Meeting in the Middle
Linden Middle School
Princpal's Ponderings...
Dear Parents,
Spring break is here, and we have about two months left of the 2013-2014 school year! With the amount of cancelled school days, we must add days to the school year. Tuesday, June 17th is the official last day of school and is a half day. As the school year comes to a close, here are some important dates to remember:
Friday, April 25 Progress Reporting Period Ends
Thursday, April 29 Eighth Grade Yearbook Signing Party Meeting for Parent Volunteers; Media Center; 6-7:00 PM
Thursday, May 1 Parent/Teacher Conferences: 3:00-6:00 PM
Monday, June 16 Tentative 8th Grade Yearbook Signing Party; 6:00-8:00 PM
Tuesday, June 17 Eighth Grade Recognition Celebration; Gymnasium; 8:00-9:30 AM
Tuesday, June 17 Last Day of School (1/2 Day)
The 8th Yearbook Signing Party Parent Volunteer Meeting is for all 8th grade parents wishing to volunteer to help plan the event. This will be held on Thursday, April 29th from 6:00-7:00 PM in the media center. If you would like to help but cannot attend, please contact me at (810) 591-0712.
With the warm weather and long days, staying focused on learning is tough for our students. Please continue using Synergy to track day-to-day homework, keep updated on your child’s academic progress, and e-mail to communicate with teachers. Communication and a strong home/school relationship are essential to the success of our students! We continue to offer after school tutoring on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays in the media center from 2:40-3:40 PM. Please contact the main office if you would like your child to attend.
Sincerely,
Julie Brown, Principal
Talented Talons
Upcoming Imagination Station Field Trip!
Ask your son/daughter for the permission slip to attend our upcoming field trip to Imagination Station. Don’t forget to sign up to chaperone if you can take the day off work. We could use about 20 to 25 parents to walk around the museum with a group of 5-6 students.
Language Arts News: In language arts, students are currently working on a grammar unit focusing on the use of pronouns in language and communication. After Spring Break, students will be spending some time on our next genre of study: adventure! Students will have the opportunity to read tales of daring, danger, and triumph. While reading these stories, we will be focusing on literary elements including static and dynamic characters, plot elements, themes, and vivid language.
Math News: We are in the midst of a unit on ratios and proportions. This unit contains some traditionally difficult concepts for middle school students. Any extra encouragement given at home is always a good thing. I apologize for the messed up “to do” list and grade book for the start of the 3rd trimester. I have a call into Digits, just waiting on a solution. I’m learning patience is a virtue.
Science News: In Science we are wrapping up the Periodic Table Unit. This unit brought us full circle to what we were discovering at the beginning of the year. It is a nice way to round out everything we have been talking about within the Physical Science discipline. We made some awesome connections as to why the Periodic Table is arranged the way it is. Next for us is a complete switcheroo! We are going to leave Physical Science behind and put on our Earth Science thinking caps. To start our journey off right, we will begin exploring the layers of the Earth. Ask your son or daughter to sing the Layers of the Earth song for you!
Social Studies News: Students are learning about the early civilizations in Central America and South America. Recently, they completed and were tested on the cultures found in Central America; and overall, their performance was outstanding. We continue to learn about the Incan civilization found in the Andes of South America. When we return from Spring Break, we will finish the unit on the conquest of these cultures. Our next major unit will be on Mexico.
Winged Warriors
In Social Studies, we are beginning Chapter 13. In this Chapter the students will discover the achievements of early Greek civilizations. They will learn how Greek government changed over time. The children will learn what some features of democracy were in Athens.
In math class we are finishing topic 11 which is on rates. Students will continue to work with rates in topic 12 as they find proportions, using percents and seeing how a percent is a ratio itself. Students will also learn how to plot ratios on a graph and see how equivalent ratios form straight lines when graphed and allow us to predict other equal ratios.
In Language Arts, students have been studying grammar usage and punctuation. The emphasis has been on subject-verb agreement and using commas correctly in writing. Students will be studying pronouns when they return from break. Spelling lessons will continue to be given on Monday, with a quiz on Fridays. Reading Logs are due on Friday, April 4. Enjoy your Spring Break!
In science class we continue learning about our home, Planet Earth. After learning about the layers of Earth and Plate Tectonics (Pangaea), we will observe how the Earth is dynamic and ever changing, by studying volcanoes, earthquakes and mountain formation. We will finish the year learning about the Rock Cycle and soil formation. This month, on Wednesday, April 23rd, we will also take our annual trip to Imagination Station. Permission slips were sent home in late March and are due by April 15th. Enjoy spring break!
Regal Eagles
With this new season brings new topics of study. In social studies, students are studying the culture of Africa. In science, students are learning about cellular respiration. In language arts, we are researching, taking note cards, and learning how credit our sources using MLA.
Thank you for sending in permission slips and money for our field trip to Cooley Stadium on May 21st. We appreciate all of the chaperones willing to take time out to help us keep kids safe. Remember, outside food is not allowed into the stadium, so plan on bringing money for lunch.
Don’t let spring affect your student’s study habits! Continue to check planners and Synergy. We appreciate your partnership.
Soaring Eagles
It’s hard to believe that spring is finally here…wait, it’s snowing outside! When will it end?! Things are warming up in language arts with the mythology unit! This is a favorite genre of mine, and I know students will enjoy learning about the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome. In math we are working on attributes of a circle. In social studies, students continue to learn about Africa. We are visiting each region and learning about Nelson Mandela and his contributions to the world.
The 7th grade will be going on a field trip to Lansing to see the Lugnuts play baseball on May 21! We are hoping for good weather for this fun day at the ballpark.
Just a few reminders: Parent teacher conferences will be held on May 1. Also, Kleenex supplies are running low as allergy season draws near. If you would like to donate some, please send it in with your child.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact your child’s teacher as soon as possible. Updated grades are available on StudentVue & ParentVue. If you do not know your child’s log-in information, please contact the main office at 591-0711.
March Writer of the Month
As part of the Writer of the Month program, each month students will be honored for completing an exceptional piece of writing. These selections will be on display in the Media Center. The Writers of the Month for March are:
Taylor Caldwell, Autumn Borgne, Kyle Miller, Ryan Wilbrink, Jimmy McGaugh, Taylor Bieling, Mitchell Kerr, Jacob Maser, Reece Richardson, Devin Hradowsky, Alex Lang, Baylee Mamp, Riley Henson Cameron Hawkins, Maxwell James, Delanie Baumgartner, Ashley Crane, Kyle Chowning, Hayden Mahakian, Kaitlin Dunn, Sean Myers
LMS Calendar
April 14 LMS Newsletter Posted
April 15 Butter Bread Distribution; 5:00-8:00 PM
April 18 No School
April 25 Progress Reporting Period Ends
April 29 8th Grade Yearbook Signing Party Parent Planning Meeting; Media Center; 6 PM
April 30 5th Grade Parent Orientation @ LMS; 6:00 PM
May 1 Parent/Teacher Conferences; 3:00-6:00 PM
May 2 LMS Annual Career Fair; AM
May 6 LMS Parent Koffee Klatch Meeting; 4:00 PM
June 17 Last Day of School; 1/2 Day