6th graders will enroll in the following courses for 7th grade:

1. ELA or ELA Advanced or ELA GT
2. Math or Math Accelerated (Must have taken Accelerated Math in 6th grade) or **Math Bridges
3. Science or Science Advanced or Science GT
4. Texas History or Texas History Advanced or Texas History GT
5. PE or Dance 1 or ***Dance 2 or ****Athletics
6. Elective Course
7. Elective Course

**Math Bridges is a course designed for 7th grade students who want to take Algebra 1 (HS) in 8th grade but did NOT take Accelerated Math in 6th grade. This is a 90 minute course and will take the place of ONE elective.

***Students must have already taken Dance 1 in order to be in Dance 2

****Students must have a coach's approval in order to be in Athletics.

Students in Athletics must have a completed physical form. The form can be found below:

Physical Form

• Girl's Coach: pamela.hall@nisd.net
• Boy's Coach: larry.bailey@nisd.net

Northside offers many Advanced courses to middle school students. Participation in advanced academic courses is a foundation of college readiness. Students who participate in advanced coursework are more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree in college and typically have higher grades in college.

Northside ISD recognizes the value of student participation in rigorous academic coursework and encourages students to graduate from high school with at least one advanced academic course credit such as Advanced Placement. Our collective purpose is to ensure

student success in middle school Advanced courses and provide opportunities for higher levels of learning in future grades.

Advanced courses are intended to develop students’ literacy, problem-solving skills, and analysis. These middle school classes are designed to challenge students through rigorous instruction and complex learning tasks in order to prepare them for success in future Advanced classes, AP classes, and college courses.

***If you would like for your student to earn high school Algebra 1 credit in 8th grade, your student must follow the sequence below:

Identified GT students may choose ONE GT content course each year in:

• English Language Arts or
• Science or
• Social Studies.

Each year’s course selection is independent of the previous year. GT courses emphasize strategies such as depth and complexity, creative problem solving, and critical thinking. These strategies are integrated throughout the curriculum in order to foster leadership and maximize opportunities for independent thinking.

In addition to GT content courses, students may also select Math Advanced courses in which both enrichment and acceleration opportunities are available.

Course selection is not guaranteed due to campus enrollment and staffing. Please give careful consideration to GT content selection.

***To request for your child to be GT tested in 6th grade, please contact: martha.gonzalez@nisd.net

7th graders will have two elective classes and will be in these classes for the entire school year. Due to class sizes and teacher assignments, Jordan cannot guarantee a student's first choice. Students will select two alternative courses for this reason.

7th Grade Elective Options:

• Beginning Band or Intermediate Band
• Beginning Orchestra or Intermediate Orchestra or Advanced Orchestra
• Beginning Choir or Intermediate Choir
• Beginning Theatre or Intermediate Theatre
• Dance 1 or Dance 2 (Must not be in P.E. course)
• Beginning Art or Intermediate Art
• PBS Future Lab 7
• STEM Future Lab 7
• Journalism/Yearbook
• AVID (Application required & must be enrolled in 1 advanced academic course)
• Spanish 1 (High School Credit)

Band Beginner Level is designed to teach students how to play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. No prior music experience or knowledge is required. Students will learn to read music, produce good tone quality, learn rhythm skills, and perform music. Students can develop skills at their own pace. Band concerts allow students to experience live performance. Students earn awards for individual outstanding skill mastery.

Instructor: Chris Esparza- chris.esparza@nisd.net

Band Intermediate Level is designed for students to continue developing music fundamentals on woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments introduced in the beginner level class. Students build skills at their own pace. Band literature is more advanced and promotes increased teamwork, kinesthetic development, expression, leadership, and problem solving skills. Band concerts include music of all styles. Students earn awards for individual and ensemble mastery of skills.

***Prerequisite: Beginner Band

Orchestra Beginner Level is designed to teach students how to play a violin, viola, cello, or string bass instrument. No prior music experience or knowledge is required. Students will learn to read music, produce good tone quality, learn rhythm skills, and perform music. Students can develop skills at their own pace. Orchestra concerts allow students to experience live performance. Students earn awards for individual outstanding skill mastery.

Instructor: Sarah Hayter- sarah.hayter@nisd.net

Orchestra Intermediate Level is designed for students to continue developing music fundamentals on violin, viola, cello, and string bass instruments introduced in

the beginner level class. Orchestra literature is more advanced and promotes increased teamwork, kinesthetic development, expression, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Orchestra concerts include music of all styles. Students earn awards for individual and ensemble mastery of skills.

***Prerequisite: Beginner Orchestra

This course is designed to teach students how to sing properly. No prior music experience or knowledge is required. Girls are assigned to the Treble Choir and boys are assigned to the Tenor Bass Choir. Students learn to read music, produce good tone quality, learn rhythm skills, and perform. Students can develop skills at their own pace. Choir concerts allow students to experience live performance. Students earn awards for individual outstanding skill mastery.

Instructor: Patricia Balmer- patricia.balmer@nisd.net

This course is designed for students to continue developing music fundamentals and singing skills introduced in the beginner level class. Students build skills at their own pace. Choral literature is more advanced and promotes increased teamwork, development of vocal tone quality and range, expression, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Choir concerts include music of all styles. Students earn awards for individual and ensemble mastery of skills.

***Prerequisite: Beginner Treble Choir or Beginner Tenor/Bass Choir

Beginning Theatre is an introductory theatre course designed for the student to experience the basic elements of drama. No previous theatre or drama experience is required. Beginning acting and technical theatre techniques will be explored along with the basic skills needed to create a theatrical performance.

Instructor: Priscilla Villanueva- priscilla.villanueva@nisd.net

Intermediate Theatre is a more in-depth study of theatre where students continue to build upon skills learned in Theatre 1. Students are introduced to additional skills that are necessary to become a theatre artist. Dramatic structure, acting, and technical elements are expanded in both production and scene studies.

***Prerequisite: Beginner Theatre

The first dance course in middle school is designed to give students the opportunity to develop and execute beginner skills in ballet, jazz, tap, modern dance, musical theatre dance, and world dance forms. Various dance genres and styles will be explored while improving students’ technique, self-confidence, creative ability, and concept of wellness. Dance students will have ensemble performance opportunities. No prior dance experience is required.

*Middle School Dance may be taken as an elective, or as a fulfillment of the PE requirement. Students who wish to use MS Dance to fulfill the PE requirement should NOT enroll in this course, but should rather enroll in Dance MS 1 PE (#5091)

Instructor:

The second of three sequential dance courses, Dance MS 2 is designed to give students the opportunity to develop and execute intermediate skills in ballet, jazz, tap, modern dance, musical theatre dance, and world dance forms. Various dance genres and styles will be explored while improving their technique, selfconfidence, creative ability, and concept of wellness. Dance students will have ensemble performance opportunities.

***Prerequisite: Dance MS 1

*Middle School Dance may be taken as an elective, or as a fulfillment of the PE requirement. Students who wish to use MS Dance to fulfill the PE requirement should NOT enroll in this course, but should rather enroll in Dance MS 2 PE (#5092)

Beginner Art MS 1 is concept-based. Curriculum units include drawing, painting, printmaking, three-dimensional art forms, fiber, and digital art. Content will include student originality and creativity.

Intermediate Art MS 2 is concept-based and curriculum units build student skills developed in Beginner Art 1. Curriculum includes drawing, painting, printmaking, fiber art, three-dimensional art forms, and digital art. Development of artistic originality, creativity, and study of artists and art periods is incorporated.

***Prerequisite: Beginner Art MS 1

(Public & Business Services Related Careers) This is a lab- and project-based course in which students will participate in experiences that model real-world industries. The goal of this course is to create a foundation for success in high school, future studies, and careers in Business, Industry, and Public Service. Career and Technical Education clusters addressed include Agriculture, Business/Finance, Culinary, Education, Fashion, Health Science, and Marketing. Students will research labor market information, learn job-seeking skills, and practice professional communication skills. Career and Technical Education instruction provides content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed in current or emerging professions.

***Prerequisite: None

(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Related Careers) This is a lab- and project-based course in which students will participate in experiences that model real-world industries. The goal of this course is to create a foundation for success in high school, future studies, and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Career and Technical Education clusters addressed include Architecture, Arts & Audio Video, Construction, Engineering, Information Technology (Cyber), Law (Forensics), Manufacturing, and Transportation (Automotive). Students will research labor market information, learn job-seeking skills, and practice professional communication skills. Career and Technical Education instruction provides content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed in current or emerging professions.

***Prerequisite: None

This course provides the study of current print and digital trends in yearbook design, layout, and publishing in order to develop and produce the school yearbook. Coursework includes gathering and analyzing information, photography, and specialized writing.

***Prerequisite: None

AVID 7 is an academic elective course that prepares students for college readiness and success. Each week, students receive instruction utilizing a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, tutor-facilitated study groups, motivational activities, and academic success skills. In AVID, students participate in activities that incorporate strategies focused on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading to support their academic growth.

***Prerequisite: Application and Interview and must be in one Advanced academic course.

Please contact pamela.watson@nisd.net for inquires.

This course focuses on developing speaking and listening comprehension skills. Students are exposed to basic reading and writing skills. Students are introduced to the people, their customs, and other aspects of their culture. Students have the opportunity to work in pairs and small groups to role play real-life situations using the target language.

***Prerequisite: None

Students who successfully complete Spanish 1 will earn 1.0 high school credit.

Reach out to your student's counselor for any questions or concerns!

Tania Perez

6th grade Counselor

tania.perez@nisd.net

(210) 397-6178

Erica Parra

7th grade Counselor

erica.parra@nisd.net

(210) 397-6176

Ryanne Barecky

8th grade Counselor

ryanne.barecky@nisd.net

(210) 397-6177

Laurel Graham

Counseling & Grade Reporting Secretary

laurel.graham@nisd.net

(210) 397-6182