celina junior high school parent information meeting february 26, 2015

Celina Junior High SchoolParent Information Meeting

February 26, 2015

Goals for the evening

• Meet and greet some new and familiar friends.

• Get information for academic decision making.

• Get information for electives decision making.

• Get information about navigating secondary school.

Administrative Team

• Principal – John Mathews

• Assistant Principal – Misty Warrick

• Counselor – Melanie Jackson

Leaders within the school

• Special Education Lead – Lisa Ubanoski

• English as a Second Language – Kelly Butler

• 504 coordinator – Melanie Jackson

Communication• Ask your child• Email• Parent Portal• Progress Reports (every 3 wks)• Report Cards (every 9 wks)• Bobcat Business/Newsletters• Phone calls• School Messenger• Facebook• Twitter• School Website• Remind

Junior High Philosophy

• High School Ready• High Academic Standards for All Students• Students are introduced to academic and

extra-curricular options• Students begin to determine strengths and

preferences• Build upon the partnership between the

school, students and families.

Changes from Middle School• Academic Rigor Increases• Organization Skills Expand• Developmental transition from childhood to

young adulthood• New responsibilities:– Learning– Communication– Social

• Dress Code expectations.

Course Selection Process

Begin with the end

in mind.

Graduation Requirements

• In Celina, in order to graduate under the Foundation Program, students must have a total of 26 credits.

• Our current 8 period day schedule only allows a student to earn 32 credits during their high school tenure.

• In order to make room for credit requirements, we offer courses in the Junior High for high school credit.

Courses for High School Credit(8TH GRADE ONLY)

• HS Art– Prerequisite: JH Art.

• Algebra 1– Prerequisite: 6th and 7th grade Accelerated

Mathematics.

STAAR Testing in Junior High

Seventh Grade Eighth Grade

Reading Reading

Writing

Math Math

Science

Social Studies

• STAAR – the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness

• High school credit courses may require an End of Course exam in lieu to the grade level assessment.

Academic, Advanced & Accelerated

• Junior High School– Academic = State Curriculum (TEKS)

• Academic Classes– Level expected of everyone

– Advanced = State Curriculum (TEKS)• With greater Depth and Complexity

– Ability– Want To

– Accelerated = State Curriculum (TEKS compressed)• Covering three years of math in two years

Academic vs Accelerated/Advanced

• Celina ISD’s curriculum is common to all schools across the state.

• Curriculum is based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

• The TEKS are designed and written as College Preparatory material.

• Reflective of national standards.

Advanced/Accelerated Academic Profile

• Consistently makes high A’s in on-level mathematics and ELAR.

• Is willing to work hard.• Completes all assignments on time.• Is a conscientious student.• Is independently motivated.• Is committed to AP level courses in High School.• Seeks help when needed.• Is well organized.

Advanced/Accelerated Academic Profile

• Reading above grade level.• Strong study skills.• Able to handle a more rapid pace of instruction.• Strong work ethic (self discipline to plan, organize

and complete tasks)• Has a personal interest in the subject.• Accepts a challenge eagerly.• Likes to do more difficult assignments.• Likes to solve complex, multi-step problems.

Other Considerations

• Students can still take an AP course in high school even if they do not take Algebra 1 in Junior High.

• A mathematics course in 12th grade is crucial for bridging into college without a loss of skills.

• Students who take Algebra 1 in the 8th grade are strongly encouraged to take a math course in the 12th grade. That would be Calculus.

Accelerated Math Strand

• Accelerated Math Readiness – Determined at the End of 5th Grade• STAAR Scale Score Level 3 recommended. • MSTAR score >92%.• Mathematics class average >90%.• Accelerated course contract.

Math Curriculum Sequence

Academic Accelerated

6th grade 6th grade Academic 6th grade Accelerated Math

7th grade 7th grade Academic 7th grade Accelerated Math

8th grade 8th grade Academic Algebra 1

9th grade Algebra 1 Geometry Pre-AP

10th grade Geometry Algebra 2 Pre-AP

11th grade Algebra 2/Math Models Precalculus Pre-AP

12th grade Precalculus/Algebra 2 Calculus AP

*Please note, this list is not exhaustive as other math courses do exist at the high school level and additional courses may be added.

Advanced ELAR Strand

• Advanced ELAR Readiness – Determined at the End of 5th Grade:• STAAR Scale Score Level 3 recommended. • Student is reading above grade level• English class average >90%.• Advanced course contract

English SequenceAdvancedAdvanced AcademicAcademic

66thth Grade Grade 66thth Grade ELAR Grade ELAR AdvancedAdvanced**

66thth Grade ELAR Grade ELAR

77thth Grade Grade 77thth Grade ELAR Grade ELAR AdvancedAdvanced**

77thth Grade ELAR Grade ELAR

88thth Grade Grade 88thth Grade ELAR Grade ELAR AdvancedAdvanced* *

88thth Grade ELAR Grade ELAR

99thth Grade Grade Pre AP English IPre AP English I English I/Pre-APEnglish I/Pre-AP

1010thth Grade Grade Pre AP English IIPre AP English II English II/Pre-APEnglish II/Pre-AP

1111thth Grade Grade AP/Dual Credit English AP/Dual Credit English IIIIII

English III or English III or

Dual Credit English IIIDual Credit English III

1212thth Grade Grade Dual Credit English IVDual Credit English IV English IVEnglish IV

Dual Credit English IVDual Credit English IV

*Summer Reading Project Required

Course Selection

• Talk about their academic future now.• Discuss options with your child.• Decisions To Make:– Which level of academic class in Mathematics and

English Language Arts and Reading is most appropriate for you?

– Which elective is most appropriate for you?

Electives

• All electives meet every day.• Electives are for the entire year.• Students not meeting standard on a STAAR test will be

assigned into an intervention class in lieu of one of their electives.

Course selection

Every student takes:

English Language Arts and ReadingMath

Social Studies Science

Typical Day in 7th Grade

• English Language Arts and Reading – 90 minutes

• Math – 90 minutes• Science – 45 minutes• History – 45 minutes• Physical Education – 45 minutes• Elective – 45 minutes

7th Grade Course Selection

• Four Required Courses, P.E./Athetics, & One Elective Period

• Full Year Electives– Band– Choir– Art

Who? What? When?

• Incoming sixth grade course selection sheets are due to your child’s ELAR teacher by Friday, March 6, 2015.

Grading policy

Nine Week grading periods:– 50% major assessments– 30% minor assessments– 20% daily work

Semester Grade:– Average of two quarters and Semester

Exam.

Homework

• Most homework will be work that was not finished in class.

• Your child will have homework most evenings.• Junior High class assignments/projects are more

rigorous and may require extra time to complete.• Students need a quiet place each evening to work on

homework.• Sometimes it is helpful to create a check system with

your child to ensure accountability with your child.

Schedule Changes

• Once you have submitted your schedule request to your teacher, you may call the junior high school to request a change prior to the beginning of the school year.

• Once the year has begun due to a tight master schedule, changes can occur within the first two weeks if there has been a mistake.

• Due to constraints within the schedule, changes may not be granted.

Athletic Info.

Parent meetingApril 27 at 6 p.m.

6th and 7th boys in the field house meeting room6th and 7th grade girls in the weight room.

Physicals:May 21, 2015 After School

Schedule Pick-up day

Tuesday, August 1110:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

1:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Questions?

• Email the Counselor– melaniejackson@celinaisd.com

• Email the Assistant Principal– mistywarrick@celinaisd.com

• Email the Principal– johnmathews@celinaisd.com