Welcome to Middle SchoolClass of 2026

COUNSELORSPAIGE CENTENO – 7TH GRADEEMILY DANNER – 8TH GRADE,

JENNIFER WEDGE – 7TH GRADE & 8TH GRADE

THOMAS H. ERECKSON

Principal: Leslie NorrisAssistant Principal: Doug Wilhelm8th)

Assistant Principal: Paul Harper (7th)

Assistant Principal Operations: Laurie Schaefer

Class of 2026 House Leaders

Paul Harper– Administrator Paige Centeno - Counselor

Purpose for Meeting

► Learn about core classes offered► Provide general information about middle school► 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.

► The front doors open at 7:30am.

Backpacks► Students will be allowed to carry backpacks to

class.► Backpacks must be regular size.► NO rolling or oversized backpacks► Students will more than likely carry a book, lunch

and a 3 inch binder or a combination of binders adding up to 3 inches. Students will receive school supply list at meet the teacher night or the start of the school year.

(Examples: one 3 inch binder OR three 1 inch binders)

Cafeteria*A or B lunch

*4 Lines to choose from

*Sit where you like

*Buy lunch, bring lunch, or buy a snack

*Currently, cell phone use in the cafeteria is a privilege earned daily & determined by Assistant Principals

Clubs & Activities▪ Robotics (application and interview required)

▪ Environmental club

▪ Student Council

▪ Fellowship of Christian Athletes

▪ D.O.L.L.S.

▪ Empowered Leaders

▪ Math and Science team Club

▪ National Junior Honor Society

▪ Photography Club

▪ Computer Club

▪ School Newspaper- Husky Howler (application required)

▪ Thespians Club

Check out the homepage of your middle school to find out additional information about these clubs and organizations!

Clubs meet before or after school.

Core ClassesAll 7th graders take 4 Core Classes

English (double-blocked meaning it takes up 2 periods back to back)*

(English will be listed twice on class schedule)*GT students’ schedules are different and will be discussed later in presentation

Math (one period)Science (one period)Texas History (one period)

Each class period is roughly 50 minutes long.

Advanced Classes● Pre-AP/IB Math (must meet qualifying criteria)

● Pre-AP /IB Science (No pre qualifying criteria)

● Pre-AP/IB English (No pre qualifying criteria)

● Pre-AP/IB Texas History (No pre qualifying criteria)

● GT/Pre –AP Humanities and Science (Must be identified in the GT program)

Pre-AP/IB Math - must meet qualifying criteria

● All current 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.

● If you qualify for Math Pre-AP/IB , you will automatically be enrolled. Parents will not receive notification. It will be reflected on the student’s course selections in Skyward in May.

● 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. Parents will not receive notification. It will be reflected on the student’s schedule in Skyward in August. There are NO appeals.

● Students who do not qualify for Pre AP math in middle school will still be able to take Pre AP math courses in high school.

Pre-AP/IB Math information 7th grade Pre-AP Math covers 2 years of Math, both 7th

and 8th grade Math, in one school year.

What workload should a student expect?

● Homework every night● Assessment (test or quiz) each Friday● It is an expectation that students complete their homework

on time and attend tutorials when needed in order to not fall behind in the material since Pre-AP is moving at an accelerated rate.

Math Factsif your child is NOT in Pre-AP Math

❖ In high school, all classes are self-select

❖ Starting in 9th grade students will choose whether to take math on-level or Pre-AP

❖ Grades will count toward GPA starting in 9th grade

Gifted Education Middle School Program (GEMS)

AIM 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)

⬜ If student furloughs GT Humanities (Reading, English & History) in 7th grade, 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 (including 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 2 hours of homework per night if taking ALL Pre-AP/IB courses (including projects, test preparation, etc.)

On-Level OR Pre-AP/IB ??

6th Grade

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.

► Keep in mind that after the first five days of the first semester, students cannot level up after that point for any CORE class.

ElectivesOne Semester Electives - Fall or Spring

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

● Investigating Careers in Communications and Media Arts Science

● Technology Applications in Computer Graphics

● College and Career Readiness

● Introduction to Art

● Intermediate Art (Prerequisite: Introduction to Art)

● Introduction to Theatre Arts

● Advanced Theatre Arts (Prerequisite: Introduction to Theatre Arts)

● Coed Physical Education

PLEASE CONSULT THE ACADEMIC PLANNING GUIDE FOR A DESCRIPTION OF EACH COURSE

ElectivesOne Semester Electives - Fall or Spring

● College and Career Readiness○ You may have heard that some classes have been removed at the middle school

level including human services and several different investigating careers classes for next year. While this is accurate information, college and career readiness is now going to encompass a lot of what was being taught in those classes.

○ Instead of students taking classes that were specific to one area of study, students will now be shown areas of all career fields in college and career readiness.

○ There will be four units:

■ 1) Self-exploration 2) Business and Industry 3) Public Service 4) STEM

High School Credit Electives❏ Student receives 0.5 HS credit (one semester elective)

upon successful completion of the course. ***70% or higher is successful completion***

❏ The course grade is not included in Allen High School GPA.

❏ The course content and workload are the equivalent of a high school course.

❏ These classes were created to help prepare all students for their high school pathway.

High School Credit ElectivesWhen requesting a HS credit class please be aware of the

AUTOMATIC COLLEGE ADMISSION:

Students who graduate with a grade point average in the top of their high school graduating class may be eligible for certain privileges

when applying to college. In middle school, Allen ISD does not count a high school credit class into the student’s GPA but credit awarded will

show on the high school transcript. Be aware when applying to a college or university they may count high school courses taken in

middle school into the students GPA.

Find the EXPLANATION OF AUTOMATIC COLLEGE ADMISSION document on

the MS counselor’s webpage.

HS credit ElectivesOne Semester Electives (0.5 HS credit) - Fall or Spring

1. Professional Communicationsa. Students will learn how to communicate professionally. They will learn how to

model professionalism in school and work. This class will include speaking, debate, interviews, and resume building.

2. Social Media Marketinga. Students will learn how to use social media constructively, not destructively.

Students will learn how powerful of a tool social media is for businesses in regards to marketing, retail, etc. This class is completely simulation based meaning students will never create a social media account or go to any popular social media sites. The learning involved in this class is all online through a simulator.

3. Robotics/Web Communicationsa. Please consult the APG for course description

Why take a HS credit class?- allows a student to begin an endorsement area

of content in 7th grade instead of waiting until high school

- can open up space to take other elective choices when a student gets to high school

- allows a student to experience high school curriculum and expectations in a middle school without it affecting their GPA in Allen

Endorsements All students must complete an endorsement in order to

graduate from High school.

An endorsement is a set of classes in high school that allows a student to dig into an area of interest.

Click HERE to see all Endorsement Pathways!

Arts & Humanities In middle school students are not offered High School credit classes

toward a pathway in Arts & Humanities.

Find all Pathways with the link provided on slide 21!

Business & Industry

Find all Pathways with the link provided on slide 21!

Public Service

Find all Pathways with the link provided on slide 21!

STEM

Find all Pathways with the link provided on slide 34!

Physical Education

All students must take 2 semesters of PE or Athletics during Middle School to be promoted to High School.

Cheer, Boys/Girls Athletics, Tennis, Golf, Coed PE, and Off-Campus PE are all considered Physical Education

Coed PE

● PE in middle school is coed and a mix of 7th and 8th grader students.

● Students dress out in athletic clothes daily for PE in middle school. Students will need to bring clothes for PE each day.

● Students will have a PE locker.● PE is a one semester class but can be selected

for fall and spring if desired

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 AthleticsVolleyball 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 trying out for track, they will not be enrolled in the second

semester of athletics.

Try-Out SportsYou 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 semester)▪ Tennis (Spring semester)

*If wanting to try out for cheerleading, golf or tennis, students should sign up for PE fall and/or spring. If you make a team, we will change your schedule to cheerleading, golf or tennis.

Track or Wrestling⬜ Students do not need to be in Athletics or PE to participate in track or

wrestling

⬜ Track practice is before or after school. Wrestling practice is after school at Lowery.

⬜ If student only want to participate in track or wrestling, do not sign up for athletics

⬜ Students will not receive PE credit for track or wrestling

Cheerleading⬜ Cheerleading is a full-year elective that counts toward students’ PE credit

⬜ To find detailed information about Cheerleading, please go to the Ereckson home page and find Cheerleading under the Clubs and Organizations tab.

⬜ Students trying out for Cheerleading should select PE fall and spring on their course sheet. Once we have a list of who made the team, we will replace PE with Cheerleading.

Sports Physicals• Sports physical paperwork should be given to the

coach

• must be completed after May 1st 2020

• found on the Allen ISD Athletic Department web page

• kept with the Allen ISD Athletic Department

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

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 Jeff McCullough at the Athletic Office.

Partners in PEApplication 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 is included in student packet and due March 6th to your elementary counselor

.

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.

Students will be placed in the appropriate level of class based on individual audition with the director and a balance of

instruments within the ensemble.

YearbookApplication Required

► Students will learn to take quality pictures, to design and organize the pages, and to cooperate with fellow classmates

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

► Limited class size

► Students applying for Yearbook should fill out their course selection sheet as if they did not make yearbook. Once we have a list of who was selected for yearbook, we will ask you which elective you want to drop to replace with yearbook.

**Application deadline: February 28th to your elementary counselorApplication can be found on Mrs. Rivards’ website

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. Students will only be able to switch into their alternate choices if they request a schedule change.

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 Meningococcal Quadrivalent Conjugate, received on or after the student’s 11th birthday.

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

• Students will be asked to leave on the 1st day of school for NOT having proof of immunizations.

Health Information ● Proof of Immunizations should be given to the School Nurse.

● Please note that all topics covered in the Allen ISD Student Handbook apply to all students in the Allen Independent School District.

● 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.

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

► Both schedules are posted on the school website

► 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.

10. Elementary Counselor initials form once turned in completed

Course Selection Form Back-side (NOT REQUIRED)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 unless you are part of the GT program.

Academic Planning Guide

All courses discussed in this presentation can be found in the APG.

The Academic Planning Guide is on the Ereckson Website: - Look under the Academics tab

- Click on Academic Planning Guide- Click on 2020 – 2021 Middle School Academic Planning Guide

Link to the 2020- 2021 APG for Middle School

Course Registration

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 27th, July 28th and July 29th , 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 2026. Limit each day is 200 students.

► Parents in the Pound will be July 28th at 5pm.

Thank you for attending!

► Coffee with the Counselor February 7th 8:30-9:30am

► This presentation will be available on our counselor website under Class of 2026 along with a list of frequently asked

questions (FAQ).

► We would greatly appreciate you staying tonight and asking any questions not addressed

► Our goal is to provide a smooth transition from elementary school to middle school. AND make it the best experience ever!!