Gov. TJMS Newsletter
April 16, 2021
Our Mission
At GTJMS, we strive everyday to create an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity, academic achievement, and well-being. Our mission is to empower students for success today and persevere through tomorrow’s 21st century challenges.
Our Vision
Governor Thomas Johnson Middle School is a diverse community of students, educators, support staff, parents and local organizations working collaboratively to provide an academically rigorous education, which includes the technology skills necessary for the 21st century. By holding students, educators and parents accountable for success, we are creating lifelong learners who take responsibility for their own educational goals and positive personal development. Excellence in teaching and learning is paramount to developing productive citizens who have promising and successful lives.
Administrative Announcements
TJMS Stock Market Team
TJMS team placed:
1st Place FCPS Team
1st Place Middle School at State Level
12th Place School at State Level
Congratulations to the team and their coach, Advanced Academics Teacher: Kerri Cole.
New Banner
Hearing and Vision Screenings
Hearing and Vision Screening will take place May 4th and May 6th for all students in the 8th grade. Parents/guardians who have an objection to this screening based on the tenets and/or practice of their church or religion please contact the health room to request that your child to be exempt from screening.
If your child is an 8th grader who attends school virtually and you would like to schedule an appointment for the above dates, please call the health room at 240-236-4856.
Please make sure if your child wears glasses or contacts that they have them on the screening days.
If you have any questions please contact the health room at 240-236-4856
Health Screening Information
FCPS is asking for your help in keeping our schools and communities safe. Please review the list of COVID-19 symptoms below with your student prior to leaving for school every day. You will be provided a weekly communication reminder of this requirement. Students who are ill or are experiencing any of the symptoms or situations listed below are expected to remain at home.
Parents/Guardians are affirming and attesting to the following for their student:
1. Since last in school, your child has not had any of the following symptoms: Cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or smell, fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher (measured or subjective), chills or shaking chills, muscle aches, sore throat, headache, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and congestion or runny nose.
2. Since last in school, your child is not waiting for a COVID-19 test result due to symptoms nor has he or she been diagnosed with COVID-19, nor been instructed by any health care provider or the health department to isolate or quarantine.
3. In the last 10 days, your child has not had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period) with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 or suspected of having COVID-19 and did not complete quarantine.
If the answer is YES to any of the above statements, your student should not come to school. Please contact your healthcare provider with any questions regarding next steps for your student.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Attendance
Technical Support
Reliable Resources
Frederick County Health Department
Maryland Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Governor's COVID-19 Pandemic: Orders and Guidance
Parks and Rec
Program and league registration is open and can be done online at http://www.cityoffrederickmd.gov/webtrac or by calling 301-600-1492.
PTSA Information
8th Grade Save the Date
Term 3 has ended and here comes the home stretch that is Term 4.
Please don’t forget the resources available to your student if they are struggling. Reach out to their teachers with concerns, have your student hop on to their teachers’ student support times, or have the student hop on to their counselors student support time. There is also after school help available each week night from 4-7 and on Saturdays from 10-12 through our ELO programs. These are staffed by TJMS teachers and support staff who are familiar with assignments.
All information for these support times are listed on Schoology through your students’ class page or the counselors Schoology groups.
TJMS Counseling Department
- Laura Rudy- 6th grade/ laura.rudy@fcps.org 240-236-4852
- Brian Dwyer-7th grade/brian.dwyer@fcps.org 240-236-4884
- Sarah Gunter- 8th grade/ sarah.gunter@fcps.org 240-236-4851
- Jessica Potts- Behavior Support Specialist jessica.potts@fcps.org 240-236-4848
PBIS
Extended Learning Opportunities
Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) available for ALL GTJMS students
What?
In order to support students and families during distance learning, GTJMS will be providing virtual ELO sessions during weekday evenings and on Saturday morning. These sessions will be made available by our staff for all students to ask homework questions and receive content support.
When?
Sessions will occur each day when students have virtual instruction. (No ELO during Thanksgiving break, winter break, holidays, etc)
How can I access?
Google Meet codes will be posted in Schoology for students to access sessions they would like to attend.
Next steps or Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact the front office or your guidance counselor.Math: 6th grade students have been writing and solving algebraic equations. They will be writing and graphing inequalities. We will finish unit 5 by analyzing the relationship between independent and dependent variables.
Science:6th graders have been learning about factors that affect Climates. There are 6 main Climate factors: Ocean currents, Latitude, Elevation, Global Winds, Rain Shadows, and Inland Vs. Coastal.
We will move into the Human Body topic in the next coming weeks. We will finish out the year covering multiple topics starting with cells up to different body systems.
Social Studies: 6th Grade students continue their adventures through the ancient world by finishing out units in Greece. We will be learning about Alexander the Great and then we will move into our next and final unit for the year in Rome.
Food Science: We have completed the nutritional unit and now will be starting food lab preparation. I will begin with the following units; manners, safety & sanitation , kitchen equipment, and then food preparation. I will demonstrate in the kitchen and then ask the students to make the food at home. Again cooking at home is optional, if you do not feel comfortable with your student cooking at home they will have an optional assignment.
Lab 21: 6th grade students completed their exploration of Growth vs Fixed Mindset and the Power of yet. The back from break students explored “Dance Party” hour of code activities via code.org and had the opportunity to share their work via a text message to their parents or guardians. Next up is exploring Social & Global Issues, with a focus on Scratch programming.
Tech Expo: All Tech Expo classes are extending their comprehension of the flight unit with the building of Air Skimmers and a look at both Air Force 1 and Marine 1. This will be the schedule for both the week of 4/12 as well as the week of 4/19. For the Air Skimmers,, students will need a file folder (used works perfectly fine) a rubber band and a paper clip. Please contact me if there is a need for any materials.
Language Arts: Students are analyzing various texts that challenge and help us answer the question “Why do people follow the crowd?”. Students will be using texts from the Science Fiction genre to read closely to answer this question. Students will pay close attention to note the speaker's beliefs and values as well as the author's purpose. In these short stories and poems, we will analyze how the speaker's word choice impacts the meaning of the texts.
Math: 7 Accelerated: Students have been learning how to graph linear equations with function tables and by using slope/intercept form. Next week we will take a look at how we can make sense of real world situations using linear equations.
7th grade: Students have been working on writing equivalent forms of expressions and using them to solve real world problems. The second half of unit 5 quiz will be during the week of April 19th.
Science: 7th graders are finishing up their chemistry unit by learning about the Law of Conservation of Mass which explains how the number of atoms before a reaction and after a reaction are the same, even though the chemicals may be different. Next up, 7th graders will be moving into the last module where they’ll learn about the impact humans have on the environment as well as develop possible solutions to some of these issues.
Social Studies: Our 7th grade students have been learning about Europe in the Middle Ages. Students have been researching the Feudal system, the role of the Catholic Church in medieval Europe, the growth of medieval towns, and rise of the merchant class. Next we will investigate the decline of Feudalism before beginning our last two units which cover the Renaissance and Reformation and European colonization of the New World.
Creative Arts: Happy Ramadan! Students are learning about this holiday and creating handmade gratitude journals this week. The following week we will venture to Africa to complete a “Choose your own adventure” style project where students will have the opportunity to explore visual art, music, dance, or theatre from this region of the world.
Invention and Innovation: All I&I classes are transitioning from the big picture of the 8-Step Design Process to now spending the balance of the year in more specific assignments where project output is expected. This week, we delve into the world of CAD design. Students need to have a mouse to use with their laptop or chromebook. These CAD designs will eventually lead to student-produced 3D projects.
Math: 8th Grade: Students have been working on solving multi-step linear equations. We will begin to apply these equations to real world situations.
Algebra: Students have been working to factor and find the solutions for quadratic equations. We will begin using these to solve real world situations.
Science: 8th graders are wrapping up the astronomy unit as they begin taking a look at the motions of earth systems (rotation and revolution) and how that affects their daily lives. They’ll be learning why we experience seasons as it relates to our place in space. Then, 8th graders will be moving on to the last module: Force & Motion. We’ll be exploring Newton’s three laws, as well as calculating and graphing various motion stories.
Social Studies: 8th grade students recently finished our unit about U.S. westward expansion and are now beginning to investigate the causes of the Civil War. In this unit, students will explore topics like the American slavery and the growth of plantation agriculture, The Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act, the Underground Railroad, the Dred Scott decision, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Bleeding Kansas, John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, Nat Turner’s Rebellion, and the Election of Abraham Lincoln.
English Language
Challenges
April 13-16: Reading: Continuation of Doctor Doolittle Math: Review and Probability Science and Social Studies: Cavities-tooth care Life Skills: Dental Health Advisory: Staying calm when I am excited
April 19th-23rd: Reading: Earth Day Math: Probability Science and Social Studies: Recycling and sorting in rooms Life Skills: Going to the doctor for well and sick visits Advisory: When I hurt myself or others
April 25th-30: Reading : Storms/Fiction Book Math: Shapes - translation / rotations/reflections Science and Social Studies : Extreme weather - cloud in the jar
Life Skills : Medical emergency
Advisory : Scared or afraid and safe
Foreign Language
Spanish One: Students are working on Unit 4.1 - Clothing.
Spanish Two: Students are working on Unit 4.1 - Mexican Legend.
WLEX: Students are working on numbers in French. French-speaking countries will be their first project for the term.PE & Health
All students will be in PE for Term 4. We will continue to work on enhancing fitness through physical activity, as well as build individual skills in sports such as volleyball, tennis, lacrosse and others.
Spring Wellness: Move More, Sit Less
Get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (e.g. at least 20 minutes a day or 30 minutes on 5 days) every week, plus muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days a week.
Life Skills
Visual Arts
Visual Arts Parker 6,7, 8 th Grades are creating illusions of space using animals and trees. The goal is to understand how to manipulate positive and negative space. This will increase their skills of visual perception.
Galla 8VA: Students are currently learning about Georgia O’Keeffe’s abstract style of painting. After researching the artist and her style, students will be completing two projects inspired by her art. The first drawing will be of a flower (Georgia’s source of inspiration came from the nature around her). The second drawing will be of something that inspires them personally. Chalk or oil pastels will be given to students in class to complete this assignment. Students have the option of picking up pastels from school (Please message Ms. Galla first so that it will be ready for pick up in the front office).
Music
All band students are recording music to be used in a virtual end of year performance. Students will be learning about Blues music and then composing their own songs.
Music Performance Lab students are beginning a unit on music in film. They will also be selecting songs that they would like to learn on piano or guitar throughout term 4.
Theatre Arts
Problem Solving-Pre-Engineering
CSI
News from our Instructional Specialists
Mrs. Lucas-Literacy Specialist
Mrs. Gemmill- Math Specialist
Mrs. Cole-Advanced Academics
Congratulations to 8th graders, Yannis Affo, Anna Ritterbusch, Alexandra Ramos, and Alexandra Camacho-Ayala for taking 12th place out of 512 other schools in the entire north region of Maryland in the Stock Market Game spring season competition. They were the top FCPS school in the rankings. Great job!
Please check out Issue #2 of THE PATRIOT PRESS - our school literary and artistic magazine created by TJMS students. You will find so much talent in this issue, and we hope you will enjoy all of it. So get cozy and read our stories, listen to podcasts, watch videos, solve some puzzles, check out the fashion lookbook, top ten lists, and more! Stay tuned for issue #3 which will be published in June.
News from our Media Specialist- Mrs. Ralston
TJMS Media Center Curbside Pickup will continue for the rest of the year
Directions:
Students will be notified through Schoology when their holds are available for pickup.
Library books will be placed by the front entrance for pick up on the dates/times indicated below.
The loan period for all library materials is three weeks.
Place returns the cart marked “Library Book Return” by the front entrance.
Ongoing Announcements
News From Our School Health Room
Frederick County Health Department / Frederick County Public Schools
If you have any health related concerns or questions, please reach out.
Student Service Learning
If your child has volunteered their time outside of the school day to a non-profit organization, they should complete the Record of Volunteer Hours (form) in order to have these hours officially recorded and work towards earning an award their 8th grade year (for 25 hours of service while in middle school). More information can be found here. You are welcome to turn in the forms to me at the end of this school year, or feel free to drop it off at the TJMS front office. If you have any questions, please contact Kerri Cole, TJMS service learning coordinator at kerri.cole@fcps.org