8th Grade Course Scheduling

Connection. Preparation. Experience.

The course guide provides a description of the educational programming available at Sycamore Junior High School. Our course offerings are intended to engage students in multiple pathways to success. These junior high years are important years of transition for students and their parents. The Junior High pillars of Connection. Preparation. Experiences. describes our approach to working with students. We believe when we connect these values throughout both academic and social opportunities that students will strengthen and grow as they move into young adulthood.

You will see from the enclosed descriptions of requirements and electives that students have decisions to make about their school experience at Sycamore Junior High School. We have designed this guide to help you make these decisions. Of course, there are basic requirements, but students have some choices to make concerning their class schedule. Courses reflect Ohio Learning Standards and varied levels of critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork required of the student on his/her journey toward the 21st-century workplace.

We encourage each student and parent to study the information contained in this course planner. Carefully consider any present interests, future plans, and any background information when selecting your course placement. Feel free to contact your child’s current teacher or one of the junior high counselors if you have any questions or concerns.

The faculty and administration of Sycamore Junior High School look forward to working with you to develop a course plan that appropriately challenges your child’s interests and abilities while also preparing them for their journey toward high school, college, and career.

8th Grade Minimum Requirements:

Subject	Length
Language Arts	Year
Math	Year
Science	Year
Social Studies	Year
Flex Time	Year
World Language *	Year
Music*	Semester

All 7th and 8th graders are required to take year-long classes in Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and World Language*.
One semester of Music* is a requirement for both grades; however, students may choose semester or year-long courses in Music.

*Students not meeting State proficiency standards in Language Arts or Math may participate in extra support classes that may limit their elective options. Therefore, requirements for World Language and certain electives can be waived for select students. Proficiency in the state standards strengthens our students for long-term success in high school.

General Information

Grading System

Sycamore Junior High uses the following grading system:

Grade	Scale	Grade Points
A = Excellent-outstanding	(90 – 100)	4.0
B = Good-above average	(80 – 89)	3.0
C = Satisfactory-average	(70 - 79)	2.0
D = Passing-below average	(60 - 69)	1.0
F = Failing–insufficient to pass	(0 – 59)	0.0

Weighted Courses

High School Credit

Credit Flexibility Plan

A credit flexibility plan enables students to earn high school credit by completing coursework and/or successfully completing assessments that show mastery of course content. Other possibilities would be screened and approved through the Sycamore High School Credit Flexibility Access process. These might include educational programs and/or individual student proposals for obtaining credit.

The Credit Flexibility Handbook provides a detailed explanation of Credit Flex including important timeline information and required application materials. School counselors can provide specific information for interested students.

College Credit Plus

Honor Roll / Principal’s Honor Roll

Honor Roll

The Sycamore Junior High Honor Roll will be compiled by counselors at the end of each grading period. The list will include the names of those students who have achieved an overall average of 3.4 or better in all courses. A letter grade of D or F in any subject automatically disqualifies a student from the honor roll.

Principal’s Honor Roll

Any student who attains an overall average of 3.6 or better in all classes will be eligible to be included in the Principal’s Honor Roll.

Academic Failure & Promotion

Flex Time

Athletic Eligibility

Students at Sycamore Junior High must meet the minimum eligibility standards established by the Ohio High School Athletic Association and the Sycamore Board of Education as listed below:

All incoming seventh graders, except those repeating the seventh grade, are eligible for the first grading period of the school year regardless of their previous academic achievement.

If a student enrolled in grade 7 or 8 attains the age of 15 before August 1, the student shall be ineligible to participate in 7-8th grade interscholastic athletics for the school year commencing in that calendar year.

Eighth graders, and seventh graders repeating the seventh grade, will have their first quarter eligibility determined by grades earned during the 4th quarter of the previous academic year. For eligibility purposes, summer school grades may not be used to substitute for failing grades received in the final grading period of the regular school year.

A student enrolling in the seventh grade for the first time will be eligible for the first grading period regardless of previous academic achievement. Thereafter, in order to be eligible, a student in seventh or eighth grade must be currently enrolled and must have been enrolled in school in the immediately preceding grading period. The student must also have received passing grades during that grading period in a minimum of five of those subjects in which the student received grades. (Per OHSAA Guidelines)

Key Dates & Deadlines

Friday, February 13th: Deadline for students and families to submit the elective selection Google Form.

Families can access the google form here for elective courses

Week of February 23rd: The Counseling Team will meet with all 7th-grade students individually (through Language Arts classes) to review and confirm their course selections.
Mid-March: Verification sheets will be made available to families via eBackpack for a final review.

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COUNSELORS

Ben Brenner (Counselor for students with last names beginning with A – G)

Kristin Suter (Counselor for students with last names beginning with H – N)

Rachel Morris (Counselor for students with last names beginning with O – Z, ESOL)
Counselors’ Office Phone #
(513) 686-1764