October 5th - October 9th
SIGN IN / SIGN OUT PROCEDURES
At this time, we are still not able to have parents come inside the buildings. If you are dropping off a student, please have them come to the middle school office for Mrs. Mannarino to take their temperature and sign them in. If you are picking up a student, please buzz to let us know you are outside and we will send the student out. Remember, carpool changes and early releases should be submitted on this form. We thank you for your patience and cooperation!
PE & SCHOOL UNIFORM SCHEDULE
Reminder: students should follow the schedule below for uniforms during T1.
ASSESSMENTS CALENDAR
We have created a great way for students and parents to check for upcoming assessments. 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.
Different subjects will appear in different colors:
History is black, Science is green, ELA is blue, Spanish is red, and Math is pink.
Please bear in mind that Middle School Assessments may be added, removed, or changed at any time. This Sheet will always be up to date, however - once a teacher assigns or adjusts an assessment, this Sheet will reflect that change.
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 the total sum of hours worked over an extended period of time. Click HERE for a log form.
This year in the LC Corner, I will be offering tips and strategies to support your work at school. Please reach out to me anytime you need assistance or have any questions.
Tip #7: SET PERSONAL GOALS. Identifying goals is a great way for you to achieve the success you want in life, in school, with friends, etc. Setting goals helps you target specific areas in which you want to improve. For example, in school, you may want to focus on studying ahead of time, coming in for extra help, or raising your average in a subject. Once you’ve set that goal, you can work on strategies that may help you achieve that goal. And please remember, your teachers are here to assist you with strategies and feedback that can help you reach your goals.
I have reached out to all middle school students to make sure they are aware of Counseling Services and how to access them. Furthermore, if you have a student who is participating in zoom classes who would benefit from some social and emotional support, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Allison Maher
amaher@hancockdayschool.org
ALGEBRA - MRS. SMOAK
We are finished dusting off the students' math skills that got quite rusty during the time at home and the summer holiday. We have practiced all of the skills that the students should have before they got to Algebra 1 and will jump into new material next week.
Next week, we will review on Tuesday with the Chapter 2 test on Wednesday. There is only 1 section on the test that has not been on quizzes. We are then moving into solving equations. From here forward, this is some of the most useful and applicable math that the students will ever learn. Please help me push your student toward success and toward greater understanding by asking them what they are learning about in math and how it applies to real life.
GEOMETRY - MR. LANFEAR
Next week in Geometry, we will complete Chapter 3 by reviewing linear functions and finding slope and using point-slope form to write equations of lines (3.4-3.5). We will also learn some properties of perpendicular lines and prove some theorems about them (3.6). There will be a quiz covering 3.1-3.5 on Tuesday, a day of review on Thursday, and the Chapter 3 test on Friday.
ELA - MRS. BOYER
This week we are reviewing Chapters 12-17 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Students will be reading short stories/excerpts such as “Emancipation”, “I know why the caged bird sings”, and “ The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain”. Students will also be completing a Close Reading activity. Students may read ahead, but please do not spoil anything for other students. It is highly suggested that students ANNOTATE as they read.
Students will have a quiz, a pop quiz and a test on this novel.
Quiz: 10/2
Test: 10/23 (subject to change)
Students are in the middle of their Unit 3 Vocabulary study. There will be a quiz on Monday, October 5th. **This is on a Monday!! However, this is a small vocabulary quiz and I will review with them before they take the quiz.**
To Kill a Mockingbird Reading Schedule
**I try very hard to make sure that the only homework is vocabulary (over two weeks) and their reading. All other activities will be done (mostly) in class, especially if students manage their time well. *
HIGH SCHOOL SPANISH - MRS. SALE
Hi…this week we will power through the -er & -ir verbs. We will review the -er & -ir verbs by conjugating them and using them in sentences. This week the students will complete worksheets, play BINGO/LO TENGO and finish the week up with a quiz on Friday. The quiz will cover various vocabulary (that has already been reviewed) and -ar, -er & -ir verbs. I hope you all have a great week and weekend...
PHYSICAL SCIENCE - MS. HOFFMAN
There is more to an atom than meets the eye (or microscope)! We have discussed all the subatomic particles and forms of atoms including isotopes and ions. The eighth graders also participated in a radioactive simulation (see photos below) and learned about the basic information found on the Periodic Table of Elements. Next week we will discover which elements are found in breakfast cereals that are essential to our body. We will also discuss families, groups and trends on the Periodic Table. These determine how (and if) elements react together to form compounds. They will also get a list of approximately forty elements and compounds they will need to memorize. We will then have a quiz on the atomic theory, atoms and the periodic table on Friday 10/9/20. The following week each student will research one particular element to create a portion of our HDS Periodic Table of Elements. Then we will learn about chemical bonds and reactions to lead up to our Unit Test on Friday 10/23. The final Science in Comic for this Trimester is due on Friday, 10/30/20.
Our next science fair progress check will be next week on Wednesday 10/7/20. This should include the information collected during our in-class research day on Friday, 9/25 and other updates/ research the students have completed working on their projects. On Wednesday 10/21/20 the students will be emailing or sharing with me their rough draft of their background research information. All other due dates are listed below. I have begun to have students sign up to borrow equipment for their projects if they need to do so and have given safety forms to students using chemicals, fire or other potentially dangerous items. These MUST be completed and signed before project experiments begin. Students should email or meet with me with any questions or concerns about their science fair project. I am also available every morning from 7:30 - 8am, after school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays as well as during break and snack.
Remaining Science Fair Project Dates
(* Indicate Homework Grades)
Wednesday 10/7/20 *Log Book Check with Research Notes Due
Wednesday 10/21/20 Rough Draft of Background/ Research Info (email or share document)
Wednesday 10/28/20 *Log Book Check with Updates/ Revisions
Wednesday 11/11/20 *Final Draft of Background/ Research Info
(email or share document)
Wednesday 12/2/20 *Log Book Check with Data/ Results OR
Prototype/Solution
Wednesday 12/9/20 *Log Book Check/ Updated Results OR
Solution AND Sketch of Triptych
Completed Formal Report (printed)
Wednesday 12/16/20 All Completed Project Triptych & Log Book
Project presentations also this week
US HISTORY - MRS. ROBINSON
Next week, in American History & Government, we will be working on Unit Three: The Civil War. We have been building to this war since early September and now students will spend the next few weeks exploring the ins and outs of this deadly war. Next week, we will cover advantages and disadvantages of both the North and the South in the war, new technology that influenced the war, generals in the war on each side and how they affected their troops, as well as the early battles that shaped the start of the war. The Unit Three Test will be on October 27th.
ADVANCED SPANISH - MRS. SALE
Hola estudiantes….This is an EXCITING week….we are going to learn how to conjugate -ar verbs. THis will be done with completing worksheets, playing games like Lucita and SALE FEUD! The week will end with a quiz that will include previously learned vocabulary and of course…-ar verbs!!! Have a great week and a fun fin de semana...
ADVANCED SPANISH - MR. ALEXANDER
It’s a new week! And since there was a test last week, we will begin this week with new ‘’classroom’’ vocabulary. Days of the week, months of the year and the four seasons will be presented as well. On Friday, they will have a quiz over this week’s material. Have a nice week and as always, I am here to help you all in anyway that I am able.
ALGEBRA 1 - MRS. SMOAK
We are finished dusting off the students' math skills that got quite rusty during the time at home and the summer holiday. We have practiced all of the skills that the students should have before they got to Algebra 1 and will jump into new material next week.
Next week, we will review on Tuesday with the Chapter 2 test on Wednesday. There is only 1 section on the test that has not been on quizzes. We are then moving into solving equations. From here forward, we will be learning some of the most useful and applicable math that the students will ever learn. Please help me push your student toward success and toward greater understanding by asking them what they are learning about in math and how it applies to real life.
PRE-ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will continue Chapter 3 by learning how to solve equations that have variables on both sides of the equation and equations that have infinite or no solutions (3.3). There will be a quiz covering sections 3.1-3.3 on Friday.
ELA - MRS. BOYER
Students should be finished with their novels this week, either Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone or The Hobbit. This week students will be beginning their Compare and Contrast Essay where they will compare the Hero’s Journey to a modern day film . Students will be asked to watch a film over the weekend, and then spend all of this week brainstorming, organizing, and writing. This will be a project grade, and students should take all of their essay comments/learning from their summer reading analytical essay and grow from each writing piece. With every writing assignment, my expectations are higher. All resources are on GC in the World Building Topic.
We are in the middle of Unit 3 Vocabulary, and there is a quiz on 10/2. We are working through DGP as well.
Look at these neat Hero’s Journey Brochures!
ELA - MRS. SASSER
On Friday, students went over their hero’s journey wheel project. This weekend, students should watch the movie they selected and take notes on the main character’s hero’s journey---this could be a great family, fun night! Then, in class from 10/5-10/9, they will construct a visual representation of their chosen character’s journey. The bulk of ELA projects are completed in class, and if students use their time wisely, they should have only minimal parts to complete at home.
Students will also need to read The Hero’s Journey Guidebook and complete the guided questions. They were given this very short book on 9/25. The completed books and questions are due Friday 10/9.
Students will also be working through their third unit in the new Sadlier vocabulary books. There will be a vocabulary quiz on Friday, October 9th.
Below are a few pictures of their outstanding trading cards analyzing key characters from the text. They did a great job!
LIFE SCIENCE - MRS. DURANT
Next week in Life Science, we will continue to discuss Cells, moving into Cellular Respiration and Transport. Students have also been assigned a Cell Model Project that is due Monday, October 5. Students have received instructions and a rubric for the project. Project guidelines/rubric are also posted in the google classroom. We have a lot planned for next week! On Monday, students will present their cell models. They will have a quiz on the function of organelles on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they will conduct an engaging lab on osmosis. The rest of the week they will be working on creating a Cellular Transportation booklet. A unit test on Cells is planned for Wednesday, October 14.
US HISTORY - MRS. ROBINSON
Next week in American History & Government, we will be working on our third unit, Faith & Religion. Students will spend the unit learning how to write an argumentative history research paper. We will work next week to build the first part of their argument which will focus on religious tolerance and intolerance in the British Colonies. Students will learn more detail about why the New England colonies were settled, look at case studies on Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson, as well as look into other acts of religious tolerance and intolerance which America was still under British rule. We will take Friday to work on using the evidence they gathered during the week to outline the first part of this theoretical essay. Sections of the outline will go into the gradebook as both as quizzes or projects. Unit Three Quiz will be Oct 14th and the Unit Three Test will be Oct 29th.
US HISTORY - MR. O’HAYER
Next week in American History we continue our discussion and examinations of the Age of Exploration. We will dive in detail on topics such as: Explain what happened to the Vikings who explored Newfoundland, Describe the voyages of Christopher Columbus, Describe the explorations of the Spanish explorers, and Explain the importance of the Columbian exchange. Students will continue to work on their research projects on Influential Explorers. We will have a test on Thursday, 10/1
ACCELERATED MATH - MR. CARGILE
Next week in Accelerated Math 7 we will continue our unit on Decimal Operations. We will practice using scientific notation, and we will have a quiz over scientific notation on Wednesday. To finish the week we will be working with metric units of measure.
PRE-ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will continue Chapter 3 by learning how to solve equations that have variables on both sides of the equation and equations that have infinite or no solutions (3.3). There will be a quiz covering sections 3.1-3.3 on Friday.
EARTH SCIENCE - MS. HOFFMAN
We ended last week with a weather scavenger hunt and photos are below. Students looked for evidence of weather, took and compared the temperature in the sun and shade, described the clouds and determined the wind speed using the Beaufort Wind Scale. This week they used microscopes to observe the air particle collectors we placed around the school last week. Unfortunately some of the ones placed outside fell to the ground during the weekend storms, but were still cool and interesting to look at. (See photos below.) Also, this week we are continuing learning about local and global winds, air pressure and clouds. Our quiz on this information will be Friday, 10/9/20. There will be another quiz on Friday, 10/16 and our Weather Unit Test is Friday, 9/23/20. The
The October Science in Comics is due Friday 10/30/20.
EARTH SCIENCE - MRS. DURANT
This week in Earth Science, students continued their study of the atmosphere and used microscopes to study air particles that were collected over the last week. Next week, students will study and analyze air currents including local and global winds, and air quality. We will have a unit test on Earth’s Atmosphere on Wednesday, October 14.Then we will begin our study of weather.
ELA - MRS. SASSER
Students will review “The Monkey’s Paw” and have a quiz over mood/tone/suspense/symbolism and the story on Tuesday 10/6. Students will also spend this week working on a PSA project for “The Monkey’s Paw.” Students will create a public service announcement, warning their audience about the dangers of the paw. They will get a rubric and have Tuesday-Friday in class to work on this. I carve out time for students to work on projects in class, but it is their understood homework that they are also working regularly at home. It is also essential that students follow the rubric. Too often, sixth graders rush through their assignments and do not clearly follow the expectations laid out for them. Following the rubric will ensure they don’t lose points for missing key elements.
Students will also be working through their third unit in the new Sadlier vocabulary books. There will be a vocabulary quiz on Friday, October 9th.
Students created some amazing posters analyzing character, setting, and conflict for our story “All Summer in a Day.” Check out their amazing work below!
INTRO SPANISH - MR. ALEXANDER
This week we will learn about days of the week, months, and dates. We will discuss the weather and various conditions as well as seasons. This week’s quiz will be on Thursday. Our first test is approaching; it will be on Tuesday the 13th. It will cover the first chapter of the book, “Para Empezar”, and include the vocabulary from p. 22, 23.
WORLD HISTORY - MR. O’HAYER
Next week we will continue our discussion and examination of Ancient Greece and Rome, focusing on Sparta. Students will also analyze how Athens and Sparta were different in multiple segments of society and how these differences impacted the region.
Finally, students will examine how the Olympic Games were established and how these games remain an important part of our world today. This is a short week. Enjoy your long weekend. Important: It has been explained to the students in World History that we will be picking up the pace/class demands as we move forward. It is vital that students keep up with their reading assignments and note-taking strategies.
ART - MRS. COOKSON
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” - Thomas Merton
Sketchbook Prompt: Design a new perfume bottle for either a great smell, or something very bad. Include a label.
8th: Will begin a study of identity through a self-portrait
7th: Will continue designing and depicting a blended animal
6th: Will continue to gain an understanding of 1-pt perspective
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