April 17th - April 21st

 

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 20th - Savannah Autism Conference - SIGN UP

April 21st - Savannah Autism Conference - SIGN UP
April 23rd - 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

27. Develop a strong study habit

Many students do not have any plans for studying and start by just reading textbooks or notes and sometimes attempting to memorize these contents directly for their exams. And in class, they often have the habit of simply copying down notes word for word based on what the teacher is saying. Passive studying will not help students learn or retain the information well, and active learning is critical. Here are some ways to implement this:

• Pay attention during class. Instead of merely copying down notes, students should listen to what is being taught and discussed actively. They should also make attempts to participate and speak up in class discussions. 

• Take class notes. Along with participating in class, students should take down some notes. However, they should make sure not to copy down what the teacher is saying monotonously and instead take notes in their own words.

• Study efficiently at home. Effective ways of studying at home involve not merely reading the textbook. Students should gather all their materials - class handouts, notes, homework assignments, previous quizzes and tests, and books. Identify what is most important and create a study guide that includes important topics, terms, and concepts. Turn this list into a set of questions that will force them to remember each item. Read more about study strategies at 6 Steps to Better Grades. 

Unfortunately, you are likely to find it necessary to talk with your student about school violence. This can be a difficult and scary topic to navigate.  The following article has some tips to help:

Talking to Children About Violence

Two of my favorite tips are: 

Reassure children that they are safe. Emphasize that schools are very safe. Validate their feelings. Explain that all feelings are okay when a tragedy occurs. Let children talk about their feelings, help put them into perspective, and assist them in expressing these feelings appropriately.

Limit television viewing of these events. Limit television viewing and be aware if the television is on in common areas. Developmentally inappropriate information can cause anxiety or confusion, particularly in young children. Adults also need to be mindful of the content of conversations that they have with each other in front of children, even teenagers, and limit their exposure to vengeful, hateful, and angry comments that might be misunderstood.

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 finished up Chapter 8 and will test Tues. (A-Block) and Wed. (B-Block). Star testing will happen Thursday and they will finish their short Slope in Real Life project. The last and most challenging Chapter 9 will begin Friday. Polynomials and Factoring.

ADVANCED ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear

Next week in Advanced Algebra, we will complete Chapter 9 by having the Chapter 9 test on Monday.  We will then begin reviewing important concepts from Algebra 1.  We will start by reviewing exponent rules such as the product rule, quotient rule, zero exponents, and negative exponents.  We will also have our third and final STAR Assessment on Wednesday.

GEOMETRY - Mr. Lanfear

Next week in Geometry, we will complete Chapter 11 by having a quiz covering 11.1-11.5 on Monday and learning how to find geometric probability (11.7).  We will have a day of review on Thursday and the Chapter 11 test on Friday.

ELA - Mrs. Boyer

**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. I will be there, but a little late as I have Tech Week rehearsal until 6:00 pm in the Gym. 

We are fully 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. Students are reading Chapters 12-19  and answering discussion questions on their own. 

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) Week of April 11

Moods of Mockingbird Essay

Writing the Lost Chapter

Essay #2? 

Final Exam

Assessments: 

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: 

1. Read and annotate (check annotations with Mrs. Boyer’s book).  (This has been a challenge this week…)

2. Ask for practice questions

3. Come in and practice writing prompts

4. Spend a solid 30 minutes each night on reading, review, etc. 

PHYSICAL SCIENCE - Ms. Hallman

We have continued investigating waves this week and next week we will narrow our study to sound waves. We began talking about that this week looking at the ear and how sound is transmitted. Next week, we will continue that and start a project involving music and sound waves! 

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

This week our project on daily routine is due on Wednesday (D) or Thursday (A & B)! We have a quiz Friday on List #9! We are learning about reflexive verbs this week and practicing how to describe our activities every day!

ADVANCED SPANISH - Ms. Brown
Please assist your student in completing their soon to be donated (to our darling 1st grade neighbors in the lower school) children’s books! A helpful tutorial video has been made available to them on their Google Classroom. 

ADVANCED SPANISH - Ms. Crocker

This week we are continuing our unit on feelings and using tener and estar to talk about how we feel and their Sentimientos project is due Wednesday (E) and Thursday(C)! 

ALGEBRA 1 - Mrs. Taylor

Students finished up Chapter 8 and will test Tuesday. Star testing will happen Wednesday and they will work on finishing up their project. The last and most challenging Chapter 9 will begin Friday. Polynomials and Factoring

PRE-ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear

Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will continue Chapter 8 by learning how to graph linear equations in slope-intercept form (8.5), parallel and perpendicular lines (8.5), and how to write equations in slope-intercept form (8.6).  We will then begin an activity where we use linear equations to design stained glass windows.  There will be a Math Facts Quiz on Tuesday (E Block) and Wednesday (C Block).  We will also have our third and final STAR Assessment on Friday.

ELA - Mrs. Buchner & Mrs. Boyer

Students have been working on the essay Frost Quoting Frost over the book Posted. The final draft will be due this week. (See dates below). There will be a QUIZ over pages 118-224 on Friday April 14th.  Reading and Discussion of pages 225-296 are due on Thursday April 20th, with a TEST over pages 1-296 on Friday April 21st. All Guiding Questions for Week Three/Four (pages 225-296) are due on Thursday April 20th in preparation for the test. Reminder: students are only asked to complete 15 (or so) out of 31 questions, but the The Discussion Question Packet will be a TEST grade and collected before the Exam in May. 

ESSAY TIME!! Frost Quoting Frost! Pages 225-296 are not due until the 20th! Great time to catch up if students are behind! Or a great time to reread!! 

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:

Posted QUIZ pg 118-224 Friday 4/14

Frost Quoting Frost Essay 4/11-4/18 TEST GRADE (A & F Blocks)

Frost Quoting Frost Essay 4/12-4/19 TEST GRADE (B Block)

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 begin a mini-unit on bacteria and viruses. Students will work on an in-class project researching a virus or bacteria. After that, we will delve into our final unit of the year - ecology! 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 our examination of the New Republic and our study of the Presidents that impacted our early history. We will look at our first four Presidents and study their highs and lows in office. Students will continue researching their class project: The History of Political Parties in America. The project is Due Wednesday the 19th.

ACCELERATED MATH - Mrs. Taylor

Students began Chapter 9, the final chapter in 6th grade. It will cover decimals, percents, mark-ups, discounts, etc. We will move away from the calculator again to hone in on long division skills. There will be no use of calculators in Pre-Algebra. First quiz will be on Monday 4/24.

PRE-ALGEBRA - Mr. Lanfear

Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will continue Chapter 8 by learning how to graph linear equations in slope-intercept form (8.5), parallel and perpendicular lines (8.5), and how to write equations in slope-intercept form (8.6).  We will then begin an activity where we use linear equations to design stained glass windows.  There will be a Math Facts Quiz on Wednesday.  We will also have our third and final STAR Assessment on Friday.

EARTH SCIENCE - Mrs. DuRant

Next week, we will continue our unit on Earth’s Waters. Our focus will be on the human impact of our waters, specifically our oceans. We will have 2 labs next week exploring the Great Pacific Garbage Patch with actual samples from this. We will also do a lab on the effects of marine debris on the environment such as on Midway Island. We will have a test on Friday on Earth’s Waters. Please remind your student to check the Google Classroom daily for announcements, assignments, and study materials.

EARTH SCIENCE - Ms. Hallman

We began talking about oceans today and will be continuing that discussion with two labs that should be engaging. They will be about marine debris off of Midway Island and the Great Pacific Garbage patch. We will have a quiz Monday (4/17) about freshwater and the water cycle. The following Monday, we will have a test (4/24) on all of Earth’s Waters. 

ELA - Mrs. Buchner

   Students are working on their reading of the student-choice biography. They have begun writing about their reading, as well as completing the Green Folder, which includes responses to the biography. This past week we explored the Mentor Text, Hidden Figures, by comparing and contrasting the book vs. the movie. Students were intrigued by the vast difference between the two.  They will continue to explore and report on different aspects of their choice book this coming week. Students will need to bring a copy of their book to class every day. Failure to bring their biography to class on any day will result in a five-point deduction from the Green Folder TEST grade.  Students are to have TWO-THIRDS of their biography read NO LATER THAN Tuesday 4/18. On Tuesday 4/18, students will write another Constructed Response as a practice for the Constructed Response QUIZ on Friday 4/21. Please be sure to check the calendar in your student’s green folder for assignment due dates.

 Homework assignments can be found in your student’s Google Calendar, as well as the weekly Google Slide Presentation in their ELA Google Classroom and in the calendar in their green folder. 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:

• Bring to class approved Student Choice Biography EVERY class day.

• 2/3 of Biography Read by Tuesday 4/18

• Constructed Response #2 in class- Friday 4/14

• Constructed Response #3 QUIZ  in class-Tuesday 4/18

• Full Biography Read by Tuesday 4/25

• TEST over Biography/Nonfiction Text Features & Structures-Tuesday 4/25

• Completed Green Folder Due (TEST GRADE)-Tuesday 5/2

• Choice Board Projects- Due Monday May 8th

• EXAM will be over Nonfiction Unit and Mythology Mini-unit

INTRO SPANISH - Ms. Brown

Students are excited to begin another video project starting THEMSELVES! These will again be done on Wevideo and will be in the likeness of the famous Planet Earth documentary series. This is meant to bring to life in a fun manner the topics of our most current unit four. We look forward to recording, editing, and eventually watching these videos!

WORLD HISTORY - Mr. O’Hayer

Next week in World History students will continue our study of  the “economic” side of the Industrial Revolution. We will continue our study with the concept of Capitalism. Students will research the rise of Capitalism and how mercantilism impacted the early stages of the Industrial Revolution.

Good day HDS Community, 

Students are developing their studio habits of mind:  Stretch & Explore, Develop Craft and Understand Arts Community. 

Seventh graders continue to create great game design.  Team members contribute ideas and develop their craft beyond visual design such as math, architecture, psychology & engineering.  Eighth graders continue the Savannah Square Acrylic Painting project by transferring composition sketches to the canvas. They apply underpainting layers to convey the dappled sunlight.   Sixth graders' clay work will be put into the kiln this week. Students are getting familiar with textures in tempera paint in preparation for Marine Life paintings .  This time is key to the design in hand building. Students will be using multiple skills they have demonstrated and developed in visual art in these upcoming weeks!