Goals for the Middle Level Learner

What are the keys to educating young adolescents? According to the National Middle School Association, the major goals of middle school should be to have students become fully functioning, self-actualized individuals that should:

● Become actively aware of the larger world, asking significant and relevant questions about that world and wrestling with big ideas and questions for which there may not be one right answer.

● Be able to think rationally and critically and express thoughts clearly.

● Read deeply to independently gather, assess, and interpret information from a variety

of sources and read avidly for enjoyment and lifelong learning.

● Use digital tools to explore, communicate, and collaborate with the world and learn from the rich and varied resources available.

● Be a good steward of the earth and its resources and a wise and intelligent consumer

of the wide array of goods and services available.

● Understand and use the major concepts, skills, and tools of inquiry in the areas of health and physical education, language arts, world languages, mathematics, natural and physical sciences, and the social sciences.

● Explore music, art, and careers, and recognize their importance to personal growth

and learning.

● Develop his or her strengths, particular skills, talents, or interests and have an emerging understanding of his or her potential contributions to society and to personal fulfillment.

● Recognize, articulate, and make responsible, ethical decisions concerning his or her

own health and wellness needs.

● Respect and value the diverse ways people look, speak, think, and act within the immediate community and around the world.

● Develop interpersonal and social skills needed to learn, work, and play with others

harmoniously and confidently.

● Assume responsibility for his or her own actions and be cognizant and ready to accept obligations for the welfare of others.

● Understand local, national, and global civic responsibilities and demonstrate active

citizenship through participation in endeavors that serve larger communities.

Major Program Components Academic Team Structure Students will be organized on an academic team composed of 4 sections of students and 4 teachers. Team teachers will be responsible for the core academic subjects: language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. These subject areas may be organized differently from team to team. Exploratory and Elective Courses Middle school students need to explore a wide variety of areas that will help them identify interests and talents. Therefore, all students should be exposed to a broad exploratory program, which allows them to learn in areas outside of the core curriculum. In addition, students should have opportunities to choose from a broad elective program, which allows for a more in-depth development of interests and talents. Exploratory courses are offered in art, music, computers, technology education, family and consumer science, health and physical education. World Languages The ability to communicate with respect and cultural understanding in more than one language is an essential element of global competence and is a state core curriculum requirement. UPMS offers Spanish to students in 8th grade who have met the prerequisite for taking the Spanish I course. I/E Period The overarching goal of the I/E period is to meet the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs of our students. The I/E period meets everyday mid morning. Students will have the opportunity to select from a variety of offerings from intervention, support, enrichment and clubs/activities. Students can meet with their Special Area teachers as well to work on projects. Students in Band, Choir, and Orchestra will meet in the I/E period (two I/E periods for those enrolled in two ensembles) for full ensemble rehearsals. Counselors and Case Managers will meet with students individually and in small groups to assist students.

This Program of Studies booklet includes course descriptions for each course offered at Upper Perkiomen Middle School.

Core Courses

Each year, UPMS students will be enrolled in the four core courses, consisting of English Language Arts (ELA), Math, Science and Social Studies. Each of these courses meets daily for approximately 83 minutes. Each core course is worth 1.0 credits. Science and Social Studies are heterogeneously grouped. In ELA there are two levels of courses that are offered: Core and Honors. In Math there are two levels in Grades 6 and 7, Core and Enhanced. In Grade 8 Math Core, Algebra I or Geometry are offered. Placement into the different levels is dependent upon a yearly review of each child’s academic performance data.

English Language Arts

GRADE 6 English Language Arts 6: This course is focused on sixth grade PA Core Academic Standards through a blend of direct instruction, reading workshop, writing workshop, interactive technology, and cooperative learning. This class encourages students to engage in thought-provoking discussion, demonstrate creativity, and most importantly, better themselves as readers, writers, listeners, thinkers, and speakers. Students will engage in a vocabulary program using Sadlier Oxford Vocabulary Workshop Level A. In addition to independently-selected novels for reading workshop/Accelerated Reader program, students will read the following core texts:

● Nonfiction articles ● A variety of mentor texts ● Freak the Mighty ● Echo ● “Amelia Earhart: First Lady in Flight” Nonfiction Biography ● Growing Up in Coal County - Nonfiction text ● Tuck Everlasting ● Old Yeller

● Book Club - Book options are offered and students make a selection. GRADE 7 English Language Arts Core 7: This course is focused on seventh grade PA Core Academic Standards through a blend of direct instruction, reading workshop, writing workshop, and cooperative learning. Students will use Sadlier Oxford Vocabulary Workshop Level B. In addition to independently-selected novels for reading workshop, students will read the following core texts:

● Various Greek myths ● Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan ● Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry ● The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton ● Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson ● Selected pieces from the To Be a Hero anthology ● Book Club - Book options are offered and students make a selection.

Honors English Language Arts 7: This course is focused on seventh grade PA Core Academic Standards. Students are expected to be self-motivated, independent learners who have the ability to master skills required for written and oral communication with little repetition and at an accelerated pace. For each unit of study, students in the honors course will demonstrate their learning with critical thinking writing prompts in informative, narrative, and argumentative writing formats. Students enrolled in this course will also expand their vocabularies using the Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop (Level C) consumable, “the leading program for systematic vocabulary development.” 1

In addition to independently-selected novels for reading workshop, students will read the following core texts:

● Various Greek myths ● Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare ● The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton ● Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson

1

● Selected pieces from the To Be a Hero anthology ● Book Club - Book options are offered and students make a selection. ● Three choice novels written by the same author for the Author Investigation project.

Prerequisite: Qualification for Honors ELA 7 will be based on the following criteria: Grade Average, Writing Placement Test, Winter MAP Scores, 5th Grade Reading PSSA score and teacher recommendation. GRADE 8 English Language Arts 8: This course is focused on eighth grade PA Core Academic Standards through a blend of direct instruction, reading workshop, writing workshop, and cooperative learning. This class encourages students to engage in thought-provoking discussion, demonstrate creativity, and most importantly, better themselves as readers, writers, listeners, and speakers. In addition to independently-selected novels for reading workshop, students will read the following core texts:

● Nonfiction articles ● “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst and other short stories ● “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes ● Day of Tears by Julius Lester ● The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom ● “The Diary of Anne Frank” (play) by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett ● Holocaust/WWII-related novel (choices will be given) ● To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Honors English Language Arts 8: This course is focused on eighth grade PA Core Academic Standards through a blend of direct instruction, reading workshop, writing workshop, and cooperative learning. This class requires students to engage in thought-provoking discussion, demonstrate creativity, and most importantly, better themselves as readers, writers, listeners, and speakers. Students are expected to be self-motivated, independent learners who have the ability to master skills required for written and oral communication with little repetition and at an accelerated pace. In addition to independently-selected novels for reading workshop, students will read the following core texts:

● Nonfiction book (choices will be given) and nonfiction articles ● Monster by Walter Dean Myers

● “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst and other short stories ● Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass and Day of Tears by

Julius Lester ● Holocaust/WWII-related novel (choices will be given) ● Night by Elie Wiesel ● To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee ● Poetry - various poems/poets: Billy Collins, William Carlos Williams, Theodore

Roethke, Edgar Allan Poe, etc. ● The Merchant of Venice and selected sonnets by William Shakespeare ● A Tale of Two Cities: Book the First by Charles Dickens

Prerequisite: Qualification for Honors ELA 8 will be based on the following criteria: Grade Average, Writing Placement Test, Winter MAP Scores, 6th Grade Reading PSSA Score and teacher recommendation.

Mathematics

UPMS utilizes College Preparatory Math (CPM) as our resource for curriculum implementation. This includes several resources, as well as a philosophy of math instruction. General Information about CPM: The courses are structured around problems and investigations that build the conceptual understanding of these algebraic topics and an awareness of connections between the different ideas. Students are encouraged to investigate, communicate their thinking, and generalize. Lessons are structured for students to collaborate actively by working in study teams. During class time, students work in study teams on challenging problems that introduce new material. The homework in the “Review & Preview” section of each lesson reinforces previously learned skills and concepts and prepares students for new ones. The homework problems also allow students to apply previously-learned concepts and skills in new contexts and deepen their understanding by solving the same type of problem in different ways. -excerpted from cpm.org

Required Calculators

TI 30XIIS TI 84 PLUS

Grade 6 Core Grade 7 Enhanced

Grade 6 Enhanced Grade 8 Core

Grade 7 Core Grade 7 & 8 Algebra

Grade 8 Geometry

GRADE 6 Core Math 6: The Math 6 course is aligned to the Pennsylvania Core Standards for Mathematics and is designed to develop an understanding of essential sixth grade mathematical concepts. This program balances conceptual understanding using discovery learning with procedural fluency using direct instruction. In this course, all sixth grade standards are addressed, as outlined in the PA Core Standards. College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM) resources will be utilized during instruction. Standards addressed in Math 6 include:

● 6.RP - Ratios and Proportional Relationships ● 6.NS - The Number System ● 6.EE - Expressions and Equation ● 6.G - Geometry ● 6.SP - Statistics and Probability

Enhanced Math 6: The Enhanced Math 6 course addresses all sixth grade PA Core Standards. In addition students will be introduced and expected to master several seventh grade standards. All of the 6th and some selected 7th grade standards must be covered in order to adequately prepare your child for Enhanced Math 7. The enhanced courses move at a faster pace and are considered more rigorous than the grade level Math courses. In order to meet these rigorous expectations, students will need to be successful independently and have the ability to master concepts with minimal practice and repetition. It is essential that students in this course already know and are able to apply basic skills such as operations with whole numbers, integers, decimals and fractions. College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM) resources will be utilized during instruction. All

standards addressed in the Math 6 course listed above are included, as well as these additional standards:

● 7.RP - Ratios and Proportional Relationships ● 7.NS - The Number System ● 7.EE - Expressions and Equations ● 7.G - Geometry ● 7.SP - Statistics and Probability

Prerequisite: Qualification for Enhanced Math 6 will be based on the following criteria: Grade Average, Math Placement Test, Winter MAP Scores, 4th Grade Math PSSA Score and teacher recommendation. GRADE 7 Core Math 7: This course addresses all of the seventh grade PA Core Standards. By implementing the PA Core Standards and the Standards for Mathematical Practice into classroom discussions and activities, the students will continue to develop a depth of understanding of mathematics and improve their abilities to apply their knowledge to various situations. 7th graders will be using technology and College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM) as daily resources.

Pennsylvania Core Standards (7) 7.RP Ratios and Proportional Relationships 7.NS The Number System 7.EE Expressions and Equations 7.G Geometry 7.SP Statistics and Probability

7th Grade Enhanced Math: This course is designed to complete the second half of the 7th Grade curriculum and all of the content from the regular 8th Grade curriculum (Math 8). The timelines established for this course assume that students are working at an accelerated level, attain mastery quickly, retain concepts, and complete work in a timely fashion. Students who perform satisfactorily throughout this course will take Algebra I in 8th grade. 7th graders will be using technology and College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM) as daily resources. Common Core State Standards (7) Common Core State Standards (8) 7.RP Ratios and Proportional Relationships 8.NS The Number System 7.NS The Number System 8.EE Expressions and Equations

7.EE Expressions and Equations 8.F Functions 7.G Geometry 8.G Geometry 7.SP Statistics and Probability 8.SP Statistics and Probability Prerequisite: Qualification for Enhanced Math 7 will be based on the following criteria: Grade Average, Math Placement Test, Winter MAP Scores, 5th Grade Math PSSA Score and teacher recommendation. Algebra I (7): Students enrolled in Algebra I must have successfully mastered standards in grades 6, 7, & 8. This course addresses all of the PA Keystone Algebra I State Standards through a blend of direct instruction, discovery learning and cooperative learning. Students in this course must master all of the eighth grade PA State Standards prior to taking this course. Students are expected to be more independent learners who have the ability to master concepts with minimal practice and repetition. Students taking this course will take Geometry in 9th grade. Topics covered in Algebra I include: · Functions · Expressions, Equations and Inequalities · Writing and Graphing Equations in Multiple Forms · Systems of Equations · Exponent Rules · Polynomials · Radicals · Rational Expressions · Data Analysis Prerequisite: Qualification for Algebra I will be based on the following criteria: Grade Average, Math Placement Test, Winter MAP Scores, 6th Grade Math PSSA Score and teacher recommendation. GRADE 8 Core Math 8: This course addresses all of the eighth grade PA State Standards through a blend of direct instruction, discovery learning and cooperative learning. Students enrolled in Math 8 must have successfully completed Math 6 & Math 7. Students in Math 8 will take Algebra I in 9th grade. Topics covered in Math 8 include: · Rational and Irrational Numbers · Expressions, Equations and Inequalities · Functions · Writing and Graphing Linear Equations

· Systems of Equations · Exponent Rules and Scientific Notation · Transformations · Pythagorean Theorem · Volume of Spheres, Cylinders and Cones · Scatter Plots & Two Way Tables Algebra I(8): Algebra I is an accelerated course for students who have mastered the standards in grades 6, 7 and 8. This course addresses all of the PA Keystone Algebra I State Standards through a blend of direct instruction, discovery learning and cooperative learning. Students are expected to be more independent learners who have the ability to master concepts with minimal practice and repetition. The approach is from the modern viewpoint yet retains all the important traditional algebra concepts related to families of functions, solving equations, graphing, factoring, systems of equations, rational and radical expressions. In addition, the topics of sequences and quadratics are explored. The student will use mathematical vocabulary, problem solving skills, and applications of mathematics as they relate to the modern world. Prerequisite: Qualification for Algebra I will be based on the following criteria: Grade Average, Math Placement Test, Winter MAP Scores, 6th Grade Math PSSA Score and teacher recommendation. Geometry: Students enrolled in Geometry must have successfully mastered standards in grades 6, 7 & 8. In Geometry, students will develop reasoning and problem solving skills as they study topics such as congruence and similarity, and apply properties of lines, triangles, quadrilaterals, and circles. Students will also develop skills by using length, perimeter, area, circumference, surface area, and volume to solve real-world problems. Students taking this course will be eligible for Algebra 2 Honors in 9th grade. Topics covered include: · Essentials of Geometry · Reasoning and Proof · Parallel and Perpendicular Lines · Congruent Triangles · Relationships within Triangles · Similarity · Right Triangles and Trigonometry · Quadrilaterals · Properties of Transformations

· Properties of Circles Prerequisite: Qualification for Geometry will be based on the successful completion of Algebra I in 7th Grade.

Science

GRADE 6 Physical Science: Sixth grade Physical Science is one of three standards-based science courses offered at the middle school level. The inquiry-based differentiated approach provides numerous opportunities for students to experience basic concepts and apply them to everyday events. The topics and their applications provide constructivist foundations for future learning. Students will utilize TCI's Bring Science Alive! online platform, in conjunction with hands-on labs, simulations, and experiments, to explore topics such as problem solving and measurement, matter, waves, and forces and energy. Emphasis will be on investigation through experimental laboratory situations in which reading, writing, and critical thinking are practiced. The program is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Common Core Standards.

GRADE 7 Earth and Space: Seventh grade Earth & Space inquiry based science will explore the Earth's history, place in our solar system, and Earth's processes. Students will utilize TCI's Bring Science Alive! online platform, in conjunction with hands-on labs, simulations, and experiments to explore topics such as Earth's systems, weather and climate, natural resources, natural hazards, and the Earth-Sun-Moon relationship to name a few. Emphasis will be on investigation through experimental laboratory situations in which reading, writing, and thinking are practiced. GRADE 8 Life Science: Eighth grade Life science is an inquiry based class that will explore the history of Life on planet Earth, resources in the ecosystem and traits that make us who we are. Students will utilize TCI's Bring Science Alive! online platform, in conjunction with hands-on labs, simulations, and experiments to explore topics such as adaptations, ecosystems, as well as cells and genetics. Emphasis will be on investigation through experimental laboratory situations in which reading, writing, and thinking are practiced.

Social Studies

GRADE 6 The purpose of this course is to allow students the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the Western Hemisphere. The beginning of the course will introduce the five themes of geography. These five themes serve as the foundation throughout the course and enable students to make connections between the people of different cultures. Students will investigate the Geographer's world and tools as we explore the various types of maps. Physical features, especially in the United States and Canada, will be presented and explored. The course will focus on the following topics: The United States, Canada, Latin America, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Islands, and South America. GRADE 7 The purpose of this course is to allow students the opportunity to expand their knowledge of world history during the medieval and early modern time periods. Students will study world history through the use of six themes: Geography, Culture, Economics, Government, Belief Systems, and Science and Technology. The course will begin with an introduction of the tools necessary to study history, detailing these themes. Using these themes, the course will then study the history of various places around the world. The course will focus on the following topics: Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Medieval Europe and European Renaissance. GRADE 8 The eighth-grade social studies program of study is designed to broaden the students’ understanding of early American history from 10,000 B.C.E. through 1865. The course begins with an overview of three worlds colliding and continues through colonial development with a focus on the forces that led to the American Revolution. This course also highlights the foundations of the United States government including the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. American History Part I will conclude with the study of Antebellum America and the causes of the bloodiest conflict in American military history, the American Civil War. In addition, students will also spend time analyzing and discussing current event issues in the United States and throughout the world. Teachers will stress a hands-on approach, as students will be introduced to a wide-range of activities, ranging from discussions to projects. Writing and critical thinking skills will be stressed with students urging them to think about and express their opinions in relation to early American history.

World Language

GRADE 8 Spanish I: Spanish I emphasizes a conversational approach to the learning of the language. The development of the skills of understanding, speaking, reading, and writing is stressed through the teaching of pronunciation, vocabulary and basic grammar. All these skills are enhanced by the use of the many types of audio materials. Emphasis on word derivation and comparative grammatical structure ultimately enhances the students understanding of English vocabulary and structure. The development of higher order thinking skills and study habits will assist the student in other academic disciplines as well. Proficiency in a modern world language is an asset to any professional career choice. Prerequisite: Qualification for Spanish I will be based on the following criteria: Grade 7 Enhanced ELA Grade Average, Winter MAP Scores, 6th Grade Reading PSSA Score and teacher recommendation.

Encore Courses

Each year, UPMS students participate in various Exploratory Courses. Students will be enrolled in two exploratory courses per marking period. Each class is held for approximately 83 minutes every other day. Family and Consumer Science 6th Grade This course is an exploration of the Family Consumer Sciences State Standards, including Child Development, Finance and Resource Management, Food Sciences and Nutrition, and Balancing Family, Work and Community Responsibility. Students participate in developing an Allowance Model, designing a Family Home Floor Plan and a Community Mapping Activity, personalize a nutritional assessment with dietary recommendations, participate in food labs focusing on breakfast and healthy baking, and the development of literacy through the review and writing of children's books. 7th Grade

This course is an exploration of the Family and Consumer Sciences State Standards, including Child Development, Finance and Resource Management, Food Sciences and Nutrition, and Balancing Family, Work and Community Responsibility. Students will participate in finance activities learning to calculate paychecks, open and use checking accounts and make household budget decisions. They will work as teams to create a sweet and savory breakfast menu and meals as well as quick healthy snacks, using a variety of recipes and kitchen tools. Exploring Resource Management through the Child Development lens of adolescent identity, student connect choices in living, interests and responsibility to family, community and the larger world. They create a poster illustrating their personal connection to six broad Resource Management topics: Clean Air, Clean Water, Sustainable Use of Natural Resources, Waste Minimization, Energy Minimization, Safety and Health. 8th Grade This course is an exploration of the Family and Consumer Sciences State Standards, including Child Development, Finance and Resource Management, Food Science and Nutrition, Balancing Family, Work and Community Responsibility. Students will participate in a Live Event Learning Activity, requiring interaction with the UPSD community. They will identify business and community organizations through their geographic and technological locations, investigate the overview of business vocabulary, organization, function, finance and employee details. Students will participate in role play, adopting a community business and represent that business in a mock zoning board meeting. Working with partners, students will plan an event, create a shopping list, follow recipes for fast healthy light meals, kitchen management and meal service. Health (Grades 6, 7 and 8) This course covers important topics related to adolescents such as nutrition, growth & development, safety, body systems, and substances. The focus of the health curriculum is to provide information which will allow students to make good decisions when dealing with real life situations. Throughout the class, students will gain knowledge in various mental, physical, and social health topics preparing them to lead a healthy lifestyle. Physical Education The middle school physical education program encourages the development of every child mentally, emotionally, socially, and physically through physical activities. Physical activity improves muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility which helps students establish self-esteem and strive for personal goals. By providing a range of aerobic and anaerobic activities, it enhances students’ personal fitness levels. A focus on

lifetime sports, personal fitness, and team sports will be taught. We promote positive attitudes toward lifelong activities. Young people can build healthy bodies and establish healthy lifestyles by including physical activities in their lives. Communication Technology 6th Grade The sixth grade course will emphasize correct touch typing skills, the arrangement of simple word processing documents, presentation software skills and the creation of a multimedia digital/video story. They will also learn search strategies and use this strategies to produce a project in their area of interest. Students will practice learning how to navigate in the windows and google environment. They will also be made aware of how to stay safe on the Internet. 7th Grade Students in grade seven will review their touch typing skills and expand their arrangements of word processing documents to include commonly used documents in a business environment. They will create a business plan for an original business and create supporting documents.They will also complete desktop publishing projects including a web page design. Students will also study the validity/reliability of information found online, explore internet safety and public speaking. Students will practice learning how to navigate in the windows and google environment. 8th Grade Students completing the eighth grade course will continue to polish their touch typing skills and word processing skills with Microsoft Office. They will investigate careers and create a video project depicting their chosen career, with examples (real life or from the Internet) that shows their career choice. Students will create podcasts and study how the internet and technology affect our culture. Students will practice learning how to navigate in the windows and google environment. Technology Education Technology Education students at UPMS leverage traditional and cutting-edge technologies and utilize the Design Thinking Process to solve design-related problems in sub-rotations. Student choice is balanced with sound application of design principles. Secondary course objectives include increasing technical competence, but the primary set of objectives is for students to build and strengthen communication, time management, problem-solving, and iterative design skills, “failing” their way toward success.

General Music Grade 6 Sixth Grade Music focuses on the question “What is music?”. As we explore this question, we will focus on the different elements of music – rhythm, melody, harmony, lyrics, etc. We will continue to build our listening skills as well as our vocal skills by singing songs and playing instruments. By the end of this class, our goal is for every student to understand these elements, be able to identify them, and write intelligently about them. Grade 7 Seventh Grade Music focuses on American Music. This year we will continue to build our vocal skills, play instruments, and focus upon Blues, Jazz, Musical Theater, and Music & Film. By the end of this class, our goal is for every student to understand these types of music, where they come from and how/why they have affected our society. Grade 8 Eighth Grade Music focuses on Music History in the Twentieth Century to the present. This year we will learn about the various genres of Twentieth Century music, their artists and how they have impacted music. We will also use two of the most popular instruments from this time period – percussion and guitar (time permitting).   

Art Grade 6, 7 and 8 The Middle School Art Program encourages creative development by giving students an opportunity to express themselves through the elements and principles of art. Students will gain knowledge as they learn techniques, processes, and explore a wide array of media. Students will learn of the historical and cultural context of art and transform ideas from these inspirations to create their own works. Students will learn to communicate about art through visual, oral, and written explanations. They will learn to reflect on their work through perception and analysis.

Other Courses

Other courses are available at UPMS based upon student selection or identification. These options are described here.

Performing Groups

UPMS offers three performing groups … Concert Band, Choir, and Orchestra. Each ensemble will be scheduled during the school day as part of the Exploratory course block on two days of the cycle. Students may elect to participate in one or more performing groups. Participation in these groups will be in place of General Music, Library, and/or Art depending upon the number of groups a child is enrolled in. Students will be scheduled with grade level peers in each performing group and have after school rehearsals for the entire 6th thru 8th group. In addition, Orchestra and Concert Band students also have small group lessons during the school day. In order to enroll in one of the performing groups, students must register via the google form posted on the UPMS website before June 30th. Students will have the opportunity to drop the course by October 14th if necessary. Concert Band In concert band, students will further their understanding of basic music reading, instrument assembly and maintenance, and correct playing position. They will rehearse and perform in small and large groups, trying a variety of new musical selections. They will also express themselves through playing, listening to previous performances, and reflecting on those performances to improve our ensemble as a whole. After school rehearsals, in-school pull-out lessons, and evening performances are required. Chorus In Choir, students will further develop their singing voices and their knowledge of proper vocal technique. They will sing in small/large groups and will expand their vocal repertoire. They will also express themselves through music and choreography as well as listen to and review music performances. After school rehearsals and evening performances are required. Orchestra The Orchestra allows the students the opportunity to grow academically, socially and musically through performance of stringed instruments. Students will rehearse music from a variety of musical styles and difficulty levels. Emphasis is placed on the development of fundamental skills related to posture, fingerings, note reading, counting, bowing techniques, left hand techniques, music style and overall tone production. The middle

school students involved in the orchestra program will receive instruction with our string specialist during a thirty-minute group lesson and after school rehearsals. Group lessons, after school rehearsals and concert performances are required for participation in the UPMS Orchestra. Gifted Seminar This course will be scheduled for students who have qualified for placement in the course.