Right before Thanksgiving break, Cory got an e-mail from the John Quincy Adams High School. He got word that one of the history teachers was retiring and they wanted to know if he'd like to take that position the following year. He was also told that the 8th graders were given a new opportunity. They were a loud to take one of their required classes on line, before they started high school.
"Class, I have an announcement to make," stated Cory. "I've gotten an e-mail from the high school. One of the history teachers is retiring and I am going to be taking that position."
"You're moving up with us?!" gasped Riley.
"Does that mean you'll be our teacher again?" asked Lucas.
"I don't know what grade I'll be teaching," answered Cory. "I just know that I'll be moving up with you."
"You moved up with us, when we started middle school," stated Farkle. "We had you almost every year."
"I'm aware of that Farkle," answered Cory. "I taught science lab. Before you moved up to middle school, I got tired of teaching science. I wanted to teach History, Language Arts, or Math. I found out that John Quincy Adams Middle School needed another history teacher, so I decided to move up."
"What classes are we allowed to take?" asked Maya.
"I found out that you can either take a science, history, or math," answered Cory. "I've been told that the correspondence classes start before the holidays and they will end in spring."
"Why weren't we offered Language Arts or gym?" demanded Farkle.
"All students have to take four years of Language Arts and all freshmen are required to take health and PE during their freshmen year," answered Cory. "Freshmen get to two electives. But, I've been told that if you pass, you won't have to take the class, because you will already have that high school credit. You will be able to take another elective class instead."
"That means if we take history, you won't be our teacher?" asked Maya.
"The high school has seven class periods, just like we do here," answered Cory. "Every teacher gets a planning period. I'll be teaching history for four class period. One of those periods I'll be teaching Humanities, and the other period I'll be teaching Career Options. "
"What electives are available to incoming freshmen?" asked Riley.
"I don't know every single course that is available to freshman," answered Cory. "But I know for sure that Humanities, Career Options, Art, Introduction to Computers Introduction to Agriculture, Life Skill classes, and a study hall is offered to all students."
"What about Chorus?" asked Maya.
"Yes, Chorus is offered to all students too," replied Cory. "I forgot about that one. They also have an advanced Chorus class for the older students. If anyone is interested in taking one of those correspondence classes, I have a blank piece of paper taped on my desk. Put your name down and which class you'd like to take."
After class, Maya went up to Cory's desk to sign up for a history class. She had already decided that she was going to take art and a study hall. Maya got involved with music after the junk yard incident.
Shortly after the classes began, Maya began to have trouble in the class. The class had hard materials that was very hard to understand. One day after class, she stayed in Cory's classroom. She needed help and was struggling in the class. Maya thought Cory could help her.
"What do you need, Maya?" asked Cory.
"I was wondering if you could help me?" asked Maya. "I need help with my correspondence class."
"Come by house after school, on Friday," answered Cory. "Bring your books and materials that you have for the class. I know that the bakery will be packed since there's a ball game. Katy's going to be really tired, so I thought that the both of you can spend the night with us."
On Friday afternoon, Maya went home with Riley. They stopped by Topanga's bakery to get a smoothie. Topanga was helping Katy in the bakery. It was really busy, since people were getting meals before the game. Topanga help Katy serve pizza, soups, sandwiches, hotdogs, corndogs, and drinks.
The girls had to wait a few minutes to get their smoothies. So they took a seat in the back. Topanga brought them their strawberry banana smoothies.
"Maya, your duffle is already upstairs," declared Topanga. "Katy brought it this morning."
After Riley and Maya finished their smoothies they went to the Matthews apartment. Cory was already up there. Cory started tutoring Maya weekly to get her prepared for the exams. However, the materials that they studied, didn't appear on the exams. Instead they got questions about They had to learn state capitals, state birds, state donuts, state flags, state initials, state key chains, state mottos, state nicknames, state parks, state traditions, state zip codes etc. Maya ended up not passing the class and was very upset about it. She talked with Cory about it.
"Maya, it's not your fault, "reassured Cory. "You gave it your best shot. They've gotten some more classes available. One's an art class, why don't you sign up for that. If you pass, you'll get in advanced art. You won't have to study art history."
Maya decided that she was going to try to do the art class. She really wanted the extra elective class. She decided she was going to take the class because she didn't want to let one failure to make her afraid to try anything else.
Maya found out that Riley had signed up for a class history class. This class was on the history of Pennsylvania. Instead of doing homework, the students got to go Pennsylvania and learn about it. Most of the touring would be in Philadelphia, so Riley would be staying with Cory's parents. Riley promised Maya that while she was away they'd e-mail, text each other and call each other.