September 17 - September 21

NOTES FROM MR. CRAWFORD

SPIRIT WEEK 2018 SCHEDULE
Monday 9/17 - Battleship!
Wear your best camo or military inspired outfits today! *Please note, no fake
weapons of any kind will be allowed.*
Tuesday 9/18 - The Game of Life
Tuesday is career day at HDS! Dress as what you want to be when you grow up!
Wednesday 9/19 - School Holiday
Hancock will be closed on Wednesday in observance of Yom Kippur.
Thursday 9/20 - Game On!
Its Game Day! Wear your homecoming shirt, green and gold, or your favorite
HDS spirit wear. Go Eagles!
Friday 9/21 - Candyland
Sweet dreams, Hancock Eagles! Wear your pajamas to school today.

DRESS CODE

Please remember that even during Spirit Week, we still have a dress code.  As stated in the handbook, students dressed inappropriately will be asked to change or sent home.  The handbook provides very specific guidelines for student attire on dress down and spirit days, and this information is copied below for your convenience.  

On approved dress down or spirit days, students may wear casual, modest attire. Good taste and discretion should be used in the choice of clothing. T-Shirts may not have inappropriate logos. Shorts, dresses, and skirts should be the regulation length (no more than four inches above the back of the knee). Tops should cover the entire middle torso, shoulder to waist. Tank top straps must be two fingers in width and bare midriffs are not allowed. Undergarments including camisoles) should not be seen. Leggings allowed but the shirt must completely cover the bottom or reach the fingertips. Hats many not be worn inside unless the spirit theme calls for them. Students dressed inappropriately will be asked to change or sent home. Students may wear sandals/boots on dress down days ONLY! Please be sure that PE/athletic shoes are brought to school on these days if needed.

7th and 8th GRADE PARENT.edu - LIFE AFTER HANCOCK - HIGH SCHOOL!
The high school admissions process gets into full swing on October 1st.  On Tuesday, September 25th we will discuss what to consider as your family works through this critical decision.  More details in next week’s blog!

COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Each middle school student is required to complete ten hours of community service over the course of the school year.  Please remember to list hours worked on a daily basis, do not log total sum of hours worked over an extended period of time.  See below for a few upcoming service opportunities.

Coastal Pet Rescue is a non-profit animal rescue organization that is dedicated to saving the lives of homeless, abused, and neglected cats and dogs in Savannah and the surrounding area.  Youth under the age of 14 are encouraged to volunteer with a parent at Camp Pawsawhile Retreat or upcoming adoption events (September 16th, October 28th, and November 11th).  More information can be found here.

Wilmington Island Farmers Market is looking for student and adult volunteers to assist on Saturdays from 8:00am to 1:30pm September through December at Islands High School.  Volunteers may view more information and sign up for shifts on their website.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon is looking for race crew volunteers to help support our community and thousands of walkers and runners on Saturday, November 3rd and Sunday, November 4th.  Students and their families can sign up to to help with the starting line, finish line, or a water station along the way. More information and sign up forms can be found on their website.

GUIDANCE & CHARACTER EDUCATION

This week students met in small groups to either complete team building activities with Ms. Pedrick or review and unpack HDS Honor Code with their advisor.  Our virtue of the month is responsibility, and we look forward to discussing this further with students in the week ahead.  If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Ms. Pedrick at apedrick@hancockdayschool.org

8TH GRADE ASSIGNMENTS

Algebra 1 - Mrs. Reardon

Next week in Algebra, students will take their Chapter 2.4-2.6 quiz on Monday (9/17).  We will then wrap up Chapter 2 by finding square roots and comparing real numbers. Towards the end of the week we will begin reviewing for the Chapter 2 Test that will take place on Tuesday, September 25.  Students will receive a new challenge problem on Monday (9/17) and it will be due a week later on 9/24.

Advanced Algebra - Mr. Lanfear

Next week we will have the Chapter 10.1-10.3 test on Monday and then continue learning new ways of solving quadratic equations.  We will learn how to complete the square (10.5) and how to use that method to solve quadratics.

Geometry - Mr. Lanfear

Next week we will complete Chapter 2 by having a day of review on Monday and the Chapter 2 test on Tuesday.  We will then begin Chapter 3 by learning about angles formed by lines and a transversal (3.1) as well as parallel, perpendicular, and skew lines (3.2).

Physical Science - Ms. Hoffman

Acids and bases have been the topic for most of this week, concluding with an acid/base lab using various indicators to test hydrochloric acid, milk and bleach.  (See the photos below.) We also began learning about the Atomic Theory. We will continue this and review the parts of an atom next week and then it will be on to the Periodic Table of the Elements.  On Tuesday, 9/18, students will have a quiz over acids and bases and some of the material from our test on matter.

English Language Arts - Mrs. Boyer

Literature: There will be a Short Story Unit Test when we get back from the hurricane weekend. Students have notes, completed/reviewed plot mountains, and an essay track to help them study. The Short Story Unit consisted of “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, “An Episode of War” by Stephen Crane, and “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Grammar & Vocab: We will continue discussing, Subject Complements, Indirect and Direct Objects, and Predicate Adjectives and Predicate Nouns. There will be a quiz on this (and possibly more grammar terms) on 9/18. Students will be starting Unit 8 vocabulary this coming week. The quiz date for this vocab unit is TBA. The discussion centering around our second unit of study, Justice and Equality, will begin this week. We will be reading short stories and poems from this era. We will begin reading To Kill a Mockingbird.The reading schedule will be posted and handed out on this week.

History & Gov’t II - Mrs. English

This week in American History, students will finish their historical writing piece based on a Matthew Brady photograph. Next, we will begin studying Reconstruction Era. Students will discuss the problems faced by the reunited nation--economic, physical, and social. No assessments this week! 

Spanish - Ms. Hughes

Next week in Spanish the 8th grade will continue to work with the vocabulary and grammar from Chapter 1B. Students will be asking and giving opinions concerning popular activities and review superlatives with comparisons of inequality.There will be a graded listening exercise early in the week.The vocabulary quiz will be Monday, September 17th.

7TH GRADE ASSIGNMENTS

Algebra 1 - Mrs. Reardon

Next week in Algebra, students will take their Chapter 2.4-2.6 quiz on Monday (9/17).  We will then wrap up Chapter 2 by finding square roots and comparing real numbers. Towards the end of the week we will begin reviewing for the Chapter 2 Test that will take place on Tuesday, September 25.  Students will receive a new challenge problem on Monday (9/17) and it will be due a week later on 9/24.

Pre-Algebra - Mr. Lanfear

Next week we will complete Chapter 2 by having a day of review on Monday and the Chapter 2 test on Tuesday.  We will the begin Chapter 3 by learning how to solve two-step equations (3.1).

History & Gov’t I - Mrs. English

This week in American history students will finish discussing topics from Chapter 2.3. Major topics will include European influences and conflicts that resulted in the earliest English colonists arriving in North America. Our test will be on Thursday September 20th. On Friday, we will begin our Explorer Project. More details to follow. Looking forward to a great week! 

Spanish - Ms. Hughes

Next week in Spanish class the 7th grade will continue to work with the new vocabulary from Chapter 6A. Students will practice forming sentences using comparisons of inequality and superlatives.We will also begin designing and describing the ideal bedroom using the grammar and vocabulary from Chapter 6A. The vocabulary quiz will be Monday, September 17th.

ELA - Mrs. Boyer

Students have begun The Hobbit. Students have created their individual reading schedules. Most groups have decided to read 4-5 chapters a week or read 10-13 pages a day. Students should always bring their novels to class, because on the off-chance that we finish a lesson early, students will be able to read. Secondly, I am trying to plan for 20 minutes each Friday for students to read. Wish me luck! 

This week students will be discussing the significance of good vs. evil and light versus dark in Tolkien’s world, along with having discussions on characterization. Students will be working together in their book clubs to engage in purposeful assignments that get them to think about their reading. Journal Entries will be due each Wednesday, and they will be returned the following day. Journal entries are a time for the students to reflect and question their reading. Students should be writing for a full five minutes, and they must follow the instructions on Google Classroom or points will be deducted. Students also may come in at 7:45 am and read/work on these entries at any point in the year. 

Vocabulary and Grammar lessons will begin this week. Students will be completing Unit 1 Vocab Exercises; the quiz for Unit 1 will be on 9/20. In regards to grammar, we are still working on adjective phrases, adverb phrases and prepositional phrases. 

I am super excited to discuss The Hobbit with my kids! (I even have my Gandalf’s staff ready to go!) If students are ever confused or need extra help, please send them to me ASAP. It is critical that students do not wait to ask for help, as there are multiple characters and plot points within this novel. 

Life Science - Ms. Hoffman

Students have been learning about the cells, the cell theory and all of its organelles found in the cell. We had a two day microscope lab where they created their own cells (cheek and onion), and also looked at preserved cells of plants, protists, algae and the liver.  (See our photos below.) Next week we will then begin discussing cell transport and get ready for our Create-a-Cell Project--info coming soon. Upcoming assessments are a quiz on Monday, 9/24 and a test on Friday, 9/28.

6TH GRADE ASSIGNMENTS

Accelerated Math 7 - Mrs. Reardon

Next week in Accelerated Math 7, we will continue in Chapter 2 by diving into scientific notation as well as measuring and converting metric units.  We will do a scientific notation project on Thursday and will then begin reviewing for the Chapter 2 test that will take place on Tuesday, September 25.  Students will receive a new challenge problem on Monday (9/17) and it will be due a week later on Monday the 24th.

Pre-Algebra - Mr. Lanfear

Next week we will complete Chapter 2 by having a day of review on Monday and the Chapter 2 test on Tuesday.  We will the begin Chapter 3 by learning how to solve two-step equations (3.1).

ELA - Mrs. Guggenheim

Literature - Continue short story unit - the quiz over short story concepts is 9/24 (note change) We will be reading and annotating short stories as well as completing open book reading comprehension quizzes in class.

Grammar - Work on proofreading skills - Parts of Speech, Sentence Fragments, and Subject/Verb Agreement

Vocabulary - Greek/Latin root words List 4 + 7 SAT words will be handed out mid-week. Students will complete Exercises A-D for homework and should practice writing sentences with the 7 SAT words. They will need to know the parts of speech for the 10 Greek/Latin words. Quiz 9/27.

Writing - Continue to practice paragraph format

Reading Log: Reading for the reading log begins for Trimester One has begun. As stated in the syllabus, all middle school students are required to read 360 minutes during the course of the trimester - reading that is outside of their regular assignments. They have a form on which to keep track of their minutes, and on Mondays in class I post their minutes in a spreadsheet. They need to obtain a parent signature to verify the minutes read. This counts as a project grade. The grading scale is written in the syllabus. This year students will be reading for 20 minutes on Wednesday during a silent reading time. This time counts for their reading log if they get their form signed by the proctor. Reading log minutes for 6th grade are due Friday, October 26th.

Earth Science - Mrs. Taylor

Students are currently working on a Heat Transfer book in class (and home if they need more time) as well as studying for their Unit test on Matter and Heat Energy and Heat Transfer. Book is due Tuesday, 9/18. The quiz on Heat Energy/Transfer has been moved from 9/14 to Monday, 9/17.  The Unit Test will be Thursday, 9/20 which will cover Matter and Heat Energy/Transfer. Next up….The earth’s atmosphere.

Ancient Civ -  Mr. O’Hayer

We finished up this week with a Test on Ch. 2. Friday will take us to our Citizenship Lesson with a focus on Loyalty. Starting next week (17th) we dive into our first Ancient Civilization- Mesopotamia. The pace will pick up and the students will be required to do a little more work on their own- reading/outlining. The number of Lessons in these Civilization chapters increase as do the number of Key Terms and Concepts. More outside sources will be utilized- videos, documentaries, etc. There is also the possibility of breaking longer Chapters into two sections/Tests. Finally, as we proceed through our study of these Civilizations, we will always come full circle and discuss life today in these areas of study. Starting Monday we look at Mesopotamia. We will focus first on Organizing information related to Mesopotamia and Analyzing social structures of the early civilization. We will read a short passage that deals with Legends and we will work to understand the relationship between religion and the social and political order in Mesopotamia. Map and Globe skills will also be a focus as we identify locations, regions, and cities and how each place has an impact on social, political, and economic conditions in Mesopotamia. We do have a school Holiday next week on Wednesday. The plan is to have a Lesson Quiz on Friday. We may combine two lessons if the pace is moving in a good direction.

Spanish - Ms. Dubick

The 6th graders will start presenting the Spanglish skits they have been doing for the last week on Monday!  They have a lot of creative ideas and are making great use of their Spanish.

We will also get into Personal Pronouns this week, formal vs. informal and greetings.

I highly recommend that they use Quizlet to study for their vocab!  It’s a great, fun online resource to help them learn, and all the kids have usernames now.

I am available every morning at 7:45 for extra help, they just need to email me ahead of time.

Art - Mrs. Cookson

“Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.” - Salvador Dali

Moving on to new challenges.

8th: Toppling Towers - a study in architectural elements

7th: Figure drawing - how to draw a standard adult form

6th: Collaborative, Imaginative Drawing and a lesson on watercolor techniques