Curriculum Updates

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    Our academic expectations for our students are very high! We believe that students should be challenged to do their very best. Our curriculum is designed to ensure that students in both regular and advanced classes are taught the Alabama course of study standards, and therefore, are prepared for the next grade level. As mentioned on the Academics homepage, many of our teachers are eMINTS trained, and use available data to evaluate instruction. We provide the Guided Reading program for students who need reading intervention and offer test prep classes in reading and math to help students meet their benchmark goals.
     
    Our RTI (Response to Instruction) team meets on a regular basis to identify effective strategies/interventions for students who may be struggling. Peer tutoring for homework assistance is also available bi-weekly for interested students. Our academic instruction centers around our mission to empower bold and honorable life-long learners who strive for excellence, serve others, and find success! 
     
    The 7th Grade curriculum consists of English or Advanced English class; 7th Math or 7th Grade Accelerated Math, Life Science or Advanced Life Science; Social Studies (Civics for one semester and Geography for another) or Gifted Social Studies (Civics for one semester and Geography for another for students identified by the BCBOE as Gifted); Physical Education; and one Enrichment class each semester for a total of 6 periods each day.

    The 8th Grade curriculum includes English or Advanced English, 8th Math or 8th Accelerated Math; World History or Gifted World History for students identified by the BCBOE as Gifted; Physical Science or Advanced Physical Science, Physical Education; and one Enrichment class each semester for a total of 6 periods each day. A student will receive no high school credit for 8th Grade Accelerated Math. 7th Grade Accelerated Math is a pre-requisite for 8th Grade Accelerated Math. There are no exceptions to this pre-requisite requirement. 

    PLEASE NOTE THAT FMS DOES NOT OFFER ADVANCED SOCIAL STUDIES FOR 7TH AND 8TH GRADES. ONLY STUDENTS WHO ARE RECOGNIZED AS GIFTED MAY TAKE GIFTED SOCIAL STUDIES IN 7TH AND 8TH GRADES. FOR STUDENTS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS GIFTED, THEY MUST BE REFERRED AND IDENTIFIED AS SUCH VIA A SCREENING PROCESS.  

    To make a Gifted referral:

    • Tell your child’s teacher or the school’s Gifted Education Program teacher you would like to refer your child to the Gifted Education Program.
    • The Gifted Education Program Teacher will then begin the referral process by sending a Notification and Consent for Gifted Screening home for you to sign. This gives permission for the school system to look at previous test results and achievement information. It also allows the system to administer achievement tests, vision and hearing screening and ask the classroom teacher/s to complete an evaluation of gifted characteristics observed in the regular classroom.
    • Next, a committee at the local school will review all data and determine if there is enough information to continue with the referral. The referral is then sent to Loxley Satellite Office for processing.
    • If screening scores are at the appropriate level, the referral will continue. If screening scores are not at the appropriate level, a letter will be sent to parents.
    • After testing is completed, parents will receive information on the results and eligibility requirements for the program. For more information on gifted referral procedures and eligibility requirements, please contact the Gifted Education Program Teacher at your child’s school or Kathy Nichol, Special Services Supervisor at 251.972.6858.
     
    ADVANCED CLASSES 2023/2024
     
    FMS Advanced Classes
     
    Students are identified for advanced classes based on the most current/available STAR scores, current year first semester grades, and/or other screening tools. The advanced middle school courses are intended to be preparation for higher-level high school classes (i.e., Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, etc.) and to give students the opportunity to experience a more challenging curriculum before the transition to high school. Teachers teaching advanced classes are trained in Laying the Foundation. 
     
    PARENTS: STUDENTS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR ADVANCED CLASSES. THEY ARE ONLY IDENTIFIED. THE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS INVOLVES MINIMAL CRITERIA. DO NOT SIGN UP YOUR STUDENTS BASED ON RECEIVING A PARENT LETTER. THERE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED FOR ADVANCED CLASSES WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE ADVANCED CLASSSES. YOU NEED TO CONSIDER THE ACADEMIC RIGOR OF THE COURSES, AND THE WORK ETHIC AND MOTIVATION OF YOUR STUDENT. 
    Laying The Foundation  
    Click here for the Laying the Foundation fact sheet.
     
    Signed Parent Letter Required
    No student will be placed in an advanced class without a signed parent letter. Signed parent letters are due back to the homeroom teachers by the designated due date, which is April 6, 2023.
     
    No Schedule Changes
    THERE IS "NO TRYING OUT" ADVANCED CLASSES. Once a student is placed in an advanced class and begins the year in an advanced class, the student's schedule will not be changed. The commitment to advanced classes is for the entire school year. Students taking advanced classes, particularly more than one at a time, should understand that the rigor and pace will be a challenge, and therefore, the decision to take advanced classes must be given careful consideration by both the student and parents.
     
    Parents need to be aware that FMS teachers and counselors do not make recommendations about which advanced classes a rising 7th or rising 8th grader should take. We only identify students who meet the criteria set by the central office. The criteria for advanced classes includes first semester grades only. Third quarter and current grades are not considered, so students and parents need to keep this in mind. 
     
    The decision to take advanced classes should be made by both the parents and the student. Also, due to the volume of students who have been identified for advanced classes, it is not possible for the school counselors to meet individually with parents to discuss advanced classes.
     
    7th and 8th grade students may be identified as meeting the criteria for advanced classes, but this does not necessarily mean that they have the motivation and discipline to be successful. Also, parents should be aware that some students may not be suited to take multiple advanced classes due to the work load. Due to the rigor and pace of advanced classes, there will be a potential for a drop in grades for some students taking advanced classes. There will be some students taking advanced classes who will get their first "B" or "C", which are both considered acceptable grades for any class at FMS. Extra credit work is not given. The FMS National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) does not weigh advanced classes for the GPA requirement of 3.75 effective 2020/2021. For example, a "B" in an advanced class is worth 3 points, as in any other class at FMS. Parents should not consider NJHS selection as a determining factor in the decision for their students to take or not take advanced classes.
     
    Parent Request to Enroll Form  
    Parents of students who do not qualify for advanced classes may complete a request to enroll in an advanced class form. Central office criteria for advanced classes is based partly on STAR 6th grade and 7th grade scores, so students not attending these grades in Baldwin County will not receive advanced class identification parent letters. Parents of students from outside of the county in grade 6 must complete parent request forms for enrollment in advanced classes if they are interested in these classes for their students. As has been previously stated, THERE IS "NO TRYING OUT" ADVANCED CLASSES. Once a student is placed in an advanced class and begins the year in an advanced class, the student's schedule will not be changed. For additional information regarding parent requests for non-qualifying students, please contact the School Counselors at 251-928-2573.
     
    CLICK HERE for the Request to Enroll in Advanced Classes for students who are not identified. 
     
     
    For information about Advanced Classes 2023/2024:

    Parent Letter- 7th and 8th Advanced English 2023-2024 

    Parent Letter- 7th and 8th Advanced Science 2023-2024 

     
    THERE ARE NO SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS FOR ADVANCED CLASSES. THERE IS A SUGGESTED SUMMER READING LIST FOR ALL 7TH AND 8TH GRADE STUDENTS THAT IS POSTED ON THE HOMEPAGE AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
     More Information
    Fairhope Middle School has an extended homeroom period at the beginning of each day for 7th and 8th grade for homeroom advocacy activities, peer tutoring, make-up work time, essential study skills, intervention (RTI), and other activities.     
     
    Teachers post assignments in their Google Classrooms. Parents are encouraged to have their students show them these assignments on their Chromebooks. 
     
    Fairhope Middle School does not accept parent requests for specific teachers, classes, or requests for periods when students take courses. Students are randomly assigned teachers, courses, and course periods by the PowerSchool program. Every effort is made to balance student rosters by teachers. Schedule changes are at the Principal’s discretion for situations that warrant it.
     
     Enrichment Classes
     
    ASSIGNED ENRICHMENT CLASSES FOR 2023/2024- Enrichment Class Offerings Are Subject To Change- Continue To Check This Page For Changes Over The Summer
     
    ENRICHMENT CLASSES ARE ASSIGNED BY FAIRHOPE MIDDLE SCHOOL. PARENTS AND STUDENTS DO NOT CHOOSE THEM.

    Students take one enrichment class in the first semester and the next one in the second semester. Students are randomly assigned these enrichment classes electronically. These are Enrichment classes, not electives that students "elect" or choose to take like at the high school level. Parents are not allowed to request enrichment classes except year-round (both semesters) classes and this is on a limited basis within a designated time frame.

    The Test Prep Enrichment classes in Reading and/or Math and the Guided Reading classes are required for selected students.

    7th Grade- Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) and Computer Essentials (Students will learn basic skills in word processing, database management, spreadsheet applications, multimedia presentations, and Internet research).

    8th Grade- Art and Leadership 

    Yearbook is available as an Enrichment class for a limited number of 7th/8th grade students. Students must apply and be selected by the Yearbook Sponsor. Students usually take this class for both semesters.

    Library Aides, Student Aides, and Office Aides are an Enrichment class for a select number of students. Students must apply and be chosen to be an Aide, and they must benchmark in reading and math on state assessments and/or one of the Winter/Spring Star. Students usually take this enrichment class for one semester. No student may serve as an Aide if he/she has been selected for the Test Prep Reading and/or Math Enrichment Classes.

    Year-round (Both Semesters) Enrichment Classes: Advanced Art, Guitar, Chorus, Piano, and Band 

     Advanced Art  
    7th and 8th Grade Advanced Art Classes- There is one 8th grade year-round Advanced Art Class and one 7th grade year-round Advanced Art class. Students are selected for these Advanced Art classes based on a submitted portfolio and a teacher's recommendation.
    Click Here for the Advanced Art Class Flyer and here for Teacher Recommendation Form.
     
    Guitar   
    7th/8th Guitar-There is one combined year-round guitar class for beginner students and another combined class for more advanced guitar students. Students must have their own acoustic guitars for this Enrichment class. However, FEEF has purchased several guitars for students who may have a financial need. Guitar students may perform at school and at various community events. Guitar classes may or may not be offered every school year.
     
    Since space is limited for all of these year- round enrichment classes, placement will be on a first come first serve basis, and requests must be made within a designated time frame.  Classes will be determined by the number of students who sign up. 
     Chorus
    Piano Classes
    Chorus is a combined 7th/8th grade year- round enrichment class. Tryouts are required. Chorus may or may not be offered every school year. 
     
    Piano is an 8th grade year- round enrichment class. Piano classes may or may not be offered every school year. 
     
     Test Prep
    TEST PREP REQUIRED FOR SELECTED STUDENTS (Year-round Enrichment)

    7th and 8th grade Test Prep Classes for Reading and Math are available for students who did not benchmark on the STAR on one of the two administrations- Winter STAR or Spring STAR. The highest of the 2 (Winter STAR/Spring STAR) is used to determine placement in this enrichment. The majority of the students selected for this class are close to benchmark and may include "A" and "AB" honor roll students. Students will learn test-taking strategies and have practice opportunities for reading and comprehending informational text as well as math concepts and practice. The purpose of these enrichment classes is to help students to be on track to meet readiness goals in high school. Students who score at and above the STAR benchmarks will be better prepared for  the ACT test in the eleventh or twelfth grade. The Test Prep Reading and/or the Test Prep Math classes are required for selected students. 
    Guided Reading
    GUIDED READING REQUIRED FOR SELECTED STUDENTS (Year-round Enrichment)
    7th and 8th grade Guided Reading classes are intervention classes for students who score Urgent Invervention on the STAR test. Guided reading is required for selected students. 
     
    Digital Journalism

    Digital Journalism– This enrichment course teaches journalism basics and videography to include storyboarding, interviewing, scripting, videoing, editing, producing, and content posting. Selected students will participate as members of the school’s broadcast news staff for PNN, "Pirate Nation News." Interested students should pick up an application at the school’s front office.

    Band is available for 7th and 8th grade students. Band is taken for both semesters, so no other enrichment classes are taken.
     
    Additional Information:

    The school day begins at 7:45 am and students are dismissed at 3:05 pm.

    P.E. is required for both semesters, and students are required to dress out. There is a fee for P.E. uniforms.