HARVEST PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL Scheduling Information For Incoming 8 th Grade Parents

Administrators Principal Ken Rocha Vice-Principal Kathleen Rief

Counselors Counselor A-I: Monica Wharton/Jennifer Campbell Counselor J-Se: Linda Carey Counselor Sh-Z: Reine Anderson

Topics for Discussion 8 th Grade Program Overview 8 th Grade Program Overview Electives (Year-long and Semester) Electives (Year-long and Semester)  Math and World Language Progression from Middle to High School Course Descriptions from Teachers Course Descriptions from Teachers Questions Questions

8 th Grade Program Overview 1. Language Arts 2. History 3. Math 4. Science 5. LUNCH (5 th period) 6. P.E. 7. Elective 1 8. Elective 2 BLOCK

Laptop Program Current LAPTOP students must complete letter of intent to continue or exit LT program. LAPTOP meeting (for students interested in joining LT) will be Tuesday, February 15 th, 2011 at 7PM in the MPR.

Electives There are many elective choices. Students are encouraged to read the descriptions in the ONLINE student handbook before making their selections.

Choosing Electives in 8 th Grade Final schedule will include: 2 year-long electives 2 year-long electives 1 year-long and 2 semester electives 1 year-long and 2 semester electives 4 semester electives 4 semester electives

Year-long Electives Chorus Chorus Band/Strings Band/Strings World Language World Language Yearbook (requires application) Yearbook (requires application)

World Languages High School and College Info 2 years middle school =1 year high school Note: Application to a 4-year college/ university requires a minimum of 2 years of the same world language. Competitive colleges recommend 3 or 4 years of the same world language.

World Language Progression from Middle to High School 7 th grade  Span/Fr 1A 7 th grade  Span/Fr 1A 8 th grade  Span/Fr 1B 8 th grade  Span/Fr 1B 1A and 1B are equal to the 1 st year of a World Language when entering high school 1A and 1B are equal to the 1 st year of a World Language when entering high school 9 th grade  Span/Fr 2 9 th grade  Span/Fr 2 (or Span/Fr 1 or Other 1) 10 th grade  Span/Fr 3 10 th grade  Span/Fr 3 (or Span/Fr 1 or Other 1) 11 th grade  Span/Fr 4 (AP class) 11 th grade  Span/Fr 4 (AP class) 12 th grade  Span/Fr 5 (AP class) 12 th grade  Span/Fr 5 (AP class)

Semester Electives Art A Art A Art B Art B Computers 8 Computers 8 Keyboarding/Advanced Computers Keyboarding/Advanced Computers Consumer Skills Consumer Skills Teens & Family Teens & Family Exploring Technology Exploring Technology Speech & Drama Speech & Drama * Leadership * Leadership * Media * Media * Teacher’s Assistant (TA) * Teacher’s Assistant (TA) * Requires an application form (available in Counseling Office & Online)

Prioritizing Semester Electives SEMESTER CLASSES (Everyone needs to list their top 6 choices). These classes meet for one semester. Prioritize your selections by writing in 1 for your first choice, 2 for your second choice and so on, up to 6 for your last choice. We make every attempt to place you in your top choices. ____ Art A ____ Art B ____ Speech/Drama 8 ____ Teens & Families (Fun w/ Food, Family & Fabric) ____ Consumer Skills (Good Eats & More) ____ Exploring Technology ____ Computer 8 (Technology for Everyone) ____ Keyboarding/ WP8 (Advanced Computing)

Application Forms Available in the Counseling Office or online Available in the Counseling Office or online Due back with Scheduling Form to History Teachers or Counseling Office Due back with Scheduling Form to History Teachers or Counseling Office Due back by February 4 th, 2011 Due back by February 4 th, 2011

A-Period and 8 th Grade Because 8 th grade students have 2 elective periods, they generally will not have an A-period class. Because 8 th grade students have 2 elective periods, they generally will not have an A-period class. A-period classes are traditionally reserved for 6 th & 7 th grade students who are taking Band/Music and the wheel or a World Language. A-period classes are traditionally reserved for 6 th & 7 th grade students who are taking Band/Music and the wheel or a World Language. However, availability and funding permitting, there may be some exceptions for students in 8 th grade. However, availability and funding permitting, there may be some exceptions for students in 8 th grade.

New information * A new California law (AB 354) requires students entering 7th through 12th grade provide proof of pertussis booster shot to school in the coming Fall. Tdap Booster (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) (Pertussis is also called whooping cough). * Students who do not meet the requirement will not be allowed to attend school beginning the first day of school year.

Booster - continued * We encourage families to review this information and begin the process to fulfill this new requirement now so that you can avoid any difficulty with your child’s entry into school in August. – –Check your child’s immunization record. The booster must have been given after the 10th birthday and may be called Tdap, Adacel, or Boostrix. – –Bring a copy or the original immunization record to the Health Office – –If your child has not received a Tdap booster, please schedule an appointment to see your health care provider soon. Submit updated immunization record to school by May 2nd.

A few words from the 8 th grade teachers AND NOW…

8 th grade BLOCK LANGUAGE ARTS* Quarter 1:Narrative writing Johnny Tremain Quarter 2:Technical writing & Response to Literature A Christmas Carol Quarter 3:Response to Literature & persuasive writing Harriet Tubman or The Glory Fields Quarter 4:Research Paper The Call of the Wild and Anne Frank * In addition to the quarterly content, we include spelling/vocabulary, grammar, and public speaking on a regular basis

8 th grade BLOCK HISTORY U.S. History: The Beringia Land Bridge to Industrialization

Math Course 2 (Sequence 2) 6 TH GRADE Course 1 (Sequence 1) Algebra 1 (Sequence 2) 7 TH GRADE Course 2 (Sequence 1) H Geometry (Sequence 2) 8 TH GRADE Algebra 1 (Sequence 1) Most Students “Sequence 2” - Advanced Placement based on test score, performance in 5 th grade classroom and teacher’s assessment. Movement during 1 st semester at HP as appropriate. Advanced Algebra 1 (Readiness)

Math progression from 8 th grade to 9 th grade 8TH GRADE Algebra 1 (Readiness) Algebra 1 or MATH 1 Algebra 1/S1 Algebra 1/S2 Geometry or Honors Geometry Honors Geometry 9TH GRADE Intermediate Algebra or Honors Intermediate Algebra

8 th grade science CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS (year-long course): study of matter and atoms astronomy the periodic table and elements compounds, mixtures, acids and bases chemical reactions Motion and forces fluids and pressure Emphasis on developing critical thinking skills and laboratory activities. DARE officers from the Pleasanton Police Department will present a weeklong DARE curriculum at the end of the year.

Spanish and French 1B Curriculum Family relationships, restaurant vocabulary, describing our house and bedroom, clothing and shopping, community service, protecting the environment and traveling and vacation plans. Focus Areas We practice daily developing our listening, speaking, reading and writing proficiencies in the present and past tenses of the target language.

8 th grade PE DanceWrestling BasketballSoftball FootballHockey Ultimate FrisbeeBadminton/Paddle Tennis LacrosseTrack and Field TumblingVolleyball

Fitnessgram Requirements Push ups Curl ups Sit and Reach Trunk Lift PacerMile Run Girls Under 11 minutes Boys Under 9:30

1 Be there and be on time. Don’t miss class, don’t be tardy. Get along with your classmates 2 Be properly dressed. 3 Participate to the best of your ability. PE Requirements

These students are properly dressed for class

This student has put their uniform over their school clothes. This is not allowed. These students are wearing flip flops to class. This is not allowed.

Locker room Each student is issued their own small locker. Do not share lockers or combinations with other students

Locker room Each student may use the big locker during Physical Education class only.

Important Dates GATE information night February 15 th, :00 – 8:00 p.m. in MPR LAPTOP information night February 15 th, 2011 at 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in MPR

Questions Any questions, feel free to ask now. Or contact your child’s counselor at (925) Student scheduling handbook and information are online at our website: