Arnaudville Elementary

8th Grade Parent Handbook

2013 – 2014

approved by _______

Notes

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Dates to Remember

February 18: Bio-Med Parent Meeting

February 21: Box Tops for Education Due

March 10 – 14: Explore Test

March 18: Phase I Leap Test

April 7 – 10: Phase II Leap Test

April 11: Field Trip Balance Due

May 1 – 2: Beta Convention

May 8: Field Trip to Galveston, Tx.

May 9: Spring Fest

May 27: 8th Grade Class Night

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Table of Contents

Promotional Requirements.................... 2

LEAP Test Dates................................ .. 3

Tech Prep Activities............................. 4

Beau Chene Contacts......................... ..6

8th Grade Class Trip.......................... 8

8th Grade Class Night......................... 10

Calendar of Events............................ 12

Notes ..............................................13

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Dates to Remember

November 1 – December 3: AVON Fundraiser

November 14: Beta Induction @ 6:00 p.m.

November 15 – 21: Book Fair in Library

November 22 – December 19: Gumbo Raffle

December 2 – 13: Candy Cane Gram Sales

December 5: AES Band plays Acadian Village

December 13: Field Trip Deposit Due

January 23: Community Coffee Labels Due

January 31: Job Shadowing

February 3 – 26: Mardi Gras Crawfish Raffle

February 13: 7th & 8th Bio-Med Trip

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The morning of May 27th, students will report to school at the regular time. Following morning announcements, students will have a special breakfast at school.

Following the breakfast, students will report tothe gym for a required class night practicesession.

Upon completion of practice, students will be dismissed. Dismissal will be at approximately 11:00 AM. Students are not allowed to check themselves out and leave campus on their own. They must be checked out by parents or by another adult.

Other adults checking out students must be at least 18 years old and have a written note from the parent. Students without rides may remain at school until their bus arrives at the end of the school day.

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Promotional RequirementsThe parish grading scale for the 2013 - 2014 school year as follows:

Grade Percentage Quality PointsA 100 - 93 4 pointsB 92 - 85 3 pointsC 84 - 75 2 pointsD 74 - 67 1 pointF 66 - 0 0 points

To be considered for promotion at the end of the year, students must earn an average of at least 6 quality points (D) in reading, math, English, science, and social studies. In addition, they must earn at least a D during the last six weeks grading period in reading, math, English, science, and social studies.

Students must take and pass the state-required 8th grade LEAP and score at or above the Basic/Approaching Basic combination in ELA and Math to be promoted to the next grade level.

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Eighth Grade Class NightThe eighth grade class night is scheduled for

May 27, 2014. The program will be held in the

AES gym and should last about 90 minutes. All

8th grade students are expected to attend.

Student Dress Code for Class Night

BOYS: • Button-down shirt

• Slacks (no jeans) and a belt

• Tie

• Dress Shoes and socks (no tennis shoes)

GIRLS: • Dress, slacks, or skirt outfit (top must be tucked in or top must overlap the pants or skirt at the waist by at least 3

inches)

• Dress (a dress that is strapless, has a halter top or spaghetti straps can only be worn with a jacket worn over the dress)

• Dress or skirt length may not be

more than 3 inches above the knee

• Dress Shoes (No flip flops or tennis shoes)

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LEAP Test Schedule

All students in grade 8 must take and pass the state-required LEAP test in language arts and mathematics. Students must also take the LEAP in social studies and science. The state grade level tests in language arts (English and Reading) and mathematics are a principal criteria for promotion to high school.

Eighth grade students will take the LEAP testin Spring 2014 on the following dates:

• Phase I testing (writing and math constructed response) is scheduled for March 18th.

• Phase II testing (the remaining sections of ELA and math, plus science and social studies) is scheduled for April 7 – 10

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Tech Prep Activities

Tech Prep is a program that St. Landry Parish

Schools use in helping our students prepare

for choices they make beyond high school.

Tech Prep activities provide opportunities for

students to explore options available to

them. Tech Prep activities include:

1. Developing a Five-Year Plan

2. Job Shadowing

Five-Year Plan of Study

After LEAP testing, 8th grade teachers meet

with students to discuss choices students are

faced with during the next five years (four

years of high school and the first year after

high school graduation). Students will create

a five-year plan at school. This can be

changed at home over the years to reflect

the students' goals as they may change.

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Additional Requirements for trip:

1) Based on report card grades from the first 5 grading periods, students must have a minimum of 5 quality points in each of the following subjects: English, math, reading, science, and social studies.

2) Students must not have more than 10 unexcused absences for the school year (up to the day of the class trip).

3) Students with out-of-school suspensions during the 2013 - 2014 school year may attend the class trip only with approval from all teachers and administration.

If a student becomes ineligible (to be determined by school administration) for the field trip after fees arepaid, only fees paid in cash will be refunded at the time of the trip (May 8, 2014). Money earned through fund raising will not be refunded.

Since our departure time (from school) will be at 5:00 AM and our scheduled return to school will be at 10:00 PM, parents are responsible for providing transportation for their child to and from school on the date of the class trip.

After the December 13 deadline for payment of fees by students, we can determine the number of parents who may attend the trip (space permitting). All adults participating in the class trip must ride the bus. The fee for all adults to attend the trip is $110.

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Eighth Grade Class TripThe eighth grade class trip is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2014. The trip to Galveston, Tx. includes visiting

the Aquarium Pyramid, Rainforest Pyramid, 4D Special Effects Theatre, and Colonel Paddlewheel Boat ride which are all located at Moody Gardens as well as dinner at Rainforest Café.

The $110 cost per person includes bus expense, all admission fees, lunch, snacks, supper, and a classshirt.

Students must pay $50.00 by Dec. 13, 2013. This can be done in any of the following ways:

1) AVON fundraiser (in November)

2) Turning in Community Coffee labels or Box Tops for Education. (Due Jan. 23rd & Feb. 21st)

3) Pay cash or check (now to Dec. 13th)

4) Gumbo Raffle (Nov – Dec, 2013)

The remaining $60.00 must be received by April 11. This can be done in any of the following ways:

1) Crawfish Raffle (February 2014)

2) Pay cash or check (due April 11th)

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Job Shadowing

On Friday, January 31, 2014 all 8th grade students must shadow someone in an occupation of interest. Each student is responsible for selecting and making contact with the person he or she wants to shadow.

Students will complete career-related activities in Social Studies class during the second grading period. These activities are designed to assist students learn more about job-related opportunities for their future.

Students do not come to school on Job Shadowing Day. Parents are responsible for getting their child to and from the work site. All students are required to participate in Job Shadowing activities as part of their Social Studies grade.

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Beau Chene ContactArnaudville Elementary is a feeder school to Beau Chene High School. Therefore, our eighth grade students are in contact with theBeau Chene guidance counselors during the year. This contact is designed to help prepare students for their upcoming entrance toBeau Chene High School.

Contact with counselors includes:

1. Explore Test2. High School class scheduling3. Tour of Beau Chene High School

Explore TestDuring the week of March 10th – March 14th, the

Explore Test will be administered to all 8th grade students. The Explore Test is similar to the ACT (but at an 8th grade level). This information is used to help high schools prepare students for the college track. Test results will be explained to 8th grade students once the scores become available.

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High School Class SchedulesIn May, Beau Chene counselors will come to school to discuss required freshmen classes and the scheduling of electives. Student identification pictures are also taken on this day. Parents must sign elective course forms before students submit them to counselors. Final schedules for freshman year will be received in the mail in August, 2014.

Tour of Beau Chene

In May, Beau Chene High School invites 8th gradestudents from its feeder schools to tour the campus. This tour takes place on a school day. Students get to tour the school, learn about classes, clubs, organizations, and sports offered at Beau Chene High School. Students return to the AES campus before the end of the day.

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