West Ridge Middle SchoolReady, Set, GO WILDCATS!

Robin Lowe - Interim Principal

Erika Bacon - Assistant Principal 7th Grade and A-L 6th Grade

Dillon Finan - Interim Assistant Principal 8th Grade and M-Z 6th Grade

Diane Dealy - Principal’s Secretary

Administration

Kiran Avasthi 6th Grade

Jamie McKenney 7th Grade

Christy Catalano 8th Grade

Counselors

Individual Consultations

How counselors can help:

Academic Advisor

Social Emotional Learning

Classroom Guidance

Student Support

Important Websites

Healthy Chaps (WHS Webpage)http://healthychaps.weebly.com/

WRMS Counselor Websitehttp://wrmscounselors.weebly.com/

WRMS Course Catalog Websitehttp://wrmscoursecatalog.weebly.com/

How can I help my child(ren)succeed in middle school?

• Allow your child to make mistakes at home & school. Failure is an opportunity to learn and grow.

• Teach your child how to be organized.

• Encourage your child to extend his/her friendship circle. Friendships change throughout middle school.

• Encourage autonomy at home! We encourage students to advocate for themselves.

• Give your child the opportunity to problem solve on their own.

• Provide opportunities for your child to make decisions (even if they are not the decisions you would make) ☺

• School is sometimes hard!

• Failure IS an option- The point is to learn

from it- Middle school is a safe

place to try

• Allow students to experience natural consequences

Resiliency + Growth Mindset

School and Studying

• Start with the teacher• Set up a meeting You + student Goal: self-advocacy• Ask questions -Teacher observations? - How can I support my

student’s learning? - Suggestions?• Attend tutoring

Academic Concerns Effective Study Habits• Environment: Minimize distractions• Timing: When to start / take a break• Strategies: Start with easiest or hardest Deadlines, point value• Organization skills Notebooks, Folders Calendar

7th & 8th GradeOnline Course

Selection

• English or English Pre-AP

• Math – placed in student’s schedule in May

• Science – placed in student’s schedule ○ 8th graders will have an option to take IPC

• Social Studies – placed in student’s schedule (GT is done through the social studies class one day a week)• Elective - must have 2 semesters of PE by the end of 8th grade

(not including 6th grade)

• Elective • Elective • WCT - placed in student’s schedule**Two alternate electives that a student would be willing to take if their 1st elective choice is not available

• Wildcat Time – placed in student’s schedule

7th & 8th Grade Schedule

Year Long ElectivesBandJazz BandChoirOrchestraAthleticsYearbookWorld LanguagesSemester ElectivesAbove & BeyondAnimation & GamingArt I & Art IIGraphics & Web DesignStudent Aide (8th grade only)

Elective Options for 7th and 8th GradeSemester ElectivesKids Helping KidsMAPS (Methodology for Academic & Personal Success)PE/AthleticsPE PalsRobotics I & II*Technical Theater Design and TechnologyTeen SkillsTheater ArtsWRMS TVIntro to App Development*Health (8th grade only)Speech (8th grade only)*prerequisite

Students must complete 1-year, or two semesters, of PE by the end of 8th grade (not

including 6th grade)________________________________

Ways to earn PE credit:PE classPE Pals

AthleticsPE Waiver

Physical Education (P.E.)

How to obtain a PE Waiver:•Must apply and be approved for a waiver to be eligible•Application is online under “Student Resources” on the

WRMS homepage•Must include the waiver information and a letter from the

organization on company letterhead for whom your child is participating •Must document activity and turn in a signed log by the end

of the semester

PE waivers for the 2018-2019 school year must be submitted during the following dates:

YEAR LONG & FALL SEMESTER WAIVERS – From August 6, 2018 to September 5, 2018

SPRING SEMESTER WAIVERS – From December 17, 2018 to January 18, 2019

Applications will only be accepted during the dates listed above.

Late applications won’t be accepted.

.

PE Waiver

World LanguageSpanish 7 & 8 = 1.0 Spanish creditSpanish 1* = 1.0 Spanish creditChinese 7 & 8 = 1.0 Chinese creditLatin 7 & 8 = 1.0 Latin creditFrench 7 & 8 = 1.0 French

IPC** 8 =1.0 Elective creditHealth 8 =0.5 Health creditProf Com (Speech) 8 =0.5 Elective credit

*Prerequisite: must earn a grade of 90 or higher in PreAP English 7**Determined by demonstrating mastery on a Science 8 test & current orpast enrollment in Algebra 1

High School Credit Options

• Highly organized

• Doesn’t mind daily homework

• Turns assignments in on time

• Has great study habits

• Earning a grade of 85 or higher in current course work

• Isn’t over-scheduled

Who will be successful taking a high school level course?

Social Studies

Science

7th- Texas History or Texas History GT

8th- American History or American History GT

7th- 7th Grade Science

8th- 8th Grade Science or

Integrated Physics & Chemistry (IPC)(must be in Algebra I or higher)

8th Grade Science Opportunities

Students enrolled in 7th grade who meet the math pre-requisite requirements will be provided an opportunity to take an IPC Screener assessment. This assessment will also be given on April 24th at West Ridge from 2:15-4:15 pm. ● Pre-Requisite: Concurrent enrollment or prior completion of Algebra I

• Students must show mastery of 8th grade science TEKS during the IPC screening test that will be given in April and be enrolled in Algebra 1 or higher in 8th grade

• If your student wishes to study for science 8: visit the TEA website to find a list of the Science 8 TEKS and to see STAAR 8th grade science release test

• Students will be notified of the testing date via the Principal Newsletter, School email, and a notice that will be sent home with you

• Parents must sign a testing agreement

• The test will be administered on April 24th at 2:00 on the early release day.

TEKS from TEA website:http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter112/ch112b.html

8th Grade STAAR Exam: file:///C:/Users/EISD/Downloads/STAAR-G8-2015Test-Sci.pdf

IPC Requirements (IPC is open to 8th grade students only)

Students currently enrolled in …•Math 6 will be placed in Math 7•Math 6/7 and Math 7 will be placed in Math 8•Math 7 Pre-AP will be placed in Math 8 Pre-AP.•Math 8 will be placed in Algebra I•Math 8 Pre-AP will be placed in Algebra I Pre-AP•Algebra I Pre-AP will be placed into Geometry Pre-AP

Math Course Selection for 7th and 8th Grade

Pre-AP/AP Placement

Courses are designed to challenge motivated students to understand rigorous content. The coursework requires students to engage in independent and analytical assignments.

Pre-AP courses are designed to prepare students for high school Pre-AP and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. AP courses are college-level courses taught in a high school setting. At the end of each AP course an AP Exam is given. Qualifying scores on the AP exams can enable students to receive college credit and/or advanced standing at a university or college.

Pre-AP/AP Placement

Students who experience success in these courses typically exhibit the following personal and academic characteristics:

● have a clear connection to the vocabulary, skills, concepts, or habits of mind necessary for success.

● are good problem solvers in everyday situations.● have developed strong learning/study habits.● display emotional maturity when frustrated; show perseverance when

challenged.● have strong/mastered math facts/fluency.● have strong values of learning; are self-motivated.● think deeply and communicate math ideas.● are reflective and evaluate their own work.

Credit by Exam provides an additional acceleration option for the very small number of students who are ready to "place out" of a math course. ● Historically, less than 10% of Eanes ISD students qualify for math

acceleration each year. ● These alternative methods do not provide the foundations and depth of

instruction that a full year course taken at West Ridge Middle School would provide.

● Please note that a CBE may not prepare students for the rigor and expectations for future courses taken in Eanes ISD.

Credit by Exam Options for Mathematics

Math 6

All students enrolled in Math 6 will be provided an opportunity to take a math assessment to “place out” of Math 7. This assessment will be given on April 24th at West Ridge from 2:15- 4:15 pm. Students will have two hours to complete the assessment (without a calculator) and must score an 80% or higher to be placed into Math 8 Pre-AP.

Math 7, Math 7 Pre-AP, or Math 6/7

All students enrolled in Math 7, Math 7 Pre-AP, or Math 6/7 will be provided an opportunity to take a math assessment to “place out” of Math 8. This assessment will also be given on April 24th at West Ridge from 2:15-4:15 pm. Students will have two hours to complete the assessment (with the use of a graphing calculator) and must score an 80% or higher to be placed into Algebra I Pre-AP.

Credit by Exam (CBE)

More Math Information

EISD Math Information

• Accelerated Math Course Options• Math Course Sequence• Credit by Exam• Pre-Advanced Placement/Pre-AP• Parent Math Site

Online Course Selection in Social Studies Classes

Course Selection Schedule:

February 14th- Graeber and SpraberryFebruary 15th- Pruitt and Gray (and Moore’s 1st period)February 16th- Vickers and Moore

Students will need:-Course selection sheet with English and electives/alternates selected-Charged iPad- (Rising 8th only) Student Aide applications, if they are wanting to add that class to their selection

- Students and parents can view and make changes to courses selected in Skyward/Family Access through February 27th at 4pm.

- Course selections will be available to view/change one final time in May.

Additional Course Selection Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If my child doesn’t make the volleyball or basketball team, do they drop athletics?A: No. Students who do not make the team will stay in athletics and go into “off-season”.

Q: If my child wants to play just basketball, what does he/she sign up for?A: Your child would sign up for athletics all year and communicate to the coaches that he/she only wants basketball.

Q: Would my child qualify for a P.E. waiver if she does two hours of dance and 3 hours of golf each week?A: Yes, as long as we receive documentation of time in each activity from the coaches. Please keep in mind, there will be a strict application deadline this year (Aug 6-Sept 5).

https://wrms.eanesisd.net/students/pe-waivers

Q. Will my child still have lunch with their grade level?A. Yes

Q. If my child signs up for Pre-AP and is struggling, can they move to a grade level class?A. Yes