Middle School Course Selection Parent Forum

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Middle School Course Selection Parent Forum

• Principal Mr. Montero
• Assistant Principals Ms. Soberon and Mrs. Camus
• 6th 7th grade Guidance Counselor Ms. Kirker
• 7th 8th grade Guidance Counselor Ms. Hicks
• Student Support Specialists Mrs. Sakay, Mrs.
  Escudero Mrs.
• Acevedo
• SOMERSET ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
• A BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
•  

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What is Middle Schoolgoing to be like?

• More classes and teachers
• More people
• More responsibilities
• More work
• More freedom
• More changes physical emotional
• The key to success is
• Organization
• Communication

3
Middle School Schedule

• 7 classes in total
• 4 Core Classes
• 3 Electives
• We follow an A, B rotation
• A day1st, homeroom, 3rd, 5th, 7th periods.
• B day1st, homeroom, 2nd, 4th, 6th periods.

Start Time End Time Length
Doors Open 715 AM 725 AM 10 min
1st Block Period 1 730 AM 830 AM 60 min
Homeroom 835 AM 845 AM 10 min
2nd Block Period 2 or 3 850 AM 1020 AM 90 min
3rd Block Period 4 or 5 (READ 1st 30 minutes of class Lunch) 1025 AM 1255 PM 150 min
4th Block Period 6 or 7 100 PM 230 PM 90 min
Student Dismissal 230 PM
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Promotion Requirements

• Student must pass their 4 core classes each year
• Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies
• A C or better each quarter is essential to
  passing each course successfully.
• D and F quarter grades put students at risk
  of having to repeat a course or being retained.
• Elective grades will be factored into the
  students GPA, therefore earning good grades in
  all classes is critical.
• If a student fails any core classes, he/she MUST
  make up the course(s) online over the summer.

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Course Selection

• Review the curriculum guide for requirements and
  course descriptions.
• Every student must take
• Language Arts
• Math
• Comprehensive Science
• Social Studies (World History, Civics, US
  History)
• Electives
• Reading is required for 6th grade
• PE is required in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade
• Arts, Foreign Languages, academic electives
• Intensive classes (for FSA level 1 2)

CORE classes
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Selecting courses

• Use previous years FCAT scores
• Consider current grades in specific subjects
• Ask your childs teacher for recommendations
• Review the curriculum guide for requirements and
  course descriptions. (found on www.somersetacademy
  .com under Academics) or click here

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Levels of Courses

• Intensive remedial class focused on learning
  strategies (required for students who score low
  on FSA)
• Regular on grade level classes
• Advanced Above grade level classes (high level
  FSA and As and Bs in academic subjects)
• Pre-AP Above grade level classes that require
  critical thinking and problem solving skills
  (Highest level FSA and As and Bs in academic
  subjects)
• )

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Advanced Math

• Students advanced in Math have two options
• requirements must be met and advancement must
  begin in 6th grade
• Option 1 Advanced Math Track ONE YEAR AHEAD
• 6th grade math 1 Advanced ( 7th GRADE MATH)
• 7th grade Pre-Algebra (8th GRADE MATH)
• 8th grade Algebra 1 Honors (HIGH SCHOOL class)
• Option 2 GEM TWO YEARS AHEAD
• 6th grade GEM (pre-Algebra- 8th grade math)
  requires Highest FSA score and GEM placement test
  score of 75 to show mastery of concepts
• 7th grade Algebra 1 Honors (HIGH SCHOOL class)
• 8th grade Geometry Honors (HIGH SCHOOL class)
• Taking and passing an End of Course Exam is
  necessary to earn a high school credit in Algebra
  1 Honors and Geometry Honors

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COURSESELECTIONSHEETS
Core Classes
ELECTIVES
X
X
2
1
X
3
4
X
X
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Electives

• Arts
• Dance, arts, drama, band, chorus
• If interested in the Arts Conservatory for high
  school consider arts electives
• General electives
• Reading, Speech Debate, Creative Writing, Key
  Boarding (online class)
• Foreign Languages
• Italian Beginning (6-8)
• Italian 1- HS level begin in 7th grade (upon
  recommendation after Italian beginning)
• Spanish 1 and Spanish for Speakers 1 can be taken
  starting in 8th grade with a GPA of a 3.25 (As
  and Bs)

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High School Courses in Middle School

• Students in middle school have the option to get
  ahead with their high school credits.
• The most common ways to take high school classes
• Foreign Languages
• Italian 1 (7th Grade) or Spanish 1, Spanish for
  Speakers 1 (starting in 8th grade)
• Math
• Advanced math students can choose between two
  tracks
• Advanced math track ahead 1 year in math
• GEM (Great Explorations in Math Program) ahead
  2 years in math

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Grading for High School Classes

• Middle school students taking a High school
  course will
• earn a high school credit
• their semester grades will be calculated into
  their High School GPA (grade point average)
• Will take an End of Course Exam to earn a high
  school credit in Algebra 1 Honors and Geometry
  Honors
• Students may re-take a high school course if
  grade earned is a C, D, or F. Their new grade
  will count towards their GPA. (taken online in
  the summer or repeated the following year)

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Schedule Changes

• Schedule changes are done during the first week
  of school, ONLY.
• Changes are not guaranteed
• Be sure to select 4 electives, keeping in mind
  that you may not get your first two choices
• Changes will not be honored for teacher change
  nor period swap

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TO GO FROM 8TH GRADE TO HIGH SCHOOL

• A student must PASS
• 3 courses in Language Arts (6th, 7th and 8th
  grade)
• 3 courses in Math (6th, 7th and 8th grade)
• 3 courses in Science (6th, 7th and 8th grade)
• 3 courses in Social Studies (6th, 7th and 8th
  grade)
• 1 course in Career and Education Planning
  (including
• the creation a PAC plan) to be completed in
  8th grade
• If a student fails any core classes, he/she MUST
  make up the course(s).

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What happens if a student doesnt pass a core
class?

• In middle and high school, if you do not pass a
  class, you must re-take it over the summer online
  here at school.
• Somerset Virtual Academy is the online school our
  students use to make up courses.
• www.somersetvirtualacademy.com

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FSA and EOCs
6th grade 7th grade 8th grade
Reading FSA Reading FSA Reading FSA
Math FSA (grade level) Math FSA OR Algebra 1 EOC Math FSAOR Algebra 1 EOC OR Geometry EOC
Writing FSA Writing FSA Writing FSA
Civics EOC Science FSA

• Minimum standards on FSA level 3 or higher
• Intensive math / reading will replace electives
  if FSA scores are low in reading and math
• The FSA and all EOCs will be computer based!

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Pinnacle and Virtual Counselor

• Pinnacle

• Virtual Counselor

• Teachers online grade book
• Student ID (06..) is the username
• Date of birth is the password (YEARmonthDAY)
• Sign up for Email Notifications
• Check Pinnacle at least twice a week
• Keep up with grades and assignments
• Sign up for Teachers Websites

• Broward Countys academic database. Contains the
  following information
• Absences
• Academic History
• Marking Period Grades
• Student Schedule
• Middle School Progress
• Test Scores
• www.browardschools.com
• You need your childs student ID and birth date
  (DAY/MONTH/YEAR)

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Preparing your child for Middle School

• Organization

• Communication

• Arrange a time each day set aside for homework
  and study time
• Encourage the use of Academic planners and color
  coded folders
• Monitor use of time and help your child balance
  his/her schedule
• Prepare their materials and organize their
  assignments the night before

• Do not back off because your child is in middle
  school
• Stay tuned to Facebook accounts, text messages,
  TV programs, websites etc.
• Obtain teachers email addresses the first week
  of school and communicate as much as possible
• Have a pinnacle day of the week with your child

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Parent Communication

• Somerset Academy Website www.somersetacademy.com
  
• Staff websites and email addresses
• Events and the school calendar
• Parents should check Pinnacle for daily progress.
• Teachers should be the first line of
  communication for course related questions and
  concerns.
• Progress/Interim Reports are issued at the
  halfway mark of the grading period.
• Report Cards are issued at the end of each
  grading period (every 9 weeks)

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• All this and more is found at
• www.somersetacademy.com
• Under the Middle School Guidance Page
• Any Questions email us
• 6th 7th Grade Guidance Counselor-
  Jkirker_at_somersetacademy.com
• 7th 8th Grade Guidance Counselor-
  JHicks_at_somersetacademy.com
• Stay tuned for
• Summer Orientation dates!