Author: Mary Jane Shireman

Central Middle School
7th Grade
Instructional Programs

BCSC Mission
BCSC demonstrates a community commitment to deeper learning for one...and all.

Central Middle
School Vision
Central Middle School
ensures the success of
EVERY student in an environment that maintains high expectations for students and staff, enhances learning, provides developmentally responsive student-centered programs, utilizes state-of-the-art technology, and fosters a partnership with all school stakeholders.

Principal:
Randy Gratz
376-4286
gratzr@bcsc.k12.in.us
Asst. Principal:
Cory Irwin
376-4283
irwinc@bcsc.k12.in.us
7th Grade Counselor:
Sharon Williams Hanrattie
376-4406
williamshanratties@bcsc.k12.in.us
Athletic Director:
Joe Bronkella
376-4238
bronkellaj@bcsc.k12.in.us

Contact Information

This instructional guide provides an overview of the academic programs and courses offered at Central Middle School. Please take time to read each section as you complete the enrollment process for 7th grade.
Teachers at Central Middle School continuously assess the performance of students and implement those instructional strategies and curricula which will meet each student’s present and future needs. Special instructional programs and services are provided to accommodate the unique needs of each student. Special education services are provided for students with disabilities. Challenging academic programs are provided for high achieving students. In addition, guidance, ESL, counseling, speech therapy, and psychological services are an integral part of the instructional program.
We look forward to having you join the Central Middle School family. Our challenge and hope is that you will leave more successful and more prepared for the future than when you arrived!

Dates To Remember

Monday, February 9, 2015 6th Grade Orientation & Family Night
6:30 PM, Central Middle School
Wednesday, July 29, 2015 Schedule Pick-up 12:00p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Central Café
Monday, August 3, 2015 First Day of School
7:50 AM—3:05 PM
Monday, August 3, 2015 Open House
6:00 PM, Central Middle School

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Teaming At Central Middle School
(Parents, students and teachers are all part of the team!)
Each seventh grade student at Central Middle School is a member of an interdisciplinary team. Four academic teachers collaborate to provide academic, social, and behavioral support to a team or “family” of approximately 120 students. Teaching teams include one teacher in each of the core academic areas: mathematics, language arts, social studies, and science. This teaching team, along with the support of subject-area department teams, plans the instructional program. This type of teamwork promotes communication, coordination, and cooperation among teachers, students and parents. Each academic team has a common planning time each day to organize the team’s program. Teams also have time for discussion, planning, and problem solving. In addition, team teachers coordinate and integrate curriculum and meet parents, counselors, and other specialists to refine their program to better meet the needs of each individual student.

Global Connections
Students spend 40-45 minutes daily organized into small, team-based groups for instruction in a variety of areas. The weeks leading up to ISTEP+ testing are spent reviewing the specific skill areas designed to allow students to demonstrate mastery in the state exam. Each team’s teachers collaborate to design an enrichment program that best meets the needs of their students. This time is often spent completing activities that are often not able to be achieved during core academic classes. For example, students may complete a science experiment, design a ceiling grid in math, or complete a guided reading activity.

Daily Schedule
Classes at Central Middle School are organized into a flexible schedule that allows teams to organize instruction to best meet students needs each day. Students are scheduled with their academic team teachers five periods each day for instruction in mathematics, language arts, science, social studies, and connections (approximately 295 minutes daily). Students attend exploratory or elective classes two periods each day (90 minutes). Lunch is scheduled for a thirty minute period every day.

Grade 7 Course of Study
Core Academic Subjects Exploratory Courses
Language Arts Health Indoor & Outdoor PE
Social Studies Fit-Smart / Active Life ( PE classes)
Science Art Technology Education
Mathematics Family & Consumer Sciences Math/Literacy Lab
World Languages (Optional) Elective Courses (Optional)
Spanish 1 and 2 Band, Choir and Strings
French 1 and 2

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Special Education Services
The Special Education Program at Central Middle School seeks to provide students with disabilities the appropriate supports and services necessary to maintain a full educational opportunity in the least restrictive environment. This allows students with disabilities to have the maximum possible access to general education programs and curriculum. A close working relationship among students, parents, and the entire staff is a critical component in meeting the needs of each student.

English as a Second Language (ESL)
The ESL program at Central Middle School combines the inclusion pull out services. Individual Learning Plans (ILP) are created for each student based on information gathered through the Language Assessment System (LAS Links). These plans are followed by the teachers to help the student to succeed in their classes during the school year. ESL gives students extra support on homework, make-up work, and testing. The ESL program offers an English class designed for those students that need to learn basic English. Skills such as note taking, writing, reading comprehension, and speaking are introduced in this class.

Academic Challenge(AC)/Pre-Advance Placement(AP) Program
The AC/Pre-AP Program provides services in the core subjects of science, social studies, English, and math. Differentiated instructional objectives for AC students emphasize the enrichment of the curriculum through the extension, application, and analysis of content, and the development of problem-solving strategies. Incoming seventh grade students are selected for the Academic Challenge Program by the Central Middle School Academic Review Committee. All seventh grade students must qualify for the Academic Challenge Program regardless of their participation in the elementary program. Students will be have the opportunity to be enrolled in Pre-AP course as an 8th grader that will prepare them for the AP course work they may take in high school.

Columbus Signature Academy-Central Campus
Columbus Signature Academy-Central Campus is a program designed to improve student 21st Century Skills. Focusing on information and communication skills, problem-solving, interpersonal and collaborative development, global awareness, and civic literacy, students will enhance their 21st Century Skills. While rooted in standards, teachers will develop projects that not only reinforce content areas (English, math, language arts, and science) but will enable students to define problems within our community (i.e., water and soil testing through a partnership with the Indiana State Museum) and most importantly solutions. Community organizations have been actively involved in providing students with feedback upon the presentation of solutions. CSA Central is part of a K-12 design which includes CSA Lincoln, CSA Fodrea and CSA High School.

Sports Teams (We offer 7th and 8th grade teams for most sports)
Fall Winter Spring
Football Basketball (Boys and Girls) Track ( Boys and Girls)
Volleyball Wrestling Golf (Boys and Girls)
Cross Country (Boys & Girls) Cheerleading
Tennis (Boys & Girls) Dance Team
Cheerleading
WWW.CMSCHARGERS.COM

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CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL CORE SUBJECTS

Mathematics

Pre-Algebra Prep
This course of study is designed to give students the fundamental skills necessary for success in a high school mathematics program. Students will progress through the curriculum of Indiana academic seventh grade standards. Upon completion of Pre-Algebra Prep the students will understand operations with integers and rational numbers; ratios and proportions; and graphing. Students who successfully complete Pre-Algebra Prep in grade 7 are eligible to take Pre-Algebra in grade 8 to develop a strong foundation of basic skills needed to be successful in Algebra 1 and the Core 40 Algebra exam in high school.

Pre-Algebra and Pre-Algebra (Honors)
This course of study is designed to give students the fundamental skills necessary for success in a high school mathematics program. Students will progress through a compacted curriculum of both the Pre-Algebra Indiana academic standards. Upon completion of Pre-Algebra the students will understand operations with integers and rational numbers; ratios and proportions; and writing, graphing, and solving linear equations and inequalities. Students who successfully complete Pre-Algebra in grade 7 are eligible to take Algebra I for high school credit in grade 8. Students that still need extra work in Pre-Algebra will take the course again in 8th grade to build a strong foundation of basic skills needed to be successful in Algebra 1 and the Core 40 Algebra exam. The honors classes will go into more depth and begin to explore Algebra I concepts.

Algebra 1 Honors (For High School Credit)
This course continues the study of many algebraic concepts introduced in the 7th grade Pre-algebra course. Students will further their ability to solve equations, graph and interpret the graph of equations, and apply the mathematics to everyday life and to workplace examples. Topics include real number operations, linear equations and inequalities, relations and functions, graphs of linear equations, linear inequalities, and quadratic equations, polynomials, algebraic fractions, and algebraic equations including quadratic equations, and radical equations. Throughout this course there will be an emphasis on applications, mathematical reasoning, problem solving and communication as well as the incorporation of technology. At the conclusion of this course students will complete the Indiana Department of Education Core 40 Algebra exam.

Social Studies
Seventh grade students study world cultures of India, Japan, Russia, China, Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and the Southwest Pacific. Students discover the impact the physical environment, religion, and technology have on these cultures today. In addition, students explore map reading, geography, and climates. In studying these areas, the social studies branches of history, sociology, political science, geography, and anthropology are examined. Growth in knowledge of world cultures is demonstrated through an appreciation of, respect for, and tolerance of, all forms of cultural differences.

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Language Arts
The seventh grade Language Arts teachers extend an invitation to all students to become confident, motivated readers and writers. Seventh graders read award-winning fiction and non-fiction literature selections by popular authors. With the language arts program comes cross-curricular activities with science, math, and social studies. The students also focus on skills such as making inferences, understanding story structure, literal meaning, textual clues, and literary conventions. Students engage in meaningful discussions of the literature themes. Personal responses and connections are celebrated in writing activities and individualized study. Grammar, usage, and mechanics are reviewed in the context of improving communication. Our writing program includes an intensive approach to research projects through the use of databases, the Internet, and other technology resources.

Science 7
Study Earth and its inhabitants during your time in 7th grade science. Students will begin the year with a review unit of basic science concepts such as measurement and the scientific method. They will also learn how to use basic science equipment. Students will then spend a semester learning about planet Earth and what it is made of (rocks and minerals), as well as how our planet’s surface changes (earthquakes and volcanoes). Second semester students will learn the differences between living and non-living things, study different types of cells and cell structure, and understand the concepts of genes and heredity. The year ends with an ecology unit focusing on world areas and their biomes, interactions among organisms, and conservation. Hands-on activities include inquiry and problem solving, model building, cooperative learning, technology use, group discussion, demonstrations, and writing opportunities for research and self expression. Interdisciplinary subject areas are incorporated whenever possible. This design allows us to meet the individual needs of students while aligning the curriculum with Indiana’s Academic Standards for science grade 7.

Academic Challenge Science
Academic Challenge Science Curriculum will be compacted and accelerated, covering all the power standards of both 7th and 8th grade except Biology. The 7th and 8th power standards included in the 7th grade are: The Scientific Method and Skills, Chemistry, Electricity & Magnetism, Waves Sound and Light, Forces and Motion, Earth and Space Science. Then in the 8th grade, AC students will be engaged in a High School Biology Lab Course. The advantage of this approach is to provide needed Science Challenge in the 7th and 8th grades and to allow students to take more advanced level Science Courses in High School.

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EXPLORATORY COURSES

Exploratory courses are an integral part of the middle school curriculum. These courses provide students with meaningful learning that directly relates to the need young adolescents have for a wide variety of experiences. The exploratory program at Central Middle School is designed to offer many opportunities and experiences for students. During their time at CMS, students may receive standards-based instruction in Art, PE, Health, Family & Consumer Sciences, and Technology Ed. All students will be offered two periods of the exploratory rotation daily. Students will rotate between these classes in nine week intervals.

Physical Education
Middle School physical education provides experiences through which students develop knowledge and skills in cardio-respiratory endurance, flexibility, and muscular strength and endurance. Students participate in various lifetime recreational activities and sports such as flag football, table tennis, yoga/pilates, badminton, ultimate frisbee, basketball, volleyball, floor hockey, soccer, and track and field. Students improve their own
fitness level through daily stretches, runs, and flexibility activities. P.E.
provides a wide range of activities designed to develop coordination,
teamwork, individual responsibility, and a desire for fitness.

FitSmart and Active Life
FitSmart introduces students to the benefits of improved fitness and its effect on physical, mental, and social health. Outlining benefits associated with improved physical conditioning is not without the application of fitness principles, providing students with the skills necessary to address their current and prospective fitness needs. FitSmart courses additionally address nutritional content and the skills commensurate with a healthy, nutritionally-conscientious consumer.
Active Life focuses on the human body by basing all of our activities on the elements of fitness. We have a weekly schedule focusing on these needs. Our goal is that we learn different activities that relate to these areas, then we can apply them lifelong.

Health
Health knowledge will give students information and help them understand the difference between healthful behaviors and risky behaviors. Seventh grade health topics include self-image, goal setting, substance abuse (alcohol and tobacco), personal health (body systems), abuse and violence, and first aid and safety.

Family and Consumer Sciences
Have you ever made something yourself? How did you feel? The feeling you receive from saying, “Look, I made it myself!” is one of satisfaction and a sign of maturity. As you enter the world of technology, you will experience developing power point presentations, spreadsheets, budgets, and various other projects. You may prepare and eat nutritious foods, become aware of your health and fitness, design a business, choose a career, decorate a home, learn to shop, and complete numerous activities. You can do all of this with the assistance of a computer. You will apply what you have learned, explore new knowledge, and expand your own abilities in Family and Consumer Sciences.

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Technology Education
This course is based on the Synergistic Modules from Pitsco Education. The Synergistic Modules are a computer based, multimedia content delivery system. Providing instruction and hands on activities in eleven different content areas. In this course, students will work through modules in seven to eight sessions (class periods) gaining content information and performing experiments and hands-on activities designed to reinforce understanding of basic concepts of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). In addition, this class will provide an introduction into technology. er paths.

Art
Art explores several two dimension and three dimension art forms, including painting, drawing, paper mache, computer art, and ceramics. Students are introduced to various types of art in history, as well as within the community. Students examine art and learn an appreciation for and an understanding of the ideas, symbols, meaning, and cultural diversity represented in artwork. Also, an introduction to the elements of art and art vocabulary will lead to the acknowledgement of art that is present in each student’s life.

Literacy Lab
Literacy Lab is a nine-week course designed to improve the reading and writing skills of struggling students. Within this course students will complete assessments of their current abilities and improve upon areas of weakness. Daily graduated reading assignments will foster growth by addressing the following skills: decoding, using context clues, locating the main idea, making inferences, factual recall, and scanning skills. This course will give students confidence and cultivate enjoyment in reading.
While improving their reading abilities, students will also address their writing skills. Students will examine the basic components of complete paragraph writing on their way to creating organized and powerful five paragraph essays. Students will demonstrate critical thinking through individual personal responses to non-fictional current event articles. They will write weekly personal reflections, summarizing the main ideas, giving personal opinions, and gathering knowledge and vocabulary for both comprehension and expression. A greater focus on grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, paragraph form, and essay writing will better prepare them for written responses on ISTEP and variant writing forms they may encounter in the future.

** High School Courses for Credit and Retake Course
The grading practices for high school courses and credit completed at the middle schools will be consistent at both the high school and the middle school level and will reflect the actual grade earned at the middle school. The grade earned at the middle school will be the grade that is transferred to the high school with the credit and will be the grade that is reported on the student's high school transcript.
A course can be retaken if the original grade is a C+ or lower. The original grade will remain on the transcript. The second grade will appear on the transcript. The higher of the two grades will be figured in the GPA and class rank. The lower grade will show on the transcript as an audit. This includes high school credits earned during middle school.

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Elective Courses

Elective courses offered in grade seven include Band, Choir, and Strings. Students do NOT have to select an elective class. If there is enough student interest (i.e., 20—25 students) the elective course will be staffed. Students who elect to participate in an elective will have one period of the exploratory rotation daily.

Band
Band classes are designed to teach intermediate level musicians comprehensive musicianship through performance. Band students have an opportunity to perform in Indiana’s annual solo and ensemble festival. Attendance at all scheduled band concerts is a course requirement . All band students are encouraged to enroll in summer band. It is a free course which meets for one hour daily for about five weeks, beginning in early June. Summer band includes courses for both beginners and experienced students and culminates in a summer concert.

Choir
Middle School Chorus is designed to expose students to singing in the choral tradition. Emphasis is placed on performance through learning sight-reading, musical style and interpretation, and vocal and choral techniques. Increasing each students’ enjoyment in music is an important goal of the course. Concerts and competitions will give choir members the chance to show off their skills. Whether you have sung in choir before or not, Central Middle School choir will be the start of a great musical experience!

Strings
Strings at Central Middle School is an exciting program. Students enjoy playing in a wide variety of concerts, competitions, and festivals. Strings instruction develops strong skills on violin, viola, cello, or string bass. These instruments may be rented and do not need to be purchased. Strings is for those who are interested in being “the best of the best.” Whether you have played before, or want to learn how, there is a place for you in Strings!

World Languages (For High School Credit)
Spanish and French
These courses are offered to both 7th and 8th grade students. Eligible 7th graders must have earned a B- or higher in both their English and Math classes in 6th grade. 8th graders must have earned a C or higher in their English class in 7th grade for both semesters.
Students are introduced to basic vocabulary and structures for reading, writing, speaking and understanding elementary words that deal with everyday life. The course provides the student with an opportunity to: 1) understand and use vocabulary appropriate to situations encountered in daily life, 2) ask and answer simple questions related to his interests and needs, 3) read short narrative texts, 4) write familiar words and phrases pertaining to daily routines, 5) become familiar with cultural similarities and differences, and 6) learn appropriate ways to respond in conversational settings.