2/21/25
Dear Parents & Guardians of Rising 7th & 8th Grade Students,
As you are aware, the Pennsbury School District is moving forward with time changes for Pennsbury High School and Pennsbury Middle Schools beginning in September of 2025. As a result of this change, bell schedules across all levels will be adjusted to accommodate a new school start time. This change enabled the District to reexamine the allocation of instructional minutes and better align instructional practices with the District’s ongoing work in innovative and student-centered practices.
The District has engaged in developing a Portrait of a Classroom, which incorporates high-leverage instructional practices as a focal point. Using this portrait work as a guide, we engaged in a comprehensive review of the middle school schedule. The Superintendent’s Committee for Middle School Scheduling was formed and charged with exploring a schedule that will (1) allow for a full block of Reading & Language Arts (RELA) instruction in 8th grade, consistent with 6th and 7th grades; (2) establish a dedicated intervention period (formerly Opportunity Period or OP) that is aligned with the District's MTSS goals, enabling students more time to meet with teachers for academic support and enrichment opportunities; (3) continue to allow for all students to have access to the music program (formerly provided during OP); (4) align Science and STEM instruction to the new PDE STEELS standards and PSSA assessment anchors; and (5) allow for more World Language instruction at the middle school level in future years.
For more information about the Superintendent’s Committee For Middle School Scheduling, you can review both the (1) Middle School Schedule Change Background and Information video and (2) Middle School Schedule Change presentation, both of which will provide more detailed information about the totality of the changes to the middle school schedule.
For students, the biggest change to the middle school schedule is their ability to pick expressive arts courses. Previously, students did not have a choice of which courses they took, now, they will. Students will select up to four (4) elective courses from the following list:
- Art
- Family & Consumer Sciences
- World Language
- Digital Literacy Media
- General Music
- Instrumental Music (Band, Orchestra)
- Vocal Music (Chorus)
- Wellness & Physical Fitness
Please note:
- If your student would like to participate in instrumental music, they will need to select that as an elective choice. It will meet every other day for the entire school year. If your student would like to participate in instrumental music for the entire year, they will only be able to take two other elective choices.
- If your student would like to participate in vocal music, they will need to select that as an elective choice. It will meet every other day for the entire school year. If your student would like to participate in vocal music for the entire year, they will only be able to take two other elective choices.
In order to plan and evaluate the viability of this scheduling option, we will be asking students to complete their elective selections in PowerSchool during the week of February 24. Building administrators will be scheduling grade-level meetings for current 6th and 7th-grade students to review the course options. Descriptions of all elective courses can be found in the Middle School Program of Studies, linked here. Please review this information with your student(s) to help them make a plan for course selection.
Once all students have completed their selections, the building administrative team will work to create a schedule that both honors student choice and promotes opportunities for students to have access to a robust offering of opportunities.
It is important to note that, based on this course selection process, it may not be feasible for us to honor all student choices. For example, if enrollment in a particular area exceeds course limits or if there is not enough available staff, students will be assigned another one of their preferences.
If your student has selected a musical ensemble, it is important that they also select alternative electives as well. It is possible that the musical ensemble practices may still need to occur during the Opportunity Period. If that is the case, students will be enrolled in 4 additional elective courses, not including musical ensembles.
The selection screen will remain open until March 7, allowing parents and students ample time to review their options before finalizing their choices. Please feel free to review the selections made by your student. Course verification will be available for parents and families in late March. At that time, families will have the opportunity to review the selections made by students and communicate any desired changes to their school counselor or administrator.
If you have questions regarding the course selection process, please feel free to contact your school principal or assistant principal, or your student’s school counselor.
Sincerely,