Georgetown ISD 2016-2017 6th Grade Course Selection Parent Presentation

Home of the most inspired students, served by the most empowered leaders.

Welcome to Forbes Middle School

Facts about Forbes… School colors -  black, silver and royal blue School mascot - Forbes Falcons Fun mascot fact - Prior to being the falcons, the

eagle was the mascot for all middle schools. The students of Forbes voted to change the mascot to the falcon.

School name – Forbes is named in honor of Charles A. Forbes

Campus Administration

Principal: Brian Booker

Assistant Principals: Robert Costello & Laurie McIntyre

Counselors: Tammy Morrison & Laura Roberton

More Forbes Facts

• Dress Code (the highlights) – Revealing or inappropriate clothing is not allowed on our campus.

This includes the following: Plunging, low-cut, Spaghetti, tank-tops, or strapless tops (straps must be 3 fingers in width). Sheer or see-through, or excessively tight (including leggings unless the shirt or skirt worn over clothing is finger-tip length). Pajamas/sleepwear of any kind. Visible undergarments (standing or sitting)

All jeans, pants, shorts, skirts, & dresses worn must be finger-tip length.

Hats, caps, bandanas or other headgear is not permitted in the building.

Please refer to district dress code policy for additional details• Buses – Prior to the first day of school, students will receive

information on their assigned bus/drop-off/pick-up locations. It is the student’s responsibility to get on the correct bus.

• Lockers – • Students will be assigned both a hallway locker and a gym locker. • Locks are provided for the gym locker, but it is the student’s

responsibility to provide a lock for his or her hallway locker.• Students can decorate the inside of their lockers only

Typical Middle School Day

All 6th grade students will take 4 subjects ELAR ~ English/Language Arts/Reading Math Science Social Studies

All 6th grade students will take PE/Health Students are required to complete 2 full years of PE/Athletics before

completing 8th grade.

All 6th grade students will take ONE Fine Arts elective

Students are required to complete one full year of a fine arts course before completing 8th grade.

All 6th grade students will have lunch All 6th grade students will have Advisory

(Subject to change)

PE/Health & Fine Arts Elective

All 6th graders will take PE/Health All 6th graders will take one elective

All electives for 6th graders are Fine Arts Art, Band, Choir, Orchestra & Theater

Every effort will be made to schedule students into first choice elective. However, class size limitations and other scheduling factors may require placement in a student’s

second or third choice elective.

Interventions are required for students who did not pass the STAAR and/or based upon documented reading or math levels.

If academic interventions are necessary, the campus will adjust the student’s schedule accordingly to add in academic support. GISD will determine appropriate support sometime this spring.

Parents will be notified regarding intervention measures for their child.

Pre-AP Courses

Middle school Pre-Advanced Placement courses are designed to prepare students for high school Pre-AP and AP courses.

Parents should review the Georgetown ISD Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP)/Advanced Placement (AP) Guidelines document to make an informed decision about placement for their child.

After careful review of the indicators of success, if a student meets the characteristics listed, advanced coursework is recommended.

Students who enroll in Pre-AP courses will be required to adhere to the Georgetown ISD Pre-AP/AP Course Commitment including the Petition for Pre-AP/AP Course Exit.

All of these documents can be found in the Georgetown ISD Course Catalog and in the course selection paperwork sent home from your elementary campus.

Please consult the GISD Calendar for Pre-AP/AP and G/T Parent Awareness Presentations available in January.

Gifted/Talented Services

For identified Gifted /Talented students, the appropriate course selection is Pre-AP.

Teachers of G/T students are appropriately trained. Opportunities to qualify for G/T are available annually. Students who enroll in G/T courses will be required to

adhere to the Georgetown ISD Pre-AP/AP Course Commitment including the Petition for Pre-AP/AP Course Exit.

Please consult the GISD Calendar for Pre-AP/AP and G/T Parent Awareness Presentations available in January.

Special Programs

GISD is reviewing the bell schedule and the instructional time of each subject area.

As a district, we are considering changes to the middle school bell schedule in order to best serve all of our students.

It is our goal to avoid taking middle school students out of their elective or PE course for interventions such as STAAR tutorials or dyslexia services.

This is something we will be working on through the spring and should have more information for families before the end of the school year.

Completing the Course Selection Worksheet

6th Grade Course Selection Worksheet Steps to Completing Course Selection Worksheet

Circle one course selection for each number 1-6.

All students must list two alternate electives.

Student and parent signatures are required.

Completed worksheets are due to your child’s 5th grade teacher no later than January 29, 2016.

Georgetown ISD Secondary Schools Schedule Change Guidelines

Schedule change requests must be made in writing, with a parent signature, within five (5) days of the start of class.

Requests may not be approved.

Requests for schedule changes will be approved for the following reasons: Error in schedule (This will be confirmed by counselor and the

course verification form. If the course verification form was not returned, this request will be denied.)

Student failure in prerequisite course Change in program/level (athletics, band, choir, orchestra, etc.) Level changes as recommended by teachers and counselor with

parental knowledge and principal approval

More information regarding the Georgetown ISD Secondary Schools Schedule Change Guidelines are available in the Georgetown ISD Middle School Course

Catalog.

Georgetown ISD Petition for Pre-AP/AP Course Exit

Petition for Pre-AP/AP Course Exit may be requested twice during the school year:

the 6th week of the first grading cycle (second progress report) and are due within 10 days of posted grades;

~ OR ~two weeks before the last day of the fall semester (to begin

in an on-level course for the spring semester).

Students who enroll in GT courses will be required to adhere to the Georgetown ISD Pre-AP/AP Course Commitment including the Petition for Pre-AP/AP Course Exit.

More information regarding the Georgetown ISD Pre-AP/AP Course Commitment and the Georgetown ISD Petition for Pre-AP/AP Course Exit are available in the Georgetown ISD Middle School Course Catalog.

Course Selection & Course Verification

Parents who want to make changes to their child’s course requests after the 1/29 due date will need to wait until the course verification process in the spring.

Schools will not make any changes requested after the due date and before the course verification process.

You will receive a course verification form later this spring.  At that time, you may make changes to your child’s course requests, sign it, and then return the form.

We want all changes completed in writing with a parent signature during the course verification process.

Middle School Course Catalog

Georgetown ISD Course CatalogThe following presentation references the Georgetown ISD Middle School Course Catalog which is available online at www.georgetownisd.org

Thank you!Please make sure course selection worksheets are filled out completely and are legible! Student and parent signatures are required! Course Selection Worksheets due 1/29 to your child’s 5th grade teacher!