Maple Avenue Newsletter
November 2019
Student of the Month: Jacob Dennis
The Sky Pilots and Maple Avenue have chosen Jacob Dennis as our Student of the Month.
Jacob has done an amazing job this year. He has risen to the challenge of the academics in 8th grade and stands out for his hard work and kind demeanor.
Jacob has one brother and one sister. Jacob’s favorite subject in school is Science because he loves all the labs. His hobbies include baseball and art. When Jacob grows up, he wants to be an architect.
Maple Avenue and the Sky Pilots are so proud of you Jacob. Keep up the great work, and the stellar example of PRIDE.
First Quarter Report Cards
After reviewing your student's progress to date, please do not hesitate to reach out to his/her teacher with any questions or concerns that you may have.
If you do not have access to the Sapphire Community Portal, follow this link to create an account.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Scheduling Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cpQ65qJzHVgehUrXHJf6pnRNKWI1diSS/view
Team Bolts: 6th Grade
Math 6
Mrs. Raubenstine’s and Mrs. Koontz’s Math 6 classes are beginning work in Unit 3 - Unit Rates and Percentages. Students should continue to complete work to improve their skills in these two applications of ratios. Also, a reminder that Khan Academy MAPPERS is a requirement. Students are expected to complete 30 minutes each week to help improve on focus skills and maximize student growth throughout the year. Mrs. Koontz just recently returned from maternity leave and is excited to get to know you and your child.
Math 7
Mrs. Koontz just recently returned from maternity leave and is excited to get to know you and your child. Mrs. Koontz’s Math 7 class is currently working on Unit 3: Measuring Circles. Students will be working with area, circumference, radius, and diameter of circles and will develop an understanding of why and how the circumference is related to the diameter of a circle, while working with the constant of proportionality. Math homework is assigned each week and Khan Academy Mappers is a requirement. Students are expected to complete 30 minutes each week to help improve on focus skills and maximize student growth throughout the year.
Mrs. Crouthamel’s English Language Arts classes have been reviewing figurative language in order to prepare for our poetry unit. We will be analyzing different types of poetry and improving our inferencing and paraphrasing skills. In Geography, we are exploring our unit on Latin America. Students are using their map skills from the first chapter to analyze the physical and cultural features of the region. We will be spending time studying how humans interact with the environment in the Amazon Rainforest.
Ms. Willet’s ELA classes are concentrating on Study Sync lessons, learning proper first and close reading strategies, main idea, and poetry skills this month. Students will be learning how to analyze poems and how paraphrasing and inferencing are important skills to use when reading. We are also focusing on figurative language and how authors use this skill to help us understand and visualize what we read. In Geography class we are learning about human environment interaction in the Latin America region. Our next area of focus will be Europe.
In Mr. Baumgardner’s ELA classes, the students are analyzing poetry. We are exploring how poets create tone and use figurative language to help them write a poem. Paraphrasing is another important skill that we have been using and practicing because it helps us understand what a difficult poem is about. In Geography class, we are finishing up the Latin America unit. We explored the different maps of Latin America and have moved into exploring how humans interact with their environment, particularly within the Amazon Rainforest.
Science has been studying the Sun-Earth-Moon system and through the traveled Solar System and into Deep Space. All the classes have been working on a PBL about the Solar System. As soon as we finish this trip, the students will be studying Earth Systems...Hydro-, Geo-, Atmos-, Bio- spheres with a focus on the water cycle. All students can access their science textbook online. If they are having trouble logging on, please remind them to ask their teacher.
Skype in Sixth Grade for Science
Team Aviators: 7th Grade
Science - Students are working on what separates living and nonliving things on earth. We finished the Unit 3 (middle of the book) which was based on Chemistry, Periodic Chart, and Energy. We will use our chemistry to define the molecules of life and how they make up cells. Look for a project based activity on creating a cell! Make sure that your student engages in their science each night by reviewing their vocabulary and/or notes. Have them see me if they are struggling. The night before a Chapter Test is too late to learn and make connections in 7th grade science!
ELA-We are starting our Spooky Unit in ELA this marking period. Students will be reading a collection of scary short stories to analyze elements of suspense, mood, tone, and figurative language. We will be reading short stories from the The Chronicles of Harris Burdick, Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, and our own Maple Avenue urban legend. Students selected their new independent novels for second quarter. The new novel projects are due January 13th. We will be starting our next unit around Thanksgiving. Students will read Black Ships Before Troy and explore the world of Greek Mythology. Please check Sapphire for missing assignments and due dates.
Ancient Civilizations
In social studies, we will be working on learning about Ancient India. We have discussed and did a simulation of the Indian Caste System. Afterwards, we will move to Ancient China where we will make an audio piece where students will be creating audio pieces in which students will make an original piece based around the teachings of Confucius. If you have any questions, please contact me at martinom@lasd.k12.pa.us
Math - In Unit 4 students will learn how to solve problems with percents. They will solve problems involving sales tax, percent increase and decrease, and calculate simple interest. Students should complete daily homework assignments to reinforce the new skills we are learning in class. Students should also stay up to date with lesson summary notes and review them daily. All students have MAP practice assigned to them on Khan Academy. They need to complete 30 minutes of Mappers practice in their goal area each week. www.khanacademy.org/mappers
Team Lightning: 7th and 8th Grades
SCIENCE Mr. Decker and Ms. Enoff
7th Grade:
7th Grade Science students have finished their chemistry unit and students are moving into cells. Students will compare and contrast dominant and recessive traits, study the developments in technology in the field, and the role genetics play in our day-to-day lives. We will be completing some amazing labs where students are able to explore the content in a laboratory setting.
8th Grade:
8th Grade Science students are working on the laws of motion and some general physics concepts. These concepts will be applied to the movement of objects in outer space and used to help understand theory about the creation of the universe, stars, and planets. As we move into studying stars we will have a focus on the elements and how they interact, this will lead us to a mini chemistry unit where we will study the periodic table, atoms, chemical bonding, chemical reactions, and energy. The majority of content is covered through labs and activities that help to make the information meaningful.
MATHEMATICS Mr. Heller and Ms. Enoff
Math 7:
Math classes are hard at work through the hustle and bustle of the holiday season! There are a lot of new practices and expectations for students. As we ended the first quarter, the hope is for students to adjust to this and work to become independent learners. Whether practicing skills on IXL, playing games on Mathgames, or reviewing skills with Khan Academy, technology makes practicing accessible to all. The more you do math, the more you know math!
Algebra:
Mr. Heller’s Algebra students just will be diving into Systems of Equations for our next unit. Systems of equations will be brand new for most students. To help them really understand the concept, we will introduce three methods of solving systems; graphing, substitution, and the elimination method. Students will use their skills of graphing linear equations on a daily basis in this unit. Following this unit we will be working through a Desmos Logo Project where students use all of their graphing skills to create a personal Logo (more info to come...) It is a great time of the year for a self assessment: How am I doing? Am I asking the right questions? Am I studying enough? Am managing my time well? Are my decisions helping me get better? We are now a quarter of the way through the year. The sooner you can reflect on what you have accomplished, and make changes, the greater impact it will have on the remainder of your school year.
Please check out the October Math Newsletter Mr. Myers and I put together HERE.
Math 8: :
As we near the end of Unit 3, students should start seeing connections between the rules/equations they have been working with and the graphs that represent them. Students should feel more comfortable than ever solving equations with variables on both sides, including the distributive property. These ideas will be important as we transition to Unit 4 where students learn about Slope Intercept Form (one of the most popular equations in Algebra). Students should be checking Sapphire daily to stay up to date with their grades and assignments. We will also be utilizing a new online tool, IXL, to get more direct practice aligned with what is covered in class.
ENGLISH:Mr. Peglow and Mrs. Trout
7th Grade:
Mrs. Trout’s students are learning to identify the elements of informational text and and practicing strategies for analyzing nonfiction writing. They are reading nonfiction selections including persuasive pieces where they have analyzed author’s purpose and arguments and claims. They also read a few fiction stories from the suspense/horror genre in the spirit of the Halloween season. Students are enriching their skills on a focus area (literature, informational text or vocabulary) through IXL, an online curriculum, and by reading independent selections and doing targeted exercises. Students are encouraged to adhere to their self-selected action steps in order to be successful throughout the school day. Ask your student about how they are action steps!
Mr. Peglow’s ELA class: With the conclusion of The Outsiders and our discussions about its themes of getting along with others and friendship, we now turn our attention to justice and what it means when people talk about a “just” society. In this unit, students will explore the principles of a fair, or just, society from a variety of literary perspectives-- through folktales, short stories, poetry, and excerpts from contemporary novels--as well as through timely nonfiction texts. Throughout this unit, students will investigate the principles of a just society by exploring different cultures and eras and diverse points of view.
8th Grade:
With the completion of And Then There Were None & The Suspense Unit mid-November, our focus now turns to “how is character formed?” People are not simply good or bad, but reflect the diversity of human experience. This unit prompts students to explore this question and consider the complexities of morality. How do human beings draw upon their experiences to make a difference in the world and to make themselves better people? Students will explore the complexities of how people become who they are as well as investigate ways to realize their potential in the world.
SOCIAL STUDIES Mr. Popoff and Mrs. Trout
7th Grade Ancient Civilizations:
Over the course of the past month students in 7th grade began their journey through Asia’s ancient civilizations. Our first stop is Ancient India where students are exploring two of the world’s most well-known religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. Ancient China is our next stop on the world’s largest continent. Students will be analyzing the achievements of the many ancient Chinese dynasties. The final stop on our journey through Asia’s ancient civilizations will be Japan.
8th Grade U.S. History:
After conquering the United States Constitution in the month of October, students in 8th grade will examine the early stages of this great nation during the month of November. Students will focus on the achievements as well as the trials and tribulations of our nation’s first three presidents: George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson.
Team Sky Pilots: 8th Grade
Sky Pilots’ Growth Mindset Mantra
I am a valued member of this Learning Community
Math Classes We completed the pumpkin time bomb challenge where students predicted how many rubber bands it would take to explode the pumpkin. Be sure and check out the videos and pictures posted in the grade 8 math newsletter https://www.smore.com/dh1rt
Geometry students are doing a wonderful job working in teams, learning and helping each other; we’re having fun too. Students will begin working on trigonometric ratios and extending their understanding of probability.
Math 8 students are doing a good job learning how to solve equations as they as we continue work in Chapter 3 Expressions and Equations and will test the first week of November. Then we’ll begin Chapter 4 “Multiple Representations”. Students will be expanding their knowledge of solving equations by making connections between graphs tables, rules and patterns .
Math Updates: All apps students are using in math on the ipad are web based and are accessible on any computer, android devices or iphones. Go Formative is the featured technology in math class. Go Formative is used for daily warm-ups. Warm-ups are grded based on completion and entered as a weekly overall grade. Individual feedback is provided for mistakes. Please ask your child to explain how the technology being used in class and show you some of their work
Science is really taking off. We have been working with Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion, Kinetic and Potential Energy, and Simple Machines There has been a lot of content shared and discussed. The students did an amazing job preparing for labs related to Simple Machines. Please help your student stay focused and help them out when they come home to get ideas from you. I love it when the kids bring ideas into school, put them to practice and it works out. We will then concluding our study of Physics with Sound and Light. From there, we are moving into Space.
English Sky Pilot ELA students continue to work on reading fiction and nonfiction texts and being able to support their arguments with textual evidence. The are using the IXL program to improve their grammar and writing skills, and using StudySync to improve their reading comprehension and analysis skills.
History classes are studying the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. They will write a comparative essay on the two documents. They will discuss citizenship and the Bill of Rights. An examination of the presidencies of George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson will lead to TDA #2.
Please continue to check our homework log daily for assignments located on the school website. Also, please schedule you Parent-Teacher Conferences.
Safe 2 Say Something
Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late. With Safe2Say Something, it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies.
Here’s how it works:
Submit an anonymous tip report through the Safe2SaySomething system
Crisis center reviews, assesses and processes all submissions
Crisis center sends all submissions to school administration and/or law enforcement for intervention
If needed, crisis center may contact tipster anonymously through the app
Child Study Team (CST)
A Message from our Nurse
Just some reminders:
The nurse’s office does not have allergy medicine for students, if your child needs allergy medicine please have them take it before coming to school.
All 6th graders are required by Pennsylvania school health law to have a physical to enter the sixth grade. If you have not already done so please turn in all completed physical forms as well as update immunization records to the school nurse. Also per Pennsylvania department of health Tdap and MCV immunizations that are due by 7th grade must be given at age 11.
Tdap Immunization Update:
The PA Department of Health has updated the guidelines for the required Tdap dose to be given at 11-12 year of age. If the Tdap was given prior to this age, another dose will need to be given before the 2020-21 school year for your child to risk exclusion from school. Please check with your health care provider to make sure the Tdap was administered at 11-12 years of age.
All 7th graders are required by Pennsylvania school health law to have a dental exam to enter the seventh grade. If you have not already done so please turn in all completed dental forms.
Mobile Dentist will be here the week of January 20th, 2020. Be on the lookout for the form coming out before the holidays if you would like for your student to see the school dentist please fill the forms out and return them to the school.
The school district will be offering a flu shot clinic for the students this year. If you would like for your student to receive a flu shot please have the student stop by the office to pick up the form that needs to be returned by Friday November 15th (if not already done so) to be included in the clinic. The flu shot clinic will be held on Wednesday November 20th.
Also, be sure that your student is eating breakfast before coming to school so that they are fueled to start the day. Breakfast is available in the cafeteria in the morning before school starts for the students convenience.
The best way to keep your students healthy is to remind them to wash their hands with soap and water or to use the hand sanitizer whenever they enter the classroom or cafeteria.
The mandatory state health screenings have been completed. You will be receiving the results of the growth screening in the mail. We are required to send these out per PA Department of Health. Please remember these are just screenings and you know you child best and their health concerns. Please use this information to discuss the screenings with your family physician.
School Counselor's Corner
Model and enforce the three C’s to teach your child about respect
Respect can be many things—but it always involves the three C’s: communication, courtesy and consideration. Practice these with your child and others—and expect your child to practice them in return:
Communication. Respectful people ask others for their viewpoints, feelings and opinions. They accept that they may not agree, but that the other person’s ideas and needs have worth.
Courtesy. Manners count, and please and thank you really are magic words. Tone of voice matters, too. Respectful people know that how they say something is as important as what they say!
Consideration. A respectful person moves from asking and listening to another’s concerns to thinking and acting in response to them. When you give your child downtime after she has had a hard day, that’s consideration, and shows respect. Or, if your child makes her own breakfast so you can sleep in on a Saturday, she is showing respect for you.
Reprinted with permission from the November 2019 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2019 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.
Talk with your child about making important decisions
Now that he’s older, your middle schooler will be making more decisions on his own. And those decisions can have big consequences—for his education and for his life.
Although you ultimately can’t make your child’s choices for him, it’s important to discuss key topics now so that he’ll be able to make smart decisions about them later, such as:
Decisions about school. How does your child feel about school? Does he take his work seriously? Or does he slack off and do the bare minimum to get by?
Decisions about friends. What kinds of kids does your child hang out with? Do they behave decently? Does your child feel comfortable inviting friends to his home? Why or why not?
Decisions about you. Does your child feel that he can always come to you with problems? In his mind, are you an ally or an enemy?
Decisions about drinking and drugs. Have you given your child the facts about drugs, alcohol, smoking and vaping? Does he understand what he risks by experimenting with harmful substances?
Decisions about his self-worth. Does your child believe that he matters? Does he know that you love him? How much he values himself will have a huge impact on the decisions—big or small— he makes for years to come.
Upcoming Dates
Tuesday, 11/26: Early Dismissal
Wednesday, 11/27- Monday, 12/2: No School; Thanksgiving
Tuesday, 12/3: School Reopens