2015 CCLA Back to School Night7th and 8th Grades

Agenda WelcomeSharon Ferrer – Assistant PrincipalCibelle Aparicio – Guidance Counselor Sign-in Sheet Parent informational packet Independent Study Policy Break out into groups Groups follow teachers to presentation rooms Small group presentation

7th Grade – after group presentation, visit individual teachers or head home

8th Grade – after group presentation return to gymnasium for information on 8th Grade activities

Aeries Parent Portal sign ups in Computer Lab

How  Does  PTA  Support Grades  6  – 8? PTA  provides  funding for:Be Smart Campaign-$$ for enrichment Assemblies throughout the year Club  Academia  Odyssey  of  the  Mind - Anyone interested in coaching?Graduation  breakfast  Student  Council  dances  $30 donation per student/classMove-A-Thon – Sept. 26th Any volunteers?Various 8th Grade Fundraisers

JOIN FOR $5.00

Main Rules Please review in student agenda Respect

Students will respect all staff members, each other, the school community, school property and the property of others.

ResponsibilityStudents will complete all work, not bring objects to school that can distract them, and keep all electronic devices turned OFF during school hours.

SafetyStudents will resolve conflicts non-violently and will not use or posses illegal substances or objects.

New Bell Schedule

Monday, Thursday, FridayStudents attend all classes 1-7Students dismissed at 3:10

Tuesday – Block DayStudents attend periods 1-4Students dismissed at 3:10

Wednesday – Block Day & Early ReleaseStudents attend periods 5-7Early release at 1:55

Homework Guidelines

Homework GuidelinesSlide 2 The amount of homework per subject will

vary every week. Check your student’s agenda every day.

Parents should be aware that their student may require guidance on how to effectively manage their time when given multiple day projects/assignments.

Parents should refer to specific subject syllabi to understand each teacher’s homework policy and grading

AGENDASUse and Importanceo Students are expected to use their agendas on a

daily basis to record homework assignments, projects and reminders.

o Parents should frequently check agendas to make sure that homework assignments are written down.

o The use of agendas promotes organization, academic responsibility and helps students learn to prioritize tasks.

o If you, as a parent, notice that your student is NOT using their agenda please contact teachers/counselor.

Grading Policies All classes are awarded an A, B, C, D or

F grade at each Trimester. 0 period Band and Choir are graded on

a Pass/No Pass basis. Each class has a specific grading policy

which explains the weight of each category (tests, homework, etc.) factored into the grade.

Please refer to your student’s specific class information sheets for specific information on the grading policy for their classes and for the late homework policy.

CLASSES Math English Language Arts Spanish Language Arts Science History PE Electives Intervention Classes (Math Shadow, ELD

Support, Spanish Intervention)

Math 7, Math 8,

Math 7- Alfonso Salinas Math 8 - Amy Quinn

Math 7, Math 8Common Core Mathematical PracticesMake sense of problems and persevere in solving them.Reason abstractly and quantitatively.Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.Model with mathematics.Use appropriate tools strategically.Attend to precision.Look for and make use of structure.Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

7th Grade HistoryPablo Figueroa

The seventh grade history program provides comprehensive instruction on the history of the world from the rise of the Roman Empire to the beginning of the Renaissance.

  Unit 1: Rome and Byzantium    Unit 2:  Islamic Civilization

  Unit 3:  Civilizations in the Americas

  Unit 4:  Europe in the Middle Ages

 8th- History of the US from Discovery to 1914Jill Zieglar Cooper

Student research using primary and secondary sources to answer:How have rights and responsibilities  developed throughout American History?How has the exercise of rights led to conflict in American History?How does the struggle for power lead to conflict and impact rights in American History?

8th Grade HistoryBig AssignmentsFirst trimester: Research and pre-write of a major event in American History.Second trimester: Production of 6-8 page research paper. Research of a person involved in the event previously researched.Third trimester: Production and presentation of speech combining information from research paper and biography. Production of project board. Creation of an outfit to wear for Living History Day.  Participation in Living History Day, May 12, 2015.

LANGUAGE ARTS

7th- Josephine Lee

8th-Judith Heredia Reading Comprehension SkillsStudents will work with a variety of fiction/non-fiction genres and be conscious of their purpose for reading.Students will work with different aspects of the text (main idea, details, tone, point of view, fact/opinion, etc.), supporting all claims with evidence from the text.  

LANGUAGE ARTS Written DiscourseStudents will learn to use a variety of writing genres, thereby becoming knowledgeable about them and how they are structured.Students will write arguments/claims with clear reasons and supporting evidence and conduct short research projects utilizing technology in support of works.

LANGUAGE ARTS Listening and SpeakingStudents will practice individual and collaborative oral discourse skills while participating in organized classroom discussions, making informative presentations, and responding coherently and effectively to other speakers.LanguageStudents learn to employ correct grammar, appropriate word usage, adequate syntax and language mechanics, and to acquire relevant academic language.

English Language Arts Big Assignments8th Grade ELA

August - early September: Summary writing (3 genres)

Early October: Core novel essay due

Early November: Argumentative essay (Topic to be determined)

Early December:Expository essay (science or history related)

SpanishBeatriz Robles &

Martha Lindgren Analyze, compare and contrast, create  a written

story, drama, or poem that have relationship with Latin American writers.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings.

Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.

In addition, analyze social problems in order to reflect about the importance of becoming involved in our world.

Physical EducationKristine Behrens, Pedro DeLuna, & Pablo Figueroa

Three year program which will cover all 6-8 grade state and national standards for physical education

Prepares every student for a lifetime of physical activity, health, and well-being

Explores a wide variety of team and individual sports and physical activities

Integrates other subjects such as art, language arts, life skills, math, science and technology

Focus on fitness, nutrition, sportsmanship, social skills, effort in participation as well as movement mastery

Physical EducationBig Assignments

End of September:Test on Memorization of PE Contract

Beginning of Sept – End of December

Football Letter

December – FebruaryHockey Art Project

7th Grade ScienceGabriela Mendoza

Life Science (~6 topics): Human Systems Cells and Heredity PlantsAnimalsEcologyHealth

Physical Science(3 Topics):--- Chemistry (Trimester 1)--- Physics of Motion (Trimester 2)--- Waves and Energy (Trimester 3)

Independent Studies (I.S.) I.S. is a program offered to students when they

MUST miss school for extenuating circumstances.

The program was developed to HELP students stay abreast of their studies when they miss instructional days.

The program was NOT developed to substitute instructional days. The program was developed so that students would not obtain unexcused absences and be considered a truant.

A student is only allowed to participate in the IS program when he/she has signed an IS contract and agrees to complete all work assigned by teacher.

Independent StudiesSlide 2 When a student knows that they MUST miss school

they must inform the office 2 weeks in advance to begin the IS contract process.

I.S. is NOT offered the first or last week of school. Parents and students should understand that

teachers need advanced notice due to the fact that they must create and design a new curriculum for EACH student who goes on an IS contract. This process is very time consuming.

The student must return to school on the day planned and all work must be complete and turned in or all absences will become unexcused.

Even though the student will be receiving work to complete the student will be lacking instructional time and, many times, grades may suffer.