1. Transitioning Together to Middle School
6th Grade Course Selection March 2018

2. Our Mission
The mission of Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District is to foster a culture of excellence that instills a passion for a lifetime of continuous achievement in every student.

3. Personal Education Plan
What is your PEP?
What does it help you discover your strengths and areas of interest?
How does it support you through graduation?
Where can you access it?
A Personalized Education Plan or a PEP is a plan that is created based on your interests, learning style, areas of strengths, and areas of needed growth. All of you have a Career Cruising account and if you have worked with your teachers or counselor on taking interest inventories and learning preferences you have begun your profile on Career Cruising. Similarly, any time you plan your courses for the upcoming year or anytime you conference with your teachers regarding your strengths and areas of needed growth, you are working on your PEP. Your Career Cruising account will be available to you through the rest of your EMS ISD academic journey. Additional features of your plan includes things like keeping an academic, extracurricular, or volunteer journal of things that you are doing year to year so that when it comes time to create your resume for applying to college, you will have your documentation and notes recorded and accessible to you in your account. You can access your account via our website and your login info can be found…..

4. Family Access & Skyward
What do I need Family Access for?
What about Skyward?
How can you access both?
What if I forget passwords?
current elementary administrators to reset passwords. Starting next year counselors and front office staff can reset most accounts.

5. Refer to Middle School Course Description Handbook pgs. 4-6
Advanced Academics
What are Advanced and Pre-Advanced Placement Courses?
How do I know if I should enroll in these level courses?
Which Pre-AP courses can I take in MS? Pre-AP courses are offered in Grades 6-8 in ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies
Are any Advanced Placement courses offered in MS? Yes; AP Spanish III (for Native Spanish Speakers)
Refer to Middle School Course Description Handbook pgs. 4-6
Pre-AP Courses are courses that lead to Advanced Placement (AP) courses. AP classes are college level classes taken in high school which can lead to college credit upon passing AP exams) . Pre-AP courses are available to all students 6th-11th grades. These courses cover the curriculum in greater depth and complexity. Students must develop good study habits and time management skills to be successful in PAP coursework. Consult with your current teachers, parent, and counselor regarding your desire to take PAP level courses. They can guide you in choosing your courses. AP Spanish III is available for 8th grade native Spanish speakers.

6. Opportunities for GT Students
GT Advanced Humanities and Pre-AP cluster
Students who qualify for the GT program or score Masters Level on STAAR Reading
What is GT Advanced Humanities?
Refer to Middle School Course Description Handbook pg. 6
GT Advanced Humanities is a program for students who have demonstrated an educational need for above-grade level content by qualifying for gifted services or by scoring Masters Grade Level on STAAR Reading. In sixth grade, this program ties the Social Studies course and the Reading course together for a learning experience that relies heavily upon independent reading of above grade level texts and project based learning. In 7th grade, the program ties the Reading and Writing courses together through a thematic study of novels, literary non-fiction, speeches, philosophy, art, historical documents and above grade level writing tasks. Please see course handbook for more detailed course descriptions.

7. Math
Most students will complete a recommended 6th-8th grade sequence that will support rigorous math work at the PAP and AP levels in HS
Students who demonstrate readiness in 5th grade will be enrolled in PAP 6th grade Math. This course combines or compacts 6th and 7th grade TEKS in the course content.
Students who demonstrate readiness in 6th grade will be enrolled in PAP 7th grade Math. This course combines or compacts 7th and 8th grade TEKS in the course content.

8. Refer to Middle School Course Description Handbook pg. 5
Math (continued)
If students are successful in the PAP 7th grade Math course & 8th grade Math STAAR, then they can then enroll in PAP Algebra I for HS credit in 8th grade.
Refer to Middle School Course Description Handbook pg. 5
If you are interested in accelerating in Math, make sure to put your best effort forward, ask questions, attend tutoring when needed, and talk with your 6th grade math teacher about your interest to accelerate.

9. 6th Grade Courses and Electives
All 6th graders will enroll in 8 courses:
English Language Arts
Reading
Math
World Cultures and Geography
Science
PE or Pre-Athletics
Fine Arts Elective
Huddle
Fill in the campus information that describes advisory at your own campus

10. WMS HUDDLE
WMS Huddle Purpose: Wildcat Huddle is a way to strengthen connectedness at the middle school level. Huddle allows an opportunity for an adult advisor to meet regularly during the school day with a group of students to provide academic/social-emotional mentorship and support, to create personalization within the school, and to facilitate a small peer community of learners.
Huddle has replaced “homeroom or advisory” here at Wayside.
Huddle establishes a family group for all students
Huddle is a consistent place where students will learn organizational strategies such as the AVID Binder and Planner utilized in all classes.
Huddle is where students will get their WMS Announcements, learn restorative lessons through the Lions Quest Curriculum, complete district medical and academic screenings, most campus presentations will run through Huddle, and participate in TAG (together accessing grades) time with their Huddle teacher.
Mrs. Davis will speak and show her PowerPoint about Huddle

14. Band Choir Art Theater Fine Arts Electives
Refer to Middle School Course Description Handbook pgs. 23 & 31
Teachers of each subject that are present will speak about their program.

15. Refer to Middle School Course Description Handbook pgs. 22 & 30
Pre-Athletics
Uniform $30
Introduction to all sports
Students can change to regular PE or Pre-Athletics during the school year
Refer to Middle School Course Description Handbook pgs. 22 & 30

16. 6th Grade Camp Wildcat Who’s Invited: All Incoming 6th Grade Students
When: Thursday, August 9th from 9:00AM-12PM
What: All New Wildcats Will
Receive their schedule
Tour the school
Learn The Wayside Way
Have a Blast & Meet New Friends.

17. Schedules and Lockers
Students will receive their schedule at Camp Wildcat. If your student receives a schedule you think is not correct please the counselors. Phone calls are welcome too. However, s are faster.
Lockers will be requested in Huddle Class.

18. Cell Phones and Social Media
It is not required that your child have a cell phone or an electronic device in middle school.
Rules regarding cell phones and social media
Recommend no Snap Chat, Instagram, or any social media that has direct messaging.

19. Course Selection Sheet
Turn in tonight or wait and turn into your child’s counselor before April 6.
Wayside counselors will be at the elementary schools during the next two weeks.

20. Questions?