RIPPON MIDDLE SCHOOL
8th Grade Course Request
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 5/15/20 FINAL CALL FOR COURSE REQUESTS!
PARENTS AND STUDENTS: WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO HONOR YOUR COURSE REQUESTS, BUT DUE TO CLASS RESTRICTIONS AND AVAILABLE SPACING, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HONOR ALL OF THEM.
Welcome Rising 8th Grade Students and Parents!
We know that this has been a challenging past few months, so we wanted to share this document to help families select the appropriate classes for students next year. We have been working steadily these past couple of months on creating a well-rounded schedule for the students for the 2020-2021 school year. Our plans to work with your student at school were diverted due to the status of Covid-19. So this newsletter should contain all of the information your family needs to make the right choices for next school year.
In this newsletter you will find information regarding:
1. Requirements for Extended Classes
2. Related Arts or Encore Selection Descriptions
3. Course Request form (at the bottom of the newsletter)Please read this document carefully before completing your online course request form.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to a school counselor for help!
Requirements for Extended and Foreign Language Classes
Normally, student's SOL scores in Language Arts and Math play a large part of whether or not students are placed in Extended level courses. However due to the Coronavirus this year, SOL testing was cancelled.
This means that students will be ultimately be recommended for Extended level classes based on teacher recommendations and their academic grades for Marking Periods 1-3 in 7th grade.
- Generally speaking, if a student was in an extended class in 7th grade and performing well (A or B), they will be recommended to take an extended class in 8th grade.
- If a student was in a regular level math or language arts class in 7th grade, but wishes to take an extended version of the course for 8th grade - we will make the determination on a student by student basis.
Foreign Language Classes: Spanish 1 and French 1 will be offered next year, however, space is extremely limited.
UNDERSTANDING THE MATH SEQUENCES
Please remember that Math courses are sequential, and students can not skip to a higher level math course. Please see the progressions below to help your student select the proper math class:
- If your student took "Math 7" last year, they will select "Pre-Algebra" for next year.
- If your student took "Math 7 Extended" last year, they will select "Pre-AP Algebra I" for next year.
- If your student took "Pre-AP Algebra I" last year, they will select "Pre-AP Geometry" for next year.
Please keep in mind that due to the cancellation of SOL tests for this academic school year, we will be utilizing students academic grades and teacher recommendations to ensure the best placement for students.
8th Grade Encores: What will the schedule look like?
Please read this carefully, there are a lot of changes in 8th grade.
Here's a Breakdown:
- We will be having 2 periods of encore next year.
- One change for next year is that students will meet with their encore classes EVERYDAY - there will no longer be an A or B Day encore.
- Gifted services will be conducted as Pull-out model only. Will no longer be part of the encore cycle. (8th grade only)
- Music will be year long classes.
- PE classes will be included in Semester rotations.
- Related Arts classes will be on Semesters.
- The Music Dept. would like to see students everyday.
- French 1 and Spanish 1 will be offered during encore times. This means that there are only 4 classes being offered with limited seating. There will be some restrictions regarding who will be able to take a foreign language.
- This also means that students will be limited in the total number of classes that they can select
So there are several example scenarios that a student's schedule may look like:
1.) Related Arts (not taking music or a foreign language)
Period 1: Art (Semester 1) / FACS (Semester 2)
Period 2: PE (Semester) / Tech ED (Semester 2)
2.) Foreign Language
If a student wants to take a foreign language, their schedule might look like this:
Period 1: Spanish I or French I (Year) **VERY LIMITED SPACES
Period 2: Art (Semester 1) / PE (Semester 2)
3.) Music
Period 1: Music
Period 2: PE (Semester 1) or Related Arts (Semester 2)
4.) Foreign Language + Music
We know that we have some students who want to take music and a foreign language. These students would not be placed in PE for the year, in order to accommodate both classes.
Period 1: Spanish I/French 1 (Year) **VERY LIMITED SPACES
Period 2: Music (Year)
5.) Gifted Students and Foreign Language and Music: UPDATED INFORMATION***
ATTENTION GIFTED STUDENTS: AS OF 5/26/2020 Gifted Services will be set up as Pull out services from Mrs. Payne in 8th grade.
You do not have to choose it as a part of the encore cycle.
Students who are interested in Foreign Language and are part of the Music program can do both next year.
Period 1: Spanish I/French 1 (Year) ***VERY LIMITED SPACES
Period 2: Music (Year) -
OR
Semester 1 (Any other choice) and Semester 2 (Any other choice)
Encore Descriptions
LIFE CAREER AND PLANNING (FACS): Life and Career Planning is an advanced-level course that prepares middle school students for their roles in families, careers, and communities through project-based instruction. Students experience in-depth studies of nutrition and wellness, food preparation, relationships, personal environments, textiles, fashion and apparel, consumer resources, child development and care, and leadership service in action.
ENGINEERING SYSTEMS: Students learn about the structure and function of technological systems. Students will explore, design, analyze, and evaluate technological systems. By simulating systems and assessing their impacts, students gain insight into how to approach the problems and opportunities of a technological world. Teachers will use the nationally recognized middle school engineering curriculum, Gateway to Technology by Project Lead the Way.
ART: The Prince William County visual art instructors educate students to develop an awareness and appreciation of art. Through their study of visual art, students will develop fluency in visual, oral, and written communication using the language of art. While developing aesthetic and critical thinking skills, students will become risk takers and creative problem solvers. Students learn about visual communication while making original artwork. Students are expected to embrace art as a visual language to express and communicate their ideas and feelings while utilizing safe and ethical practices in the creative process.
JOURNALISM: In journalism students study photojournalism, write captions and headlines, and occasionally write articles. We study news in the U.S. and the world as well as produce the WRDR news broadcast and other videos for the Rippon Community. Our work is documented through our publications. In conjunction with 8th Grade Civics we explore the parts of The Constitution that apply to journalism.
INTRO TO FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Intro to Foreign Language students become familiar with the basics of Latin, Spanish, French and Japanese languages, histories, and cultures through listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will also learn
through listening, speaking, reading and writing activities. Students will also learn through art, games, multimedia resources, singing, videos and the internet to become better informed when deciding which Foreign Language they will study in High School. If time permits we may also cover German or Italian.
S.T.E.M. ENRICHMENT (Knowing Math): Students are introduced to the world of S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) through creative thinking and problem-solving. Students will use the knowledge and skills they have learned in science, math, business and technology classes to create a toy, build a robot, write code for a device and much more! Students will use the design process to turn their ideas into realities. Students are expected to work independently and collaboratively to solve real-world problems.
Special Message From: Mrs. Tassa
I am the 8th grade administrator. I look forward to developing a partnership with you and your child as well as the teachers and staff to support your child’s success. In their last year of middle school, 8th graders immerse themselves in preparation for high school by practicing and strengthening skills.
I encourage all students to
- Respect themselves, their teachers, and others
- Ask for help from adults to resolve conflicts
- Always put forth their best work
- Come prepared to learn with necessary materials
- Follow directions when given
- Use electronic devices productively at school with the permission of staff
- Preserve a positive learning environment
I look forward to the excitement ahead for your child this year as he/she prepares for the move to high school.