Junior High Journal
News and Happenings in the Junior High Department
8th Grade Updates & Reminders 11/14-11/22
- 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.
Winter Band and Choir Concert
Thursday, Dec 15, 2016, 07:00 PM
Yorkville School, Washington Avenue, Union Grove, WI, United States
Character Education: Growth Mindset
Individual Classes
ELA News and Updates
Katie Nicholls katie.nicholls@yorkville.k12.wi.us
This week in ELA, students started the unit “The Thrill of Horror.” Between now and the first of the year, we will be reading a number of classic, suspense filled tales. This week we read Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.” We looked at the reliability of the narrator of the story, as well as the use of suspense created by the author. Students were also introduced to a creative writing assignment we will be working on focused around the theme “Action!” The time between now and the end of the year will definitely be” action” packed. Enjoy the Thanksgiving Break!
Science News and Updates
Erin Weis erin.weis@yorkville.k12.wi.us
Students wrapped up their unit on the Diversity of Cells after presenting their Cell City projects and taking a unit test. The project ended the first term grading period and the unit test began the second trimester grading term.
We began to learn about the cell in action this week as well. The unit will be focusing on the processes that go on in certain organelles including the cell membrane, mitochondria, chloroplast and nucleus. After learning the basics of cell transport, students modeled diffusion in a cell membrane using a ziplock baggie filled with a starch solution that was submerged in a beaker filled with an iodine solution. Ask your child about the results!
When we come back from break, students will be asked to design an experiment that models diffusion and osmosis with some given materials and background information. This is bound to be challenging as it forces them to think critically and make connections but I have high hopes for their success!
I am very thankful to be a teacher at Yorkville school for such a great group of students!
I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Mrs. Weis
Social Studies News and Updates
John Johnsen john.johnsen@yorkville.k12.wi.us
This week in 8th grade civics we looked at the different amendments that have been added to the constitution and the impact it had on the United States. We noticed the amendments focused on three main areas, freedoms, rights of the accused, and finally equality. Next week we will begin looking at Chapter 5 which focuses in on the legislative branch of the government. We will discuss qualifications and the differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate. On a side note I want to thank everyone who came to our veterans day program. It was really nice to see everyone having a great time and the respect the student’s gave to those veterans who attended. Have a great weekend. Mr. Johnsen
Math News and Updates
Mary Niccolai mary.niccolai@yorkville.k12.wi.us
Intro to Algebra finished working with exponents and began working with rates, ratios, and proportions. Solving algebraic proportions is a good opportunity to review the distributive property and solving equations. After our extended weekend, we will focus on percents and percent change. This is a good opportunity to work on some foundational skills as well as work on new concepts that will build algebra skills.
Algebra began working with linear functions. We looked at the requirements for a linear function. Students graphed lines by completing tables or finding x and y intercepts of lines. They learned the difference between the slopes of horizontal lines versus vertical lines. Horizontal lines have a slope of zero while vertical lines have a slope that is undefined. Finding slopes was a good review of the divide by zero rule. We will spend Monday before break doing a quick review of making tables, finding x and y intercepts, and graphing lines.
It was nice meeting with some of you last week during conferences. I hope to see more of you November 21.
I wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the time shopping, decorating for the holidays, or simply spending time with family and friends.
Please contact me via e-mail if you have any questions or concerns
Mrs. Niccolai
Spanish News and Updates
Katy Morrow katy.morrow@yorkville.k12.wi.us
¡Hola! The past week and a half we have practiced verbs and adjectives to finish up our ¿Cómo eres? (What are you like?) Unit. Students practiced by describing celebrities on our Celebrity Guess Game, asking each other what their personality is like, practicing their conversation, playing Bingo, and completeing listening activities on conjuguemos.com. They took the quiz on Monday and grades should be updated over the weekend. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving with family and friends!
Physical Education & Health News and Updates
Amanda Peterson amanda.peterson@yorkville.k12.wi.us
This week in health the 8th graders met with their Mental Health Partners on Tuesday to discuss how their stress management activities worked out after incorporating them for a week. We also touched on suicide, including facts, myths, triggers, and warning signs. We finished the week by talking about empathy, which included a reflection on how we show empathy, how others have showed empathy to us, what things we can do to improve on our empathy, and wrote a thank you letter to someone who has demonstrated empathy to us in a big way. I am looking forward to reading them!
This week in PE the students continued with their badminton unit. We learned and practiced the net drop, doubles serve, and how to play an official doubles game. On Friday, we played another one of their favorites, Castle Ball!
Have a super weekend!
Mrs. Peterson
Band News and Updates
Mike Beix
The Advanced Band continues to perfect our music for the Winter Band Concert which will be held on December 15 at 9:45am and 7:00pm.
Our first Culvers Fundraiser will be on Thursday, December 15 from Noon to 10:00 PM. A portion of your sales will be donated to our band students. Please spread the word!
The Jazz Band had another 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 stay up-to-date with the Yorkville Band!
Choir News and Updates
Carly Kreuscher
carly.kreuscher@yorkville.k12.wi.us
http://yorkvillemusic.weebly.com
The youtube link for our Fall Concert from Nov. 15 with Nash Elementary is now available. If you were unable to attend the performance or would like to view it again, here it is…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-havCtSY9Zc4
We are currently preparing for our winter concert. Our Winter Concert is Thursday, December 15 at 9:45am and 7:00pm.
This years musical will be Music Man Jr. Auditions will be held during the week of Jan 9, 2017. Audition packets are available in the choir room. I have attached to music and choreography the students will need to perform during their audition on my website!!
We continue to work on music for Choral Fest. . Choral Festival is Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 7:00pm.
If you are looking for extra handouts, forms, etc. please check my website. I try to post everything I can so you have access at home!!! 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.