1. Course Selection Presentation
6th Grade  7th Grade

2. Welcome to Stafford Middle School!
Principal:
Ms. Gayle 
Asst. Principal:
 Mr. Kearns
Counselor:
Ms. Frazier 

3. Intermediate to Middle School Differences
School Hours: 7:30am to 3:10pm
No longer attend school from 8am to 3:40pm!
Advice from a SMS 7th grader: practice over the summer waking up earlier!
You will report to the Middle School Cafeteria each morning before school starts. At 7:18am, Mr. Kearns (AP) will dismiss you to go to class. The tardy bell rings for first period at 7:30am.
You will have 8 periods each day. Each class is approximately 47 minute long.
You will have 5 minutes to switch to your next class.
There are three different lunches.
A lunch is BEFORE 5th period
B lunch is DURING 5th period
C lunch is AFTER 5th period

4. Intermediate to Middle School Differences
School Uniform: Light blue collared shirt, khaki or blue pants/skirt/shorts
*Same shirt color throughout MS
Your classes will be more rigorous and there are firm due dates. You will take more tests, quizzes and will have more homework. This all prepares you for high school and college!
If you are in Band, you can drop off your instrument in the Band room so that you don’t have to carry it around with you all day
If you want to be in Athletics, you must have a physical on file before the first day of school. You can participate in football, basketball, tennis, track, cross country, or volleyball. If Athletics does not fit into your schedule, you can still participate in that sport AFTER SCHOOL.

5. Intermediate to Middle School Differences
Each six weeks, each teacher will take at least 3 major grades and at least 7 non-major grades to calculate your six weeks grade
In December and May you will take Final Exams for EACH class. A Final Exam is one big test at the end of the semester that covers EVERYTHING you learned that semester! It counts as 14.3% of your semester grade. If you don’t do well on your final, your grade can drop an entire letter grade. If you do well on your final, your grade can raise up an entire letter grade!
STAAR does not go away. You will have to take 3 STAAR tests in 7th Grade. They are Math, Reading, and Writing.
How do you pass the 7th grade? You must pass all of your classes AND pass all of your STAAR tests to be promoted to the 8th grade. If you do not pass all of your classes, you will need to repeat them and pass them in summer school.

6. School Map

7. Course Selection Materials
Course Selection Worksheet Front:
Course Selection Worksheet Back:
Stafford MSD
Course Catalog:

8. The 5 Required Courses ELAR (English and Reading)
PreAP ELAR is one period long
Academic ELAR is two periods long (“block”)
Math
PreAP Math is one period long
Academic Math is two periods long (“block”)
Science
Social Studies
PE (or PE Equivalent)
Athletics
Karate
Dance

9. Choosing the Right Courses
Academic
These are your “on grade level” courses
These courses prepare students for high school and beyond
PreAP/GT
These courses are designed to challenge motivated students. They are fast-paced and require more independent learning and homework.
These courses prepare students for AP courses in high school and college
You should have a “B” average in your current class
A teacher’s initials are required to take PreAP classes in Middle School

10. Exiting a PreAP Course
You can ONLY exit out of a PreAP course after the first six weeks of school or after the first semester
A grade in the 70s or 80s is NOT a valid reason to get out
A parent/teacher conference is required

11. Elective Courses * = this indicates a one semester course Band
Should take Band in 7th grade if you want to take Band in 8th grade
Choir
College and Career Readiness*
Creative Writing
Introduction to Spanish
Must take this in 7th grade if you want to take Spanish 1 in 8th grade (for high school credit)
Native Spanish Speakers are not required to take this course; can go directly into Spanish 1 in 8th grade

12. Elective Courses * = this indicates a one semester course Dance
Must take this in 7th grade if you want to take Dance 1 in 8th grade (for high school credit)
Journalism (“yearbook”)
Technology Applications (computer-based course)*
Visual Arts (art course)*
Must take this in 7th grade if you want to take Art 1 in 8th grade (for high school credit)
Investigating Careers in STEM*

13. Looking Ahead…
In 8th grade, students can take the following courses for high school credit:
Algebra 1
Art 1 (prerequisite: Visual Arts 7)
Dance 1 (prerequisite: Dance 7)
Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Spanish 1 (prerequisite: Intro to Spanish in 7th grade)
Principals of Public Law and Safety
Spanish Heritage 1&2 (prerequisite: must be a Native Spanish Speaker)

14. A Typical 7th Grade Academic Day
PERIOD
SUBJECT
ROOM # 1
ELAR 7
616 2 3
Science 7
609 4
Band (elective)
Band Room
Lunch
Middle School Cafeteria 5
PE 7
Gym 6
Math 7
622 7 8
Texas History
613

15. A Typical 7th Grade PreAP Day
PERIOD
SUBJECT
ROOM # 1
Tech Apps 7 (elective)
711 2
PreAP ELAR 7
718 3
Science 7
609 4
Band (elective)
Band Room
Lunch
Middle School Cafeteria 5
PE 7
Gym 6
PreAP Math 7
620 7
Intro to Spanish (elective)
704 8
PreAP Texas History
613

16. Course Selection Worksheet
Complete Course Selection Worksheet in PENCIL!
Legibly print legal first and last name (no nicknames please!)
Every student will pick five classes from the REQUIRED COURSES column
ELAR, MATH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, PE
If selecting a PreAP course, your current teacher’s initials are required AND the back of the Course Selection Worksheet must be completed and signed

17. Course Selection Worksheet
Rank your 3 elective choices in order of preference in the ELECTIVE COURSES column
List 3 alternate elective choices in order of preference in the ALTERNATE COURSES column
If left blank, the counselor will pick them for you!
Parent and Student signature is needed
Return Course Selection Worksheet into you Social Studies/Science teacher by Thursday, January 24th.