7 Black Team Newsletter
March, 2015
A Message from the 7 Black Teachers
As March arrives we see the start of the spring season, the beginning of spring sports, the Book Fair, and the third marking period coming to an end.
Please continue to stay updated on your child’s academic progress through powerschool.
We want to continue to remind parents that kids can stay after school Tuesday –Thursday to do school work in the after school homework room.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s classes please do not hesitate to call or email any of the teachers.
Important March Dates:
3/6- Early Dismissal
3/19 HSA Meeting
3/27 Spring Fun Night
3/30 Quarter 3 Ends
Teacher Profile: Mrs. Luvert
Subject: Language Arts
Years Teaching: 26
Years Teaching at Keith Valley: 15
Mrs. Luvert is married to husband Jimmie.
Why do you enjoy teaching at KV?
I love teaching at Keith Valley because I have amazing colleagues. We are like one big family and are all student-centered! Everyone is very supportive of each other. I have taught a variety of age levels, but 7th grade is my favorite age.
Why did you choose to teach your subject?
I love reading and writing and getting kids excited about literature! I enjoy reading their writing and helping them improve in all facets of this important communication skill. Giving students opportunities to show their creativity in a variety of ways is very rewarding.
Our PACEsetter, Lucas!
Mr. Wigand explains why the teachers chose Lucas this month for PACEsetter:
Lucas was a unanimous decision and could have been chosen any month. He is an all-around great kid who works well with other students.
Lucas is a hard worker. He comes in almost every morning before school to practice math. He even wanted to come in the day of the breakfast.
Lucas explains why he chose to take Mr. Wigand to the breakfast:
I picked Mr. Wigand because he is a great teacher. Even with his lectures, he is funny and is understanding. Every question we ask he answers; every time we are in need, he is there. Whenever we are in need, he helps us.
(We all love a good Mr. Wigand lecture!)
Scholastic Book Fair
Monday, Mar 9, 2015, 08:00 AM
Keith Valley Middle School Library
In The Classroom
Science with Mrs. Campellone
In March we will be starting our Genetics unit. Genetics has many terms that can be a bit confusing to some, so it is important to have your son or daughter review every night. Students will be working in the Tech Lab with Mrs. Fasy and Mrs. Miller to create hybrid animals using Photoshop. They will each research a vertebrate that we studied earlier in the year and take different characteristics to blend with another vertebrate. In the past, students really enjoyed this project. An exam will be given later in the month.
Math with Mr. Wigand, Miss Lee, and Mrs. Bloomquist
Book 3 math classes are finishing Module 3 and will take a Module 3 test around the second week of March. After the Module test they will prepare and take the Book 3 mid-term exam and start Module 4 by the end of the month. Module 4 includes math concepts like; area and circumference of circles, volume of cylinders and pyramids, surface area of cylinders, slope, writing linear equations, rational numbers, permutations and combinations, and probability.
The advanced math classes will be working in chapter 7 studying systems of equations.
Most classes are continuing to work with technology like graphing calculators, Desmos, Khan Academy, cool math websites, and the CPS (clickers).
All math classes are also continuing problem solving practice.
Social Studies with Mrs. Struzinski
In March we will be studying America in its first days after The Revolutionary War. Students will learn about how the founders struggled with setting up a successful, fair government. We will then compare this government to our current government. Finally, we will participate in a simulation about bills becoming laws where students will be able to draft a bill, debate and compromise about it, and ultimately vote on a version of the bill.
Language Arts with Mrs. Luvert and Mrs. Bloomquist
Mrs. Luvert’s classes are reading Pygmalion and learning about identity. An essential question to debate is “When individuals change their external appearance, do they necessarily change on the inside too?” Students have completed readings and assessments using “Quote Sandwiches” and support from the text.
Some favorites of January's PACEsetter, Delaney
What is your favorite class?
Art, because I can color and draw, and you can do what you want to do and no one will judge it.
What is your favorite activity?
Gymnastics because I love to be upside down and to be a team to work together.
What is your favorite book or movie?
The Blind Side because it's really cool that someone took in a kid off the street and gave him a school education and made him a star in football.