J.M.S. News...
FEBRUARY 2019
CLASS LISTING INFO
Parents have requested that they have access to a list of contact information for students on their child’s grade level. In response to that request, the Middle School PTSA and the Shared Decision-Making Team have worked collaboratively to create a class listing containing names, addresses, primary phone numbers and email addresses for your personal use. This list is posted on the Jericho Middle School website, is password protected, and is available to parents of students on the grade level only. The list is updated periodically to include new entrants and changes to contact information. To access the most recent list click on the list below: http://ms.jerichoschools.org/resources/parent_resources/student_class_listings/
If you are not currently on the class listing and would like your child’s contact information to be included on this list, click on the following link for the permission slip http://ms.jerichoschools.org/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=47829841.
Print, sign and return the form to Mr. Gleason’s office. You may also email the permission slip to jdemieri@jerichoschools.org. If you would like to remove yourself from this list at any time, you must contact Mr. Gleason’s office. Otherwise, this form will remain on file for grades six through eight and you will be included in each update of the list. If your contact information changes, please notify my office immediately at the number below.
Quotes for the Month of February:
February 4- ”There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.” – George Sand
February 11- “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
February 25- “Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do.” – David Wilkerson
SEL Theme for the Month of February: Love
Love
Learning to appreciate is one of the most important attitudes and habits that lead to success, fulfillment and a love for life. H. Stanley Judd said, “Don’t complain because you don’t have…enjoy what you’ve got.” Being thankful needs to become a way of life that demonstrates the highest expression of respect and love for oneself and others. Through these expressions of love, respect, and appreciation… “a man’s words will always express what has been treasured in his heart.” – Luke 6:45.
“. . . what lies beneath us and what lies ahead of us are insignificant compared to what lies within us.” For it is what lies within us that, ultimately, defines the course of direction awaiting our “walk” through life.
Classroom News!
TEAM 6A:
The students on Team 6A have been researching world religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism. As a result of their research, students created Google slide presentations. They shared these presentations with their classmates enabling all students to gain a thorough knowledge of each of the religions. Additionally, during their ELA class, the children wrote business letters to companies. Some of these letters were suggestions for new products, others were complaints, but many were compliments about products they absolutely love. We are anxiously awaiting responses! As Mathematicians they have learned how to find rates and percent’s and can now recognize the relationships between fractions, decimals and percent’s. These Scientists we made Gel worms from natural resources and turned them into a synthetic material. We learned how synthetic materials can affect and influence the world around them. We also came together for a Team 6A coffee hour to showcase our musical abilities and watched as classmates displayed their musical acumen!
Team 6B:
Team 6B historians celebrated various ancient Egyptian pharaohs throughout history! Our historians learned about the many achievements of these pharaohs and made these incredible posters. Groups were assigned a specific pharaoh and were presented the task of drawing and presenting everything their pharaoh accomplished. These four young historians are sporting their cartouche necklaces that they made with the fantastic Mr. Porinchak! A cartouche is a carved tablet that uses hieroglyphs to represent a message. Quickly our historians channeled their inner scribe to represent their names in hieroglyphs on these cartouche necklaces. Feel free to ask these scribes about their favorite pharoah or how they enjoyed making the cartouches!
Team 6C:
Team 6C is currently researching and learning about World Religions. Students are using Hyperdocs in Google Classroom to compare and contrast various religions. Students are excited for Diversity Day and have created posters and poetry as part of the Diversity Day activities. In ELA/Core students have selected books that are multicultural in nature to further learn about cultures and customs. We will be celebrating Black History Month with lessons on Martin Luther King Jr. and materials created by the Black History Student Forum moderated by Dr. Gately and Mr. Gleason.
Team 6D:
In 6th grade science we are wrapping up our matter unit and Team 6D has been busy exploring how synthetic materials are made from natural resources. We were so excited to create synthetic gel worms from calcium chloride and sodium alginate- limestone and kelp! We then explored a synthetic element of our choice to learn more about the impacts of these materials on our society. From plastic and Kevlar to antibiotics and artificial sweeteners- how do these synthetic materials impact our environment and quality of life?
Team 6E:
Team 6E is promoting Diversity as the upcoming Diversity Day approaches. Students are using their creative minds to enter posters into the poster contest and poems for the poetry contest. They are very excited to see the show on February 12th!
Team 7A:
This month, students on Team 7A modeled the double helix structure of DNA using different types of candy. The students used Twizzlers to represent the sugar phosphate backbone and different colored marshmallows to represent the nitrogen base pairs. The models were created in an inquiry based manner in which students had to discuss and plan how to use the different candies to create their DNA molecule.
Team 7B:
Jericho History Day took place on Friday, January 18th. Parents, students, and administrators had the opportunity to see our students' fruits of labor for this extensive national research competition. The theme this year is Triumph and Tragedy. Students will compete in 5 categories: documentaries, websites, performances, papers, and exhibits and those chosen will move on to the local competition at Hofstra University on March 31st. Congratulations to all of our students for doing their personal best!
Team 7C:
This was a busy, project-based month for 7C! Students completed their National History Day projects in social studies and Shark Tank presentations in ELA. For NHD, there were so many beautiful documentaries, poster boards, and websites that showcased students’ understanding of tragedies and triumphs throughout history. For ELA, kids created Powerpoints and pitched why their social justice organizations deserve $1 million dollars to create change in the world. Our kids are becoming such empathetic human beings and critical thinkers!
Up ahead in ELA, students will be writing editorials for the annual New York Times Editorial Competition. Editorials will be based on the social justice topics that kids have already expressed an interest in and will present research from a number of credible sources.
Team 8A:
Students on Team 8A proudly displayed their research projects at Jericho History Day. Parents and community members were invited as students showcased the various projects they created. Students were engaged in various stations that they rotated through to read papers, see some exhibits, websites, watch documentaries and historical performances. We are proud of the work of all the students!
Team 8B:
Team 8B students recently completed their National History Day projects. These projects were then showcased at the annual Jericho History Day Fair on January 18. The National History Day project allowed students to delve into a topic of their choice and conduct in-depth research. Students learned how to locate credible and trustworthy sources, determine whether those sources were primary or secondary, and cite them in MLA format through NoodleTools. Students then took the information and used it to support their theses. Lastly, students chose how they wanted to present their research - whether it was an exhibit board, performance, website, documentary, or research paper. The kids worked really hard and they have some incredible projects to show for it!
Team 8C:
8C ELA students have been studying William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Students are regularly on their feet acting out key scenes and exploring essential questions such as the role of parents in their children's happiness, why people might sometimes disguise their true selves, and the features of a successful relationship. Students are even working on creating their own essential questions about their latest independent reading book!
JMS National Geography Bee
Congratulations to our winner...Caleb Kao!
Dates to Remember...
February 1 - SEPTA Exec Mtg- District Conference Room- 9:30 AM
February 4- MS/HS Quarterly Grades Posted Online
February 5-Schools Closed
February 6- MS/HS POPS Concert- MS/HS Auditorium- 7:00PM
February 7- MS PTSA Exec Meeting- Faculty Cafeteria- 8:30AM
February 7- Joint MS PTSA & SEPTA Mtg- MS Library- 9:15AM
February 12- Middle School Diversity Day
February 12- MS Diversity Performance- MS/HS Auditorium-7:00PM
February 12- MS/HS Evening Guidance Hours 7:00PM-9:00PM
February 14- Olweus
February 15- MS Personal Best Day
February 15- MS Spirit Day & School Store Open
February 18 - February 22- Schools closed
February 26- MS/HS Evening Guidance Hours 7:00PM-9:00PM
Tips from the School Nurse
Happiness combats Disease and Disability
Scientific literature has detailed how negative emotions harm the body. Serious sustained stress or fear can alter biological systems in a way that, over time, adds up to “wear and tear” and, eventually, illness. Chronic anger and anxiety can disrupt cardiac function by changing the heart’s electrical stability, hastening atherosclerosis, and increasing systemic inflammation. Certainly, this is not the main cause for illness, however these chemical changes are believed to contribute to and exacerbate disease.
Happiness effects the hormones that regulate our bodies. Hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, endorphins and cortisol. These hormones can play different roles in our bodies and when influenced by happiness contribute to protecting our heart, digestive system and other important systems.
Doctors often advise people with autoimmune diseases, cancer and heart disease to reduce the stress in their lives, to meditate, and to practice yoga. However, it’s not enough to just reduce stress. Happiness and laughter are also tools to combat disease and disability.
“Laughter is the best medicine”
Laughter sets off a chain reaction throughout the body that promotes physical and psychological health. Laughter lowers your body’s hormone and cortisol levels. (Cortisol is a stressed-induced chemical that can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure and even belly fat). Laughter strengthens your immune system because it increases the production of antibodies in your saliva and in your bloodstream to ward off bacteria, viruses and parasites.
The next time you set out for your regular run or walk, instead of listening to music, why not listen to a comedy routine on your headphones?
Next months topic: Happiness lengthens our lives.
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Jericho Middle School
Email: dgately@jerichoschools.org
Website: jerichoschools.org
Location: 99 Old Cedar Swamp Road, Jericho, NY, United States
Phone: (516) 203-3600
Twitter: @JerichoMS
CLASS LISTING INFORMATION
Parents have requested that they have access to a list of contact information for students on their child’s grade level. In response to that request, the Middle School PTSA and the Shared Decision-Making Team have worked collaboratively to create a class listing containing names, addresses, primary phone numbers and email addresses for your personal use. This list is posted on the Jericho Middle School website, is password protected, and is available to parents of students on the grade level only. The list is updated periodically to include new entrants and changes to contact information. To access the most recent list click on the list below: http://ms.jerichoschools.org/resources/parent_resources/student_class_listings/
If you are not currently on the class listing and would like your child’s contact information to be included on this list, click on the following link for the permission sliphttp://ms.jerichoschools.org/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=47829841.
Print, sign and return the form to Mr. Gleason’s office. You may also email the permission slip to jdemieri@jerichoschools.org. If you would like to remove yourself from this list at any time, you must contact Mr. Gleason’s office. Otherwise, this form will remain on file for grades six through eight and you will be included in each update of the list. If your contact information changes, please notify my office immediately at the number below.