Junior High Journal
News and Happenings in the Junior High Department
8th Grade Updates & Reminders 11/1-11/4
- Chromebooks should be charged every night to ensure the battery lasts throughout the day!
- Check Skyward and the homework calendar frequently for missing and current homework assignments, talk to your child about their work.
- Please remember that although you can email your students, absences and early pick-up information must be reported through the office. Please call the Yorkville School office.
Veteran's Day Ceremony
Kindly return the form and any pictures to your student's homeroom teacher no later than Friday, November 4th.
Thank you in advance for helping to make this celebration extra special.
Yorkville Elementary Staff
Friday, Nov 11, 2016, 09:45 AM
Yorkville Elementary School
Fall Choir Concert
Tuesday, Nov 15, 2016, 06:30 PM
Union Grove High School, South Colony Avenue, Union Grove, WI, United States
Junior High Fall Conferences
Conferences for all junior high students will be held on Wednesday, November 16th and Monday, November 21st from 4:30-7:45. Please have your child attend conferences with you.
Character Education: Growth Mindset
Individual Classes
ELA News and Updates
Katie Nicholls katie.nicholls@yorkville.k12.wi.us
Katie Nicholls katie.nicholls@yorkville.k12.wi.us
This week in ELA, students worked hard to finish reading No Promises in the Wind. Next week we will begin reviewing “The Value Work” unit we completed and prepare for the summative assessment. Aside from reading, students also completed small groups discussion about the book, and learned about how authors structure writing to create deeper meaning in text. As we approach the end of the first trimester, please be sure to check Skyward to ensure all work is completed for your student. Late work must be submitted to me by Wednesday, November 9th. Thank you for your support.
Science News and Updates
Erin Weis erin.weis@yorkville.k12.wi.us
We have been working hard on our cell city projects. This project is used to model the cell organelles using analogies. Students will wrap their projects up on Tuesday, Nov. 8th. A microscope activity was also done to compare and contrast plant and animal cells. We looked at onion cells that students stained with iodine in order to see the cell wall, cytoplasm and nucleus. Students also used their own cheek cells, stained them and viewed those under the microscope as well. These were a little more difficult to see but students still did a great job using the microscopes and focusing in on the cells. We also played “Kahoot It” a couple times to review for the cell organelle function quiz that we took to finish off the week. Next week, we will finish off the last section of the chapter that explains how organisms are organized from cells all the way to organisms.
Have a very nice weekend!
Mrs. Weis
Social Studies News and Updates
John Johnsen john.johnsen@yorkville.k12.wi.us
This week in 8th grade Civics we study for our Chapter 3 test and completed a portfolio project over the chapter. Overall the students did a good job on the test, my only concern was the number of students who choose to not write the essay question ahead of time. Next week we will spend some time looking at the upcoming election as well discuss Chapter 4 which focuses on the amendments. We will not cover Chapter 4 like we have the first two chapters. We will talk about each amendment and the impact it has on the United States. On a side note I would like to invite everyone to our Veterans Day Program on Friday November 11th at 9:45. It’s a great opportunity to recognize those who have made sacrifices for us, so we can enjoy all of our freedoms. Have a great weekend.
Mr. Johnsen
Math News and Updates
Mary Niccolai mary.niccolai@yorkville.k12.wi.us
Intro to Algebra worked on simplifying algebraic fractions. This was a new concept so we spend a couple of days on this. We also began looking at exponent rules and how they are used as part of scientific notation. Next week we will work with more exponents and begin simplifying algebraic expressions. Check skyward for any late or absent work that needs to be completed before the end of the first trimester. Have a great weekend.
Algebra worked on equations with two variables. We also worked with functions and function notation. We ended the week with taking a look at explicit and recursive functions. We will spend more time of these functions next week. On Tuesday of next week we will begin reviewing for the next unit test. There will be a pretest on Wednesday and the test will be next week Thursday and Friday. Please encourage your son or daughter to use the pretest to help them study for the test. The end of the first trimester is approaching fast. Encourage your son or daughter to complete any late or absent work they may have.
Please contact me via e-mail if you have any questions or concerns. Have a great weekend.
Mrs. Niccolai
Spanish News and Updates
Katy Morrow katy.morrow@yorkville.k12.wi.us
¡Hola! This week in Spanish, students spent the week learning adjectives in Spanish and describing their personality and physical traits! Students focused on pronunciation and writing sentences correctly depending on whether or not the person they were describing in a boy or a girl. Lastly, students viewed each others short movies on the Hispanic-American they spent time researching and wrote information about those people in Spanish. Next week, we will take a break from grammar and vocabulary and focus on the cultural events surrounding "Día de los Muertos" or Day of the Dead. Have a great long weekend!
Physical Education & Health News and Updates
Amanda Peterson amanda.peterson@yorkville.k12.wi.us
This week in health the 8th graders shared their inspirational Canva posters with a partner and put together their Fitnessgram packets that should be coming home this weekend. We also started our Intentional Injury Unit and focused on the topic of stress. The students wrote down their stressors and healthy and unhealthy ways of dealing with stress. They also took a Mental Health Questionnaire to determine an area of improvement. The students chose a Mental Health Partner that they will be reporting back to about the strategy they will be applying to their life to reduce stress for the next week. This week in PE the students participated in a 2 on 2 double elimination Basketball Tournament. There were two brackets for each class to keep things moving. It was fun watching the students work with their partners and work so hard to advance. We also played Cricket on Friday!
Have a spectacular weekend!
Mrs. Peterson
Band News and Updates
Mike Beix
The Advanced Band will be performing at the Veterans Day Assembly at Yorkville School on Friday, November 11 at 9:45am.
In class, the Advanced Band members have been going beyond learning notes and rhythms to focus on concepts such as dynamic contrast, faster tempos, and producing clear tones. Our Winter Band Concert is on December 15 at 9:45am and 7:00pm.
The Jazz Band had a great rehearsal this week! We improved our reading of and performance of syncopated rhythms in Feliz Navidad. Jazz Band meets every Wednesday from 3:45 to 4:15.
Please check out the band website (tinyurl.com/yorkvilleband) to see this year’s Music Spirit Wear. If you would like to order a t-shirt ($10) or a sweatshirt ($24) please click on and print the order form and return it to school by Nov 11th.
Choir News and Updates
Carly Kreuscher
carly.kreuscher@yorkville.k12.wi.us
http://yorkvillemusic.weebly.com
Choir students will be performing in the Veteran’s Day Assembly on Friday November 11 at 9:45am.
There will be a Fall performance on Tuesday November 15, 2016 at Union Grove High School, 6:30pm. We will be performing in the Performance Center with Choirs from Nash Elementary in Kenosha. Permission slips were due Friday Nov 4th. I am missing many slips. Get them in asap!!!
Thank you to those who volunteered to help with the Fall Concert dinner. I had a great response. I will send home reminders next week!! Your generosity is greatly appreciated!!!
Music Spirit wear is here!! If you would like to order a t-shirt ($10) or a sweatshirt ($24) please fill out an order form your child brought home this week. Orders are due Nov 11th. You can find extra order forms on my website!
I have added a “What’s New” page to my website and will be posting at monthly newsletter. Included in the newsletter will be Upcoming Events, Notes from the teacher, What we are learning, songs we are singing, and a “Did you Know” column. Stop by and check it out!!! http://yorkvillemusic.weebly.com
Art News and Updates
Mrs. Herman is currently on maternity leave after having her daughter, Audrey Jean, on September 7th! She will be back sometime in December! 8th grade students currently do not have art.