Welcome to Colina!
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Incoming 6th Grade Parent Event
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If you missed this event or would like to reference it back, please see the video and presentation with speakers' notes below:
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The following information provides answers to the most frequently asked questions for incoming 6th grade families. Please read through this important information and feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions.
Also, be sure to check out the video below!
Also, be sure to check out the video below!
Preparing students and families for middle school:
-> Throughout the school year, we host many events for 5th grade students and parents, including coffees with the principal, counselor registration chats, visits to 5th grade students, student visits to Colina, Cougar Camp, and Orientation. If you missed the coffee events, the information shared can be found on this page. You can also plan to take a tour on Wednesdays at 11:00am in the Main Office (final tours for the school year will be the week before Spring Break). Please send an email to Ms. Chiapuzio at [email protected] to RSVP.
-> Cougar Camp will take place on the Tuesday the week prior to the start of the school year. This is a highly recommended event for all incoming 6th grade students to attend in order to get familiar with Colina and 6th grade, meet new friends, get to know the WEB leaders, and more. During this event, students will take tours of the school, play games and activities, get to know each other, and practice using the lockers. WEB stands for Where Everybody Belongs and is a program in which 8th grade students are trained to support 6th grade students in their transition to middle school. Check out the WEB video below for more information! On the Wednesday the week prior to the start of the school year, 6th grade Orientation will be held. During Orientation, students will receive their schedules, locker assignments, and other materials. School counselors will be there to answer any questions. Locker assignments can typically be adjusted based on height if need be. There will be a locker change request form at Orientation. More information about Cougar Camp and Orientation will be sent to families in the summer mailer.
-> Cougar Camp will take place on the Tuesday the week prior to the start of the school year. This is a highly recommended event for all incoming 6th grade students to attend in order to get familiar with Colina and 6th grade, meet new friends, get to know the WEB leaders, and more. During this event, students will take tours of the school, play games and activities, get to know each other, and practice using the lockers. WEB stands for Where Everybody Belongs and is a program in which 8th grade students are trained to support 6th grade students in their transition to middle school. Check out the WEB video below for more information! On the Wednesday the week prior to the start of the school year, 6th grade Orientation will be held. During Orientation, students will receive their schedules, locker assignments, and other materials. School counselors will be there to answer any questions. Locker assignments can typically be adjusted based on height if need be. There will be a locker change request form at Orientation. More information about Cougar Camp and Orientation will be sent to families in the summer mailer.
6th grade schedule and classes:
-> Students in 6th grade will take English 6 CP, Social Science 6 CP, Science 6 CP, and Math 6 CP or Accelerated. Students will have two teachers for these four academic classes. One teacher will teach English and Social Science and one teacher with teach Math and Science. Academic classes are located in the 6th grade corridor on campus. Students will have their English/Social Science class on one side of the hallway and will then walk across the hallway to their Math/Science class. Student lockers, restrooms, and lunch areas for 6th grade are also located in the 6th grade corridor. This helps to create a school within a school environment for our 6th grade students.
-> In addition to their academic classes, students will have PE and an elective class daily. PE is offered by grade level, so all 6th grade students will be in PE classes only with other 6th grade students. This is also the case for PE in 7th and 8th grades. Students will have a PE locker assigned and will change out daily in the PE locker rooms. Locks for the PE lockers can be purchased during Orientation. Elective classes offered for 6th grade are Band (Beginning or Intermediate), Strings (Beginning or Intermediate/Advanced), Chorus, Drama, and the Career Wheel. The Career Wheel is an exploratory elective that rotates each quarter. Career Wheel classes may include Computers, Art, Economics, Bridge Building, Public Speaking, Intro. to Spanish, Creative Writing, and more. Career Wheel placement is assigned by the computer and students will complete four of the elective options through the year. Elective classes in 7th and 8th grade can include Computer Animation & Game Design, Principles of Computer Science, Drama, Band, Chorus, Strings, ASB Leadership, Debate/Public Speaking, Career Wheel, Advanced Art, Spanish 1 CP, and more.
-> There are two start and end time options typically offered at Colina on a space-available basis. Students can take a periods A-5 schedule from 7:55am-2:19pm or a periods 1-6 schedule from 9:00am-3:10pm. The school bus is only available for the periods 1-6 9:00am-3:10pm option. For more information about the school bus, please visit the District Office website. In 6th grade, students may be able to take a periods A-6 schedule 7:55am-3:10pm with two elective classes depending on space and scheduling availability. The Career Wheel elective is available during A period for a periods A-5 schedule and during 5th period for a periods 1-6 schedule. Other elective class options for 6th grade can include Beginning and Intermediate Band, Beginning and Advanced Strings, Drama, and Chorus. Times are still to be determined for these classes (A, 5th, or 6th periods), so you will select your schedule and elective classes in order of preference on the class selection form.
-> All academic classes are taught before lunch, periods 1-4, in 6th grade. If a student has a periods A-5 schedule, their elective will be A period and PE will be 5th period. If a student has a periods 1-6 schedule, their elective and PE classes will be either periods 5 or 6. Students will have a 10 minute nutrition break between periods 2 and 3 to eat a snack, socialize, use the restroom, and change their binder and supplies in their lockers for their next classes. Backpacks are not allowed in the classroom and must be kept in the lockers. Lunch is after period 4. After lunch, all students attend their CORE class for 22 minutes. This class provides students with the opportunity to start their homework for the day, ask teachers for extra help, and receive interventions and enrichments.
-> For more information about Band, Chorus, and Strings, including audition information, please reach out to the teachers. Ms. Davis, the Band teacher, can be reached at [email protected]. Ms. Rolniak, the Chorus teacher, can be reached at [email protected]. Ms. Forbrizzio, the Strings teacher, can be reached at [email protected].
All class offerings are subject to change based on master scheduling and availability.
-> In addition to their academic classes, students will have PE and an elective class daily. PE is offered by grade level, so all 6th grade students will be in PE classes only with other 6th grade students. This is also the case for PE in 7th and 8th grades. Students will have a PE locker assigned and will change out daily in the PE locker rooms. Locks for the PE lockers can be purchased during Orientation. Elective classes offered for 6th grade are Band (Beginning or Intermediate), Strings (Beginning or Intermediate/Advanced), Chorus, Drama, and the Career Wheel. The Career Wheel is an exploratory elective that rotates each quarter. Career Wheel classes may include Computers, Art, Economics, Bridge Building, Public Speaking, Intro. to Spanish, Creative Writing, and more. Career Wheel placement is assigned by the computer and students will complete four of the elective options through the year. Elective classes in 7th and 8th grade can include Computer Animation & Game Design, Principles of Computer Science, Drama, Band, Chorus, Strings, ASB Leadership, Debate/Public Speaking, Career Wheel, Advanced Art, Spanish 1 CP, and more.
-> There are two start and end time options typically offered at Colina on a space-available basis. Students can take a periods A-5 schedule from 7:55am-2:19pm or a periods 1-6 schedule from 9:00am-3:10pm. The school bus is only available for the periods 1-6 9:00am-3:10pm option. For more information about the school bus, please visit the District Office website. In 6th grade, students may be able to take a periods A-6 schedule 7:55am-3:10pm with two elective classes depending on space and scheduling availability. The Career Wheel elective is available during A period for a periods A-5 schedule and during 5th period for a periods 1-6 schedule. Other elective class options for 6th grade can include Beginning and Intermediate Band, Beginning and Advanced Strings, Drama, and Chorus. Times are still to be determined for these classes (A, 5th, or 6th periods), so you will select your schedule and elective classes in order of preference on the class selection form.
-> All academic classes are taught before lunch, periods 1-4, in 6th grade. If a student has a periods A-5 schedule, their elective will be A period and PE will be 5th period. If a student has a periods 1-6 schedule, their elective and PE classes will be either periods 5 or 6. Students will have a 10 minute nutrition break between periods 2 and 3 to eat a snack, socialize, use the restroom, and change their binder and supplies in their lockers for their next classes. Backpacks are not allowed in the classroom and must be kept in the lockers. Lunch is after period 4. After lunch, all students attend their CORE class for 22 minutes. This class provides students with the opportunity to start their homework for the day, ask teachers for extra help, and receive interventions and enrichments.
-> For more information about Band, Chorus, and Strings, including audition information, please reach out to the teachers. Ms. Davis, the Band teacher, can be reached at [email protected]. Ms. Rolniak, the Chorus teacher, can be reached at [email protected]. Ms. Forbrizzio, the Strings teacher, can be reached at [email protected].
All class offerings are subject to change based on master scheduling and availability.
Class levels and math pathways:
-> All 6th grade classes are offered at the College Prep (CP) level. Accelerated Math for 6th grade is also available. Students who earn A-'s or higher both semesters in English 6 CP and/or Social Science 6 CP will automatically be placed in English 7 Honors and/or Social Science 7 Honors. Students interested in the honors level who do not qualify automatically will need to petition. Honors Science becomes available in 8th grade.
-> Students who earn A's and B's or the equivalent all three trimesters of Math in 5th grade and score an 83% or above on the 5th grade math end-of-course exam will automatically be placed in Math 6 Accelerated. The 5th grade math end-of-course exam will be administered by the student's 5th grade teacher in class near the end of the school year for students currently in CVUSD schools and at MATES. For all other students interested in Math 6 Accelerated, copies of transcripts will need to be submitted with final grades for 5th grade and the 5th grade end-of-course exam will need to be completed at Colina Middle School in early June. If interested and currently at a non-CVUSD school or MATES, please register for this exam by sending an email to Ms. Collett at [email protected].
-> Students who do not automatically qualify for Math 6 Accelerated may submit a petition form for further review by the Math Department. This form will be available on this site in mid-August. Students may also take a test to challenge Math 6 Accelerated and start in Math 7 Accelerated in 6th grade. This test will be administered through the District Office in early June. More information, including the exam registration process, can be found on the Math Placement Information webpage.
-> Math 6 Accelerated covers all of 6th grade math curriculum plus half of 7th grade math curriculum. A new lesson is taught approximately each day in this class. In the Math 6 CP class, a new lesson is taught approximately every other day with a review day in between. Students in Math 6 CP move to Math 7 CP, then Math 8 CP, and Algebra 1 CP or Honors in their 9th grade year of high school. Students who earn A's and B's in Math 6 Accelerated move to Math 7 Accelerated, then to Algebra 1 Honors or CP in 8th grade, and Geometry Honors or CP in their 9th grade year of high school. Students who take Math 7 Accelerated in 6th grade move to Algebra 1 Honors in 7th grade, and Geometry Honors in 8th grade. In high school, students take Algebra 2 after Geometry, then Math Analysis, then Calculus or Statistics.
-> Each summer, students who started in the Math CP pathway will have the opportunity to boost to the accelerated level and/or get ahead if they would like. The get ahead option is available in high school. Students who earn A's and B's both semesters in Math 6 CP will typically be offered the opportunity to take a math boost camp during summer to learn the material from the first half of the 7th grade curriculum. Students who pass will be able to move to Math 7 Accelerated. Students who do not automatically qualify for the summer boost camp can receive resources to prepare for the exam and will still have the opportunity to take the assessment for a passing score to boost. These opportunities are typically available between 7th and 8th grade, as well.
CVUSD Math Pathway
-> Students who earn A's and B's or the equivalent all three trimesters of Math in 5th grade and score an 83% or above on the 5th grade math end-of-course exam will automatically be placed in Math 6 Accelerated. The 5th grade math end-of-course exam will be administered by the student's 5th grade teacher in class near the end of the school year for students currently in CVUSD schools and at MATES. For all other students interested in Math 6 Accelerated, copies of transcripts will need to be submitted with final grades for 5th grade and the 5th grade end-of-course exam will need to be completed at Colina Middle School in early June. If interested and currently at a non-CVUSD school or MATES, please register for this exam by sending an email to Ms. Collett at [email protected].
-> Students who do not automatically qualify for Math 6 Accelerated may submit a petition form for further review by the Math Department. This form will be available on this site in mid-August. Students may also take a test to challenge Math 6 Accelerated and start in Math 7 Accelerated in 6th grade. This test will be administered through the District Office in early June. More information, including the exam registration process, can be found on the Math Placement Information webpage.
-> Math 6 Accelerated covers all of 6th grade math curriculum plus half of 7th grade math curriculum. A new lesson is taught approximately each day in this class. In the Math 6 CP class, a new lesson is taught approximately every other day with a review day in between. Students in Math 6 CP move to Math 7 CP, then Math 8 CP, and Algebra 1 CP or Honors in their 9th grade year of high school. Students who earn A's and B's in Math 6 Accelerated move to Math 7 Accelerated, then to Algebra 1 Honors or CP in 8th grade, and Geometry Honors or CP in their 9th grade year of high school. Students who take Math 7 Accelerated in 6th grade move to Algebra 1 Honors in 7th grade, and Geometry Honors in 8th grade. In high school, students take Algebra 2 after Geometry, then Math Analysis, then Calculus or Statistics.
-> Each summer, students who started in the Math CP pathway will have the opportunity to boost to the accelerated level and/or get ahead if they would like. The get ahead option is available in high school. Students who earn A's and B's both semesters in Math 6 CP will typically be offered the opportunity to take a math boost camp during summer to learn the material from the first half of the 7th grade curriculum. Students who pass will be able to move to Math 7 Accelerated. Students who do not automatically qualify for the summer boost camp can receive resources to prepare for the exam and will still have the opportunity to take the assessment for a passing score to boost. These opportunities are typically available between 7th and 8th grade, as well.
CVUSD Math Pathway
6th grade schedule and class selection:
-> Students in 5th grade at CVUSD schools and MATES who are planning to attend Colina for middle school will receive the schedule/class preference form for the next school year in March. If your child does not receive this form, please check with their 5th grade teacher or the office manager at their elementary school in late-March. If you are waiting for school choice notifications and/or need to register your child zoned for Colina but not currently in a CVUSD school, the schedule/class preference form will be provided to you by our counseling secretary during your enrollment process. Students with IEPs and ILPs will be scheduled according to their individual plans.
-> For more information about middle school classes and pathways, please click on the following link to view the Middle School Course Directory.
-> For more information about middle school classes and pathways, please click on the following link to view the Middle School Course Directory.
Additional information and resources:
-> The Boys and Girls Club is a great resource on our campus for families needing extended care before and/or after school. Students can also spend time there during lunch. They have homework help and enrichment programs, as well. Please visit the following link to their website and feel free to reach out to them if you would like additional information: Colina Boys & Girls Club
-> All students will be issued a Chromebook to use during class, CORE, and at home to work on assignments and check their grades and completed assignments on the Canvas and Q Student Connect portals. Teachers will also review with students how to utilize Canvas to complete and submit assignments.
-> Please also visit the Strategies for Success and Resources sections of this website for additional helpful information.
-> All students will be issued a Chromebook to use during class, CORE, and at home to work on assignments and check their grades and completed assignments on the Canvas and Q Student Connect portals. Teachers will also review with students how to utilize Canvas to complete and submit assignments.
-> Please also visit the Strategies for Success and Resources sections of this website for additional helpful information.
School Supplies List
