Welcome, Rising Seventh

and Eighth Grade Parents!

SRMS

Tonight’s Agenda

• 7th and 8th Grade Course Selection Process

• High School Programs

• Tools for Success

• Summer School

• Summer Enrichment Opportunities

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The Course Selection Process• Program of Studies• Teachers’ Role• Counselor’s Role• Parents’ Role

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Teacher Recommendations• Honors vs. Academic• Reading level• Independent, self-advocating• Higher-level thinking• Push your child to try an honors level class if they haven’t taken one in the past

Contact specific teacher with questions

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What should I expect next year?Required 7th grade courses:

• Language Arts (1 block only)• Life Science• U.S. History 1865-Present•Math• Health/PE 7• Family and Consumer Science (FACS) (1 semester)• Technology Education (1 semester)

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7th grade electives: • One Language Arts elective:• Accelerating Literacy Skills• Communication Studies• Foreign Language (more on that later)

• One Fine Arts elective:• Art 7• Chorus 7• Band 7• Strings 7• Guitar 7

Fine Arts elective splits with Resource/Spectrum

What should I expect next year?

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Has your child ever wanted to create a commercial, argue in a debate, or perform a skit in front of your classmates?

Try Communications!

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What is it?ALS is an interactive, student-driven reading and writing workshop that supports student who are below grade level in reading

It is NOT language arts part 2, but it will help students be more successful and confident in Language Arts class!

What do we do in ALS?• Literature Circles• Reading Comprehension

Activities• Journaling• Read Alouds• Literacy Learning Stations• Writing Mini-Lessons• Writing Workshop & Conferences• Silent Reading Time• Author Shares• Computer Lab Time• Reader’s Theatre…AND MORE!!!

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Accelerating Literacy Skills

Foreign Languages• These classes are high school level.• Students will learn to speak, listen, read, and write.• The final grades on students’ report card will count for high school.• There is a semester (midterm) and final exam.• It is recommended to study for these classes every night!• PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

Language Choices• French• Spanish• German• Latin• Spanish for Fluent Speakers

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Required 8th grade courses:• English 8•Math – Math 8, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II or Algebra II/Trig• Civics and Economics• Physical Science• Health/PE 8• Full 90 minute block of Resource 8 or Spectrum 8

What should I expect next year?

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• Select two full-year 8th grade electives:• Art 8• Chorus 8• Band 8• Guitar 8, Level 1 or Level 2• Strings 8• FACS 8• Tech Ed 8• Foreign Language: Spanish 1 or 2, SFS 1or 2, French 1 or 2, Latin 1 or 2, German 1 or 2

*Current 7th graders are selecting their electives online through Naviance**

What should I expect next year?

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• Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II• Foreign Language • High School Transcript• Expunging process-NEW PROCEDURES-

Any “F”, after each year

High School Credit Courses

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Thinking Ahead for High School

High School Programs• Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and

Technology• Early October-Open House for Admissions

• Loudoun County Public Schools Academy of Science•May 9th at 7:00pm: First information session in Dominion High School’s auditorium• Early August-Part I of the application should be available• Recommendations come from 8th grade Math and Science teacher

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CAMPUS

• CAMPUS is an academic and college preparation program designed to meet the specific needs of students from historically under-represented populations in higher education and prospective first-generation college students attending Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS).

• Application Process, Selection, Summer Programs, Dominion CAMPUS consultation during Titan Time.

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NJROTC• Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) • Program is led by Commander Jeremy Gillespie,

Master Chief Deanna Foust, and Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Serrano.

• Housed in the LCHS Annex• Leadership, Character, Honor, and Service• All uniforms, textbooks, training materials and

equipment are furnished by the U.S. Navy at no cost to the individual student.        

• Not a recruiting program, no obligation or commitment to serve in the armed forces

• http://lcps.org/domain/2781

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STUDENT PARENTDaily Homework Time: 35-45 minutes

Quiet, comfortable setting*Please remember no such thing as NO homework!

Agenda•Record all assignments and assessments

Check student’s agenda daily*If homework is not recorded, please have your student check each teacher’s webpage and record each assignment.

Complete homework the day it’s assigned

Have student show you their completed assignments

Pack backpack the night before•Homework/materials/agenda

Help student identify an area for their Seneca “stuff”

Tools for Success

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Tools for Success ContinuedSTUDENT PARENTSeek Help/Communication•Resource•Before/After school•Lunch•Email

Help students to schedule time with their teachers (ex. Resource, lunch, before or after school)Absent: 3 consecutive days, contact House Office Secretary or Counselor

Clarity•Check once a week

Schedule at least one day a week to review Clarity with your student

Club/Activity Encourage your student to get involved*Check out Seneca Ridge's After School Activities/Intramurals

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Repeat Summer ClassesRemediation Programs for Middle School Courses• Middle School students who have received a final grade of a “D” or an “F”

may receive targeted instruction in Math and Reading/Language Arts through programs based at their home school. These programs are targeted to specific learning needs and are open to General Education students, English Language Learners, and Special Education students participating in inclusion classes.

• Program dates and times will vary and are set by the home school. Students, who are eligible to attend, must attend at their home school.

 Remediation Programs for High School Courses• Middle School students may retake a high school credit course through

summer school programs offered at two high school sites. Middle School students must expunge the original grade and retake the full session course. *Parents must turn in the expunge form to the grade level counselor prior to registering for high school summer school.*

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New Summer School Courses New Middle School Courses Available Online• Only Math 7 will be offered as a new course through ED 2020 (now called

Edgenuity), an approved online provider. Students who are eligible to take Math 7 as a new course must score Pass Advanced on the Math 6 SOL Assessment and have permission from the Principal and Counselor. This course is only available to rising seventh grade students.

• More information on how to register for this course will be available soon. Please be aware of deadlines for registration and completion of the coursework.

 New High School Courses • With principal and counselor approval, certain middle school students are

eligible to take one full session high school math course at the High School Summer School site. http://lcps.org//Domain/57

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Summer Enrichment Opportunities• LCPS• Summer in the Arts•Monroe Career Camp• Volunteer Loudoun • Loudoun County Parks and Recreation Camp information will be available on March 7th

• Online Practice• IXL • Khan Academy • Learn Zillion

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Opportunities Outside of LCPS

• The Aerospace Camp Experience (Aerospace Museum)• Fairfax Collegiate Summer 2013• UVA Summer Enrichment Program• UVA ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Science Summer Camp• John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth • Penn State Weather Camp (students entering grades 8-12)•Weather Research Center Camps (for all ages)

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Questions

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