HMS Weekly Update #16
Volume 2: Friday, December 17th
Dear Hoboken Middle School Family,
Happy Friday HMS!
There are a few items I would like to share with all:
Arrival Information:
The entrance on the 4th street side of the building is open to all students from 7:30 - 8:15. If your child arrives early, they should report to that door and enter the building. The grade 6 (Garden Street) and grade 8 (Bloomfield Street) entrances doors open at 8:15 each day.
Students Waiting For Covid Results:
If you take your child for a Covid test and are awaiting results, please do not send them to school during while results are pending. You may direct any questions you have about this to myself or Nurse Kirwin.
Please take some time to read through the updates below to learn some more about this past week and upcoming events. Some highlights are:
- Title 1 Curriculum Night- Thank you!
- HMS Open House for Hoboken Schools 5th Grade- December 21st
- HMS Welcomes Mr. Tyrell Dortch as Youth Development Specialist
- HMS Play "Teen" Update
- HMS Best Buddies Program featured in New Jersey Best Buddies Newsletter!
- Congratulations November Students of the Month!
- HMS PTO Corner
- Parent Resources For Monitoring Cell Phones
- HMS Help Desk
- HMS Basketball Update
- Dr. Baskinger's Curriculum Corner
- Scripps National Spelling Bee Dates Announced
- Our HMS Clubs & Activities Weekly Update
- Our corner's that highlight areas within our school community
- And a grade and content level summary to give you a peak into the classroom.
- Helpful information at the bottom of the newsletter
IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
- Students should bring a full water bottle to school everyday. If you would like to purchase an HMS Water bottle for $2 please have your child stop by the main office and see Ms. Munoz. We have water hydration stations in the building on the 1st floor and 3rd floor so they can fill up their bottles.
- Please try to send a mask to school each day with your child. If possible, please pack extra masks for your child in a ziploc bag with their name on it in case they get them wet during the day. I was asked a few times this week, HMS Masks are available for purchase in the main office for $10.
- Remember to do the daily Covid form for your child(ren).
- Chromebooks must be charged each night at home. Please check in with your child to remind them to charge their Chromebook at night.
- Please communicate any health issues to Nurse Kirwin (NKirwin@hoboken.k12.nj.us). You may also share any documentation with her that the school would need.
- Here are the HMS Student Handbook & HMS Code of Conduct for your convenience.
As always, please reach out to me if you have any questions.
Have a great week!
Fondly,
Ms. Marra
HMS Open House for Current 5th Grade
Tuesday, December 21st
Here is the link for the HMS Open House.
HMS Welcomes Mr. Tyrell Dortch as Youth Development Specialist
Hello Hoboken Middle School! My name is Tyrell Dortch and I am a Hoboken native, born and raised. My Hoboken pride truly runs deep!
I am a Hoboken High School graduate and followed my high school career by joining the University of Michigan, where I played football for four years and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Human Development & Family Studies. I am currently a firefighter for the Hoboken Fire Department and have served the community since 2013.
I am extremely honored to be apart of the Hoboken Middle School family and I am looking forward to serving my community in providing knowledge, insight and Hoboken pride to our youth.
Title 1 Family Arts Night- THANK YOU!
On Sunday, December 12th, the Hoboken Public School District held a family and community event celebrating the Arts and Literacy Departments in grades Kindergarten through 12th. Hoboken Middle School student work was featured throughout Hoboken High School Football Stadium with beautifully decorated tents and tables lines with original writing pieces and artwork. During the evening, attendees were able to enjoy live performances from the Chorus and Band which was quite the holiday treat! Train rides were constant as families sipped hot cocoa, enjoyed delicious cookies, and were greeted with rides, games, and of course Hoboken Holiday Spirit.
A special thank you to the Hoboken Staff, Hoboken Families, and members of the Hoboken Community for coming to this event and showing your support while also experiencing all the hard work and dedication learned thus far in the school year. We look forward to future Family Fun Night Events as we head into 2022. Check out the pictures below capturing moments from the Family Arts Night.
HMS Play Weekly Updates
This week in rehearsal for Teen cast members continued blocking individual scenes. There are lots of monologues in this piece and each student is bringing everything they've got to the table! Keep an eye out for further updates. Opening night is Friday, February 4th!
HMS Best Buddies Program Featured in New Jersey Best Buddies Newsletter
Hoboken Middle School's Best Buddies Program was recently featured in the New Jersey Best Buddies Newsletter for their outstanding commitment to the program and raising awareness. Advisors, Ms. Beriloff and Ms. Episcopo, lead their team on walks to raise money and spread awareness able the importance of inclusion and friendship. Awesome job, HMS Best Buddies!
Congratulations November Students of the Month!
Cameron Daly- Grade 6
Jake Stefura- Grade 7
Isabella Neto- Grade 8
HMS PTO Corner
Minted.com Fundraiser Begins Now!
Huge thank you to everyone who supported our Panera fundraiser this week! And thank you for those who joined our November PTO meeting. At the meeting, we shared the following easy ways to support the HMS PTO this holiday season:
Minted.com – Starts Now!
We’re excited to announce that we’re partnering with Minted this holiday season to help us fundraise! Please support the HMS PTO by ordering your holiday cards & gifts from Minted using our promo code FUNDRAISEHOBOKENPTO.
You’ll get 20% OFF your order and 15% of every purchase made using our code will be donated back to us at the end of the year.
Shop minted.com and spread the word to your family & friends!
AmazonSmile – Start using today!
Your holiday shopping can help make a difference, at no additional cost to you!
When you shop at smile.amazon.com, or in the Amazon app with AmazonSmile turned on within Settings, you'll find the same products and same low prices as the Amazon you already know - plus, they donate a portion of your purchases to Hoboken Middle School PTO.
You can select us as your AmazonSmile charity by visiting: smile.amazon.com/ch/83-2939638
Parent Resources for Cell Phone Monitoring
Most children today have a cellphone on hand and use it extensively to do homework, communicate with friends, and view social media platforms. It is almost unimaginable to think of a modern-day child who doesn’t take full advantage. These rapid advancements in technology have been proven to be a recent challenge. Below are two suggested cellphone monitoring services that include activity monitoring, location services, filtering, and screen time management. Though not offered through Hoboken Public Schools, these resources may be helpful in managing cell phone usage. Click on each link below below to be taken directly to the resource website.
Qustodio: The All-In-One Parental Control and Digital Wellbeing Solution
HMS Help Desk
Here are some helpful items for our families:
My child is going to be absent...what do I do?
Email WVasquez@hoboken.k12.nj.us and SFalcone@hoboken.k12.nj.us to inform us about the absence.
I need to pick up my child early...what do I do?
Call the main office 15 minutes prior to pick up so your child can be waiting at the 4th street entrance. The main office is (201) 356-3754. You will need to come into the security area to sign the book for your child to leave.I have an issue with my Chromebook...what do I do?
Please visit the HPS-Tech in Our Schools Site for any tech related questions or problems with Chromebooks.
I have a question about dress code or purchasing...what do I do?
Email Mr. Ramos (Ivan.Ramos@hoboken.k12.nj.us) for assistance.
I have a question for about my child making up work if they are absent...what do I do?
Email Ms. Falcone for assistance (SFalcone@hoboken.k12.nj.us)
HMS Baskeball Corner
The Hoboken Middle School Basketball programs will continue their practice this Saturday 12/18 at Hoboken High School. The teams will continue practicing fundamentals of passing, dribbling and shooting. Please be advised that the teams will not be practicing on Wednesday 12/22 and Friday 12/24. All teams will continue practicing on Wednesday 12/29.
12/18
6th Grade boys 1:00-2:15 P.M.
7/8th Grade Boys 2:15-3:30 P.M.
Girls 6/7/8th grade 1:00-2:30 PM
12/29
6th Grade boys 1:00-2:15 P.M.
7/8th Grade Boys 2:15-3:30 P.M.
Girls 6/7/8th grade 1:00-2:30 PM
Please make sure to wear your mask into the building.
Please remember that if you do not go to school, you can not participate in practices and games.
Way to go Tigers!
Dr. Baskinger's Curriculum Corner
Family Arts Night - HMS Literacy Curriculum Maps
Elk's Americanism Essay Contest - Submissions Are In!
Update: Due Monday, December 13th
On Wednesday, December 15th, students officially submitted their essays to the Hoboken Elks Lodge 74. Students in grades 6th-8th wrote reflective essays on why they truly love their country and what patriotism means to them. Mr. DeBenedetto, Grade 6 Social Studies Teacher, worked especially hard as all of his 6th graders submitted an original piece. As essays across the country begin to be read and judged, students and staff at Hoboken Middle School will have to wait patiently for winning results. Stay tuned for further information.
Contest Details:
The Elks Lodge #74 will select six essays total and prizes and other awards will be given to the chosen essays. Once essays are selected, student winners will then be entered into the secondary portion of the contest, District and State levels and end with the naming of National Winners at the Grand Lodge Session in Atlanta GA in July 2022. Nationally, first-place, second-place, and third-place winners in each division will receive bronze plaques.
Scripps National Spelling Bee Dates Announced!
Hoboken Middle School to Compete in Scripps National Spelling Bee
- January 17th-21st, 2022: Grade-level Classroom Spelling Bee
- February 3rd, 2022 - School-Wide Bee
- February 11, 2022 - School Bee Champion will be chosen
- February 19, 2022 - Hudson County Spelling Bee.
Date & Time: 02-19-2022 10AM
Clubs and Activities Corner
HMS Student Council Club
This week, the HMS Student Council Club assisted the Front Line Appreciation Group (FLAG) of Hoboken and Jersey City. FLAG is hosting a drive, “Sketches, Socks, and Sweets for Seniors” to brighten the holidays for local seniors. Student Council members helped out in the sketches aspect of this wonderful project by coloring prints during our meeting. On Friday, we celebrated Festive Sweater Day. Please enjoy this slideshow of HMS spreading holiday cheer in our festive attire!
National Junior Honor Society at Hoboken Middle School
NJHS Meeting Recap
Members of the National Junior Honor Society met this Thursday to discuss projects and further community outreach for 2022. So far, the NJHS has sponsored two large programs during the school year. With over $300 raised for breast cancer awareness and a hygiene product collection for the local shelter, NJHS anticipates further drives and fundraisers as we head into the New Year.
Next week, select members of the NJHS will participate in the HMS Open House on Tuesday, December 21st. Members will speak on behalf of the Society which will provide insight on how to apply, projects conducted throughout the year, and the role of being the member such as community service and being a citizen of the Hoboken Community.
The NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award
Recognizing the need to help middle level students jump-start their quest toward higher education, the National Junior Honor Society offers the annual NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA). The award recognizes 500 exceptional NJHS students with $500, to be placed in a college savings account program-managed by Ascensus as part of the New Mexico Education Trust Board’s 529 college savings plan: The Education Plan.
The 2022 NJHS OAA application process will open January 12, 2022. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Eligible NJHS members should create their student account at www.njhs.us/studentaccount. All applicants must have a verified NJHS student account in order to apply for the award in January 2022.
Detailed information about the application process is coming shortly. Please check back in the upcoming HMS Weekly Newsletters.
If you have questions about the application process, please reach out to Dr. Baskinger.
Outstanding Achievement Award FAQ
**REMINDER: NJHS Members will meet on Thursday, January 13th, 2022!
Academic Team
This week, the Academic Team competed in their second mathematics competition of the year. This meet is hosted by the Continental Mathematics League and is part of the Euclidean Division. Students had thirty minutes to answer six complex mathematics questions that had their scratch papers full before the timer was up. Scores have been entered, and we would like to congratulate 8th grader Adrian Jiansky for receiving the only perfect score! We look forward to seeing how we will place with other schools across the country!
Newsletter Activity Club
Students in Newsletter created holiday cards to share with the HMS community. Happy Holidays from the Newsletter!
Yearbook Club
During this week's meeting selected students were chosen as content area leaders. They will be working in small groups to begin organizing pictures and creating layouts on the virtual yearbook platform. School Spirit, Fall Sports and Clubs have been the focus right now. Reminder to all 8th graders to please upload your baby pictures to this Google Form link, the deadline for submission is January 4th. https://forms.gle/3cpe3HT52viQZjh77
GSA Club
This week, the GSA prepared for the HMS Open House on December 21st. Club members designed a poster that highlights our club mission and special events. Members signed up to speak to prospective families about why they joined GSA and what they love most about the club. Next week, we look forward to displaying our poster and promoting the GSA Network!
Best Buddies & Diversity Club
Best Buddies finished writing their Pen Pal letters and colored holiday cards for the Front Line Appreciation Group of Hoboken and Jersey City in order to brighten the holidays for the local senior citizens. As a friendly reminder, Best Buddies will meet on Wednesday, December 22nd!
HMS Band
HMS Chorus
This week the Chorus Club joined forces with the Passport chorus to rehearse together at the high school for the concert next week. All of the performers successfully memorized their music and practiced with their accompanist and microphones to simulate a true concert atmosphere. We focused on performance posture, cutoffs and breath support as we ran through our concert repertoire. Everyone did a terrific job and we are very excited for the concert on Wednesday.
HMS Literary Club
This week in Literary and Magazine Club we took a short break from our short stories to try our hands at critiquing others' work again. To continue to practice the skill of critical analysis we listened to several popular songs, including Beatles songs, and broke down what made them entertaining, memorable, or just plain bad. After we bullet-pointed and compared together on the whiteboard, students wrote short critiques in paragraph form.
Ms. Falcone's Guidance Counselor Corner
Student Development Day #2 will take place on Thursday, December 23rd. Students will continue to participate in lessons that promote classroom community, and will also engage in lessons to strengthen their executive functioning skills.
As a gentle reminder, our Stevens Math Tutoring Program will be on hold from December 13, 2021-January 21, 2022. Tutoring will resume Monday, January 24th. If you would like your child to participate in our tutoring program in January, please email me directly.
As always, should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me by email.
Move this World
This week in Move this World, students focused on the Power of Pause. The Power of Pause allows students to develop relaxation responses in moments where they feel overwhelmed. Please take a moment to click here to view The Power of Pause Toolkit students received on Student Development #1, as well as While students continue to practice the Power of Pause in their classes, they are also encouraged to utilize these exercises at home and during extracurricular activities.
For more information on Move This World, please visit www.movethisworld.com
If you have any questions regarding Move this World, please reach out to Ms. Falcone.
HMS Nurse's Corner
Please continue to fill out the daily Covid questionnaire and update us with any change in your child’s health status. We ask that you please enforce hand washing, mask wearing and social distancing especially since it is now cold outside and more activities will be taking place indoors. Crutches, Ace Bandages If you child experiences an injury and needs to come to school with an assistive device or any kind of wrap, please send them in with a doctor’s note so that we know the type of injury that occurred and the doctor’s recommended restrictions. Wraps put on by parents at home cannot be adjusted by the school nurse without a doctor’s note. Gym excuses also have to come from the child’s doctor. Medications If your child has any medical needs please feel free to call me to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. As a reminder, if your child has any kind of over the counter or prescribed medication that needs to be kept in school, please let me know, have your doctor fill out a medication administration form and supply me with the medication. Please do not send in the medication in your child’s backpack. This is a safety concern! All medication must be handed to the nurse, by the parent, with orders. Also, just a reminder that there are two required immunizations for all 6th graders as per the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. If your child has been immunized and is up to date on their required immunizations please send me a copy. If they have yet to receive the two required immunizations please make an appointment and provide proof of immunization as soon as possible. The 2 required immunizations are as follows: N.J.A.C. 8:57-4.10: Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis Vaccine (TDap)
Every child born on or after January 1, 1997 and entering or attending grade 6 on or after September 1, 2008 shall have received one dose of TDap, given no earlier than his/her 10th birthday. N.J.A.C. 8:57-4:20: Meningococcal Vaccine Every child born on or after January 1, 1997 and entering or attending grade 6 shall have 1 dose of meningococcal vaccine such as the medically preferred meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Lastly, please make sure your child is coming to school with a mask! If possible please try to send them in with an extra mask in their bag. If your child is sick, please contact the school nurse. I can be reached at Nkirwin@hoboken.k12.nj.us or 201-356-3744.
Effective School Solutions Corner
Being able to complete homework is a huge challenge and an important tool for students to learn. This article covers important tools as parents of middle schoolers to educate, encourage, and enforce at home. (1) Creating a location for homework to be completed at home with minimal distractions is essential as well as a (2) consistent time to complete their homework and (3) a schedule to organize and prioritize their work. Making a reward system can also help motivate the student with following through with their responsibilities in order to earn their rewards. Lastly, strategies like incorporating breaks and choices for your children can also assist in this process as well.
HMS World Language Corner
Spanish
French
In French and Spanish classes, students participated in a service project by making holiday cards for the elderly in Hoboken. The cards were delivered to The Meals on Wheels Program in Hoboken, and the cards will be placed in the bags of food delivered to our elderly neighbors in Hoboken! Below are pictures of French and Spanish students spreading joy this holiday season!
Mandarin
The following video is of Grade 6 students using the fist picture to present 12 months in Chinese.
The following picture is Grade 7 students presenting their "international school schedule project" while other students take notes and ask questions:
Grade & Content Level ~ What Have We Been Learning?
6th Grade ELA
Our 6th grade writers completed the final stages of their personal narrative project by editing their pieces to include relevant background information and revised their final drafts for punctuation, capitalization and formatting to prepare for final publication! Next week in Writers’ Workshop, students will share their writing with their cohort peers and will complete a self-reflection based on their experiences during this pivotal process. Students will explore their strengths and weaknesses and will create goals to strengthen their writing skills as we proceed through our School Wide units.
Students continued their reading of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. In the first part, students were asked to keep in mind the concept of color connotations when reading the description of the Ghost of Christmas Past, and then analyzed the vibrant colors of the apparition. Students also explained the significance of the ghost's image to Scrooge's past. In part two, students focused on the details of the Ghost of Christmas Present and analyzed the representation of the abundance and description of the food. They also evaluated character motivation based on their actions and words. We will continue to read A Christmas Carol next week focusing on character development, and analyzing imagery and other literary devices throughout the text.
6th Grade Mathematics
This week our 6th grade mathematicians learned that a problem/ situation can be represented by an equation with a variable. The equation can be solved by using the inverse operations and a property of equality. Students previously learned that when a property of equality is applied to an equation, the equation remains true. In this week's lesson, students used a balance and a bar diagram to represent a situation that can be modeled by an equation, write equations involving addition and subtraction, and use the addition and subtraction properties of equality to solve one-step, one variable equations. Students learned that addition and subtraction have an inverse relationship: addition undoes subtraction and subtraction undoes addition.
6th Grade Social Studies
This week during 6th grade social studies we delved into the spectacular life of Benjamin Franklin. Putting emphasis on his contributions to the formation of America, and to the global scientific community. After reading an article and having in depth class discussion, students created a Google Slide presentation, outlining the achievements of Ben Franklin. This week's Night Write also touched on Benjamin Franklin’s scientific achievements, students had the opportunity to put themselves in his shoes , by creating an invention that would improve life in the American Colonies.
This week students also submitted their “What Makes a Country Great Essay” to the Elks Club of Hoboken. There they will pick the strongest essays from each grade level and submit them into a state, then possibly national competition. Good luck to all of the students that entered the contest!
6th Grade Science
This week in science, students finished recording their STEAM Tank ideas for the initial submission. They also wrapped up Earth's Spheres by taking a quiz and creating an informative brochure that described each sphere here on Earth and what life experiences we go through in each sphere. We started off learning about the water cycle by learning about our water footprint. Students calculated their water usage and designed their own water footprint design to represent their top 5 water consumption. This small project allowed students to be aware of their own water usage as well as educate others on the water crisis we have today! Next week, we will review the water cycle and create our ugly science holiday sweater design before going on break.
7th Grade ELA
How much can you tell about a person based on the way they look? How easy is it to form opinions about someone before getting to know them? Seventh graders debated these questions as we prepared for our reading of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton this week. Through anticipation activities, students explored themes and stereotypes that will appear in the novel, as well as major events, people, and slang terms from the 1960s. In Writing Workshop, students continued to immerse themselves in the Photo Essay genre by exploring photobiographies and cause/effect photo essays. Students created their own mini photobiographies to present to their classmates!
7th Grade Mathematics
Students can calculate percent markups, markdowns, and simple interest in word problems! Students used ratio representations, such as tables, and the percent equation to calculate a part, percent, or whole of a given situation. It was great to hear the various strategies used throughout the lessons and students collaborated with one another to connect their strategies. Students concluded the week with a Topic 3 Review for the Topic 3 Assessment, which is on Tuesday, December 21st. Students will finish the in-class review on Monday and will complete a Topic 3 Nearpod to further extend their knowledge on Topic 3. Please encourage your child(ren) to review the lesson exit tickets, Mid Topic Quiz, and lesson notes!
7th Grade Social Studies
This week in social studies, students became newscasters and reported on a new story they found interesting. We also began learning about culture, art, and geography by exploring different cultural traits and norms around the world. Through our night write, students learned about fusion food such as sushi burritos, shared favorite foods from their own cultures, and discussed how food can bridge cultures. To show their understanding of universal themes, students created original works of art on paper and digitally. Next Tuesday (12/21), we'll have a short test based on what we've covered so far (7.1-7.3). Students will receive a study guide and we’ll review the day before the test.
7th Grade Science
This week in Science, students were introduced to the characteristics of living things. We learned that all living things are made up of one or more cells and the cell is the basic unit of all living things. Students worked in five different stations around the classroom, where they learned about The Cell Theory, Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells and Living vs. Non Living Organisms. Next week, students will learn about the various levels of structural organization in the human body.
8th Grade ELA
This week in ELA, we concluded our reading of Lord of the Flies by William Golding while continuing to practice close reading skills. As we finished reading, students identified the elements of plot from the entire novel. We focused on the points that led to the complete breakdown of civilization on the island. On Thursday, students completed a written assessment to demonstrate their understanding of Lord of the Flies. To finish the week, students completed chapter illustrations to display important events from each chapter. In our writing workshop, students selected topics for their Research Report! Students then organized their subtopics by dividing their topics into categories with compelling questions.
8th Grade Mathematics
Pre-Algebra I
This week in Pre-Algebra, students continued work with linear equations. We solidified understanding of finding slope from a graph, and what the slope means in the context of a real world situation. Students learned how to write equations of a line in slope-intercept form, y=mx+b, and learned how to verbally describe a y-intercept and why it is an important data point. At the end of the week, students competed in a Jeopardy game to review solving equations in preparation for their Topic 2 Unit Test. Students also practiced graphing the slope of a line given a scenario, an equation, and a table of values in preparation for their unit test. The Topic 2 Unit Test will be Monday, December 20. If students would like additional practice to prepare for the test, they should follow the Skill Plan for Topic 2 on IXL.
Pre AP Algebra
Algebra students spent the week solidifying their comfort with writing different forms of linear equations and using these to solve problems. We looked at many different contexts and determined which type of equation would best represent them and then used algebraic manipulation to rewrite them in other forms in order to make them easier to graph or to find different kinds of information. We also focused on connecting equations, graphs and equations by matching each of these to another and then annotating the connections on a poster. During the later part of the week we pushed our work with equations into better understanding inequalities in both one and two variables. Students reviewed graphing inequalities through a game called Walk the Line where kids explored what happens to the solutions to an inequality when different operations are applied. Next week we will review equations and inequalities and then take a test on Wednesday.
8th Grade Social Studies
Social Studies
This week in Social Studies we discussed the new government structure of Rome, the rise of emperors. We started by looking at Augustus Caesar and the major effect on Roman society. We then pivoted to compare 5 different important emperors that range from early emperors, to near the fall of the western empire. Students began to create propaganda posters of the emperor of their choosing. Later, students will share their work with their classmates so that everyone has an understanding of the range of Roman emperors.
Pre-AP World History
This week in Pre-AP World History we started the Epic of Gilgamesh. The first day the students were introduced to the hero of the story, and we discussed how and why Gilgamesh is a terrible king. We were also introduced to his foil, Enkidu, the god created animal man. Students interpreted the text, and as a class we created a more full understanding of the reading. We have popcorn read chapters 1-4 to ensure students get the fullest understanding of the text. We also began to take a look at paraphrasing text in their essays. Students read an excerpt from an essay Mr. Tall wrote in college, and then had a chance to paraphrase writings about popular movies.
8th Grade Science
This week in Science class students outlined, drafted, practiced, and created their video presentations to submit to the New Jersey STEAM Tank competition. Students collaborated with their group members to create a two minute presentation to pitch their solution plan to a panel of judges. Students created slides presentations to use as visual aids and wrote their own scripts to prepare for their video. Their goal was to create a presentation that summarized their focus problem, gave a detailed explanation of their solution, and emphasized the idea of sustainability as it relates to their plan. Students put a lot of time, thought, and intention into their projects and are excited to see who will make it through the first round of the New Jersey STEAM Tank Challenge!
Fine and Performing Arts Corner
Pre-AP Music
Pre-AP Dance
In Pre-AP Dance this week students performed their first Dance Study Creation for the second marking period. Interpretations of one of our anchor works by Julia Alvarez titled “Snow” embodied this first product. There were many great performances this week, awesome job to all for the effort!
HMS Strings
Ms. Monblatt's HMS String students had an outstanding week! Students are busy perfecting "Polish Carol", "Somewhere In My Memory", and "Jingle Bells" for our upcoming performance next week! In Pre-AP Music, students continued analyzing how composers borrow music and themes from each other. Students were given the challenge of analyzing related pieces of music by interpreting their narratives as well as the musical similarities and differences of each piece. Students led their peers in a class discussion, comparing the styles and musical characteristics of the pieces they selected and identifying which piece achieved its intended purpose more effectively! Don't miss these talented musicians performing at the District Winter Concert at Hoboken High School on Wednesday, December 22nd at 7 pm!
Creative Writing
This week our writers continued to focus on personification, and also took part in a grammar “escape!” The students all did a great job. Last week’s submission was from 6th grader Marly Larkin. She did a great job on her story and we hope you all enjoyed it!
This week's submission is from 6th grader Everett Andrew, great job!
Pre-AP Visual Arts
This week in Pre-AP Visual Arts, Students finished up their Still Life drawings of personal objects. By using some simple observational drawing techniques, students were able to push their drawing ability to the limit and achieve results they didn’t know they were capable of producing! I am proud of my students for their hard work and perseverance on these drawings. So much growth!
For many students, this project gave them their first opportunity to write an “artist statement”, describing the context behind their artwork. Once again, students outdid themselves with articulate and thoughtful reflections on their creative process.
“I am happy with the object that I chose because it is so simple but complex at the same time. The main idea I wanted to express in this drawing is simplicity. When people look at my artwork I want them to feel calm, tranquil, and stress-free.”
— Excerpt from Ava D.’s artist statement (artwork bottom right)
Pre-AP Theater
This week in Pre-AP theater students completed their table read of West Side Story. Next week we will begin working with tableaux and start to block Act II Scene II.
Health & Fitness Education
Physical Education
In Physical Education this week students wrapped up their floor hockey unit with one last full week of competitive play. Sportsmanship was key to this weeks lesson. A new unit will commence after winter break, great job to all our competitors!
HMS Health
In our Health classes this week part two of each health concept were completed. In 6th grade Health the Nature of Conflicts which entailed key elements that explored peer pressure, mob mentality, and conflict with substance abuse were taught. In 7th grade, the Nutrients your body needs was wrapped up. And in 8th grade, the rest of key Health Changes in Puberty were discussed.