Wow – what a big and exciting step!  We love getting to know our new 6th graders and look forward to a great group.

Most of the registration procedures happen through the elementary schools and they set the calendar.  However, we are hosting an Elective Fair on February 21 from 6 – 7:30 pm.  The main purpose of the evening is to showcase all of the electives available in the 6th grade, to help families choose.  At Rawlinson, all of our electives are full year, and once the school year starts, the schedules are set and cannot be changed.  This is is great opportunity to get information for your choice.

The other purpose of the evening is just to get the kids on our campus.  Crossing the threshold and walking around is a great way for kids (and parents) to alleviate some fears.

Sixth grade students will also be invited to a 6th grade orientation just before the beginning of next school year.  Those dates are yet to be determined, but will be mailed to your home.

Talk to your elementary campus if you are curious about when you will see paperwork for next year’s course selection.

Choosing classes for grades 7 and 8 is not as complicated as the 9th grade choices, but it can still be an exciting time.  To ensure all the students have the information they need for their choices, we’ve scheduled the following activities:

January 31 – Rawlinson counselors will be in the 7th grade classes to go over course options and regististration procedures.  Students will receive a draft course card for practice.

February 4 – Rawlinson counselors will be in the 6th grade classes to go over course options and  registration procedures.  Students will receive a draft course card for practice.

February 11 – (This date is not yet firm)  All students will receive their actual course card in first period.  Students will carry the card to each class, collecting recommendations from academic teachers and needed signatures for elective choices.  The cards will be collected in seventh period.  Over the next few days, we will copy every card and send a copy home so parents can see course recommendations and elective selections.  Parents, for questions about academic course recommendations, please contact the recommending teacher.  If your child signed up for an elective that you don’t approve of, please contact the counseling office to request a change.

February 27 – During 4th period classes, all students will input their course selections in our new web-based program while under the supervision of a teacher and the counseling staff.  The system is brand new and not completely de-bugged, but we hope to be able to send home the list of requested courses with every student.  Again, if your child requests courses that you do not approve of, you can call the counseling office to discuss a change.

In the counseling office, we’ve started to get calls about Spring registration so I’d like to offer more details to Mrs. Pena’s events posted in the calendar.

In late fall, the counseling department taught a series of lessons to 8th graders getting them ready to think about high school course selection.  We went over everything from basic vocabulary to the state’s graduation requirements.  On January 10, we taught a lesson that helped students develop a four-year plan.  The purpose of the planning is to see how required courses fit within the next four years, to see that there is some flexibility, and to make a pretty solid decision about freshman courses.  The kids were given a handout that I encouraged them to share at home.

January 24 - The Clark counselors will visit our eighth grade classes to introduce elective courses to our students.  It’s an exciting day, as they bring Clark students with them who speak enthusiastically about their experiences in elective classes and clubs/activities that go with them.

January 28 – I wil be hosting a parent night from 7 – 8:30 pm to teach parents pretty much what we’ve taught the kids:  graduation requirements, changes in state testing, and planning for the next four years.  I really hope to see a lot of parents.  You’re welcome to bring your eighth graders with you – they’ve seen the presentation before, but it’s a lot to absorb, so it won’t hurt to see it again.

January 29 – Northside’s 5 magnet schools will be on campus to present their programs to all eighth graders.   Magnet programs include Communications Arts High School, Construction Careers Academy, Science and Engineering Academy, Health Careers High School and Business Careers High School.  For more information, go to the schools’ websites on nisd.net.  Students interested in attending any of our magnet programs can print an application on line, or can pick one up in the counseling office starting January 30.

February 8 – magnet school applications due to counseling office.  We will add a transcript and current report card and forward them to the magnet schools.

February 12 – Clark High School hosts an elective night/parent information night.  IF I could require everyone to go I would.  Representatives from every department, club, sport and activity will be around to present information and answer student and parent question.  Clark does an excellent job helping every student find ways to become involved, and this evening is the beginning of that process.

Shortly after February 12 (date TBD) we will give the eighth graders draft copies of the Clark course card to help them understand how to fill it in.  Then students will get the actual course card.  To ensure that none are lost, we do not send the original card home, but we will send a copy home so all parents can see the teachers’ course recommendations and your students’ selections.  Parents will have several days to contact teachers and counselors to discuss changes.

Finally, on February 27, all students will enter their course selections in our new on-line registration web-site.  As a new system, we expect glitches, but we hope to be able to send a list of courses home so parents can confirm the selections.

It’s a very exciting, and sometimes frightening time to be an eighth grader.  These are big decisions, and we want the kids to take them seriously, and get off to a great start to their next 4 years.