March 28th - April 1st
ERB TESTING IS NEXT WEEK
We have ERB testing next week: Monday, March 28th through Thursday, March 31st. Please plan to send your student(s) to school with a substantial snack these days.
6th AND 7th GRADE SET TO TRAVEL TO NORTH CAROLINA!
From Monday, May 2nd, through Wednesday, May 4th, the 6th and 7th grades will be “retreating” to the mountains of North Carolina. The 6th grade will be going to the Blue Ridge YMCA in Black Mountain and the 7th grade will be going to The Mountain Trail Outdoor School (aka Camp Kanuga) in Hendersonville. CRITICAL INFORMATION IS NEEDED FROM FAMILIES! We need to confirm our numbers with both camps. Each family must complete a Google form to confirm their child’s participation. IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WE WILL ASSUME YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE ATTENDING. If you have not previously responded please go to the appropriate link to let us know if you are coming.
6th grade families: CLICK HERE
7th grade families: CLICK HERE
BE IN THE KNOW!!
PARENT INFORMATION MEETINGS PLANNED FOR APRIL 13TH AND 20TH!
There will be two parent meetings in April to keep everyone in the loop as things speed up toward the end of the year. 6th and 7th grade parents will meet either in Hancock Hall or on Zoom on Wednesday, April 13th @ 6:00. The main agenda item is to discuss the details for the trips to North Carolina. 8th grade families will meet on Zoom only on Wednesday, April 20th at 7:30. This meeting is starting later due to a golf match earlier in the afternoon. We will discuss raising money for the class gift (a second scoreboard for the gym), the May “Festival” week (week of May 2nd), and graduation week details.
COUNTING DOWN TO GRADUATION AND SUMMER VACATION!
We are in the final trimester of the year and the “countdown” has begun (especially for the 8th graders!) toward the end of the year. Once we get back from Spring break things move quickly and there are lots of once a year activities. To help keep things straight, important dates can be found at this link.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ROBOTICS CLUB
If your child loves to tinker and would enjoy learning about STEM in a concrete way, this is the place for them. At Robotics Club, students step into engineers’ shoes as they build and program their robots. Students will get the opportunity to build, test, and refine their robot's design. We will utilize the Vex IQ curriculum and robotics kits. If this sounds like something your middle schooler would be interested in, register below.
We will meet on Wednesdays beginning next Wednesday, March 30, and ending with a showcase in Hancock Hall on May 18 at 3:45 to show you all the awesome things your students have created!
ASSESSMENTS AND PROJECTS CALENDAR
Parents and students 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 work 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!
Tricia Guggenheim
Have a Homework Plan - (Marydee Sklar: Tips to Help Students Succeed))
A List is Not a Plan
A to-do list is just a list. A plan,however, requires activating executive function skills in the brain. A plan requires being strategic with your time management. You must consider the space of time you have. For a student, tasks have to fit into the time before going to bed. A plan requires thinking about the future, which means remembering to work on projects due in a few weeks, not just homework due tomorrow. A plan considers all of your responsibilities - remembering chores as well as personal reward. Promise yourself a fun activity or break once the homework and chores are done.
Teach your child to plan his time and tasks is a tremendously important life skill. It will only take a couple of minutes after school each day for your child to create his/her plan for the time before going to bed. Developing this habit will make your child’s adult life so much easier. Reading this whole tip will take longer than the actual planning.
Planning Process Summary:
Provide a tool on which to write the plan so it can be kept in sight
Set a time to plan
Model the planning process
Have your child write his/her plan
Record the estimated and actual times for each task to be completed
Cross off completed tasks
Show completed work to a parent
Research continues to come out about the importance of developing “grit” in kids. It is the ability to push toward long-term goals despite challenges or failure. Luckily, it is something that can be developed and parents can take the lead on helping their child learn. One of my personal favorite tips is for parents to model a growth mindset. This allows children to understand that with hard work, you can truly develop any skill or ability. Parents can normalize mistakes by discussing obstacles or failures and sharing positive “self talk” that helps push towards success.
How (and Why) to Teach Kids to Have More Grit
Please feel free to get in touch with me at amaher@hancockdayschool.org if you have any questions or concerns.
ALGEBRA 1- MRS. TAYLOR
Students will begin Chapter 9 with minimal HW this week due to ERB’s. We are moving to polynomials.
ADVANCED ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR
Next week in Advanced Algebra, we continue our review of important Algebra I topics by reviewing linear functions including how to graph them and write their equations in slope-intercept form and point-slope form.
GEOMETRY - MR. LANFEAR
Next week in Geometry, we will spend the week reviewing important Algebra I topics such as double-distributing (FOIL), solving quadratic equations, factoring, and graphing linear inequalities.
ELA - MRS. BOYER
The 8th grade class will be competing in the Jewish Education Alliance’s Yom HaShoah Holocaust Art & Writing Contest.The final submissions will be due the week of April 1st. Students will be working on this project in class; you will be receiving a packet to sign. This project functions like the Science Fair project as it spans many weeks and multiple grade categories.
Yom HoShoah Due Dates
There will be an Extra Credit Opportunity, worth a PROJECT grade for T3!!! Check GC.
Night Quiz 4/1.
Night Test 4/13-14.
Students will be reading about 20-30 pages each week. I will be giving out discussion questions. Students are encouraged to work through as many questions as possible. I will be asking that they complete at least half by the assigned due date.
Pg 47-84 due by Tuesday 3/29.
Finish Novel by Tuesday, 4/5.
**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
Our focus in 8th grade science this week has been on sound and how we hear. This includes learning the basic parts of the ear and information on decibels, pitch and the Doppler Effect. During their sound lab, students demonstrated how pitch and loudness is affected by different mediums, experimented with tuning forks and sound pipes, and made musical straws. (See photos next week.) Students also started an at-home mini-project where they are working with a partner(s) to create their own collection of different musical genres from around the world. This project will have a progress check on Tuesday, 3/29 and the entire assignment is due Wednesday, 4/6.
Next week during class we will discuss sonic booms, breaking the sound barrier and echolocation, and the students will then make a wave/sound review booklet. There will also be a binder check on Tuesday 3/29. Our quiz on sound will be on Tuesday, 4/5/22 and the Waves/ Sound unit test is scheduled for Friday, 4/8/22. Lastly, don’t forget our March Science in Comic is due Thursday, 3/31/22.
A reminder that all rubrics, homework and classwork are posted on Google Classroom under the appropriate topic. This includes all videos, websites, diagrams, notes and other material we use in class. Students are encouraged to use them for review and studying.
US HISTORY- Mr. Gauthier
Current events continue to be discussed and analyzed. This week and next we will be exploring the “Roaring 20’s” into the Great Depression and the implications going into WW2
SPANISH - MRS. SALE
Hello…we will begin the week with learning the preterite tense. Up to this point, everything has been in the present tense…now it is time to move to the past tense. We will work on this concept all week. There will be no tests or quizzes.
ADVANCED SPANISH - MRS. SALE
The students will continue working on the vocabulary, weather, and months. In addition, the Direct Object Pronouns will be introduced. We will work with this concept all week. There will be no tests or quizzes this week.
ADVANCED SPANISH - MS. CROCKER
We are getting ready to walk down the runway this week! The kids started a fashion show group project last week and our final performance is Friday, April 1st! This will be an in-class project but require the kids to bring in clothing items from home for runway day. Our next assessment is Monday, April 4th that covers list 6A (clothing items and ir/er verbs)
DUE DATES:
First Draft of runway script: Tuesday, March 29th
Outfits and speech feedback given by Maestra C: Thursday, March 31st
Performance, Final Script, and Escenario: Friday, April 1st
ALGEBRA 1 - MRS. TAYLOR
Students will begin Chapter 9 with minimal HW this week due to ERB’s. We are moving to polynomials.
PRE-ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will spend the week working on a group project where groups design their own playground and create a scale drawing of their design.
ELA - MRS. BOYER
We are READING SHAKESPEARE this week! We will be getting students ready for 8th grade with a mini/super quick intro to Shakespeare using an abridged version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Students will be assigned a character to read throughout the week; it is imperative that students try their best to interact with the material in order to truly expand their thinking.
Shakespeare Intro Quiz on 3/28! Students have multiple hand-outs and study guides to use.
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
Workbooks for A Midsummer Night’s Dream will count as a test grade and are due Monday 3/28.
This week, students will work in groups to complete a setting/costume project. They will pick a particular era to set Shakespeare’s play in, designing a set and costumes for the play based on their chosen era. Students will spend time researching their chosen era and work in both ELA and Art to complete this project. The overall goal is to show how the themes and ideas in Shakespeare’s plays are timeless! This is a partner project, so students should work together and plan to use their class time wisely. Final projects are due Friday 4/8.
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, students will begin our unit on Bacteria and Viruses. We will investigate the differences between bacterias and viruses as well as diseases they cause in plants, animals, and humans. We will also look at the beneficial factors of bacteria. Please remind your student to check the Google Classroom daily for assignments, announcements, and study materials.
US HISTORY - MR. GAUTHIER
Presentations are finishing this week. Next week we look into Westward expansion and building the New Nation.
US HISTORY - MR. O’HAYER
Next week in American History: Students have ERB testing and our class schedule will be altered. Students will begin a more indepth study of the Indian Removal Act and its impact and legacy. Our next project will also be introduced. Students will be debating multiple sides of the Indian Removal Act.
ACCELERATED MATH - MRS. TAYLOR
We are moving to Chapter 8 next week. The HW will be minimal due to ERB’s. We will be covering ratios, rates, proportions and slope.
PRE-ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will spend the week working on a group project where groups design their own playground and create a scale drawing of their design.
EARTH SCIENCE - MS. HOFFMAN
This week in 6th grade science we have been learning about the three basic groups of ocean animals–benthic, nekton and plankton. This included notes, discussion, video clips and a microscope lab observing live animals found living under a floating dock. During this Dock Lab students observed and drew examples of plants and animals they saw including skeleton shrimp (one with eggs!), scud, isopods, polyps, bryozoan and tunicates (sea squirts). (See photos below.) Students then worked in groups using this information, and things learned previously in class, to create an ocean diorama illustrating the various ocean topography, zones, and animal life. We also learned about tracking sharks on the OCEARCH website and the school will have a guest speaker next Wednesday during an afternoon assembly. Each student also received information for their Ocean Animal Cereal Box Project. The majority of the project needs to take place at home (and/or during the end-of-the day tutorial), but our class on Friday, 4/1 will be utilized for additional research and printing at school. There will be a project notecard progress check (homework grade) on Wednesday, 4/6/22 and the entire project will be due on Wednesday, 4/13/22.
Next week we will begin learning about Ocean Motion focusing on waves and tides. We will continue with ocean currents the following week leading up to our quiz on ocean animals and ocean motion on Thursday, 4/7/22. Next week we will also have a binder check on Monday, 3/28 and begin an oceans study guide for the Ocean unit test scheduled for Monday, 4/11/22. Lastly, don’t forget our March Science in Comic is due Thursday, 3/31/22.
A reminder that all rubrics, homework and classwork are posted on Google Classroom under the appropriate topic. This includes all videos, websites, diagrams, notes and other material we use in class. Students are encouraged to use them for review and studying.
EARTH SCIENCE - MRS. DURANT
Next week in Earth Science, we will wrap up our unit on Rocks and Minerals with a brief overview of fossils in preparation for our virtual field trip with the Aurora Fossil Museum. We will then begin our unit on Earth’s Waters beginning with surface water vs groundwater. We will also conduct a lab in which students construct an aquifer. 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
What a FUN first week we had diving into The Outsiders. The kids seems super excited to read this book and I can’t wait to see their reactions as we progress!
This week, we’ll be working on breaking down the characters from the novel, identifying the Greasers and Scos. Students will complete character analysis stations to become more familiar with character traits. Later in the week, they will complete a brief reader’s theater assignment in small groups.
The Outsiders Reading Assignments
*Final test over The Outsiders will be on students’ final exam at the end of May. Students will be given a full study guide of material on the exam and be allowed to use a notecard.
LOOKING AHEAD: One of my favorite things to do once we complete reading the novel is to allow the kids to watch the film. Please DO NOT let them watch the movie before we finish reading, as it can sometimes cause the kids to be confused. We will watch the movie on Wednesday 4/27 (D BLOCK) and Thursday 4/28 (B/C BLOCK). I typically bring in snacks and the kids are allowed to dress up as Greasers/Socs for the day (we will go over dress code for this as we get closer). If you are able, please feel free to donate a few snacks on this day! :-)
As a reminder: projects and essays in ELA are designed to help students think critically about the reading they have completed. I structure these assignments in a way that almost 95% should be completed in class. I carve out time and multiple periods for students to have ample time to work, ask questions, and be productive, which should limit their homework load. If students utilize this time wisely and stay on task, they should be coming home with minimal homework.
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
Last week we started a group project skit that covers our clothing and shopping vocabulary! Performance day will be Friday, April 1st. There is a quiz Monday, April 4th on this vocabulary list and -ar verbs.
DUE DATES for project:
First Draft of skit: Wednesday, March 30th (D block: Tuesday)
Prop Powerpoint Due and Speech Feedback given by Maestra C: Thursday, March 31st (D block: Wednesday)
Performance and Final Draft: Friday, April 1st
WORLD HISTORY - MR. O’HAYER
Next week in World History students will begin our examination of Karl Marx and his impacts on economic systems. Students will dive deep into the three economic theories: Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism. We will also introduce the next group project- Debating the pros/cons/impacts of the big three systems mentioned above.
ART - MRS. COOKSON
“Creativity takes courage.” - Henri Matisse
Sketchbook Prompt:
8th: Draw yourself in 20 years.
7th: Draw popped popcorn.
6th: Draw a pile of candy.
Classwork Challenges:
8th: Will continue to work on Sgraffito (clay)
7th: Will work on set design models and costumes for A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
6th: Will finish a collage “self-portrait”
Comments
Post a Comment