Welcome to the 2023-2024 Rising 6th grade Course Request and Recommendation Process.
January 9, 2023 TMS Curriculum Fair: 4:30pm-6:30pm
January 17-21 2023 Student/Parent Course Request Window Open in Powerschool
February 25, 2023 All Course Requests are completed in Powerschool
May 27, 2023 Deadline for students requesting schedule changes
August 17, 2023 Patriot Camp
August 21, 2023 First day of School
Course selections will be done online using Powerschool Please use the link above and the information on this page to understand the process and the courses taught. Students take English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Health & PE, advisory(homeroom) and electives. Here is our current bell schedule to get an idea of what a middle school day looks like.
*English and Math Every day options: We will offer English and Math every day for students who benefit from the additional classtime. Students who take Math and/or English everyday will take one or two electives, depending on their needs. Students will be recommended by current teachers to determine the best placement for your child.
World Language Options at Tuckahoe Middle You can choose to take French or Spanish in the 6th grade. ( Spanish IB5513 or French IB5113) When you make this choice you are beginning a three year commitment to enter 9th grade with two high school credits in a world language. While it is a requirement for the IBMYP program, students can wait until 7th grade to begin a world language and still meet the Advanced Placement World Language requirement in high school.
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Courses: Students with IEPs maybe recommended to take core content that has an additional teacher or instruction assistant present in the classroom (collab), Learning Strategies (IEP), or Reading (IEP), or social skills (IEP) as part of their Individualized Education Plan. An IEP transition meeting will take place with representatives from the elementary school and Tuckahoe Middle to ensure the correct placement.
Gifted Learners: Students identified as Talented & Gifted Learners (TAG) are required to take “IB9843K Academic Enrichment TAG”.
English as a Second Language: Students in ESL class will take “English as a Second Language” in place of an elective. Students who are Level 1 English learners will take two class periods of ESL in lieu of English.
Each 6th grade student will take between 1-3 elective classes, depending on their core class needs: Students will need to select three elective courses. They can choose from either full-year courses or two 9 wheel exploratory wheel courses.
Potential IB Students should select electives regardless of the outcome of the IB process. IB students in the 6th grade will take a world language, a year long elective and another elective that will be combined with a visual or performing art depending on the year long elective choice.
Make sure you can access the PowerSchool Parent Portal
January 9 4:30 pm-6:30 pm TMS Curriculum Fair-
January 16-January 27 PowerSchool Parent Portal is open for 5th grade parents to confirm teacher recommendations and make elective requests through powerschool.
February 24 2023 All requests completed in powerschool for All students
May 26 2023 Deadline to request a schedule change.
August 17 2023 Patriot Camp 9am-11am, Open House 2pm-6pm
IMPORTANT COURSE OVERVIEW INFORMATION
5th grade teachers make recommendations for core content classes in middle school.
6th grade students take eight classes and an advisory using an alternating block schedule(Day 1/Day 2).
For a description of the courses listed on our forms, please review the planning guide http://academicplanningguide.henricoschools.us/ . Beginning January 16, the parent portal in powerschool will have the courses recommended by your child's 5th grade teacher to select and confirm. All parents must have a powerschool account to select courses for the 23-24 school year. If there is a disagreement with the recommendation, we encourage you to communicate with the teacher.
The following is a description of the core content pathways through the 8th grade.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS: 1109 English is regular level, 1109V English 6 Adv. is advanced. English/Language Arts does not offer an accelerated curriculum. Students taking 1109 English 6 can be recommended for the advanced 7th grade curriculum.
Spanish IB5513 or French IB5113 The IB program requires 6th grade students to take Spanish or French in the 6th grade. Students who start Spanish or French in the 6th grade take two years (pt. 1 & pt 2) to finish the 1st year/high school credit at the end of 7th grade. In the 8th grade your child would take Spanish II or French II.
Students can begin studying a world language in 7th grade and have one HS World Language credit when he/she starts high school. Students can begin taking Spanish or French in the 7th grade and still take AP level Spanish or French in 12th grade.
ELECTIVES depending on your child's need for extra support in reading and math; need for support in exceptional education; gifted enrichment or IB, students may take as many as three electives (including Spanish or French.) Year long options are: band, chorus, strings and art. The exploratory wheel elective is four 9-week courses: Family and Consumer Sciences, Introduction to Technology, Exploring Business Computers (typing), Exploratory Drama 6, Art exploratory 6 and Exploring Languages & Cultures. We will offer two exploratory wheels this year. One with drama and one with Exploring Languages & Cultures.
HEALTH/PE: Our 6th grade PE course is the same as other HCPS Health/PE 6th grades except that we offer it as IBMYP PHYSICAL HEALTH ED. LEVEL 1 and include all 6th grade students in this IB modified curriculum.
EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION: We meet the requirements of all students who transition to TMS with Individual Education Plans. Transition meetings in the spring with the elementary teams help ensure that we meet the individual needs of our incoming students. Students with IEPs can take courses that support their learning: 1177 MS Reading, 7816 Social Skills, 7926 Learning Strategies.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAM (IBMYP): All 6th graders who applied to the programs should complete the course recommendation and request process. When the IB invitation letters are send out January 12, TMS will update the course information and elective selections during the IB registration window.
EXTRACURRICULAR SPORTS & CLUBS: TMS offers sports that all HCPS Middle Schools provide: Fall Sports: Football, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Tennis. Winter Sports: Boys Basketball, Boys Wrestling, Gymnastics Spring Sports: Track & Field, Boys Tennis, Girls Soccer, Girls Softball, Boys Baseball. Cheerleading is a year-round commitment. TMS offers a variety of clubs including: Technology Student Association (TSA), Art Club, Coding Club, Drama Club, Dungeons & Dragons, & Model United Nations. All athletes need dated after May 15 2023 to tryout for sports in the Fall of 2023.