New seventh-graders at Rosemont often need help navigating and adapting to middle school because it is very different from elementary school. In middle school, you will have seven classes, including two elective classes. There is a different grading system, but your previous grades will also affect your middle school classes. One of these seven classes is physical education, which becomes a lot more challenging in middle school than in elementary school. There are also many clubs you can join to meet new people and have fun. Events are another part of middle school that makes it a memorable experience. Middle school can be tough, but you can use this guide to prepare yourself for the seventh grade.

Unlike in elementary, there are different classes based on grades in certain subjects. The guidance counselors look at your grades and statewide test scores from your previous year to assign you to English and Math classes. They also look at recommendations left by your elementary school teachers. In seventh grade, you can get into advanced English and Math classes, but in eighth grade, you can also get into advanced history classes. For accelerated (advanced) math, your prior math grades, math standardized tests, the mathematic CAASPP assessment scores determine if you get in. Grades are critical during 7th grade because those grades will decide whether or not you get into Integrated/Advanced classes. You can check your grades on the GUSD Student Portal through Clever. The way students are graded depends on what teacher they have. Some teachers grade students by calculating the total points earned, and some teachers grade assignments differently.

PE is much more difficult and taken much more seriously than in elementary. In PE, you will have to dress in the standard Rosemont PE clothes that you can purchase from the Student Store. Every student is assigned a PE locker at the beginning of the year. Every Thursday or Friday, depending on which period you have PE, you will have to do Running Day, which means running for thirty minutes and trying to complete at least the minimum of three laps before the timer runs out. During Running Day, you will be graded on how many laps you complete. For example, completing the minimum of three laps will earn you seventy percent, while four laps will earn you eighty-five percent, and five laps will earn you one hundred percent. If you run less than 3 laps, it will lower your citizenship and academic grades. Citizenship grades are also taken seriously in PE. Once you lose points or get infractions, you cannot bring your citizenship grade up like you can with your academic grades. But, citizenship grades reset back to an O after a semester passes. On the first day of PE, you will receive a syllabus that lists the infractions that you could get, but one of the most commonly gotten infractions is a non-suit, so always be sure to dress up for P.E.

Middle schools, including Rosemont, have many different clubs. By joining clubs, you can meet new people who share the same passion as you, and teachers who support your passion. There is a list of clubs on the Rosemont website that you can choose from, or you can check the Spartan Scroll for additional information. Joining clubs isn’t mandatory, but there are clubs like CJSF (California Junior Scholarship Federation) and Builders Club that can help you build your college application before it gets chaotic in high school. Those are clubs where you earn service hours by volunteering for events. You can also make your own club if there aren’t any clubs you want to join.

You may need to purchase materials for effective studying when you enter middle school. Among the essentials, binders are really important because you can keep track of your handouts for every class easily. You will receive more handouts than in elementary school, so binders are a useful tool to manage your handouts. Also, making a study schedule is very effective. If you have trouble making or planning your study schedule, you can buy a Reminder Binder from the student store. The student store sells Reminder Binders, PE clothes, and composition books that you’ll need during your school life. As an additional tip, it is important to take a good amount of rest after you finish your work so you can relieve your stress and boost your productivity. Making a sleep schedule is also important. According to cdc.gov, middle school students should have at least eight to ten hours of sleep per night. If you make a sleep schedule, it will both mentally and physically help you and help your performance in class.

Events are another important aspect of middle school that you can look forward to. WEB and ASB (student government) are both student groups that are in charge of organizing the events. Spirit assemblies are one of these events that ASB plans which include a set of games in which the two grade levels compete to get spirit points. Dances are also highly anticipated events. We have themed dances throughout the year, but we have one formal dance that is held at the end of the school year.

Every semester, you will get two electives, which you choose before school begins through a Google Form. The electives are either semester-long or year-long and are chosen from a list of electives that you pick in sixth grade. For the second semester, electives are chosen from the same list. There are a variety of electives, ranging from Crafts to Drama to Spanish. Electives can help you socialize because they are a chance to meet new people who are passionate about the same things as you.

Entering a whole new school in a new grade can be difficult. You will meet new friends, teachers, and friendly assistants who can guide you through your 7th-grade year. But, remember, everyone starts with a blank page that is ready to be filled with new experiences and fun. Embrace your changes, enjoy, and don’t forget to ask questions when you don’t know!