Blue Team Weekly Update
Week of 1/13-1/17
Breaking News
- Yearbook order forms were distributed to students yesterday afternoon. Yearbooks are $18.00 and orders are due by Friday, February 28th. You can place your order online at https://sales.yearbookmarket.com/stores/hixsonmiddleschool/products/773?pidx=0 or your student can turn in their envelope with payment to Ms. Baker in the main office.
- OPUS (Orchestra Parents United for Students), the parent booster organization for the WGSD middle and high school orchestras, is hosting a trivia night and silent auction to be held on February 1 at Shrewsbury Community Center. The event is a fundraiser for general orchestra program needs and orchestra trips. Details and a registration link are at
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f45aeab2aa3fb6-3rdannual
- You can find the link for Remind messages here or text @hxblue to 81010
- The Hixson Winter Mixer will be on Friday, January 31, 2020 from 6:30-8:00pm! See the flyer below for more information. Please also consider volunteering to chaperone. You can sign up at this link.
Upcoming Due Dates
Classroom Happenings
ELA: Mrs. Camden
This week we learned the roots Astr/Stell meaning Star, we had a lesson in the library on banned books, and on Wednesday and Thursday we had our Winter NWEA ELA test. We also fit in lessons to grow our thinking around theme. Students should be getting settled on a theme for their literary essay and going back to the text to find direct quotes to use as support for their thinking. Next week we will be working each day to write a literary essay around the themes we find in our novels.
Just a reminder, students are required to read two books each month for the rest of the school year. These books count as summative grades. Remind you child that they must fill out a completed book form for their reading to count. Completed book forms are in the classroom next to the pencil sharpener.
I will be placing a Scholastic book order on January 31st for anyone who submits an order online.
If you’d like to donate books to our classroom library, we have wish-lists on Scholastic and Amazon. Thanks!
Science: Mr. Vorel
It has been a busy week in Science class. On Monday students learned about endothermic and exothermic reactions. They then applied that knowledge to complete a very engaging lab on Tuesday. In this lab, students created an endothermic or exothermic reaction by combining two substances and mixing the solution together. They recorded the change in temperature over 120 seconds and found that it either increased or decreased significantly due to it being an endothermic or exothermic reaction. Students then were introduced to the kinetic molecular theory (KMT) and spent a day interacting with various KMT demonstrations that help to visualize this phenomenon. Students ended the week by completing a digital simulation also on the topic of kinetic molecular theory.
Soon we will be starting another design/build project where students are creating a scaled down hot air balloon. This project will be an extension to the learning that has occurred during the chemistry unit. Students will need
tissue paper (like that used in gift bags) to build these projects. I would greatly appreciate any donation of tissue paper either for your student or the class as it will make the completion of this exciting project possible. Thank you in advance.
Social Studies: Mr. McGinnis
This week in Social Studies -
Junior Achievement Field Trip Form (Feb.13th). WE NEED 20 VOLUNTEERS! We have 4 right now!
Goal is to have at least 75% of all forms into the office by Jan 22nd. We are at 30%.
Students will get a job and a family situation and in 4 hours they will have to create a budget and pay bills according to their life situation. It is worth the price of admission to see them try and figure out how to pay the bills.
If a scholarship is needed contact us as soon as possible.
Link to form
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l34qat_pPmzJfEZOEkc1XnSklZr8ZIYEecdVU59mKuY/edit?usp=sharing
Students are working on a career project Due next week probably Wednesday. Weather could play a factor.
Next week, income and taxes.
SPRINGFIELD FIELD TRIP. We have 40 + confirmed students.
If you have not yet,
PLEASE take a moment and please click on the link to get information on our Springfield Trip.
LINK
shorturl.at/puAV1
IN ADDITION, please fill out the Google form https://forms.gle/6ZtPTdtqVMzHNk1c7
- so that we can estimate how many students plan on going with us.
This will allow us to set the price for the trip. We will be going to Springfield IL 5/13/2020.
Mark Your Calendars
Wednesday, January 22: Class of 2024 Night at WGHS, 7-9pm
Thursday, January 30: Incoming 7th Grader Parent Orientation Night, 6:30-8pm
Friday, January 31: Hixson PTO Winter Mixer, 6:30-8pm
Contact Us
Mr. McGinnis: mcginnis.tim@wgmail.org
Mr. Vorel: vorel.adam@wgmail.org