WELCOME TO KMS!

7th Grade Comanche

Connection

2018-2019

KMS LEADERSHIP TEAM

Principal- Sandra Chapa

Assistant Principal-Valerie Pope

Assistant Principal- Logan Lacy

Assessment Administrator- Theresa Dyvig

Counselor (A- E)- Michelle Zimmerman

Counselor (F- M)- Denise Dulany

Counselor (N-Z)- Molly Brown

Problem: Typical Chain Contact:

“My child seems depressed.” Counselor

“My child is failing/not doing well in a class.” Teacher-first line of contact, then counselor if needed.

“My child’s schedule is wrong.” Counselor- through use of the counselor request form

“My child is having a problem with a teacher.” Counselor-for adjustment problemsor ideas on how to better communicate.

Assistant Principal- for personnel issues once parent has spoken to the teacher.

Working Together

Counselors at KMS are always happy to help in any way possible!

PARENTING A MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILD- POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS

What to Expect

• Unpredictable-Tween

Who’s going to show up?

Sweet or Snarly; Elation to Sadness

• Separation-

Crucial development process of building their own identity apart from their parents. May look like rebellion, defiance and rejection but it serves a greater purpose in their development.

• Confusion

Brains begin massive structural changes; concrete thinking makes way for more hypothetical thinking

• Outside influences-Social world bursts wide open

Friendships change

Social media

Risk Taking- Brain not fully developed

Your experience-awkward and painful middle school years?

Tips

• Treat your middle schooler like a cat

The less attention you pay to a cat the more they come around. If you are too much into their world, they will pull away. They will come around more if you seem less interested.

• Master the botox brow

Research shows that the part of the brain we use to read facial expressions isn’t properly functioning for a middle schooler. As a result they often mistake a wrinkled brow, whether out of curiosity, shock or just interest as anger. Keep a smooth brow.

• Ask questions instead of giving advice.

“You have to turn our homework in or you will fail!”

vs

“What will happen if you don’t turn in your homework?”

• Partner with teachers, counselors and administrators at KMS

Today.Com Michelle Icard 8/2016

IT TAKES A VILLAGE…..

• As a team we will celebrate each achievement, empathize with all the defeats while still holding them accountable for their actions.

• Middle school is the time to equip our students with the tools they need to be successful young adults in an ever-changing world.

The Voice of the School Counselor, November/December 2006

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Secondary Campus

• 8:30am- 3:45pm

• 45 minute classes (except block day)

• 3 lunches

• Lockers

• Hallway

• PE/Athletics

Developing Mature Young Adults:

• Responsibility Level

• Time Management

• Self-Advocate

• Pre-AP/GT vs. Academic

• Balance with outside activities

• Opportunities for more

diverse challenges

PROUD TO BE A COMANCHE

Teams with Themes

Block Scheduling

Athletics

AVID

Band

Choir

Theatre

Cheer

Art

Spanish

STEM

PALS

Clubs

Virtual Courses

COUNSELING CENTER

• Guidance

• Registration

• Crisis Management

• Outside Referrals

• Four Year Plans

• College Readiness

• Individual Counseling

• High School Preparation

• Parent/Teacher Conferences

• Group Counseling

• Schedule Changes

• Career Guidance

MIDDLE SCHOOL REGISTRATION

• The registration form you receive is a reference sheet. During registration, your child will be given a “practice” registration form to assist them in selecting their courses.

• Course Guides outlining courses and their descriptions will be available online.

• Parents and students should discuss options available and make decisions regarding course requests.

• Registration will be completed through HAC. HAC will close on February 23, 2018

MIDDLE SCHOOL COURSE GUIDE

Keller ISD Website

PRE-AP/GT CLASSES

• Pre-AP/GT classes are offered at the middle

school to help students gain the “Edge” in

college preparation by:

• Getting a head start on college level work

• Improving writing skills and problem-solving

techniques

• Developing study habits necessary for

handling rigorous course work

PRE-AP/GT VS. ACADEMIC LEVEL

Pre-AP/GT

• More in-depth, application of grade level and extension-style homework.

• Requires more effort, attention, and skill

• Student must be able to work independently in & outside the classroom.

• The student is highly self-motivated to learn and achieve.

• Class discussions begin with the assumption that knowledge has been acquired independently and moves quickly to concepts.

• Testing involves more indirect application and drawing conclusion-style questioning.

Academic Level

• More grade level, skills-based, comprehension-style homework.

• The student may require more guidance from the teacher.

• The student may need monitoring to ensure completion of assignments.

• Class discussions begin with a review of knowledge and move carefully toward understanding concepts.

• Testing involves more demonstration of skills and knowledge-style questioning.

WHAT FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN DECIDING ABOUT

ENROLLING IN PRE-AP/GT CLASSES

•Academic strengths/Areas of

Giftedness

•Commitment to academics

•Extracurricular activities

•Family support

A

*If a 7th or 8th Grade student is enrolled in Pre-AP Algebra I, he or she

will take the Algebra I EOC exam

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/

Grade 7: Reading, Mathematics,

Writing

Grade 8: Reading, Mathematics*,

Social Studies, Science

What makes

you happy?

GO TO THE KISD WEBPAGE AND SELECT THE LINK

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Subject Area Credits

English Language Arts Four Credits

• English I

• English II

• English III

• Advanced English Course

Math Four Credits

• Algebra I

• Geometry

• Algebra 2

• Endorsement Advanced Math

Science Four Credits

• Biology

• Advanced Science Course

• Advanced Science Course

• Endorsement Advanced Science

Social Studies Four Credits

• World Geography

• World History

• US History

• Government/Economics

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Course Credits

World Languages 2 credits

Physical Education 1 credit

Fine Art 1 credit

21st Century Skills .5 credit

Electives 5.5 credits

ENDORSEMENTSWHICH ONE WOULD YOU

CHOOSE?

FOUNDATION PLAN

ARTS & HUMANITIES

BUSINESS &

INDUSTRY

PUBLIC SERVICESTEM

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY

EIC LOCALRANK AND GPA (GRADE POINT

AVERAGE)

E OR

PE or AthleticsFull Year or 2 semester choices

ELA 7ELA 7Math 7

Science 7Social S 7Advisory***2 elective credits of alternates required when

registering online in case your 1st elective choice

does not work in your schedule, is full, or is not

offered.

LET’S BUILD YOUR 7TH GRADE COURSE REQUEST

ENGLISH

Language Arts 7

Double Blocked

PRE-AP/GT Language Arts 7

Double Blocked

MATH

Math 7 Pre-AP/GT Math 7

SCIENCE

Science 7 PRE-AP/GT Science 7

SOCIAL

STUDIESSocial Studies 7 Pre-AP/GT Social Studies 7

Circle your level preference on your sheet.

WHAT’S NEXT?PHYSICAL

EDUCATION:

Counts as

one elective

choice

• Athletics/Competitive Tennis

Competitive Tennis requires tryout- dates will

be announced.

Physical required and online completion of

athletic paperwork-KISD web site

• P.E. or Partner P.E. - Partner PE requires an

application which is located on the KMS website

under registration information.

• Tennis

• Off-Campus PE Contact KMS Counseling Office

after Spring Break for information.

Note - The state requires 2 full years of physical

activity in grades 6 through 8. Having taken PE in

6th grade now requires that only one more of a PE

is required. (Recommended for 7th grade)

Full Year

Electives:Students may

choose one of

these or 2

semester

electives

Choir

Band

Orchestra

Art

Partner Art*

Theatre

PALS*

AVID will be offered. Students will go through an

invitation/notice of interest, application and

selection process. At registration, a student will

choose an elective, and if selected for AVID will

replace that elective choice.

* Applications can be found for

Partner Art and PALS on the

KMS website under

“Registration Information.”

• Students who have passed STAAR tests

(Recommended)

If your student is interested in participating, please see the

representative at the table in the gym and pick up an informative flyer.

Semester

Elective

Options:Students will

choose two along

with two

alternates

• College and Career Readiness

• Conversational Spanish

• Creative Writing

• Investigating Careers-Introduction to

Audio/Video Production

• Project Lead the Way-Gateway to

Technology- Energy, Environment

and Flight(HS elective semester

credit earned)

• Speech Communication

• Touch System Data Entry ONLINE

(HS elective semester credit earned)

REQUIRED INTERVENTION COURSES

Campus staff will identify and place students after the STAAR scores are returned in June

• Full year intervention courses that will replace a Comanche Pride class.

Reading Styles

• For students who did not meet minimum expectations on most recent STAAR reading test

Math Quest

• For students who did not meet minimum expectations on most recent STAAR math test.

HAC ONLINE REGISTRATION

You must register online

HAC ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSES February 23, 2018

Class

English Language Arts,

Grade 7

Choose level

Double-Blocked

Mathematics, Grade 7 Choose level

Science, Grade 7 Choose level

Social Studies Grade 7 Choose level

Elective

Elective

Advisory Will be input by

campus

*plus 2 credits of

alternates if semester

electives are chosen

ELECTIVESENTERED IN COURSE

REQUESTS

• Electives are subject to availability, staffing, and ability to fit into a student’s schedule

• When entering alternates, they are not ranked in any way in the computer. If necessary, the computer will assign an alternate of student’s choice as it fits in their schedule.

ONLINE REGISTRATION THROUGH HOME ACCESS CENTER DIRECTIONS

FOR INCOMING 7TH GRADERS

HAC will be open for Registration requests for the 2018-2019 school year through February 23, 2018. Registration may only be entered with the student’s HAC login account, however parents are able to view through their parent account. On February 23rd the system will close, and students will no longer be able to enter online requests.

HAC is accessible through a link on the main KISD site, or at homeaccess.kellerisd.net

HAC registration

directions for students:

Students will log into Home

Access Center with their

login information. Parent

login information can be

used to VIEW requests, but

cannot be used to make/ edit

requests. The default student

login is:

User Name: Student ID #

Password: First/Last Initial(capitalized) + ID#

Example: Username: 123456

Password: JD123456

ONCE IN HAC, CLICK ON THE ICON FOR CLASSES, AND THEN ON THE TAB BELOW THAT SAYS REQUESTS. AT THIS POINT, YOU’LL BE ABLE TO ENTER COURSE REQUESTS BY SUBJECT AREA:

To make selections, you’ll click on the

EDIT button to the right of the subject

area.

TO SELECT A COURSE, CLICK ON THE CHECK BOX BESIDE THE

COURSE, AND THEN PRESS SAVE.

First make a selection for the 4 core classes:

English

Math

Science

Social Studies

.

In 7th OR 8th grade all students are required to take a year of a

Physical Education Course. We recommend that all incoming

7th graders fulfill that requirement in 7th grade.

Please make a selection from this category:

Middle School PE/Equivalent

In addition to PE/Athletics, 7th grade students will have one

additional elective period.

As a next step, your student will need to select

1 full year elective OR 2 semester electives.

Please make a selection from this category:

Middle School Electives or Middle School Fine Arts

Please consult the DRAFT course request form your student will

bring home for course offerings.

.

Finally, your student needs to select at least 2

alternate choices for their electives. They need to

choose electives that they would be happy to have if

their first choice isn’t possible. It is possible that these

alternates COULD be the elective courses that your

student receives.

Please select at least 2 alternate electives. If no

alternates are selected, they will be chosen for you!

To make a course an alternate, you’ll click select

the course by clicking on the check box beside

the course name, and then selecting “Alternate

to Any Course”

***Remember, if you don’t select alternates, then they will be selected for you.

TO SEE ALL REQUESTS THAT YOU’VE MADE FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR, CLICK ON THE CLASSES ICON AND THE SCHEDULE TAB AND IT WILL SHOW ALL

REQUESTS.

Please ensure that your student has requests in all of the

areas specified above.

Alternate to any course

WHAT HAPPENS IF I CHANGE MY MIND AFTER HAC CLOSES?

• Course Request Change Forms will be

available on the KMS website under

Registration Information. They may be

turned in at BCI or at the KMS counseling

office.

• Forms must be signed by a parent and

returned by March 30th for consideration.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I CHANGE MY MIND ONCE SCHOOL STARTS?

COUNSELOR AVAILABILITY

• Counselors will be at BCI on Wednesday and Thursday,

February 14th and 15th to guide students through the

course request process.

• Counselors will be at BCI all day on Friday, February 16th

for student questions, absent students course requests,

and parent questions (come and go).

• Email after February 16th is the best way to reach your

student’s KMS counselor.

WHAT’S NEXT TONIGHT?

• Please go to the gym for our Comanche Connections

Course Showcase

• Athletics meetings will be held

• Boys’ Athletics- Game Gym (8:30 P.M.)

• Girls’ Athletics- Cafeteria (8:30 P.M.)

• Competitive Tennis- Library (8:30 P.M.)

• Counselors will be available at the front to answer any

questions.