Welcome Parents!

Planning for 7th and 8th Grade

2019-2020

Administrative Team

Amanda Prehn

Principal

BCMS

Lester Wolff

Interim Principal

LTMS

Tom Payne

Principal

HBMS

Assistant Principals

Tres Ellis Melissa McWherter Janet Pyne

Assistant Principals

Dessard NorrisRachel Foreman Michaele Panza

Counselors

Cynthia SmithSurita ScholiaSandy Casares

Counselors

Sarah FiggSonja Ferguson Michael Gerhard

Important Middle School Course Selection Dates

View video on course request sheet and electives during LA class

February 22nd

Rising 7th and 8th Grade Parent Night February 26th @ 6:30

Completed Course Request Sheets Due to History Teacher

March 1st

Course Selections entered into computer system during History class

Rising 7th Grade-March 11-12

Rising 8th Grade-March 5-6

Round Up (for schedule pick up etc.) August (TBD)

• Math: 3 Years

• Language Arts: 3 Years

• Science: 3 Years

• Social Studies: 3 Years

• PE/Dance/Athletics: 2 Years

(Includes Health @ 6th Grade)

• Fine Arts: 1 Year

• Technology: 1 Year

Middle School Requirements

● 4 Required Academic Courses○ Math

○ Language Arts

○ Science

○ Social Studies

● PE or Rhythm & Movement (Dance based PE)

● Fine Arts Elective○ Art, Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theatre Arts

**If you are going to take two fine arts electives, one must be a music class (band-orchestra-choir)

● Additional Elective○ Fine Arts, Technology, Enrichment, GT, ESL

7 Period Day Schedule

48 Minute

Classes

Physical Education

Beginning in 7th grade and also in 8th:

Students have the added option of choosing Athletics.

Boys Girls

Cross Country* Cross Country*

Football Volleyball

Basketball Basketball

Track and Field Track and Field

Golf* Golf*

Tennis* Tennis*

Soccer* Soccer*

*Do not have to be enrolled in Athletics to participate

PPE WaiverPhysical Education Waivers may be requested to

waive PE during 6th, 7th, and 8th grade if students

are involved in an approved private or

commercially sponsored physical activity program

that leads to Olympic-level competition.

These programs typically involve a minimum of 15

hours per week of highly intense, professionally

supervised training.

Completed Application Due by June 13th.

6th, 7th & 8th grade students may submit a request

for a PE waiver under the following conditions:

• The student trains in a high‐level individual athletic, dance, or equestrian

program through an outside provider that is above & beyond local youth

sports activities & competes at a regional, national, &/or international

level.

• Completed paperwork must be submitted in June 13,2019. Waivers will

not be approved after August 12, 2019.

• Students must be enrolled in the program for the entire school year. The

waiver will only occur during the last period of the day.

• Progress reports must be returned by the trainer/coach every 9 weeks so

that grade can be issued.

• Paperwork requesting a PE waiver can be obtained from the counseling

office or the District website.

Elective Choices:

Athletics FIne Arts Technology

*Girls Athletics *Art *Digital Graphics I & II

*Boys Athletics *Band *Tech Applications

*Rhythm and Movement *Orchestra *Video Broadcast

*PE *Choir *Video Production

*PE Waiver *Theater Arts *Gateway to Tech I & II

* Yearbook (8th grade)

Foreign Language Other

*Spanish 1 (8th) *GT Discovery (GT identified only)

*Teen Leadership (7th or 8th)

Requires Office Staff Approval/TryOuts

*Library Aide (8th) *Office Aide (8th) *Jazz Co. *Cheer

**Note that Tech Applications is the same course for 6th, 7th and 8th grade.**

Discovery

(For Students Identified GT)

Discovery is hands on and project oriented. All work is

done in class and counts as a technology elective.

● Projects are based on the areas of study at Lake Travis

High School

○ Engineering

○ Sciences

○ Business

○ Humanities

○ Literature

○ Communications

Gateway To Technology

Design & Modeling

Year 1

Automation & Robotics

Key Concepts:• What is Automation and

Robotics?• Mechanical Systems• Automated SystemsProject:• Windmill Design• Simulated Factory Cell

Energy & the Environment

Key Concepts:• Investigating Energy• Sustainable Energy• Making an ImpactProjects:• Wind Power• Energy Expo• Penguin Dwellings

Key Concepts:• What is Engineering?• Design Process• Measurement• Sketching and

Dimensioning Techniques• Designing for ProductionProject:• Playground Design

Earns High School Credit

(0.5)

Gateway To Technology

Flight & Space

Year 2

Science of Technology

Key Concepts:• Applied Chemistry• Nanotechnology• Applied PhysicsProjects:• Oil Spill• Nano Products• Rube Goldberg

Magic of Electrons

Key Concepts:• What is Electricity?• Electronics• Digital ElectronicsProjects:• Generators• Circuit Design• Logic Problems

Key Concepts:• History of Flight & Space• Aeronautics• Traveling & Living in

SpaceProjects:• Aerospace Infomercial• Airfoil Design• AstroEngineer Serious

Game

Earns High School Credit

(0.5)

Course Selection Sheets: DUE March 1st to

History Teacher

Personal Information

Required Academic Courses

Math Tracks Options for Current

6th Grade Students

Math 6 ----> Math 7

Pre AP Math 6 ----> Pre AP Math 7

Pre AP Math 7 ----> Pre AP Algebra 1

Math Tracks Options for Current

7th Grade Students

Math 7 ----> Math 8

Pre AP Math 7 ----> Pre AP Algebra 1

Pre AP Algebra 1 ---> Pre AP Geometry

7th Grade PE

Electives

● Rank your

elective choices 1-

6

● 1 being your top

choice

● Please note

prerequisites needed

for courses with an (*)

by them

Final Step

Course Selection Sheet Due Date:

March 1st

Return to your history teacher

Pre-AP vs. On-Level

Characteristics of successful Pre-AP students:

• Have a history of completing & submitting work in a timely manner

• Exhibit a high level of organizational & study skills

• Have high intellectual creative ability

• Be able to handle increased homework expectations

• Be able to work well independently & in groups

• Have good time management skills

• Recommended that students maintain an average of 90% or higher from the previous year.

Schedule Changes

● Schedule changes will be considered only in the event of

inappropriate placement, movement between regular and

Pre-AP classes, lack of prerequisites, an error in

enrollment or a scheduling conflict.

● Since there are no single-semester courses in middle

school, no mid-year schedule changes will be approved.

● Any schedule change must be requested through the

counselor and ultimately approved by the Principal.

● Requests for elective changes will not be honored.

Immunization Requirements

Entry into 7th grade requires proof that your child received:● Tdap vaccine

● Meningococcal (MVC4) vaccine

● Or have an updated original affidavit of exemption on file

Your child will not receive their schedule for 7th grade nor will they be able to

start 7th grade until the required records are received.

There are no immunization requirements for incoming 8th graders.

● Please note that students ARE NOT allowed to carry their own medication

unless it is an Epipen, inhaler, or diabetic supplies. For these items paperwork is

required and must be renewed at the beginning of each year and include parent

and physician signatures.

● Over the counter medicines (Tylenol, Advil, etc.) in their original container can be

brought to the clinic by the parent.

● Please refer to the Medication Section of the Middle School Handbook for

additional information.

Dress Code

Students shall be dressed and groomed in a manner that is

clean and neat and that will not be a health or safety hazard

to themselves or others. The District prohibits any clothing or

grooming that in the principal’s judgment may reasonably be

expected to cause disruptions of or interference with normal

school operations.

Refer to Middle School Handbook/Code of Conduct.

Times to know8:50 am – Start Time

4:10 pm – End Time

5:20 pm – Late bus (M-TH)

Homework Hall/Tutoring

• Monday-Thursday 4:10 pm-5:10 pm

• Students can make arrangements with

individual teachers for before and after

school tutoring. (8:20 am or 4:10 pm start)

Social-Emotional Learning

What It Is and Why It Matters

http://www.secondstep.org/social-emotional-learning

Please join PTO!

You can join and access

other PTO services at:

LTMS PTO

HBMS PTO

BCMS PTO coming soon

Campus PTO’s sponsor a variety of activities…

• Field Trips

• School Supply Service

• Technology Resources

• Teacher Professional Development

• Organize and sponsor events like Kazaam!

• Teacher Appreciation

Thank you

for joining us!