Middle School Matters 2/19/15

Middle School Matters   February 19, 2015 General Announcements Dinner Theatre is in need of several cylinder vases that are 12" tall and 5" in diameter (or a bit smaller if you have them) as well as several apothecary jars in various sizes, especially larger ones.  If anyone has some that we can borrow, now through the end of March, please drop them off in the office with your name marked clearly on the bottom.  They will be returned to the office after they are used at the Dessert Theater on March 26 and March 27.  Thank you in advance!!  Lise Williams     5th Grade News Art:  In class today artist Georges Seurat and his Pointilism art was introduced.  Students have been asked to keep their eye open in the next week for example of other things in life that might draw their inspiration for Seurat and his pointilism.      Bible: Still working very hard on the Jesus Project - many plays, writings, readings, discussions and illustrations.   Band: We are working page by page, steady as she goes. Page 26 is next.  Go team!   Language arts: The 5th graders have each selected a biography and should be plugging along on these at home.  Research has begun for their biography reports, and the rough drafts should be finished at home over break as will begin editing next week.     Math: The home stretch of our fractions unit - multiplying and dividing fractions and mixed numbers.   Orchestra:  We are almost done  learning page 31 so we will review  that page and also work on numbers 105 through 108- page 32.  This group sounds great.   Science: Next week we will begin our study on earth science.     Social Studies: We finished up our unit on Latin America this week.  The tests will be coming home today in the take-home folder.   GR Symphony Visit: Next week Friday, Feb. 27 we will be traveling downtown to the DeVos place to watch the symphony in action.  Please fill out the digital permission slip that Mrs. Van Noord sent out earlier in the week.  Email Mrs. Van Noord if you need it sent to you again.   Spanish:  We are working on learning articles of clothing in Spanish.  Students have a vocabulary sheet, and we will be doing many activities in class while practicing these.     Back to Top 6th Grade News Art: In class we have begun working on watercolor.  All students need to have/bring in an photograph of a landscape that has been taken by the student or a family member (no google images!!)  Please, avoid the classic beach sunset or beach and palm tree picture,  find a unique landscape picture.  Please check the calendar for homework and due dates.     Band:  We are hard at work on Edelweiss - please ask your band student to play this for you!  Also, we are working on solos and duets - pages 38 and 39. Duet quiz Tuesday.   Bible:  Bible Memory - Commandments 1-4 in the Old and New Testament due on Wednesday.  Comic Strip on Genesis 18 due on Friday.   History:  No Global Studies Weekly this week.  Continue our unit on Ancient Greece.  News about the 6th grade Greek Olympic games coming soon.   Language arts: We have been working hard!  It has been a busy week of creating poems about culture, peer editing, and beginning research on countries.  Next week we will continue to research in class ( goal= finish research by Thursday).  Also, FINAL DRAFTS of the culture poems are due on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24.  Students will hand in all drafts along with their final.   Math (Kiser): Next up = Equations.  We will be spending the next two weeks solving equations. Students will be required to show their work as we keep things in balance and remember that "what we do on one side, we must also do to the other."   PE: We transitioned from Pickleball to Badminton this past week. We will continue learning the rules and practicing the skills needed to play Badminton this coming week.   Orchestra:  We will master the duets - pages 46 and 47,  and everyone needs to practice numbers 240 through 246 for Tuesday.    Be sure to come hear the 7th and 8th graders join in concert with the Moxie Strings at Grand Rapids Christian High this coming Thursday, February 26th .  Concert  begins at 7:30PM. See you there!     Science: We will have a test covering our Chemical Reactions unit on Thursday, February 26.  This test grade will be recorded in the 3rd trimester.  Review materials are posted on moodle.  More will be added as the test draws nearer. Spanish:  Is the old tradition of bullfighting an art or a sport?  Should it be outlawed or allowed as a tradition?  Students watch a short movie about a young man training to be a bullfighter, then will have debate on this cultural hot topic.  We will also continue working with comparisons.       Back to Top 7th Grade News Algebra (7th):  This crew is working hard and we're starting to give into Chapter 9. This chapter we will be exploring quadratic equations! Art: In class we have been working to display the vice of jealousy in visual monster form just using cut up wall paper samples.  Please check the calendar for due dates.   Band:  We are hard at work on dessert theatre music and also method books and concert music. Bible: We're exploring the season of Lent and continuing our study of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. History:  We are beginning a study of Latin America.  Next week we will learn about the geography and climate of Latin America and we will be able to identify all of the countries on a map.  I am hoping to have the students take the map quiz next Friday in class. Language arts: When we return next week, 7th graders will be revising their outlines for Paideia. The final draft for the outline will be due on Friday, February 27, so we will be working hard throughout the week in class. -We will be taking our second DEA test for LA. PE: We wrapped up Pickleball this past week with a unit test. Next week we will transition to Badminton. Pre-Algebra (Kiser): We will be solving equations in chapter 8 next week. Students will be expected to show each step on both sides of the equal sign.  Shown work will be worth ⅔ of the points for each question. Pre-Algebra (Sanderson): We will have a test over percents (8.1-8.5) on Wednesday, February 25. Additional review materials can be found in the "Examples" and "Guided Practice" section of the textbook for these lessons.  Answers are found in the back of the book. Orchestra:   This coming Thursday February 26th  is the Moxie Strings Concert .  Arrive at 6:45 to tune/ wear concert dress and have fun!   Please invite lots of friends and family members to this free concert at Grand Rapids Christian High.  Questions- feel free to call me! Science: Continuing our study of birds.  To learn the birds, your child should be studying a little often rather than a lot just before the identification test. Spanish:  7th graders will be working on translations (if done at home, they are allowed to use their laptops as they would a dictionary:  Look up one word at a time.)       Back to Top 8th Grade News High School Info: Discover what sets NorthPointe Christian High School apart on March 2nd @ 7:00. Please contact Brittany Johnson to RSVP: johnsonb@npchristian.org, 616.942.0350 x276 Dessert Theatre:  This class is doing an awesome job "owning" this show!  They are working hard, following directions, learning their music and lines, and my favorite, keeping a positive attitude through all the hard work!  By next week, they should have most of their lines and music learned as we go into final blocking.  Our rehearsal schedule will continue much the same, with details being updated as needed on the website:  http://acsdesserttheatre.weebly.com/rehearsal-schedule.html Algebra (8th):  Continuing our study of chapter 9. Algebra (Holtrop): Next week we will be continuing our study of chapter 8. There will be a test at the end of the week. Art: WoW! We had a great start to working with ceramics.  We will be working on this in all class next week.  Please check the calendar for homework.   Band:  We are working on a number of great pieces for Fine Arts Night, April 23 and also our Spring Concert - May 14.  Please add these dates to your calendar and plan on two great musical evenings with your band students. Bible:  Plan of Salvation Projects: What a blessing it has been to watch the 8th graders present their beliefs on Christian worldview to small groups of 5th graders. They did an excellent job of asking questions, engaging the students, and creating a welcoming environment for this "witnessing" opportunity. Truly impressive and meaningful work! Sermon Evaluation Sheets: Students were given a sermon evaluation packet to complete during a church service. If for some reason they aren't able to attend a church service in time, they may access an online service on our Moodle page (Ada Bible Church). These packets will be due: 8D- Wednesday, Feb. 25 and 8F & 8E: Thursday, Feb. 26. Bible Memory: 2 Timothy 3:12-17 ties in well with our Christian worldview as we focus on the Bible as being truth. Bible Memory quizzes will be on Friday, February 27. Geometry: We are finishing a short unit on three-dimensional figures and will have a quiz next week Wednesday, Feb. 25th.  We will start to work on surface area and volume in unit 10. History:  We have finished covering chapter 13 this week on Westward Expansion.  Next week we will review these lessons in preparation for a test next Thursday.   Language arts: We will continue reading and discussing The Giver by Lois Lowry. During this unit, we are focusing on aspects of identity such as free-will and memory. Students need to have read through chapter 8 by Tuesday. -We will have our second DEA test this coming week. -The next chapter for the Book of Memories project is due on March 6 PE: We are playing Badminton doubles games. We will wrap up our Badminton unit with a test this coming week. There is a review sheet posted on Moodle. Orchestra:  This week- Feb. 26 is our concert with the Moxie Strings at Grand Rapids Christian High.   Arrive by 6:45PM to tune/ concert dress is required.  Please invite lots of friends and family members to this fun concert!  See you there! Science: Your child should be spending some time outside when it is clear to study the constellations. Spanish:  Students will create and present a skit about ordering breakfast in a restaurant.  There are Flashcards and vocabulary sheets on Moodle for them to be studying, and we will have a vocabulary quiz the first week of the new trimester.     Back to Top   Athletics Below I have attached the link for 5th - 8th grade spring sports sign-ups.  The sign-up deadline for 5th - 8th grade spring sports Friday, March 6.  Please remember, no late sign-ups will be accepted as we need to turn in exact numbers to the GRACEAC league.   A few things to keep in mind before signing your son/daughter up for spring sports. Swimming is only for students in grades 6-8. 2.  Your child may participate in more than 1 spring sport.  However, it will keep you as the parent extremely busy! Boys may participate in Swimming, Track and Field, and Baseball Girls may participate in Swimming, Track and Field and either soccer or softball.  Girls may not participate in soccer and softball together.   3.  If your son/daughter would like to play baseball or softball, please email me at avanduyn@adachristian.org instead of signing up.  I am worried about numbers and would like to have you wait before paying $50.00 4.      Season Start dates are listed on the 5-8 ACS Athletic Website.   5-8 Girls Soccer Link to Sign-up http://www.adachristian.org/spring-athletics   5-8 Track and Field Sign-up & 6-8 Swimming Sign-up http://www.adachristian.org/spring-track-swimming   5-8 Baseball & Softball:  email avanduyn@adachristian.org   End of Season tournaments for 7th and 8th grade basketball teams will start the week of February 23 and run thru March 7.  This tournament is single elimination and will be seeded based on regular season play.  As soon as ACS receives a schedule I will email the games out to the teams immediately.   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, which will run thru the end of basketball season.  Both links are also posted on the 5-8 Athletic Website. https://www.rainedout.net/team_page.php?a=2168760b8c4cda9d4efa.   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.   http://bit.ly/ACS-Athletics       Back to Top Ada Christian School Faith.Strong In This Issue General News 5th Grade News 6th Grade News 7th Grade News 8th Grade News Athletic News Quick Links Homework Calendars 5 Boersma 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade   *To see homework, click on the link above and then select "login as guest."     Student Grades PowerSchool   View Previous MSM MSM Archive   School Newsletter Ada Connection

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to forward this message to someone else, please Click Here.


If you would prefer not to receive further messages from this sender, please Click Here and confirm your request.