ACS Middle School Matters: Middle School Matters: 4/19/14

Middle School Matters

March 19, 2014

General Announcements

Spirit Week is next week for all students! See the Google Calendar for the events for each day. (Matching Monday, Crazy Hat or Hair or Socks Tuesday, PJ Day for Wednesday, USA Day for Thursday and Blue/White/ACS Wear for Friday.

Fine Arts Night: Thursday Night 6:30-8:00 Come enjoy the student's visual arts work displayed in the hallways, it has been a very artistic year.

6th graders: Arrive at 6:15

7th Grade: Come if you can and enjoy all your artwork on display.

8th Grade Band: Arrive by 7:15 to band room, concert in Commons at 7:30

6th Grade News

Art: 6d has both their torn watercolor landscape project and artist statements for the project due next week tuesday by the end of class. 6ki will be starting their clay unit next week in class and 6ki has an artist statement due next Thursday for the torn watercolor landscapes.

Band: We are working on music for GrandFriends Day, music fundamentals and scales.

Bible: Music Videos will be finished up in class this week. Friday we will take the time to watch them and sing along. They have done a great job, and you should ask them to show you the finished product. Bible Memory # 1 is due on Friday, but can be said anytime this week.

History: We are learning about Ancient Rome this week. We are working on writing detailed summary paragraphs about some of the wonders of Ancient Rome. The paragraphs will be put together in one paper that will be due the first week of May.

Language arts: It has been so fun to see all of the display boards come into school. The 6th graders obviously worked very hard on them! Currently, the sixth graders are working on the beginning stages of their persuasion papers. They are brainstorming reasons why their classmates should visit their World Fair countries (due Monday 4/21). Students will formulate thesis statements and learn about introduction paragraphs next week. We will also compile our portfolios in class. We are looking forward to the World Fair night. See details below.

DETAILS about World Fair during Fine Arts Night:

The night begins at 6:30 and ends at 8:00. Students should arrive around 6:15 wearing nice clothing. Parents often help students set up and put food in SMALL portions. Any extra "stuff" can go under the table. (Students should let me know if they need an outlet. If so, also bring an extension cord.)

At the end of the night, all food and artifacts can go home, BUT PORTFOLIOS AND DISPLAY BOARDS MUST STAY AT SCHOOL. Students will need to stay by their board until 7:20. At that point, they may wander around. Students may leave at 7:45.

These students have worked SSOOO hard and have learned so much. Thanks for your support in this valuable project. It should be a fun night. Bring your camera and appetite!

Math: We have learned how to find the area and perimeter of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangles, trapezoids and circles. Monday we will combine them into compound shapes. Tuesday we will review and Wednesday students will be tested to see if they can find the area and perimeter of each of those shapes.

Science: We continue to explore energy transformations. Test is tentatively planned before the end of the month.

Spanish: Students will work on final drafts of their Family Tree projects, getting started in class and finishing at home for Friday's due date.

7th Grade News

All 7th Grade Students had a special experience on Maundy/Holy Thursday where we thought about the suffering of Christ and our response to his sacrifice.

We had a seventh grade class meeting on Friday where we talked about

How things at school are going for our class
Some student relations policy reviews so we review and remember how we are called to treat each other
Romance, food and lunches, body image, and getting along with each other
Strengths of our class
Things we need to work on
Finishing strong for our 7th grade year

Academically
Socially
Spiritually
Being Good Leaders and also Good Followers

We also talked about 8th grade and things to look forward to next year
What a great class!! We are thankful to God for them!

Algebra 7th/8th: Test on Wednesday over chapter 10.

Art: 7th grade should be completed with the building of their ceramic birds. All class will be working on a project that seek to have the students visually display their faith, family, and self, please ask to see your students sketchbook and discuss with them what they are drawing for this project.

Band: We are working on music for GrandFriend's Day, music fundamentals and scales.

Bible:

VN: We continue to work on Isaiah and have an interesting project going - part 1 is due Tuesday.

Sanderson: We'll be examining our own Spiritual journeys this week.

Wanner: We are working on 2 Samuel. We have a Bible Memory quiz on Tuesday of Roman 12: 9 - 12.

History: We have started our study of American History. We are focusing on the Age of Exploration and the early settlements in the New World. We will be finishing up this chapter next week. Look for a quiz/test on this material early the following week.

Language arts: The 7th graders worked very hard this week, and on Friday they finished the first draft of their Paideia essays -- great job, everybody!

This coming week will be very busy as well, so be prepared to work hard and prioritize well! Here is what's coming up:

-Monday: Trouble projects are due.

-Wednesday: We will take a "quest" (small test) on Trouble. A comprehensive summary of the book and a review guide (including the short answer questions from the quest) are available on Moodle to help study).

-Friday: The second draft of the Paideia essay is due (parents stay tuned: I will be sending you more info because you play a direct role in this portion of the project!)

Pre-Algebra (Sanderson): We're studying data - how to collect it, organize it, display it, and analyze it. Students will complete a data collection/graphing project to go deepen this study.

Pre-Algebra (Kiser): Next week we will wrap up our study of congruence, similarity and transformations. We will have our test on Thursday.

Science: We are now studying the circulatory and respiratory system.

Spanish: We will continue our practice of SER vs. ESTAR

8th Grade News

Pirates of Penzance DVD: If you have not turned in your order form for the DVD, you may still turn it into the office on Monday. Monday will be the final day before the order will be placed. If you have lost the order form, click here to download a new one.

Class Trip: Arrangements have been made for the 8th grade class trip which will take place on May 21-23. Once again the 8th graders will have a memorable trip traveling to Ohio for a river adventure and a day at Cedar Point. An information letter will be going home next week with a few more details.

Algebra (Witte): We have started Chapter 10 on Polynomials and Factoring. We will be working through this chapter this week.

Algebra 7th/8th: Test on Wednesday over chapter 10.

Art: 8th graders are working on their family shape projects. It has been interesting hearing the conversation between students about the shape they have chosen for various family members and why. Consider asking your student about what shape they are using to represent their family members.

Band: Our Fine Arts Night Special Concert will be Thursday night - 7:30 p.m. in the Commons.

Call time is 7:15. We are also working on music for GrandFriend's Day, music fundamentals and scales.

Bible: 8th Graders will be continuing to learn with the Willing to Wait program.

History: Open notes and worksheets test on the Civil War and Reconstruction on Thursday. Progress reports for History were sent home with your child today, so if you have not checked their grades in a while, this is a good time. I printed off a sheet for each student, and those with grades C+ or below as of Friday need to return their parent signed report on Monday.

Language arts: This week we finished reading Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, by Gary Schmidt. Next week, we will have a test on the book (Thursday). A review guide for the test will be uploaded to Moodle this weekend and will be reviewed in class on Monday.

The third chapter (essay) of the Book of Memories project is due on Monday. Next week, students will also be given the instructions for the 4th installment of the project. Parents will be sent details about this as well.

Next week we will also begin a new unit: The Diary of Anne Frank

Science: We have finished our unit on Atmosphere and have started our unit on weather.

Spanish: Students have been memorizing the Lord's Prayer in Spanish and will recite for a quiz grade on either Monday or Friday next week. Also, COMING UP: Lunch at an authentic Hispanic restaurant, May 20th. If you are willing to come along as a chaperone, please contact Mrs. Weaver. It's fun to hear the kids speaking Spanish AND the food is great!

Athletics

Swimming: Our last practice is this Tuesday from 5 - 6:30.

For the meet on Wednesday please have your swimmers to the pool at 5pm, the meet will start at 6pm. Swimmers should also bring a towel, water bottle, sandals, a pair of shorts or sweats and a shirt or sweatshirt. The pool deck can feel cold to some swimmers during the meet and they may want to have some clothes to put on.