WELCOME TO COOPER JUNIOR HIGH! Entering 8 th Graders

INTRODUCTIONS Administration & Teachers

ADMINISTRATION Mr. Miller, Principal Mrs. Wynne, Assistant Principal Last Names A-Lum Mrs. Jones, Assistant Principal Last Names Lun-Z

WHERE TO FIND THIS INFORMATION This presentation will be uploaded onto Cooper Junior High’s website A Skyward with links will also be sent to parents You may stop by Cooper’s main office to pick up a hard copy

RESPONSIBILITY Course Load  Realistic expectations  If you go PAP, choose 1-3 Homework  Nightly Budget Time  Academics are important, as are  Extracurricular Activities  Family Time Social Pressure/Stress

REWARDS AND BENEFITS Grades Plan/Direction Clubs and Teams Less stress Less griping at home Being treated as a young adult

REGISTRATION PROCESS 1. Course and Registration Presentation 1. was sent to families on Monday, March 14 th 2.Students received wish list in class today 2. Parent Meeting 3. Student Online Registration 1.Students will register this Thursday and Friday (17 th & 18 th ) in their TX History class 2.Counselor and Registrar will assist in actual registration Information will be released later in the summer concerning schedule pick-up, open house, and any other information for the start of the school year.

8 TH GRADE REQUIRED COURSES ELA Math Science U.S. History PE/Athletics/Tennis/Golf + TWO electives

CRITERIA FOR PRE-AP COURSES Students are encouraged to speak with their current academic teachers about Pre-AP recommendations All Pre-AP courses will require extensive outside work and in-depth study Homework and outside projects will occur on a regular basis Time committed to complete work is extensive.

MATH AND ALGEBRA I Mrs. Dillard

MATH On-Level 8 th Grade Math Important foundation for higher level math courses Aligned with 8 th Grade TEKS Teaches the “heart” of Algebra, the fundamentals of Geometry, as well as how to analyze & represent data Algebra I This is an advanced 9 th grade course that affects a student’s GPA for graduation Based on Algebra I TEKS and not 8 th Grade TEKS (HS grading policy, not JH policy) SpringBoard curriculum Students will take the Algebra I End of Course (EOC) assessment – required to graduate in Texas

ALGEBRA I PREREQUISITES (SUBJECT TO REVISION) Students must meet 2 out of the 3 criteria to be eligible for enrollment in this course:  Successful completion (85+) of 7 th Grade Pre- Algebra  2016 Math STAAR Performance at least 80% recommended  Teacher recommendation Consider the student’s organizational skills, motivation, desire to learn, and willingness to go above and beyond current expectations

WHAT IF … … it is determined that even though the student has a strong mathematical foundation from 7 th grade, Algebra I is not the best placement for 8 th grade?  1 st – 6 th week of school: Parents may submit a request to the Algebra teacher to change their child’s schedule to on-level 8 th grade math. As long as parent, teacher, and student are on the same page, counselor will change the class.  6 th – 9 th week of school: Parents may submit a schedule change request which will require Mr. Miller’s approval before change can be made.  10 th week on: No changes will be made. If necessary, credit recovery will be made available at the end of the year/summer.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS Mrs. Pace

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS On-Level 8 th ELA Preparation for STAAR Homework weekly Able to read 20+ pages outside of class per day Able to work independently on short term projects No summer reading project No timed reading or writing Majority of lessons stand-alone (1-2 day lessons) PAP ELA SpringBoard curriculum & sequence Preparation for STAAR and AP 8 th grade level with 9 th and 10 th skills incorporated into lessons Homework daily Able to read 30+ pages outside of class per day Able to work independently on short-and long-tem projects Summer reading project Timed reading and writing Majority of lessons are cumulative Heavier emphasis on writing

SCIENCE Mrs. Tykoski

SCIENCE On-Level 8 th Grade Science Activities with comprehension questions Study guides before tests Note taking assistance Stays in grade level PAP Science Laboratory Reports No study guides before tests Notes are taken on students’ own Makes connections to high school biology, chemistry, physics Faster pace Makes connections to current science research Enrichment tests (new) Summer Assignment (new)

SOCIAL STUDIES Coach Nicoletti

SOCIAL STUDIES On-Level 8 th Grade Social Studies Effective prep for college success Concepts covered effectively in preparation for higher level courses and state assessments Emphasis on comprehension and critical thinking skills, reading and writing applications, integrated technology, research and projects required Allows average-performing student to be successful PAP Social Studies Effective prep for AP exams and pre- college enrollment credit … as well as AP exams, greater depth, complexity, more concepts Emphasis on higher level reading and writing applications, integrated technology, independent student work on research, projects Increased pace, minimal class time for remedial work or review

PHYSICAL EDUCATION It is a state requirement that students take two years of physical education in junior high Students may take PE, Athletics, or Tennis  *Tennis may also be taken as an elective Off Campus PE: applications available Woodbridge Golf Program: applications available

8 TH GRADE ELECTIVES Art (semester and full year) Band Choir GEMS STEM (Science Tech Engineering Math) Tennis Theatre (semester and full year) Video Production Wylie Way Yearbook There are no guarantees that your child will be placed in the elective of their choice (band & choir = good possibilities) Priority is to place your child in the core subjects first, then required courses, then electives

THANK YOU FOR COMING! Mrs. Ragsdale Registration will be March Students will be choosing classes through their Social Studies class Opportunity for parents to review choices in Skyward