Moorhead Junior High
February 2021 Newsletter / Course Registration Information
Course Selection Information
Dear Panther Family,
Welcome to our All Things Registration Newsletter for incoming 7th and 8th graders at Moorhead Junior High. Ideally, we would present this information in an in-person informational meeting. Unfortunately, with the current COVID situation we are not able to do so at this time. This newsletter contains the information that we would normally present. This newsletter will be continually updated as more information is available.
We are looking forward to working with your child throughout the spring semester course registration process. We are dedicated to making this a smooth and successful transition.
Should you have any questions, please email your child's counselor directly. Below are the 2021-22 Counselor assignments and contact information.
- Suzi Wilson, sswilson@conroeisd.net, last names A-Go.
- Cheryl Bracken, cbracken@conroeisd.net, 7th grade students with last names Gr - Pe.
- Theresa Randal, trandall@conroeisd.net, 8th grade students with last names Pf - Z.
Sincerely,
Robert Garcia
Principal
At little about Moorhead for incoming 7th graders
School Day
Let’s run through a typical day at Moorhead. Next year, students may arrive beginning at 7:45 a.m. Those students involved in sports may arrive as early as 7:10am. At Moorhead we have a seven period day. We have four 30-minute lunches that occur during fourth and fifth periods. The school day starts at 8:40am and ends at 4:00pm.
Dress Code
Please refer to page 12 of our Student/Parent Handbook. (Link below.)
Tutoring
Students have multiple opportunities to receive tutoring assistance. They may go to their classrooms for tutoring with their classroom teacher as early as 8:15. After school help is also available until 5:05 p.m.
Late Bus
The late bus departs Moorhead Junior High at 5:15pm every Monday - Thursday. Late buses drop students off at satellite locations not at their normal bus stop.
Register for the late bus here: Transportation (conroeisd.net)
ELA BLOCK
Level 7th grade English Language Arts classes are blocked and meet daily for 90 minutes.
Class change and Bathroom Passes
Students in junior high enjoy a few more freedoms than they may have had in intermediate school. They walk from class to class on their own with an allowance of 2 free tardies each week. There is plenty of time for students to get to their next class. Because students are allowed to carry their backpacks to class, locker use is minimal. Regular school attendance is extremely important for success. Students are given a bathroom pass which allows them 14 opportunities per 9 weeks to leave class for a bathroom break.
Cell Phones
Students are allowed to use their cell phones before, after school, and during lunch. Teachers control the phone usage during class. Lost phones or other electronics are turned in to the grade level office. Other lost items are found in our lost and found area in the cafeteria.
Required Immunizations for Incoming Seventh Graders
If you are a parent or guardian of an incoming seventh grader of 2020-2021, please be aware Texas state law requires all students to have paperwork indicating receipt of the flowing immunizations before they can begin the first day of school:
TDAP
MCV
COURSE INFORMATION
Should I Take Honors Courses?
All general education classes, level and honors, are college preparatory. The ultimate choice on which core course, level or honors, you wish your child to be in lies with you as long as it is made before the final deadline of April 2nd.
- Honors courses taught at Moorhead and Caney Creek prepare students to be successful in Advanced Placement, Dual Credit courses, and beyond.
- Higher expectation of students
- May move at a quicker pace than regular courses
- Be wise in making course choices for your child based on his/her unique characteristics
Required Courses - 7th Grade
- Language Arts/Writing - 90 minute block
- Mathematics
- Science
- Texas History
- Physical Education, Athletics, Cheer or Dance
- Elective
Required Courses - 8th Grade
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- U.S. History
- Electives
Math - 7th Grade
Math Courses:
Seventh Grade Math
Pre-Algebra (Eighth Grade Math, one year ahead)
Algebra I Honors* (High School Course, two years ahead)
*High School Course credit is recorded on HS transcript, but is not included in the calculation of HS grade point average.
Math - 8th Grade
Math Courses:
Eighth Grade Math - Pre-Algebra
Algebra I Honors* (9th grade math, one year ahead)
Geometry Honors* (10th grade math, two years ahead)
*High School Course credit is recorded on HS transcript, but is not included in the calculation of HS grade point average.
English Language Arts - 7th & 8th Grade
All students have a summer reading requirement
Language Arts meets 90 minutes each day.
Honors Language Arts will have more in-depth material with an expectation of a quick pace through independent work.
Science - 7th & 8th Grade
Science
Honors Science
Independent Study Project is required: Students have three options
Science Fair Project (traditional testable hypothesis)
Engineering Design Competition (partner required, design, build drivable robot)
Sci Story (research, video documentary creation, website design and creation)
All options are research based endeavors
Time commitment outside of school is approximately 38 hours of preparation
Science Fair is traditionally on a Friday in Jan/Feb
EDC is traditionally on a Saturday in February
Sci Stories is a campus based competition with only a select number advancing to regionals
Texas History - 7th Grade
Texas History
Honors Texas History
This course is designed to prepare students for subsequent Honors and Advanced Placement courses in Social Studies.
The curriculum focuses on critical thinking, application of concepts, and strategies for analyzing primary sources.
Development of writing skills is emphasized to promote success on Free Response Questions and Document Based Questions in AP Social Studies courses.
US History - 8th Grade
US History
Honors US History
This course is designed to prepare students for subsequent Honors and Advanced Placement courses in Social Studies.
The curriculum focuses on critical thinking, application of concepts, and strategies for analyzing primary sources.
Development of writing skills is emphasized to promote success on Free Response Questions and Document Based Questions in AP Social Studies courses.
Special Populations Success
- All means All
- Our staff works diligently to know, encourage, and understand all of our student populations
- We have students in special populations in all levels of academic classes
- Moorhead teachers receive accommodations for students in Special Education, Section 504, and English as a Second Language
Homework
- Time varies widely among students to complete assignments.
- Effectiveness of your child’s study strategies
- How much time is it going to take for your child to complete work outside of school for him/her to achieve the grade you want them to achieve in the course?
- Consider activities outside of school such as Dance, Gymnastics, Baseball, Swimming, etc.
- There is homework in our regular classes albeit less than in Honors classes
- Homework demands increase greatly in high school and college
ELECTIVES
Elective Choices - 7th Grade
Art I
Advanced Art*
Band*
Exploring Careers: Industrial Technology
Exploring Careers: Computer Science I
Choir*
Orchestra*
Theater Arts I
Theater Production
- Yearbook I
- PE / Athletics*
- Debate
*Year long elective
Elective Choices - 8th Grade
- All electives available to 7th graders
- Robotics*
- Cyber Security
- Theatre Arts II
- Exploring Careers: Investigating Careers
- Exploring Careers: Computer Science II
- Wildlife Management
- Introduction to Drones
- Yearbook II*
- High School Credit Electives:
- Communication Applications
- Health
- Spanish I*
- Advanced Art*
*Year long electives
Boys and Girls Athletics Information for the 2021-22 school year
Physicals
Students must have a physical on file in order to tryout and participate in sports. Please wait until after May 1, 2021 to have your physician complete a physical for the upcoming school year. More information about physicals will we shared with our families at a later date.
Boys Athletics:
Boys Athletics for the fall semester is for only those students that intend on participating in football.
If you are not interested in football, but want to try out for basketball, cross country, track, soccer, golf, and tennis - you will need to sign up for Physical Education (PE) and then when those sports start, we can potentially move you into athletics.
7th Graders:
Have the choice for signing up for Athletics to play football in the fall or General Physical Education.
8th Graders:
Have the choice of signing up for Athletics to play football in the fall. We also offer a choice 8th grade basketball class and a choice 8th grade soccer class
If you have any questions – Please contact Beau Pickett
A Note from Nurse Toni
Dear Parents,
We have been receiving phone calls regarding the COVID letters that are emailed out. The email will have a title at the top to explain what type of letter it is. Please see below to understand what each letter means:
General Notification Letter - this letter means that a person (student, custodian, district visitor, etc.) tested positive for COVID. This person could have been on campus all day or checked in for 5 minutes and left. If you receive this email, it is to make you aware that sometime that day someone was on campus who tested positive but your child was not near them.
Classroom Notification Letter - this letter means that a staff member who walked into your child's classroom or has contact with your child's class, a student in the classroom or switch classroom, or a student in their Fine Arts class tested positive for COVID. After completing our contacting tracing, we have determined your child was in close contact sometime throughout the day but does not need to quarantine because all safety protocols were in placed. We ask that you just monitor your child and symptoms.
Close Contact/Quarantine Letter - before you receive this letter, you will be contact by administration or nurse before receiving this email so we can explain the situation and why we are quarantining your child. Once we have made contact, the official email will be sent to you.
Please continue to provide a mask and water bottle for your child each day. Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe and please call if you have any questions!
2021-2022 Calendar
The 2021-2022 School Calendar has been approved by the school board.
Conroe ISD Trustees Approve 21-22 School Calendar - Conroe ISD
February Events
February Events
2/4 - CCHS counselors visit Moorhead for course selection presentation.
2/5– Counselors visit Grangerland 6th graders
2/16- Spring Picture Day!
2/23 - Shelter in Place drill
2/24 - TELPAS Testing
March Events
3/11 - Exxon Mobile engineering presentation for 8th graders
3/14 - 3/21 - Spring Break
3/27 - Vocal Solo Contest
3/27 - Orchestra Contest
4th 9 weeks - Virtual or In Person?
No school on President's Day
CISD will be closed on February 12th and 15th.
RG
Moorhead Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR)
Our 2018-2019 Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) has been posted on your school's profile page. The accountability reports can be accessed using the following steps:
From the school’s website:
· Go to "Our School/Campus"
· Click “View School Profile"
· Select “Accountability Reports”
· Click “2019-2020”
· Select "Texas Academic Performance Report or Federal Report Card"
Spring Break 2021!
Protect your child from the dangers of the Internet!
Did you know you can block inappropriate content FREE on your child's Iphone?
IOS/Apple users can go to:
Settings
then scroll down to USE SCREEN TIME PASSCODE (it's in blue) Set a passcode only you know.
Then go back up to:
Screen Time
Content & Privacy Restrictions (Set restrictions here)
Content Restrictions (Set more restrictions here)
You are done!
7th and 8th Grade STAAR Test Schedule
April 6, 2021 - 7th Grade STAAR Writing
May 6, 2021 - 8th Grade STAAR Science
May 7, 2021 - 8th Grade STAAR History
May 11, 2021 - 7th and 8th Grade STAAR Math
May 12, 2021 - 7th and 8th Grade STAAR Reading
Communities in Schools (CIS)
Moorhead Junior High has a Communities in Schools (CIS) Social Services Coordinator, Ms. LaTonya Jones. Ms. Jones is on campus daily and is available to help with the basic needs of our students. Some of resources offered by our CIS counselor include:
· Food Pantry (shelf stable items as well as fresh food when available)
· Clothing
· School Supplies
· Lunch groups (by invitation)
· Holiday assistance
· Weekend food assistance
The CIS office is located inside the small gym. You may request assistance by contacting Ms. Jones directly at (936)709-2449.
Parent and Student Access Center
Parents and guardians have free access to Parent Access Center via www.conroeisd.net . This portal gives complete access to student grades, attendance, tardies, discipline, STAAR scores, and other information. This tool can also give parents and guardians the opportunity to set thresholds where you will be emailed scores of each assignment. Students also have the same access via Student Access Center.
TAE – Teacher Achieving Excellence is a great opportunity to recognize a teacher that is making a difference in your child’s life. The electronic award can be created and sent through Parent Access. An email will be sent to the teacher as well as campus administrators.
Anonymous Alerts
Conroe ISD will continue implementation of the Anonymous Alerts – anti bullying app. Anonymous Alerts is a patented student anti-bullying app that helps combat bullying and other negative activity in schools by empowering students to come forward to help themselves and other students. Social and peer pressures are some of the hardest obstacles for students to overcome, now they can report bullying and safety issues quickly using Anonymous Alerts mobile app.
Students or parents in the school community can anonymously submit alerts about suspicious activity, safety threats, bullying, alcohol or drug use, harassment, family issues, school shooter, campus safety concerns, and self-harm issues to school administrators or counselors. The app is free from the Apple Store, Google Play store, and the Chrome store. Students will still have the option to call Kid Chat to report anything at 1-800-kid-chat.
The Conroe Independent School District (District) as an equal opportunity educational provider and employer does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in educational programs or activities that it operates or in employment matters. The District is required by Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as Board policy not to discriminate in such a manner.
For information about Title IX rights or Section 504/ADA rights, contact the Title IX Coordinator or the Section 504/ADA coordinator at 3205 W. Davis, Conroe, TX 77304; (936) 709-7752.