January 24th - January 28th
COVID PROTOCOLS - STUDENTS NEED TO BRING A MASK EACH DAY!
No one enjoys having to mask up during the school day. That said, it is part of what is keeping us healthy and in school, so it is important. Many students are coming to school without a mask. The school has a limited supply of masks to share, but not enough to be the primary supplier of masks. PLEASE SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL WITH TWO MASKS EACH DAY!
ZOOMING AGAIN!
Just when we thought we might be clear of COVID, along comes Omicron! Should you find yourself in quarantine, here are some pointers many of us have forgotten how to properly and politely Zoom.
Please notify the Middle School office that you need to Zoom due to Covid
Please check the Grade Level Google Classroom for your schedule and the Zoom links for each classroom; every class is on Zoom except PE.
Please be on time to class, and remember to keep your sound and video on.
Let Mrs. Guggenheim/Mrs. Mannarino know if you have any questions or need any help.
Also remember to check Google Classroom
Please email your teachers with any questions.
If you need any materials from school, please email Mrs. Mannarino mmannarino@hancockdayschool.org. They may be picked up after carpool from the boxes outside the Middle School office.
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!
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
10 STUDY TIPS
Select a quiet place to study.
Be mindful of time. Don't wait until the last minute.
Use your daily planner for assignments.
Dedicate a space for every class in your book bag.
Stay organized throughout the year.
Make study cards.
Make your own study guide.
Talk about assignments with friends.
If you are struggling, ask for help.
Make academics a focus in your life.
Traditions are an important part of families and can build lasting memories. Furthermore, they strengthen relationships and create a sense of belonging. Whether you have some long-standing traditions or are up to starting some new ones, the following article is an interesting read.
How Family Traditions Help Create Stronger Bonds
Please feel free to get in touch with me at amhaer@hancockdayschool.org if you have any questions or concerns.
ALGEBRA 1- MRS. TAYLOR
College projects are complete after a well thought out reflection of the project to check for concrete understanding of slope in real life. Students will continue with compound inequalities and finish up Chapter 6 next week. Assessment for Chapter 6 will be the following week.
ADVANCED ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR
Next week, students will finish up Chapter 6, Inequalities, next week, Review for the Chapter 1/25 and 1/26-test will be on Monday 1/31. Students will STAR math assess on 1/27. Please stay tuned for an email regarding STAR testing. Your child does not need to study for this.
GEOMETRY - MR. LANFEAR
Next week in Geometry, we will continue Chapter 8 by learning and proving the properties of rhombuses, rectangles, and squares (8.4), discuss the differing viewpoints about the definitions of trapezoids and kites (8.5), learn and prove the properties of trapezoids and kites (8.5), and prove which quadrilaterals are which (8.6). The first Star Math Assessment will be given the following Thursday (February 3rd).
ELA - MRS. BOYER
Body Bios are due!!
We will be spending three days on a Narrative Writing Assignment! Students will be asked to rewrite THREE key scenes from Macbeth in narrative form. This is a creative writing exercise which will focus on vocabulary and imagery. Each scene will be one page in narrative form.
Lastly, we will be gearing up for the FINAL ASSESSMENT! The Macbeth TEST! February 1st! NO WORKBOOK!
Study Strategies:
Review all previous quizzes
Practice Sparknote Essays
Come in for practice prompts
Review Workbook with a peer or guardian.
Create a plot mountain going Act by Act, scene by scene
**Upcoming**
BRAIN BREAK!!!
This 8th grade class has absolutely IMPRESSED me with their attentiveness during our Macbeth Unit! They really dove into the material, and rarely complained. :) Therefore, we are going to have a bit of a Brain Break during the week of 2/1 (after the test of course). We will be watching The Help, based on the award winning novel by Kathryn Stockett. Please watch your email for a permission slip. :)
STAR Reading Test on 2/8.
We will then begin our Holocaust Unit on February 9th. The 8th grade class will be competing in the Jewish Education Alliance’s Yom HaShoah Holocaust Art & Writing Contest.
**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
Students have been working hard on our Motion unit as they continue to learn about speed, velocity and acceleration. We have also discussed reference points, displacement, the three types of speed (constant, instantaneous, average) and the three ways an object can accelerate. Next week the students will make motion graphs and participate in a motion or roller coaster lab depending on the weather. They will be measuring speed and the effect of speed on stopping distances. The test for this new unit will be on Tuesday, February 1st. Finally, the January Science in Comic is due Monday, 1/31/22.
Science Fair Update:
The eighth grade students advancing to the Regional Science and Engineering Fair (RSEF) have been working on their video presentations and updated formal reports. The RSEF has recently changed to a virtual event and I am awaiting final details. Please help congratulate these students on advancing to the Regional fair. We wish them Good Luck!!
The following students placed in the top 10 of the school science fair competition and will be advancing to the regional fair.
Anthony DeMott
Coles Brown
Elle Roberts
Luke Nguyen
Maggie Allen
Mollie Dugas
Sean Adams
Stafford Wilson
Theo McGuirk
Will Routhier
US HISTORY- Mr. Gauthier
All students are currently taking a journey across America during the Gilded Age. Ask your son or daughter about the project!!!! Projects have been assigned and are due next week.
SPANISH - MRS. SALE
Hello...the students will start the week off by going over the test taken on Friday. A mini translation project will be given mid week. Reviewing the weather and the months will come next. Ordinal numbers will wrap the week up. There are no planned quizzes or tests this week.
ADVANCED SPANISH - MRS. SALE
I hope everyone had a nice weekend. The students will work on a mini project that centers around stem changing verbs. On Tuesday, the students will take a test over the stem changing verbs. Mid-end of the week, the fourth type of stem changing verbs will be introduced.
ADVANCED SPANISH - MS. CROCKER
This week we will be making comic strips depicting what a character likes to do using our new vocabulary. There will be sufficient class time to finish the project. The project is due on Friday at the beginning of class!
ALGEBRA 1 - MRS. TAYLOR
Next week, students will finish up Chapter 6, Inequalities, next week, Review for the Chapter 1/25 and 1/26-test will be on Monday 1/31. Students will STAR math assess on 1/27. Please stay tuned for an email regarding STAR testing. Your child does not need to study for this.
PRE-ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will continue Chapter 6 by learning how to create equivalent rates (6.1), how to write and solve proportions (6.2-6.3), and identifying similar figures and their corresponding parts (6.4). There will be a Math Facts Quiz on Monday - students were given the outline of what will be assessed this past week. The first Star Math Assessment will be given to E block on Wednesday and B block on Thursday.
ELA - MRS. BOYER
Our new unit is up and running! Students are about ½ of the way through their choice novels at this point. (Lu by Jason Reynolds, The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz, and The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis) We had two Book Club meetings and have two more scheduled. Students are feeling more comfortable with their Book Club Journals. Check-in dates are listed below:
6-10 1/21
11-15 1/27
16-20 2/4
We will be writing a Poem in Two Voices! Students will use their creativity to write a poem based on their character and….another character…an inner fear…etc. I am so excited to see what they come up with!
We have been practicing writing practice paragraph responses regarding their reading and will continue to do so this week as well!
Students will be having a reading day on 1/25 ( A Block) and 1/26 (B Block). Students may bring a blanket or pillow for that class. :) Students may also use this time to get ahead on their Book Club Journals.
The final Book Club Journal is worth TWO project grades. This will be the focus of their homework for T2.
The Final Project for this unit will be a TEST grade.
Please see the Google Classroom PPT for more information regarding this unit. :)
STAR Reading Test on 2.3.
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
Students have been loving The Lord of the Flies! We are three chapters in, and they have had some amazing discussions and insight. Please remember—there are TONS of resources on Google Classroom for the kids to check out in order to help increase their comprehension. So far, students seem to be doing extremely well without the resources, but if they ever feel stuck please remind them to utilize these!
This week, we will discuss chapters 4-5, analyzing each particular character's role on the island and how the boys as a whole are falling deeper into their savage nature. We will also discuss how the island is moving away from a paradise more to a dystopia.
Students will need to answer their guided questions carefully, but should also be taking diligent notes during our class discussions. These notes will help students prepare for quizzes and for our final unit test.
The reading schedule is posted below. Students will have a reading comprehension quiz each week over the assigned reading. They will also have a vocab test over chapters 1-6 on January 28th.
Lord of the Flies Reading Timeline:
Chapters 1-3—Due Tuesday 1/18
Chapters 4-5—Due Tuesday 1/25
Chapters 5-7—Due Tuesday 2/1
Chapters 8-9—Due Tuesday 2/8
Chapters 10-12—Due Tuesday 2/15
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
Next week in Life Science, we will be wrapping up our unit on the Nervous System. We will focus on the structure of the neuron and diseases/disorders of the Nervous System before completing the unit. Blocks A and F will have a quiz on Tuesday, and Block C will have a quiz on Wednesday. Unit test on the Nervous System will be on Friday. Please remind your student to check the google classroom daily for assignments and study materials.
US HISTORY - MR. GAUTHIER
Next week we will continue with the beginnings of the constitutional convention and creating the US Constitution. Classroom project of the Three Branches will be completed.
US HISTORY - MR. O’HAYER
Next week in American History students will begin a new Unit: The New Republic and The War of 1812. In this unit students will examine the main events that occurred from the time of George Washinton to the seventh president, Andrew Jackson.
ACCELERATED MATH - MRS. TAYOR
Students will begin Chapter 7. We are taking this unit slower. It involves Equations, Combining like terms, solving equations, solving inequalities, graphing inequalities, and functions. Our first quiz will be 2/2. Also, STAR math assessments will be on 2/1. Your child cannot study for this. I will send an email out regarding this assessment.
PRE-ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will continue Chapter 6 by learning how to create equivalent rates (6.1), how to write and solve proportions (6.2-6.3), and identifying similar figures and their corresponding parts (6.4). There will be a Math Facts Quiz on Monday - students were given the outline of what will be assessed this past week. The first Star Math Assessment will be given to F block on Thursday.
EARTH SCIENCE - MS. HOFFMAN
The sixth grade unit test on Plate Tectonics will be on Monday, 1/24/22. This assessment will include information on layers of the earth, continental drift, sea-floor spreading and plate boundaries. We have been working this week on learning and/or reviewing this information. Following this test, students will continue their study of geology with rocks and minerals. Students will participate in a mineral identification lab to observe the various characteristics of rocks. A sand lab is also scheduled for students at the end of the week. Finally, the January Science in Comic is due Monday, 1/31/22.
EARTH SCIENCE - MRS. DURANT
Next week in Earth Science, we will wrap up our unit on Plate Tectonics. The test on Continental Drift Theory/Plate Tectonics will be on Tuesday. We will then begin our unit on Earthquakes. Please remind your student to check the Google Classroom daily for assignments and study materials which have been posted for daily review.
ELA - MRS. SASSER
On Friday, we began our next novel study: Refugee. Students were placed into literature circle groups and were assigned to read ONE of the stories in the book. We went over literature circle expectations and roles, and I gave them a reading calendar for the duration of our novel study.
As with any novel study, students MUST keep up with their assigned reading. Assigned reading will be due EVERY Friday, when students will meet with their groups. If students have not completed their reading, they will be unable to participate in the group discussion and will be losing points.
This week, as we prep for our first literature circle meeting, students will research what life is like as a refugee. They will be doing some background building on their particular character’s time in history. They will be given class time to conduct research and confer with their group mates each day. This background knowledge will be essential for their understanding of the novel.
Refugee Reading Timeline:
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
This week we will be making a storyboard depicting what a character likes to do. There will be sufficient class time to finish the project. The project is due Wednesday for Block D and Thursday for Blocks C and D.
WORLD HISTORY - MR. O’HAYER
Next week in World History students will begin a new Unit (book): The Industrial Revolution: Changes and Challenges. In this Unit we will study how the IR developed and its impacts on society. Students will look specifically into the ideals of Capitalism, the Industrial Age, Living in the Industrial Era, Karl Marx, and From Farms to Factories.
ART - MRS. COOKSON
“Have no fear of perfection; you will never reach it.” - Marie Curie
Sketchbook Prompt:
8th: Draw your favorite animal with a human face.
7th: Draw your “dream” car.
6th: Draw a close up of an enlarged leaf.
Classwork Challenges:
8th: Will work on a digital portrait inspired by the work of Kehinde Wiley of a prominent figure for Black History month
7th: Will begin work on a Concert poster
6th: Will finish up their Restricted Sculpture
ROBOTICS
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