8th Grade Transition to High School

1
8th Grade Transition to High School

• Central Middle School
• The Long Hill Township School District

2
FROM CENTRAL SCHOOL TO WATCHUNG HILLS REGIONAL
HIGH SCHOOL IN SEVEN STEPS

• Parents will receive a demographic data sheet
  which they must complete and return to Central
  School.
• Teachers will make level placement
  recommendations in each major academic subject.
  These will be scribed on a high school course
  selection menu.
• Mrs. Molendyke will meet with small groups of
  eighth graders in order to explain the transition
  process to each student.
• Parents will receive the menu packet on Thursday
  February 26th. The packet will be distributed
  during 9th period and will come home via the back
  pack brigade.
• Parents and students will complete the elective
  class section of the menu sheet and return it to
  Central School by Monday March 2nd.
• Menus will be delivered to the high school on
  Friday March 6th.
• The high school will send home a Confirmation of
  Requests form along with the name of the
  guidance counselor who has been assigned to your
  child in April.

3
THE PROCESS EXPLAINED

• Watchung Hills Regional High School (WHRHS) has
  different levels of each major academic class.
  The levels are H, J, K, L and M. H
  level is the highest level of college preparatory
  academic work. Levels J, K, and L are also
  college preparatory. This leveling philosophy is
  referred to as homogenous grouping. In
  contrast, our middle school does not have levels
  for each class. Instead we follow a philosophy
  of heterogenous grouping. That is, students of
  mixed academic ability are in the various
  academic classes. The one exception is our
  Horizon classes. However, every other class
  within a particular discipline at our school is
  heterogenously grouped. In order for students to
  be scheduled for classes at the high school, they
  must be recommended for a certain level in each
  class.
• Our 8th grade teachers are required by the high
  school to make level placement recommendations
  for each child. These recommendations are based
  on students academic performance in the first
  and second marking periods. The recommendations
  are therefore not based on potential (what your
  child may be capable of), but instead on
  performance (how your child has actually done in
  class).
• Teachers use criteria developed by the high
  school departments in making the recommendations.
  These recommendations will be written on a
  menu for each child. (on the next two slides
  you will see the front and back of a sample menu)
• The high school asks the middle schools in each
  sending district to complete the recommendation
  process by March 6th. Once they have all of the
  data they will begin their scheduling process.
• We will send home a packet on February 26th
  containing,
• the criteria sheets used for placement
• the menu
• a letter from me explaining the packet
• a high school program of studies booklet
• a sample menu

4
THE PROCESS EXPLAINED (continued)

• Students must return the menu to school on Monday
  March 2nd.
• All questions should be directed to Mr. Cimino at
  rcimino_at_longhill.org or Mrs. Molendyke at
  jmolendyke_at_longhill.org

5
This is the front of the menu. This is only a
sample.
6
This is the back of the menu. This is only a
sample.
7
SELECTING ELECTIVES

• Students will have room in their schedules for
  two periods of electives.
• They can therefore take two full year courses
  four half year courses or one full year course
  and two half year courses.
• Students and parents should circle six electives
  they want on the menu sheet and place a number
  (1,2,3,4,5,6) next to the classes circled,
  indicating which choice is first, second, third
  etc.
• Using the table at the bottom of the reverse side
  of the menu students should list the electives
  they would want to take in the event that their
  other choices are not available. It is advisable
  for students to fill in every line of the table.
• A full year course is 5 credits a half year
  course is 2.5 credits.
• The high school requires that each Freshman take
  a half year elective class called M.A.S.S. (Math
  Application Science Skills). students may be
  exempt from MASS if 1) they are in 8th grade and
  taking Geometry Honors at the high school 2) they
  score at the advanced proficient level in both
  mathematics and science on the 8th grade NJASK.
• Because the NJASK test results will not be
  received until some time in the summer, you will
  find that the MASS class elective has already
  been circled on the menu sheet for your child.
  Once the results from the NJASK are received the
  high school will remove MASS from the schedules
  of the students who scored in the advanced
  proficient range in Mathematics and Science
  thereby freeing up a spot for a 2.5 credit
  elective.

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

• Students must return the menu to Central School
  on Monday March 2nd.
• The high school will take the data from all of
  the students course requests and begin to enter
  it into their computer system.
• In April, parents will receive a Confirmation of
  Requests form from the high school along with
  the name of the guidance counselor who has been
  assigned to your child.
• If parents have any problems or concerns about
  the scheduling of their childrens classes they
  should be directed to the high school guidance
  counselor once the Confirmation of Requests form
  is received.

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WHAT DO I DO IF I DISAGREE WITH A LEVEL PLACEMENT
RECOMMENDATION?

• Parents need to first understand that the
  recommendations that the teachers make are based
  on the criteria that the high school has
  developed. Secondly, the high school department
  supervisors want the 8th grade teachers to make
  recommendations based on student performance, not
  on their potential.
• Teachers will not be changing their
  recommendations based on parent input once the
  menus come home.
• Teachers do have the latitude to make changes to
  their recommendations if the child has shown
  significant improvement or decline at the end of
  the third and fourth marking periods.
• Therefore, if a parent or a student is not
  satisfied with a level placement recommendation
  and wants a higher level, the student should work
  hard in the second half of the year to
  demonstrate to the teacher that he/she is capable
  of work at a higher level.
• If the school year ends and parents are still not
  satisfied with the level placement of their child
  they may contact the high school to inquire about
  the waiver process.

10
What not to do If you disagree with a placement
recommendation

• Please do not hold onto your childs menu if you
  disagree with a placement recommendation. Our
  deadline for giving the menus to the high school
  is March 6th. The menus will be delivered on
  March 6th. If you hold onto the menu we send
  home, a copy will be sent to the high school
  which only bears the level placement
  recommendations (and is therefore devoid of
  elective choices) and the high school will place
  your child into electives of their choice.
• Please do not change a level placement yourself
  on the menu. We make copies of the menu before
  sending them home. We will put the original
  recommendation back on the menu in the event that
  a change has been made by a parent or student.

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Mathematics special considerations

• When parents see the criteria for placement in
  the mathematics classes they will notice
  immediately that the criteria are very concrete
  and objective.
• Students must earn grade point averages in
  certain ranges in order to be recommended for
  each level/class. For example, students must have
  an average of 93-100 in Algebra I J in order to
  be recommended for Geometry H.
• An end of year test is also required in
  mathematics for both Algebra I students and
  pre-Algebra students. The results of these tests
  have to be reported to the high school. Here
  again, students must score in certain ranges in
  order to maintain placement in each level.
  Therefore, your childs level placement may
  change as a result of the end of year test in
  his/her mathematics class.
• In all cases, we will inform parents if a change
  of placement is made.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• If my child has taken French or Spanish at the
  middle school during 7th and 8th grade does
  he/she have to sign up for that language at the
  high school? No, students can take whatever
  language they desire. If the student is changing
  languages they must begin at level I in the high
  school. The student should just circle the
  language he/she wants if it is different from the
  one that has been circled for him/her based on
  the teachers recommendation.
• I am planning on sending my child to private
  school. Should I fill out all of this paperwork
  anyway? Yes! We always advise parents who are
  thinking of sending their children to private
  school to complete the high school transition
  paperwork so that a seat is reserved for the
  child at Watchung Hills.
• Why does the high school ask for level placement
  recommendations in mid year? Wouldnt it make
  more sense to get an entire years worth of
  information about a child before placing him or
  her at a certain level? The scheduling process
  takes many months to complete with a high school
  the size of Watchung Hills. Therefore, in order
  to get everything in place before the summer they
  must begin in March.
• Who do I contact if I have questions about the
  high school? Mr. Cimino can answer most
  questions. In addition, you can visit the high
  schools website for more information.
  www.whrhs.org. Remember that in April you will
  be receiving a Confirmation of Requests form
  and the name of your childs guidance counselor.
  If your questions can wait until then the
  counselor will also be a good source for
  information specific to Watchung Hills.
• What is the difference between H, J, K, L and M
  levels? The difference between the expectations
  for students at each level will vary by
  department. Parents should direct this question
  specifically to their childs guidance counselor
  or a department chairperson. A meeting will be
  held on February 5th during which time each
  department chairperson will present information
  specific to his/her department. Also, the
  criteria sheets should give parents a view into
  the difference between the levels and what is
  expected at each.

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WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL PROCESS?

• Please email Mr. Cimino rcimino_at_longhill.org with
  any questions.
• At this time of the year we get many questions
  and it is sometimes easier and more efficient to
  answer via email.
• If you would rather have a phone conversation
  please call Mrs. Ralston at 647-2311 ext 4001 and
  she will give your message to Mr. Cimino.