March 27th - March 31st
Dear Parents,
We have seen a significant increase in students bringing sodas, soft drinks, coffee, and energy drinks to school. We encourage students to bring a water bottle to school each day, and it is our policy that students do not bring carbonated and/or caffeinated beverages to school. Please monitor the drinks that your student brings to campus so that we can reinforce healthy choices with your student(s). Thank you for your continued support.
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!
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:
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
24. Select a consistent place to study.
Some people need total quiet while others can study well with music in the background (try classical music). The key is to find a comfortable place and study there regularly, such as the kitchen table, a desk, a favorite chair, bed, etc. Make sure it has adequate lighting and keep all your study supplies in reach.
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 began learning calculator functions last week for our Linear Regression section. During the ERB week, they will learn more graphing functions using their calculator and work on their project which is due 3/31/23.
ADVANCED ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Advanced Algebra, we will complete the transversals project. We will then begin Chapter 9 in which we will learn how to find surface area and volume and various solids. We will start by learning how to identify and classify different solids and polyhedra (9.1) and then learn how to find the surface area of prisms and cylinders (9.2).
GEOMETRY - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Geometry, we will continue Chapter 10 by learning about various angle relationships within circles (10.5), segment lengths within circles (10.6), and how to graph and write equations of circles on a coordinate plane (10.7). We will then begin reviewing Chapter 10 to get ready for the Chapter 10 test the following week.
ELA - Mrs. Boyer
Yom HaShoah is completed! I will send a link with all of the project pictures next week! The projects will be on display at the Jewish Education Alliance on Abercorn for the month of April; please take a trip to see how the City of Savannah commemorates the voices of the survivors and the loss of the victims.
**Extra Credit Quiz Grade** April 18th, the JEA will host their Yom HaShoah ceremony. Winners will be announced, and there will be speakers. Students are asked to attend for at least half an hour to forty-five minutes. They will be asked to complete a Google Form regarding their experience.
Coming up! We are diving into our final novel study with Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Students will not only be focusing on the plot/literary devices within the novel, but journeying through their individual moral growth due to the lessons/discussions had throughout the unit.
Topics of Discussion:
Racism
Power
Justice
Identity
Stereotypes
Culture vs. Law
The Great Depression
Codeswitching
The Universe of Obligation
The ‘language’ of the time
Jim Crow Laws
Major Projects:
Mock Trial (in conjunction with the History Department)
Moods of Mockingbird Essay
Writing the Lost Chapter
Essay #2?
Final Exam
Assessments:
Ch. 1-11 Quiz 4/3
Ch. 1-20 Test Part I 4/17, Part II 4/18-19
If you have read the book/watched the movie PLEASE do not spoil the ending. Thank you! :)
***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
It has been good to be back in the classroom! This week we have reviewed what we did before we left for DC and Spring Break. We started learning about Pascal’s Principle and Bernoulli’s Principle. I tried to make these principles as applicable as possible so hopefully it helps them remember it! We began talking about drag forces as well to prepare them for the egg drop project that we will officially begin on Monday. This project will be completed entirely in class as they have ERB testing next week so it will make for a light homework week. This Friday, I will go over the format for the written component of the project that will be due 4/3. They will also have time to plan and gather supplies this weekend to begin working on their device starting 3/27. We will drop them on Friday 3/31. I am very excited! This is the second to last large project of the year 🙁
US HISTORY - Mr. Gauthier
WW2- From the rise of Dictators to the dropping of the Atomic bombs- will be researched, discussed, and learned. We will dive deep into the understanding of the events and intents as well as look at how the US emerged going forward.
SPANISH - Ms. Crocker
We are starting a cultural art project this week. It is an in-class project and due Friday! We have a quiz Friday on our new vocab list #8.
ADVANCED SPANISH - Ms. Brown
Students are continuing the long process of making children's books in Spanish -that’s right, books made all by them to be donated to a special lower school class. Our vision for our books is to have them printed via Google Photos (they make beautifully printed, glossy pages with matte textured hard covers -worth every penny) and as we move along in our process of making these books, more information will come!
ADVANCED SPANISH - Ms. Crocker
We have short classes due to ERB this week, we are going to be doing an in-class project this week and I will be flexible with the due date toward the end of the week! We have a quiz on vocab list #8 on Friday!
ALGEBRA 1 - Mrs. Taylor
Students began learning calculator functions last week for our Linear Regression section. During the ERB week, they will learn more graphing functions using their calculator and work on their project which is due 3/31/23.
PRE-ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will complete Chapter 7 by learning about simple interest and compound interest and how to calculate each of them (7.7). There will be a day of review and then a quiz covering just that last section on Friday.
ELA - Mrs. Buchner & Mrs. Boyer
On Monday March 27th, we will be reviewing pages 1-117 of Posted through their completed Discussion Questions. Students are only asked to complete 15 out of 31 questions, but they are expected to complete the incomplete questions during class as we review/on their own before assessments. The Discussion Question Packet will be a TEST grade and collected before the Exam in May.
We will also be engaging in little activities…some may include a parent reading…so be on the lookout!
We will have a Reading Day next week!
As usual, students may 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. 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 responses if they are not writing in ink going forward for the remainder of the school year. They may use an erasable pen if needed.
Assessments/Assignments:
ERB TESTING- March 27-31
Posted QUIZ pg 1-117 - Monday 4/3
Posted TEST pg 1-296- Thursday 4/21-4/24 (There will be a Part I and a Part II.)
The Exam will be on Posted!
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. (Boyer-You may also email!)
Strategies for Home:
-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 wrap up our unit on the Respiratory System and begin the Cardiovascular System which will be our last body system unit. Students will have a test on the Respiratory System on Friday, March 31. Due to ERB’s, students will not have any written homework this week in Science. However, they do need to study each day to prepare for their test on the Respiratory System. Please remind your student to check the Google Classroom each day for announcements, assignments, and study materials.
US HISTORY - Mr. Gauthier
The studying and learning about the US Constitution continues. The group Amendment projects are due April 5. The grading rubric can be found on google classroom. More reading from the Lord of The Flies will continue through next week with the final product of constructing their own government.
US HISTORY - Mr. O’Hayer
Next week in American History students will continue their study of the New Republic. Our focus will be on examining the impacts our first Presidents had on creating our new government. Students will look at Washington, Adams, and Jefferson to see how they impacted our new government.
ACCELERATED MATH - Mrs. Taylor
Students will begin Chapter 8 by learning ratios, unit rate, writing and solving proportions and solving proportions using cross product. Their first quiz will be on Sections 8.1 and 8.2 Apr 3, 2023.
PRE-ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will complete Chapter 7 by learning about simple interest and compound interest and how to calculate each of them (7.7). There will be a day of review and then a quiz covering just that last section on Friday.
EARTH SCIENCE - Mrs. DuRant
Next week, we will wrap up our unit on Rocks and Minerals and begin our unit on Earth’s Waters. Students will have a unit test on Rocks and Minerals on Friday, March 31. Due to ERB’s, students will not have any written homework this week in Science. However, they do need to study each day to prepare for their test on Rocks and Minerals. Please remind your student to check the Google Classroom daily for announcements, assignments, and study materials.
EARTH SCIENCE - Ms. Hallman
Next week, we are finishing Rocks and Minerals and start learning about Earth’s Waters. I am so excited for this unit because I love freshwater and saltwater ecosystems. We will have no homework next week as we are ERB testing and we will have a test Monday, April 3rd on Rocks and Minerals.
ELA - Mrs. Buchner
We have begun our Nonfiction Unit. Students have been exploring Nonfiction Text Features this week. Several students have expressed this is their favorite unit so far, which is very telling. We have a lot of left-brain learners in 6th grade. Being able to identify an element of nonfiction is very concrete. Students can easily memorize and identify a nonfiction text element. Students will be thinking more with their right brain once they begin exploring the Autobiography/Biography of their choice. It is important that students continue to develop their creative and critical thinking skills in ELA. Students will need to choose the book they want to read and submit it in the Google Form in Google Classroom no later than Friday March 24th, so I can approve it over the weekend. Students should get approval from you, the parent, prior to selecting which book they want to read for their independent reading in this unit.
We will be using Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly as a MENTOR TEXT to compare and contrast to the Autobiography/Biography of your student’s choice. In class, students will be exploring Hidden Figures by reading excerpts and comparing/contrasting the novel to clips from the movie version of the book, as well as identifying nonfiction text features in the novel, so they can transfer this knowledge to a nonfiction text of their choice. The primary focus of the unit will be the analysis of the student-choice book. Students will be expected to find an autobiography or biography on a person who has faced some type of ADVERSITY in their life in order to become a successful person. Students should have their Autobiography or Biography selected, approved by me by March 24th, and brought to class no later than Wednesday April 5th.
As we work through the student-choice autobiography/biography and Hidden Figures, students will be completing a packet they have been given. Specific due dates for pages in the packet will be assigned weekly based on student progress and mini-lessons in class. Students will have a calendar in their packet where they will write due dates as they occur. Be sure to check this calendar on a daily basis to see what is upcoming.Students will write these due dates in their packets, but they will be in Google Classroom, so you can check for assigned due dates. Please be sure to check the Weekly Google Slide Presentation posted in Google Classroom for the slides with Homework for the week listed.
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:
Autobiography/Biography Novel Choice Submitted in GC- NO later than 3/24
ERB Testing-March 27th-31st
February/March Independent Reading Book TEST- Tuesday 4/4
Bring to class approved Autobiography/Biography Student Choice Book- 4/5
INTRO SPANISH - Ms. Brown
Students are enjoying reviewing their Spanish materials through skits that will serve as good practice for a video project we will be working on mapping out slowly during the short ERB week classes. More information to come!
WORLD HISTORY - Mr. O’Hayer
Next week in World History students will continue our investigation of the Industrial Revolution. Students will begin to examine how inventions of the Industrial Revolution impacted/changed people’s lives. We will examine inventions like the steam engine and cotton gin and how these inventions revolutionized our nation’s economy and society. Students will also finish their invention project which is due Friday.
Good day HDS Community,
Sculpture has occupied the minds of students this week in the art studio. Sculpture that serves a purpose and sculpture that creates an effect as in Kinetic Sculpture. The sixth graders have successfully created Designer Shoe Sculptures complete with a marketing sheet. Seeing some of these worn by the students have been so fun as they test drive their prototypes! Seventh and Eighth grade students create multiples of a shape to create a kinetic sculpture: Movement is the basic element perceived by viewer or depends on motion for effect.
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