5th to 6th Grade Course Guide

Folks MS will be hosting an elective night for our incoming 6th grade students and their parents. 💙💙WE CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU!!!💙💙

Event Information

6TH GRADE ELECTIVE NIGHT

When?

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025, 05:45 PM

Where?

Dr. John Folks Middle School, Swayback Ranch, San Antonio, TX, USA

location_on Open maps

In November Folks counselors will be visiting with our 5th graders during our Folks Transition Camps to present information about Folks Middle School and the course selection process. We can't wait to meet our future Stallions!!!💙

Non-Feeder Campus RSVP for our 6th Grade Folks Transition Camp

We welcome our non-feeder incoming 6th graders to attend our transition camp in November (insert date). Non- Feeder campus students will need transportation to and from Folks. Students will need to be dropped off by 9:00 am and picked up by 11:00am. You may stay and tour with your student or wait on them if you would like to. Only submit RSVP below if your student will attend our camp:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUx6ldFcYz6G8kniKjrOqBPE3U_tvB0No7a6yWcZFTDDhkWA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Current 5th graders will enroll in each of the following courses for 6th grade:

ELA or *Advanced ELA (90 minute block)
Math or Advanced Math
Science
World Cultures
PE: Fitness and Team Sports / Healthy Habits (1 semester each)
***Advisory, AVID (application & interview process required) or Innovative Thinkers 1 (Gifted & Talented students only)
Fine Arts Elective Course

*Students who select Advanced ELA must complete a summer reading project.

(Summer Project Info Attached Below)

**Healthy Habits is a semester course taken to empower 6th grade students to maintain and improve their health and wellness by developing skills, attitudes, and knowledge necessary to be successful in middle school. Students will take 1 semester of Healthy Habits and 1 semester of PE: Fitness and Team Sports.

***Advisory supports students as they transition to middle school. Advisory is designed to encourage students to develop intellectually and strive for personal excellence through goal setting, character education, and academic support.

District Summer Reading Site

Northside Middle School students have access to various Advanced academic courses, starting in 6th grade with Advanced ELA and/or Advanced Math.

Advanced courses are crucial for college, career, military readiness. Students who take these rigorous classes are more likely to earn a bachelor's degree and often achieve higher grades in college. Northside ISD values this path and encourages students to graduate high school with at least one Advanced Placement (AP) credit.

These courses are designed to challenge students and build essential skills:

Literacy
Problem-solving
Analysis

Through complex learning tasks and rigorous instruction, these middle school classes prepare students for success in future Advanced, AP, and college-level coursework.

NISD MS Math Pathways

Click here for steps that lead to the High School Credit Course, Advanced Algebra I in 8th Grade

AVID 6 is an elective course that replaces the standard advisory period, designed to prepare students for college success.

What AVID Offers:

Students receive instruction that utilizes a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum focusing on:

Academic Success Skills
Motivational Activities
Tutor-Facilitated Study Groups

AVID activities incorporate strategies that support academic growth in Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading.

Enrollment Requirements & Application

Enrollment in AVID 6 requires the following:

Prerequisite: The student must be enrolled in at least one Advanced ELA and/or Advanced Math course.
Application/Screening: Students must complete an application and an interview with the AVID teacher. This process takes place in the spring.

The Student AVID Application is available below, and students MUST log in using their NISD EMAIL to complete it. The application is due by January 16, 2026.

For any questions, please contact ashley.purtell@nisd.net.

6th grade GT students will take Innovative Thinkers 1 instead of advisory.

In addition to Innovative Thinkers 1, students may also select Advanced ELA and Advanced Math courses in which both enrichment and acceleration opportunities are available.

For more information on this course or to request for your child to be tested for Gifted & Talented in 6th grade, please contact our middle school GT Specialist: carolyn.dennis@nisd.net

New to Northside GT Transfer Referral: Summer online parent referral link closed at this time

Online Parent Referral deadline: July 25, 2025

GT link to the referral page: PARENT REFERRAL LINK

Gifted & Talented

Sixth graders will take one fine arts elective course for the entire school year.

Elective Selection--While you will select your first choice, we cannot guarantee placement in a specific elective due to class size and teacher assignments. For this reason, you must also select one alternate elective choice.

Elective Options:

Beginner Band (Requires an appointment for instrument selection)
Beginner Orchestra
Intermediate Orchestra (Only for students who participated in the elementary STRINGS Program)
Beginner Choir
Beginner Theatre Arts
Dance 1
Beginner Art

Beginner Band Level is designed to teach students how to play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. No prior music experience or knowledge is required. Students will learn to read music, produce good tone quality, learn rhythm skills, and perform music. Students can develop skills at their own pace. Band concerts allow students to experience live performance. Students earn awards for individual outstanding skill mastery.

Instructor: Carolyn Ireland -- carolyn.ireland@nisd.net

Instructor: John Hernandez -- john.hernandez@nisd.net

Please contact instructor at (210) 398-1650 to schedule an appointment for instrument selection.

The Beginning Orchestra course is designed to teach students how to play violin, viola, cello, or bass. No prior musical experience required. Students learn correct posture and bow hold, how to read music, good tone quality, and rhythmic skills. Students build skills at their own pace. Students explore a variety of musical genres and styles. Students can develop skills at their own pace. Orchestra concerts allow students to experience live performance. Students earn awards for individual outstanding skill mastery.

Instructor: Sydney Castillo -- sydney.castillo@nisd.net

The Intermediate Orchestra course is designed to continue developing fundamental musical skills and string techniques introduced in the beginning class, as well as new skills on violin, viola, cello, or bass. Students build skills at their own pace. Orchestra literature is more advanced, promoting increased teamwork, kinesthetic development, expression, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Orchestra concerts include music of all styles. Students earn awards for individual and ensemble mastery of skills.

*6th graders may enroll in Intermediate Orchestra if they are currently enrolled in 5th grade strings.

Prerequisite: Beginner Orchestra

Instructor: Sydney Castillo -- sydney.castillo@nisd.net

This course is designed to teach students how to sing properly. No prior music experience or knowledge is required. Girls are assigned to the Treble Choir and boys are assigned to the Tenor Bass Choir. Students learn to read music, produce good tone quality, learn rhythm skills, and perform. Students can develop skills at their own pace. Choir concerts allow students to experience live performance. Students earn awards for individual outstanding skill mastery.

Instructor: Greg Garcia -- gregory-1.garcia@nisd.net

Beginner Theatre is an introductory theatre course designed for the student to experience the basic elements of drama. No previous theatre or drama experience is required. Beginning acting and technical theatre techniques will be explored along with the basic skills needed to create a theatrical performance.

Instructor: Hallie Borden -- hallie.borden@nisd.net

The first dance course in middle school is designed to give students the opportunity to develop and execute beginner skills in ballet, jazz, tap, modern dance, musical theatre dance, and world dance forms. Various dance genres and styles will be explored while improving students’ technique, self-confidence, creative ability, and concept of wellness. Dance students will have ensemble performance opportunities. No prior dance experience is required.

Instructor: Brittany Mapel -- brittany.mapel@nisd.net

Beginner Art MS 1 is concept-based. Curriculum units include drawing, painting, printmaking, three-dimensional art forms, fiber, and digital art. Content will include student originality and creativity.

Instructors:

Mikayla Mauricio -- mikayla.mauricio@nisd.net

Jennifer Recio -- jennifer.recio@nisd.net

5th-grade students will select their 6th-grade courses and electives on their planning guide and enter them into HAC (Home Access Center) with their elementary counselors between December 1 and January 9.

The Complete NISD MS Course Catalog

Most of our students will feed into Folks Middle School. However, there are now 5 Northside Magnet Middle Schools that students may apply for. The purpose of the magnet school program includes:

Prepare students for higher education and future careers.
Align to high-demand, high-wage job opportunities.
Provide access, challenge differentiation to meet the needs of all students.