SMS Trojan News
Principal's Corner
March 30th - April 3rd
What an interesting last few weeks. I truly hope that you and your family are staying positive during this time: connecting with each other, playing games, trying to stay off devices, going on family walks if safe, and perhaps getting a jump on spring cleaning!
Below, you can find a suggested schedule that Khan Academy has put out with some of the resources they provide. As we "head back to school" this week, it will be important that we set some routines and schedules for our kids. They need it!
Our teachers are "back" this week, starting to prepare a supplementary learning site for out South students. In the meantime, please access any and all of the resources on our District Website for supplementary learning resources. I'll be looking to send an update mid-week with the hopes of allowing families access to the South Middle School website by Friday at noon. Until then, we will be connecting with students and families to determine needs.
As a reminder from Superintendent Kolb's message:
- Schools will still be offering meals all week (can pick up a lunch and breakfast for the following day from 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. at all elementary sites). There will also be buses that go through bus routes that will have food delivery available as well. Check out this link for when and where those stops will be.
- If you need a ChromeBook for computer usage over the next month or so, you can check one out at South Middle School on Thursday and Friday this week. Just make sure your student has their Student ID Card (or at least their Student ID memorized).
- If you need Internet access, Spectrum Internet will be offering free broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days for households that don't already have internet through the company. This might be very helpful for accessing supplemental resources, along with D7-issued computers that your student can use.
As always, please don't hesitate to reach out with anything that you might need. We're here to help - whatever that may look like the next few weeks and months. Please remember to stay positive and care for each other during this season!
Grace and peace
Mr. Sale
Suggested Schedule for At-Home Learning
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8am - 9am
Wake up, make your bed, eat breakfast and get ready for an awesome day! And yes, change out of PJs :)
9am - 9:40am
Math brain training. Remember your brain is like a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it gets!
Khan Academy math practice. Depending on level, one of the following courses are likely appropriate:
***Course challenges and unit tests can be used to accelerate through material. If you don’t have too many gaps, you should be able to get through a previous year’s content in 1-3 hours. If you do have gaps, it may take a bit longer, but that is good! This is your chance to fill in those gaps that might otherwise hold you back in the future.
9:40am - 10am
Go for walk/run. Youtube JustDance/workouts if weather is bad. Maybe 15 minutes of Yoga with Adrien?
10am - 11am
Reading time. Here is a list of good books for grades 6-8:http://www.ala.org/alsc/sites/ala.org.alsc/files/content/compubs/booklists/summer/alsc-2019-summer-reading-list-grades6-8cor.pdf
Here is another list.
Sal Khan’s favorite science fiction books that he read around your age include:
- Foundation, by Isaac Asimov
- Ender’s Game,by Orson Scott Card
- Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
11am - 11:20am
Break. Walk/run outside if possible.
11:20am - 12pm
Khan Academy Grammar: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar
Recommend starting by taking the course challenge a few times to figure out what you know and don’t know.
Journaling/Writing
Things to write about/prompts:
- What would you do? Research how the virus spreads and different plans that leaders have made to slow it or stop it. Then imagine you are an elected official. Write a plan of your own to slow or stop the virus in your own town.
- What are you excited or worried about?
- Write a letter to yourself 10 years in the future. What do you want to tell your future self?
- How do you think the world will be different after the novel coronavirus?
- What part would you play? People in many, many different jobs play a role in managing this outbreak. Make a list of jobs that can contribute to a solution, and write about which job you’d want and why.
12pm - 1pm
Lunch - Listen to an educational podcast! Try RadioLab If you like science, Forever Ago if you like history, or Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls if you like biographies.
1pm - 2pm
Science and social studies. Khan Academy high school biology could be used. Do research on what a virus is and how it spreads. Keep track of the news and how the various countries are responding to the pandemic. Khan Academy resources:
2pm-2:30pm
Walk/break
2:30pm-3:30pm
Enrichment:
- Code.org Express course (block based for beginners).
- Khan Academy computer programming, (text based for beginners to intermediate)
Programming computers is far more fun and creative than you probably ever imagined. Both these resources start by creating fun cartoons and animations and work your way up to creating fun games that your friends can play.
3:30pm-9pm
Relax, go outside, work on passions, time with family.
9-10pm
Lights out, time to sleep!
Schedule provided by Khan Academy (also elementary and high school schedules as well).
South Middle School
Email: bsale@grantspass.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.grantspass.k12.or.us/Subsite08
Location: South Middle School, West Harbeck Road, Grants Pass, OR, USA
Phone: 541-474-5750
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SMSTrojans/