Welcome Eighth Grade Highlanders of

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• Welcome Eighth Grade Highlanders of
• 2011-2012

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Chris McCord

• Principal

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Goals

• To challenge kids academically
• To keep children safe
• To prepare kids for high school

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School Day

• 850 a.m. until 350 p.m.
• Everything from an operational perspective
  remains much the same.

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Required Courses 8th grade

• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• U.S. History
• P.E. (1 semester)
• Electives 5 choices
• Please note the difference from 7th grade, which
  only provided 4 choices.

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8th Schedule(No fine arts or athletics)
The P.E. class is one semester and then replaced
by an elective the other semester. Students will
take five electives total.
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8th Schedule(Athletic Schedule)
Typically, eighth-grade athletics classes meet in
the afternoon.
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8th Schedule(Band, Choir, Orchestra)
The actual time slot for the fine-art class will
vary based on the specific class assigned.
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Elective/Core Course Requests

• Elective/Core Course Request Sheets will be sent
  home with current seventh graders in the next few
  weeks.
• The document provides space for elective requests
  (5).
• The reverse side provides information for core
  class level requests (language arts, science, and
  social studiesPre-AP or regular).

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Elective/Core Course Requests

• You may chose the level of the core course choice
  for language arts, science, and social studies
  for your child. This selection is to be marked on
  the reverse side of the elective/core course
  request sheet.
• In math, students will progress to the next
  appropriate course in the math-learning sequence.
• Seventh-grade math to Pre-Algebra
• Pre-Algebra Pre-AP to HS Algebra Pre-AP
• HS Algebra Pre-AP to HS Geometry Pre-AP

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Elective Course Request Sheet

• On request sheet
• Please read all detailed, bulleted information on
  the document for specifics.
• Year-round classes occupy two slots and should be
  listed as the first requests.

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(No Transcript)
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The Elective Course Registration Process

• Our administration and our counselors will meet
  with each incoming eighth-grade student to
  discuss his/her elective requests in advisory
  class.
• We will review the sheet shown on the previous
  slide to ensure accuracy.
• The request will be entered into our MIS system
  with the student during advisement class.
• We use these requests to hire qualified
  teachers.

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Notification of Student Elective Requests

• During the spring, we will send home documents,
  indicating the requested elective courses as well
  as the specific levels of core academic classes
  they chose.
• Please review these closely and let the
  Counseling Center know before May 1st if there
  are any needed changes.

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Factors which affect individual students
schedule formation

• Staffing (based on enrollment)
• Availability of Course
• Core Course Selection
• Course selection by students
• Seniority

• Specialty Classes
• Athletics
• Fine Arts
• Algebra
• Physical Education
• Number of electives
• 20 unique choices
• Will take 5

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Adventure into Academics

• Core Subject Information

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Required Courses 8th grade

• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• U.S. History
• P.E. (1 semester)
• Electives 5 choices
• Please note the difference from 7th grade, which
  only provided 4 choices.

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Science

• Science
• Pre-AP Science

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Science Fair Project

• There is an increased expectation for the level
  of the project in eighth grade above and beyond
  what was expected in seventh.
• The students focus on technical writing with
  increased research.
• The project requires considerable work conducted
  outside of the school day.

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History

• U.S. History
• Pre-AP U.S. History
• Students need to be able to read and write
  critically, perceptively, and independently.

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Language Arts

• Language Arts
• Pre-AP Language Arts
• Students really need to be self-motivated readers
  and writers.

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Eighth Grade Math Courses

• Pre-Algebra
• Algebra (HS)
• Geometry (HS)

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MathProgression (Regular)

• 7th Grade - 7th Math
• 8th Grade - Pre-Algebra
• 9th Grade - Algebra
• 10th Grade - Geometry
• 11th Grade - Algebra II/Pre-Calculus
• 12th Grade Calculus (Optional)
• This is also diagrammed in our Course
  Description Guide.

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Math Progression (Advanced 1 year)

• 7th Grade - Pre-Algebra Pre-AP
• 8th Grade HS Algebra Pre-AP
• 9th Grade HS Geometry
• 10th Grade - Algebra II
• 11th Grade - Pre-Calculus
• 12th Grade Calculus (Optional)

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Math Progression(Advanced 2 years)

• 7th Grade HS Algebra Pre-AP
• 8th Grade HS Geometry Pre-AP
• 9th Grade - Algebra II
• 10th Grade - Pre-Calculus Independent Study
• 11th Grade - Pre-Calculus
• 12th Grade Calculus (Optional)

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Placement Considerations Moving from Seventh to
Eighth Grade

• Students, by default, progress to 8th grade in
  the corresponding class from 7th grade.
• Level Science to Level Science
• 7th Pre-AP History to 8th Pre-AP History
• 7th Math to Pre-Algebra
• Pre-Algebra Pre-AP to HS Algebra Pre-AP
• HS Algebra Pre-AP to HS Geometry Pre-AP

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Placement Considerations for Eighth Grade

• If a student wishes to move to a regular class
  from a Pre-AP class (excluding math), contact his
  or her counselor with the request in writing
  before the May 1st deadline.
• Emails and contact information are on our webpage
  under Parent Services.

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Seventh Grade Level Math to High School Algebra I
Option

• I want my child to go directly from level seventh
  grade math to High-School Algebra.
• Take the next course in math sequence-
  Pre-Algebra.
• The student may take a district summer school
  class
• The student MUST meet C.I.S.D. summer school
  attendance requirements.

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Seventh Grade Level to High School Algebra I
Option

• This class is taught for first-time exposure to
  Pre-Algebra.
• The course is intensive and students receive
  full class hours and instruction.
• It ensures the student does not miss the critical
  year of Pre-Algebra before being responsible for
  HS math.
• Check website for information in May.

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Going from Pre-Algebra Pre-AP in seventh grade
to HS Algebra Pre-AP in eighth grade

• To move into eighth-grade, high-school Algebra I
  Pre-AP, students must maintain an 80 average or
  higher in seventh-grade Pre-Algebra Pre-AP. If
  the course average is between 70 and 79, or if
  the student is in seventh-grade math with an 80
  or better average, the student must score an 80
  on the CISD Pre-Algebra Credit by Exam test and
  the Algebra Readiness Exam.

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Math Note Affecting HS Math Choices

• Four years of math and science are required in
  high school, beginning with HS algebra.
• As of now, HS math courses taken in junior high
  count toward those four.
• At least three math courses must be taken at the
  high school campus.

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Planner

• PTA is planning to continue offering planners as
  of now.
• Please contact the PTA if you would like to be a
  sponsor.
• 832-592-5100

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High-School Course Considerations

• As a high-school class, the courses are much more
  challenging.
• The classes do not figure directly in G.P.A.
• They do not figure in class rank.
• The are, however, reflected on transcripts.
• It is not necessary to get your student on the
  fast track to get all the courses in the four
  years at TWHS.

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Electives

• A Taste of Adventure

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Number of elective choices for eighth graders

• All eighth-grade students have five elective
  choices
• One additional course from the four needed in the
  seventh grade since the students are required to
  have only one semester of P.E.

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Eighth Grade Elective Choices

• Art
• Band
• Choir
• Careers
• Career Portals Computer Applications
• May be taken twice
• Career Portals Technology May be taken twice
• Exploring Languages
• High School Communications
• High School Health

• Career Portals Human Services
• Music Appreciation
• Orchestra
• HS Spanish I
• Spanish II for Native Speakers (must qualify)
• Teen Leadership
• Theater Arts

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High School Spanish I

• The course lasts an entire school year (2
  semesters).
• It is similar to taking HS Spanish I at TWHS.
• The class is rigorous, fast-moving, and intense.
• It is a high-school course
• For these reasons, if you choose multiple Pre-AP
  core courses, please consider this class on a
  similar level as it is an advanced, high-school
  course

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Spanish II for Native Speakers

• This course is for students who have Spanish as
  their first language.
• There is a placement examination to qualify.
• Many existing seventh graders qualified for this
  course when they were in sixth grade.
• Students may attempt to qualify again.
• Students must be able to read, listen, speak, and
  write Spanish fluently.
• Students will receive credit for HS Spanish I
  with successful completion of Spanish II.

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HS Health and HS Communications Applications

• These cover high-school topics and state TEKS.
• Permission from parent is required to request
  Health.
• The grade will appear on high-school transcript.
• G.P.A. will not be factored based on high-school
  course scores taken in junior high.

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HS Health and HS Communications Applications

• These may free up space in the student's
  high-school schedule to take alternate and/or
  more rigorous courses
• Need as a parent/guardian to be prepared for your
  child to receive high school level information on
  health topics
• McCullough common sense
• Scheduling-wise, it makes sense to take both if
  the student is going to take one.

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McCullough Athletics
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State Eligibility for Participation

• No classes are exempt in junior high from
  counting for UIL eligibility
• Includes Pre-AP courses
• Includes High School Courses
• Students must pass all classes to be eligible to
  participate in games/contests.
• UIL and Progress Report Schedule is posted online
  at our website under athletics and parent
  services.

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8th Grade Athletics

• Physical dated after April 15, 2011
• Birth Certificate
• Commitment for the year
• Boys
• Fourth period green
• Girls
• Fourth period red
• Replaces P.E.

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Volleyball

• Tryouts are the first week of school.
• If a student makes the team, her schedule may
  change.
• It meets as a class during the school day

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Girls and Boys Basketball Off-season Class

• Placement and tryout information is coming soon.
• This is for the class, not the team.
• If students make the off-season class, his/her
  schedule may change.

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Girls and Boys Basketball Teams

• Tryouts for the team are in late October or early
  November.
• This requires a commitment for the year.

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Boys and Girls Football

• Practice is after school.

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Cross-Country

• The season is in the fall.
• The students remain in off-season throughout the
  year.
• Most meets are on Friday evening.

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Boys and Girls Track

• The season begins in February.
• Everyone makes the team.
• Practice
• 7th- Morning
• 8th- Afternoon

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Club Golf

• This is a spring sport.
• There are tryouts.
• For more information, contact Coach Lilley.

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Club Tennis

• This is a spring sport.
• There are tryouts.
• Practices meet before and after school.
• For more information, contact Coach Saltis.

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Club Soccer

• Soccer is not a UIL sport in junior high.
• There are tryouts.
• The team plays other junior-high teams once
  within district.
• There are a total of five games.
• Girls- Coach Maddock
• Boys- Coach Texidor

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Questions regarding Athletics

• Please contact Lance Skinner.
• Girls and Boys Athletic Coordinator
• cskinner_at_conroeisd.net

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Private P.E.

• Must be an approved facility for 2011-2012
• Individual Olympic event preparations
• Fully completed application and required form are
  available online at district website around
  mid-April.

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Private P.E.

• Completed form will be due by formal deadline on
  May 1st
• Students with approved applications will not be
  in a P.E. class at McCullough

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Private P.E.

• Students can change facility only at semester
• Parents must be able to pickup child promptly at
  dismissal time- exactly 250 p.m. each day.
• Students will be in a fourth-period class on
  campus from 226 p.m. until 250 p.m.
• The state allows us to dismiss one hour early
  each day.

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Private P.E.

• Parents and students must be flexible on the
  schedule as it will change due to pep rallies,
  TAKS, exams, etc.
• Facilities submit records of attendance and grade
  for the class.

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Level 1 Private P.E.

• 15 hours or more per week at approved facility
  are required.
• Students planning to do private P.E. need to
  check regular P.E. on Elective Course request
  sheet initially.

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Level 1 Private P.E.

• Students are assigned to a fourth-period private
  P.E. class from 226 p.m. until 250 p.m. each
  day.
• Commitment for the entire year is required.

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Level 2 Private P.E.

• This requires 5 hours or more a week at an
  approved activity.
• It has very few advantages.
• The student is required to be in band, choir, or
  orchestra in place of the physical education
  class.
• The student is asking for two extra classroom
  classes above and beyond.
• There are no exceptions to this.

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For more information on band, contact

• Susan Meyer
• sbmeyer_at_conroeisd.net

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For more information on orchestra, contact

• Michelle Reinhardt
• mreinhardt_at_conroeisd.net

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For more information on choir, contact

• Keith Brumfield
• kbrumfield_at_conroeisd.net

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• Staff members are available to answer your
  questions on a wide range of subjects as we
  conclude.
• Following are key people who can help you along
  with their picture

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Questions

• Department Heads
• Questions about math, language arts, history,
  science
• Counselors
• Program questions
• Administrators
• General