November 15th - November 19th

DON’T FORGET - DECEMBER LUNCH REGISTRATION

Registration for December lunches closes on Monday, November 15. Please remember to log in to your parent portal to sign up!

WATER BOTTLES

We have an increasing number of students coming to school without their water bottle. We are happy to supply an occasional cup, but many of the same students are coming to the office, and it is becoming wasteful. Please, please, please send your child to school with a water bottle with their name on it. 

 

COMING NEXT WEEK!!  

• THANKSGIVING FEAST! - On Thursday, November 18th, students will feast on goodies provided by Barnes Catering.  A great and thankful day!

• GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY - Friday, November 19th is Grandparents and Special Friends Day! Please note this event is for grandparents and special friends of our students in prekindergarten through fifth grade. Due to space limitations, we are not able to include parents, siblings, or others for this performance. Middle school (White Gate) will be dismissed at 12:15. 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. TRIP COMING TOGETHER 

There are many things changing in the Washington, DC area which has delayed getting our final travel agenda in place.  Hopefully we will be able to publish it before we break for Thanksgiving.  Once in place we will be asking for a $300 deposit. 

8th GRADE ALERT!!!

HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS - THE PLACEMENT TEST

This Saturday, both St. Vincent’s and BC are administering their placement tests. The scores earned on these tests are one of the primary pieces of data used to determine course placement in the freshman year.  Please be prepared to succeed!!!  Get to bed early, rise early, eat a good breakfast and get to the testing site early.  You’ve got this!!

CONGRATS HAMP THRELKELD!!

Hamp competes on the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour.  Late in October, Hamp and his team competed in Montgomery, AL.  Hamp won 2 of his 3 matches and his team won the overall tournament.  Congrats to Hamp!

 

CARPOOL CHANGES

As a reminder, our carpool change form can now be found on your parent portal - it is no longer available on our school website. Additionally, all early checkouts should be done by 2:15. Thank you.

 

​​ASSESSMENTS AND PROJECTS CALENDAR

Parents and students now have an easy way to look at upcoming assessments and projects.  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.

HERB RIVER BEND CROSSWALK SCHEDULE

Reminder: duty hours are 7:45 - 8:10.  ½ hour of community service credit each day.  Students should keep a log of their hours on the community service form. If you are interested, see Mrs. Mannarino in the middle school office to sign up!

Monday, November 15: Ela S. and Lilliana C.

Tuesday, November 16: Henry P. and Ethan K.

Wednesday, November 17: Heath B. and Will H.

Thursday, November 18: Volunteers Needed

Friday, November 19: Volunteers Needed

As Learning Coach, I will be working with students, parents, and teachers to offer support and strategies throughout the year. Please reach out to me if I can be of any assistance to you and your child/ren. I will share ideas and strategies often in this space. My email is: tguggenheim@hancockdayschool.org. I look forward to working with you as the year progresses. Tricia Guggenheim

Please encourage your child to look at Google Classroom every day. It is one of the top keys to success in Middle School and beyond.

School is in full swing and the holidays are approaching!  While this is a great time of year, it can also add extra stress to the lives of families and students.  Structure and routine continue to be the best ways to manage anxiety.  However, you need to have extra tricks in your toolbox to keep stress at bay.  Here are some tips:

10 Ways to Help Your MIddle or High Schooler Manage Stress

Please feel free to get in touch with me at amhaer@hancockdayschool.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Hello everyone, today’s short message is courtesy of the Hancock Day School Technology Team. It has been made apparent that many students in the middle school are not aware of the technology help form. This form is essential for productivity, without it, we are inefficient. The technology form is in every grade’s google classroom. This is the google classroom where the schedules, updates, and more are. In the technological form, several sections tell about the problem, possible solutions, and more. While this message is short, it is essential. By: Carter Herman

ALGEBRA 1- MRS. TAYLOR

Students will continue evaluating linear equations and function notation. They will have a quiz Thursday, 11/18 on sections 4.7, 5.1, 5.2. We will review for this quiz as a class Tuesday and Wednesday. Part B of their College linear project is due Thursday morning. We will begin the final part of the in class project when we return from break. The entire project is due 12/16. They will take parts A, B, and C and place them on something to display their work. They tying together a small gift of money to go to college and a constant hourly wage (rate of change or slope) to the expensive of a 4 year college education.

ADVANCED ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR

Next week in Advanced Algebra, we will continue the second half of Chapter 11 by discovering the distance and midpoint formulas (11.5).  There will be a quiz covering 11.3-11.4 on Wednesday.

GEOMETRY - MR. LANFEAR

Next week in Geometry, we will continue Chapter 5 by learning about medians and the centroid as well as altitudes and the orthocenter (5.4).  There will be a quiz covering 5.1-5.3 on Monday.

ELA - MRS. BOYER 

  We have begun MacBeth which will follow us until February 1st. This week students practiced reading, annotated heavily in class, and began using their workbooks. I am extremely proud of how seriously these students are diving into the material! Students will NOT be reading this alone! We will be listening to a dramatic reading in class on November 15th, 16th and 17th. There will be HOMEWORK these nights, as I ask students to summarize their reading using Sparknotes. I do believe in using help with Shakespeare, and I will be showing students how to use Sparknotes efficiently as a resource.  

Students will be receiving a workbook which will keep their thoughts organized and will be acting as the foundation of their T2 grade. This workbook will be completed throughout the unit and turned in on February 1st as a TEST grade. 

It is incredibly important that students understand that although Shakespeare is challenging, it is supposed to be FUN!! Most students will be reading Shakespeare next year in their 9th grade course. This 8th grade unit is designed to introduce students to Shakespeare with a SAFETY net. :) 

Act I-II Quiz on 12/7/21 OPEN WORKBOOK

Act III-V Quiz on 1/18 OPEN WORKBOOK

Final Macbeth Test on February 1st, 2022

We will also be working through three major projects: Reader’s Theatre (Dramatic Work-Group), Body Bios (Group), and a Narrative Writing Piece (individual)

**As students continue into their 8th grade year, it is imperative that they keep up with their reading, annotate their novels, and come in for extra help. The foundation of this class is heavily based on discussion and the sharing of ideas; students will need to participate to be able to engage with the material in a productive manner.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE - MS. HOFFMAN

Currently in physical science we are learning about the main types of chemical reactions (synthesis, decomposition, replacement and combustion).  We have also discussed and observed factors that affect reaction rates such as temperature, surface area, concentration, catalysts, and inhibitors. In addition, students are interpreting chemical formulas and equations and practicing how to balance simple chemical equations.  Next week we will begin to explore acids and bases.  Upcoming labs include a chemical reaction lab next week and an acid/ base indicator lab the following week.  There will be a quiz on all the new chemistry information on Wednesday, 12/1 for Blocks D and E OR on Thursday, 12/2 for Block F.  Our November Science in Comics is due by Tuesday, 11/30/21.  

Science Fair:

Our next log book check with ALL the data and observations from their science fair project experiment is due on Friday, 11/30/21.  Our last log book check was over a month ago, so there needs to be multiple entries since this time including describing what students have been doing with their research and experimentation.  Each separate entry should have it’s own date and all pages must be numbered.  This means students should have already started their experiment (or will do so in the next week or so), or are finishing constructing their prototype and/or testing it. 

All students needing to borrow lab equipment for their projects need to check with me for availability and sign out these materials for use at home.  If your project requires materials/ supplies that must remain at the school, please arrange with me an afternoon or weekend time for us to work together on your project.   

NOW is the time to purchase the large triptych display board that will be used for the project if you haven’t already done so. This board must be cardboard and 36” tall X 48” wide. These triptych boards can usually be found at stores like Walmart, Target, Micheals, etc. or on-line.  Anyone having trouble locating and/or purchasing this board should let me know as soon as possible.  

All remaining due dates can be found in the students printed packet, posted in Google Classroom, and listed in the project section of the assessment calendar.  

Reminder:  Final Science Fair Projects are due in early December 2021 and will count for the following grades:  log book (quiz), formal report (test), triptych (2 tests) and class presentation (classwork).  I am available for any questions students may have each morning (7:30 am until 8 am) and several afternoons per week.  Students may also come see me during our end-of-the day tutorial and/ or email me questions.

US HISTORY- Mr. Gauthier

Speech #3 completed.  Macbeth project due next Thursday and we will continue to work on these in classes next week.  

SPANISH - MRS. SALE

Hello...We will start the semester off with a review of TENER and TENER EXPRESSIONS. This is a short week. There will be a quiz on Thursday over the material covered on Monday-Wednesday….TENER/expressions with TENER. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving break.  I am thankful for all of my students. :)

ADVANCED SPANISH - MRS. SALE 

This week the students will review numbers, 0-1000 &  family vocabulary, In the beginning of the week, the students will learn some new adjectives and where to apply them.  Mid week the students will learn about possessive adjectives and how to apply them.  We will wrap up the week with a puzzle and a review game.  I am thankful for all of my students and I hope you all have a great thanksgiving break with your families and friends.

ADVANCED SPANISH - MS. CROCKER 

¡Buenos días! There is a quiz on Monday, November 15th on Possessive Adjectives. We will be reviewing possessive adjective clarification and asking questions in Spanish this week.We will end the week with a pavo (turkey) song!

ALGEBRA 1 - MRS. TAYLOR 

Students will continue evaluating linear equations and function notation. They will have a quiz Thursday, 11/18 on sections 4.7, 5.1, 5.2. We will review for this quiz as a class Tuesday and Wednesday. Part B of their College linear project is due Thursday morning. We will begin the final part of the in class project when we return from break. The entire project is due 12/16. They will take parts A, B, and C and place them on something to display their work. They tying together a small gift of money to go to college and a constant hourly wage (rate of change or slope) to the expensive of a 4 year college education.

PRE-ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR

Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will complete the first half of Chapter 4 by learning how to create equivalent fractions (4.3).  There will be a day of review and then the test on 4.1-4.4 on Wednesday (E Block) or Thursday (B Block).

ELA - MRS. BOYER 

This week we are continuing our dive into TELH! Students are doing well with their reading! As we continue into the future, please challenge your students to always ask WHY and HOW! It is critically important that students rise to the occasion and push themselves to think creatively and analytically. 

. 

TELH Chapters 20-40 are due on 11/15/21. 

Upcoming  (before Winter Break): 

Second TELH Quiz

TELH TEST

TELH Service Learning Project 

Strategies for Home: 

-Students should be reviewing for a few minutes each night. Students should ask for parent/guardian help as a study buddy!

-Students should also annotate the rubric for projects and activities.

-Students should have a calendar of ‘chunking’ due dates for projects and studying. 

-Students should be coming in from 7:35-8:15 am to review/ask questions/take more time on their homework. 

**As students continue into their 7th grade year, it is imperative that they keep up with their reading, annotate their novels, and come in for extra help. The foundation of this class is heavily based on student reading and the sharing of ideas; students will need to participate to be able to engage with the material in a productive manner. All class activities are based on the reading completed prior to class time. **

ELA - MRS. SASSER

This week, students will examine Stave II of A Christmas Carol. They will look at Scrooge’s past, discussing the man he “was” versus the man “he came to be.” Students will write a compare and contrast response, focusing on analytical writing and unpacking the “why” behind Scrooge’s drastic character change. 

Students will have a quiz over Stave II on Friday. Any students that will not be present on Friday need to make arrangements to take their quiz Thursday. They DO NOT want this quiz hanging over their heads during Thanksgiving break. 

Looking ahead:

A Chrsitmas Carol Vocab Test---Thursday 11/18

A Christmas Carol final test---Thursday 12/9

A Christmas Carol final project due---Friday 12/17

For this unit’s final project, students will create an ugly sweater that depicts various symbols that represent a character of their choosing. We will go over this project in-depth as we get closer to finishing the novella, but please start being on the lookout for old SOLID colored sweaters that your child can use for this project. Comb through your closets, check out the local Goodwill, or order a cheap one on Amazon! Students will need their sweaters by Tuesday 12/7. :-)  

I am available every morning and during tutorial if students would like to review the reading or ask questions. Because I make sure to be consistently available for the students, I expect them to walk into our class discussions and quizzes prepared and ready. I am here to assist the kids with their overall comprehension of the novel and expect them to reach out if they have questions. 

It is imperative that students keep up with their reading. They will be unable to complete our class discussions and activities without completing the reading. All reading assignments and homework are posted on my classroom board and on Google Classroom daily. Students should check Google Classroom every single day. All reading should be ANNOTATED. 

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 amazing job on their  first trimester exam project creating board games based on their knowledge of the cell. They also had a great time playing the games. I greatly appreciate their enthusiasm and dedication to this project - we had many wonderful board games. This week, we will continue our unit on Genetics/Inherited Traits. Several engaging in class activities are planned as we investigate Inherited Traits and the function of DNA. Please remind your student to check the google classroom daily for assignments and study materials. 

US HISTORY - MR. GAUTHIER

We will be discussing the Articles of Confederation.  Students will be creating their own governments.  These government creations will be done in class and in groups.          

US HISTORY - MR. O’HAYER

Next week in American History students will continue to dive deep into the causes of the American Revolution. We will examine how Loyalists and Patriots felt about splitting with England and how these feelings impacted daily life in the colonies. We will have an assessment on Wednesday the 17th. 

ACCELERATED MATH - MRS. TAYOR

Students will continue with Chapter 5. They will have a quiz Thursday 11/18 on sections 4.7, 5.1-5,3. This includes converting decimals to fractions, fractions to decimals, add, subtract and multiply fractions and mixed numbers. Practice sheets are posted in Google classroom and we are practicing IXL to all of these in class. 

PRE-ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR

Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will complete the first half of Chapter 4 by learning how to create equivalent fractions (4.3).  There will be a day of review and then the test on 4.1-4.4 on Thursday.

EARTH SCIENCE - MS. HOFFMAN

The sixth graders are getting “energized,” as we are learning about the 6 basic forms of energy (light, chemical, mechanical, thermal, electrical, nuclear.)  We have also begun information on renewable/ non-renewable energy sources.  Students participated in a two day hands on energy lab focusing on chemical, thermal, light and electrical energy forms.  This included making a fruit battery, observing the inside of an electric motor, creating thermal energy with containers of sand, and seeing the effect of light on a solar cell.  (See photos below.) Next week we will also be starting a project on energy that will count as a test grade.  We will review the rubric and students have the option of completing ONE of the following:  a written report, or a poster board or a 3-D display.  We will have 2 research days in class, but the rest of the assignment will be completed at home and will be due on Wednesday, 12/15.  Also in December will be a guest speaker from The Southern Company.  There will be no science in comics for December, but  our November Science in Comics is due by Tuesday, 11/30/21.

EARTH SCIENCE - MRS. DURANT

Last week, the students did an amazing job on their first trimester exam project researching severe weather. Many brought in wonderful demonstrations on their severe weather topic. Next week we will have a review on weather on Monday, and the unit test on Weather on Tuesday. We will then begin our unit on Energy including Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Sources. Students will participate in a variety of engaging labs and activities during this unit. Please remind your student to check the google classroom daily for assignments and study material which have been posted for daily review. 

ELA - MRS. SASSER

I am loving the in-depth analysis the sixth graders are bringing to our novel study! They are truly blowing me away! 

This week, students will begin using their knowledge of foreshadowing to pick up on clues and identify who they think the actual Man in the Black Cloak is. They will complete a case study project, choosing one key suspect to and compile evidence to make their argument for their chosen suspect. This project will take us the bulk of the week. I am allowing students to work on this over the break if they desire! However, they are being given ample class time to get this done. In theory, if they utilize their work time productively, they should be able to turn this on Friday, 11/19. 

Important Dates: 

B/C Block: Ch 1-5 due Thursday 11/18 (QUIZ)

D Block: Ch 1-5 due Wednesday 11/17 (QUIZ)

B/C/D Block: Case Study due NO LATER than Monday 11/29

B/C/D Block: Ch 16-31 VOCAB test  Friday 12/3 

REMINDER: In order to find success with novel studies in middle school ELA, it is essential that students keep up with the assigned reading, annotate their novels, and THOROUGHLY answer their guided questions. Students will be assigned a set number of chapters and have a week to complete the reading/questions. All of our in class lessons will center around the assigned reading and failure to keep up with the reading will have a drastic effect on their ability to complete in class assignments/projects. I expect students to pace themselves and be reading each night, come to class prepared to discuss our reading, and come see me if they have questions. 

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

Students MUST follow my writing formula for all formal writing assignments and should follow the MLA formatting guidelines I gave them. The students have a handout on how to do this and we have practiced together multiple times. Any paper not formatted correctly or color-coded will not be accepted. 

INTRO SPANISH - MS. CROCKER

¡Buenos días! Last week we did a rompecabezas puzzle with possessive adjectives (see pictures below!) There is a quiz on Monday, November 15th on Possessive Adjectives. We will be reviewing possessive adjective clarification and asking questions in Spanish this week.We will end the week with a pavo (turkey) song!

​​

WORLD HISTORY - MR. O’HAYER 

Next week in World History students will continue our dive into The Enlightenment. Students will continue to study the Great Thinkers of the Enlightenment like Newton and Locke.   We will have an assessment next week over chapters 1 and 2.            

ART - MRS. COOKSON

“Every artist was first an amateur.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sketchbook Prompt:

8th: Draw a scene from a video game.

7th:  Draw a detailed drawing of a cheeseburger with all the fixings.

6th: Draw a mysterious doorway.

Classwork Challenges:

8th: Will wrap up self-portraits and move into making a statement with PSAs.

7th: Some will work on clay projects and some will work on 50 objects drawings

6th: Will begin a unit on image analysis to gain an understanding of how to objectively look at art

ROBOTICS - MRS. SMOAK

Look at the projects that students have been working on in Robotics!