Welcome TO Middle School

Class of 2025

COUNSELORSRENAE PEREZ –8TH GRADE, EMILY DANNER– 7TH

GRADEJENNIFER WEDGE – 7TH GRADE & 8TH GRADE

Principal: Leslie Norris

Assistant Principal: Laurie Schaefer(8th)

Assistant Principal: Doug Wilhelm (7th)

Assistant Principal Operations:

Paul Harper

Class of 2025 House

Leaders

Doug Wilhelm– Administrator

Mrs. Danner- Counselor

Purpose for Meeting

Learn about Core classes offered

Communicate differences between

On-level and Pre-AP classes

Review Aim/Humanities qualifications

Share Elective classes offered

State Required Classes/Vaccinations

Examine Middle School Expectations

General Information

All students take 7 classes everyday.

All students have 1 homeroom period.

7+1

School day begins at 8:20.

School day ends at 3:30.

8:20 –3:30

Core Classes

All 7th graders take 4 Core Classes

English (double-blocked)

(English will be listed twice on class schedule)

Math

Science

Texas History

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)

All current 2018-2019 6th grade students will be evaluated for Math 7 PreAP/IB. Qualifications based upon the following: 4th Math STAAR Advanced Level III, 5th Math STAAR Advanced Level III, 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-evaluated using 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.

Gifted & Talented

ClassesAIM in Elementary School =

Humanities in Middle School

Humanities includes: English (1 period), History(1 period), Reading (1 period)

If you are in AIM now, you will automatically be enrolled in Humanities. Sign up for Pre-AP English and Pre-AP History

If interested in this program email gifted@allenisd.org

Gifted & Talented

Science

⬜ Qualification based on GT identification

⬜ Course is self-select (only available to students who are identified GT)

⬜ Please read the Academic Planning Guide to learn more about this course.

⬜ If student furloughs GT Humanities (English & History), they may still self-select GT Science

On-Level OR Pre-AP/IB ??

On-Level 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.)

Pre-AP/IB 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.)

On-Level OR Pre-AP/IB ??

6th Grade

Daily Grades

60%

Quizzes/ Tests

Projects

40%

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.

Points to consider when choosing

Pre-AP/IB classes

Transitioning from elementary to middle school is

not easy. Moving from a class size of 117 to a

class size of 624 makes being at the top of the

class a challenge. This challenge can create

anxiety, which can lead to a dislike of going to

school , etc.

Please understand, being promoted to 7th grade

means that your child is indeed ready for 7th

grade. On-level means they are where all 7th

graders SHOULD be.

ElectivesWARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

Please select classes carefully. Our master schedule for all coursework and hiring of staff is determined by the courses selected in this process. The opportunity to switch a class is very difficult. Make sure your choices and alternates are truly YOURS!

No schedule changes for teacher requests, teacher change, or lunch period request!

Read the Academic Planning Guide and Course Descriptions very closely when making class selections

FILL-IN ALL ALTERNATIVE CHOICES (2) on course selection form.

ElectivesOne Semester Electives:

o Investigating Careers in Human Services

o Investigating Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

o Investigating Careers in Communications and Media Arts Science

o Investigating Careers in Health Science

o Investigating Careers in Business

o Investigating Careers in Finance

o College and Career Readiness

o Technology Applications in Computer Graphics

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)

o Introduction to Robotics – New!!

Boys Athletics

Football Basketball Off season

To play football, sign up for Boys Athletics. Everyone plays!!

If you only want 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

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 and is not running for track, they will not be enrolled in the

second semester of athletics.

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)

** Golf and Tennis may be selected. If you do not make the team, your schedule will be changed to PE.

Track and Cross Country

Students do not need to be in Athletics or PE to

participate in track or cross country

Practices take place before or after school

If student only wants to participate in track or

cross country, do not sign up for athletics

Students will not receive PE credit for track or cross

country.

Wrestling

Wrestling practice is after school

Boys and girls may participate

Students do not receive PE credit for wrestling in

middle school

Coed PE

To move on to High School, Every students

must take 2 semesters

of PE or Athletics during Middle School.(A student can take more but not less than 2 semesters)

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.

Athletic Department / Off Campus PE

Full Year Fine Arts Electives

Band

Orchestra

Choir

You must be in Band or Orchestra in 6th grade to be in Band or Orchestra in 7th grade.

Yearbook

Application Required

Students will learn to take quality pictures, to design and organize set-up pages, and to cooperate with fellow classmates

Must be self-disciplined, responsible, and able to meet deadlines

Limited class size

** Application deadline: March 22nd

Application can be found on Mrs. Barnes’ website

Partners in PE

Application and Interview Process Required

• Partners in PE is a success oriented PE

program using supervised peer tutors and

individualized learning and instruction.

• Benefits for Student Partners

✓ Interact with students with disabilities and

develop empathy and respect for them

✓ Develop leadership skills

** Application deadline: March 6th

See your Elementary Counselor for applications

.

Required Immunizations for 7th Grade

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 Meningococcal conjugate,vaccine must be identified, Menactra, Menveo, MenACWY, or MCV4.

Incoming students are required to get up to three (3) 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 shot records may be accessed through Parent Access.

Proof of current vaccinations are required prior to the start of 7th

grade.

Required Immunizations for 7th

• In August 2017, 78 students were turned away on the 1st day of school for NOT having proof of immunizations.

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 Action Plan forms can be found on the school nurse’s , Faculty Web Page, or a paper copy may be picked up at your child’s school.

Sports Physicals

• Sports physical paperwork should be given to the coach that instructs your student’s sport

• Sports paperwork must be completed after May 1st

2019.

• Forms and information can be found on the Allen ISD Athletic Department web page.

• Sports physical forms and information are kept with the Athletic Department.

• Parents should discuss health concerns with the coach and the school nurse.

Attendance and Exams

Mid-terms are typically the last two days of the Fall

semester.

Finals are typically the last two days of the Spring

semester

Please do not schedule vacations/trips during

these days. Teachers are not allowed to give

exams early.

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.

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.

Course Selection Form Back-side

This side of the course selection form helps to make sure you have completed the front side correctly.

1. Beside each core subject write either on-level or Pre-AP

2. Beside elective choices write the four electives you have chosen (if course is full year, write that course on both blanks)

3. Write the two alternate courses on the alternate courses lines. Remember, if the course is written as an elective above, it should not be written in as an alternate. Application courses should not be written in anywhere on this form.

4. Remember, English is double-blocked in 7th grade. It will appear twice on your schedule

Academic Planning Guide

The Academic Planning Guide is a resource to use when choosing classes for middle school. Core and elective courses are listed along with a brief description. This will be a valuable tool to use when making class decisions for the upcoming year. We highly encourage you to choose electives that interest you. Middle school is a great time for you to explore your interests and experience many new and exciting things. Choose your electives wisely. Making elective changes once school begins is rarely done

The link to the Academic Planning Guide is on the Ereckson Middle School main page (look under Academics).

Course Selection

Rising 7th grade students

will register on their

Elementary Campus with

their Elementary

Counselor during the

school day.

**Date set by Elementary Campus

Save the Date

July 30th, July 31st and August 1st , Day at the Dog Pound

will be held. This is an orientation for students only. They will

learn about Clubs and Organizations, lunch procedures,

bus procedures, and tour the building. Registration is on-line only and can be found on the counselor website

under Class of 2025.

Parents in the Pound will be July 31st at 5pm.

Thank you for attending

Please visit the counselors’ webpage

under “class 0f 2025” to review tonight's presentation

Follow us on Twitter

@EMSCounselors