Dear Current Grade 8 Parents, An English Honors Program is offered In Grade 9 in the High School.

This program offers opportunities for students who want to enrich their English experience with literature and improve their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. The published aims and objectives of the English Honors Program at ISM are: y To broaden and deepen student appreciation of literature by engaging in a study of challenging literary texts y To foster a greater sense of the artistry and artfulness of language and writing y To extend each student s English skills beyond the regular English curriculum y To foster a deeper understanding of how communication skills enrich and enhance the learning experience across the curriculum The Honors Program: What is it and why do we do it? The English Honors Program is primarily about enrichment; it is not used as a prerequisite for future English courses such as the IB Program in the High School. The Honors English Program is, however, good preparation if a student wants to pursue English studies in the future. While the Honors English Program focuses upon enrichment, it is not for everyone. Parents should talk to their child about the challenges of the class. You need to be honest and think deeply about your reasons to apply. Does your son or daughter fit the profile of an Honors student? Before you consider applying, look at the following criteria of what makes an ideal Honors student: Honors Profile: What does an Honors student look like? y Students in our Honors Program see the communication skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening as essential components to their lives both in and out of an English classroom. y They consistently demonstrate mastery of the skills taught in English and therefore function more independently as English learners. y They achieve and maintain the highest standards of English at ISM as reflected by their English grades at ISM and in external testing. y They want to extend and deepen their English skills beyond the regular English curriculum. y They want greater formal exposure to challenging and varied literature. y They are avid readers and writers who practice these skills beyond required coursework. How does my son or daughter apply for Honors? If students presently in Grade 8 want to be considered for Honors in the next school year, they must first meet one of the minimum requirements of a first semester English grade of A- or being enrolled in a current English Honors program to apply. If they have achieved this cutoff grade or enrollment, they can then submit the slip at the end of this letter as an application of interest. This will allow each student to be assessed in the four areas of consideration: 1. First semester English grade: The minimum requirement is an A- in a regular English class or enrollment in a current Honors English Program.

2. Teacher Recommendation: Teachers will look at each student s educational dispositions to determine whether they are reflective, self-directed critical thinkers and creative problem solvers. 3. External assessment scores: The first semester s MAP and ERB scores for language and reading will be considered as another piece of data. 4. Honors Exam: On Thursday March 8 after school, prospective Honors students will sit a 60 minute exam that will ask students to read and respond to various writing prompts. Students will be expected to write extended responses (essays) that will examine each student s ideas through comprehension, analysis/interpretation, and evaluation as well as technical writing ability as described by voice, word choice, and sentence fluency. Students do not need to do anything to prepare for the exam except reflect on the skills they use regularly in English classes. A teacher panel will conduct a careful review of the information outlined in the four areas for each potential Honors student. After reviewing the criteria, the panel will select the top candidates for this grade level to be offered a place in the English Honors class for next year. Timeline: Dates February 10 February 27
(Monday after CWW)

March 8 April 10-13

Actions Parent Letter, Rationale and Honors Profile go out to Grades 8 families via hard copy, email and on teacher blogs Deadline for Expression of Interest slip- turned into grade level English teacher (School must receive this slip for a student to be considered for Honors, including both parent and student signatures) Thursday- Grade 8 Honors exam after school Letters sent to parents on school decisions after break

What is my first step to apply for English Honors? If you have read the requirements for the Honors Program, know that your son or daughter has met the minimum grade requirement and feel that he or she is a potential candidate, then please fill in and send back the intent slip at the bottom of this letter by February 27, 2012. This slip expresses your interest; you must hand this in if your child is to be considered for the program. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact David Burke at burked@ismanila.org. Sincerely,

David Burke Middle School English Program Leader

Robert Butcher High School English Program Leader

Simon Gillespie Middle School Principal

English Honors Program Expression of Interest

Full Name: _________________________________________________ Current Grade Level: _________________________________________ English Teacher: _____________________________________________

I am expressing interest for my son/daughter __________________________ (first name) to be considered for next year s English Honors program. I have read the course rationale, student profile and schedule. I understand that applying for the program will allow my son or daughter to participate in the selection process and does not mean automatic inclusion in the Honors Program.

Parent Signature:

Student Signature:

Please return to your grade level English teacher no later than Monday, February 27, 2012.