Sandwich Middle School
December Newsletter
6th Grade News
It’s hard to believe that the end of 2019 is almost here. We have been having a wonderful school year and are so proud of all the hard work the students have been putting forth every day in all of their classes.
Language Arts classes they will be reading the novel “Bud, Not Buddy” and reviewing many of the elements of literature that they have been working on all year. Instructional Language Arts is working on a Figurative Language unit and the novel “The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle”.
Social Studies classes will be studying Ancient China, discussing topics such as The Great Wall of China, the Terra Cotta Warriors, and the first great emperor, Shihuangdi. The Geography Bee is just around the corner and will take place right before the winter break.
We have had quite the ground shaking experience in Science this year with discussions and activities on earthquakes and volcanoes. We are continuing on with our study of the Earth in science and will be investigating rocks & minerals.
It’s been algebra fun in all the math classes! In regular math class we will be finishing our chapter on algebraic expressions and doing some mystery math problems. Students will be acting as crime scene investigators as they to find out who stole the sleigh as we approach the winter break. Accelerated and AT math classes will be learning about ratios and rates as well as being investigators this month.
A special round of applause to our two 6th grade students of month:
Leslie Hernandez and Juan Marroquin!
These two are exceptional students who always put forth a great effort. We enjoy having them in our classrooms and appreciate their hard work!
7th Grade News
In social studies, the students have successfully won the American Revolution and will now begin the difficult task of making our new nation a reality. From the struggles of the Articles of Confederation to the success of the U.S. Constitution, the students will get a front row seat to the Founding Father’s quest to form the perfect government. We will also spend some time dissecting the Constitution and learning about the different parts of our national government. Then we will wrap the quarter up looking at the Washington Administration and the birth of the American Republic in the late 1700s. All in all, it should be a very exciting time in Social Studies.
In science, we are starting our Astronomy unit. We are starting big and learning about the formation of our universe and our galaxy. We will be moving on to stars, constellations, the life cycle of stars, and our star the sun. This will lead us into our solar system and the other objects in the solar system, such as comets, meteors, meteoroids, and asteroids. The students will then be an in class planet project. In this project, the students will be researching two topics about a certain planet. They will then create a power point presentation to teach the class about their planet.
In 7th Grade Regular Language Arts students are working the novel, The Giver. This a classic piece of science fiction about a utopian/dystopian community. As they work through the novel, they students will be completing a written response booklet that will allow them use several types of writing styles. They will participate in some novel specific activities and complete quizzes and take a final assessment.
The AT Language Arts students are brushing up their knowledge about text structures that are used in nonfiction, informational texts. They are also working on Unit 3 in the Pearson My Perspectives curriculum. The essential question for this unit is, “What can cause a sudden change in someone’s life?” After the Thanksgiving break. We will be studying this question through the classic novel, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
In the math classes, we just finished up our unit on percents. During this unit, the students learned how to solve percent problems, and find the percent of change. They also learned how to calculate sales tax, markups, tips, discounts, and simple interest. We are now working on our unit that covers expressions. During this unit, the students will learn how to write and evaluate expressions, find the pattern in a sequence of numbers, and learn about the properties of numbers. They will also learn about linear expressions and how to simplify, add, subtract and factor them. After we finish our unit over expressions, we will then move onto equations.
In the pre-algebra classes, we are working on the chapter over percents. During this chapter, the students learned how to relate decimals, fractions, and percents. They also learned about the percent proportion, percent equation, estimating with percents, percent of change, markups, discounts, and simple and compound interest. We will be moving onto polynomials. During this chapter, the students will learn what polynomials are and how to simplify, add, subtract and multiply them. When this chapter is complete, we will be moving on to more complex equations and inequalities.
Students of the month are Nicolette Romano and Marc Kassing.
8th Grade News
We are now well into our second quarter of the school year! Please remember to replenish your student’s supplies. Paper and pencils start running low this time of year. Grades are always available at the Tyler SIS website. Please contact the middle school office (815-786-2138) if you need assistance logging-in to Tyler SIS. In language arts, we have started Unit 2—The Holocaust in our My Perspectives book. The students are reading the play, The Diary of Anne Frank and completing activities to go along with the play. We are continuing to work on vocabulary and literary analysis as we prepare for IAR testing.
Our science classes are working on the chemistry unit. They are learning about types of chemical reactions and how to balance chemical equations. The American History classes are working on a unit about the Jazz Age. In math, we are finishing up Unit 2 Equations in One and Two Variables and beginning Unit 3 Functions. Your student should be able to compare their current wireless plan with a competitor’s wireless plan. In Algebra, they are learning how to solve systems of equations and inequalities. By this point in time, your child has mastered how to solve linear equations. Sandwich Middle School will begin the Franklin Mall Food Drive in early December. Please talk to your student to get information about when you should send in canned and dry foods to help those in need during the holiday season.
Students of the Month are Emma Sparks and Xavier Hansen. These are respectful, hard-working students who strive to do their best.
Sandwich Middle School's Speech Team has Stellar Inaugural Year
December News from the LRC
November was a very busy month in the Learning Resource Center. The books are ready to take a vacation with the students! In November the new Scholastic book fair books became available for checkout and they were all grabbed up quickly. The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award program continues and the kids are reading the nominated books like crazy. The program continues until February 24, 2019 so there is plenty of time!
How is your holiday shopping list going? Mine is slow getting started but it gets really easy when I head to the bookstore. Books are so easy to wrap, mail, and enjoy. Gift cards from the bookstore or AMAZON are even better (less postage). If your child is taking part in the Caudill reading program – maybe a title from the nominees list would be an idea. Go to www.rcyrba.org for the complete list.
HAVE A GREAT WINTER BREAK & HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL
Mrs. Butler
Text messaging notification
Parents & Guardians,
Sandwich CUSD #430 is preparing to rollout SMS or text messaging notification for reminders, emergency and other notifications. Prior to using this method of communication, the district will be sending an email to parents containing instructions for sending an Opt-In text message to a Group code.
The Opt-In must be done from the mobile device that is to receive these messages in order to begin receiving them. Also, the number for this mobile device must be included in your child’s parent profile in the Tyler Parent portal. Please contact your child’s attendance center for updating this information.
Sandwich CUSD #430
City of Sandwich Approves Truancy Ordinance
We all know optimal learning takes place when students attend school on a regular basis. When students are not in school on a regular basis and the absences are unexcused, the DeKalb County Regional Office of Education intervenes. To assist with their intervention, the City of Sandwich has approved a truancy ordinance reinforcing the importance of students attending school on a daily basis. Click here to read the truancy ordinance.
Handbook Committee
Sandwich Community School District #430 will soon begin the process of reviewing the
handbooks for each of the school buildings. This is an annual series of meetings to review the
policies and procedures in the handbooks to ensure that all users of the handbook have a clear
understanding of the contents. Please consider this great opportunity to become involved with the
district. The dates and the times of the meetings will be given out at a later date. All of the
meetings would be conducted at Sandwich Middle School and last approximately 60-90 minutes.
If you would like to serve on this committee, please contact your building principal.
Sincerely,
Michael S. Herzog
SHS Assistant Principal
December Lunch Menu
Contact Information
Email: smorel@sandwich430.org
Website: sandwich430.org
Location: 600 South Wells Street, Sandwich, IL, USA
Phone: 815-786-2138