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8th Grade Curriculum Night

Class of 2031

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MERHS School Counseling Team

Ms. Polk

Mr. Conwell

Ms. Buckner

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MERHS SUBJECT DEPARTMENT HEADS

MATH - Courtney Brown

SCIENCE - Kristi Umilie

HISTORY - Lauren DuBois

ENGLISH - Debra Isensee

WORLD LANGUAGE - Michelle Magana

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS - Harry Wagg

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What We Do

Academic

  • Scheduling
  • Monitor Graduation Requirements
  • Work with you in communicating with teachers

Post Secondary Planning

  • Facilitate the process of planning life after high school: college, trade school, gap year, work, military

Social Emotional Support

  • Offer Check Ins
  • Offer a space to regroup when having a tough day

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Graduation Requirements

Math - 4 Years

English - 4 Years

History/Social Studies - 3 Years

Science - 3 Years

World Language - 2 Years (Same Language)

PE/Health - 2 Years - Fitness - 2 Years

Visual or Performing Arts - 1 Semester

Digital Media Literacy/Civic Action Project - 1 Semester

40 Hours of Community Service

Senior SCORE Project

110 Credits

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Course

9th Grade

10th Grade

11th Grade

12th Grade

Math

Algebra I or Geometry

Geometry or Algebra II

Algebra II or PreCalculus

PreCalculus,

Calculus,Stats,QR

English

English 9

English 10

English 11 or AP English Lang.

English Electives or AP English Lit

History/Social Studies

World History

US History I

US History II

Electives

Science

Biology

Chemistry

Physics or Elective

Physics or Elective

World Language

Required to take two years of the same language

PE/Health/Fitness

Health & PE

Health & PE

Fitness

Fitness

Electives

5 Credits

Elective credits based on course load

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Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

7:45-8:40

A

G

F

E

D

C

B

8:44-9:39

B

A

G

F

E

D

C

9:43-10:33

U-Block

U-Block

U-Block

U-Block

U-Block

U-Block

U-Block

10:37-11:37

D

C

B

A

G

F

E

11:41-1:11

E & Lunch

D & Lunch

C & Lunch

B & Lunch

A & Lunch

G & Lunch

F & Lunch

1:15-2:15

F

E

D

C

B

A

G

Drop

C

B

A

D

C

B

A

Drop

G

F

E

G

F

E

D

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7:45-8:40

A - English 9 CP

8:44-9:39

B - Biology CP

9:43-10:33

U-BLOCK (or Band/Chorus)

10:37-11:37

D - Semester 1: Intro to Coding Semester 2: Health & PE

11:41-1:11

E - Algebra 1 H

1:15-2:15

F - Spanish II H

Drop

C - Semester 1: Digital Media Literacy Semester 2: Art Lab I

Drop

G - World History CP

Sample Day 1 Freshman Year Schedule

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Pick your 5 core courses. If recommended for CP, pick CP.

If recommended for Honors, you can choose CP or Honors.

Pick Health & PE

Pick Digital Media Literacy

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Pick at least 2 back up choices

Add anything you want your counselor to know! An example is chorus/band.

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Getting on Aspen

  • Log into your Student Portal, reach out to Mrs. Buckner if you cannot access your Aspen account, buckners@mersd.org
  • Click on “My Info”
  • Click “Requests” on the left hand side

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Music

  • Concert Band
  • Chorus
  • Instrumental lab
  • Contemporary Music Ensemble
  • Songwriting
  • Jazz Band
  • A Capella

Science

  • Environmental Health and Society
  • Environmental Action

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Art

  • Art Lab
  • Ceramics
  • Digital Photo I
  • Digital Photo II
  • Video Filmmaking
  • Digital Art & Graphic Design

English

  • Creative Writing
  • Drama
  • Public Speaking

Engineering/Computer

  • Intro to Coding
  • Intro to Robotics & CAD
  • Game Design
  • Python

Social Studies

  • Digital Media Literacy
  • Evidence Based Argumentation
  • Diverse American Stories

Elective Options for 9th Graders

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Reminders

  • You may not get all of the electives you want and that is OK! Try something new, you may discover a hidden talent or passion

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  • If your schedule is not what you want it to be, DO NOT PANIC! Reach out to your high school counselor. We will do our best to get as close to what you want as possible.

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  • High school students are responsible for their own laptop/devices. MERHS does not supply devices.