Rising 7 th and 8 th Grade Course Selection Parent information Process

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 were loaded into Phoenix on January 22nd and are viewable by parents/students. 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 * PE, Tech Ed, FACS, and Resource will be mass added by the counselor

3. The current 6th and 7th grade student teacher recommendations are in ParentVue. We will continue with Honors for English, History/Civics, and Science. • All Honors because: • Classes are heterogeneous • Focus is on mastery of content • Differentiation is based on need • Personalized Learning • Math is the only exception as there are no honors designations for Math. Students simply follow the LCPS Math progression.

4. Rising 7th Grade Timeline Ms. Blevins will meet with students during Resource/Spectrum classes February 11th-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 Februrary 22nd to view and make changes only to their student’s elective choices via Student/ParentVUE. Instructions on how to make changes were sent via e-mail and are available on the HPMS website under the School Counseling Tab> Rising 7th Grade Info. *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 Ms. Blevins if there is a change needed.

5. 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**

6. 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 a Language Elective or Coding 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)

7. Coding at the Middle School • There is LIMITED SPACE available for Coding at Middle School (CAMS) Course. If your student has an affinity for technology AND math, they may replace their Language elective with this Coding Course. • *NOTE: Because there is limited space available for participation in this elective, you are not guaranteed to take this class if you select it. The rosters are created by selecting interested students from a lottery until seats are filled. • Coding At Middle School (CAMS) Course Description: “CAMS is an introduction to computer science which integrates mathematics concepts, focusing on problem solving. Students will create and share their own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art. Students will develop programming projects in which they learn skills that are critical to future success: thinking creatively, communicating clearly, analyzing systematically, using technologies fluently, collaborating effectively, designing interactively, and learning continuously. Scratch and other programming languages will be used in this course.”

8. Rising 8th Grade Timeline Core Classes (Math, English, Science and History) recommendations were pre-loaded into StudentVUE and viewable to students and locked. World Language for current students – teacher recommendations were loaded into StudentVue to advance to level 2 or repeat level 1 - not locked. Course Selection – Students participate in course selection through Tech Ed and FACS classes beginning the end of January to pick electives. Academic and Career Plan – Students generate a basic ACP during Course Selection. Plans are sent home for parent signature. *Parents/Students will have until February 22nd to view and make changes to ELECTIVES ONLY via Student/ParentVUE. *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. Kole know if a change needs to be made to the recommendation.

9. Required Courses-Grade 8 English - Honors Civics- Government/Economics - Honors Physical Science-Physics/Chemistry - Honors Math: Students who took Math 7 will go to Algebra 1 (some to Math 8) Students who took Algebra 1 will go to Geometry (some will repeat Algebra 1) Students who took Geometry will go to Alg 2/Trig Health and PE 8 Resource- Required 90 minute Resource block every other day. (Spectrum will have 45 minutes of Resource and 45 minutes of Spectrum) Electives– Most students will have 2 elective choices

10. Math Progression Algebra 1 Math 7 Math 6 Math 8 Geometry Algebra 1 Accelerated Math 6/7 Algebra 1 Math 8

11. World Language in Middle School • For an Advance Studies Diploma (which most students will be working towards), the minimum requirement is 3 years of one World Language or 2 years of 2 different Languages. Example: Spanish 1,2,3 or German 1,2 and French 1,2 • Students who started their World Language in 7th grade and stayed with that same language, will have the opportunity to take the AP level during their senior year. Some upper levels are also offered as Dual Enrollment. • Currently, World Language on-line summer courses are available for levels 1, 2, and 3(Spanish, French) but only for rising ninth graders and high school students. This may also allow a student to advance to AP. • Example: Spanish 1,2,3,4,5, AP Example: Dual Enrollment German 5 • World Language in Level 4 & 5 receive 0.5 Honors Level credit.

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

13. 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) Guitar Level 2 (must have taken Level 1) Chorus Art 8 Family and Consumer Sciences Technology Education Robotics (information on next slides) Dramatics Exploration (Information on next slides) Students who are taking a World Language will choose ONE of these electives

14. Technology of robotic design-Course Code 803000Grade 8Credit: 1 • Students engage in the study of computers and microprocessorsand 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.

15. Robotics – continued • High School elective for 8th graders – 2nd year offered • Rigorous • Requires higher level thinking for problem solving • Earn high school credit 1.0 – factored into the GPA • Limited space – lottery - students will need to choose an alternate elective.

16. Dramatics Exploration Exploratory Dramatics will provide students with an introduction to the study of performance, theatre history, dramatic literature and theatrical production. Through research, planning, scripting, production and performance experiences, students will acquire skills in communicating ideas, critical thinking and collaborative problem solving. This course prepares students for further theatrical study in high school. Limited space - Limited space – lottery - students will need to choose an alternate elective.

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

18. What is GPA? • 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, World Languages, Robotics. A+ 98-100 4.3 A 93-97 4.0 A- 90-92 3.7 B+ 87-89 3.3 B 83-86 3.0 B- 80-82 2.7 C+ 77-79 2.3 C 73-76 2.0 C- 70-72 1.7 D+ 67-69 1.3 D 63-66 1.0 D- 60-62 0.7 F 59 and below 0.0

19. Academic and Career Plan Worksheet

20. 16 Career Cluster Choices • _____ AGRICULTURE, FOOD & NATURAL RESOURCES • _____ ARCHITECTURE & CONSTRUCTION • _____ ARTS, AV TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATIONS • _____ BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATION • _____ EDUCATION & TRAINING • _____ FINANCE • _____ GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION • _____ HEALTH SCIENCE • _____ HOSPITALITY & TOURISM • _____ HUM, & AN SERVICES • _____ INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY • ______INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS& MARKETING • _____ LAW, PUBLIC SAFETY, CORRECTIONS & SECURITY • _____ MANUFACTURING • _____ MARKETING, SALES & SERVICE • _____ SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATHEMATICS • _____ TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION, LOGISTICS

21. Advanced studies diploma

22. 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. Kole) Rising 7th Graders: Submit forms to HPMS (Ms. Blevins)

23. On Line summer classes • LCPS offers on-line middle school summer courses through Virtual Loudoun for advancement purposes only. • Courses Offered: • Rising 7th - Math 7 (with a school recommendation) • Rising 8th – Math Courses (must complete Middle School Course progression and understand that further courses may NOT be available at the Middle School level) It is NOT recommended that a student take Algebra 1 for the first time in summer school. • Information can be found on the Virtual Loudoun website: https://www.lcps.org/VirtualLoudoun • 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.

24. What should you do now? • Watch the course selection videos and/or Power Point presentations, provided by counselors, WITH your child to discuss elective options. To view all of the course selection presentations for your child’s grade level, you can find them on our School Counseling Website:https://www.lcps.org/domain/2200 • Review the Program of Studies through the LCPS website: https://www.lcps.org/Page/1910 • Look in StudentVue/ParentVue WITH your child to make sure you are ok with the selections. • Review and discuss with your child, what electives they should request. Encourage them to meet with their counselor for any questions or recommendations. • Students/Parents can make changes in StudentVue until February 22nd. After that date, changes can only be made through the counselor.

25. Questions?