The staff at McCullough has put together a wealth of information for you to use to make decisions for the 2023-24 academic year. We have used the newsletter format to organize and link everything in one place. This newsletter will be continually updated as more information is available.

The online registration window will be open February 6 through February 20. Individual conferences have been scheduled for 6th grade students at their intermediate school. Conferences with current seventh graders will occur the week of February 21 through their math classes. There is also an optional parent help session scheduled for March 3 at McCullough. The final deadline to make changes to your child's course selection is April 1. We are looking forward to working with your child during the course registration process throughout the spring semester. We are dedicated to making this a smooth and successful transition.

Should you have any questions, please reach out to your child's counselor directly. Below are the 2023-24 Counselor assignments and contact information.

• Jenny Wheeler, jawheeler@conroeisd.net, 7th grade students with last names, A-K.
  
• Alex Schultz, aschultz@conroeisd.net, 7th grade students with last names L-Z.
• Jesenya Garcia, jesgarcia@conroeisd.net, 8th grade students with last names A-K.
• Jana Goforth, jgoforth@conroeisd.net, 8th grade students with last names L-Z.

Sincerely,

Jill Malpass Houser

Principal

Counselors (2023-24 Assignments)

• Jenny Wheeler, 7th grade students with last names, A-K.
• Alex Schultz, 7th grade students with last names L-Z.
• Jesenya Garcia, 8th grade students with last names A-K.
• Jana Goforth, 8th grade students with last names L-Z.

Assistant Principals (2023-24 Assignments)

• Craig Harbin, 7th grade students with last names A-K
• Farrin Ormes, 7th grade students with last names L-Z
• Crystal Kocian, 7th grade students with last names A-K
• Delvin Sims, 7th grade students with last names L-Z

• Jan. 23 - Wilkerson
• Jan. 27 - Coulson Tough
• Jan. 30 - Deretchin
• Feb. 1 - Mitchell
  

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 1st.

• Honors courses taught at McCullough, TWHS 9, and TWHS 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
• Changes from honors to level and vice versa will not be accommodated after the April 1st deadline.

• Language Arts - (2 Semesters)
• Writing Strategies 7 - (1 Semester)
• Mathematics - (2 Semesters)
• Investigations in Math - (1 Semester)
• Science - (2 Semesters)
• Texas History - (2 Semesters)
• Physical Education - (2 Semesters)
• Electives - 4 (2 each Semester)*

*A two-semester elective may be substituted for two one-semester choices.

• Language Arts - (2 Semesters)
• Writing Strategies 8 - (1 Semester)
• Mathematics - (2 Semesters)
• Science - (2 Semesters)
• U.S. History - (2 Semesters)
• Physical Education - (1 Semester)
• Electives - 6 - (3 each semester)*

*A two-semester elective may be substituted for two one-semester choices.

• Math Courses meet every other day for 90 minutes all year long

• Seventh Grade Math

• Pre-Algebra Level (Seventh & Eighth Grade Math combined, one year ahead)

• Pre-Algebra Honors (Eighth Grade Math, one year ahead)

• Algebra I Honors* (High School Course, two years ahead)

• Investigations in Mathematics course required for all 7th graders meets every other day for 90 minutes for one semester

• Answers the question, "When will we ever use this?"
  

• Finance component
  

• Art and Patterns

• Statistics and Logic

• Careers

*High School Course credit is recorded on HS transcript, but is not included in the calculation of HS grade point average.

• Math Courses meet every other day for 90 minutes all year long

• 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.

• All students have a summer reading requirement

• Language Arts meets 90 minutes every other day all year

• Honors Language Arts will have more in-depth material with an expectation of a quick pace through independent work.

• Writing Strategies course meets 90 minutes every other day for one semester

• Science
  

• Honors Science

• Concurrent enrollment in 7th pre-algebra or higher recommended for 7th grade honors science

• Concurrent enrollment in 8th Algebra I or higher recommended if taking honors science

• Independent Study Project is required: Students have three options

• One of the best things we do at McCullough

• Science Fair Project (traditional testable hypothesis)
  

• Engineering Design Competition (partner required, design, build drivable robot)
  

• Sci Stories (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 10 advancing to regionals

• 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

• 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.

• 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
• Intermediate campuses deliver all sixth grade student records to McCullough at end of year
• McCullough teachers receive accommodations for students in Special Education, Section 504, and English as a Second Language

• 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, Equestrian, Swimming, etc.
• There is homework in our regular classes albeit less than in Honors classes
• Homework demands increase greatly in high school and college
• Students at McCullough report an average of 30-45 minutes per night spent on homework.

The physical form for 2023-24 will be available on April 15, 2023. Physicals for the 2023-24 school year must be dated after April 15, 2023.

• Students take PE for one year (two semesters) in seventh grade.

• Students take PE for 1 semester in eighth grade.

• Physical education is not considered one of a seventh grade student’s four elective choices as this course is a requirement.

• Active and Fun

• PE Uniforms are required. Parents can click on the link below to purchase them. Current prices range from $8- $12 depending on size and material.
  

• Athletics may substitute for PE

• Football

• Girls or Boys Basketball

• Girls Volleyball

• Girls or Boys Cross Country

• Cheerleading

• Highland Girls Drill Team

• Color Guard

• Off Campus PE (Private PE)

Examples of activities that facilities may provide for off campus PE are: dance, diving (JH only), equestrian, fencing, gymnastics, figure skating, golf (JH only), martial arts, rowing, swimming (JH only), tennis (JH only), and other individual sports.

• Jan. 19 - Off Campus PE/Private PE Vendor Meeting
• Mar. 13 - Off Campus/Private PE Applications open online. All applications are due May 1st.
• April 1 - Last day for Off Campus/Private PE requests at McCullough

For more information please click on the following links:

Off Campus Private PE Program Guidelines

https://www.conroeisd.net/department/athletics/physical-education-health/

• Art A

• Art B

• Ceramics (Art A is pre-requisite, application required)

• Band*

• Choir*

• Exploring Languages

• Orchestra*

• Leadworthy/Teen Leadership

• Theater Arts I

• Theater Arts II

• Theater Production

• Yearbook I

College and Career Readiness Flight Plans (1 semester electives)

The following courses are designed to guide students through the process of investigating and developing a college and career readiness flight plan. Students use this information to explore a variety of career paths, especially those in demand, and begin mapping their anticipated secondary coursework and potential postsecondary experiences that are in alignment with their goals.

1. Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, Architecture and Transportation - Wildlife Management

2. Manufacturing, IT & STEM - Robotics/Technology

3. Arts, A/V Technology, & Communications and Business Marketing and Finance - Computer Applications

4. Education and Training, Human Services, Hospitality and Tourism and Law Enforcement & Health Science - Human Services

*Year long electives count as two choices

Eighth Graders may take all electives that are available to seventh graders. The following elective choices are only available to our eighth graders.

• Office Aide/Peer Tutor/Buddy Application
• Ceramics (Art A is pre-requisite, application required)
• Yearbook II Application

• *Art I (full year)
• Communications (1 semester)
• Health (1 semester)
• *Spanish I (full year)
• **Principles of Agriculture (full year)
• **Medical Terminology (full year)
• **Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance (full year)

**Students may sign up for only one of these courses

Athletic and Elective Fair is scheduled for February 13, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at McCullough. Below is the schedule of events for the evening.

• 5:45 p.m. Doors open to Bock Auditorium
• 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. Girls Athletics Presentation in Bock Auditorium
• 6:00 – 7:15 p.m. Come and Go Events
• Elective Fair in Commons, E104, E106
• Band Directors in Band Hall D100
• Orchestra Director in Orchestra Room D101
• Choir Directors in Choir Room D102
• Art Teachers in Art Room D104
• 6:45 – 7:15 p.m. Boys Athletics Presentation in Bock Auditorium

• Staffing

• Availability of Course

• Student’s Core Course Selection

• Elective Course Requests by Students

• Seniority

• Number of Electives

• 7th Graders will take 4

• 8th Graders will take 6

• Specialty Classes

• Athletics

• Fine Arts

• Algebra

• Online scheduling portal opens for all incoming 7th and 8th graders Feb. 6 through Feb. 20.
• Instructions for making course requests will be available Feb. 3.
• Deadline for course request changes is April 1, 2023.

Parent Help Session will take place on March 3, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at McCullough Junior High School. The help session is for rising 7th and 8th grade parents who may have specific questions about course selection pertaining to their child. Please note that staff will meet individually with all students prior to this date to verify for accuracy of course selections.

Counselors will meet individually with each student after the online request window closes on the following dates (dates are tentative).

• McCullough Current 7th graders - Feb. 21 through 24 during math classes
• Deretchin - Feb. 27
• Wilkerson - Feb. 28
• Mitchell - March 1
• Coulson Tough - March 2

• Final deadline to make any change, elective request, or core level change is April 1, 2023.
• Teachers are hired with specific teaching certifications based on requests of parents on this date.
• Master schedule is constructed based on parent/guardian course requests

January 10 McCullough visits with Wilkerson staff (8:00 a.m.)

January 17 McCullough visits with Deretchin staff (8:05 a.m.)

January 23 McCullough staff visits with students at Wilkerson (9:30 a.m.)

January 25 McCullough visits with staff at Coulson Tough (9:00 a.m.)

January 27 McCullough staff visits with students at Coulson Tough (9:05 a.m.)

January 30 McCullough staff visits with students at Deretchin (9:15 a.m.)

January 30 Rising 8th Grade Parent Information Night at 6:00 p.m. Bock Auditorium

January 31 Rising 7th Grade Parent Information Night at 6:00 p.m. Bock Auditorium

February 1 Rising 7th Grade Parent Information Night at 6:00 p.m. Bock Auditorium

February 1 McCullough visits with staff at Mitchell (8:00 a.m.)

February 1 McCullough staff visits with students at Mitchell (9:00 a.m.)

February 1 Rising 7th Grade Parent Information Night at 6:00 p.m. Bock Auditorium (repeat of Jan. 31 presentation)

February 3 Academic, Athletic, and Elective Information made available for incoming 7th graders in a virtual format

February 6 Online scheduling portal opens for all incoming McCJH students of 2021-22 (tentative)

February 15 McCullough Cheerleader Information Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Nancy Bock Auditorium at McCullough.

February 13 Athletic and Elective Information Night (6:00 p.m.) Bock, Fine Arts Wing, and Cafeteria

February 20 Online scheduling portal closes for incoming McCJH students

February 24 Cheerleader applications due at McCullough Front Desk by 4:30 p.m.

February 27 Student course requests individual help conferences at Deretchin (9:15 a.m.)

February 28 Student course requests individual help conferences at Wilkerson (9:00 a.m.)

March 1 Student course requests individual help conferences at Mitchell (8:15 a.m.)

March 2 Student course requests individual help conferences at Coulson Tough (8:00 a.m.)

March 3 Parent information help session day at McCullough (9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)

March 6, 7, 8 McCullough Cheerleader Clinic (required)**

March 9 McCullough Cheerleader Try-outs for 7th and 8th Grade (required)**

March 10 (tentative) Posting of cheerleaders results at 6:00 p.m. after all results have been verified.

TBA Parent Information Meeting for Highlander Girl Tryouts at McCullough

April 1 Final deadline to request Off Campus Physical Education (Private P.E.)

April 1 Final 23-24 deadline for all course requests including core and elective classes

April 3-6, 11-14, Highland Girls Tryout clinic (required)**

April 15 Highland Girls tryouts (required)**

April 16 Posting of Highland Girls results at 4:00 p.m. after all results have been verified

April 17 Color Guard Parent Information Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in Nancy Bock Auditorium at McCullough (required)**

April 21 Color Guard application due by 4:30 p.m. submitted online.

April 25-27 Color Guard audition clinic (required)**

April 28 Color Guard audition day (required)**

April 29 Color Guard auditions results posted by 5:00 p.m. on McCullough Color Guard Website

May 1 Application Deadline for Off Campus Physical Education (Private PE)

TBD Tentative date for 8th grade Student Orientation (lockers and schedules)

TBD Tentative date for 7th grade Student Orientation (lockers and schedules)

TBA Football equipment pickup

First week of school Boys and Girls Basketball off-season class try-outs, Volleyball Team try-outs 7 **

Second day of school Football Practice starts**

First week of school Cross-country starts**

TBA Boys and Girls basketball team try-outs**

TBA Track begins

**Please note that all dates and times are tentative. Please have your student collect any information about events from his/her intermediate campus when they are available. We will advertise and announce all events at the intermediate schools as well as in The Tartan Tribune. The dates advertised and announced will be followed unless special circumstances occur.