General Announcements:
Parent Information Night: This coming Tuesday, September 1, at 7:00 pm we will be holding our annual Middle School Parent Information Night. This is a great way to hear and learn about all that happens in middle school this year. Please plan to join us in the commons.
7th and 8th Grade Laptop Contracts: Contacts are due by Monday. Two pages at the back of the packet must be signed and brought to school. Student may not bring their laptops home if they do not have their signed contracts turned in to their homeroom teachers.
Spiritual Retreat Highlights: The Spiritual Retreat is coming up on September 18. Expect an information letter and permission slip to come home next week!
Dress Code: Our Education Committee updated our Dress Code last spring and a copy was included in your August letter. Please especially note the guidelines for shirts needing sleeves, length requirements for shorts, and the length requirement for tops/skirts worn with leggings/jeggings/tights. If students wear clothing not in alignment with our dress code, we will ask them to change. If they do not have something to change into at school, we will ask them to call home to get something. Thank you for your partnership in helping us uphold our school policies.
Hot Lunch: If you wish to order hot lunch for September it is due on August 31st. Late orders cannot be accepted due to the system closing so make sure that yours is in! Any questions please have them e-mail Sue Prins at sprins@adachristian.org.
Homework Calendars: To see homework, click on the link below and then select "login as guest."
6th Grade News:
6th Grade Laptop Boot Camp Information: Today your child was able to spend some time using their school laptop. We spent a great amount of time running through expectations, common tips and tricks, computer set-up, Q & A, and also gave a few minutes for them to investigate. Over the next couple weeks we have a purposeful outline to help teach the 6th grade students many important computer skills and programs. Tuesday your child(ren) will be coming home with the Laptop Guidebook for Students and Parents. Please have this signed and returned by Tuesday, September 9.
Art: In the first class we started part A of our first project, went over middle school art expectations, got our sketchbooks and first sketchbook assignments. 6k has this assignment due next Thursday. Please check the moodle calendar for project due dates and sketchbook assignments.
Band: Band meets Monday/Tuesday/Thursday this year - all three days. We begin with instruments on Monday, August 31. I am excited to hear everyone and get going making music together!
Bible: Monday students will begin their first project that helps us get to know each other. This Inside/Outside Bag will not be due until Sept 23, but we will give instructions and details about the project on Monday.
History: Next week we will begin our unit on geography. We will start with map activities.
Language arts: We are off to a great start! We are learning a lot about each other and our computers. Next week we will begin using our computers to create Auto-Bio Poems. Also, all students will need to bring an independent reading book to LA class next Tuesday.
Math: Next week we will focus on Measurement and Decimal Computation. We will also integrate some metric system concepts as we make some connections to science class.
PE: Welcome to PE! I am really looking forward to this year with the 6th grade students! We will be kicking off the year with our soccer unit. Students should be prepared to go outside.
Science: Safety contracts are due on Monday. Expect your student to ask you for a signature on a bright pink paper! We will have a quiz over important safety procedures on Thursday. I'm excited for a great year of hands-on scientific investigation!
Spanish: ¡Bienvenidos! Looking forward to a great year! This year will be QUITE different in Spanish, as letter grades and homework come into play. Students will begin the year working on an iMovie project in class on their new laptops!
7th Grade News:
Boerkoel Algebra (7th): We are off to a great start. Our first chapter of study is a basic review of concepts they have learned in the past.
Art: in this first class students received their sketchbook and first assignments, and also began learning about the art elements and principles which will be used in their first project. Please check moodle for the assignment due date.
Band: Band meets Monday/Tuesday/Thursday this year - all three days. We begin with instruments on Monday, August 31. I am excited to hear everyone and get going making music together!
Bible: We're beginning the year with a little reflection and review. We'll be starting our study with events and people involved with the division of the kingdom of Israel.
History: This week in history we have been learning about why we study geography. Next week students will work on a comic strip in class to show what they have learned.
Language arts: Welcome to 7th Language Arts! During our first 2.5 days of class, 7th graders discussed how communication has played a major role in the narrative of the Bible, and what that means for how we employ all forms of the English language. Throughout the coming year, we will be asking ourselves many questions about how we are intended to use language, as well as how LA connects to our school theme of "showing your ID".
This coming week, students will begin their first unit, which will be a re-cap of plot structure and conflict. We will be reading and studying several short stories to help us learn.
PE: Welcome to PE! I am really looking forward to this year! We will be kicking off the year with our soccer unit. Students should be prepared to go outside.
Pre-Algebra (Kiser): Next week we will continue with "The Language of Algebra" as we freshen up our Algebra skills needed this year.
Pre-Algebra (Holtrop): It's been a great start to the year and I'm looking forward to work through the Pre-Algebra course with this crew! We have already started our chapter about Equations and Inequalities. Next week we will specifically look at solving equations using addition, subtraction, multiplication or division.
Science: Our first unit of focus for life science will be a study of plants around our school property. Nearly every day for the next 6 weeks, we plan on being outside. One of our goals for this unit is an appreciation for the great variety and detail which God has created for us to enjoy.
Spanish: 7th graders have already demonstrated great retention in an in-class questionnaire given to a couple classes. Next week they will begin working on individual projects called the "Fake Family Photo Album," which will be a fun review of last year's vocabulary and grammar.
8th Grade News:
Algebra (Witte): Next week we will continue to work through Chapter 1. Our first test of the year will likely be in the week after next. Students are taking notes in a math journal each day that will hopefully help them with remembering the lesson each day.
Algebra (Kiser): Next week we will continue to freshen up some of our Pre-Algebra skills, like exponents, order of operation, and inequalities.
Art: In our first class the students received their sketchbooks and the first assignment. Student then jumped into the first project through learning about East Asian art form of chop making and the worldwide artform of monograms. For this first project students will be using their initials to create a monogram that has meaning to the artist. Please check moodle for assignment due dates.
Band: Band meets Monday/Tuesday/Thursday this year - all three days. We begin with instruments on Monday, August 31. I am excited to hear everyone and get going making music together! Band is great for the brain - - I am ready to get going and growing together.
Bible: This year in Bible we will focus on the New Testament. All of our Bible memory selections from this year will also be from books in the New Testament. Our Bible memory will be cumulative this year, each month adding on new verses to memorize. Here is a copy of the verses we will learn this year. I am looking forward to a great year!
Geometry: It's fun to be back together as a class! We have started Chapter 1 and next week we will studying ordered pairs as points, points in Networks and Euclidean Geometry. We're jumping in full force!
Homework assignments will generally be from the textbook. If your student has questions, make sure they take the time to read through the textbook and their notes and use the information to answer the various problems. I do not give an example of each problem that they will need to answer, they will need to use what they have learned and apply it to the problems. They can do it! They can also email me if the need a little extra direction!
History: In 8th grade history this year we will be focusing on American History from the time of the American Revolution through the end of the Civil War. Next week we will continue reviewing and learning about all of the key events that lead up to the American Revolution.
Language arts: The beginning of the year means the beginning of our biggest project - the National History Day essay. You will be receiving much more specific information regarding the project in its entirety in a separate email. However, please be aware that the 8th graders will be traveling to the Grand Rapids Public Library Main Branch on for the entirety of the school day on Thursday, September 3. You will receive more specific information about this as well.
In the days leading up to the library visit, I will be reviewing all the important details and criteria for the project. Please feel free to email me with any questions - especially if you are a parent who is unfamiliar with this project.
PE: Welcome to PE! I am really looking forward to this year! We will be kicking off the year with our soccer unit. Students should be prepared to go outside.
Science: "What is Weather?" is our focus to begin the year. We'll learn about what weather is, what causes it, and discuss why weather is important for us to understand as Christians.
Spanish: Wow! It was so great to hear 8th graders speaking Spanish today! Next week will be starting our first unit on clothing (building on to and recycling the 5th grade vocabulary we had.)
Athletics:
The fall season is underway. Teams have begun to practice and game schedules will be available soon!
If you have not yet turned in a physical for your student athlete, please do so.
Below is the "rainout link" that you can click on to sign-up for text messages or emails that will go directly to you when there is a game cancellation thru the GRACEAC league due to weather. Otherwise you can always call the cancellation hotline. Both links are also posted on the 5-8 Athletic Website.
For all up to date athletic announcements, game schedules, addresses to games, cancellations due to weather, sports sign-ups, etc., please go to the ACS 5th - 8th grade Athletic website.
| 
