ATC Principal's Newsletter
March 2016
Important Upcoming Dates
March 18th - Report Cards Issued for Trimester 2.
March 22nd - School Site Council
March 25th - Early Release (12PM Gr 4/5, 12:20PM Gr 6/7).
April 1st - Early Release - PARENT CONFERENCES ALL GRADES.
April 2nd - Band Competition @King Philip High School.
April 8th - Early Release - PARENT CONFERENCES ALL GRADES.
Online Parent Conference Sign-up Starts Today!
Frenzy Success
Evan takes it up the court!
The Crowd Goes Wild!
What It's All About
PARCC / MCAS Updates - Switch to Paper-based Testing
Grade 6/7 Social
Teachers and administrators were extremely impressed with the behavior and structure of the event. There were many activities including a dance competition, limbo, and bean bag toss. When wrapping up at the end of the event, many students helped out by grabbing brooms and making sure the cafe was clean for the weekend events.
Below: Students jumped at the chance to dance to "Cotton-eyed Joe."
Uniforms at the ATC?
This past month, an Oxford-style debate took place between administration and students when the fourth graders published their persuasive essays on the topic of school uniforms. Students then met as a grade and elected reps from each class to argue for or against uniforms. The teachers judged the debate by moving their chairs back and forth to sit on the side they agreed with based on the arguments. The spirited debate ended with a convincing essay by Nadia from Mr. MacPhail and Mrs. Barker's classroom. Nearly all teachers sided with the students and the ATC administration will not pursue this topic any further!
TenMarks Challenge / Online Homework
Below: The students shown here (Julie, Connor, Ava, Julian, Sophia, Ryan, Freddie) all earned lunch for being the top TenMarks students (based on participation) in the grade for February.
Curriculum Updates
Grade 4
In reading the students are learning the differences between fairytales and folktales. Students will apply the Reading standards CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.8
(Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text) to the following range of text types, with texts selected from a broad range of cultures and periods.
In Social Studies some classes are learning about Immigration.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.3 Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
In Science we are finishing our unit on rocks and minerals.
3. Rocks: Their formation, characteristics, and uses:
Students can identify common rocks and minerals and can explain how we can investigate what they are made of and how they form:
Students can classify rock samples according to color, texture, or other identifying properties (Scientific Investigation, Nature of Science).
Students can explain that molten rock comes out of volcanoes, hardens, and becomes part of the landscape (Conceptual Understanding, Patterns of Change).
In Writing the students are writing literary essays on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.( CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1) and provide reasons that are supported by facts and details. (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1.b)
In math, fourth grade students will apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication to multiply a fraction by a whole number. This builds on students’ work of adding fractions and extends that work into multiplication. Students will use and create visual fraction models to multiply a whole number by a fraction.
Grade 5
In grade 5, students are reading a vairety of novels such as Tuck Everlasting, The Indian in the Cupboard and Island of the Blue Dolphins. Students are demostrating their knowledge of cause and effect, inferencing and finding the main idea.
In Science we are studying weather, chemical changes, adaptations and simple machines.
In Social Studies students are working on the development of the United States through our unit on exploration and Early American settlements such as New Spain and New France.
In Math students are working hard on Fractions. We are adding and subrtacting with unlike denominators, comparing and ordering, reducing to simplest form and converting improper fractions to mixed numbers. We continue to apply these concepts to word problems.
In Writer’s Workshop students are creating literary essays that focus on topics such as character traits and themes found in novel. Students are expected to support their thesis with evidence from a book of their choice.
Grade 6
In sixth grade, the students are preparing for Egypt Day, an interdisciplinary unit which celebrates the achievements and legacy of the Ancient Egyptians. Students have been preparing in ELA and Social Studies classes, studying historical facts and significance, learning about the mythology of the Ancient Egyptians, and reading a corresponding piece of realistic fiction.
Preparation for the PARCC is on-going.
In Math, students are working with expressions and equations. They are learning that variables stand for numbers and different numbers can be substituted into mathematical expressions to produce values. Students can solve for the variable by balancing equations. These values can be plotted as ordered pairs to produce a line. Preparation for the PARCC is on-going.
In Science, students will be focused on Geologic Time and the ways in which scientists categorize periods of the Earth’s history by physical and biological changes.
Grade 7
Science- We are ending our unit on Cells and beginning our unit on Genetics. We start with molecular genetics; the chemistry of DNA and RNA. This includes concepts such as replication, mitosis and meiosis, and transcription and translation.
Science Club- We had a big turnout for The Martian for Science Movie Monday. We had 29 students trained in CPR by Mrs. Preble. We are continuing our studies of the life cycle and genetics of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, and will be studying Planaria worms and their ability to regenerate.
ELA-
Ms. Dunn’s students have just wrapped up their assessments on the use of Theme and Point of View in literature (books were Breathe and Lies). Moving into Trimester 3, we will shift into longer essay-length writing about literature. Ms. Sarnelli’s students are working on a poetry unit where they are researching, analyzing, and writing poetry. Students are also focusing on literary devices used in poetry.
Math
In seventh grade math, students have recently started their unit on two-step inequalities. Students have also started integrating more TenMarks assignments into their daily instruction and homework.Teacher Spotlight: Mr. Sherwin!
1. What motivated you to become a teacher?
When I was in elementary school, I LOVED band. It was the best part of my day. When I moved to middle school, I almost quit band because I didn't connect with my teacher and, as a band, we were struggling. I stayed with it because I knew that the high school band was one of the best in the state/nation, and I'm glad I did. My high school band director motivated me to "Never settle for my present level of achievement," not just in music, but in everything I did. It was wonderful to be able to bring Mr. Tileston, my old high school band director, and Mr. Fouracre, my old elementary school band director, to Winthrop to help our students "Never settle for their present level of achievement."
2. What do you like best about working with Winthrop students?
I love working with the kiddos of Winthrop because they are some of the most respectful and talented students I have ever had the privilege of working with. It's also refreshing to meet with many of their parents on a monthly basis and see where the kiddos get their wonderful personalities and appreciation for music from.
3. Outside of school, what do you do for fun?
When I'm not working on my house, my fiancee Kelly & I are often found running from theme park to theme park or enjoying a fun game night with friends. (As a workaholic, I'm also constantly trying find performing opportunities for our students and Kelly loves to hear them perform.)
4. What are you reading?
I must admit, I don't often read the "cool" books that everyone's reading. I am always trying to be a better teacher so you will usually find me with a 'how to' book or audio-book of some kind for band, percussion, or anything else music-related.
5. What is a five year goal?
In five years, I would love for Winthrop to have a band program successful enough where students can expect to get a gold medal every time they compete and move people to tears with the beauty of their every performance. I recently went to a music education conference, and fellow music teacher are starting to hear about the 'up and coming' music program in Winthrop. In two years, I want us to be 'the great' music program in Winthrop that everyone's jealous of!
Below: This pic is taken from last year's Full Court Frenzy. Not only does Mr. Sherwin play many instruments, he also has a pretty good jump shot!
Mr. Curley's Corner
I would like to remind all parents that if your child is out sick and you brought them to their doctor; please remember to ask for a note so we can excuse your child’s absence. Here is a great research article that talks about how attendance is an important factor in student achievement.
Arthur T. Cummings School
Email: rheraty@winthrop.k12.ma.us
Website: www.cummings.winthrop.k12.ma.us
Location: Winthrop, MA, United States
Phone: 617-846-5543