5th to 6th Grade Transition Guide

2024-2025

Opportunities to visit the campus

DIGIFEST

Incoming 6th graders are invited to join our DIGIFEST at Folks on Nov. 14th!

Incoming 6th Grade Student and Parent Elective Night:

On November 28th, Folks will be holding a 5th grade parent meeting and elective night at Folks.

Incoming 6th grade students visit for Folks Transition Camp:

Folks counselors will be visiting with our 5th graders during our Folks Camps to present to them about Folks and the middle school transition process.

5th to 6th Course Registration Selection

Between December 4th-January 12th 5th grade students will be selecting their 6th grade courses and electives on their planning guide and entering selections into HAC with their elementary campus counselors.

6th Grade Course Selections

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

ELA or *Advanced ELA (90 minute block)
Math or Accelerated Math (Must take Accelerated to be in Advanced MS Algebra 1 in 8th Grade)
Science
Social Studies
PE: Fitness and Team Sports / Healthy Habits (1 semester each)
***Advisory or Robotics (application process required) or AVID (application & interview process required) or Innovative Thinkers 1 (GT 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.

Summer Reading Resources for Advanced ELA

Here are some great resources to help your child find a great book to read this summer! If your child is in advanced ELA, he or she may choose any book that they want. Students should be prepared to discuss the book and complete a project. Questions?

8th grade: darlene.pena-clark@nisd.net

7th grade: elysia.carrizales@nisd.net

6th grade: annette.alcaraz@nisd.net

Librarian: frances.ingram@nisd.net

Folks MS ELA Coordinator: lauren.west@nisd.net

Need help finding the right book?

A Book and a Hug

Teen Book Finder

Good Reads Choice Awards:

Young Adult Fiction

Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction

Best Middle Grade & Children’s

Reading Lists from the Texas Library Association

Tejas Star List

Lone Star List

Maverick Graphic Novel List

Texas Topaz List

American Library Association Award Winning Books

Notable Children’s Books

Coretta Scott King Book Awards

John Newbery Medal Winners

Michael L.Printz Awards

Teens Top Ten

Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers

Great Graphic Novels for Teens

Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults

Advanced Courses

6th graders have two Advanced options: Advanced ELA and/or Accelerated Math.

Northside offers many Advanced courses to middle school students. Participation in advanced academic courses is a foundation of college readiness. Students who participate in advanced coursework are more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree in college and typically have higher grades in college.

Northside ISD recognizes the value of student participation in rigorous academic coursework and encourages students to graduate from high school with at least one advanced academic course credit such as Advanced Placement. Our collective purpose is to ensure

student success in middle school Advanced courses and provide opportunities for higher levels of learning in future grades.

Advanced courses are intended to develop students’ literacy, problem-solving skills, and analysis. These middle school classes are designed to challenge students through rigorous instruction and complex learning tasks in order to prepare them for success in future Advanced classes, AP classes, and college courses.

***If you would like for your student to enroll in Advanced MS Algebra 1 in 8th grade and earn high school credit, your student must follow the sequence below:

NISD MS Math Pathways

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

Courses to take in lieu of Advisory

AVID

AVID 6 is an academic elective course taken in lieu of advisory that prepares students for college readiness and success. Each week, students receive instruction utilizing a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, tutor-facilitated study groups, motivational activities, and academic success skills. In AVID, students participate in activities that incorporate strategies focused on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading to support their academic growth.

***Prerequisite: Application and Interview Process in the Spring and must take an Advanced ELA and/or Accelerated Math academic course.

Student AVID Application Link: https://forms.gle/kiXCgHAWC7at6iwg6

(Students MUST log in using their NISD EMAIL to complete application)

Robotics

Folks Middle School is proud to offer our First Lego League Robotics Competition Team, an elective class alternative to a 6th grade Advisory class! We are an award-winning team of motivated students who design, build, and program LEGO robots, and we work on team building and leadership skills while collaborating to find innovative solutions to world-wide problems.

Do you like to solve puzzles? Do you like to work with your peers? Are you looking for a challenge? If you have experience with your school's FLL Robotics after school activity, that's a plus.

The Folks Robotics Class may be for you!

*Application required. *** Application deadline is Feb 23, 2024!!!

Lego Robotics Class 2024-2025 Application

Please contact alex.decker@nisd.net for inquiries.

Innovative Thinkers 1: Gifted & Talented Students in Middle School

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 Accelerated 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

Summer GT Testing Information

New to NISD GT Transfer Referral

northside.projectedu.net

6th Grade Electives

6th graders will have one elective class and will be in this class for the entire school year. Due to class sizes and teacher assignments, Folks cannot guarantee a student's first choice. Students will select one alternate elective course for this reason.

6th Grade Elective Options:

Beginner Band (appointments for instrument selection required)
Beginner Orchestra
Intermediate Orchestra (for students in the elementary STRINGS Program)
Beginner Choir
Beginner Theatre Arts
Dance 1
Beginner Art

Elective Descriptions

Beginner Band #6017

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.

Beginner Orchestra #6079

Beginner Orchestra Level is designed to teach students how to play a violin, viola, cello, or string bass 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. Orchestra concerts allow students to experience live performance. Students earn awards for individual outstanding skill mastery.

Instructor: Amber Kober -- amber.kober@nisd.net

Intermediate Orchestra #6086

Orchestra Intermediate Level is designed for students to continue developing music fundamentals on violin, viola, cello, and string bass instruments introduced in

the beginner level class. Orchestra literature is more advanced and promotes 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 only enroll in intermediate orchestra if they are currently in 5th grade strings.

Instructor: Amber Kober -- amber.kober@nisd.net

Beginner Treble Choir #6401 or Beginner Tenor/Bass #6402

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 Arts #6609

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

Dance 1 #6810

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 #6910

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

6th Grade Planning Guide

5th to 6th Course Registration Selection Window-- (December 4 - January 12)

In the upcoming weeks your student will bring home a course selection planning guide where they will be choosing their courses for 6th grade. Attached is a video link to help you navigate this process with your child. We can't wait to work with your Stallion next year!

6th Grade Course Selection Video

NISD MS Course Catalog

The Complete NISD MS Course Catalog

NORTHSIDE MAGNET MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Most of our students will feed into Folks Middle School. However, there are now 3 Northside Magnet 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.

Application Timeline:

November 27, 2023: Online application opens
January 16, 2024: Deadline to submit applications
January 26, 2024: Acceptance/waitlist letters sent to students
February 9, 2024: Deadline for families to accept/decline

Magnet Fairs:

December 4, 2023: Northside Sports Gym (6:30-8:00 pm)
December 11, 2023:
- Paul Taylor Field House for High School Magnets (6:30-8:00 pm)
- Northside Activity Center for Middle School Magnets (6:30-8:00 pm)