Junior High Journal
News and Happenings in the Junior High Department
8th Grade Updates & Reminders 5/1-5/5
- Chromebooks should be charged every night to ensure the battery lasts throughout the day!
- Check Skyward and the homework calendar frequently for missing and current homework assignments, talk to your child about their work.
- Please remember that although you can email your students, absences and early pick-up information must be reported through the office. Please call the Yorkville School office.
Individual Classes
ELA News and Updates
Katie Nicholls katie.nicholls@yorkville.k12.wi.us
This week in ELA, students began a new unit about culture and belonging. This collection has many short stories, essays, memoirs and poems about being a part of a culture different than your own and how hard assimilation may be. We also worked on verbals, both particles and gerunds, as well as the imperative mood. As the end of the year approaches, please keep encouraging your student to finish strong. The many events planned can disrupt normal routines, so making sure your student completes assignments each night is important.
Science News and Updates
Erin Weis erin.weis@yorkville.k12.wi.us
Students have been busy learning about the classification of invertebrates in the animal kingdom. They did a really great job on the earthworm dissection. Students have learned new vocabulary to describe the locations on the animals. We were able to view parts of the reproductive structures, the five aortic arches (sometimes called the five hearts) as well as the entire digestive tract. We will compare these systems of the worm to that of the frog. This allows students to compare and contrast the complexity of the systems of vertebrates and invertebrates. Students do have gloves they have the option to wear while doing the dissections.
We will have the Invertebrate test on Wednesday, May 10th and the Vertebrate test on Monday May 22nd. They are responsible for identifying the organs of the digestive system as well as the functions of the organs. I would encourage students to use their notebooks to study as well.
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Weis
Social Studies News and Updates
John Johnsen john.johnsen@yorkville.k12.wi.us
This week in Civics, we looked at how the legislative branch of the state work. We discussed the wide variety of term limits, qualifications, salaries, and leadership positions found in the different state governments. We then looked at the different jobs a member of the State Congress would do, with its most important being making laws. This led into a discussion on how states make laws, which is almost the same as the federal government. We finished up by talking about state budgets and how most of them half to be balanced and can’t have a deficit. The classes then did a little simulation to figure out how they would handle a budget deficit or surplus. Next week we will begin looking at the executive branch of a state government. We will discuss similarities and differences between a governor and the president when it comes to each role in their government. Have a great weekend. Mr. Johnsen
Math News and Updates
Mary Niccolai mary.niccolai@yorkville.k12.wi.us
Intro to Algebra missed a few days this week with Spring MAP testing. I was proud of the progress most of the students made this year. In the few days that we met as a class this week, we worked on a quick review of solving multi step equations. This is a necessary skill for algebra next year so we have spent a lot of time to master this concept. We will spend the rest of the year working with some other algebra concepts such as polynomials and factoring. I hope you have a great weekend.
Mrs. Niccolai
Algebra spent some time working with right triangles. They learned about using the Pythagorean Theorem and basic Trigonometric functions to solve right triangles. Ask them what SOH, CAH, TOA means. It is a memory tool we used to help memorize some basic trig ratios. We ended the week with graphing quadratic equations. They learned about graphing parabolas and finding the vertex and the axis of symmetry. They also learned how to find the domain and range of these functions. Next week we will wrap up quadratic equations and spend a few days on exponential equations. After this, we only have one more chapter to cover. May gets very busy with field trips and various programs. We should have just enough time to cover rational expressions. This final chapter will review factoring one more time. Have a great weekend.
Mrs. Niccolai
Spanish News and Updates
Katy Morrow katy.morrow@yorkville.k12.wi.us
This week, students viewed each other's weather forecast that they screencast last week in class. It was fun to hear students present their forecasts. We then jumped into the vacation themed vocabulary and practiced with playing some games, Pop! and "Flyswatter". Next week, we will get into the grammar of the vacation unit.
Physical Education & Health News and Updates
Amanda Peterson amanda.peterson@yorkville.k12.wi.us
This week the 8th graders thought about their goals for the future and how becoming a Teen Parent would impact what they plan on striving for over the next several years. The students discussed in small groups the impact it would have on their education/career, family, social life, emotional state, financial state, and their daily routine/leisure time. The students came up with a wide variety of important discussion points.
This week the 8th graders took their final fitnessgram test at Yorkville, the sit and reach to test their flexibility. While some students were testing the others played cricket. We did make-up testing on Friday and played Prison Ball, and to end the week we will play gladiator ball.
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Peterson
Band News and Updates
Mike Beix
May will be a busy month for our Advanced Band members!
On the morning of Wednesday, May 17th, the Advanced Band will travel to UW-Whitewater to work with the university music professor, Dr. Glenn Hayes. He will listen to us perform and then spend time with the band to help make us sound even better!
Our Spring Band Concert will be on Tuesday, May 23 at 9:45am and 7:00pm at Yorkville School. You will hear performances from the Beginner Band, 6th Grade Band, Advanced Band, Jazz Band, and a grand finale featuring every band student.
Our final Culver’s Fundraiser will be on Tuesday, May 23 from Noon-10:00pm.
Our final activity of the year will be our annual trip to Six Flags Great America on Tuesday, May 30. We will leave school at 9:30am and return to Yorkville at 7:00pm. Thanks to our fundraising efforts and a generous donation from PTO, the cost to students will be $10. Students with season passes will not have to pay anything.
Please check out the band website (tinyurl.com/yorkvilleband) to stay up-to-date with the Yorkville Band!
Choir News and Updates
Carly Kreuscher
carly.kreuscher@yorkville.k12.wi.us
http://yorkvillemusic.weebly.com
Music Man Jr. Rehearsals - Tech week ran pretty smoothly this week. I am so proud of what the kids have done so far. I can’t wait for our performances. Just a reminder: Fri: 5:30 report, show at 7:00pm. Sat: 5:30 report, show at 7:00pm.
Music Man Tickets - There are still tickets available for both Friday and Saturday night shows. If you haven’t bought your tickets, now is the time!!! Tickets will be sold at the door, IF we have not sold out. We would love to see you there!!!
If you are looking for extra handouts, forms, etc. please check my website. I try to post everything I can so you have access at home!!! http://yorkvillemusic.weebly.com