Eighth Grade Course Guide 2022-2023
UMS-Wright PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Our School...Our Mission The mission of UMS-Wright is for the UMS-Wright Family to educate all students to their highest potential in mind, body and spirit and to produce in each student character of the highest possible order. Our Founder, Dr. Julius T. Wright, instituted our tradition of excellence in 1893. Each day we strive to maintain the high principles and ideals established by Dr. Wright. Our mission drives each decision we make, allowing UMS-Wright Preparatory School to provide a variety of opportunities for our students to excel to their greatest potential in “mind, body, and spirit.” This guide provides essential information on our academic program. Included are academic requirements, explanations of each course offered with required prerequisites, and important information about the process of course selection.
The Curriculum & Instruction Department The role of the Curriculum and Instruction Department at UMS-Wright is to support teaching and learning across divisions. We look forward to having the opportunity to work closely with students to navigate their middle school academic experience. As the coordinators of the course selection and scheduling process, we are happy to answer any questions you may have along the way.
Dr. Patricia Boehm Associate Head of School - Curriculum and Instruction pboehm@ums-wright.org
Ms. Donna Lamberti
Mrs. Bre Stricklin
Director of Learning and Innovation Grades 8-12 dlamberti@ums-wright.org
Director of Learning and Innovation Grades 3-7 bstricklin@ums-wright.org
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General Information for Course Selection Course Selection and Registration Course selection takes place in the spring of each school year. Leading up to the day of registration, students are strongly encouraged to discuss their course selections with parents, teachers and members of the Curriculum and Instruction Department. Students should carefully consider their personal interests, current and future time commitments. Students are provided a deadline for registration. Failure to register by the posted date may result in the student’s forfeiture of course selection rights, and a schedule may be chosen for him/her.
Honors Coursework Honors courses are taught at an accelerated pace and advanced level as compared to the College Preparatory (CP) courses. Students who choose to take an honors course at UMS-Wright should be mindful of the additional requirements involved. At the middle school level, UMS-Wright offers Honors English and Honors Math at the seventh and eighth grade levels. To enroll in Honors courses, a student must receive a recommendation. Recommendations are determined based upon the following criteria: Attendance and work ethic Grades in prerequisite coursework Contributions made to the learning process that indicate intellectual engagement and curiosity in the subject Strong ability to analyze, evaluate, problem solve and conceptualize new ideas Performance on standardized tests, as appropriate
Scheduling Conflicts UMS-Wright offers a great variety of courses and activities for its students to pursue. Because of the varied nature of student interests, sometimes scheduling conflicts will occur. Every effort will be made to place each student in the courses that he or she requests. However, sometimes this is not possible. It is very important that students clearly indicate acceptable alternatives when registering.
Schedule Changes Requests for schedule changes must be made within the first four weeks of the course and approved by the Curriculum and Instruction Department. Due to the pace of instruction, students may not begin Honors level classes after the seventh day of school.
Please note that due to our commitment to small, balanced classes, requests for specific class periods cannot be accommodated.
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Middle School Courses English Language Arts 5th Reading 5 and English 5 6th Reading 6 and English 6 7th English 7 or Honors English 7 8th English 8 or Honors English 8 Mathematics 5th 6th 7th 8th
Math 5 Math 6 Math 7 or Pre-Algebra 7 Pre-Algebra 8 or Algebra I
Science 5th 6th 7th 8th
STEM 5 STEM 6 / Earth Science STEM 7 / Life Science STEM 8 / Physical Science
Social Studies 5th 6th 7th 8th
Social Studies 5: Ancient History Social Studies 6: Medieval History Social Studies 7: Modern History Social Studies 8: American History
World Languages 5th 6th 7th 8th
Introductory French Exploratory Spanish and Exploratory French Spanish A or French A Spanish B or French B
Elective Offerings 5th 6th 7th 8th
All students will participate in a rotation consisting of: Exploratory Band, Drama, Chorus & Technology All students will choose either two semester elective courses or one year-long elective All students will choose up to four elective classes, depending on length All students will participate in Speech & Debate, and choose up to three elective classes
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Eighth Grade English English 8 Students exemplify their maturity and flexibility in more complex forms of written and verbal communication. Within this course, students continue to strengthen their acquisition of grammar and expand their vocabulary while concurrently examining different works of literature. Students evaluate different points of view, read critically, and write analytically using multiple works of literature. In addition to in-class literature, students complete independent reading outside of class. Honors English 8 Honors English 8 incorporates all aspects of English 8 while providing students opportunities for composition and discussion that are more complex in nature, encouraging an in-depth focus that requires a higher level of thinking and competency. In addition, many novels discussed within the context of literary analysis are of a higher level. Students must receive a recommendation to enroll in this course.
Mathematics Pre-Algebra Pre-Algebra is a transition course from arithmetic to algebra. Students study integers and rational numbers which leads to an understanding of the real number system. Other topics include writing and solving twostep and multi-step equations and inequalities, using order of operations to evaluate mathematical and algebraic expressions, recognizing and using properties, graphing linear equations, solving proportions, and understanding the relationship between fractions, decimals, and percents. Problem-solving techniques are applied throughout the course. An emphasis is placed on algebraic vocabulary and the use of patterns in understanding more complex concepts. Algebra I This course is for eighth grade students who have demonstrated exceptional ability and work ethic in the 7thgrade Pre-Algebra course. This course introduces students to the basic structure of algebra and the real number system. Students focus on vocabulary, properties, and algebraic structures that are applied to write and solve more advanced equations and inequalities. Students work extensively with graphing linear equations using a variety of methods, and systems of equations are solved using substitution and elimination. Emphasis is placed on factoring quadratic trinomials, differences of squares, and special perfect squares as a foundation for extended study in Algebra II. Square roots, absolute value, compound inequalities, functions, and transformations on the coordinate plane are additional topics of investigation. Students must receive a
recommendation to enroll in this course.
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History Social Studies 8: American History In this course, students discover the story of America beginning with the early colonial period and proceeding into the 21st century. Although the course proceeds chronologically, students take an in-depth examination of the key moments and events in our history that illustrate recurring historical themes. Some of the themes explored are thinking like a historian, humans’ interaction with their environment, cultural development, interaction and change, leadership and decision making, inventions and achievements, and economic systems and trade. The course centers around the essential question, “What does it mean to be an
American?”
Science STEM 8: Physical Science Our middle school science courses at UMS-Wright are taught using the STEM approach to teaching and learning. This approach requires teachers to facilitate learning so that students apply skills and knowledge in context as they work to solve problems that integrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students finish this course with a deeper understanding of the physical worlds in which we live through highly engaging lab activities, student-directed projects, interactive demonstrations, and class discussions. Throughout the course, there is a heavy emphasis on chemistry and physics. Some of the units of study may include: Matter and Change, Atoms and The Periodic Table, Chemical Formulas and Equations, Organic and Inorganic Compounds, Acids and Bases, Forces and Motion, and Energy.
World Languages Spanish B This course reinforces the concepts acquired in Spanish A and enriches the learners’ understanding of the basic syntactic rules of the target language including counterintuitive constructions, such as the personal “a,” expressing likes and dislikes, etc. Structurally, it further develops the student’s basic grammatical skills. It completes, for example, the study of the present tense irregular verbs, reflexive verbs, integrates the immediate future and present progressive constructions, the direct object pronouns and indirect object pronouns (as regards the verb gustar), etc. The vocabulary includes some basic idiomatic expressions and continues to expand, which affords students the opportunity to practice communicating using lengthier presentational, interpretive and interpersonal formats. The cultural framework of this course emphasizes Mexico. French B This course reinforces the concepts acquired in French A and enriches the learners’ understanding of the basic syntactic rules of the target language including counterintuitive constructions, additional forms of negation and interrogation, etc. Structurally, it further develops the student’s basic grammatical skills. It completes for example the study of the present tense irregular verbs, integrates the immediate future (aller + infinitive), the direct object pronouns and indirect object pronouns, etc. The vocabulary includes some basic idiomatic expressions and continues to expand, which affords students the opportunity to practice communicating using lengthier presentational, interpretive and interpersonal formats. The cultural framework of this course is the European Francophone world.
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Additional Required Course Speech and Debate 8 (S) In this required course, students learn and practice various forms of interpersonal and presentational communication in order to properly interpret and convey ideas and information. Students study how to actively persuade, inspire, inform and engage an audience through the art of public speaking. Students study and engage in research application, public speaking skills, argumentation strategies, and various forms of debate. Throughout the course, students increase their fluency as a speaker and develop self-confidence.
Elective Offerings All students will take Speech and Debate for one semester during one of their elective periods. In addition to Speech and Debate, students will choose one of the following combinations of year long (Y) or semester (S) courses: 1 year long and 1 semester course OR 3 semester courses. Band 8 (Y) This class is a continuation of the Intermediate Band where the students are afforded opportunities to improve and hone their playing and performance skills. Instruction includes the reading and understanding of music, the different styles of music, and the ability to instrumentally communicate the intent of the composers. These students perform at two concerts a year, and they have more performance opportunities to perform including, but not limited to, the following: pep rallies, football games, and other school/community functions. Spring opportunities include group performance at basketball games, the State MPA Contest, and individual performances at All-State Band and Solo and Ensemble Festival. Chorus 8 (S or Y) The Chorus elective is designed to continue the development of each student’s voice and technical ability. Students develop the ability to sight-sing in harmony, begin training the ear, and learn interval notation. The choir is given opportunities to perform on campus and in the community. Students may choose to participate in one or two semesters of this class. Coding and Robotics 1 (S) In this course, students explore, investigate, solve, and document a variety of tasks individually, with partners, and within small groups using robots to understand foundational Computer Science concepts. The focus is centered around block coding, where students develop an understanding of how controls and conditionals impact programming . Students learn the basics of the design process to collaboratively solve problems. Coding and Robotics 2 (S) This course is a continuation of Coding & Robotics 1. Students will use Sphero robots to explore, investigate, solve, and document a variety of tasks individually, with partners, and with small groups. We will quickly review beginning block coding topics and then advance into intermediate block coding principles which include: manipulating sensors, loops, conditionals, variables, and functions. By the end of the course students will have a better understanding of how to translate block coding to text coding.
Digital Media & Production (S) This course exposes students to the fundamentals of digital communication, such as producing and directing digital videos, audio production, video and sound editing, animations, and graphic design. Students produce multimedia presentations using common applications found on their school device. Some projects may include news reports, commercials, documentaries, podcasts, stop-motion animation, 2-D advertisements, and simple website design.
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Drama and Production 8 (S or Y) The eighth grade student enrolled in the Drama Class learns the dramatic process by producing, designing, and acting in a class play. Eighth grade productions are based on works of classic literature, which engages the student in an exploration of the historical setting as well as the customs of the period. In addition to developing performance skills and an understanding of the production process, this experience provides students multiple opportunities to advance skills in leadership and team-building. Physical Education (S or Y) Physical Education (PE) in the middle school provides students opportunities to learn and practice key motor skills while encouraging lifelong physical activity. During PE, students learn the rules and concepts of sports activities as well as movements that are crucial for success in all areas of exercise and athletics. Students practice these movement skills through individual drills, games, team and individual sports, and team building exercises. A variety of sports are taught, including: basketball, football, soccer, softball, swimming, track, and volleyball. Students are required to dress in the P.E. uniform for participation in class. Physical Education and Dance Combination (Y) Girls electing this option participate in three days of dance and two days of PE each week. In dance, students will study different styles of dance, learn dance terms ,and are challenged at their own level. Some outside performances are required, including a spring performance. Parents are responsible for purchasing one costume in addition to the course fee of $375 (billed in September). Service and Leadership (S) In this course, students learn about, practice, and understand the traits necessary to become highly effective leaders and members of our community, both on and off of campus. Throughout the year, students identify and practice strategies for successful decision-making, conflict resolution and management as well as interpersonal communication. In addition, students are provided opportunities inside and outside of the classroom to lead service projects and volunteer. Students may only take this course one time at the middle school level. Visual Art 8 (S) This semester course is all about teaching students how to see and create as an artist does by paying close attention to the way lines and shapes relate in placement and scale. Each project works to reinforce the students’ understanding of the elements of art—line, shape, form, value, texture, space, and color—and challenges them to apply the elements successfully by exploring the principles of design—rhythm, movement, pattern, balance, emphasis, contrast, harmony, and unity. Students find inspiration especially within nature and works of great artists as they experiment with a wide variety of media. Student work is exhibited in Moorer Gallery during the semester.
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Instructions for Eighth Grade Course Selection Step One
Step Two
Log in to PowerSchool Unified Classroom from your school-issued laptop classroom.powerschool.com
Select "Quick Links" from the left menu bar
Step Three
Step Four Using the Course Guide, review your options in each section
Select "Class Registration" from the Quick Link pop-out menu. This will open the course selection page in a new tab.
Core Requirements World Language Elective Offerings
Step Five Make your selections Core Requirements: You will select your required courses on this screen (history, math, English, and science, along with the required Speech and Debate semester-long course). If you are recommended for an honors level course, the course will be available for you to choose.
World Language You will select the language you began in seventh grade (Spanish B or French B)
Elective Offerings You will choose elective offerings that are equal to 1.5 units. This can be a combination of 1 year long and 1 semester course or three semester courses.
Alternate Elective Offerings You will choose two alternate elective offerings. These will only be utilized if your selected electives are unable to be scheduled for you.
Step Six Submit your requests Scroll to the bottom of the page and press submit to finalize your requests. If you are unable to submit, please check to be sure you have registered for a total of seven units.
Step Seven your parents sign the last page of your course guide and return to Mrs. Erwin in the Middle School Office no later than April 8.
Helpful Hints A red exclamation point means one course must be selected from the subject group.
A green checkmark means you have made all of the required selections for that section.
Questions? Dr. Patricia Boehm Associate Head of School Curriculum and Instruction pboehm@ums-wright.org
Ms. Donna Lamberti Director of Learning and Innovation Grades 8-12 dlamberti@ums-wright.org
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UMS-Wright PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Dear Parents, In this packet you will find our course offerings available to eighth graders, which are outlined here: HISTORY: Social Studies 8: American History SCIENCE: STEM 8: Chemical Science ENGLISH: English 8 or Honors English 8 MATHEMATICS: Pre-Algebra 8 or Algebra WORLD LANGUAGE: French B or Spanish B REQUIRED ELECTIVE: Speech and Debate
ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES (to equal 1.5 credits): Band 8, Chorus 8, Coding & Robotics 1, Coding & Robotics 2, Digital Media and Production, Drama 8, Physical Education, Physical Education/Dance, Service & Leadership, and Visual Art 8
As noted above, there are two honors courses in eighth grade: Algebra and Honors English 8. Our goal is to have each child placed in the most appropriate academic courses for him/her to experience success. Therefore we have a developed a detailed process that includes a review of completed coursework, past academic performance, teacher recommendations and standardized test results when appropriate. We realize that all students grow at different rates, so we have created entry points at the Upper School level so students may enter the Honors track later in their academic experience. On page10 of this packet you will find instructions on how to view your child's personalized course options and complete the online course selection process. The online course selection process should be completed no later than Friday, April 8. We encourage you to sit down with your child and review their options for the 2022-23 school year. Please indicate you have reviewed your child’s selections by signing below and returning this form to the Middle School office by the registration deadline. Your signature indicates you are aware if he/she has registered for courses that involve additional fees. We are here to help answer any questions you may have along the way. Sincerely, Patricia Boehm Assoc. Head of School - Curriculum and Instruction pboehm@ums-wright.org Donna Lamberti Director of Learning and Innovation, Grades 8-12 dlamberti@ums-wright.org
Student Name: _________________________________________ I have reviewed my child’s course requests for the 2022-23 school year and am aware of any additional fees that may be assessed for the courses requested. Parent Name: ___________________________________________ Parent Signature:_________________________________________
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