December 9th - December 13th

LOST AND FOUND
This is our lost and found collected over the last month. Items will be moved to our general lost and found in the lower school building. Please remember to label all clothing, lunchboxes, books, etc.

NJHS
We are proud of our middle school students for logging in so many community service hours each year. There are many who go over and above the 30 hours required during their three-year tenure in middle school. For students who are interested in becoming NJHS members at the end of their 7th-grade year, community service hours are one of the five areas of consideration for membership (scholarship, leadership, community service, character, and citizenship). 7th-graders should have already completed the 10 hours from their 6th-grade year and have begun logging hours towards the next 10. When second trimester is completed, the 7th-grade student averages will be calculated, and those students with a 90% or higher cumulative average will be invited to apply for NJHS. Community service hours will be viewed then. Please don’t forget to have your student turn in his/her hours to Mrs. Mannarino in the Middle School office on the community service form (the form may be accessed in the weekly blog in the Community Service Opportunities section). Mrs. Durant is the NJHS advisor if you have additional questions.

8TH GRADE - SAVANNAH AIRPORT SCHOOL MUSIC DAYS

The 8th grade will be visiting the Savannah Airport on December 11th to perform Christmas carols.  We are looking for parent volunteers to drive for this. Parents are welcome to stay and watch the performance if they would like.  Departure from HDS will be at 9:15am and return to HDS will be at 11:00am. Please email Mrs. Mannarino if you are interested. VERY IMPORTANT dress for the presentation.  Boys should wear their green HDS polo and long khaki pants.  Girls should wear a green polo and either their plaid skirt or khaki pants.

LOCKERS!

We have been noticing that some students are having difficulty fitting all of their supplies into their lockers. After extensive research, we have identified a few factors that contribute to their distress: 

• Locker shelves that are not tall enough. We suggest shelves that are at least 12 to 12-½ inches high. This allows students to place their binders below the shelf and their books on top of the shelf, and their locker doors will close.
• Stackable shelves also alleviate the space issue because they allow students an extra place to put lunchboxes and items other than books and binders. 
• Locker shelves need to be no wider than 12 inches. Students will have the same locker for three years and will be allowed to leave the shelves over the summer, so the investment is good for three years. :)

I am happy to assist any student to organize his/her locker.

Tricia Guggenheim

Below are pictures of lockers that work:

MIDDLE SCHOOL EXTENDED
As always, middle school students that stay for extended should report to the appropriate classrooms to be signed-in immediately after school.  We have mandatory homework time from 3:30 to 4:00 and 4:00 to 5:30 students may choose to go to Hancock Hall for board games, outside to play, or stay in a quiet classroom to complete homework.  Student athletes staying at school until their practice/game are also required to report to extended for sign-in and work on homework. To be released for a practice/game, a parent or coach must sign the student/s out.  Click HERE to view this month’s Extended Newsletter!

ASSESSMENTS CALENDAR

THIS LINK leads to a Google Sheet that will have the next 2 weeks of assessments.  The link below will lead to the 6th grade assessments, but by using the tabs in the lower left corner (shown below), you can navigate to 7th grade and 8th grade assessments as well.

History/black, Science/green, ELA/blue, Spanish/red, and Math/pink.

Dates are subject to change; teachers will keep the calendar updated.

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE - SPRING PERFORMANCE

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. Click HERE for a log form.

HDS Extended Day Care needs volunteers to help out after school.  We are currently limiting this opportunity to 8th graders, with a possibility of opening it up to 6th and 7th graders later on.  If a student is interested in earning some community service hours, please contact Mrs. Mannarino.

The Old Savannah City Mission needs volunteers for various positions.  The mission provides food, shelter, and clothing to the homeless.  For more information, contact Connell Stiles at 912-232-1979 or stiles@oscm.org.

America’s Second Harvest needs volunteers to help prepare monthly bags of food for senior citizens in our community.  Volunteers should arrive by 7:45 and must wear closed-toe shoes. Contact Bryce Seuntjens at bryce@helpendhunger.org for more information.

We are excited to launch a Kindness Club for 6th grade students!  Meetings will take place at lunch once per week and are open to any 6th grader.  The purpose will be to promote acceptance, inclusion, and positivity throughout the school.  

-Allison Maher, School Counselor

Algebra 1 - Mr. Cargile

Next week in Algebra 1 we will continue our study of Chapter 5,  Writing Linear Equations. We will have a quiz on 5.1-5.3 concepts on Tuesday, and this week students will students will learn to write linear equations in point-slope form, and write linear equations in standard form.   

Geometry - Mr. Lanfear

Next week in Geometry, we will continue Chapter 7 by learning how to use similar right triangles to solve problems (7.3) and learn about special right triangles: 45-45-90 and 30-60-90 (7.4).  There will be a quiz on Thursday covering sections 7.1-7.4. We will then begin learning right triangle trigonometry by discovering what the sine, cosine, and tangent ratios mean (7.5-7.6).

Advanced Algebra - Mr. Lanfear

Next week in Advanced Algebra, we will complete Chapter 4 (Triangles) by having a day of review on Monday and the Chapter 4 test on Tuesday.  We will then jump to Chapter 8 by learning about different types of polygons such as convex and concave (8.1) and students will discover the Polygon Interior Angles Theorem through an activity (8.2).

Physical Science - Ms. Hoffman

This week we began our physics unit on Motion, including learning about speed, velocity, acceleration and reference points.  The students worked on motion graphs (see photos below) and (if the weather permits) on Friday a motion lab outside to make actual calculations for speed and to determine stopping distances while discussing friction and other factors that can affect these values. Next week we will focus on balanced/unbalanced forces, gravity and friction. Students will also participate in a roller coaster lab. Upcoming science quizzes on these topics will be on Thursday, 12/12 and Thursday, 12/19.

Science Fair:  Our last week of science fair!!  I am so proud of all the work the students have been doing.  All project triptychs (end of trimester project grade), abstracts and finalized log books (homework grade) are due next week on Wednesday, 12/11/19 by the end of the day at 3:15pm.  The students will also present their projects to me in class at the end of next week. See due date information below and found in your packet for more information.

I am available for specific project questions by email, during the 8th grade independant time 1 - 1:30pm each day and  each morning (especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays) from 7:30am until 8am.  

Remaining Science Fair Project Dates

(* Indicate Homework Grades)

Wednesday                12/11/19                     All Completed Projects Due

This includes the Triptych (end of trimester PROJECT    

grade), Log Book (HOMEWORK grade) and completed Abstract Form--Complete abstract on-line or use form in the packet 

                                                                     Project presentations will also occur this week

                      

English Language Arts - Mrs. Boyer

Students should have completed the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell. We will be engaging with this novel until the Winter Holiday. Our unit will focus on mob mentality, types of government systems, and the power of propaganda. Students have already been given notes, and they should begin studying the terms in order to better their comprehension of the material. I have posted an immense amount of material in GC already; most of it will be printed out by me and completed in class. 

Final Assessment: Animal Farm Test 12/13.

Projects: Students will be completing a Black Out Poetry Project this coming week. Students will be taking their knowledge of the symbolism, imagery, political issues, etc. within Animal Farm and applying it to a creative, yet simplistic writing piece. 

Journal Responses are due next week!

Grades!! There will be many grades entered next week as we are finalizing our study of Animal Farm. 

Extra (OPTIONAL) Project: I have posted an OPTIONAL assignment on the 8th Grade GC Classwork section. This will be an extra project grade for the Second Trimester. 

History & Gov’t II - Mrs. Robinson

Next week in American History and Government Part II, we will be continuing our study of the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era. We will be focusing on specific groups and how they were impacted by changes and struggles during the Progressive Era. Specifically we will be focusing on women, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans and religious minorities. The Unit Four Test will be on December 18th. 

8th grade Spanish - Ms. Hill

Vocabulary: Introducing the vocabulary trigger words that indicate the use of the imperfect.
Grammar:  Use of the imperfect tense in Spanish. Review of the preterite tense and using the preterite and imperfect together to describe past events.

IMPERFECT QUIZ: 12 DEC
PRETERITE IMPERFECT TEST: 19 DEC

Algebra 1 - Mr. Cargile

Next week in Algebra 1 we will continue our study of Chapter 5,  Writing Linear Equations. We will have a quiz on 5.1-5.3 concepts on Tuesday, and this week students will students will learn to write linear equations in point-slope form, and write linear equations in standard form.  

Pre-Algebra - Mr. Lanfear

Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will complete Chapter 5 by practicing solving equations and inequalities with rational numbers (5.7).  There will be a day of review on Wednesday and the Chapter 5 test on Thursday. We will then begin Chapter 6 by learning about ratios and unit rates (6.1).

History & Gov’t I - Mrs. Robinson

Next week, in American History & Government Part I, we will continue our study of the Revolutionary War. We still start the week by looking at the posters each group created for their Revolutionary War Topic Project. We will discuss the major people, events and impacts of each topic. We will then have a mini debate on why America won the Revolutionary War. Students will have a Unit 5 Quiz on Thursday December 12th. We will finish the week by preparing for a discussion centering around the units big question, ‘Was the Revolutionary War really revolutionary?” The Unit 5 test will be on December 18th.

7th grade Spanish - Ms. Hill

Food and family - Finishing the unit over food and family

FOOD AND FAMILY TEST: 12 DEC

New vocabulary: Shopping and travel
Grammar: Using question words, correctly formatting questions, review formal (Ustedes) commands to ask for items.

ELA - Mrs. Boyer

Literature: Students will begin their dive into Book Clubs! Students will have their choice of four novels which deal with the theme of courage. These units will be heavily focused on theme, types of irony, direct and indirect characterization, and a few other literary devices. 

Vocabulary: Students are engaging with Unit 4; the quiz is on 12/17. Students have their vocabulary workbooks; this workbook will be collected in May and used during their 8th grade year as well.

Grammar: Students will soon begin a unit on Phrases after the winter holiday! Please send your child in for morning help if needed. Also, I always post extra resources in GC such as practice sheets, IXL links, Youtube videos, etc. Grammar is a difficult concept to grasp which means your child needs to identify their learning style and use that to succeed in regards to these concepts. 

Projects: Students will be engaging with an in-class writing assignment, and a Literary Device Poster this upcoming week!

Life Science - Mrs. DuRant

Next week in Life Science, we will begin our exploration of body systems starting with the skeletal system.  Students will learn major bones of the skeletal system and have a quiz on a skeletal system diagram on Friday, December 13. During the week, they will also learn about the functions of the skeletal system and bone shape categories.

Accelerated Math 7 - Mr. Cargile

Next week in Accelerated Math 7 we will continue our study of Chapter 5, Fraction Operations. This week we will work with division and multiplication of fractions and mixed numbers. Additionally, we will practice using customary units of measure.

Pre-Algebra - Mr. Lanfear

Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will complete Chapter 5 by practicing solving equations and inequalities with rational numbers (5.7).  There will be a day of review on Wednesday and the Chapter 5 test on Thursday. We will then begin Chapter 6 by learning about ratios and unit rates (6.1).

ELA - Mrs. Sasser

This week, we are going to complete our reading of Phineas Gage. Students will have a test over the book and text features on Wednesday 12/11. I’ll offer a morning review session on Wednesday as well that all students are welcome to attend! Students will spend the rest of the week working on their final project for Phineas Gage. They will create a text features magazine around a particular topic related to the book. This is a creative and writing intensive project. Students will have four days in class to work on this, but students should also be working diligently at home and review the rubric regularly to make sure they are completing all pieces and parts. As always, students may come in early any morning to chat with me about their project and their written portions checked over. 

Earth Science - Mrs. Hoffman

We started off our week with a fun Sand lab observing samples of  different sands from around the world. The students compared grain size, angularity, roundness and composition to experience some of the variety of rocks seen in places like France, Australia, Italy, Costa Rica, the Bahamas and the Dead Sea.  (see photos below) We then reviewed some mapping information, including latitude/ longitude, landforms and parts of a map, as well as, the location of continents, oceans and some major islands. (They will have a quiz on this information on Tuesday 12/10.) 

We also began information on the layers of the earth and introduced information on the lithosphere and asthenosphere, along with more details on the crust, mantle and inner/ outer core.  We will have a quiz on earth’s structure, along with continental drift and Pangea (our topics for the first part of next week) on Friday, 12/13. We will then continue with plate tectonics and have a unit test on Thursday, 12/19 before the winter holiday break.

Finally, to end our week the sixth graders turned in and presented to the class their Energy Projects.  These projects were started in class two weeks ago and then finished up at home. Look for photos of the presentations and the interesting projects they wrote (reports), or created (posters or 3-D displays) next week.

Earth Science - Mrs. DuRant

Next week in Earth Science, Energy Projects will be due on Monday, December 9.  Students completed their research in class and are completing the final project at home.  We will begin our Geology unit on Tuesday. We will begin with examining different types of maps with a focus on  topographic maps. Our lab will include reading and developing topographic maps. We will have a quiz on mapping vocabulary on Friday, December 13.  Below are some photos from this week’s lab which focused on land mining and land reclamation. Students used science and math skills to complete a Cookie Mining Lab in which they had to purchase land (cookie), equipment (toothpick and paper clip), pay labor (number of minutes it took them to excavate their “minerals” - chocolate chips), and calculate the cost of land reclamation.  

Ancient Civ -  Mr. O’Hayer

Welcome back everyone. I hope your Thanksgiving break was fun and relaxing. This week we finish our Unit on Comparative Religions. This lesson offers a starting point for exploring religions and faith traditions. Students will compare and contrast religious belief systems, origins, and faith traditions. This Unit plan is meant to give students a basic understanding of five world religions: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism. The final 2 religions of this unit are Christianity and Islam. We will study key ideas, key people, origins and current areas where the religion is practiced, and the culture of the religion. Our Quiz on Christianity has been moved to Tuesday the 10th. Our Quiz on Islam will be on Tuesday the 17th.

Spanish - Mr. Alexander

This week we are reviewing past materials in order to prepare for the test.  After today’s quiz we began a new video series ‘Buena Gente’; we will continue with the series and prepare for our cumulative vocabulary test on Friday the 13th. 

**Please remind your child(ren) that the weekly participation grade now counts off 5pts per infraction - distracting behaviour, non-participation, etc. Each student was given a copy of the syllabus as well as the list of new rules and procedures and told to keep them in their binders.**

SPECIALS

Art - Mrs. Cookson

“Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.” - Stella Adler

8th: Will continue to work on Pointillism paintings

7th: Will begin a study of graphic design through poster analysis

6th: Will revisit our collaborative, imaginative drawings for in depth exploration