WHAT'S UPdate!
SSAE Middle School Newsletter ~ February 2020
Notice! CMAS Testing Days
April 1st, 6th, and 8th - Please mark your calendars for important testing dates:
5th - 8th grades:
Middle School Testing Dates are April 1st, 6th, and 8th (April 8th will be 5th and 8th graders only - Science test). Students will need to be in the building by 7:50 am.
More detailed information will be sent home to families as we get closer to April.
A gentle reminder as we head into Colorado's wintery-weather months:
YEARBOOK SALES ARE ON!
The 2019 - 2020 middle school yearbook is now on sale! To order your copy, use the link and school code below!
school code is
13385820
EVENTS, CLUBS, & HAPPENINGS
Anime Club
Anime Club is held on Wednesdays from 3:15 to 4:30. Students are encouraged to bring books, magazines, and art supplies to hone in on their art skills. The club will be canceled in the event of inclement weather (students will call home if it is canceled that day). Please note that the club will not meet April 1st and April 8th due to CMAS testing. We are also not meeting on parent teacher conference (2/12) and on 2/26.
Tabletop Gaming Club
Yearbook Club
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
Important Dates for Your Calendars
February 12th: Middle School Family/Teacher conferences, 3:30 PM-6:30 PM,
February 14th: Middle School Family/Teacher conferences, 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
February 17th: Presidents' Day - School Closed
March 6th: Building Professional Development - School Closed
March 9th: In-Building ALEKS Knowledge Check, 75% minimum progress in ALEKS
March 16th-27th: Spring Break!
This is a great time to rest, relax, and restore (or catch up if you need to do a couple of assignments!). No new work is assigned during this time, but access to coursework is still available, and ALEKS topics count for extra credit.
April 1st & 6th: In-Building CMAS (State) Testing, 5th-8th grades
April 8th: In-Building CMAS (State) Testing, 5th, and 8th grades ONLY today!
April 27th: In-Building Star360 testing, Reading and Math
May 4th: In-Building ALEKS Knowledge Check, 85% minimum progress in ALEKS (Math Final Exam)
CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES
English Language Arts
Families, please ask your scholars about their ELA homework!
As part of our genre study, students have decreased online work to give them time for in-building homework assignments. To help ensure their success:
- Have your scholar show you their reading schedule and online reading journal!
- Ask your scholar to summarize to you what they've read. Ask them questions!
- Have your scholar read to you from their book!
- Read the novel with your scholar and hold book discussions! This can be a family activity.
Extending the learning beyond the classroom makes for higher achievement! Let's all work together to help our SSAE SCHOLARS soar!
REMEMBER: Completing homework is essential to student success! 50% of their overall ELA grade comes from their in-building/homework activities.
Social Studies Update
Science Update
All material required for in-building work is posted on Google Classroom. Students received a form on Mon, 2/3, showing the percentage they earned for their first Edgenuity folder. There will be an opportunity to earn more points for students scoring below 85%.
February's topics are broken down as follows:
5th Grade: Eclipses, Day/Night and Seasons, and Cells
6th Grade: Erosion, Deposition, Continental Drift, and Watersheds
7th Grade: Genetics and Heredity, Body Systems
8th Grade: Inner and Outer Planets, Weather
Students are encouraged to use the sign-up link on Google Classroom to set up an appointment for zoom if they need additional help.
Reminder- 40% of each students’ grade reflects his or her work while they are in the building. These grades are entered in the Unit Folders on Edgenuity for 6-8th graders (and through a separate assignment on Odysseyware). If a student is absent, the work must be made up. In the event, a lab was missed (Mondays), an alternative assignment may be substituted.
Math Update
Students should be working towards their 2nd semester of ALEKS with no less than 85% progress on their in-building knowledge check. This is the minimum requirement to be eligible to earn a passing grade in the 2nd semester.
Weekly Topic and Progress grades/indicators are available by the end of each week to help students and families stay on track with 2nd-semester goals and progress.
Study sessions for students wishing to get extra help to reach this milestone are available. Contact Mrs. Danford for dates and times.
Classroom Math Updates:
Sometimes, learning isn't planned, but a successful learning challenge can't be ignored. A huge shout out to 5th grader Lauren Nomura and 6th grader Malaina Jackson for being the first two students in their classes to research and share the name of the "fraction bar" with us - the vinculum!
Talking Math at Home:
February 2, 2020 - Superbowl Sunday, Groundhog Day, and Palindrome Day (02/02/2020)!
February's Talking Math at Home Challenge:
A palindrome reads the same forwards and backward. Addition and multiplication problems can work the same way thanks to something called the Commutative Property. For example, 8% of 25 produces the same answer, and 25% of 8. Since thinking in quarters tends to come easier for many of us, this is a great way to practice mental math and teach students a way to problem-solve.
This month, look for ways to work with math problems out in the world that, when seen from a different perspective, are made easier to solve. Encourage your student to share their thinking with their classmates and other friends.
Art
5th- Notre Dame at Night Watercolor
6th- Burlap Weavings, Wanted Posters, Zentangle Animals
7th- Cartoon Model Sheets
8th- Copic Zentangles, Scratch Art, Metallic Tree Paintings
Electives
Applied Digital Skills class is currently writing business plans for their own businesses. Next week we will be using digital graphic skills to design our own logos.