THROUGH WMS • STAAR, CFAs, DFAs, and course success; • Take school seriously; • Build relationships; & • Plan for high school, college, & career by aiming for Foundation High School Program PLUS Endorsements, Distinguished Level of Achievement, & Performance Acknowledgements.

9. 4 credits English; 3/4 credits Math ($Algebra II); 3/4 credits Science; 3 credits Social Studies; 2 credits Languages other than English; (Spanish I*, & Spanish for Spanish Speakers*) Endorsements – STEM, Business & Industry, Public Services, Arts & Humanities, & Multidisciplinary Studies; *Denotes High School Credit Courses available at WMS and/or SISD Virtual School 1 credit Fine Arts 0.5 credit Health* 1 credit PE 4.5/6.5 credits Electives = 22, or 26,or 26 Credits $ Distinguished Level of Achievement is eligible for Top 10% Automatic College Admissions ~It’s possible to leave MS with up to 6 HS credits!!! WMS offers 8 HS credit courses. Foundation High School Program, Endorsements, & Distinguished Level of Achievement

10. 0.5Health (Required for all 7th graders whose schedule permits) 1.0Advanced Art (Art I) 1.0 Spanish I (Virtual or Face-to-Face) 2.0* Spanish for Spanish Speakers (*Test) 1.0 Principles of Architecture & Construction (PAC) 0.5 Exploring Careers and Professional Communications (Required for all 8th graders) 1.0 Rhetoric & Composition (English elective) 1.0 Algebra I HS Credit Courses Available at WMS

11. English - (1-2 period) Math - (1-2 period) Science - (1 period) US History (Social Studies) -(1 period) Exploring Careers & Professional Communications - (1 period) Math Plus or Reading Plus or Read 180* Intervention courses may be required of students not meeting the standard on STAAR or if recommended based on performance in ELA &/or Math course 8th Grade Required Courses

12. WMS Pre-AP Placement Guidelines (8th Grade) If currently in Pre-AP: • Pre-AP in 7th grade WITH a passing average (80 or above) If currently in T1: • Parent/Teacher recommendation; PLUS • Standardized test scores significantly exceeding passing standard; AND • 85 overall average in the specific subject

13. Rhetoric & Composition, Algebra I (HS Credit) & Pre-AP Placement Guidelines • Pre-AP in 7th Grade WITH a passing average (grade of 85 or above is recommended) in the specific subject. **Rhetoric &Composition & Algebra I qualification ONLY if enrolled in Pre-AP in 7th grade, 85 or above yearly average, commended STAAR score, & teacher recommendation

14. Exploring Careers & Professional Communication • REQUIRED 8th Grade Course • Explore career & education • choices & options; • Self-appraise with respect to • interest, abilities, & aptitude; • Develop a high school graduation plan based on career • objectives; • High School Credit

15. PLUS

16. 2-3 ELECTIVES If STAAR Math & Reading Standard is met

17. 8th Grade FULL YEAR Fine Arts Electives [2-3 periods available with 8-period school day] 1-year commitment required for all FULL YEAR ELECTIVES • Advanced Art Beginning & Intermediate Art Prerequisite • Band(Symphonic, Concert, or Varsity) Audition, Instrument, & Fee Required • Choir(Concert, Treble, Intermediate, or Boys’) Audition & Fee Required • Theatre Arts- Tournament Competition &/or Performance Opportunity & Fees Required

18. 8th Grade FULL YEAR CTE & LOTE Electives [2-3 periods available with 8-period school day] 1-year commitment required for all FULL YEAR ELECTIVES • Principles of Architecture & ConstructionHS Credit • Spanish IHS Credit; Available Virtual & Face-to-Face; Required 85 in 7th grade ELA; Required 75 in 7th grade Math; Visit www.new.sisdvs.org for SISD VIRTUAL SCHOOL Spanish for Spanish SpeakersHS Credit; Native or heritage speaker of Spanish; Placement Test Required

19. Athletics (Full Year) 1 period Athletics requires Physical, Tryout, Fees & Coach’s signature. Academic Performance Considered Athletics is an elective for 8th graders.

20. Advanced Art • Beginning Art & Intermediate Art are prerequisites for enrollment; • Appreciate, observe, imagine • express, respond to, & • analyze critical attributes of • artwork; • Art I high school credit; • $10.00 fee required for • supplies.

21. BAND • Study the fundamentals of reading music & play an instrument; • No previous music training or experience is necessary; • Fees may apply; • Attend before/after school rehearsals/performances as required; • Band Director will determine appropriate Band placement.

22. CHOIR • Introduction to choral music (no previous musical training/experience necessary); • Learn to read & perform in unison, & in two- & three-part harmony; • Learn to sing as a choral member & in a performing group; • Fees may apply; • Choir Director will determine appropriate Choir placement; • Attend before/after school rehearsals & performances as required.

23. Theatre Arts 3- Tournament • Refine skills of stagecraft, • acting, & script interpretation; • Opportunity for performance & competition; • Teacher recommendation &Theatre 2 are required or a prerequisite; • Fees may apply.

24. Spanish I • Demonstrate novice profi- • ciency in all communication • skills (listening, speaking, • reading & writing); • Study cultures of various • Spanish speaking countries; • At least 85 in 7th grade English • is a prerequisite; • At least 75 in 7th grade Math is • a prerequisite; OR • Communication skills in the • Spanish language • HS Credit

25. Spanish I - VIRTUAL • Engage in an online environment for student-teacher collaboration; • Headset with microphone required; • VISIT www.virtual.springisd.org for Virtual School enrollment; • Demonstrate novice proficiency in all communication skills (listening, speaking, reading & writing); • Study cultures of various • Spanish speaking countries; • At least 85 in 7th grade English & at least 75 in 7th grade Math required; OR • Communication skills in the • Spanish language • HS Credit

26. Spanish for Spanish Speakers • Prerequisite – Native or Heritage speaker • of Spanish &/or Placement Test &/or • teacher recommendation; • Engage in instruction designed to improve reading, composition, & grammar • skills in Spanish; • Covers 2 levels of Spanish instruction; • Instruction frequently conducted in • Spanish; • Complete coursework for native or heri- • tage speakers of the Spanish • language; • HS Credit.

27. 8th Grade SEMESTER Electives [2-3 periods available in 8-period school day] • HealthHS Credit • Beginning Art Fee Required ($10) • Intermediate Art Beginning Art is prerequisite & Fee Required ($10) • Theatre Arts 2 – Play Production Theatre 1-Basic is prerequisite & Fees may apply • Student Aide Administrative (Ms. Sam) Approval Required

28. Health • Learn good personal • health behaviors; • Identify environmental • factors impacting health; • Analyze health info; • Maintain healthy • relationships; • Understand puberty & the • reproductive process • HS credit.

29. Beginning Art • Study principles/elements of art; • Develop technical and creative • skills; • Use a variety of media (drawing, • painting, & sculpture); • Identify artworks from history & • the influence of historical events • on art; • Learn to critique artworks; • Beginning Art is prerequisite for Intermediate Art; • $10.00 fee required.

30. IntermediateArt • Expand drawing, painting, • ceramics, fiber art, photographic imagery & electronic media-generated art; • Imagine & use perception; • Compare/Contrast artworks; • Prerequisite for Advanced Art; • Beg Art is prerequisite for Int Art; • $10.00 fee required for • supplies.

31. Theatre Arts 1 Basic/Theatre Arts 2-Play Production • Study creative expression • through interpretive • movement and vocal • expression; • Complete activities • including pantomime, • improvisation, dramatic, & • humorous interpretations, • & Reader’s Theatre; • Prerequisite for TA3-Tournament.

32. Student Aide • Work in one of the offices or for a teacher as a peer assistant; • Fulfill duties assigned by • placement which usually • includes simple clerical tasks or • conducting school tours; • Must meet behavior & academic • standards to qualify; • Limited to 8 seats per period; • Requires administrative • approval from Ms. Sam; • Requires completion of all other course units to qualify.

35. DATES TO REMEMBER March 21, 2014....(8th Grade)Take Home Course Selection Sheet March 26, 2014……..….Return Completed Course Selection Sheet to PE Teacher Sept. 12, 2014 ………...LAST DAY FOR ELECTIVE CHANGES June 5, 2014.......YOUR LAST DAY AS A 7TH GRADER!

36. Course Selection Sheets Due Wed., March 26, 2014