Maple Avenue Middle School
November 2018 Newsletter
Student of the Month: 8th Grader, Elizabeth Young
The Sky Pilots and Maple Avenue have chosen Elizabeth Young as our Student of the Month. Elizabeth has done an amazing job so far this year. She has risen to the challenge of the academics in 8th grade and stands out for her hard work and kind demeanor.
Elizabeth’s favorite subject is English because she loves reading and writing. She is not 100% sure what she would like to do for her career but is leaning towards being an English teacher or a Nurse. Outside of school, she loves art such as drawing and coloring.
Maple Avenue and the Sky Pilots are so proud of you Elizabeth. Keep up the great work and the stellar example of PRIDE.
Parent Teacher Conferences- Coming Soon!
Please visit the school website to schedule your conference online. If you need assistance, please contact the school's front office.
Miss Pennsylvania Visits MAMS
Student Council News
6th Grade, Mr.Urey
7th Grade, Mrs.Sabol
8th Grade, Mr.Myers
MAMS Music Minute
In 6th Grade General Music class, students are working on learning proper music performance technique, and basic musical skills by learning to play folk songs on keyboard instruments such as the piano, iPad piano, Orff instruments, and marimbas. In 7th and 8th Grade general music, students are working on composing their own music, creating garageband compositions, and learning the difference between the major and minor modes. 8th Graders are getting excited to begin playing Ukulele in the next unit.
Band and Chorus students at MAMS are working hard to prepare for their winter concert. The concert will be held on December 18th in the MAMS auditorium at 7pm. The Concert will feature 6th Grade Band and Chorus, 7th and 8th Grade Band and Chorus, Honor Band, and Boys Chorus. Selections will include a variety of Holiday and Winter pieces.
Mr. Bish and Miss Iati would like to thank all families who participated in the Littlestown Band Boosters sub sale. Your generous support helps fund many music related activities and helps to provide LASD students with a quality music experience.
Team Bolts: 6th Grade
Core 1-
Mrs. Raubenstine’s and Ms. Koontz’s Core I math class have just transitioned
into Unit 2: Ratios and Proportions. Within this unit, students will be learning about
proportional reasoning and problem-solving, using unit rates to compare, and looking at
different representations of these quantities (tables, graphs, and equations). A
reminder that weekly homework now includes 30 minutes of Edgenuity (edgenuity.com)
which helps students to reinforce previous skills as well as preview upcoming content
for class. This can be done during the school day or from home through the website.
Core 2-
Mrs. Koontz’s Core II math class just finished Unit 1 which focused on Rational
Numbers. We are now turning our attention to Unit 2, Expressions and Equations.
Within this unit, our initial focus is the “5-D” model which helps students solve real-world
problems in an organized way. The “5-D” process will guide us into abstract problem
solving. These abstract concepts are the building blocks of algebra. Students will start
out thinking about how to figure out unknown amounts, which is a skill that is essential
for algebraic thinking. Variables will be used to represent quantities in word problems
and we will use these algebra concepts as we transition into solving equations, as well
as inequalities. Algebra tiles will be used to compare, build, and evaluate algebraic
expressions and equations.The use of algebra tiles as models should allow those
kinesthetic learners to flourish, as well as keep all of the students actively engaged
throughout the chapter. A reminder that weekly homework now includes 30 minutes of
Edgenuity (edgenuity.com) which helps students to reinforce previous skills as well as
preview upcoming content for class. This can be done during the school day or from
home through the website.
Miss Collins’ 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 finishing 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 have spent time studying
how humans interact with the environment in the Amazon Rain forest.
Ms. Willet’s ELA classes have been concentrating on main idea and poetry this month.
Students are learning how to analyze poems and how paraphrasing and inferencing are
important skills to use when reading. We are also continuing to focus on figurative
language and how authors use this skill to help us understand and visualize what we
read. In Geography class we have been learning about human environment interaction
in the Latin America region. Students read about the devastating effects of Hurricane
Maria and rain forest destruction. 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 Rain forest.
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. Please continue to ask your student about their day.
Team Aviators: 7th Grade
Math
In Unit 2, students will focus on algebraic concepts like expressions, equations, and inequalities. The unit begins with problem solving using the 5D process (guess and check tables). Students will learn how to write equations using the structure of the 5D table by the end of the unit. Students will also learn how to use algebra tiles to simplify expressions and solve equations and inequalities. Students should continue to complete 30 minutes on Edgenuity each week as well as their weekly homework assignment.
Science
Students are finishing up Unit 3: Energy and Matter Unit and will be spiraling (Literally and figuratively) to Unit 1:Life Structure and Function. We have not only been reviewing Chemistry Foundations but learning new study strategies each day. We have covered how to study and use Flash Cards and increase the difficulty level and how to “read” how graphic organizers can help link concepts together. These are all good study strategies to help across all curriculua.
Social Studies
In social studies, Students were given a notebook check for their India notes. Next, we are exploring China and its ancient civilizations. Students will dive into the ideas surrounding Confucianism and how it affects our society today.
English
Students are finishing the horror and suspense unit. Students have been exploring different elements of plot, mood, suspense, and theme through The Chronicles of Harris Burdick and short stories by Edgar Allan Poe. We will continue to look at these elements throughout our reading and start to make connections to different texts. Students have selected their second quarter independent novels and will continue to work diligently through those projects. The due date for those projects is January 11th. We will begin to look at Utopian vs. Dystopian societies throughout the second quarter, exploring more elements of nonfiction and connecting our studies to Ancient Civilizations.
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
7th Grade:
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 Edgenuity, playing games on Prodigy, or reviewing skills with Khan Academy, technology makes practicing accessible to all. The more you do math, the more you know math!
Algebra:
Students just finished a rather large chapter on slope, and graphing linear equations. As we transition to the next unit, students will be creating equations given a real world scenario, and be able to graph two equation on a graph and find where the lines intersect. This topic is known as systems of equations and will be the main focus for the upcoming unit. Overall, students have been doing a great job so far. Make sure we use our ACE time wisely to ask questions and get extra help/practice if needed.
Core 3:
As students work through Chapter 3, they should be seeing connections between the “rules/equations” they have been making and the graphs that represent these equations. As we near the end of this chapter students will have mastered solving equations that include the distributive property. These ideas will be important as we transition to Chapter 4 where students learn about point slope form and how to connect their linear equations with graphs. Students should be checking Sapphire to stay up to date with their grades and assignments.
ENGLISH: Mr. Peglow and Mrs. Trout
7th Grade:
Writing has been a focus in English class lately as students are honing their skills through blogging. Students have also been practicing the art of ACE responses and TDA’s. ACE stands for Answer, Cite, Explain which forms the basis of all student responses to a variety of prompts. When responding to literature both fiction and nonfiction, students are crafting Text Dependent Analyses. This requires the additional skill of analyzing a text while supporting a claim with evidence from the text. Students are reading a variety of short stories and nonfiction texts to practice these tasks. There will also be opportunities to practice formal writing through informational or expository writing.
8th Grade:
With the completion of Ender’s Game mid-November, our focus now turns to poetry and its literary elements. Students will write, read, and analyze poems as part of this unit while using ACE writing responses and Text-Dependent Analysis practice to apply their poetic interpretations and thoughts into the written word.
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 was Ancient India where students explored two of the world’s most well-known religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. Ancient China is our current stop on the world’s largest continent. Students are in the process of 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
Geometry students are doing a wonderful job working in teams, learning and helping each other; we’re having fun too. We completed the pumpkin time bomb challenge where students predicted how many rubber bands it would take to explode the pumpkin. Students will begin working on trigonometric ratios and extending their understanding of probability.
Core Connections 3 students are doing a good job learning how to solve equations as they as we continue work in Chapter 3 Expressions and Equations. We completed the pumpkin time bomb challenge where students predicted how many rubber bands it would take to explode the pumpkin. Data from this activity will in Chapter 4, Multiple Representations”. We’ll begin the unit prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday. Students will be 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 and android devices. Go Formative is the featured technology in math class. Go Formative allows me to provide feedback and grade while students are in class, not when it’s too late! Please ask your child to explain how the technology being used in class. Due to WiFI issues at school please check with your student so they can access at home.
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 are 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.
English Sky Pilot ELA classes are nearly finished with their second novel and second text dependent analysis essays, and we are excited to say that we've already grown a great deal as writers. The main focus in class right now is achieving deep analysis of a text to learn messages beyond the words on the page.
History classes are studying the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. They will write a comparative essay on the two documents. They also are working on Trading Cards to produce a game of the American Revolution for PBL.
Please continue to check our homework log daily for assignments located on the school website. Also, please schedule you Parent-Teacher Conferences.
News from our School Nurse
Reminders from the nurse’s office:
All 6th graders are required by Pennsylvania school health law to have a physical to enter the sixth grade. The school physician will be here in December to provide physicals if you would like your child to receive one. Please return the completed physical form or the choice for the school physician by December 3, 2018.
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 return completed dental form. Date to be announced for Mobile Dentist in January.
Flu season is just around the corner and now is a good time to schedule that flu shot appointment if you have not already done so.
Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving
School Counselor's Corner
Simple activities can reinforce your child’s academic skills
Learning doesn’t happen only in a classroom. You can reinforce your middle schooler’s academic skills right at home. Here’s how:
Have conversations with your child about everything—and really listen to what she has to say.
Ask about what your child is doing in her classes. Find out about her perspective on school.
Have your child teach you. Find out what she is studying and ask her to explain it to you. By “retelling” the things she’s learning, she reinforces those things in her own mind.
Help your child engage in critical thinking. Discuss the similarities and differences between her classes. Ask for her advice when you are facing a problem at work.
Give your child meaningful responsibilities. If you have a pet, ask her to help with its care. Teach her how to prepare simple meals, do laundry and other chores to help the family.
Respect your child’s ability. Let her use her knowledge and skills to help you. The next time your phone starts giving you trouble, hand it to her and see if she can figure out a solution.
Expose your child to new things. Every meaningful experience your child has—from a zoo visit to a museum trip—has an impact on her learning. On your next outing, ask her how what she sees relates to what she is learning in school.
Unsupervised time can lead to trouble for middle schoolers
Some parents think their middle schoolers don’t need to be supervised after school. But studies show that kids with too much time on their hands may be at higher risk of substance abuse.
One study found that eighth graders who were unsupervised for 11 hours a week were twice as likely to use drugs and alcohol as those under some form of adult supervision.
Where can working parents find after-school supervision for their kids? Here are some suggestions:
Volunteer work. Your child can gain job skills while making the world a better place. Visit communityservice.org for ideas.
School activities. Whether your child stays after school for band, sports or a club, he will be involved in a positive activity.
Community centers. Check out programs for preteens.
Youth organizations. Scouting, 4-H and many other student organizations have programs designed specifically for middle school students.
Neighbors. Perhaps a neighbor or relative who is home during the day would be willing to look after your child for a few hours.
Reprinted with permission from the November 2018 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2018 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: “Keeping Kids Safe and Supported in the Hours After School,” MetLife Foundation Afterschool Alert, Afterschool Alliance, niswc.com/after_school.
Red Ribbon Week at Maple Avenue
NATIONAL RED RIBBON CAMPAIGN™
The National Family Partnership organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign. NFP provides drug awareness by sponsoring the annual National Red Ribbon Campaign™. Since its beginning in 1985, the Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the world.
In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness destruction cause by drugs in America.
Enrique (Kiki) Camarena was a Drug Enforcement Administration Agent who was killed in Mexico in 1985. When he decided to join the US Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother tried to talk him out of it. "I'm only one person", he told her, "but I want to make a difference."
On February 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena's body was found.
In honor of Camarena's memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin. Parents, sick of the destruction of alcohol and other drugs, had begun forming coalitions. Some of these new coalitions took Camarena as their model and embraced his belief that one person can make a difference. These coalitions also adopted the symbol of Camarena's memory, the red ribbon.
In 1988, NFP sponsored the first National Red Ribbon Celebration. Today, the Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. Since that time, the campaign has reached millions of U.S. children and families. The National Family Partnership (NFP) and its network of individuals and organizations continue to deliver his message of hope to millions of people every year, through the National Red Ribbon Campaign™.
Save the Date!
Monday, November 19: Early dismissal for students; Parent Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, November 20: Early dismissal for students; Parent Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, November 21-Monday, November 26: No school for Students
Happy Thanksgiving!
Bolt PRIDE
Bolt Pride Focus for November is Gratitude
Gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation. There are many benefits to practicing gratitude. Students can harness positive thinking to increase their grades, goals, and quality of life. A sense of gratitude can decrease stress and increase a sense of belonging. Our November Bolt Pride lesson will focus on the power of gratitude and ask students to reflect on what they are thankful for.