April 19th - April 23rd

 

May lunch sign-up is open.

The deadline is Wednesday, April 28.

 

8TH GRADE IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Our Hancock Day School 8th grade graduation will take place on Thursday, May 27th! Hancock has a tradition of running a picture slideshow of the graduating class on this special day. We ask families to submit three to five pictures electronically to Mrs. Mannarino (mmannarino@hancockdayschool.org) by April 23rd. The pictures can be anything you choose. We also ask for parents to complete THIS FORM by April 23rd to ensure we have the most accurate information for our graduation programs and diplomas. 

 

8TH GRADE GRADUATION PICTURES

Parents: In Focus Photography will be taking Hancock Day School 8th grade graduation pictures on May 27, 2021 prior to the graduation ceremony.  Please have students arrive at 5:15 to have the class picture taken at 5:30pm sharp. If you are interested in purchasing pictures, please follow the directions below: In Focus is now offering prepay online by credit cards or through PayPal.  

• Please print THIS ORDER FORM.

• Please fill out the information and return to the school by May 26, 2021 or email the order form to terri@infocus.photo with payment having been processed online.

• Please go to www.infocus.photo to  pay online.

• Please type “HDS” for the school.  

• Hit the “Blue” pay online button.

• Please enter the cost of your order only.

• $5 shipping charge is automatically added.

• The orders will be mailed to your mailing address within 2 to 3 weeks.

If you have any questions, please contact Terri Thompson, owner, directly either by phone, 912-247-0404 or email, terri@infocus.photo. Please feel free to check out their website at www.infocus.photo.

 

Spring Fling 2021

Be sure to register for the online auction that opened at 12:00pm on Friday, April 16th and will close at 6:00pm on Monday, April 19th. Tickets are free to anyone and everyone! Don't miss out on amazing items like:

• A relaxing, two night staycation in a bi-level suite at the JW Marriott Plant Riverside in Savannah

• Stunning original paintings by local artists Bellamy Murphy and Vincent Golshani

• Health, wellness and beauty packages featuring teeth whitening, hair care, cosmetic procedures and other pampering opportunities

• Treasured HDS experiences like the chance for your student to be Head of School for a day or to be Spirit the eagle at a football game next fall

• Front row seating for 8th grade graduation, the PK program, Kindergarten graduation and the 5th grade moving up ceremony

Online bidding is easy, fun and can be completed from anywhere in the world. Click here to learn more! Be sure to share this opportunity with family and friends!

 

CAMPUS SAFETY REMINDERS

For the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and administrative team members, please remember to put your mask on if you are outside of your vehicle on campus for any reason. Additionally, parents are still not allowed inside the buildings unless they have a scheduled meeting. Thank you for your understanding and support!

 

CARPOOL REMINDERS

Early checkouts should continue to occur by 2:15pm due to our staggered dismissal times this year. Please submit all changes using our Daily Carpool Changes form. Also, parents have been getting on campus too early for white gate pickup, which causes delays for parents picking up students in the gold zone.  Middle School students do not exit the building before 3:15pm, so please do not arrive on campus before then.  In the end, it will be faster for all of us!

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.  See below for a few upcoming service opportunities.  Click HERE for a log form.

COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY!

We have had great success at securing volunteers to escort HRB PK - 2nd grade students during morning carpool!  Because of this, we will limit one day a week per student.  Reminder: duty hours are 7:45 - 8:10.  ½ hour of community service credit each day.  Please keep track of the weather and dress appropriately. Students should keep a log of their hours on the community service form. If you are interested see Mrs. Mannarino to sign up!

WALKERS FOR NEXT WEEK

Monday, April 19th: Thomas & 

Tuesday, April 20th: Luke & Ryder

Wednesday, April 21st: Ben & Jack

Thursday, April 22nd: Leighton & Lyla

Friday, April 23rd: Amelia & McKay

This year in the LC Corner, I will be offering tips and strategies to support your work at school and at home. Please reach out to me anytime you need assistance or have any questions. tguggenheim@hancockdayschool.org

TIP #29: EDUCATION ADVICE FROM A RECENT 8TH GRADE GRADUATE.

• Do your homework the day it is given to you- (trust me it's so worth it in the end because you won’t have work stacking up on you)

• ALWAYS ask for help when you don’t understand something, don’t feel embarrassed if no one else is raising their hand (maybe ask the teacher after class if you don’t understand something and tell them how you were too embarrassed to ask beforehand)

As parents, we work hard to help our children develop into compassionate and empathic individuals.  These qualities lead to a desire to help others and meaningful social connections.  The most powerful way to teach these virtues is by modeling them as parents.  

7 Do's and Don'ts to Help Your Family Build Empathy Skills

Allison Maher 

amaher@hancockdayschool.org       

ALGEBRA - MRS. SMOAK

Next week, we will finish up exponential functions with a test on Wednesday 4/21. The practice test will be given out on Monday and we will review questions on Tuesday. On Thursday, we will start adding and subtracting polynomials (9.1) and then multiplying polynomials (9.2).

GEOMETRY - MR. LANFEAR

Next week in Geometry, we will continue Chapter 11 by having a quiz on sections 11.1-11.5, and then learning how to find the area of any regular polygon (11.6) and how to calculate geometric probability (11.7).

ELA - MRS. BOYER

This week we will be reviewing Act II, reading aloud Act III scene i, and beginning on a Body Bio project.. THERE WILL BE A QUIZ OVER ACT I AND II ON TUESDAY, APRIL 20TH.

Students should study the characters, conflicts, themes, etc. that are posted in the Intro PPT in GC. Students should also be prepared to annotate a passage from the text. Lastly, students should also be prepared to answer questions about Shakespeare’s history. They have been given a note-sheet and a PPT of information. :) I will also post possible essay questions. 

PLEASE KEEP UP WITH YOUR READING!! THERE HAVE BEEN A SURPRISING NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE OPENLY SAID THAT THEY ARE NOT READING. Students received a study guide to work on! :)

Romeo & Juliet will bring us to the end of T3.Their exam will be the unit test for Romeo & Juliet, and an essay regarding the theme from all novels of the year. 

*It is critically important that all 8th graders stick with the timelines I give them for reading and projects. Also, if students are spending more than 25-35 minutes on ELA homework, please send them to me in the morning. Students in the 8th grade really need to pay attention to their time management skills before moving forward to 9th grade.*

HIGH SCHOOL SPANISH - MRS. SALE

Hola….we will begin the week with making a ‘’study guide’’ for chapter 6. The study guide will include sections of: clothing vocabulary, colors, the verbs SABER & CONOCER, IOP’s, the preterite tense and demonstrative  adjectives.  On Tuesday, you will take the test/c.6.  On Wednesday, the students will learn several new verbs and learning the Reflexive Tense.  Instead of Yo lavo el perro/I wash dog...I wash myself….me lavo.We will work with the REFLEXIVE TENSE for the rest of the week.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE - MS. HOFFMAN

We are continuing our study of wave energy in physical science, however, the focus is now on the Electromagnetic (EM) Spectrum and light.  We are learning about the seven main categories of EM waves (radio, micro, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma) and have discussed various ways they are used in our world.  We have also learned about the way visible light interacts, transmits, scatters and absorbs.  We will have a lab demonstrating opaque, translucent and transparent light transmission next week and will look at polarizing film and prisms.  Our first quiz for this information will be on Friday, 4/23/21 and the last Science in Comic assignment for the school year is due Friday, 4/30/21.     

US HISTORY - MRS. HORTON

This week in US History students will finish and review Chapter 21. There will be a test over Chapter 21 on Friday. 

ADVANCED SPANISH - MRS. SALE

Hola….this week on Monday, we will put together a study guide of chapter 5.  The study guide will include: travel vocabulary, weather, seasons, months, present progressive tense and DOP’s.  All of this will be on the test.  On Tuesday, the students will take the test.  On Wednesday, the students will receive  new clothing vocabulary.  Thursday and Friday, more work will be done with the new vocabulary. 

ALGEBRA 1 - MRS. SMOAK

Next week, we will finish up exponential functions with a test on Wednesday 4/21. The practice test will be given out on Monday and we will review questions on Tuesday. On Thursday, we will start adding and subtracting polynomials (9.1) and then multiplying polynomials (9.2).

PRE-ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR

Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will complete Chapter 8 by learning how to graph linear inequalities on a coordinate plane (8.9).  We will have 2 days of review on Wednesday and Thursday and then the Chapter 8.7-8.9 test on Friday.

ELA - MRS. BOYER

Students are currently working on their reading of Posted by John David Anderson. Students should be close to finishing their fourth section. Part II of their discussion packet is due on the 22nd. Their novel test will be on 4/30. We have been having some wonderful discussions! :)

The Reading Schedule/Discussion Question Schedule is posted on GC. 

pg 297-365 Due April 22nd

Discussion Questions Part 1 & 2 are due on 4/12 and Part 3 & 4 are due on 4/22. (Because students have to work on writing next week for homework, I would make sure that this week they take the time to work on discussion questions.)

Posted Test on 4/30

Students may read AHEAD! But please no spoilers!

This week students will be working on some in-class activities such as: Acting as as Ally. Students will discuss the importance of being an ally, define being a witness and work through the consequences of being a bystander. Students will create a storyboard where they pick out scenes to show their understanding. We will be discussing Identity and Identity based bullying. 

Vocabulary: We are beginning Unit 11 with a quiz on April 29th. :) (DATE CHANGE)

ELA - MRS. SASSER

Students will take their Posted test on Monday 4/19. A kahoot has been posted to Google Classroom and we have reviewed extensively in class. Be sure to study! :-) 

On Tuesday, students will begin working on their final project for Posted. This will be a multi-genre project that requires them to complete different written components around a central theme from the novel. We will go over the project on Tuesday 4/20, and all final projects will be due Wednesday 4/28. 

As with all projects and writing assignments, I am available every morning before school to go over any components and give feedback. The students do not need to schedule a time to come, they can just pop in for help over the course of the week. 

A reminder about any and all projects in ELA: projects in my class are designed to help students think critically and not just memorize information. Rather, I want them learning how to apply what they’ve learned. They are given detailed rubrics with checklists and a breakdown of my expectations. They should consult their rubric regularly while working on their project. The bulk of ELA projects are completed in class; they are given ample time and multiple class periods where they are strictly working on their project. Therefore, if students use their time wisely, they should have only minimal parts to complete at home. 

LIFE SCIENCE - MRS. DURANT

The students did an excellent job on their Most Wanted Pathogen projects.  They were well-researched and expressed their creativity. Students will have a test on Bacteria and Viruses on Monday.  Please remind them to check the google classroom for study materials.  It is posted in the google classroom, under the classwork section, and under the topic Bacteria and Viruses. Next week we will begin our final unit for the year: Ecology. Students will research biomes and ecosystems and participate in engaging labs and mini-projects throughout the unit. 

US HISTORY - MRS. HORTON

This week students will review Chapter 7 and have a test over that material on 4/20/21.  Students will begin Chapter 8.

US HISTORY - MR. O’HAYER

This week in American History students will continue our study of Unit 8. Our focus will be diving deep into the history of political parties. Students will continue working on their projects- researching and analyzing a political party of their choice. We will have a test on Wednesday the 21st. Political Party Projects are due the 23rd.

ACCELERATED MATH - MR. CARGILE

Next week in Accelerated Math 7, we will continue Chapter 7, Equations, Inequalities, and Functions. This week we will learn to solve inequalities, and we will have a quiz on Tuesday on 7.5 Two-Step Equations and 7.6 Solving Inequalities. Later in the week, we will explore functions and equations.

PRE-ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR

Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will complete Chapter 8 by learning how to graph linear inequalities on a coordinate plane (8.9).  We will have 2 days of review on Wednesday and Thursday and then the Chapter 8.7-8.9 test on Friday.

EARTH SCIENCE - MS. HOFFMAN

This week the sixth grade is learning about ocean pollution, water conservation and the effects of oil spills on the environment.  Students received a shower saver timer and are monitoring their time spent and water used taking a shower, as well as the amount of trash they produce in one week.  Hancock Day School will also be installing two rain barrels in our garden over the next month.  (Both the shower timers and rain barrels are courtesy of the City of Savannah Water Resources Department.)  During our lab this week, students created a model of an aquifer using sand, clay, soil and rocks to simulate water flow and the influence of pollution.  (See the photos below.)  We also began looking at how plastic pollution, especially microplastics, has a large negative impact on our ocean environment.  

Next week we will continue learning about the ocean and ocean pollution including animals that live on the shores of Coastal Georgia and microplastics.   This will include a lab observing actual trash found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and identifying different types of plastics.  These plastics affect wildlife and waterways based on how they breakdown and whether they sink or float.  At the end of next week we will begin our last unit of the year--Astronomy.  Our first Astronomy quiz is scheduled for Friday, April 30th and this is the same day our last Science in Comic for the school year is due.

EARTH SCIENCE - MRS. DURANT

This week in Earth Science, students will continue their study of oceans with a focus on ocean currents and tides.  They will see the effect of ocean currents as they participate in an activity following the journey of rubber ducks that were dumped in the Pacific Ocean due to a container ship accident. They will practice mapping and graphing skills as well as data analysis as they study the path the ducks took due to ocean currents. Students will also relate this to environmental responsibility. They will have a quiz on ocean composition on Tuesday. Students will also receive a shower saver timer to monitor their water usage. Again, they will practice data collection and graphing skills. 

ELA - MRS. SASSER

This week, students will examine chapters 7-9 of The Outsiders. They will create their own discussion questions and have a student led “round table” discussion. 

They will have a quiz on chapters 7-9 on Tuesday 4/20.

Vocabulary: We will be completing vocabulary based around our novel study. Students will be given a list of vocabulary words for chapters 7-12 and have a vocabulary quiz on 4/30.

MOVIE DAY: On Wednesday, April 28th the kids will have the opportunity to watch the film in class. As this is something they all look forward to, I'm hoping to make a "day" of it by bringing in snacks/treats. I have also gotten approval from Mr. Crawford to allow the kids to dress up in their best 1950s-1960s attire for the day! 

 

Students may come out of uniform on April 28th ONLY if they are dressing in the attire that mirrors our novel and the eras specified above. This can include: 

 

-Jeans

-Plain, NO LOGO t-shirts

-Slicked back hair (optional! haha!) 

-Poodle skirts

-"Leather" jackets

-Pencil skirts

-Neck scarves 

-Cat eye glasses

-Plaid shirts/skirts (called "Madras" in the novel)

 

If students do not choose to dress up for the movie day, they will be expected to come to school in their regular HDS uniform. 

 

This is a 6th grade only opportunity and NOT a regular dress down day.  Students must either wear their uniform or participate in the "costume" as described above. 

 

If you have any questions, please let me know! 

Reading Reminder: As with any novel study, students will have guided questions to complete for each section. These should be answered in complete, thorough sentences, as it will serve as their study guide for their quizzes and final test. It is essential that students keep up with the assigned reading if they want to be successful on our in class assignments. 

All reading assignments are posted on my classroom board and on Google Classroom daily. Students should check Google Classroom every single day. 

A reminder about any and all projects in ELA: projects in my class are designed to help students think critically and not just memorize information. Rather, I want them learning how to apply what they’ve learned. They are given detailed rubrics with checklists and a breakdown of my expectations. They should consult their rubric regularly while working on their project. The bulk of ELA projects are completed in class; they are given ample time and multiple class periods where they are strictly working on their project. Therefore, if students use their time wisely, they should have only minimal parts to complete at home. 

INTRO SPANISH - MR. ALEXANDER

¡Comida! We will continue learning about different foods.  Students will do some speaking and written activities dealing with foods and meals in preparation for our restaurant project.  We will have a quiz over the “Qué Tal” materials on Monday and continue learning about food on Tuesday.  We will have a brief quiz over the materials and vocabulary on Friday.

* Make sure to continue working on Duolingo and IXL everyday!

* IXL Unit 3 is due on April 30th

WORLD HISTORY - MR. O’HAYER 

This week in World History students will continue their study of Immigration. Our focus this week will be how Immigrants “Started Over” by moving to America and how their new lives impacted the building of this country and how their cultures impacted communities throughout the country. We will have a quiz on the 21st.  Students will also continue working on their Travel Brochure Projects. Projects are due the 23rd.

ART - MRS. COOKSON

“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.” - John W. Gardner

Sketchbook: Stacks and stacks of cars

8th: Will continue with screen printing

7th: Will continue with an exploration of marine design in relation to the environment

6th: Will continue work on a visual literature project