February 27th - March 3rd
Dear Parents,
Student-led conferences are next Friday, March 3rd, and we look forward to seeing you here with your student. The conferences are a great opportunity for you to better understand not only what your child is learning in school, but how they are learning. Part of the beauty of the students’ Digital Portfolios is that students are tasked with engaging in metacognition. The process of metacognition requires the student to think beyond the academic task and identify how they think and learn. Learning how to learn is one of the most important parts of education and the reflections in our Digital Portfolios are a tool that teachers are using to help students understand when they know something, when they don’t know something, and what to do when they recognize that they don’t know something.
In student-led conferences, the roles of each participant are different than in a traditional teacher-led conference because the student will direct the conference and make decisions on what is presented. What are the roles of students, parents, and teachers in a student-led conference?
To help you plan ahead, the schedule for the conference day is in the table below. Please note that you will bring your student to campus for your conference time, and your student will leave campus with you after the conference. The conference day is not a regular school day and students will only be on campus to lead their student-led conference. Student-led conferences are mandatory for all students, and it is expected that all students will have at least one parent attend their assigned session with their child on conference day.
Please let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you on Friday, March 3rd for our student-led conferences.
Kind regards.
Jack Cargile
Head of Middle School
STUDENT SIGN IN/OUT REMINDER
Just a friendly reminder that all students, grades 6th through 8th, should be signed in and out of the middle school office by their parent.
8TH GRADE GRADUATION INFORMATION
DETAILS FOR FAMILIES
We will be having our 8th grade graduation and reception at Isle of Hope United Methodist Church on Wednesday, May 24th. Students will need to arrive for pictures by 9:45am. Graduation will begin at 11:00am in the Sanctuary. Immediately following the graduation, the 7th grade will be hosting the reception in the Anchor Room for graduates and their families. We are looking forward to this exciting event! Please email Mrs. Mannarino if you have any questions.
SLIDESHOW
Every year we display a slideshow of the 8th grade class during their reception following graduation. Families are asked to provide five (5) pictures of their choice (baby pictures, family pictures, friends, etc.) and the high school they will be attending in the Fall. Please submit this information to Mrs. Mannarino via email by Friday, May 5th. For an example of a past slideshow, please click here.
8TH GRADE GRADUATION RECEPTION (7TH GRADE FAMILIES)
If you are interested in participating in the Hancock tradition of hosting the reception for the graduating 8th grade class on May 24th, please follow this link for more information and sign-ups!
HONORS ASSEMBLY - PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD
8th Graders interested in earning a PVSA at our annual Honors Assembly will need to submit their community service hours by Friday, March 24th.
Gold Award (100+ hours)
Silver Award (75 - 99 hours)
Bronze Award (50 - 74 hours)
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.
Current Opportunities for Middle School Students:
March 11 - Tybee Dune Monitoring - INFO HERE
April 7th - Second Harvest - SIGN UP
April 10th - Second Harvest - SIGN UP
April 22nd - Tybee Beach Cleanup - 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. My phone extension is 327.
I look forward to working with you!
Tricia Guggenheim
21. Dedicate a space for every class in your book bag
For every class, dedicate a binder, folder or notebook. There should be a place for class notes, handouts and homework assignments. Some of the larger binders can accommodate all classes. It is really a matter of personal choice; just keep papers separated by class. If you need help converting from 5 binders to one, I am happy to assist you. Bring in a 3” binder, and I have the rest.
Talking to your middle school student about peer pressure is a great way to help them develop strategies to navigate tricky situations before they encounter them.
Creating a family “code word” or “code phrase” is a simple tool that enables your child to indicate they need assistance to leave a potentially dangerous environment. See the link below for tips on how to implement this.
Resources:
6 Ways to Help Your Child Deal with Peer Pressure
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 continue with system of equations and inequalities, finishing up Wednesday. We will review after spring break 3/20 for a unit test 3/21 and 3/22. They will be given a packet prior to DC. They will have some practice before DC and Sunday after spring break to be prepared with questions 3/20.
ADVANCED ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Advanced Algebra, we will complete our unit on Trigonometry by taking a quiz on Monday, reviewing on Tuesday, and having the Trigonometry test on Wednesday. On Friday is parent/student/teacher conferences and then it’s off to DC!
GEOMETRY - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Geometry, we will complete Chapter 9 by learning about identifying line and point symmetry (9.6) and how to perform dilations on the coordinate plane (9.7). There will be a day of review on Tuesday and the Chapter 9 test on Thursday. On Friday is parent/student/teacher conferences and then it’s off to DC!
ELA - Mrs. Boyer
Your students have finished Night by Elie Wiesel. This is a memoir of Wiesel’s time in the Holocaust concentration camps. This is the first year that the schedule has worked out so that I am able to teach the novel/content before the Washington, D.C. trip at which they will be visiting the United States Holocaust Museum.
This unit is about reflection, awareness, respect, and diving into the unanswerable question…WHY?
Students will work through this novel using the following:
Night Reflection Packet- Class Warm Ups, Night Comprehension Questions, Journal Entries
Yom HaShoah Contest Packet- All 8th graders will be entering the Jewish Education Alliance’s Annual Yom Hashoah Holocaust Art and Writing Contest. Your child will receive this information on Monday, and their homework will be for you to read and sign.
Night Unit test on March 1st/2nd.
Dear Parents,
During the next several weeks your child will be completing their Yom HaShoah Contest Project. This project is a large part of each student’s overall grade for the third trimester and failure to complete it may result in a failing grade in English Literature for T3.
Besides weekly homework grades as outlined in the dates below, there will be four additional grades accessed for the project based on each individual part required. These are the submission brainstorm, the contest submission piece, formal report/class presentation, and the Reflection Journal/Packet. Each of these will count for the following grade: formal report= test grade, the contest submission piece= test, reflection journal packet- project grade, and the presentation= classwork grade.
Supplies needed for this project will include a report cover and any specific art materials needed to complete your child’s experiment. Students needing any assistance with these materials should see Mrs. Boyer.
There will be multiple days in class for working on these assignments; however, the majority of the work for the contest submission piece should be completed at home. Students are also encouraged to come in and work on their projects during morning tutorial times.
Contest Pieces will be due the week AFTER SPRING BREAK!
Please sign the cover sheet of the form to acknowledge the receipt of information about the project and its importance in your child’s ELA class. This form is due by 1/31 (E &F) and 2/1( C). If you have any questions about the project, please do not hesitate to email me at oboyer@hancockdayschool.org. I will be glad to offer any assistance I can to ensure your child is successful in their project.
Yom HoShoah Due Dates
***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.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE - Ms. Hallman
Next week in Physical Science we will continue finishing up the first half of our unit on forces and fluids. We will have a quiz next Thursday on this information before we break for DC and spring break. When we return, we will finish up the last half of this unit, take a test on it, and begin our egg drop project which is the 2nd of the 3 major projects we will be working on this year. I am super excited!!
US HISTORY - Mr. Gauthier
Next week the Refrain speeches are due (23rd and 24th). The students have been working on them all week. Also, group research projects are due 3/1 and 3/2, students have also been working on those this past week. After the trip to Washington DC we will go deep into WW2
SPANISH - Ms. Crocker
This week we have a quiz Monday on our Savannah nature vocab list. Our nature “show and tell” project is also due the end of this week! We had a great time last week exploring natural elements in Herb River Bend!
ADVANCED SPANISH - Ms. Brown
Students are working on children's books in Spanish that we will be donating to a special grade level in the lower school this spring! We find ourselves in the planning phases and are looking forward to this creative process!
ADVANCED SPANISH - Ms. Crocker
This week we have a quiz Tuesday (D block) and Wednesday (C block) on our nature vocab list. Our “Mi País Imaginario” (My imaginary country) project + video is due the end of this week! We had a great time last week exploring natural elements around HDS grounds!
ALGEBRA 1 - Mrs. Taylor
Students will continue with system of equations and inequalities, finishing up Wednesday. We will review after spring break 3/6 for a unit test 3/7. We will start a project before spring break and it will be completed the Wednesday after spring break.
PRE-ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will begin Chapter 7 by learning how to convert percents to fractions and decimals (and vice-versa) (7.1, 7.3). We will also learn how to solve percent problems using proportions (7.2) and the percent equation (7.4). There will be a quiz covering 7.1-7.4 on Wednesday (E Block) and Thursday (C Block). Friday is parent/student/teacher conferences.
ELA - Mrs. Buchner & Mrs. Boyer
We have begun the introduction of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Students will be reading the abridged version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as they dive into a mini unit of Shakespearean text in order to prepare them for 8th grade. Students will be researching themes/culture of Europe in the 1600s, acting out/performing the play with their peers in class, completing a reflective notes packet, engaging in reading checks, and constructive responses.
This week students will be working on their Shakespeare Sonnets (written in Iambic Pentameter per the rubric in the Sonnet Packet), as well as acting out the play in class. Homework will be to review the video summaries and complete the Google Form Reading Checks.
It is imperative that with this unit, students come in early to ask questions, review homework with Mrs. Boyer and Mrs. Buchner, engage with their studies at home for at least 25 minutes, dive into the creative and reflective process as they prepare for reading checks, constructive responses, and complete their reading comprehension assignments. Mrs. Boyer and Mrs. Buchner are looking to see a ‘boost’ in effort and engagement with this unit. Let’s truly push ourselves before we have our week break! Remember: We are preparing for 8th grade.
Mrs. Boyer and Mrs. Buchner are both available for morning tutorials. If your student needs assistance with journal entries or just a quick check to see if they are completing them correctly, please have them drop by.
Students should have a Dark Blue or Black ink pen for class every day. Points will be deducted from packet responses if they are not writing in ink going forward. They may use an erasable pen if needed.
Assessments/Assignments:
Shakespeare/A Midsummer Night’s Dream Packet-Various Due Dates(see GC)
Shakespearean Sonnet- Due Monday 3/6
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Completed Packet- Due 3/10
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 rereading scenes read in class of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and working on the packet each night for homework.
-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 or review their journal entries with the teacher.
**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.
Theme Park Project Photos:
LIFE SCIENCE - Mrs. DuRant
Next week, we will continue our unit on the Digestive System. Students will have a quiz on Thursday on the Digestive System diagram. Blank diagrams and an answer key are in the GC for extra practice. Students will also work on an in-class project, creating a travel brochure through the Digestive System. This will require them to further explore the structures and functions of the Digestive System. Please remind your student to check the Google Classroom each day for announcements, assignments, and study materials.
US HISTORY - Mr. Gauthier
The unit on LORD OF THE FLIES is continuing. All students have drawn their images of the island. Next, they will be put into groups and will try to survive on an island. They will be given various simple resources and have to come up with a plan for survival. They will need to elect a leader, come up with a set of rules and delegate responsibilities.
US HISTORY - Mr. O’Hayer
Next week in American History students will move on from our study of the Constitution to examining how our New Republic began to handle the questions and situations facing a new nation. We will study the Electoral College in depth and study how the college developed and the pros and cons of how we elect our President.
ACCELERATED MATH - Mrs. Taylor
Students are working hard learning one and two-step equations. They will assess on these two sections the week of 3/6.
PRE-ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will begin Chapter 7 by learning how to convert percents to fractions and decimals (and vice-versa) (7.1, 7.3). We will also learn how to solve percent problems using proportions (7.2) and the percent equation (7.4). There will be a quiz covering 7.1-7.4 on Thursday. Friday is parent/student/teacher conferences.
EARTH SCIENCE - Mrs. DuRant
Next week, we will begin our unit on Rocks and Minerals! This is always a student favorite as we use rock and mineral samples to classify different types of rocks, and conduct various tests to distinguish between various minerals. We will begin the week learning about minerals and conclude the week by conducting a mineral identification lab. Please remind your student to check the Google Classroom daily for announcements, assignments, and study materials.
EARTH SCIENCE - Ms. Hallman
Next week, we start our unit on Rocks and Minerals. I am very excited to begin this exploration of this unit with them. I will be in DC for the second week of March 6-9th but I have plenty of independent assignments for them to work on to help them and Mrs. DuRant will be available for any questions they may have. Please have them check GC as this is how I will be communicating during that week and I will spend next week preparing them for my expectations.
ELA - Mrs. Buchner
This week the viewing of the film The Outsiders will be our primary focus as we will watch the film over two class blocks: Tuesday 2/28 (all blocks) & Wednesday 3/1(D & E Blocks) OR Thursday 3/2 (A Block). A permission form was sent home on Wed 2/22 & Thurs 2/23. Please make sure your student returns the form to me no later than Monday 2/27. If you choose not to allow your student to view the film, they will be given an alternate assignment and sent to another teacher’s room on Tuesday and part of the following class block. Students viewing the film will complete a comparison/contrast assignment between the book and the film.
On the permission form, there is a place to indicate if you would like to donate a bag of cooked popcorn, bag of cookies, or a bag of candy (no gum or powdered candy please). Students will also be drinking water from their personal water bottles. No drinks please.
Students may dress up on Tuesday 2/28 for our GREASERS DAY!! Students should dress as a teen from the 1960s. Greasers: White Tshirt, Blue Jeans, Leather or Jeans Jacket, Tennis shoes or cowboys boots; Socs: Think preppy-khaki pants, madras plaid, loafers; girls-pencil skirts, collared sweaters, button down Peter-Pan collar blouses. Girls are welcome to dress up as a girl-greaser, as well. I have included some photos in the permission form to help you create your “greasers” outfit!
Students will also begin the notes for the character PROJECT on Monday 2/27. They will work on the final draft of their project the week prior to Spring Break at both school and at home. It will be over the character they have chosen to trace throughout the novel as they read. This will be due on Friday 3/10. That week we will also have a TEST over the entire novel on Tuesday 3/7. There will be a tutorial at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday 3/7 as an extra review for the test.
Students should already be reading their next Independent Reading book. Students should use the graphic organizer in the Google Classroom Assignment to assist them in collecting evidence for FIVE questions as they read their book. Students will bring the completed Graphic Organizer (typed) in Google Classroom to use on the TEST on Tuesday 3/28 in which they will practice the Jan Schaffer method while answering questions about their book.
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 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 7:45-8:15 a.m. Tutorials are available weekly on Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 a.m.
Upcoming Assessments/Assignments:
The Outsiders film viewing PERMISSION FORM-DUE Monday 2/27
GREASERS DAY!!- Tuesday 2/28
TEST TUTORIAL- Tuesday 3/7 at 7:30 a.m.
TEST over entire book on Tuesday 3/7
The Outsiders Character Project-Due Friday 3/10
February/March Independent Reading PROJECT/TEST- Due Tuesday 3/28
INTRO SPANISH - Ms. Brown
Students will be enjoying watching one another’s Cooking Video projects in class! Their hard work has paid off; what a great way to start the last trimester!
WORLD HISTORY - Mr. O’Hayer
Next week in World History students will continue our investigation of the Industrial Revolution. Students will discover how the Industrial Revolution was a time of a sweeping transformation in how people worked and lived. We will examine how new innovations transformed governments, economic systems, and workers’ rights.
Good day HDS Community! Empathy is an overarching topic that has provided an opportunity to be aware of self-expression and others this week. The sixth graders select an earth creature perhaps that is their own or of environmental concern. Earth’s creature portraits start by using the grid method to enlarge the reference photo. Seventh grade students built a variety of architectural shelters that are being glazed this week. Students designed a variety of roof top homes recognizing shelter as a global need. Eighth graders completed the glazing stage and are in the process of illustrating the memory book for rising Hancock Eagles!
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