Meeting in the Middle
April 2015
Principal's Ponderings...
Dear Parents:
Spring break is in full swing, and we have about two months left of the 2014-2015 school year! Thankfully, this year, we do not have to make up snow days! However, we do have a change for this spring: the new state standardized tests - M-Step! At this point, you all should know that testing beings on Monday, April 13th for 8th grade Language arts. Over the next six weeks, we will test each grade level in language arts and mathematics, eighth grade in social studies and seventh grade in science. Due to the number of tests and the length of each test, we will be using an A/B block schedule. Please be sure to visit the LMS Web page for a copy of the daily schedule.
As the year winds down, I want to remind you of some important dates:
Monday, April 13 8th Grade ELA M-Step Testing Begins
Monday, April 20 8th Grade Mathematics M-Step Testing Begins
Thursday, April 23 Parent/Teacher Conferences; 3:00-6:00 PM
Friday, April 24 Progress Reporting Period Ends
Friday, April 24 FINAL Alpine/Box Top/Spartan label Collection; 11:00-12:30 PM
Monday, April 27 8th Grade Social Studies M-Step Testing Begins
Monday, April 27 7th Grade Mathematics M-Step Testing Begins
Tuesday, April 28 8th Grade Yearbook Signing Party Meeting for Parent Volunteers; Media Center; 6-7:00 PM
Tuesday, May 5 Parent Koffee Klatch Meeting; Media Center; 4:00-5:00 PM
With the warm weather and long days, staying focused on learning is tough for our students. Please continue using Synergy 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 Monday, 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
Talented Talons
Language Arts: In Language Arts class, students are finishing up their fantasy short stories. During this unit, students learned to develop a cohesive plot, to create a great protagonist, and to teach a lesson or theme in their story. After Spring Break, students will be spending some time on our next genre of study: adventure! Students will have the opportunity to read tales of daring, danger, and triumph. While reading these stories, we will continue focusing on literary elements including static and dynamic characters, plot elements, themes, and vivid language.
Science: In Science we are wrapping up the Periodic Table Unit. This unit brought us full circle to what we were discovering at the beginning of the year. It is a nice way to round out everything we have been talking about within the Physical Science discipline. We made some awesome connections as to why the Periodic Table is arranged the way it is. Next for us is a complete switcheroo! We are going to leave Physical Science behind and put on our Earth Science thinking caps. To start our journey off right, we will begin exploring the layers of the Earth. Ask your son or daughter to sing the Layers of the Earth song for you!
Math: We’ve just completed our ratio and proportional relationship unit with a Pizza Performance Task. Students did a great job. I’m impressed. Geometry is our new unit of study.
Social Studies: Students have been learning about our neighbors to the south, Mexico. We have been studying about Mexico’s geography, natural resources, and climate. It is fun to see how many students have already visited Mexico. Next, we will be learning about Mexico today.
Winged Warriors
In Social Studies, we are working through Chapter 8-Mexico. In this unit, the students are learning about Mexico’s landforms, climate types, natural resources, animals, and plants. The students will discover what early cultures developed in Mexico and how those cultures have influenced Mexico today. Finally, the children will learn about present-day Mexico, exploring the government and economy. Please continue to monitor your child’s progress on-line. Feel free to contact me if you have a concern.
In Language Arts, students are participating in Book Clubs reading and analyzing Al Capone Does My Shirts. Groups will work together to decide on new vocabulary words and comprehension questions that will help them understand the plot, characters, and setting. Students will continue with weekly spelling and language lessons and have an Exit Ticket Quiz on Fridays.
We continue our study of the Earth. We will be covering Earthquakes and Mountain Building and will finish the year learning about the Rock Cycle and Soil Formation. The year has passed quickly in spite of the long, long snowy winter. Watch for information about our annual trip to Imagination Station which is scheduled for May 12th.
For the past three chapters, math classes have worked with ratios. In the last chapter, students found how to use percents. The next two chapters will be covering geometry concepts. Students will be finding area of different polygons in chapter 13, and in 14 they will be finding surface area and volume. Please remember that all tests can be retaken within two weeks of the original test. Also, all grades are found on Digits, not ParentVue.
Regal Eagles
Thank you for sending in permission slips and money for our field trip to Cooley Stadium on May 20th. We appreciate all of the chaperones willing to take time out to help us keep kids safe. Remember, outside food is not allowed into the stadium, so plan on bringing money for lunch.
Don’t let spring negatively affect your student’s study habits! Continue to check planners and Synergy. Make sure your child still has enough pencils and notebooks to finish the year. We appreciate your partnership.
Soaring Eagles
The seventh grade will be going on a field trip to Lansing to see the Lugnuts play baseball on May 20! We are hoping for good weather for this fun day at the ballpark.
Just a few reminders: Parent-teacher conferences will be held on April 23. Also, Kleenex supplies are running low as allergy season draws near. Any donations are greatly appreciated!
If you have any questions or comments, please contact your child’s teacher as soon as possible. Updated grades are available on StudentVue & ParentVue. If you do not know your child’s log-in information, please contact the main office at 591-0711.
Eighth Grade Newsletter
We hope everyone enjoyed Spring Break 2015! 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), shoulder widths, and necklines!
Eighth graders are well into the final trimester of middle school! 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.
We will be taking (30) 8th Grader's to the Super Science Friday at U of M Flint on May 1st. Interested students had the opportunity to apply for this experience. Water testing in Science for eighth grade students will take place on Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day). Students wanting to participate need to fill out an application. Two students will be chosen from each class. If your child is chosen, a permission slip will then be sent home.
The last parent-teacher conferences will be held this month in April. Conferences are Thursday, April 23rd from 3-6:00 PM. Please try to attend to speak with your child’s teachers to check his/her progress.
Cedar Point is the last eighth grade field trip. The date is Thursday, June 4th. Students will leave LMS at 6:15 A.M. and return around 10:30 P.M. Projected cost is $80. After spring break, look for permission slips to come home.
M-Step testing for 8th grade students will begin on Monday, April 13th. Please make sure your child is well rested and has had a healthy breakfast.
March Writers of the Month!
As part of the Writer of the Month program, each month students will be honored for completing an exceptional piece of writing. These selections will be on display in the Media Center. The Writers of the Month for March are:
Ryan Schubert
Audrey Steiert
Johnny Irwin
Zachary Butts
Connor Creekmore
Madeleine McCarthy
Hope Webster
Cameron Zoll
Sean Myers
Austin Robbins
Dylan Padgett
Max Gatza
Two Announcements!!
ART FAIR! As you visit with teachers during parent-teacher conferences, please walk the halls and enjoy the student artwork that will be on display!
Calendar
Monday, April 20 8th Grade Mathematics M-Step Testing Begins
Thursday, April 23 Parent/Teacher Conferences; 3:00-6:00 PM
Friday, April 24 Progress Reporting Period Ends
Friday, April 24 FINAL Alpine/Box Top/Spartan label Collection; 11:00-12:30 PM
Monday, April 27 8th Grade Social Studies M-Step Testing Begins
Monday, April 27 7th Grade Mathematics M-Step Testing Begins
Tuesday, April 28 8th Grade Yearbook Signing Party Meeting for Parent Volunteers; Media Center; 6-7:00 PM
Monday, May 4 7th Grade ELA M-Step Testing Begins
Tuesday, May 5 Parent Koffee Klatch Meeting; Media Center; 4:00-5:00 PM
Monday, May 11 7th Grade Social Science Testing Begins
Monday, May 18 7th Grade ELA M-Step Testing Begins