November 28 - December 2nd
Dear Parents,
As we look to Thanksgiving, it is a time for all of us to pause and think about the things for which we are thankful. At Hancock Day School, we have the good fortune to be the recipients of many blessings.
We are thankful for our wonderful students who come to school each day prepared to accept the challenge of learning with unsurpassed eagerness and joy. Our students are a gift to us and we are so lucky to experience their learning journey with them.
We are grateful for our parents who have placed their trust in us to care for and educate their children each day. We are so fortunate to have a collaborative partnership with parents who value education and believe in the mission of our school.
We are thankful for our devoted and inspired faculty. Our faculty go above and beyond so often that it seems commonplace to all of us! We are lucky to have such a talented and dedicated group of educators in our Middle School classrooms.
On behalf of the HDS Middle School, we wish you a week of family, friends, fun, and fellowship.
Kind regards,
Jack Cargile
Head of Middle School
Carpool Notes from the Administration
Dear Families,
Hancock Day School prides itself on the strength of our home and school-community partnership. One vital element of our partnership is the shared responsibility for our arrival procedures.
Safe and smooth arrival to school each day is of great importance to Hancock Day School; our goal is to provide the most effective and safe exchange of students from your vehicle to our classrooms. To that end, it is imperative that we receive your cooperation, patience, and thoughtfulness concerning the protocols that have been implemented. In addition, we have made a slight change to the morning carpool drop-off time to ensure that students are able to be in their homerooms by 8:15 am when the school day begins.
When students arrive at school, there are daily routines in place to prepare them for the day. Students really need some transition time to unpack their bags, greet their teachers and friends, use the restroom, sharpen pencils, etc… In addition, homerooms are a crucial time for students to receive important information for the day ahead. If a student arrives later than 8:10, he/she will be rushed, and likely miss out on information needed for a successful start to the day.
· Drop-off will run from 7:30 until 8:10 am. From 7:30 to 7:55, middle school students who are dropped off at White Gate will wait in Hancock Hall, unless there is a need to meet with a teacher. At 7:55, regular carpool at all gates will begin. We encourage you to take advantage of this early arrival option.
· Students may not arrive before 7:30 am.
· A bell will ring at 8:10 am to indicate that carpool is ending. All students should be out of their cars at this point.
· At 8:15, a second bell will ring, indicating the start of the school day. Teachers will no longer unload cars.
· Middle school children may get out of a vehicle without an adult present after 8:10. However, the student will be responsible for checking into the middle school office so that they can be marked tardy with Mrs. Mannarino.
In addition, please review the expectations outlined in our handbook:
o DESIGNATED DRIVING LANES
o NO CELL PHONE USE (State Law)
o NO LEFT TURNS OUT OF OUR CAMPUS (During Carpool Hours)
o PLEASE USE YOUR INDICATORS WHEN TURNING
o NO SPEEDING
o BE AWARE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL BE ON CAMPUS FROM TIME TO TIME AND WILL NOT HESITATE TO GIVE YOU A TICKET IF YOU VIOLATE IT.
We appreciate your cooperation and partnership.
HDS Administration
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 or see Mrs. Mannarino in the office.
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. My phone extension is 327.
I look forward to working with you!
Tricia Guggenheim
#11. How Much Review Is Best?
Review textbook chapters before teachers lecture about them in class. This process gives your brain enough knowledge to help you pay better attention in class. You can reduce study and homework time if you have a deeper understanding of the material.
Have you enthusiastically asked your student how their day was at school to be met with an unenthusiastic “fine”? Or, have you asked your student what they learned at school and they responded “nothing”?
You are not alone. Getting middle school students to talk about their day can be like pulling teeth. However, this article has some good tips and conversation starters to lead to meaningful after school discussions.
Check out this quick read: How to Get Your Child to Talk About School
Please feel free to get in touch with me at amaher@hancockdayschool.org if you have any questions or concerns.
ALGEBRA 1 - Mrs. Taylor
I will update parents over the holiday for the week after Thanksgiving.
ADVANCED ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Advanced Algebra, we will complete the first part of Chapter 11 by having a test on 11.1-11.2 on Tuesday. We will then begin the second part of Chapter 11 by learning how to solve radical equations (11.3).
GEOMETRY - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Geometry, we will continue Chapter 5 by having a quiz covering sections 5.1-5.2 on Tuesday and learning about more special line segments in triangles. Those include the median and altitudes (5.4).
ELA - Mrs. Boyer
We have finished Act I and II in Macbeth! Coming soon…Act III - V! If they miss any classes throughout the week, they will be responsible for reading the text on their own. IT IS CRITICAL THAT STUDENTS KEEP UP WITH THIS WORKBOOK. THEY WILL NEED TO KEEP IT IN A SAFE PLACE FOR HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES IN THE YEARS TO COME!!
Although we will be reading/acting out the entire play IN CLASS, it is critical that your child reread each scene as their work through the workbook pages. Shakespeare is challenging, but incredibly transformative to the mind if done right. I need the students to truly complete their homework each night to be prepared for activities, POP quizzes, assessments, projects and writing assignments. Students are also expected to come in early to **check** their annotations compared to mine. :)
Assessments:
TEST ACT III & IV 12/6 (E&F Block) & 12/7 (C Block)
The Exam will be over Macbeth ONLY! The focus will be on Act I-IV, with a few questions on Act V. We will have a quiz over Act V when we return from Winter Break.
***In 8th grade it is critical that students need to be completing their homework each night. This is a KEY component to success for 8th ELA. POP Quizzes are continuing…Students are learning that it is critical for students to annotate their books in regards to characters and key details. For students to do well on these assessments, please use the following strategies:
Read and annotate (check annotations with Mrs. Boyer’s book).
Ask for practice questions
Come in and practice writing prompts
Spend a solid 30 minutes each night on reading, review, etc.
**Students are currently writing in an ELA specific journal. This journal will be a critical piece throughout the year. I would highly encourage students to take very good care of this journal as it will be extremely helpful as they venture on to high school.**
PHYSICAL SCIENCE - Ms. Hallman
The week after Thanksgiving will find us wrapping up the last of our new material for Unit 3 with the end of Chapter 13. We will really take our time investigating acids and bases as this can be the most exciting part of chemistry for most students. Looking a bit further ahead, they will have a test and project the second week of December before we begin reviewing for our final exam. As we move into the holiday season, specifically Thanksgiving, I just want to give thanks to the students and parents who have made this first year of teaching so special. It is truly such a blessing to support these students in and out of the classroom and watch them succeed. They have worked hard this past week and I believe they are starting to see the results of a consistent concerted effort.
For improvement in test scores: rewriting notes, making flashcards, or simply quizzing themselves on information from that day would help immensely. It really only takes 15-20 minutes and is a skill they should begin building. I expect them to be doing this each night regardless if they have science homework or not.
US HISTORY - Mr. Gauthier Hello parents! Your sons and daughters have been working very hard on their Gilded Age projects. They have done an insane amount of research and I am looking forward to reading their journals . After Thanksgiving break we will have a final assessment on the Gilded Age and then begin our journey into the 20th Century!
SPANISH - Ms. Crocker
The students participated so well in our bachata dance lesson this week! A lot of students were apprehensive at first but then really started to enjoy themselves! I was so impressed how quickly they caught on (photos below). This week, students will present their music and dance projects (project due dates: A/D Blocks Tuesday; B Block Wed) and we have a QUIZ on verbs. Please make sure your students are studying their verb flashcards! We have lots of irregular verbs!
REMINDER: Students have received a lot of material so far…they should be studying vocab ON THEIR OWN AT HOME 10-15 minutes/day! Flashcards are HIGHLY recommended!
ADVANCED SPANISH - Ms. Brown
The trimester is quickly drawing to an end -a shout out to all of the students who finished off strong by meeting the late-work deadline! Looking forward to the next trimester!
ADVANCED SPANISH - Ms. Crocker
The students participated so well in our bachata dance lesson this week! A lot of students were apprehensive at first but then really started to enjoy themselves! I was so impressed how quickly they caught on.This week, students will present their music and dance projects (project due dates: E Blocks Tuesday; C Block Wed) and we have a QUIZ on verbs! We will also learn the “Pavo Pavito” dance (little turkey dance). Please make sure your students are studying their verb flashcards! We have lots of irregular verbs!
REMINDER: Students have received a lot of material so far…they should be studying vocab ON THEIR OWN AT HOME 10-15 minutes/day! Flashcards are HIGHLY recommended!
ALGEBRA 1 - Mrs. Taylor
I will update parents over the holiday for the week after Thanksgiving.
PRE-ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will begin the second half of Chapter 4 by learning about exponent rules such as the Product and Quotient properties (4.5-4.6). There will be a quiz on 4.5-4.6 on Friday.
ELA - Mrs. Buchner & Mrs. Boyer
FINISHED!! Students have embraced the concept of IDEA BASED WRITING! They seem to be enjoying digging deeper into texts, using the Children’s Book The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt. We are still working to answer our essential question, What are stories truly about?, as we practice close reading strategies in our reading of the text.
Next week, we will dive into our second picture book, Patchwork by Matt De La Pena, and follow the same format. Students will read through, pick out the true meaning, discuss possible lenses and examples, and write a thesis statement. We will begin to lead students through how to navigate this process independently. This will also take one week.
NEXT UP!
Then, we will dive into our third text, a video text where students will independently follow the format to build their ideas, organize their opinion, and write their thesis statement. This will also take about a week.
Lastly, students will choose from four picture books where they will be asked to write a five paragraph essay using this format. This will be about two weeks.
This will be a bridge to our Book Club Unit beginning in January: Voices of the World.
**Mrs. Boyer and Mrs. Tucker (5th) have used this writing format and have seen drastic changes in their students. They were taught this writing format this summer as they attended the Teachers College at Columbia University in New York for their Writing & Reading Workshop.**
Assessments:
TEST over Idea Based Writing Thursday December 1st
PROJECT Part 1- Idea Based Writing Due Dec. 6th
PROJECT Part 2- Idea Based Writing Due Dec 9th
Students are highly encouraged to come in for extra help if they are having any difficulty with any assignment. Mrs. Buchner and Mrs. Boyer are available weekday mornings from 7:45 am to 8:15 am.
Strategies for Home:
-Students should be studying for the quiz and test a little each night. Students retain information much better if they study along the way, rather than cramming the night before a test.
-All homework assignments are in Google Calendar and Our Weekly Google Slide Presentation.
-Students should be coming in from 7:45-8:15 am to review/ask questions/work on their homework.
Exam: Thursday December 15th 10:45-12:15
The 7th grade ELA Exam will revolve around reading a short story, diving into the literary devices within the story, creating a written response based on the Writing Unit previously taught. Students will receive the story ONE week ahead of the exam.
**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.
LIFE SCIENCE - Mrs. DuRant
We will continue our unit on Genetics and Inherited Traits. We will work with Punnett Squares and do a couple of labs related to inherited traits. Please remind your student to check the Google Classroom daily for announcements, assignments, and study materials. Check out this small sampling of pics from last week’s review of Mitosis. They did wonderful work!
US HISTORY - Mr. Gauthier. Hello parents! Your sons and daughters have been working hard on learning about the causes leading up to the American Revolution. They have been learning about the differences of philosophy between Patriots and Loyalists as we connect it to the different philosophies that separate us today. We are going to take a pause during the study of the Revolution to continue our adopted curriculum of Financial LIteracy. Your sons and daughters have a good base knowledge of where our money comes from and what we do with it. To take things a few steps further we are going to discuss and learn about renting versus buying, supply and demand, saving and spending, investing, etc, etc. The culminating activity of the Financial Literacy unit will be a trip to GA Southern Armstrong Campus to participate in the Junior Achievement Financial Literacy program. Here the students will be given “jobs” and “paychecks” and then learn how to manage their money. This FInancial Literacy trip will take place on January 10, 2023.
US HISTORY - Mr. O’Hayer
Wishing Everyone a Happy and Relaxing Thanksgiving Break. When we return we will finish our study of the 13 Colonies. Our focus will be on the New England colonies. We will also dive deep into the growing slave trade and examine the Middle Passage. Students will also continue to work on their Writers’ Corner/Think Twice projects. These assignments will be an ongoing project the students will complete each chapter.
ACCELERATED MATH - Mrs. Taylor
I will update parents over the holiday for the week after Thanksgiving.
PRE-ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will begin the second half of Chapter 4 by learning about exponent rules such as the Product and Quotient properties (4.5-4.6). There will be a quiz on 4.5-4.6 on Friday.
EARTH SCIENCE - Mrs. DuRant
Students will continue their Energy unit by working on an in-class project researching a renewable energy resource. I will be working closely with each group to help them develop their research skills. Students will also investigate the effects of coal mining on the environment through a fun lab called the Cookie Mining Lab. They will have a quiz on renewable and nonrenewable resources on Wednesday, November 30. Please have your student check the Google Classroom daily for announcements, assignments, and study materials.
EARTH SCIENCE - Ms. Hallman
We are finishing up the Energy unit following break by doing a project on a renewable energy source. We will complete a lab to demonstrate the effects of coal mining on the environment and take a quiz over this unit on Thursday (12/1). I just want to also take a moment during this season of Thanksgiving and say how thankful I am for the parents and students that have and continue to make this first year of teaching such a sweet one. Being with your 6th graders each day is a blessing and I can’t wait to continue to watch them grow. As we enter what might be a stressful time with students taking their first exams, please encourage your children to self-advocate for help or reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
ELA - Mrs. Buchner
Students are working hard on our IDEA BASED WRITING unit. We finished the week with a quiz over the format of Idea Based Writing, as well as our first mentor text, Areli is a Dreamer by Areli Morales. Students explored the concepts of character, textual connections, and the ladder of abstraction. We also began working on how to write a clear thesis statement.
The week following Thanksgiving Break we will work with another mentor text, Coffee Rabbit Snowdrop Lost by Betina Birkjaer. This is a story about how a young girl tries to understand her grandfather’s dementia, as he “loses his words.” Students will practice the close reading skills they are developing, as well as work on writing a strong thesis statement and introduction paragraph for this portion of the unit.
Students will choose a text to read in preparation for the final test over the unit on December 6th. Students will be expected to write a thesis statement and introduction paragraph on a text of their choice after they have conducted the steps of Idea Based Writing Analysis.
The exam will be over the Idea Based Writing unit. Students will be given a text to analyze in advance of the exam. They will be expected to prepare notes over the book assigned to them to use as a resource on exam day. Students will be given three class days to prepare their notes.
After winter break, students will begin reading independently and creating book responses monthly to encourage reading outside the classroom, as well to help them become stronger readers.
Students will continue to receive Classwork grades for their daily notes. Homework assignments can be found in your student’s Google Calendar, as well as the weekly Google Slide Presentation in their ELA Google Classroom. Students are highly encouraged to come in for help in the mornings from 7:45-8:15 a.m. I am unavailable on Wednesdays from 7:45 to 8:00 a.m. due to carpool duty. On occasion, I will announce a 7:30 a.m. tutorial on a given morning if I see students are struggling with the content. This will appear in the Google Classroom stream. You can also email me if you would like for your student to have a longer tutorial starting at 7:30 a.m
Upcoming Assessments:
Idea Based Writing Test
Tuesday December 6th
Idea Based Writing Project-Exam: Wednesday December 14th-10:45-12:15
INTRO SPANISH - Ms. Brown
The trimester is quickly drawing to an end -a shout out to all of the students who finished off strong by meeting the late-work deadline! Looking forward to the next trimester!
WORLD HISTORY - Mr. O’Hayer
Wishing everyone a happy and restful Thanksgiving break. When we return students will examine how Christianity developed in Rome and its impact on the ancient world. We will then close out this Unit by studying the fall of the Roman Empire. Reminder- we will continue to pick up the pace in World History. Students will need to keep up with their readings and review outlines daily in order to keep pace.
Middle School Art
Good Day HDS community! Gratitude for the Senses has kept the creativity flowing this week in the art studio. Georgia Peaches illustrated in both pastel and watercolor launched the Unit and then grade levels moved to individual projects. Inspired by a dining room painting by Matisse, Sixth graders interior space to fill with furniture and personal style. Seventh graders zoom in with table compositions featuring breakfast items, sandwiched and sweet treats! The eighth graders have shown excellent skill in large scale tempera paintings inspired by Wayne Theibaud. Their palettes are delicious as you can see in the stack of pancakes!
Gratitude for the Senses will continue in the early part of Trimester ll.
Use this Artsonia pdf to access the publishing of artwork!
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