Sandwich Middle School Newsletter
September 2017
6th Grade News
Believe it or not, the sixth grade students have learned so much in just a few weeks!! They have learned how to work their lockers, change classes, change clothes for PE, walk up and down the stairs and have successfully completed some school safety drills. We are proud of the independence that they are gaining. Just a couple reminders….students should all be writing down their assignments in their learning log (planner), so feel free to ask them to look at it. It is a great habit of writing down things that need to be done at night. Many have asked what advisory is all about, so let us explain. Advisory is a 30 minute period where we have announcements, watch Channel One (10 minute news that has current events down to their age level), and is a time for students who were absent to get make-up assignments and those who might have one or two homework questions to be helped by a teacher. It is NOT the time to get all homework done. It may also be a time a teacher pulls a student to give extra directions or help. It does go rather quickly.
Any questions, please feel free to contact us via email or calling 786-2138. We will have a great year in sixth grade. So much fun that some teachers have been here for over 20 years!!
7th Grade News
The 7th grades welcomes you back to the 2017-18 school year. We are looking forward to great success for this year. We urge parents and students to take advantage of the Tyler portal program to access grades and progress for each class your child attends. Also check out the mobile app Tyler 360. Check out grades when you are not at your computer.
Social Studies will begin the year studying Paleo-Indian culture through the Spanish conquest of America. Expect students to have assignments in this class daily. Students will usually have 10-15 minutes of class time to get a good start, if not finish, the assigned work needs to be finished at home. I strongly suggest students use the internet to examine topics in more detail and follow the schedule on the History channel to find program discussing the same topics we will cover in class. Please check out my web page found on the school site to find worksheets (forms and doc), PowerPoints, textbook pages and others.
In science, we are working on lab safety and working safely in the laboratory setting. We are learning the Scientific Method to use to conduct our labs and write our lab reports. Next week, we will be working on measurement and using different lab instruments to measure items and substances in the lab. This will lead us into learning about matter and the different parts of matter.
In math and pre-algebra this year, we have started out reviewing some basic concepts, such as prime numbers, rounding, order of operations, and problem solving. In the math classes, our first unit will be working on integers. During this unit, the students will learn what integers are, along with opposites and absolute value. We will also work on solving problems with integers using one of the four main operations (adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing). In the pre-algebra classes, we will be reviewing the first chapter in the book. The first chapter will be covering expressions, equations, combining like terms, inequalities, and graphing on a coordinate plane. We will quickly move onto the second chapter that will be covering integers. During this chapter the students will be reviewing the four operations involving integers, along with properties of exponents, scientific notation, and learning how to compute with numbers written in scientific notation.
7th Grade Language Arts is off to a good start. The students have been getting their Resource Binders put together. They will be using these binders to assist their learning this year. To start the year off, we have been reviewing fiction elements and reading some short stories. We will quickly move into informational text features and structures to assist in their understanding of informational texts. The students have already been working very hard in language arts, and they are making the adjustment to 7th grade. Please check in with your child at the beginning of each week to see what their Weekly Reading assignment is and to make sure they are completing the assignment in a timely manner.
8th Grade News
Sandwich Middle School Eighth Grade
2017-2018 Philosophies & Policies Plan
Dear Parents or Guardians,
In order to guarantee your child and all students in the 8th grade the excellent learning climate they deserve, we are utilizing the following:
Our Philosophy
We believe that every 8th grader should have the opportunity to learn and achieve. We will not allow any student to stop us from teaching and/or any student from learning; therefore, we believe all students can appropriately behave in our classroom.
Our Class Rules
Expectations
Follow the directions the first time.Listen respectfully when others are speaking.
Work in class without disturbing others.
Respect others’ rights, feelings, and property.
Conduct yourself in a manner that promotes safety for all.
Bring materials necessary for class.
Complete assignments on time.
Consequences
WarningConference with teacher
Teacher detention and/or parent contact
Referral to the administrative team for further disciplinary action
Severe disruptions, disrespect for teachers, fighting, or any behavior that endangers another students: IMMEDIATELY SENT TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Rewards
In order to promote positive behavior and academic achievement, our team will participate in a semester reward point system. In order for students to earn the semester reward, students may not have more than three (3) disciplinary points. On the fourth point, the student may not participate. The point system is as follows:
Administrative Suspension = 5 points
(3-hour detention, Saturday detention, in-school suspension, or out-of-school suspension)
Administrative Detention = 2 points
(45-minute detention or lunch detention given by an administrator)
Teacher Detention = 1 point
(before school, lunch-time, or after school detention given by a teacher)
Special Note: Students are allowed one school detention for a.m. tardies. On the second tardy detention, students will receive 2 points.
Also, students may not participate in the semester reward program if they have more than twelve (12) zeros in ALL subjects combined, including Explore and Physical Education classes.
Teachers may give other rewards throughout the semester that are not related to the point system.
Late Assignment Policy
Continuing with the policy established in the seventh grade, a late assignment will receive a 50% reduction in grade if completed by the end of homeroom the following day. A final zero will be assigned if the assignment is not turned in by the end of that homeroom period. Please note that AT Math and AT Language Arts classes have different late work policies.
It is in your child’s best interest that we work together in relationship to his/her schooling this year. In order for our communication to be even better, e-mail addresses are given for each teacher. Please feel free to contact us; we would love to hear from you at any time.
Sincerely,
The 8th Grade Team
Explore News
We are off to a great start to the school year! Students are getting back in to the school routine and starting to get busy working hard in their Explore classes. We are all excited to see what this school year has in store and to see all the great projects the students create throughout the year.
Mr. Lay – Art
Mrs. Gregory – STEM
Mrs. Sgiers –Speech and Drama
Mr. Ryan – Life Skills
Life Skills is off to a great start this quarter. 6th grade studetns have been learning about the components of health and how important it is to develop healthly living habits. Seventh graders are learning the path of blood through the heart, the F.I.T.T. principle and how to calculate their target heart rate. Eigth graders are working on a project that allows them to research a career in the health field. Information obtained during research includes salary, necessary education, certificates, and how to properly cite sources.
Speech & Drama 1 (6th grade): Speech & Drama I has two main focus points. The first is to get students up in front of the class and presenting persuasive speeches, monologues, and lines from a poem in front of the class. Emphasis is on projection, enunciation, vocal variety, and eye contact. The second is to have students read plays (including Arsenic & Old Lace) and understand the parts of a play, including the major dramatic question, theme, and the parts of the plot breakdown. Characterization is also emphasized.
Speech & Drama 2 (7th grade): Speech & Drama II is delving deeper into acting. Students present duologues and triologues (similar to monologues) and are concentrating on vocal variety in presentation. Students will read and watch Wait until Dark where the main character fights off evil even while blind. We will discuss theme in more detail and students will consider how that theme applies to his/her own life. When we turn to speeches our concentration will be on speaking off of an outline instead of reading word for word. Students will also use some kind of a prop while demonstrating something to the class. We will end the quarter with students trying a hand at acting out a short scene or monologue
Speech & Drama 3 (8th grade): New this year is Speech & Drama III where student will be working on working together in groups to introduce one another, do a survival Team Exercise, and act in small scenes. We will also delve into what goes into actually pulling an entire production together and culminating in students acting out scenes of a play.
PE News
Hello from the Physical Education department!
Welcome to the 2017/18 school year. We are so excited to see what our new year brings for us in P.E. class. Our classes are off to a good start so far and we can’t wait to see all the improvements throughout the year. We have offered a fitness portion of class as well as sports based curriculum. Students have signed up for a fitness class (if they wanted), to perform and be evaluated from. As for the sports based curriculum students, we have started out with a soccer unit, which will be followed by a flag football and ultimate Frisbee unit. We will also be testing for flexibility, cardiovascular, and strength along the lines of Fitnessgram. We hope the students are as excited about some of the new and exciting things we will be doing throughout the year. Stay tuned for more awesome news from the Physical Education department!
News From the LRC
WELCOME to the 2017-2018 School Year!
Hello, I am Mrs. Beth Butler. I am the keeper of the Learning Resource Center here at SMS. I am looking forward to a great year. If there is anything I can help you with –or if you have any questions please call or e-mail me: bbutler@sandwich430.org
The LRC is already a busy place. Sixth graders have all been in for their orientation and they are checking out books big time! I have seen many 7th and 8th graders head in to check out new books and old favorites. I am sure this will be a busy reading year at SMS!
In September the LRC will hold a Scholastic Book Fair. The dates are Monday, September 25th – Friday, September 29th. More information will come home with the kids closer to book fair time and information and links will be on our school homepage. The excitement of getting a new book never goes away no matter your age…so I encourage everyone to come take a look … there will be something perfect for you. Parents and Guardians and the whole family are welcome any time.
Have a “READFUL” day and I hope to see you at the book fair!
Free and Reduced Lunch
The carry over period for students who were receiving free/reduced lunch for the 2017-2018 school year will be until October 3, 2017. If you haven't turned in a new 2017-2018 application or received notification for approval for this school year, your child will automatically be charged for a lunch as of October 4, 2017. Free/reduced lunch applications for the 2017-2018 school year are available in the office of each school or on the Sandwich School District website at www.sandwich430.org If you have any questions contact 815-786-2187 ext 1.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis or face, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, and Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Vision & Hearing Screenings 2017/2018
Each school year vision/hearing screenings are conducted for Sandwich District 430 schools in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Vision screening will be done as mandated for the following children: Preschool, Kindergarten, 2nd, 8th, special education students, new/transfer students, and students with any other concerns. Hearing screenings will be done for Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, special education students, new/transfer students, and students with any other concerns. Screenings will be done at:
SCREEN RESCREEN
Pre-K - Sept. 13, 2017/Sept. 27, 2017
Prairie View - Oct. 3, 2017/Oct. 17, 2017
H. E. Dummer - Nov. 28, 2017/Dec. 12, 2017
Woodbury - Nov. 8, 2017/Nov. 21, 2017
Haskin - Oct. 12, 2017 Oct. 25, 2017
Sandwich Middle School - Jan. 15, 2018 Jan. 25, 2018
Sandwich High School - Jan. 12, 2018 Jan. 25, 2018
Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor. Your child is not required to undergo this vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months and that evaluation is on file at the school. This notice is not a permission to test and is not required to be returned. Vision screening is not an option. If a vision examination report is not on file at your child’s school (in the mandated age/grade) they will be screened. You may contact the school nurse with any questions you might have.