Meeting in the Middle
April 2017
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Spring break has come and gone, and we have less than two months of school left! In that time, not only do we continue the business of teaching and learning, but we also will be taking the state required M-STEP tests. The good news is that we do not have to alter our schedule as much as we did two years ago. I have posted the testing calendar on the Web site. Most testing blocks will be one hour, which means we will not run advisory during testing. Beginning April 11th, during 8th grade testing, we will run 3rd-6th hour in the beginning of the day and end with 1st and 2nd hour. Starting May 1st, the 7th grade will be testing, and we will run 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th hours before lunch. We will end the day with 3rd and 4th hours. We end testing with the 6th grade. Beginning May 12th, we will run a normal schedule with the exception of eliminating study skills.
As the year winds down, please keep these important dates in mind:
Friday, April 21st Last day for Box Top/Alpine Receipt Collection; Lunches
Monday, May 2nd 8th Grade Yearbook Signing Party Parent Meeting; 6:00 PM
Tuesday, May 16th Parent Koffee Klatch; 4:00-5:00 PM, Media Center
Tuesday, May 16th 5th Grade Parent Orientation; 6:00-7:30 PM
Wednesday, May 17th Last Start School Day; Classes begin at 9:45 AM
With the warm weather and long days, staying focused on learning is tough for our students. Please continue using ParentVue to track day-to-day homework, keep updated on your child’s academic progress, and e-mail to communicate with teachers. Communication and a strong home/school relationship are essential to the success of our students! We continue to offer after school tutoring on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays in the media center from 2:40-3:40 PM. Please contact the main office if you would like your child to attend.
Sincerely,
Julie Brown, Principal
Winged Warriors (Adams, Baldridge, Cook, Kimball)
In Language Arts, students have completed their study of the fantasy fiction genre. Students will begin to review and apply pronoun usage to their writing and review comma and quotation mark usage when we return from Spring Break. Enjoy your break!!
In Social Studies, we are wrapping up our study of land-use conflict in the Amazon rainforest. We had great fun learning about ways to resolve those conflicts. We will be visiting the Andes of South America soon. In Chapter 13, the students will learn how people adapt to living in a mountainous region.
Math classes have been working with ratios and rates for the past 2 topics and will continue exploring equivalent rates and ratios in topic 12. In topic 12 we will be looking at graphing ratios, recognizing proportionality, and working with percents. Students will have to find percents, sale prices, commissions, and percents of a number.
Remember that student grades are found on digits. Students need to do their homework in order to test well. All tests may be re-taken after school, at lunch, or study skills after the student has done the retake assignment that goes with it. Please stress the importance of reading the questions carefully and taking their time as they go through each assignment.
In Science, we have just completed the Chemical Reactions Unit. Students learned how to identify pure substances using physical properties, how to tell if an element is reactive by looking at the number of electrons in the outer electron shell, how to tell if a chemical reaction occurred, and they worked with the Law of Conservation of Mass and balancing equations. After break, we will switch gears and start to explore the world of energy.
Talented Talons (Beckman, Thorin, Mazza)
First of all, A Big Thank You goes out to all the parents who volunteered to help chaperone our recent trip to Imagination Station. We had an overwhelming response to the call out for chaperones and had to turn many requests down. What a great day we enjoyed. We heard nothing but positives throughout the day and appreciated our students’ behavior and our parents enthusiastic participation .
Language Arts: The students in Ms. Mazza's language arts classes have spent several weeks reading Tuck Everlasting and other fantasy novels. When they return from spring break, they will begin writing an alternate ending to Tuck Everlasting using effective techniques, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. They will also be expected to create examples of figurative language in their story.
Math: We’ve finished our Unit on Ratios, Rates and Proportional Relationships. After break, we’ll be diving into the study of Geometry.
Science: After break, it’s all about ENERGY!!! And, welcome back to Mrs. Thorin!!
Regal Eagles (Coleman, Schultz, J. Smith)
Language Arts
In language arts, students have just completed their nonfiction reading and writing unit. We studied the sinking of the Titanic and visited the Titanic exhibit at the Sloan Museum. The students enjoyed the opportunity to see actual artifacts that were brought up from the wreckage of the great liner.
Following Spring Break, students will be exploring ancient Greek mythology. We will be using literature, myths, and fables to discuss and examine the role of ancient gods, goddesses, and heroes in the lives of the Greeks. Students will even select their own Greek names for the unit! We will also look at how ancient mythology has affected modern media, including movies, video games, graphic novels, and more.
Science
In science, we just completed our seed design lab where students grew bean plants over a four week period. With their group, they manipulated the conditions of two of their plants, and then controlled the conditions of the other two plants. By doing this lab, students learned how a seed turns into a plant and what plants need in order for photosynthesis to occur. We also spent time this unit dissecting a bean seed to understand that a plant can survive off of the food supply in the seed until it has green leaves. In addition, students used the microscopes to make leaf impressions to examine the stomata and chloroplasts. Students enjoyed getting to see these microscopic parts of the plant that play an important role in photosynthesis.
Next, students will be learning about cellular respiration, which can be thought of as the reverse of photosynthesis. Respiration is a series of chemical reactions that break down food molecules (glucose) and releases energy. Students will be working with a partner to complete a project that will explain what they have learned about photosynthesis and cellular respiration to their classmates. They will have the option of creating a children’s book, news interview, comic strip, etc.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Social Studies
Students have been learning about various world calendar systems and how these calendar systems are still used today. We did a short, comparative study on the five major ancient world religions: when they began, where they are located and basic beliefs. After Spring Break students will be studying ancient India, China, and Europe. It is amazing how the cultures of the past have influenced today’s beliefs, actions, and customs. In the classroom, students have used a lot of technology whether it was reading articles, doing homework assignments, or playing review games. This is a great group of students! If you have any questions or concerns, I am always available through e-mails or phone calls.
8th Grade Newsletter
We hope everyone enjoyed Spring Break 2017! This means Michigan’s warm spring weather is starting. Please make sure your student is properly dressed according to the school dress code. For your reference, use a 4 by 6 inch card to measure length of skirts shorts (from the knee) and necklines!
As the long awaited spring/summer weather approaches, it is easy to replace homework time with outdoor activities. This can lead to lower grades. Eighth graders are just starting the 4th quarter. It is more important than ever to keep checking your student’s progress on ParentVue! (Synergy). Also, teachers are posting homework assignments with due dates and upcoming tests/quizzes on ParentVue to keep you informed. If you still cannot access your account, please call the office. It is also important to keep checking your student’s Digits math account. This will help you check for missing assignments!
In Language Arts, eighth grade students are exploring the science fiction genre. We will read novels such as The Giver and Fahrenheit 451! We will also read many short science fiction pieces throughout the trimester and tackle a persuasive writing essay.
Cedar Point is the last 8th grade field trip! The date is Wednesday, June 7th. Students will leave LMS at 6:15 A.M. and return around 10:30 P.M. Cost is $90. This includes transportation and drink wristband! Look for permission slips after Spring break to come home. The trick is, 8th grade students MUST attend the 8th Grade Recognition Rehearsal on Thursday, June 8th at 8:00 AM in order to participate in the ceremony on the 9th!
M-Step testing for 8th grade students will begin on Tuesday, April 11th. Please make sure your child is well rested and has had breakfast.