Newsletter: Reading Marathon Ends, Spring Break Right Around the Corner

Important

Thank you to everyone who helped support the Reading Marathon. Winners for minutes and money raised will be announced at the next Awards Assembly.

If you have questions regarding report cards, please reach out to me.

Enjoy Spring Break!

Upcoming Dates

§  Spring Break runs from March 21st-28th. Back to school Tuesday the 29th.

§  March 31st, Family Math Night and Icecream Social.

§  April 6th and April 13th are minimum days. School releases at 12:45.

New

In ELA, we will finish our essays in response to Good Masters, Sweet Ladies and begin on our next book!

In science, we will be looking at mountains and metamorphic rock.

In social studies, we will be working in expert groups to develop a Prezi presentation for the whole class.

Updates and Info

Students enjoyed local theater on our Friday field trip. We finished up our unit on eathquakes, volcanoes and plate tectonics and began our exploration into the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and Inca cultures. Students began their literary argument essays in response to Good Masters, Sweet Ladies. Students ended the Reading Marathon and raised money to support extracurricular activities.

Family Math Night and Icecream Social will be held March 31st when we come back from break. Students can earn extra credit or volunteer hours for participating in this evening of fun and learning!

Mark your calendars for Show it Off Day, April 29th, 1:45-2:45. Students will be doing a percussion performance and then will show off their blogs, iMovies, science journals and artwork they've completed throughout the year.

If you are able to volunteer to facilitate the creation of yearbook for this year, please let me know. We were not able to offer a yearbook elective this year.

Newsletter: Report Cards and More!

Important

The reading marathon ends this Wednesday. Final minutes will be tallied on Wednesday and sponsor forms with money must be turned in Wednesday as well.

Students who raised money and read will be invited on a field trip to see a play on Friday. Please sign the permission slip.

Report cards are headed home today! Please sign below to indicate having recieved your student's report card and updated Star tests.

Upcoming Dates

§  This Wednesday is a minimum day, Awards Ceremony. Students are released at 12:45

§  Reading Marathon field trip this Friday. We leave at 8:30 am promptly.

§  Spring Break runs from March 21st-28th. Back to school Tuesday the 29th.

New

In ELA, we continue with Good Masters, Sweet Ladies.

In science, we continue on plate tectonics.

In social studies, we will be exploring South American cultures.

Updates and Info

Electives went really well last week.

Students met with highschoolers and the school counselor from Bitney Charter to learn about highschool options.

We also interviewed a visiting videographer who covers news stories.

Newsletter: New Trimester!

Important

Welcome to the 3rd Trimester! Report cards from last trimester will be going home Monday the 7th.

This trimester students will be assigned service learning if it is not completed. Please consider scheduling some final service learning activities over Spring Break.

Elective forms are being sent home today. Please sign and return by Tuesday for priority choice. We are not able to offer a Yearbook elective this trimester which means we may not have a yearbook this year. If you are able to volunteer or provide resources towards producing a school-wide yearbook, please contact us.

Upcoming Dates

§  March 2nd, Bitney Springs counselor visit.

§  March 9^th is a minimum day.

§  Spring Break runs from March 21^st-28^th – back to school on the 29^th.

New

In ELA, we will be writing a personal reflection on the finished Coats of Arms which were MAGNIFICENT! Can’t wait to show them off.

In social studies we will be transitioning to studying cultures in the Americas.

In science, we are learning about tectonic plates, volcanoes, and earthquakes.

On Wednesday at 10:15 we will be welcoming the Bitney Springs highschool counselor to discuss their program.

Updates and Info

Students reflected on the meaning of their shield elements in an essay. We also read and had in-depth discussion regarding the characters' lives in Good Masters, Sweet Ladies. We also had several visitors last week including the NU counselor and a former student discussing highschool options. Additionally we had a wonderful, enriching experience learning survival skills with Foxwalker Rick Berry.

6th graders will be doing Spanish with Yakshi third trimester and there will be no more Mr. K vocabulary cards.

7th and 8th graders will be doing Spanish through Duolingo, an online application.

Newsletter: Reading Marathon and End of Trimester

Important

This is the last week of the second trimester. Report cards will be going home Monday the 7th.

Student participation in the Reading Marathon is essential for supporting our extra curricular efforts. Please encourage your student to set goals, log minutes and seek sponsors.

8^th grade parents: Please make sure your student can participate in Friday’s fundraiser for 8^th grade skip day. 8^th graders are expected to help prepare and serve dinner and need to be there from 4-8:30pm. Please contact Christina Ledson or Annie Garcia with further questions.

Upcoming Dates

§  Come celebrate the end of the trimester and support 8^th grade Skip Day by attending movie night this Friday the 26^th. Only a $7 donation and dinner starts at 5:30!

§  March 9^th is a minimum day.

§  Spring Break runs from March 21^st-28^th – back to school on the 29^th.

New

In ELA, we will be writing a personal reflection on the finished Coats of Arms which were MAGNIFICENT! Can’t wait to show them off.

In social studies we will be looking at the Crusades.

In science, we will be welcoming special guests from a nature program called Foxwalkers to spend some time outdoors, hands on, exploring rocks as tools and other survival skills.

Updates and Info

Students drummed and danced to kick-off our Rhythm and Reading Rewards Marathon! They also plotted volcanoes on a world map using longitude and latitude coordinates and participated in a Reader’s Theater rendition of the signing of the Magna Carta. Students read and responded to several monologues from our new class book Good Masters, Sweet Ladies.

The NU counselor is coming this Wednesday at 12:30 to meet with 8^th graders. Parents of all middle school students are welcome to attend.

Newsletter: Reading Marathon and Service Learning

Important

We are kicking off our READING MARATHON tomorrow! This is one of our most exciting and important reading and fundraising activities. It is more important than ever to sign for reading minutes and help encourage students go out and get sponsors. More details tomorrow!

Students will still have spelling this next week. However, students will only be responsible for reading 80 minutes per week. This is a great opportunity to get extra credit reading minutes to bring up reading grades before the trimester ends!

Upcoming Dates

§  February 17th-March 9th are Reading Marathon days!

§  February 24th, NU counselor coming to visit at 12:30.

§  February 26th is the end of the trimester and movie night to fundraise for 8th grade Skip Day.

New

In ELA, students will be focusing on reading and analyzing monologues for theme. There will be some reading homework.

In science, we continue on igneous rocks.

In social studies, we will continue learning about the Bubonic Plague and on to the Magna Carta!

Updates and Info

Students summarized and practiced close reading with three articles on the Bubonic Plague. We learned about how crystals form in extrusive versus intrusive rocks and we kicked off our new book: Good Masters, Sweet Ladies, Voices from a Medieval Village. 

Students had a contra dance instructor come teach them how to do-si-do in P.E.

The trimester ends the 26th and I will be collecting service learning forms on February 19th. Please check in with your student about how he or she plans to fulfill this requirement.

Students were invited to earn service learning hours and extra credit by volunteering for the Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, February 18th from 6-8 in the school gym. Volunteering beging at 5pm. There will be a free dinner served at 5:30 for one and all.

Newsletter: Four Day Weeks and Coat of Arms

Important

Families of 8th Graders: Please fill out new student enrollment forms either online or on paper by February 23rd.

The Coat of Arms project is due February 16th and is a significant grade for social studies.

Students will still have spelling the next two, four day weeks. However, students will only be responsible for reading 80 minutes per week. This is a great opportunity to get extra credit reading minutes to bring up reading grades before the trimester ends!

Upcoming Dates

§  February 10th is a minimum day.

§  February 12th and 15th, we have no school.

§  February 24th, NU counselor coming to visit at 12:30.

§  February 26th is the end of the trimester and movie night to fundraise for 8th grade Skip Day.

New

In ELA, students will finish up their adversity essay. We will begin our new class book: a collection of monologues telling an unforgettable story about what it took to survive the Middle Ages.

In science, we continue on igneous rocks.

In social studies, we will be learning about the Bubonic Plague.

Updates and Info

Students flexed their writing muscles with an hour long timed writing assignment. I was blown away by the focus and productivity they brought to the task of writing about adversity in the Middle Ages. They also began their Coat of Arms project and successfully completed a science experiment comparing the rate of cooling on salol crystals.

The trimester ends the 26th and I will be collecting service learning forms on February 19th. Please check in with your student about how he or she plans to fulfill this requirement.

Newsletter: Service Learning and a Special Message for 8th Graders

Important

The trimester ends the 26th and I will be collecting service learning forms on February 19th. Please check in with your student about how he or she plans to fulfill this requirement.

6th grade students need to complete 6 hours during the school year. 7th grade students need to comple 9 hours, and 8th grade students need to complete 12 hours. This is a graduation requirement.

Upcoming Dates

§  February 10th is a minimum day.

§  February 12th and 15th, we have no school.

§  February 26th is the end of the trimester.

§  Families of 8th Graders: There are two special dates for you to consider. First, February 16th at 6pm in the NU Theater, ther eis an opportuny for prospective students and families to learn more about NU's academic offerings, sports program, and extracurriculars. Lots of staff will be on hand to speak individually with families.

§  Second, the NU counselor is visiting Camptonville to talk with the 8th graders on February 24th at 12:30. You are welcome to join. Students usually discuss their math, science, and elective options at this time as well as other program choices.

New

We are making our very own Coat of Arms for our Medieval Ages project. Students will design the project in class and then will need to complete it at home. Please help your student with time management and materials to ensure this project is completed well. Students will write a reflective essay in class.

In science, we begin on igneous rocks.

In ELA, we will do a short research essay on adversity in Medieval Ages.

Updates and Info

Students showed off  their independent Cornell note taking skills for Japanese history, and I was impressed! They learned about geological time lines and index fossils in science. In ELA we began our new unit on "Giving Voice To Adversity" by reading and responding to nonfiction articles about the lives of Europeans during the Middle Ages. Our Rules to Live By essays are finished and posted!

With our speedy internet, many students are hopping online for supplementary math through Khan Academy when we finish our regular math lessons early. They all have logins and passwords for this program. I encourage students, who are able to work, on Khan Academy at home to fill in gaps in their math foundations or accelerate themselves through grade level math. It's an amazing, free resource for families!