Your school provides this course curriculum guide as a means of assisting students and parents in understanding and planning their course of study. Students are encouraged to carefully select related arts courses during the registration process. Your school's guidance counselors and teachers stand ready to assist them. Parents are invited and encouraged to actively participate by assisting their student.
Related arts classes are scheduled based upon student requests. However, due to schedule conflicts and changes in course offerings, the staff cannot guarantee that students will be scheduled for all courses they request. In addition, be aware that the school builds a master schedule and employs teachers based on students' requests; therefore, schedule changes will only be considered on a very limited basis.
Online Registration was implemented in 2004. It allows parents and students to request related arts courses for the next school year from home via the Internet. Families who do not have access to the Internet will be given opportunities to use school computers to register online. Parents and students should understand that requesting a related arts course through online registration does not guarantee that the student is placed in the course the next school year. Final placement in a course is dependent upon enrollment, scheduling feasibility, and teacher allocation. Schools will post the courses that they will be offering the next school year in a course curriculum guide which will be located on the school's website. Parents without Internet access at home will receive a printed copy of the course curriculum guide by request. The window for students to select related arts courses online is posted by the school on the school's website and in parent newsletters. Schools will provide instructions on accessing the online registration tool.
Hillcrest Middle School
Online Course Registration
2013-2014
Parents and Students,
The 2013-2014 course registration is well underway at Hillcrest Middle School! This is an important time for you and your student to choose courses for the 2013-2014 school year to help in planning for their future.
On February 22 the catalog of HMS course offerings for the 2013-2014 school year will be posted on the HMS website. Log on to our school website and review and discuss these course offerings with your student.
In February, teachers will begin the process of recommending courses for your student to take next year. We will send home a form of the these course recommendations along with the related arts choices made by your student for parent approval. You will be asked to sign and return this form to us.
We want this to be a smooth and productive experience for everyone. Our goal is to work with each student to select the courses best suited for that individual student. If you have questions or concerns about recommended academic courses, contact that subject teacher directly at your elementary school. Contact Guidance regarding changes in related arts course selections. Our phone numbers and email addresses are included in this registration information. We ask that you follow the important deadlines and take note of all important dates below.
Hillcrest Middle has always been a school of excellence. In keeping with our mission statement, "To build a collaborative learning community focused on student achievement", our staff will work to help your student make appropriate choices for his/her furure.
We look forward to joining with you as we prepare your student for a great 2013-2014 school year.
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION DATES
Jan. 28-------------Rising 6th grade orientation tours begin 9:00 am HMS: Greenbrier
Elementary
Jan. 29-------------Combination Schools 9:00 am HMS
Jan. 30-------------Plain Elementary tour 9:00 am HMS
Jan. 31-------------Simpsonville Elementary tour 9:00 am HMS
Feb. 1 -------------Bethel Elementary tour 9:00 am HMS
Feb. 4--------------Bell's Crossing tour 9:00 am HMS
Feb. 4--------------Curriculum Night for all rising 6th graders HMS 6:30 pm
Feb. 13-15--------HMS teachers complete student recommendations for academic courses
(exceptions: students with IEP's)
Feb. 21------------Parent training in course registration 4:00-6:00 pm Hillcrest Middle School
in the computer lab.
If necessary contact counselors for individual help and needs.
Feb. 22------------Online course catalog and registration information posted on HMS website
Feb 25-March 1--Rising 7th/8th grade students select 2013-14 related arts courses
in HMS computer lab.
Feb. 26------------6th through 8th grade Occupational Diploma Meeting 6:00-7:00 pm
at HMS
March-------------Elementary students enter course requests in online registration;
registration forms will be sent home for parent signature.
April 9-------------Rising 7th, 8th, 9th grade course registration forms will be sent home
with report cards for parent signature and returned
April 16-----------Elementary schools deliver student request letters to HMS
Important Information
**Hillcrest Middle School students will take 5 academic courses--language arts,
literature, math, science, social studies
**Contact your student's current subject teacher with questions or concerns about
course placement recommendations made by the subject teacher
**Contact Guidance about related arts questions and concerns.
**Students will be assigned by Guidance to Math and Reading Assistance
courses according to spring achievement test scores
**All courses are offered based on course enrollment, teacher allocation,
and scheduling feasibility.
Rising 6th Grade Related Arts Courses
Art 6 (sem)
Band 6 (yr)---Beginning band students must provide instruments/books.
Instruments must be purchased or rented by Friday, September 6, 2013.
Chorus 6 (sem)
Music 6 (sem)
Physical Education/Health (has been mass assigned)
Strings 6 (yr)---Beginning strings students must provide instruments/books.
Instruments must be purchased or rented by Friday, September 6, 2013.
*****************
Math Assistance 6 (sem) Students will be placed based on spring achievement test scores.
Reading Assistance 6 (sem) Students will be placed based on spring achievement test scores.
Contacts, questions, or concerns:
6th grade Gracie McGuffin 355-6104 gmcguffi@greenville.k12.sc.us
7th grade Joyce Oates 355-6115 jcoates@greenville.k12.sc.us
8th grade Jane Hunnicutt 355-6117 jhunnicu@greenville.k12.sc.us
Career Specialist Barb McPoland 355-6194 bmcpolan@greenville.k12.sc.us
Guidance Clerk Donna Harrington 355-6114 daharring@greenville.k12.sc.us
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English
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Title:
English GT 6
10013200
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Identified as GTA (Gifted and Talented Academic)with a MAP RIT score >236
This course is designed to meet the needs of academically gifted and talented students who were identified through the standard measures implemented by The School District of Greenville County. The curriculum designed specifically for this course meets the guidelines set forth by the South Carolina State Department of Education as criteria for Gifted and Talented instruction. Students should expect to find the curriculum challenging in a number of ways: text complexity, analytical writing, problem solving, creative endeavors, and accelerated pace.
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Title:
Literature Strategies 6
10013300
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Students should meet one or more of the following criteria: Teacher recommendation ; PASS score of Not Met in 4th grade; 5th grade MAP RIT scores of <213
This course is designed to meet the needs of students transitioning from elementary to middle school instruction in reading. Instruction will continue to reinforce foundational skills in reading and provide ample scaffolding for those students whose reading skills are still developing.
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Title:
Literature Studies 6
10013400
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Students should meet two or more of the following criteria: Teacher recommendation; PASS score of Met in 4th grade; 5th grade MAP RIT scores of 213 - 236
This course is designed to meet the needs of those students whose reading skills are sufficient to allow them to read more difficult texts, analyze what they have read more deeply, and respond without difficulty to the text in writing. The students in this course do not require foundational instruction in reading strategies; however, they will continue to receive instruction in more sophisticated reading practices that prepare the student for literary analysis. Students can expect instruction to move at an accelerated pace.
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Title:
Lang Arts Strategies 6
10013600
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Students should meet one or more of the following criteria: Teacher recommendation; PASS score of Not Met in 4th grade; 5th grade MAP RIT scores of <213
This course is designed to meet the needs of students transitioning from elementary to middle school instruction in language arts, writing and research. Instruction will continue to reinforce foundational skills and provide ample scaffolding for those students whose skills are still developing.
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Title:
Language Arts Studies 6
10013700
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Students should meet two or more of the following criteria: Teacher recommendation; PASS score of Met in 4th grade; 5th grade MAP RIT scores of 213 - 236
This course is designed to meet the needs of those students whose writing skills are sufficient to allow them to write fluently and cohesively. The students in this course do not require foundational instruction in writing strategies; however, they will continue to receive instruction in more sophisticated practices preparing the student for different modes of writing. Students can expect instruction to move at an accelerated pace.
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Title:
Reading Assistance 6
10240000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Guidance Placement
This course offers students remediation and additional assistance in reading skills in support of on grade level instruction in the regular Language Arts and/or Literature classroom.
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Math
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Title:
Math 6
11100600
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Teacher recommendation
This standards-based sixth-grade course is designed to help students begin the transition from arithmetic to algebraic thinking. It includes concepts, operations, and problems solving with decimals, fractions, and percents in addition to an introduction to integers and ratios. Students will develop algebraic thinking through the investigation of patterns, the use of simple equations and inequalities to represent relationships, and the use of tables and graphs to solve problems. Throughout the course there is an emphasis on the process standards of problem-solving, communication, reasoning, representations, and connections.
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Title:
Math 7 for 6th Graders
21100900
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Must meet district criteria including Teacher recommendation
The emphasis in this standards-based seventh-grade course is on algebraic thinking and on extending the understanding of the real number system to include integers, rational numbers, and irrational numbers. Students will investigate applications of number theory and will acquire skills in adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers. Students will solve applied problems by using one-step equations and inequalities, percents, and proportional reasoning. Students will develop algebraic thinking by analyzing patterns to discover relationships, by representing information through symbolic, graphical, and tabular methods, and by identifying relationships that are linear. Throughout the course there is an emphasis on the process standards of problem-solving, communication, reasoning, representations, and connections.
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Title:
Math Assistance 6
11010000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
Guidance Placement
This course offers students remediation and additional assistance in math skills in support of on grade level instruction in the regular math classroom.
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Science
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Title:
Science 6
12010000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
The focus for science in sixth grade is to provide students with inquiry based experiences that develop science concepts in the following areas: Structures, Processes and Response of Plants-structure and function of plants; Structures, Processes and Responses of Animals-structure and function of animals; Earths Atmosphere and Weather-atmospheric properties and processes; and, Conservation of Energy-properties of energy, work, and conservation of energy.
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Social Studies
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Title:
Social Studies 6
13010000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
Sixth grade social studies expands students’ understanding of history through the study of people, places, and events to the era of European exploration and settlement. Students focus not only on facts about various cultures but also on the significance of geography in history, their everyday lives, problems, and accomplishments of people, and their roles in developing the social, economic, and political structures of major civilizations. Instruction should emphasize the elements of social studies literacy—the tools, strategies, and perspectives necessary for understanding how history, geography, economics and government are interwoven.
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Arts
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Title:
Art 6
15010000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
The purpose of this course is to enable students to communicate ideas and concepts through a variety of artwork, including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, arts, and crafts. A study of artists and their work will help students understand the techniques, skills, and diverse intentions of artists from many cultures and times. Students will focus on developing creative problem-solving skills, visual literacy, and personal expression.
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Title:
Band 6
15310000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
This course provides beginning-level instruction on brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. No previous musical experience is required. The curriculum includes the development of fundamental skills, concepts, composition, cooperative learning, music as it relates to history and culture, and band techniques. The class will include an expectation for the purchase or rental of an instrument and individual practice at home. Concert performances will be an outgrowth of the study of musical concepts.
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Title:
Chorus 6
15410000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
The purpose of this course is to enable students to develop fundamental vocal musicianship, technical skills, and aesthetic awareness through the study and performance of varied middle school choral literature. The curriculum for Chorus 6 includes vocal technique, part singing, music fundamentals, and singing music of various historical and world styles through large and small group participation. Concert performances will be an outgrowth of the study of the musical concepts.
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Title:
Strings 6
15510000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
This course provides beginning-level instruction on violin, viola, cello, and string bass. No previous musical experience is required. The curriculum includes the development of fundamental skills, concepts, composition, cooperative learning, music as it relates to history and culture, and string techniques. The class will include an expectation for the purchase or rental of an instrument and individual practice at home. Some larger instruments are available at the school, and parents should coordinate with the director for their use. Concert performances will be an outgrowth of the study of musical concepts.
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Title:
Music 6
15610000
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
This is a course providing students with the opportunity to explore musical concepts and further their understanding of music through listening, singing, playing instruments, and engaging in creative activities.
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Physical Education
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Title:
PE / Health 6
14401200
Course Number:
Unit Credit:
0.00
Duration:
Grade Level:
6
Short Title:
Prerequisite:
None
Enrollment in this course fulfills the regulation that all students will complete one quarter of physical education each year in grades 6 – 8 and all students will complete one quarter of health each year in grades 6 - 8. The content of the course will consist of both health and PE standards-based instruction.
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