Gov. TJMS Newsletter
May 2021
Our Mission
At GTJMS, we strive everyday to create an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity, academic achievement, and well-being. Our mission is to empower students for success today and persevere through tomorrow’s 21st century challenges.
Our Vision
Governor Thomas Johnson Middle School is a diverse community of students, educators, support staff, parents and local organizations working collaboratively to provide an academically rigorous education, which includes the technology skills necessary for the 21st century. By holding students, educators and parents accountable for success, we are creating lifelong learners who take responsibility for their own educational goals and positive personal development. Excellence in teaching and learning is paramount to developing productive citizens who have promising and successful lives.
Administrative Announcements
Attendance
Technical Support
Reliable Resources
Frederick County Health Department
Maryland Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Governor's COVID-19 Pandemic: Orders and Guidance
Parks and Rec
Program and league registration is open and can be done online at http://www.cityoffrederickmd.gov/webtrac or by calling 301-600-1492.
PTSA Information
8th Grade Save the Date
Teacher Appreciation Week
Next PTSA Meeting
As summer approaches and the return to school in the fall looms, you may be thinking about getting your child involved in activities, outside of the house, over the summer. While summer vacations are wonderful experiences, adding to that experience benefits your child. One opportunity with low cost is a counselor in training. Your child can train for possible future employment while assisting with a summer camp program (there are age restrictions).
Some ways to help your teen with isolation:
Plan family outings
Don’t force the issue. If your child doesn’t feel comfortable with an activity, talk him/her through the issue, but don’t force him/her to complete it.
Ask questions and offer encouraging words.
Find interest groups for your child in his/her area of enjoyment.
Here are links to more information regarding summer camps, activities, and support..
TJMS Counseling Department
- Laura Rudy- 6th grade/ laura.rudy@fcps.org 240-236-4852
- Brian Dwyer-7th grade/brian.dwyer@fcps.org 240-236-4884
- Sarah Gunter- 8th grade/ sarah.gunter@fcps.org 240-236-4851
- Jessica Potts- Behavior Support Specialist jessica.potts@fcps.org 240-236-4848
PBIS
- The PBIS team wanted to express a heartfelt thank you to all our TJMS students who submitted personal notes and thanksgiving to our teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week!
- Our next Bingo Event will be on Wednesday June 9th - Summer Theme
- Look for information soon about our final end of year Spirit Week
Extended Learning Opportunities
Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) available for ALL GTJMS students
What?
In order to support students and families during distance learning, GTJMS will be providing virtual ELO sessions during weekday evenings and on Saturday morning. These sessions will be made available by our staff for all students to ask homework questions and receive content support.
When?
Sessions will occur each day when students have virtual instruction. (No ELO during Thanksgiving break, winter break, holidays, etc)
How can I access?
Google Meet codes will be posted in Schoology for students to access sessions they would like to attend.
Next steps or Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact the front office or your guidance counselor.Math: 6th graders will be working on Unit 6. We will learn about ratios and equivalent ratios. We will be solving problems using equivalent rates and ratios.
All students are required to complete the Performance Series Mathematics Assessment three times this school year (September, December, and May). Many students still need to take the May assessment. Please ask your child if he/she has completed the May administration of the assessment. If not, students need to follow the steps listed below to complete the assessment during the afternoon.
Directions for Logging On to Performance Series:
1. Login to Google Chrome
2. Go to FCPS bookmarks
3. Click: Performance Series
4. Enter your site ID: 17-5099-3963
5. Enter your student ID#
6. Verify your name and click: Yes
7. Select a test: Mathematics
8. Read the test instructions
9. Click: Yes, Start My Test
Science: 6th graders have moved into the last module for the year: A Balanced Body. During this module we will start with cells and work our way up to organs and organ systems. Students have currently been learning about unicellular and multicellular organisms, as well as, the difference between a plant and animal cell.
Social Studies: As we wrap up the school year we have moved into our last unit in Rome. We started with the geography, the rise of the republic and the different wars that Rome faced. As we continue through the unit we will be looking at Daily Life, Achievements, Christianity, and then finishing the year with the Decline of Rome. Through the unit we will continue to practice our writing skills so our students continue to grow in writing thesis statements, finding evidence, and defending their stance!
Food Science: In Food Science we are in the food labs cooking and your kids are doing fantastic. I truly enjoy seeing each student take a recipe and do the many different skills to be successful. I have sent home ingredients if a student says they do not have that ingredient at home. Thus please do not hesitate to email me with a need. Your kids love, love, cooking and so do I.
Lab 21: 6th grade students have been exploring the difference between reliable and unreliable resources. Students are using computational thinking skills to identify one Social & Global issue, provide 3 reasons why it is an issue & 3 possible ways the average person can help reduce the problem. Their final project will be in the form of a Scratch presentation.
Tech Expo: For both the weeks of May 10 and May 17, we are into our Manufacturing unit. This unit has 2 sections. One will call for everyone to create a technical drawing ghlyof the Pyramid Peg Jump (popularly found in Cracker Barrel restaurants). Students who are in the classroom will be on the band saw and drill press making the components of the game. I will cut the pieces for those who are virtual and they can either be delivered to homes, or students can elect to come by the school to pickup their games. The second unit is a Manufacturing Webquest which is partly directed and partly completed individually.
Language Arts: Students are reading and analyzing various texts that explore science fiction. We are looking to answer the essential question: Why do people follow the crowd? We will be comparing and contrasting several pieces of fictional texts to study how authors reveal a text’s through relationships and point of view. Students should also complete the final reading Global Scholars assessment as soon as possible.
Math: Students have started learning our Unit 6 concepts. We are solving and writing equations. In the next few weeks, we will be quizzing on Solving Equations and then moving into learning about Inequalities as well. Students need to be sure that they have completed their global scholars test which is located under fcpsbookmarks-performance series.
7 Accelerated: Students took their test on Linear Equations this week. We will next begin to work on solving multi-step equations with a single variable. We also took the Global Scholar Assessment. If your child has not yet completed this, please remind him/her to do so by going into Performance Series which can be found in the FCPS Bookmarks.
All students are required to complete the Performance Series Mathematics Assessment three times this school year (September, December, and May). Many students still need to take the May assessment. Please ask your child if he/she has completed the May administration of the assessment. (Please see 6th grade math for directions on how to take the assessment).
Science: 7th graders are currently learning background information on how humans impact the environment. They will practice collecting evidence in order to support their opinion on topics such as the banning of plastic bottles. Students will then learn how different human activities can impact their local and global communities. They will finish this unit by researching synthetic materials
Social Studies: Roelke/Valle - As we wrap up the school year we are working through our last unit on the New World. We have explored the Native Americans, the Age of Exploration and will continue to learn about Triangular trade and the Colonies. As we continue to work through our last unit we will practice our writing skills by developing thesis statements and finding evidence that supports our stance.
Arch/Ryan - 7th grade students have completed their unit about Europe in the middle ages and have begun to explore the Renaissance, Reformation, and the Age of Exploration. As we approach the end of the school year, we will examine early societies of North America and how they were affected by European colonization of the “New World.” Students will also learn about the Triangular Trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and the beginning of slavery in North America. This unit will serve as a bridge to the 8th grade curriculum. Students will begin their 8th grade history class next year by learning about the colonial period in North America.
Creative Arts: Students are finishing their African Art Unit. During this unit we explored East and West Africa, and students had the choice of completing two different art projects. Our goal was to reflect on how all artforms- dance, music, theatre, and visual are connected in African culture.
Invention and Innovation: This past week, all I&I classes completed ‘Computer Science Fundamentals’ and should have submitted that project by Friday, May 14th. Beginning Monday, May 17th, we will begin formal coding with Scratch, and those completed projects are due by Friday, May 21st
Math: 8th Grade: Students continue to find the solution to a system of equations by graphing. We also took the Global Scholar Assessment. If your child has not yet completed this, please remind him/her to do so by going into Performance Series which can be found in the FCPS Bookmarks.
Algebra: We have been working on graphing quadratic equations. We also took the Global Scholar Assessment. If your child has not yet completed this, please remind him/her to do so by going into Performance Series which can be found in the FCPS Bookmarks.
Science: 8th graders have moved into their final module on Motion. They are exploring Newton’s 3 laws as well as identifying practical, real life examples of each with a focus on sports. Students will then explore kinetic energy as it relates to the motion of objects. Students will get to engage in the engineering design practices as they wrap up the school year to demonstrate their understanding of the Motion module.
Social Studies: 8th grade students have finished our unit about the events and issues surrounding slavery that led to the U.S. Civil War. We are now beginning our unit about the Civil War and Reconstruction. In this unit, students will examine topics such as the causes and effects of Union victory, the experiences of soldiers and civilians during the war, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Reconstruction amendments to the U.S. Constitution (13-15), the experiences of Freedmen, as well as the brief and brilliant successes and tragic and enduring failures of the Reconstruction period.
English Language
Challenges
May 17th to 21st: Reading: Fictional Texts about plants
Math: Graphing/input/ output tables-number patterns
Science/Social Studies: Plant life cycles
Advisory: Calm or relaxed-how these feelings look, feel and what we can do about them
Life skills: Personal Information-Students will be assigned the elements of Life Skills that they will need to practice through the week. A test on that will occur on Friday.
Friends with transitional goals: Please practice your hands on activities as well as the digital one on Boom Learning.
May 24th-28th: Reading: Very Hungry Caterpillar
Math: Graphing: circle graphs
Science/Social Studies: Caterpillars/Butterflies
Advisory: Making and Keeping friends
Life skills: Working/careers/expectations
Interims will be sent out on Monday, May 24th.
Friends with transitional goals: Please practice your hands on activities as well as the digital one on Boom Learning.
No school on Monday, May31st
Foreign Language
Spanish 1: Students are studying chapter 4.2 (Shopping). We will be looking at ways to express going places on Thursday and Friday.
Spanish 2: Students are studying chapter 4.2 (Antique versus modern vocabulary).
WLEX: Students are studying greeting in Spanish.PE & Health
Students are continuing to develop their content knowledge on topics such as Heart Rate calculation, Target Heart Rate Zones, Maximum Heart Rate and the FITT Principle. In person students are participating in “Olympic Style competitions” for medals in track, volleyball, basketball, soccer and handball.
May Wellness Tip:
Now that the weather is getting nice...GET INTO NATURE!
Studies show that just a short, 2o-minute nature walk can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, increase the feeling of happiness, and decrease blood pressure.
Head to a local park nearby, or a small plot of grass, take off your shoes and let your feet touch the earth so you can feel more grounded.
Life Skills
Students in Life Skills are currently working on the Sewing Unit. Students are learning how to sew the Running Stitch, Backstitch, Hemming Stitch, and how to sew on buttons. During the second half of Term 4, students will demonstrate their sewing skills through their final Monster Sewing Project.
*Sewing kits are still available for pick-up at TJMS for All Virtual Students if they have not gotten one yet.
Visual Arts
Galla 8VA: Students are completing their Georgia O’Keeffe Unit by writing artist statements about themselves. For the unit, students drew a flower in the same style as O’Keeffe and then reflected on what inspires them to create a second drawing.
Parker 6,7,8: Students will create Visual Puns.
Pun - a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have different meanings.
Example of a Visual Pun
Students will also create their versions of Fantasy Cards.
Music
Music Performance Lab students are continuing to compose music in Soundtrap. We are creating music that goes along with short film clips. Students have also selected songs that they are learning on piano and guitar.
Band students are finalizing recordings for a combined virtual ensemble. We are also composing theme music for superheroes and villains. The following week, we will compose video game music.
Theatre Arts
All students in Theater Arts are currently building skills in character development, voice acting, and improvisation to support their rehearsal process for the Class Radio Drama. Parents will be emailed a temporary link to listen to the performance during the last week of school. Please support your student by encouraging them to practice their lines at home.
Class Plays:
6th Grade Red Week “How I Survived Junior High”
6th Grade Blue Week “Mother Goose for President”
7th Grade Red Week “How I Survived Junior High”
7th Grade Blue Week “To Grandma’s House We Go!”
8th Grade PD 4 “Yolo”
8th Grade PD 6 “The Comeback Caper”
Pre-Engineering
CSI
7th grade students are finishing up creating their “web page that has a purpose” and are continuing code.org Unit three gaming unit. Students will have completed lessons 1-6 by next week.
Ask your daughter or son to share their web page and share how they added CSS and linked all their pages using a navigation bar.
Mrs. Lucas-Literacy Specialist
All students are required to complete the Performance Series Reading Assessment three times this school year (September, December, and May). Many students still need to take the May assessment. Please ask your child if he/she has completed the May administration of the assessment. If not, students need to follow the steps listed below to complete the assessment during the afternoon. If you have any questions contact me (daren.lucas@fcps.org) or your child’s language arts teacher.
Directions for Logging On to Performance Series:
1. Login to Google Chrome
2. Go to FCPS bookmarks
3. Click: Performance Series
4. Enter your site ID: 17-5099-3963
5. Enter your student ID#
6. Verify your name and click: Yes
7. Select a test: Reading
8. Read the test instructions
9. Click: Yes, Start My Test
Remember! During the afternoon each day, students can check in with teachers during Student Support Time for extra help. Please encourage your child to take advantage of this additional time with their teachers.
Mrs. Gemmill- Math Specialist
Mrs. Cole-Advanced Academics
Summer Enrichment Opportunity! William & Mary’s Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) is an academically challenging program with an emphasis on inquiry-based learning for students. The program is not meant to replace the regular school curriculum; rather, it recognizes the importance of allowing able children to explore additional specialized areas of science, mathematics, humanities, and the arts. Click for More Information.
Summer 2021 SEP registration is now open for high ability students in grades 2-12. William & Mary’s Center for Gifted Education is excited to offer 2 weeks of virtual opportunities with courses available in the morning and afternoon each week. We have virtual courses available in the areas of robotics, civics, STEM, coding, writing, social science, and many more. Please see our Summer 2021 brochure for more information. *Note that there is a cost associated with this opportunity.
News from our Media Specialist- Mrs. Ralston
TJMS Media Center Curbside Pickup will continue for the rest of the year
Directions:
Students will be notified through Schoology when their holds are available for pickup.
Library books will be placed by the front entrance for pick up on the dates/times indicated below.
The loan period for all library materials is three weeks.
Place returns the cart marked “Library Book Return” by the front entrance.
Ongoing Announcements
News From Our School Health Room
Frederick County Health Department / Frederick County Public Schools
If you have any health related concerns or questions, please reach out.
Student Service Learning
If your child has volunteered their time outside of the school day to a non-profit organization, they should complete the Record of Volunteer Hours (form) in order to have these hours officially recorded and work towards earning an award their 8th grade year (for 25 hours of service while in middle school). More information can be found here. You are welcome to turn in the forms to me at the end of this school year, or feel free to drop it off at the TJMS front office. If you have any questions, please contact Kerri Cole, TJMS service learning coordinator at kerri.cole@fcps.org