March 6th - March 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.
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.
ICE CREAM CLUB WAS A BLAST!
For the month of February, students from 5th-8th grades learned how to make homemade churned ice cream and waffle cones with Ms. Crocker! The students learned ice cream history, science and kitchen skills. In the last session, they made their own signature flavor of ice cream.
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
22. Buy an agenda book and use it.
Most students have an agenda book, but they don’t write anything in it. Check Google Classroom each day and bullet-point-list your homework for the day in your agenda. Include any studying you may have to do. Highlight or cross off each assignment as it’s completed and “filed” back in your binder or submitted on GC. I have agendas available for any who need one. Just see me.
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 test on Chapter 7 Tuesday/Wednesday after spring break. They were given a study guide similar to the test. The answer key will be posted this weekend. We will review Monday 3/20 as well.
ADVANCED ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
We will have no class next week as the 8th grade will be in DC!
GEOMETRY - Mr. Lanfear
We will have no class next week as the 8th grade will be in 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, we will be in DC!! So excited to have the best possible experience with the 8th graders. I will be keeping you updated via the DC instagram @hancockdctrip. Follow along for GREAT content! When we return from spring break we will be finishing out our unit on fluids and begin our egg drop project.
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
Have a FANTASTIC and safe time in DC! Chau for now!!!!
ADVANCED SPANISH - Ms. Brown
Students have begun 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
Last week we had some awesome imaginary countries presentations! The students made maps and powerpoints to try and convince the class (in Spanish!) to visit their country because of the amazing natural features that exist there. Great job!
This week, we will finish our nature unit with a test and by watching and discussing Landfill Harmonic, an uplifting documentary about a group of people in a Paraguayan slum, including a garbage picker, a music teacher and a group of children, who decide to turn trash into music. Here is the trailer link below, I highly recommend it!
Landfill Harmonic Trailer Link
There is a test on our nature unit on Wednesday(E block) and Thursday (C block)
ALGEBRA 1 - Mrs. Taylor
Students will test on Chapter 7 Tuesday 3/21. They will be working on a project “Algebra in real life” next week. They will need to interview 3 people about their jobs as teenagers. The project will have them find a job, find two items in a certain price range that they would like to purchase. Their jobs will be represented as an equation showing their pay and subtracting taxes. I think they will have fun with this project.
PRE-ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will complete a group project in which groups will create a play and use their math knowledge to discover the finances behind their production! Groups will come up with a name for a play, set ticket prices, research concessions to “purchase” within a certain budget, set the concession prices, and then input their information into a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet will use a random number generator to give students limited information about attendance and concession sales. Groups will use that limited information and math to discover the rest of the necessary information and then create and decorate posters with their results.
ELA - Mrs. Buchner & Mrs. Boyer
We have finished our Reader’s Theatre activity regarding Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
For Monday, students will be submitting their Shakespeare Sonnets (written in Iambic Pentameter per the rubric in the Sonnet Packet). In class throughout the week, students will be working on their AMND Notes Packet using their book and notes. This will be an INDIVIDUAL activity worth a project grade. Students will be handwriting this activity, which means that legible handwriting is a must for grading purposes. Also, students will be working on a take home/open note quiz for AMND. This will all be due on Friday, March 10th before the break.
**Suggested Timeline: Buchner’s Wed/Thurs will need to adapt based on their class schedule…see GC**
Monday, 3/6: 45 minutes CW, 35 minutes HW (Project Packet)-Boyer & Buchner
Tuesday, 3/7: 60 minutes in CW, 35 minutes HW (Project Packet)-Boyer & Buchner (F)
Wednesday,3/8: 60 minutes in CW (B Block);30 minutes HW-Boyer (A Block)& Buchner (B Block) (Project Packet)
Thursday 3/9: 60 minutes CW, 35 minutes HW (Complete Project Packet, Begin Quiz)-Boyer & Buchner
Friday, 3/10: 45 minutes CW (Finish/Edit Quiz-Submit All)-Boyer & Buchner
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:
Shakespearean Sonnet Final Draft- Due Monday 3/6
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Quiz- Friday 3/10
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Completed Project 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 wrap up our units on the Digestive System. Students are working on an in-class project making a Travel Brochure through the Digestive System. They will have a unit test on the Digestive System on Thursday, March 9. On Friday, we will work on introductory activities for our next unit, the Respiratory System. Please have your student bring in an empty 16oz. plastic water bottle next week. We are collecting these for a lab we will conduct after Spring Break. 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 continue their study of 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. I will be on the DC trip next week so I won’t see the kids until after Spring Break. I hope everyone enjoys their week off.
ACCELERATED MATH - Mrs. Taylor
I have decided to cut this chapter short by two sections and add them on to another chapter. They will assess on 7.1-7.5 Thursday and on 7.6 Friday (to give another day to practice that section. It will just be a two part test.
PRE-ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will complete a group project in which groups will create a play and use their math knowledge to discover the finances behind their production! Groups will come up with a name for a play, set ticket prices, research concessions to “purchase” within a certain budget, set the concession prices, and then input their information into a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet will use a random number generator to give students limited information about attendance and concession sales. Groups will use that limited information and math to discover the rest of the necessary information and then create and decorate posters with their results.
EARTH SCIENCE - Mrs. DuRant
We had a great week learning about Minerals. A highlight of the week was our Mineral Identification Lab. Students were given 6 minerals and had to conduct a series of tests to identify each mineral. This week, we will focus on how we use these minerals each day. We will have a quiz on Minerals on Tuesday and then begin the Rock Cycle and our study of Rocks. Please remind your student to check the Google Classroom daily for announcements, assignments, and study materials.
EARTH SCIENCE - Ms. Hallman
We have begun our unit on Minerals! It has been a fun change of pace and the students have really enjoyed being hands on with the minerals. They will have a quiz on Tuesday before we move into learning about the Rock Cycle. I will be in DC with the 8th graders but they will be in great hands! I will always be available by email while I am gone and Mrs. DuRant will be here to answer any immediate questions that they may have. I will miss them and I am excited for all of the exciting things we have coming up after spring break!
ELA - Mrs. Buchner
We had a great week celebrating The Outsiders with our movie and snacks. Your students did a great job dressing up as Greasers and Socs. Thank you for going all out on the “costumes”! It was so fun to see them with their haired “greased” and looking “tuff”. They are a fun bunch of kids!
Students will be working on their Character Project Final Draft this week. Students will get their rough draft back on Monday 3/6, along with their final draft poster. Students will have the week inside and outside of class to transfer the quotes they have compiled on each aspect of their character. They will need to pay close attention to feedback provided for them on their rough draft, so they can make corrections on their Final Draft. Any corrections not made on the final draft poster will result in point deductions off their Final Draft Grade. This will be due on Friday 3/10.
This 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 4/4. I have moved the TEST out one more week due to ERBs the last week of March. The Independent Reading Book TEST will now be on Tuesday April 4th.
After Spring Break, we will begin our next unit over Nonfiction literature. We will be exploring different types of nonfiction and using Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly as a MENTOR TEXT to compare and contrast to an 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. 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, and brought to class no later than Monday April 3rd.
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:
TEST TUTORIAL- Tuesday 3/7 at 7:30 a.m.
TEST over entire book, The Outsiders, on Tuesday 3/7
The Outsiders Character Project-Due Friday 3/10
February/March Independent Reading PROJECT/TEST- Due Tuesday 4/4
Bring to class approved Autobiography/Biography Student Choice Book- 4/3
INTRO SPANISH - Ms. Brown
We will begin a mini-unit targeted at making friends and being friendly in Spanish. This mini-unit is in light of the spring break that is just around the corner!
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. I will be on the 8th grade DC trip next week. I won’t see the kids until after Spring Break. I hope everyone enjoys their week off.
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 have made excellent progress in the process of using the grid method to enlarge the earth creature of their choice. The clay facades by Seventh grade students have turned out beautifully from the kiln. Students designed a variety of roof top homes recognizing shelter as a global need. Signs of spring send off the 8th graders to DC with well wishes! We discussed the gift of Cherry Blossoms from Japan to DC. Students illustrated the bounty of color the Azalea’s are bringing to Savannah.
March is youth art month. Celebrating the artwork of our students has been established by sending off images of our students' work to Southern Teachers Agency and participating in the invite to join St. Vincent's Fine Arts Night. Eagles are soaring in the studio!
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