Academics

COURSE SELECTION PROCESS

COURSE SELECTION PROCESS

Teacher Recommendations 12/2/24 – 12/20/24	Teachers make recommendations for next year. Current 5^th grade students will have recommendations created based on assessment data and with input from their current elementary teacher.
Electives Survey 1/6/2025 – 1/10/2025	Current 6^th and 7^th grade students will complete an elective survey to indicate their preferred elective choices. Current 5^th grade students will have the option to enroll in Band. Students not enrolling in band, will be enrolled in our 6^thGrade Elective Rotation.
Student Course Requests 1/21/2025 – 1/30/2025	Student recommendations are entered as course requests. Assistant Principals confirm placements based on teacher feedback and assessment data.
Student Course Request Verification 4/1/2025 – 5/1/2025	Students will receive a letter indicating their selected courses for the 2024-2025 school year. This is not a final schedule but will allow families to see what courses the student will be in for the following year. Incoming 6^th grade families will receive these during the “Incoming Welcome Nights” that will be held at each middle school.

West Aurora School District 129 offers a challenging and robust curriculum at all four of our middle schools. Students in grades 6 through 8 have a nine-period schedule that includes English/Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Physical Education. In addition, students have the opportunity to take elective courses of their choosing. You'll find more information about these elective options below.

6th Grade

Every 6th-grade student will have the following core classes: two periods of Language Arts, two periods of Math, and one period each of Science, Social Studies, and Physical Education. Most students will also have one elective period:

Students will be placed into the 6th Grade Exploratory Rotation (see the Course Catalog for details) unless they elect to take 6th Grade Beginning Band.

Students who wish to enroll in 6th Grade Beginning Band must sign up in January prior to their 6th-grade year. For more information, please contact Mr. Jonathan McLear, Fine Arts Department Administrator.

This structure ensures students receive a well-rounded schedule with opportunities to explore their interests.

7th Grade

Every 7th-grade student will have the following core classes: two periods of Language Arts, one or two periods of Math (based on placement), and one period each of Science, Social Studies, and Physical Education. The number of elective periods a student has will depend on their Math placement:

Students with one elective period will be placed in the 7th Grade Exploratory Rotation (see the Course Catalog for details) unless they choose to enroll in 7th Grade Band or 7th/8th Grade Choir.

Students with two elective periods will meet individually with an Assistant Principal to select their additional elective options.

This structure ensures that all students receive guidance tailored to their academic and elective needs.

8th Grade

Every 8th-grade student will have the following core classes: two periods of Language Arts, and one period each of Math, Science, Social Studies, and Physical Education. Students will also have two elective periods:

Students unsure of committing to two year-long electives are encouraged to enroll in the 8th Grade Exploratory Rotation (see the Course Catalog for details).

Students interested in specific year-long electives can explore their options by clicking through the classes below to learn more about 8th-grade electives.

This structure allows students to tailor their schedules to their interests while ensuring a balanced academic experience.

2024-2025
COURSE CATALOG

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Art & Design

8th Grade Art and Design

Art and Design is a year-long elective for students who love art and want to develop their technical and creative skills. This course covers a variety of areas, including drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, digital art, and graphic design, with a focus on techniques to enhance artistic ability. Through engaging projects, students will explore self-expression and learn design principles essential for creating impactful visual work. They will also gain experience with both traditional and digital tools, building a strong foundation for advanced art opportunities in high school.

Band

7th grade band

If your child was enrolled in Band as a sixth grader, he/she may continue in Band as a seventh grader. In 7th Grade Band, students will build upon the skills learned in Beginning Band and have more opportunities to perform publicly (i.e. Fine Arts Festival, Solo & Ensemble Festival, etc). This course requires performances and rehearsals that take place outside of regular school hours.

If your child was not in 6th Grade Band but would like to explore joining as a 7th grader, please contact the band directors at your middle school as soon as possible.

8th grade band

Students in 8th Grade Band will work on advanced middle school band concepts as they prepare for the opportunities that await them in high school. 8th Grade Band meets as a full ensemble every day and will have additional performances throughout the year. This course requires rehearsals and performances that take place outside of regular school hours.

Jonathan McLear

Department Administrator6-12 Fine Arts & Hope Wall

jmclear@sd129.org

School: 630-301-6565

Choir

7th & 8th Choir

Choir is a performance class open to any 7th or 8th grade student who likes to sing. This class offers basic practice and support of fundamental singing techniques. Other skills learned include music theory, music reading, and both ensemble and solo singing. This course requires performances that take place outside of regular school hours.

Exploratory Rotation

Student working on a woodworking project

6th Grade Exploratory Rotation Overview

The 6th Grade Exploratory Rotation offers students an engaging introduction to a variety of fields through hands-on, creative, and collaborative learning experiences. Spanning four unique nine-week courses, students will explore engineering, technology, art, and music, developing foundational skills while discovering new passions.

Art

In this course, students will explore their creativity through a variety of artistic mediums, including digital tools, clay, pencil, and paint. They will develop essential artistic habits, such as planning and refining their work using sketchbooks. By completing projects in different styles and materials, students will build confidence in their ability to express themselves visually and artistically.

IT (Information Technology)

Students will dive into the world of introductory coding and pre-engineering concepts. Through hands-on and experiential learning, they will explore programming, measurement, and problem-solving skills. This course, an entry point into the Information Technology Pathway, equips students with foundational IT knowledge while fostering creativity and critical thinking.

METT (Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology, and Trades)

In this course, students will solve real-world challenges using the engineering design process. They will identify problems, research solutions, design, build, and test prototypes, and present their projects through video production. By applying concepts from science, technology, engineering, and math, students will gain practical, hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the trades and innovation. METT serves as the starting point for students interested in these exciting fields.

Music and Podcasting

This course blends music performance and media production, offering students the chance to learn the basics of ukulele playing and podcast creation. Students will play ukulele chords, read fretboard diagrams, and collaborate on performances. They will also explore the world of podcasting by learning about its societal impact, creating content, and producing their own podcast episode. This course highlights teamwork and creative expression through music and technology.

7th & 8th Grade Exploratory Rotation A - Overview

The 7th/8th Grade Exploratory Rotation deepens students' exploration of diverse disciplines through hands-on, collaborative, and creative projects. Across four unique nine-week courses, students will engage in health sciences, trades, art, and music production, building practical skills and discovering potential career pathways.

Art

Students will explore their creativity through a series of dynamic projects. They will begin with expressive portraits using grid techniques, design a campaign of striking posters and buttons, and finish by crafting unique clay sculptures with hand-building techniques. This course encourages students to discover fresh ways to express their artistic voice and refine their skills.

Health Sciences

Students will step into the role of real-life medical detectives, solving medical mysteries through hands-on projects and labs. They will learn to measure and interpret vital signs, investigate how body systems work together to maintain health, and analyze evidence from a mysterious "outbreak." This course also introduces students to various health science careers, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills through immersive activities and labs.

METT (Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology, and Trades)

Focusing on the "Trades" aspect of METT, this course allows students to safely operate tools and equipment while creating a woodworking project. Building on their 6th-grade experience, students will apply the design process to bring their ideas to life. This hands-on course develops technical skills and provides an exciting introduction to careers in manufacturing and the trades.

Music Production

Students will dive into the world of digital music creation, starting with the basics of recording, multi-tracking, and adding effects. Using MIDI keyboards, they will create melodies and harmonies, experiment with different song forms, and learn to mix and master their tracks. By the end of the course, students will copyright their original compositions, gaining valuable skills in music production and ownership.

Laura Edwards

Department Administrator6-12 CTE & Career Pathways

laura.edwards@sd129.org

School: 630-801-6892

PLTW Design & Modeling

PLTW Design & Modeling/Automation & Robotics

In the Fall, students will learn the basic techniques for design drafting, beginning with simple orthographic projections hand drawn on paper and moving up to fully dimensioned and animated assembly drawings using Autodesk Inventor software. Students have the opportunity to be creative using the design process. In the Spring, students will be using VEX robotic kits including basic gears, chain drives, sprockets, rack and pinions, and worm and wheel gears. This course allows for creativity and group collaboration opportunities.

Laura Edwards

Department Administrator6-12 CTE & Career Pathways

laura.edwards@sd129.org

School: 630-801-6892

World Languages (French & Spanish)

French B (8th grade)

This course is the second portion of a two-year introduction to the French language and culture in which students learn to read, write, speak, and understand language at a novice level. Themes of study include self, leisure activities, family, teen life, school, personal care, weather, clothing, and shopping. Successful completion of 7th grade French A and 8th grade French B will result in placement in French 2 or French 2 Honors in high school.

Spanish B (8th grade)

This course is the second portion of a two-year introduction to the Spanish language and culture in which students learn to read, write, speak, and understand language at a novice level. Themes of study include self, leisure activities, family, teen life, school, personal care, weather, clothing, and shopping. Successful completion of 7th grade Spanish A and 8th grade Spanish B will result in placement in French 2 or French 2 Honors in high school.

The Heritage Spanish B (8th grade)

This course is designed for heritage Spanish speakers to develop their reading and writing skills while exploring Hispanic cultures. Students will enhance their communication skills through the study of identity, youth, pastimes, food, nature, families, immigration, and technology. The course is conducted entirely in Spanish. Successful completion of 8th grade Heritage Spanish B will result in placement in Spanish for Heritage Speakers 3 or 3 Honors in high school.

Elaine Diveley

Department AdministratorWorld Languages & Biliteracy

elaine.diveley@sd129.org

School: 630-301-6559