1. Welcome to Garner Middle School’s Course Fair!
For our future Yearlings and their parents

2. Garner Administration
John Bojescul Principal
Lori Persyn Asst. Principal - 6th grade
James Morris Asst. Principal – 7th grade
Edward Garcia, Ed.D. Asst. Principal – 8th grade

3. We will be glad to assist you!
Counselors
Karen Martinez, Ph.D. A - K
Michele White L – Z
Vanessa Cantu, Ph.D. STAN Counselor
Family Specialist
Monica Encina
Academic Dean
Alicia Million
Special Education Coordinator
Amanda Stark
Librarian
Sharon Pollock
As questions arise regarding the selection of courses for next school year, students/parents may ask the elementary counselors or feel free to contact the Garner Middle School Counselors.
We will be glad to assist you!

4. 6th Grade Bell Schedule
1st period 8:25 – 9:15 *Breakfast begins at 7:50 A.M.
2nd period 9:19 – 10:10
3rd period 10:14 – 11:00
Lunch 11:00 – 11:30
4th period 11:34 – 12:20 *Every Garner student gets free
5th period 12:24 – 1:10 breakfast and lunch daily.
6th period 1:14 – 2:00
7th period 2:04 – 2:50
8th period 2:54 – 3:40
*Garner students attend 8 periods per day. Classes are 46 minutes long with the exception of 1st and 2nd periods, which are a few minutes longer. Transition time between classes is 4 minutes.
*Lunch is 30 minutes long.

5. Standard Dress Policy
Standard dress is required for all students and must be worn daily.
For girls: solid navy or khaki pants, shorts or skirts; solid navy blue, white, or royal blue shirt with collar
For boys: solid navy or khaki pants or shorts; solid navy blue, white, or royal blue shirt with collar
Shirts must have buttons and sleeves.
Spirit shirts from Garner or MacArthur can be worn any day of the week.
College shirts may be worn on Fridays with jeans (blue or black with no rips or tears).
Garner and MacArthur hoodies, sweatshirts, and jackets may be worn at any time.
Solid color hoodies, jackets, or sweatshirts may be worn at any time (navy blue, royal blue, grey, black, or white).
*SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED UPON COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

6. 6th Grade Course Sheets
ALL students will enter course selections in Skyward at their elementary campuses.
Parents and students will be able to view/change course selections through February 21st.
After that date, it will be view only.
If you/your student decides to change an elective, you must notify the counselors by May 28, 2020.

7. 6th Grade Course Sheets
5th grade students will turn in course sheets to their Elementary Counselor.
Dates for receiving and returning your course sheets will be given by your Elementary Counselor.
The gray areas on the course sheet are for school counselor use only.

8. Typical 6th Grade Course Schedule
ELA (English/Reading)-2 periods
Math
Science
Social Studies
PE/Health
Elective-recommended students take Fine Arts in 6th grade year
Elective
*If a student does not pass reading and/or math STAAR, they will be required to take a workshop class in place of one of their electives.

9. Honors Placement Classes
Honors classes are available to any students willing to take on academic challenges.
Honors ELA and Honors Math are offered to all 6th grade students.
If a student does not pass STAAR, they may not be able to take an Honors class for that subject area.

10. Honors Math Pathway
6th grade Honors Math covers 6th & 7th grade Math TEKS
7th grade Honors Math is Pre-Algebra; covers 7th & 8th grade Math TEKS
8th grade Honors Math is Algebra I (High School course)
**A student must take Honors Math in 6th & 7th grades to enroll in Algebra I as an 8th grader.

11. Hyper-Accelerated Math
Students in the hyper-accelerated math program will take 7th grade Honors Math in 6th grade.
In 7th grade, they will take Algebra I.
In 8th grade, they will take Geometry.
Students will take the corresponding STAAR/End of Course tests for each of those years.

12. Electives

13. Fine Arts
North East ISD middle school students are required to complete one full year (2 semesters) of a Fine Arts class.
Art
Band
Choir
Orchestra
Theater Arts
**For Band, Choir, and Orchestra, students must be willing to commit to outside school practice sessions and performances and remain in the program for the entire year; students may also participate in UIL competitions.
**Students may NOT make elective changes after May 28, Electives are a year-long commitment.

14. AIM *Stands for Academic and Individual Motivation
*The focus of AIM is to enhance the curriculum by providing enrichment and/or support to the core academic subjects.
*AIM also teaches students important skills such as study habits, note-taking, test-taking strategies, organizational skills, time management, goal setting, and character education.
*AIM is offered as a full year course.
*AIM is recommended for those students who may need a little extra support in the transition from elementary to middle school.

15. AVID Advancement Via Individual Determination
AVID is an academic support program that prepares students for college readiness and success in a global society.
AVID is offered as a full year course. Students participate in college style study groups, college and cultural field trips, and diverse learning experiences.
Students interested in AVID must complete an application.

16. AVID School-Wide Garner implements AVID strategies school-wide.
Each student has an agenda book and is supposed to write specific information in it each class period.
Each student is required to have a binder with dividers. Student organization is encouraged. Students may go to the Binder ER every Friday morning in the Library.
Interactive note-taking is taught in the academic classes at Garner.
All of these strategies reinforce organizational and study skills.

17. Debate
Topics covered in this course include logic, persuasion, speaking and debate formats, philosophy, and current events.
Students will research, write, and present original works, as well as critically evaluate works from others.
It is important to have excellent reading and writing skills.
Presentations are a requirement of the class.
Debate is offered as a full year course.

18. Physical Education and Health
6th grade students are required to take one semester of PE and one semester of Health.
Students are required to purchase a PE uniform which consists of a pair of shorts and t-shirt.
Students will keep PE uniforms in their PE lockers.

19. Robotics
Robotics is designed to challenge students to think like scientists and engineers. Students will have the opportunity to build, test, and program autonomous robots using LEGO MINDSTORMS technology.
Students may have the opportunity to participate in a LEGO Robotics competition.
Robotics is a full year course.
Students interested in Robotics must complete an application.

20. Technology Applications
The Technology Applications curriculum has four strands: foundations, information acquisition, work in solving problems, and communication.
This course provides students an opportunity to acquire information in a variety of ways. Students complete projects involving work processing, databases, spreadsheets, multimedia, desktop publishing, graphics, and telecommunications.
Technology Applications is offered as a full year course.

21. UIL Study Skills
Students will learn academic skills in the following: calculator, number sense, maps graphs and charts, general math, history, spelling, science, chess, and dictionary.
Students will participate in competitions against other campuses in the district and across the state.
UIL Study Skills is a full year course.
Students must follow UIL regulations for participation in competitions.

22. Dual Language Program
Students who are part of the bilingual program at their elementary school can choose to participate in the Dual Language Program at Garner.
Students enrolled in the Dual Language Program are required to take a Spanish Literacy class as one of their electives, as well as the Dual Language Social Studies Spanish Class.
Regular attendance, good behavior, and passing grades are requirements of the program.

23. Math and Reading Workshops
If a student does not pass one or both STAAR assessments, one of their electives will be substituted with a workshop class.

24. Clubs and Organizations at Garner
Chess Club
National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) – for 7th and 8th graders
National Junior Art Honor Society
PALS – Peer Assistance Leadership and Service – for 8th graders
Science Society
University Interscholastic League (UIL)
Yearlings Against Bullying (YAB)
Student Council

25. Dr. Karen Martinez (A-K) Mrs. Michele White (L-Z)
Questions?
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact
your Garner Counselors by or phone.
Dr. Karen Martinez (A-K)
Mrs. Michele White (L-Z)