February 6th - February 10th
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.
MARCH LUNCHES
Registration for March lunches is open now through February 17th.
** Reminder to 8th grade families: DO NOT sign up for lunches the week of March 6th through 10th, as students will be in Washington, D.C. **
After logging into Family Portal, click Student Information
Click Lunch. The lunch calendar displays.
Click Create Web Order to create a lunch order for the student. The lunch order form will display, listing each student in the family.
Click the student name for which you wish to place an order. The lunch order form will expand, listing each date an order may be placed. A blank day denotes a school holiday or 1/2 day.
Click the date to place an order. The lunch item list will expand.
Type in the quantity for the student in the quantity column. The total column will display the cost.
Repeat for all dates and all students. The grand total will be listed at the bottom.
Click Submit Order. The charges will now display for the student on their Family Portal portal to be paid on the Financial screen. Lunch will not be provided unless paid in full for the month.
Please reach out to me directly if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Melissa Gordon
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.
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
19. Make study cards.
On the front of a note card write the word or idea. On the back (the lined side), write the definition or important information. Have a friend or parent ask you about the word and/or provide a definition. But remember, flashcards only help with memorization; they don’t check if you understand the definition. For that, you need to explain the meanings to someone like a parent. Also writing sentences that show that you understand the meaning of the word is very helpful.
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 ended Chapter 6 with a bang. I have pushed them to practice using formative assessments such as mazes and mystery pics, both of which are self correcting assignments. They dislike IXL but learned how crucial practice has been. Chapter 6 test is long and they will start it Monday. The sections of the test will be labeled so they can study trouble spots and finish the test Tues/Wed. Chapter 7 involves systems of equations which will begin the last half of the week.
ADVANCED ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Advanced Algebra, we will complete Chapter 8 by learning how to find the area of trapezoids (8.6) as well as the circumference and area of circles and sectors (8.7). There will be a day of review on Wednesday and the Chapter 8 test the following Monday.
GEOMETRY - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Geometry, we will begin Chapter 8 by learning about the Polygon Interior and Exterior Angles Theorems (8.1). We will then begin exploring all the properties of quadrilaterals such as parallelograms (8.2-8.3), rhombuses, rectangles, and squares (8.4). There will be a quiz covering 8.1-8.4 on Friday.
ELA - Mrs. Boyer
This week we will begin 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.
Your child should be finished reading Night by the beginning of class on February 13th. :)
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
This week in Physical Science we launched our bottle rockets! It took some troubleshooting but we finally had liftoff and it was awesome! I am excited to read the written component of the paper that they have written to be turned in this Friday. Next week, we are beginning a new unit on work and simple machines. There will be a quiz Monday (2/6) and a test the following Friday (2/17). There will be at least two more lab/project grades and a few more homework grades before the end of the trimester so there have been many opportunities for grades as well as two extra credit options. The quiz and test are the last major grades going in for this trimester. I have so enjoyed these past two weeks filled with hands-on learning and projects!
US HISTORY - Mr. Gauthier
1920’s discussion and research continues. All students will be assigned a group research project. This project will be extensive and require work to be done both in and out of the classroom. Assignment and rubric will be posted in Google classroom.
SPANISH - Ms. Crocker
It’s all about la familia this week! Poster projects (family trees) are due on TUESDAY (A/D blocks) and WEDNESDAY (B block) We will be writing our first essay in Spanish about a family member this week!
ADVANCED SPANISH - Ms. Brown
Our What we eat in a day video projects are off to a strong start. Students have been working through their script drafts and coordinating filming locations throughout the school to bring their spoken Spanish abilities to life! Looking forward to their final products!
ADVANCED SPANISH - Ms. Crocker
It’s all about la familia this week! Poster projects (family trees) are due on TUESDAY (D block) and WEDNESDAY (C block). We are then starting our first Spanish essay and the students will give a presentation in Spanish about their family members!
ALGEBRA 1 - Mrs. Taylor
Students ended Chapter 6 with a bang. I have pushed them to practice using formative assessments such as mazes and mystery pics, both of which are self correcting assignments. They dislike IXL but learned how crucial practice has been. Chapter 6 test is long and they will start it Monday. The sections of the test will be labeled so they can study trouble spots and finish the test Tues/Wed. Chapter 7 involves systems of equations which will begin the last half of the week.
PRE-ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will continue Chapter 6 by learning how to write and solve proportions using cross-multiplication (6.2-6.3) and how to use proportions to solve geometry problems in similar and congruent figures (6.4). There will be a quiz covering 6.1-6.4 on Wednesday (Block E) and Thursday (Block C).
ELA - Mrs. Buchner & Mrs. Boyer
We are about half way through our choice novels; students will need to have their novels read by Thursday, February 9th. Students will also turn in their completed Journal after their final Book Club Meeting on February 9th.
This week, students will begin their FINAL Project/TEST grade for the Trimester. Students will be creating a Theme Park based on their VoW novel. This will be a group project, using what they have learned about the culture of the country, character development, and analytical analysis of their VoW novel. This will be a fun and creative way in which to show mastery of the understanding of literary elements in their novel.
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 journal entries if they are not writing in ink going forward. They may use an erasable pen if needed.
Assessments/Assignments:
Journal Entries #16-20-Due Thursday 2/9 (Entire Journal-TEST GRADE)
Poem in Two Voices: Buchner Due Tuesday 2/7 (F) & Wednesday 2/8 (B)
Theme Park Rough Draft- 50 point PROJECT Grade-Due Friday 2/10
Theme Park Final Draft-TEST Grade-Due Friday 2/17
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 reading their VoW book each night and completing at least ONE journal entry a night.
-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.
LIFE SCIENCE - Mrs. DuRant
Next week, we will begin a Project Based Learning activity to explore the Nervous System. This will be an in-class small group project. Students will research specific information about the Nervous System and create a board game to assess their knowledge. This has always been an activity that keeps students highly engaged - they enjoy making board games as much as playing them on our final day of the assignment. Please remind your student to check the Google Classroom each day for announcements, assignments, and study materials.
US HISTORY - Mr. Gauthier
Next week in US History, we will begin reading the novel “Lord Of The Flies” Discussions and learning will focus on the rise and breakdown of leadership and power.
US HISTORY - Mr. O’Hayer
Next week in American History students will begin our examination of the U.S. Constitution. We will begin this process by looking at how The Enlightenement thinkers influenced our Founding Fathers as they set out creating the document that would be the foundation of laws and guiding principles for our nation.
ACCELERATED MATH - Mrs. Taylor
Sixth did an excellent job on their last quiz defining, adding and subtracting integers. They learned how to multiply and divide integers and will finish up this chapter this week learning math properties and graphing on a coordinate plane. They will assess on Chapter 6 Friday, 2/10.
PRE-ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will continue Chapter 6 by learning how to write and solve proportions using cross-multiplication (6.2-6.3) and how to use proportions to solve geometry problems in similar and congruent figures (6.4). There will be a quiz covering 6.1-6.4 on Friday. There will be a quiz covering 6.1-6.4 on Thursday.
EARTH SCIENCE - Mrs. DuRant
Next week, we will have a quiz on Earthquakes on Friday. We will also begin our unit on Volcanoes, which is always a student favorite! During this unit, students will participate in a wonderful NASA lab where they not only build a volcano, but learn how land is created from lava flow. They will use graphing skills to plot multiple lava flows and how that results in additional land formation. We will wrap up the week learning about tsunamis. Please remind your student to check the Google Classroom daily for announcements, assignments, and study materials.
EARTH SCIENCE - Ms. Hallman
This week we took a test on Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics and moved into our Earthquake unit. We spent this week making earthquake proof structures and investigating the causes of earthquakes. You will see in pictures below of the earthquake proof structures! We will have a quiz next Tuesday on Earthquakes as we begin to discuss volcanoes and prepare for some pretty awesome volcano labs!!
ELA - Mrs. Buchner
Students have received their graded essays. Please ask to see your student’s essay. They are very proud of their accomplishments. We will write another essay after we have finished reading The Outsiders.
Students should be tracking one character in the novel on which they will write their essay. They should annotate how the character acts and feels, as well as what other characters say about their character of choice. All of their journal entries at this point should be focused on the character’s development in each chapter. Several students are not completing the reading assignments on time. This does not allow them to participate in class discussions nor does it allow them to understand the annotations we are making. This week’s reading assignment: Chapters 7-9 will be due on Friday 2/10 due to the test on Tuesday. . IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT STUDENTS BRING THEIR COPY OF The Outsiders TO CLASS EACH DAY. Your student will be UNABLE to annotate the items they need to study for the quiz if they do not have their personal copy. It would also be beneficial for students to have a highlighter to use while annotating their book. We will have a TEST over Chapters 1-6 on Tuesday 2/7. Students will receive a TEST PREP DOCUMENT on Friday 2/3 to complete over the weekend and on Monday during class. They will be allowed to use this document on the test.There will also be a TEST REVIEW TUTORIAL on Tuesday 2/7 at 7:30 a.m. The majority of the test will be Constructed Paragraph Responses using Idea Based Writing and the Schaffer Method. It will be helpful for your student to review both of these unit notes in preparation for the test.
Students should begin reading their next Independent Reading book immediately. Since February is a short month, students will need to manage their time more efficiently. Students will again be asked to choose a book in their Zone of Proximal Development. This is indicated on the STAR Parent Report. This is where they will benefit most from their reading. There are many books appropriate for a 6th grader within each student’s ZPD.
GREASERS DAY! Students will be dressing up as their favorite character from The Outsiders on Tuesday February 28th. You can start working on those Greasers or Socs outfits. 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. Students should choose their favorite character from the book and dress accordingly. More information will be coming home soon with a permission form to view the movie, as well as asking for contributions of snacks (popcorn and drinks) for their ELA classroom.
Homework assignments can be found in your student’s Google Calendar, as well as the weekly Google Slide Presentation in their ELA Google Classroom. All of the reading/journal entry assignments for The Outsiders are located in the Google Classroom Assignment. Weekly chapter reading assignments should be completed by Wednesday(D & E) & Thursday (A); Journal Entries for the week are due on Fridays for all classes. 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. I have only had a small group of students attend tutorials since winter break. If you are dropping your student off for a tutorial, please send me an email to let me know to expect your student each morning. It seems some parents are bringing their students for a tutorial, but they are choosing to hang out in Hancock Hall instead. Students will be asked to sign in when they attend.
Upcoming Assessments/Assignments:
Morning Tutorial for TEST REVIEW- Tuesday 2/7 @ 7:30 a.m.
TEST PREP DOCUMENT-Bring to class on Tuesday 2/7 to use on the test
TEST over Chapter 1-6 The Outsiders- Tuesday 2/7
Read Chapters 7-9: Due Friday 2/10-Reading Check
Journal Entries #9-12: Due Friday 2/10
INTRO SPANISH - Ms. Brown
Students have been working well on the step-by-step process of mapping out a script for a recipe video project we will be commencing soon! More information will be available to them as they finalize their Spanish script with a detailed video rubric to follow in the coming days. Based on their rough drafts, it seems to me that we have quite a few ambitious chefs in our wonderful 6th grade!
WORLD HISTORY - Mr. O’Hayer
Students will finish up our study of The Enlightenment by traveling to France and America to examine the great thinkers of these countries. Students will learn how significant the Enlightenment period was, especially to our founding fathers as this period helped shape our leaders in their quest for Independence and as well creating the foundational documents of this country: The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Good day HDS Community! Trimester ll has been an exciting time to open up new studios of Clay and Printmaking. These two studios have furthered students' understanding to see subjects through a two and three dimensional lens. Students learn techniques in both studios how to carve and apply surface design. Seventh graders have carved and modeled architectural elements into the facades while sixth and eighth graders carved imagery with texture into linoleum. Looking forward to publishing their work on Artsonia!
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