Rippon Middle School
7th grade Academic Advising Form 2021-2022
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
YOU CAN TRANSLATE THIS NEWSLETTER TO OTHER LANGUAGES.
DEADLINE for Academic Advising Form (Course Requests) is APRIL 26, 2021
PARENTS AND STUDENTS: WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO HONOR YOUR SELECTION ON THE ACADEMIC ADVISING FORM (COURSE REQUESTS), BUT DUE TO CLASS RESTRICTIONS AND AVAILABLE SPACING, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HONOR ALL OF THEM.
* The link to the Academic Advising Form is at the bottom of the newsletter.*
Rising 7th Students Welcome to Next Academic Year's Information
We are hoping that you are getting through this challenging time. We have been steadily moving ahead and making plans for the 2021-2022 School year. We are expecting that students will be returning to the building 5 days a week.
It is our hope that this newsletter will give you all of the information needed to make informed decisions with your student regarding classes for the next school year.
In the following sections, you will find important information regarding course selections.
Please take some time to read through everything. You will find the following:
- Requirements for Extended Classes: Extended Courses for 7th-grade students
- Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science Middle School Curriculum Links
- Related Arts or Encore Selection Descriptions
- Math and Science Program Information
- Academic Advising Form (Course Requests)
Requirements for Extended Classes
Language Arts 7 or Extended Language Arts 7
Student's SOL scores in Language Arts play a large part in whether or not students are placed in extended level courses. In addition to reviewing SOL scores, recommendations will be given by 6th grade teachers based on academic performance.
Student placement will be determined by a student's ability to:
- work independently and at an accelerated pace
- accept challenges
- use critical thinking skills
- actively participate in class
*If you are choosing an Extended class in Language Arts, we want you to know that we will be consulting with your son/daughter's 6th-grade teachers.
If you would like to review the Middle School Language Arts Curriculum, please click HERE.
Math 7 OR MATH 7 EXTENDED
Understanding Math Sequences for 7th Graders
Understanding the Math Sequences for 7th graders
Please remember Math courses are sequential, and students cannot skip to a higher level math course. Please see the progressions below to help select the proper math class:
If your student took "Math 6" this year, they will select "Math 7" for next year.
Click HERE for an overview of Math 7.
If your student took "Math 6 Extended" this year, they will select "Math 7 Extended" for next year.
Click HERE for an overview of Math 7 Extended
If your student took "Math 7 Extended" this year, they will select "Pre-AP Algebra I" for next year.
Click HERE for an overview of Pre-AP Algebra I
We will be utilizing students’ SOL Scores, academic grades, teacher recommendations, and guidance from PWCS Math office to ensure the appropriate placement for students.
Related Arts or Encore Selection Descriptions
How Encores will work in 7th Grade.
Encore or Related Arts Classes are also on the Quarter system. Each Quarter (every 9 weeks), your student will be able to change into a new related arts class. They can pick between 2-3 different encore choices. (More information below)
Core Classes: Math, Science, Social Studies, Language arts do not rotate. Students will see these classes every day.
Music and PE: Will alternate on the A day/B day rotation.
Music Selection: Your student must choose a music class: Band, Chorus, or Orchestra.
Signet (Gifted) Students: Will have their gifted class in the Related Arts Sequence. Although there are 4 choices in the Quarter system, 1 choice will be taken by their gifted class. 1 Quarter will be the required Career Investigations Class. Therefore, all Signet students should choose at least 2 or more encore/related art choices.
What will my student's schedule look like? Students will take Physical Education one day and alternate their Music selection on an opposite day.
For their second period, students will take a rotation of Related Arts classes that will operate on a Quarter system:
For example, a student's schedule could look like this:
Period 1: PE (A Day) / Music (B-Day)
Therefore parents/students will need to select 3 OPTIONS for related arts.
Period 2: Career Investigations - Required (Quarter 1), Art (Quarter 2), TechEd (Quarter 3), Intro to Foreign Language (Quarter 4).
**For Signet students, one of those quarters will be Gifted.
WHAT DOES THE SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE?
7th grade Encore Descriptions
Career Investigations (7th grade)** Mandatory class
This course allows students to explore career options and begin investigating career opportunities. Students assess their roles in society, identify their roles as workers, analyze their personal assets, complete a basic exploration of career clusters, select career pathways or occupations for further study, and create an Academic and Career Plan based on the their academic and career interests. This course also helps students identify and demonstrate the workplace skills that employers desire in their future employees.ENGINEERING INNOVATIONS
Students make models of significant inventions that have advanced society. After studying these developments, they explore contemporary technological problems facing them, their community, or the world and apply systematic procedures to invent solutions as products or innovations.
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.
**We have 3 ART TEACHERS at Rippon. They cover the same grade level objectives but do different projects. Each teacher will have an emphasis on either: Painting, Sculpting or Digital Art.
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.
Music Information
SPECIAL MESSAGE TO OUR 7TH GRADERS FROM DR. MCGEE
Greetings,
I am Dr. McGee, the 7th 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 middle school.
During the upcoming school year, 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
- Preserve a positive learning environment
I look forward to the excitement ahead for your child’s 2021-2022 school year.
Math and Science Specialty Program Students: What to fill out on the Course Form
7th Graders
- Math 7 Extended (all Math and Science students begin with this course)
- Science 7 Enrichment (states it is a section for Math and Science Students)
- Ext. LA is optional for the Math and Science Students
- Social Studies: Same course for all students