6th to 7th Grade Course Guide

Counselors will be meeting with our students through their ELA class to help them make course selections for next year. A copy of their planning guide with courses students selected will be coming home for parent review. Please check those backpacks, parents!

📚 Core Courses

All students will enroll in four core areas. Advanced placement in Math and ELA has specific prerequisites:

English Language Arts (ELA): Choose ELA (90-minute block), Advanced ELA (90-minute block), or Advanced ELA GT and Innovative Thinkers 2 (two 45-minute courses for GT students only).
- Note: Students selecting Advanced ELA must complete a summer reading project.
Math: Choose Math, Advanced Pre-Algebra, or Math Bridge I.
- Advanced Pre-Algebra requires successful completion of Advanced Math in 6th grade.
- Math Bridge I (90-minute block) is for students who did not take Accelerated Math in 6th grade but plan to take High School Algebra 1 in 8th grade. It will replace one elective.
Science: Choose Science or Advanced Science.
Texas History: Choose Texas History or Advanced Texas History.

🏃 Physical Education (PE) & Electives

Students will select a PE option, a required elective, and a final course slot based on STAAR results:

PE Course: Choose one:
- Movement for Lifelong Fitness
- Dance 1 PE
- Dance 2 PE (Requires successful completion of Dance 1)
- Athletics (Requires coach's approval)
Elective Course: One elective is required.
Final Course Slot: This will be either an Intervention course (based on STAAR results) or a second Elective Course.

📋 Athletics Eligibility Contact

For questions regarding Athletics eligibility, please contact the respective head coaches:

Girl's Coach: desirae.villa@nisd.net
Boy's Coach: hank.hennig@nisd.net

District Summer Reading Site

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Northside Middle School students have access to various Advanced academic courses. 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.

7th grade GT students will take Innovative Thinkers 2 (45 minutes) and Advanced ELA GT (45 minutes) instead of Advanced ELA (90-minute block).

In addition to Innovative Thinkers 2, students may also select Advanced Pre-Algebra, Advanced Science and Advanced Texas History 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 GT, 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

🎭 7th Grade Electives Overview

Number of Electives: 7th graders will have one required elective and a second slot that will be either an Intervention course (based on STAAR results) or a second elective. Both placements are for the full school year.
Selection Process: Due to scheduling constraints and class sizes, students must select two alternate electives.

Important: Students are not guaranteed their first-choice elective. All choices are subject to availability.

Available Elective Courses

Band Beginner 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

Band Intermediate Level is designed for students to continue developing music fundamentals on woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments introduced in the beginner level class. Students build skills at their own pace. Band literature is more advanced and promotes increased teamwork, kinesthetic development, expression, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Band concerts include music of all styles. Students earn awards for individual and ensemble mastery of skills.

***Prerequisite: Beginner Band

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

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

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

The Advanced Orchestra course is designed for students to apply sound music fundamentals and string technique on violin, viola, cello, and bass to music of all styles. Students build skills at their own pace. Orchestra literature is advanced and promotes extensive collaboration, expression, creativity, and problem-solving techniques. Students engage in multiple concerts. Students earn awards for individual and ensemble mastery of skills.

***Class Placement is determined by the director.

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

This course is designed for students to continue developing music fundamentals and singing skills introduced in the beginner level class. Students build skills at their own pace. Choral literature is more advanced and promotes increased teamwork, development of vocal tone quality and range, expression, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Choir concerts include music of all styles. Students earn awards for individual and ensemble mastery of skills.

***Prerequisite: Beginner Treble Choir (girls) or Beginner Tenor Choir (boys)

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

Intermediate Theatre is a more in-depth study of theatre where students continue to build upon skills learned in Theatre 1. Students are introduced to additional skills that are necessary to become a theatre artist. Dramatic structure, acting, and technical elements are expanded in both production and scene studies.

***Prerequisite: Beginner Theatre

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.

*Middle School Dance may be taken as an elective or as a fulfillment of the PE requirement. Students who wish to use MS Dance to fulfill the PE requirement should NOT enroll in this course, but should rather enroll in Dance MS 1 PE (#5091)

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

The second of three sequential dance courses, Dance MS 2 is designed to give students the opportunity to develop and execute intermediate skills in ballet, jazz, tap, modern dance, musical theatre dance, and world dance forms. Various dance genres and styles will be explored while improving their technique, self-confidence, creative ability, and concept of wellness. Dance students will have ensemble performance opportunities.

***Prerequisite: Dance MS 1

*Middle School Dance may be taken as an elective, or as a fulfillment of the PE requirement. Students who wish to use MS Dance to fulfill the PE requirement should NOT enroll in this course, but should rather enroll in Dance MS 2 PE (#5092)

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

Intermediate Art MS 2 is concept-based and curriculum units build student skills developed in Beginner Art 1. Curriculum includes drawing, painting, printmaking, fiber art, three-dimensional art forms, and digital art. Development of artistic originality, creativity, and study of artists and art periods is incorporated.

***Prerequisite: Beginner Art MS 1

Instructor: Jennifer Recio -- jennifer.recio@nisd.net

Instructor: Mikayla Mauricio -- mikayla.mauricio@nisd.net

(Public & Business Services Related Careers) - This is a lab- and project-based course in which students will participate in experiences that model real-world industries. The goal of this course is to create a foundation for success in high school, future studies, and careers in Business, Industry, and Public Service. Career and Technical Education clusters addressed include Agriculture, Business/Finance, Culinary, Education, Fashion, Health Science, and Marketing. Students will research labor market information, learn job-seeking skills, and practice professional communication skills. Career and Technical Education instruction provides content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed in current or emerging professions. This course can be taken in 7th or 8th grade.

***Prerequisite: None (You can take this course in 7th grade or wait until 8th grade)

Instructor: Priscilla Prather -- priscilla.prather@nisd.net

STEM Future Lab 7 (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Related Careers) - This is a lab- and project-based course in which students will participate in experiences that model real-world industries. The goal of this course is to create a foundation for success in high school, future studies, and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Career and Technical Education clusters addressed include Architecture, Arts & Audio Video, Construction, Engineering, Information Technology (Cyber), Law (Forensics), Manufacturing, and Transportation (Automotive). Students will research labor market information, learn job-seeking skills, and practice professional communication skills. Career and Technical Education instruction provides content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed in current or emerging professions. This course can be taken in 7th or 8th grade.

***Prerequisite: None (You can take this course in 7th grade or wait until 8th grade)

Instructor: Andy Vasquez -- andy.vasquez@nisd.net

Instructor: Ruben Pola -- ruben.pola@nisd.net

This course is designed to introduce students to mass media, advertising, marketing, and photography. Students study the basic features of journalism and newspaper and/or yearbook production, freedom and responsibility of the press, career opportunities in mass communications, and specialized writing.

***Prerequisite: Application with Teacher Recommendation

*Application Required--For inquiries contact Mr. Saenz in room A222

***Application deadline - 3/6/2026

Instructor: Seth Saenz -- seth.saenz@nisd.net

This course provides the study of current print and digital trends in yearbook design, layout, and publishing in order to develop and produce the school yearbook. Coursework includes gathering and analyzing information, photography, and specialized writing.

*Application Required--for inquiries contact Mrs. Bailey in room A253

Application Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F3WVJmfDIbCfmq_sxqK5YCEBlFnNn7K68Syj1yE1B_M/edit?usp=sharing

***Application deadline - 2/27/2026

Instructor: Michele Bailey -- michele.bailey@nisd.net

🎓AVID 7 is an academic elective course designed to prepare students for college readiness and success.

Focus: The curriculum focuses on developing academic success skills using strategies in Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading.
Weekly Activities: Students participate in rigorous, college-preparatory instruction, tutor-facilitated study groups, motivational activities, and academic skill-building.

Requirements

Prerequisites: Enrollment requires a successful application and interview process.
Advanced Course Requirement: Students must be enrolled in at least one advanced academic course from the following list:
- Advanced ELA
- Advanced Pre-Algebra or Math Bridge I
- Advanced Science
- Advanced Texas History

Application Information

The student AVID application is now available. Students MUST use their NISD email address to complete the application. The application deadline is 3/6/2026.

Please contact ashley.purtell@nisd.net for inquires.

This course is for non-native speakers. This course focuses on developing speaking and listening comprehension skills. Students are exposed to basic reading and writing skills. Students are introduced to the people, their customs, and other aspects of their culture. Students have the opportunity to work in pairs and small groups to role play real-life situations using the target language.

***Prerequisite: None

Students who successfully complete Spanish 1 will earn 1.0 high school credit.

Instructors:

Maria Ayala - maria.ayala@nisd.net

Karla Campos - karla.campos@nisd.net

Humberto Garcia - humberto.garcia@nisd.net

Mariana Monarrez - mariana.monarrez@nisd.net