R.C. Loflin Middle School 8th Grade Parent Meeting

February 2, 2014

R.C. Loflin Middle School “The Key is ME”

Damon Patterson, Principal

Doug Hampton, 8th Grade Counselor Angela Parkhill, 8th Grade Assistant Principal

Course Selections

• Mr. Hampton will visit 7th grade technology classes to explain 8th grade Course Selection Forms to 7th grade students.

• Birdwell—Monday, February 2nd

• Scott—Tuesday, February 3rd • Wade—Wednesday, February 4th

• If your student is absent on the day Mr. Hampton visits your student’s technology teacher, Mr. Hampton will have extra copies of 8th grade Course Selection Forms in the counselor’s office.

• All 8th grade Course Selection Forms are due to the student’s technology teacher by Thursday, February 12th.

• Mr. Hampton will enter the course selections into the computer the following week.

Required Courses

• ELA • General & Honors

• Math• Pre-Algebra or Algebra I (Honors)

• Science• General & IPC (Honors)

• Social Studies• Exploring Careers (Plan Your Path)• Physical Education

• Athletics• PE

Elective Courses• Art (1/2)• Band* (1)• Choir (1)• General Music (1/2)• Conversational Spanish (1/2)• Theater (1/2)• Teen Leadership (1/2)• Outdoor Adventure (1/2)• Computer Application (1/2)• Computer Technology (1/2)• Speech (1/2)

* Requires Band teacher signature

Elective Courses

• Theatre Art II

• Art II

• Yearbook/Photojournalism

• Honors Choir

• Students taking these classes will be chosen by the teacher. These will not be on the course selection sheets.

Athletics

“Participating in the athletic program is a privilege and we encourage all to participate. However, if during the participation of athletics a student chooses not to follow the JISD

Athletic Code of Conduct or prohibits instruction to other participants, that student may be removed from the athletic program.” ….Joshua ISD Athletic Code of Conduct

Boys Athletics• Football• Basketball• Track• Cross Country

Girls Athletics• Volleyball• Basketball• Track• Cross Country

*Students are encouraged to participate and/or try out for at least 2 sports.

**IMPORTANT* Physicals must be completed and turned into the trainer the first week of school or your student’s schedule

will be changed out of athletics to P.E.

Gifted & Talented

• Students qualifying for GT services are served by being enrolled in at least one Honors class at LMS.

• Honors English• Honors Math (Algebra I)• Honors Science (IPC)

• Students do not go to the GT center at the secondary level.

Honors Courses

• Honors eligibility is based on :

• The student earning a grade of 90+ yearly average in the previous on-level class in the same subject

• The student earns a Level III – Advanced Academic Performance on the STAAR Reading or Math test

• The student has parent permission to enroll in honors classes

• Students who are already taking Pre-Algebra, Honors Science, and Honors Reading/Writing remain eligible to continue in honors courses for the next school year by maintaining a yearly grade average of 80% and passing state assessments.

Honors Courses

Honors ELA• Curriculum is more strenuous than regular 8th grade ELA class• No high school credit is received for participating in the course. • If a student scores below an 80% (for any six weeks grading period), he/she will be placed on probation. If the student shows minimal to no improvement by the end of the following grading period, a teacher or parent may initiate removal. • A contract must be signed by the student & parent the first week of school. • Summer novel reading is required prior to first day of school.

Honors Courses

Honors Math (Algebra I) & Science (IPC) • Curriculum is more strenuous than regular math/science courses. • High school credit is received for participating in each of these courses.• Algebra I students will take the Algebra I end-of-course exam• IPC students will take the 8th grade STAAR Science test• If a student scores below an 80% (for any six weeks grading period), he/she will be placed on probation. If the student shows minimal to no improvement by the end of the following grading period, a teacher or parent may initiate removal. • A contract must be signed by the student & parent the first week of school.

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• House Bill 5 made substantial changes to the state's graduation requirements, moving from the current "4x4" graduation plans to a 22-credit Foundation High School Program.

• The Commissioner has adopted a transition plan to replace the current graduation plans with the Foundation High School Program beginning with the 2014-2015 school year.

New Graduation Plan for Freshman & Beyond

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Joshua ISD Foundation High School Program (FHSP)

26 Credits

Joshua ISD FHSP + EndorsementsDistinguished Level of Achievement

26 Credits 

 4 Credits English 3 Credits Math (*Algebra II required)  3 Credits Science (*chemistry or physics required) 4 Credits Social Studies * 2 Credits Languages other than English 1 Credit Physical Education 1 Credit Fine Arts .5 Credit Speech  1 Credit Technology  6.5 Credits Elective Courses

Special Note:  A student may opt for The Joshua ISD Foundation Plan without an endorsement only under limited circumstances with guardian approval AND with advisement of the counselor/administrator regarding advantages of graduating with one or more endorsements. 

4 Credits English 4 Credits Math (*Algebra II required)  4 Credits Science (*chemistry or physics required) 4 Credits Social Studies * 2 Credits Languages other than English 1 Credit Physical Education 1 Credit Fine Arts .5 Credit Speech  1 Credit Technology  4.5 Credits Elective Courses Four credits of the 26 required credits must be in a coherent sequence and content-specific to the student's endorsement area.   

* Pending Board Approval

 

Side by Side of the Graduation Plans

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• In the spring of the 2015-2016 school year, a student will need to declare their preferred endorsement area.

• A school district must permit a student to choose, at any time, to earn an endorsement other than the endorsement the student previously indicated.

EndorsementsTotal of 26 Credits

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• Science

• Technology

• Engineering

• Advanced mathematics

Stem

Note: Algebra II, physics, and chemistry required andFive credits in mathFive credits in science

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Business and Industry

• Database management

• Information technology

• Communications

• Accounting

• Finance

• Marketing

• Graphic design

• Architecture

• Construction

• Welding

• Logistics

• Automotive technology

• Agriculture science

• HVAC

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• Education and Training

• Health Science

• Human Services

• Law Enforcement

• Culinary Arts and Hospitality

• JROTC

Public Services

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• Languages other than English

• Cultural Studies

• English Literature

• History

• Fine Arts• Art• Band• Choir• Dance• Theater Arts

Arts and Humanities

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• Allows a student to select courses from the curriculum of each endorsement area and earn credits in a variety of advanced courses from multiple content areas sufficient to complete the distinguished level of achievement

• Four credits in each of the four foundation subject areas to include English IV, and chemistry and/or physics

Multidisciplinary

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Requirements include:

Curriculum requirements for at least one endorsement

Four credits in math, including Algebra II

Four credits in science

All students entering ninth grade are required to indicate an endorsement in writing on a Personal Graduation Plan

A student must earn distinguished level of achievement to be eligible for top 10% automatic admission

Distinguished AchievementTotal of 26 Credits

Questions??