8th Grade Registration and Class Selection

Gene Pike

Middle School

2016-2017

Success in 8th grade

Use a Planner or calendar

Stay organized

Turn in assignments and homework on time

Attend tutorials when needed

View online grades daily or weekly in Home Access Center (HAC)

Talk to your teachers, ask questions, communicate your needs

Maintain a well-rounded schedule which includes extra-curricular

activities

Take High School Credit classes and PASS them!

Success in middle school involves much more that just good

grades!

8th Grade Schedule

8 periods

1 LA, 1 Math, 1 Science, 1 Social

Studies

4 Electives

High School Career Plans

What is an ENDORSEMENT?

A coherent sequence of electives in a specific

area of interest.

It’s like declaring a major.

These electives may be taken through an

academy or through a specified Career

Pathway.

All students will choose an endorsement.

There are FIVE Endorsements

STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and

Mathematics

Public Services- Health Sciences, Education

Business and Industry- Agriculture,

Audio/Visual Technology, Culinary Arts,

Business Management

Arts and Humanities- Fine Arts, Language

Multidisciplinary Studies- General

NISD Academies

ABS (Academy of Biomedical Sciences) at Byron HS = Public Service

Endorsement

Culinary Arts & Hospitality Academy at Byron HS = Business & Industry

Endorsement

AMAT(Academy of Media and Technology) at NHS= Business & Industry

Endorsement

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Academy at

NHS = STEM Endorsement

BME (Academy of Business Management & Entrepreneurship) at Eaton

=Business & Industry Endorsement

Aviation Academy at Eaton HS = Business & Industry Endorsement

Collegiate Academy at Steele HS = Multidisciplinary Endorsement

Cosmetology Academy at Steele HS = Public Service Endorsement

Graduation Requirements

for students entering

high school in 2014

and thereafter.

• 26 Credits to

graduate

• Must include 1

Fine art, 1 PE, 2

yrs. Language, 1

Comm.Apps., 6.5

other electives

What does this mean for a 8th grader?

Grades and Pre-Ap classes matter if you want to

get into an academy.

Some students apply for an academy and only a

certain number of students are accepted.

Everyone chooses an endorsement toward the

end of 8th grade.

Consider all of your likes, dislikes, strengths and

weaknesses.

Consider what elective classes you should take

to fit into your high school plan.

Choices for 8th Grade Core Classes

Math – Algebra or 8th grade math

Language Arts – G/T (for identified GT

students), Pre-AP, or standard

Science – Pre-AP or standard

Social Studies – Pre-AP or standard

How Pre-AP courses should you take?

Consider…

• Your academic strengths

• Teacher, parent, and/or counselor input

• Reviewing past grades and test performances

• Personal goals

• Extra-curricular activities

Most importantly…your motivation, effort, & attitude!

Pre-AP Classes

Keep in mind: – Pre-AP is not for everyone but we encourage

most of you to take at least 1 Pre-AP.

– It is college preparatory and helps prepare

students for Advanced Placement and Dual Credit

classes in High School.

– Standard and Pre-AP classes teach the same

TEKS or objectives (With the exception of math

which teaches more objectives in a given year)

Physical Education Students are NOT required to take PE/Athletics in 8th grade.

You may choose to take PE, Athletics or Tennis as one of your electives.

Must maintain a passing grade each 6 weeks in order to participate and play.

A physical and athletics packet is required for Athletics and Tennis.

High School Credit Electives: Art 1

Spanish 1

Health (.5)

Speech/Communication Applications (.5)

Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness

Consider taking at least ONE HS credit class.

These are offered but do NOT count as High School Credit:

Choir

Band

Orchestra

Theater

Teen Leadership

Career Portals

Skills for Living/Consumer Science

Media

Journalism/Yearbook

Office/Library/Counseling Aide

AVID

Art

If you are taking fine arts in HS (band, choir,

orchestra), consider NOT taking Art 1 in 8th

grade. You will receive that credit in HS

anyway.

Before you decide, consider this….

Before you decide, consider this….

If you are a Pre-AP student who is planning

on taking AP and Dual Credit classes in HS,

consider NOT taking Communication

Applications (Speech). You can take the

Dual Credit option Junior/Senior year and get

College credit for it.

Before you decide, consider this….

Spanish is a 2 year commitment. You will

only have 3 electives in High School. If you

take Spanish 1 in 8th grade, you MUST take

Spanish 2 in 9th grade, which will take up one

of your electives.

If you are fluent in Spanish, consider NOT

taking Spanish in 8th grade. You will be able

to test out of Spanish 1 and take Spanish 1-2

in HS.

Before you decide, consider this….

Nutrition and Wellness counts as one of your

electives to graduate but is NOT a required

class to graduate.

Some other considerations…

Comm. Apps. and Health have to be taken

together. (each .5 credit)

Applications available in counseling office for:

– Aide position, Media, Yearbook, AVID

Director approval needed for:

– Athletics, Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater (signature)

AVID students who want to continue, make sure it is

top 4. If you applied for AVID, you will have an

interview this week.

Registration Forms – Core

Registration Forms - Electives

Number

Entire Back

Side of

Registration

Form # 1-8

* Comm. Apps.

and Health

have to be

taken together.

(each .5 credit)