Maple Avenue Middle School
April 2018 Newsletter
Student of the Month: Aydan Fitzgerald
The Aviator Team would like to congratulate Aydan Fitzgerald as our Student of the Month. Aydan is the son of Travis and Jessica Fitzgerald. Aydan has a younger brother coming up the ranks in 5th grade who is Rowan Fitzgerald. Aydan transferred from Hanover School District where he received the Boni Snyder Award. Transferring into a new school is not easy but Aydan transitioned into the MAMS Family seamlessly. Aydan is a true “Aviator Citizen” due to his hard work, curiosity, genuine interest in learning, and working with others. Aydan has a positive attitude, and work effort in all of his classes. Aydan is a mature and driven student who takes on all challenges with great pride. He has been a recipient of our Aviator CAP (Citizenship, Attitude, Pride) this year. Besides being a hardworking academic student Aydan is active with the Middle School Chorus and Student Council. Outside of school Aydan plays the violin, likes to go to the theatre to see plays and musicals, and is an avid Harry Potter and Hunger Games fan. Aydan also spends time with his pets which are a Himalayan cat and Rottweiler dog. Aydan’s future is wide open but for now he is interested in becoming a teacher because he loves to help others succeed! Congratulations Aydan - Job Well Done!
Singin' in the Rain Jr.
The High School Experience- 8th Graders visit LHS!
Dates to Remember
April 5th - End of Marking Period 3
April 9th-13th - PSSA Grades 6-8 English Language Arts
April 16th-20th - PSSA Grades 6-8 Mathematics
April 23rd-27th - PSSA Grade 8 Science
April 30th-May 4th - PSSA Make-Up
Team Bolts: 6th Grade
Science-
In Mrs. Becker's and Mrs. Smith's Science class students are moving into the study of matter. They will find out the relationship among atoms, elements, and compounds and the differences between mixtures and solutions. They will learn about the structure of atoms. Students will also learn about the physical and chemical properties of matter. The vocabulary in this unit is new to students and should be reviewed on a daily basis along with the study guide that goes along with each lesson.
Core 1-
Mrs. Koontz and Miss Ambrose’s Core 1 math classes have recently started Unit 4: Geometry. Students are focusing on quadrilaterals and are investigating how to calculate the area of each shape. Students are working on determining the area of parallelograms, triangles, trapezoids, and composite shapes by using a variety of strategies. Once students have mastered these concepts, we will be applying our knowledge of area of 2-dimensional shapes to help us determine and calculate the surface area and volume of 3-dimensional figures.
Core 2-
Mrs. Koontz’ Core 2 math class is currently working through our Statistics & Probability unit. So far, students have collected and analyzed data to create multiple representations including histograms and box plots. Students then use their graphs to analyze the shape and spread of the data. We are currently making evidence based inferences about data, and learning the different measures of central tendency. Students will be designing surveys in order to collect representative data. This will allow them to draw conclusions about the larger population they are interested in. As we finish the statistics section of our unit, we will be transitioning to probability and will be examining games of chance.
ELA and Social Studies-
April is a busy month for ELA; students will be flexibly grouped according to individual learning needs. The 4th marking period will emphasize vocabulary skills, nonfiction, and literature. Every two weeks students will be regrouped, based upon their individual needs for each unit. It is our goal to ensure that students end the year strong! In Social Studies class, the students will travel to Brazil and Canada and explore their geography and culture. We will end the year with the geography of the United States.
Team Aviators: 7th Grade
Science-
What do vestigial and comparative anatomy structures have in common with biological evolution? Ask your student at home about the unit we just finished! Next up are the Human Body Systems. Students will be creating Apps on a fictitious ipad that will demonstrate knowledge of the systems’ functions, organ involvement, and common diseases associated with those organs. Lastly the students will pick one human body system to follow either a blood cell, oxygen molecule, or piece of food and its journey through that particular body system.
We will end Life Science with small activities with plant reproduction, biomes, and ecosystems.
ELA-
Our long and slow battle in the Trojan War continues as we work to finish our in class novel, Black Ships Before Troy. Students have been “battling it out” throughout the classroom to keep up with the drama between the Greeks, Trojans, and Gods. Students will select their final independent novel to finish the school year. Drama lies ahead as we dive into Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pies, for our final class novel.
History -
After the fall of Rome, missionaries continued to spread Christianity throughout Europe. Feudalism and castles are some Medieval concepts students will focus on. The Dark Ages were perhaps some of the most difficult times in history. However, those times reveal the perseverance and determination that was required to MAKE IT OUT ALIVE! Students will finish the month with mastery of the Renaissance and Reformation characteristics!
Math -
Students are finishing the marking period with our probability unit. We will be focusing on PSSA/MAP prep for the majority of April. We will revisit rational numbers, proportional relationships, expressions and equations, and probability through playing games, Khan Academy, and small group instruction. Students will begin their final unit, Geometry, after PSSA testing.
Team Lightning: 7th and 8th Grades
7th Grade Science:
Students are finishing up classifying organisms with plants. We are focusing on characteristics of plants that cause us to classify them differently. Once this section is wrapped up we will be moving into the ecology unit. While in the ecology unit we will be conducting many labs outside. This will allow us to apply the concepts we are learning in the same way a research professional would.
8th Grade Science:
Students are working on simple machines; levers, inclined planes, wheel and axle, pulley, screws, wedge. As we learn about these we are learning how to calculate the mechanical advantage of each machine and understand how the use of these machines makes our lives easier. Throughout this section we will be applying our understanding of simple machines to build mouse trap cars, and create a Rube Goldberg machine.
7th and 8th Grade Math:
Math classes have been busy preparing for PSSA and the time has come. Core 2 and 3 students will be finishing up some key Geometry concepts and reviewing other vital themes from previous chapters. We will be incorporating a variety of review packets, projects, stations, etc. to reinforce the students’ knowledge of this year’s material. Parents, watch for review materials to become part of their daily routine and encourage them to practice at home as time permits.
7th Grade English:
Mrs. Trout’s Class: We are finally to the climax of our year with the PSSA for ELA. The students are ready to show what they know and use all of the reading and writing strategies they have learned this year. Following the state assessment, we will conclude our poetry unit by writing poetry.
Mr. Peglow’s Class: To correlate with their history classes students will focus on the medieval era. Students will be reading and researching about King Arthur, The Knights of the Round Table, and comparing these legends with medieval reality to see if it was more fairy tale than fact.
8th Grade English:
Throughout the month of April students will continue reading the novel Fever and outside articles about the yellow fever, the time period (1793), and discussing whether or not we have done enough to prevent such a catastrophe again. Upon conclusion of this unit we will begin looking to the future and what can be done to prepare for entry into the workforce (creating resumes, filling out job applications, interviewing skills, etc.) . By the time we finish the careers unit, your son or daughter will be well prepared to start applying for those summer jobs. Nice!
7th Grade Ancient Civilizations
As the fourth quarter begins students will be focus on the turmoil of Europe’s medieval times. The Dark Ages are perhaps some the most troubling, yet interesting times in world history. Students will first set their sights on the early Middle Ages before entering into the later Middle Ages. The final hurdles students will encounter before the school year ends will be the Renaissance and Reformation.
8th Grade U.S. History
As the fourth quarter begins students will be focusing on the worst crisis in American history, the Civil War. Students will analyze the many battles of the Civil War including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Shiloh, and Gettysburg. Students will also examine the battle strategies of the Civil War generals from both the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy) including Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, George Meade, and Ulysses S. Grant. Students will also see one of our nation’s greatest Presidents in action, Abraham Lincoln.
Team Sky Pilots: 8th Grade
In English class this month students will finish Anthem and look to explore drama through class readings of The Diary of Anne Frank that supplement our reading of The Book Thief.
History classes will be studying the Civil War and Reconstruction. A field trip to Gettysburg is planned for May 21. Students will visit the Gettysburg battlefield for a virtual geocache. They will also go to the National Cemetery, makeshift hospital for the Care of the Wounded, or the Slyder Farm for a U.S. Park Service Ranger Program.
Science classes just finished Chemistry and are now venturing into Astronomy. Our first study will be the Solar System and then we will be traveling to deep space...Stars, Galaxies and the Universe. Please help your son or daughter prepare for the PSSA assessments. Encourage them to get a good night sleep and eat a healthy breakfast.
All Math students will complete the grade 8 PSSA math assessment the third week of April. Prior to the test all classes will participate in PSSA math review activities.
Core Connections 3. Students will begin working on a multimedia math project which demonstrates their knowledge of a selected math topics. Students will also use desmos to preview algebraic concepts for HS algebra. If time permits students will create a class song on a selected math topic.
Geometry classes will be assessed on unit 8 and begin chapter 9. Students will begin working on a multimedia math project which demonstrates their knowledge of a selected Geometry topics
A Message from the Nurse
Please remember that 6th graders are required to have a physical by May 15th if your child hasn't had one already. Also 7th graders are required to have a dental exam and if their child has not had one yet, we need it by May 15th.
Also if you have a child going into 7th grade next school year to be sure your child gets the MCV (meningitis vaccination) and TDAP (tetanus, diphtheria and Pertussis vaccine) before the start of next school year or students can be excluded from school next school year until they get the vaccinations and any days missed will be considered illegal absences. Parents please call you children's doctor's office to ask if they are updated with their vaccinations including the MCV and TDAP. And if they are in need of the vaccinations, please set up an appointment and get a copy of the vaccination record so I have proof of the vaccinations per state requirement.
Guidance Update from Mrs. Webb
This month I plan to go into classrooms and teach a lesson on career exploration with 8th graders. It is important for 8th grade students to start thinking about their goals beyond high school so that they can get themselves on the right path towards their goals during high school. It is never too soon to start thinking about career interests. Even those who are in 6th and 7th grade can begin career exploration. The following is a great resource for at-home and in-school career exploration: https://www.pacareerzone.org. I am here, as needed, to answer any and all college and career-related questions. Also, April marks the beginning of state testing time. There is a lot of stress and pressure that may arise because of testing, so please be reminded that I am here to help if need be. See below for some helpful test-taking tips:
Give your child three test-taking strategies that lead to success
Whether it’s a short quiz in math class or a high-stakes standardized test, testing is a fact of life for today’s students.
To help your child succeed on any test, encourage him to:
1. Read the directions carefully. This will keep him from making simple and avoidable mistakes. The directions could say, “Answer two of these four questions.” Or they could say that some multiple choice questions have more than one correct answer. On a math or science test, the directions will say whether your teen has to show his work. (Even if he gets the final answer wrong, perhaps he could get partial credit for showing his work.)
2. Use time wisely. Encourage your child to read through the entire test before answering any questions. Then, he should budget his time. If the essay question is worth 50 points, he will know how much time to allow. He’ll also know if he’s spending too much time on a single question.
Using time wisely also means using all the time available. Some students treat tests like a race— they want to be first across the finish line. Teach your middle schooler to use any extra time to check his work.
3. Answer the easy questions first. Getting off to a strong start can give your child the confidence he needs to tackle tougher questions. Answering the easier questions first may also remind your child of a fact or two he’ll need to answer the more difficult questions.
Reprinted with permission from the April 2018 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2018 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.