HMS Weekly Update #39
Volume 2: Friday, June 10th, 2022
Dear Hoboken Middle School Family,
Happy Friday, HMS! I hope everyone has had a good week. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns AMarra@hoboken.k12.nj.us.
Attention 8th Graders:
Please read the following letter for all 8th Grade Families: HMS Moving Up Ceremony 2022
- The HMS 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony will be on June 23rd, as per the district calendar. The ceremony will be on JFK Field at 2pm. Students may be picked up as early at 10am on the day of the ceremony. Students will be asked to arrive at the Hoboken High School Auditorium at 1:00pm.
- Caps and Gowns will be distributed on Monday June 20th.
- Yearbooks will be distributed during the week of June 20th. The specific date will be shared when we received the final delivery date.
- Hoboken High School Fall 2022 Sports Registration
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 PCR 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 Ms. Marra
Please take some time to read through the updates below to learn some more about this past week and upcoming events. Some highlights are:
- HMS Help Desk
- Juneteenth Day - No School Friday, June 17th
- Monday, June 20th - Thursday, June 23rd - Half Days
- HMS 2021/2022 District Calendar. The last day of school is June 23rd.
- HMS PTO Corner
- Hoboken Middle School Cheerleading Sign Up Information
- HMS YEARBOOKS ON SALE NOW! CLICK HERE
- Congratulations to the HMS May Students of the Month!
- HMS Passport to Learning Corner
- Dr. Baskinger's Curriculum Corner
- Partners in Prevention Grade 7
- Grade 8 Field Trip ~ Capturing Great Memories
- Grade 7 Field Trip Information ~ June 14th, 15th, 16th
- 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
- Parent Resources For Monitoring Cell Phones
IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
- Students should bring a full water bottle to school everyday. We have water hydration stations in the building on the 1st floor and 3rd floor so they can fill up their bottles.
- 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 weekend!
Fondly,
Ms. Marra
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 PTO Corner
Looking to the 2022-2023 school year, the HMS PTO is looking for new leaders. If you are interested in taking a part in helping to manage the PTO, please email hobokenmiddleschoolpto@gmail.com and we will be happy to discuss what is involved. We look forward to talking with you.
*Attention 8th Graders*
Hoboken High School Fall 2022 Sports Registration
Hello Eighth Grade Families,
The Hoboken High School Athletic Department is proud to announce that
we have opened up online registration for all Fall student-athletes. Please register ASAP. https://hhsredwings-ar.rschooltoday.com/viewmyaccount. This site can also be reached on our district website (www.hoboken.k12.nj.us) under "Athletics".
Also, your child needs a sports physical completed according to NJSIAA regulations. The link to the sports physical is below and, after completed by your child's physician/pediatrician, can either be uploaded to the online registration, or a hard copy can be submitted directly to our athletic clerk Angela Moret angela.moret@hoboken.k12.nj.us
Hoboken High School Physical Form
Please reach out if you have any questions.
Thanks and way to go Redwings!
Mr. Jack Baker
Athletic Director, Hoboken High School
Hoboken Middle School Cheerleading Sign Up
Please use the Google Form linked below to sign up for the Hoboken Middle School Cheerleading Team. Sign ups are open until July 1st, 2022
First Practice is Thursday, July 7, 2022. Location and time to be announced at a later date.
Practice will be held every Tuesday and Thursday.
If you have any questions, please contact Coach Munoz at the Hoboken Middle School Main Office or Call 201-356-3754.
Hoboken Middle School Cheerleading Sign Up Google Form (Due July 1st)
HMS YEARBOOKS ON SALE NOW!
Order yours today! You don't want to miss this, it's a great opportunity to save memories from the school year and collect autographs from your friends and teachers. Order your Hoboken Middle School Yearbooks for $20 by clicking this link to place your online order.
Congratulations to the HMS May Students of the Month!
Metztli E. Villanueva ~ Grade 6
Gage Angley ~ 7th Grade & Overall
Sihana Alaj ~ Grade 8
Hoboken Middle School Passport to Learning Corner
Rock Climbing
It’s the week we’ve all been waiting for at the Gravity Vault! This week students got to participate in the crate climbing challenge. In this challenge, students are secured on a top rope and have to climb milk crates, adding one crate at a time as they climb. The record was 18 crates, climbed by Addison Rumph.
On Wednesday, the instructors had a pizza party planned for us, and we ended the year with some bouldering, slacklining, the rock climbing version of tug-of-war (played with a bouldering hold), and real tug-of-war!
It has been such a pleasure watching students climb this year; they have all met and surpassed so many goals. They should be very proud!
Please see some photo highlights below, and have a wonderful summer!
Archery
In our last visits to Jersey City Archery this week, we got to shoot some arrows and throw some knives like we always do, but we also had the chance to reflect on what we've accomplished since starting our journey! From holding a bow for the very first time and not even close to hitting the target, to four out of five darts on the bullseye almost EVERY time, we all have come a long way! We discovered which bows are our favorite to shoot, if we like paper targets or silhouette targets better and the right way to not only hold and throw those pesky knives, but to get them to actually stick on the board consistently! Though the path was a long and tedious one, we definitely went in every week with a great attitude and gave it our best shot! Yes we are sad that it is over but we have really enjoyed and benefited from our time at Jersey City Archery!
Chef It Up
This week at Chef It Up, we got to make some pigs in a blanket and a graduation cake! Our chefs were so pleased with the pigs in a blanket, that they decided to make them twice! Now that the semester is over, it's nice to look back and see how far we have come as chefs and the dishes that we enjoyed making the most! I can honestly say that our students looked forward to this class week in and week out! I also cannot decide if they were more excited to cook everything or to eat it! While some meals might not have been our favorite, we discovered some new things that we absolutely loved and got to master the things that we already liked! While we will miss cake decorating and egg whisking, salad mixing and empanada stuffing, we are grateful that we now have the skills to go on and make these on our own time without having any doubt in ourselves and the confidence to handle the HEAT in the kitchen!
Sketching & Cartooning
To celebrate our final class and our achievements in Passport to Learning, students enjoyed a pizza party while they worked on their final projects. Many worked hard to finish as much as they could of their 18 x 24 inch drawings - an ambitious undertaking for those who are used to working quite small. I will miss this talented and quirky group of students - and sincerely hope they will be joining me again next year in another visual arts Passport to Learning course!
Passport Chorus
This week in Passport Chorus, we continued to build on our success at the Six Flags Competition over the weekend. As a chorus, we received an "Excellent" rating and received a second place trophy! During the week, we put the final touches on our songs and performed Wednesday at the concert. Everyone did a phenomenal job and the future of the chorus at HMS and the high school looks bright!
Passport Band
Dr. Baskinger's Curriculum Corner
End of the School Year Tips - Keeping Students in the “Academic Game”
As we near the end of the school year, this can be a very exciting time for students, but it can also be a very frustrating time. With the weather getting nice, and students getting antsy for outings with friends and family, it can be difficult to keep students’ heads in the “academic game”. These last few weeks before the start of Summer Vacation can feel like a marathon, attempting to keep kids focused on learning, assessments, and expectations, without checking out and drifting into summer mode. There are great ways to “check-in” with your child during the next few weeks to ensure academic success.
Ask Questions. Even though it is June, students at HMS are still learning new concepts and practicing new skills. Ask about these end of year topics to show interest and importance in the last few weeks of school.
Maintain a Routine. With the warmer weather finally here and more opportunities for outdoor activities, it is still important to maintain the routine set back in September. A routine such as completing homework before outdoor play and heading to bed at the same time each night regardless of how dark it is, is a great way to maintain routine all school year long.
Be Reflective. Every school year is a unique and distinct experience. As the school year is wrapping up, make the next few weeks a reflective time for your child by journaling about what they learned and hope to do the following year.
Grade 8 Field Trip Information ~ Capturing Great Memories
On Tuesday, June 7th, 2022, our 8th graders attended the New York Botanical Garden located in the Bronx. Students trailed through the Native Plants Garden, the Rock Garden, and were able to view a variety of plants in the famous Conservatory. Hoboken Middle School grade 8 students had a wonderful and memorable experience. The teachers and chaperones were able to ensure the field trip was fun, safe, and educational. Grade 8 students thoroughly enjoyed their time discovering, snapping pictures of unique wildlife, and spending quality time with their peers.
Students were mesmerized by the unique wildlife within the Native Plants Garden. From frogs, to rare plant life, to colorful butterflies, eighth graders were intrigued by the provided information and truly understood the importance of conserving the environment. From there, teachers and chaperones trekked to the Rock Garden where succulents lined the paths, waterfalls trailed down hills, and a turtle even made an appearance!
Throughout the day, students asked interesting questions and were able to capture moments on camera while discovering new environments. From there, groups had the opportunity to wander through the Conservatory, a stunning building filled with orchids, Bird of Paradise, and the rare Corpse Flower which blooms every 7-10 years producing a not so pleasant scent! All in all, Grade 8 students and teachers had a fantastic time at the New York Botanical Garden. Please enjoy some captured moments below.
Grade 8 students and teachers would like to thank the Hoboken Public Education Foundation for this once in a lifetime opportunity. Students and staff had a fantastic time discovering nature while continuing their HMS Tiger bond!
Grade 7 Field Trip Information ~ June 14th, June 15th, June 16th (see details below)
On Tuesday, June 14th, Wednesday, June 15th, and Thursday June 16th, Grade 7 students will be attending their grade level Field Trip to the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center. This hands-on experience will give students an opportunity to be outdoors learning about the environment. Please read field trip details below. If you have any questions regarding the Grade 7 Field Trip, please contact Dr. Baskinger via email. (robin.baskinger@hoboken.k12.nj.us)
Where: Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center
When: Tuesday, June 14th OR Wednesday, June 15th OR Thursday, June 16th (Due to staffing and accommodating large groups at Great Swamp, Grade 7 will be split into smaller groups.)
Permission Forms: Great Swamp Form Tuesday, June 14th; Great Swamp Form Wednesday, June 15th; Great Swamp Form Thursday, June 16th (Please note students were informed on June 3rd which day they will be attending. The appropriate form was sent home with students. Please choose the correct form based on your child's attending date. If you have questions about which date, please contact Dr. Baskinger.)
Departure Time: 8:30am
**Students attending must arrive to school on time in order to join the field trip. Students who arrive after bus departure will not be able to attend the trip leaving at the later departure date.**
Lunch Information: Chartwells will provide bagged lunches for students. Lunch will be “picnic style” as there are no indoor eating facilities.
Important Tips for the Day of Your Field Trip:
- There is no fee for this field trip.
- Masks are optional
- Dressing Attire: Comfortable sneakers are best.
- Weather appropriate clothing (rain or shine).
- There is no gift shop.
Please refer to this link for Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center
Information Regarding Parents/Guardians Attending the Field Trip:
Parents/guardians not considered as pre-approved bus chaperones, are allowed to attend the field trip; however, please keep the following in mind:
They must meet students at the destination (They can follow the bus but from their own vehicle). Only school-based chaperones are able to join the students on the bus. All other parent/guardian chaperones must follow the bus to the destination in their own vehicle.
They must cover all costs of the trip.
They must stay with their assigned group and are not permitted to take their child off on their own.
Clubs and Activities Corner
Academic Team
This week, we hosted our last Academic Team meeting of the 2021/2022 school year. Throughout the year, the Academic Team attended weekly meetings and participated in different competitions for a variety of subjects and topics. During our final meeting, we recognized students for their hard work. Each student received a certificate for their personal best competition. The competitions are extremely challenging, and we wanted to recognize the unique strengths of each student. We also handed out the following awards: Best Attendance and Highest Scorer. Yuval Segall and India Magaletta tied for best attendance. Harrison Green and Amelie Cademartori tied for Top Scorers.
We are excited to announce that our 6th and 7th grade teams have placed nationally in several competitions, and 6th-grader Harrison Green scored first place nationally in the National Geography Challenge and the National Social Studies League competition. Congratulations to our 8th graders, Grayson, Leo, and Adrian, who will be graduating this year. Have a great rest of the school year and summer!
HMS Student Council Club
This week, the 8th graders had their dance at Hoboken High School! We had a great time. View photos of our Masquerade Dance linked here. Additionally, we celebrated Pride Month by wearing rainbow clothing today. View photos of our collaborative Spirit Day in GSA’s section of the newsletter.
National Junior Honor Society at Hoboken Middle School
New Member Induction Ceremony Information - Wednesday, June 15th at Hoboken Middle School, Auditorium
On Wednesday, June 15th, new National Junior Honor Society members will be inducted into the Pulchra Varietate Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society at Hoboken Middle School. This is quite an honor and beautiful tradition! Below are important details about the in-person ceremony which is mandatory to attend. Please read all the information below and reach out to Dr. Baskinger if you have any questions. We look forward to celebrating with you on Wednesday!
Event: The National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Date: Wednesday, June 15th, 2022
Time: 5:00pm (Doors open at 4:50pm)
Location: Hoboken Middle School Auditorium (Please enter through the Fourth Street entrance.)
Inductee Attire: Inductees should dress nicely. (dress pants, khakis, dress, etc.)
Attendees: Parents are welcome!
*Inductees should arrive by 4:45pm in order to set up and review ceremony details.
*If you haven't done so already, please turn in your New Membership Form.
NJHS Community Outreach Initiative
Current NJHS members are gearing up for the upcoming NJHS Induction Ceremony in mid June. With ceremony items in place, the Induction Ceremony at HMS continues to be an end of the year HMS tradition! NJHS members have started working on yet another Community Outreach Initiative by working with the HPEF to create personalized "thank you" letters to local businesses and programs that have made donations to the Hoboken Public School District making it possible for HPS students to experience hands on learning opportunities. NJHS members anticipate sending out 50 thank you notes to those who have made these amazing contributions.
Newsletter Activity Club
There is no meeting on Monday, June 13th. Please continue to work on MP 4 Assignment.
Select at least one topic from the MP 4: How To Be Academically Motivated During Summer Google Doc.
Use these topics and research provided to write how each of these topics encourage students to remain academically motivated in the summer.
Write directly on the MP 4: How To Be Academically Motivated During Summer Google Doc.
Best Buddies / Diversity Club
Best Buddies Friendship Walk was wonderful. The event was held at JFK Stadium on Wednesday, June 8th from 12:30pm-3:00pm. The purpose of the walk is to bring awareness to the social, physical and economic isolation people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) experience and to work towards ending it.
Walkers received Best Buddies Friendship Walk 2022 t-shirts, noise makers and sunglasses. Participants walked 4 laps around the track, earning the generous donations made by friends, family, district staff and community members. The Hoboken HS and MS Best Buddies Chapters raised $2900.00. A highlight of the event was Amanda Bananas Food Truck where everyone was treated with a healthy alternative to ice cream. It was refreshing, delicious, dairy & gluten free, and vegan! Thank you @amandabananasnj for supporting Best Buddies.
In total, Best Buddies NJ raised over $90,000.00 in the Friendship Walk fundraiser. These proceeds go towards building friendships between people with and without IDD, offering social mentoring while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion; securing jobs for people with IDD, allowing them to earn an income, pay taxes, and support themselves as self sufficient adults; educating and empowering people with and without IDD to be leaders, public speakers and advocates; and providing a vibrant, integrated living opportunity for people with and without IDD.
As the advisors of the HMS Best Buddies Chapter, we want to say how proud we are to be part of this organization and are so thankful to be working with the most compassionate, kind, funny and smart group of students- Ms. Episcopo, Ms. Beriloff, and Ms. Murphy
Yearbook Club
As the Yearbook meetings have come to an end this year, Ms. Gradzki would like to thank all the members for their hard work and extra long hours to complete the Yearbook this Spring. It was a lot of fun and a lot of work, and she is so proud of all the members that devoted their time. To thank everyone, during Tuesday's meeting, club members celebrated with an ice cream party. We took one last look at our accomplishments this year and set a plan for the Fall.
GSA Club
This week, the GSA prepared for our Pride Spirit Day by hanging posters around the school to advertise the spirit day to students. On Friday, students came to school dressed up in rainbow and bright colors. It was such a fun way to celebrate Pride Month! Please see the slideshow attached for some photo highlights!
Ms. Falcone's Guidance Counselor Corner
In an effort to continue to foster community among our incoming 6th grade class, HMS hosted a field day at the Hoboken High School! Organized by the HMS Physical Education Department, students participated in three sports that they will be playing at HMS: Kickball, Volleyball, and Handball. This day was also a great opportunity for our 5th grade students to meet our Physical Education teachers, Mr. DeMaio, Mr. Gazerwitz, and Ms. Rotondi.
A huge shout out goes to our HMS Buddies as well! I am so proud of their dedication and enthusiasm throughout all four orientation days. Please take a moment to check out a special edition of our newsletter that highlighted all the visits to HMS.
Marking Period 4 Report Cards will be available to view on Genesis on June 23, 2022. If you would like to schedule a Google Meet with your child's teacher(s) before the last day of school, please email me directly: sfalcone@hoboken.k12.nj.us.
Save the Date: Our final Student Development Day will take place on June 21, 2022
Move This World
The Move this World Platform would like to share their Summer Series Flyer. Move this World has put together a 5 week series to support our students' Social Emotional Learning throughout the summer. Please take a look at the flyer below on how to access these exercises. If you have any questions about the Move this World Summer Series, you may reach out to Ms. Falcone: sfalcone@hoboken.k12.nj.us.
HMS Nurse's Corner
It’s the beginning of June, and summer 2022 is almost in full swing! Since Covid and the beginning of the pandemic started in March 2020, this will be the first “normal” summer in two years for many people. Summer is a great time to take care of your health and emotional wellness. Helping our children have healthy bodies and minds is more important than ever. The most obvious health tip for the summer is to get out in the sun! Sunlight helps your body produce vitamin D, lower your blood pressure, strengthen your bones, and boost your mental health. Staying hydrated is another important part of summer health and wellness, especially when you’re out in the heat for long periods of time. If you’re playing outdoor sports be sure to bring a water bottle with you to help prevent heat exhaustion.
Parents can support their children’s physical and emotional well-being by giving them opportunities to:
- Handle stress well through physical activity and healthy thinking.
- Relate to others by encouraging social interactions and emotional awareness.
- Make healthy choices about how they eat and play.
You can help your kids prepare mentally, physically, and emotionally for the upcoming school year with healthy and fun summer activities. Hoping everyone has a great, relaxing summer!
End of Year Reminder
Summer is almost here and the school year is coming to an end! With the end of the school year approaching, I would advise that all parents who have students with medications being kept in the nurse’s office to please contact me to pick them up the last day of school no later than 12:00 pm. If medications are not picked up the last day of school they will be disposed.
Please feel free to reach out to me should you have any questions or concerns. I can be reached at 201-356-3744 or nkirwin@hoboken.k12.nj.us
Effective School Solutions Corner
With the recent rise in violence taking place within the school setting, youth need reassurance and guidance about how to manage and process feelings and questions that can arise for them. As parents, it is crucial to establish an open line of communication with your child. The attached article includes strategies on not only how to address the issue of violent acts but also how to help youth feel safe and secure. Some strategies include making time to talk, limiting their exposure to events (ex. television, social media, etc.) and reviewing safety procedures. See below for other important resources to support youth and families.
Article: Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
Article: Protecting Youth Mental Health- U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory
HMS World Language Corner
Spanish
This week in Spanish class, students discussed sports in the United States and in the Spanish speaking countries. Students participated in a variety of skill building activities, such as interpersonal mode, Interpretive mode, and presentational mode activities.
Students worked on a small project about popular sports in the US versus popular sports in Spanish speaking countries. Students discovered that there are many unique and unusual sports in the Spanish speaking countries that are not played here in the US. Some examples of traditional sports in Spain are, bull fighting, wood chopping, stone lifting, picota, plowshare throw, Caliche murciano and handball. Below is a picture of grade 7 students working on their sports project. ¡Hasta luego!
Mandarin
This week in Chinese class, we have addressed the Chinese characters and students have learned two methods to recognize the Chinese characters from previous units. The first method is that students relate the Characters directly to the picture and shape the item to help students relate the meaning to the characters. The second method is that students use radicals, which indicates the general meaning of Characters, to identify the meaning of the characters. By learning the methods of recognition of characters, students develop a deeper understanding of how this ancient unique language has been created, its history, and even Chinese philosophy contained in some characters: for example, ideas about protecting oneself, respecting other people, and the notion that everyone in the world should be considered equal no matter their background.
French
Grade & Content Level ~ What Have We Been Learning?
6th Grade ELA
This week, our readers and writers continued to develop their argumentative essay ideas by completing research. We reviewed the necessity of jotting down our own ideas and opinions of our debatable topic and finding supporting evidence via credible sources to strengthen our arguments. Students also explored ways in which research can shift their own thinking and revised their thesis statements as needed. We ended the week by analyzing some techniques our mentor authors used in their introductions such as including interesting and/or unusual facts and strong quotes. Next week, students will finalize their essays.
6th Grade Mathematics
This week our 6th grade mathematicians continued to work on the PLTW portion of our mathematics course, “Green Architecture.” Student’s worked on the “Design Process” and created charts to display shapes, lines, materials, and so on. By mid-week they worked on creating their ideal bedrooms to scale. First, they were tasked with creating a computer version of their bedroom floorplan, to include their standard items ( bed, dressers, night stand and so on ) and their measurements. Once done, they had to now transfer those items and use graph paper to equal the exact measurements and items to fit in their room. Using the six elements of design, the students are doing a beautiful job with their ideal bedroom floor plans. They will then move on to draw them to scale on graph paper. Can’t wait to see their designs!
6th Grade Social Studies
This week in Social Studies our little historians tested their knowledge of the Civil War by completing a quiz. The quiz consisted of comprehension questions taken from previous lessons, including assignments on the causes and effects of the Civil War, specific battles and leaders during the war, and the differences between the Northern and Southern economies. This week our class also celebrated Pride Month by completing posters highlighting prominent people in the LGBTQ community, students then are to complete a biography essay about their chosen LGBTQ figure. Lastly, students finished off the week by delving into the world of current events. Here students analyzed important news events from the week.
6th Grade Science
This week in science, students demonstrated their knowledge on atoms and elements by taking a quiz. We moved on to the chemistry of the human body by researching different body systems. Students were responsible to research one body system and include its function, importance, connections to other body systems, common diseases and how to keep the body system healthy! They had the option to pick how to present their findings either on a google slide presentation or visuals. Next week they will present their findings just like scientists do!
7th Grade ELA
7th Grade Mathematics
7th Grade Social Studies
This week in social studies, students took part in the Partners in Prevention lessons where they learned about how targeted advertising (especially commercials and social media) along with peer pressure can influence positive or negative behaviors among teens. One topic we discussed was the effects of drugs and alcohol on the body, especially the brain and its development. In the pictures below, students were able to experience alcohol and marijuana impairment through special goggles. Students also submitted their final projects for Each one, Teach one. Next week, we'll have our trip to the Great Swamp Outdoor Education center and students will share their presentations.
7th Grade Science
8th Grade ELA
This week in ELA, students continued reading Night by Elie Wiesel. Students demonstrated their comprehension and close reading skills by completing questions after reading each chapter. Additionally, students reflected on the story by discussing how they felt about the difficult events that took place in Wiesel’s life. Students also continued to learn new vocabulary words through Vocabulary.com as well as Frayer Model activities. Next week, we will finish reading Night and take an assessment on Wednesday.
8th Grade Mathematics
Pre-Algebra I
This week in Pre-Algebra, students continued to explore the surface area of 3D shapes such as cubes, rectangular prisms, cones, and cylinders. Students used the nets they created last week to assist with calculating the surface area for these shapes. Next week, students will have their last assessment of MP4 to demonstrate their understanding of calculating the surface area of these shapes and their applications in the real world.
Pre-AP Algebra
This week in Pre-AP Algebra, we took a deeper look into writing equations for projectiles in motion and considered exponential relationships in comparison to linear and quadratic ones by looking at the different growth patterns for each. In addition students put together a study guide for their final exam by reviewing notes from all of our topics. Students can use this study guide on the exam next week and creating it is a perfect way for students to make sure that they can restate each concept in their own words. The exam will be given in two parts on 6/14 and 6/16 next week.
8th Grade Social Studies
This week in Social Studies, we learned about the Cold War, the major ideologies and the early events in this time period. First, students analyzed the alliances in this war to better understand the two sides of the conflict. Then, we moved into the major ideologies, comparing capitalism vs. communism, and totalitarianism vs. democracy. Using these key ideas students were able to analyze the two powers more effectively. Finally, the students analyzed the arms race, first looking at the destructive power of nuclear bombs, then analyzing the stockpiles built by the US and USSR.
8th Grade Pre-AP World History
This week in Pre-AP World History, we analyzed the beginnings of Christianity in Rome, and the Fall of Rome. Students first read several accounts of people who were involved in the killing of Jesus. Using these primary and secondary sources, students were able to assign blame to who killed Jesus. Then, we transition into the Fall of Rome. As there are many factors for the fall of Rome, students read several primary and secondary sources to create a picture of why the Western half of the Roman Empire fell.
8th Grade Science
This week in science, students reviewed chemical reactions and the chemical reactions that occur in the human body. Specifically, students learned about the chemical reactions that take place in our digestive and respiratory systems. Students then created Instagram posts that depicted chemical reactions such as bananas changing color, fireworks, and a candle burning. At the end of the week, students learned about water and the human body and the functions of water through an interactive google slides presentation.
Fine and Performing Arts Corner
Pre-AP Dance
This week students finished their performance and reflection of the final dance project this marking period. Featured this week are some 7th grade students who excelled at abstracting the meaning of "What Happened In The Ice Storm" by Jim Heynen. Vivian and Avery acted as the children that go out to save the pheasant, Gabe, from the harsh winter storm. Round of applause to everyone for their wonderful work.
Pre-AP Theater
Pre-AP Music
HMS Strings
Ms. Monblatt's HMS String students had a fantastic week! In Pre-AP Music, students are continuing to work on their final project! Students are writing their own two-part compositions using the music composition software program, Noteflight. Students are creating their own melodic and harmonic ideas after studying the concept of programmatic content and how it can be a source of stories, images, events, holidays, celebrations, poems, or any other kind of inspiration. After collaborating to make choices in the way a musical work is performed for a particular expressive purpose, students now shift to work towards creating a short original composition that relates to a specific programmatic idea of their choice! String students performed “Friday I’m In Love”, “Shut Up and Dance”, and “Ashokan Farewell" at Wednesday evening's Spring Concert at HHS and their hard work was on full display! Students performed with excellent intonation, phrasing, and technique, producing their best concert yet! Bravo to all of these incredible students for a truly phenomenal performance!
Please enjoy the Strings Performance at the 2022 Spring Concert to relive this wonderful experience!
*Twitter: Violin Ensemble at Hoboken Public School District Middle/High School Spring Concert #herewecomehoboken
Pre-AP Visual Arts
This week in Pre-AP Visual Art, students learned about the impact of World War 1 on the cultural landscape of Europe by studying the unusual but highly influential "Dada" artists. Dada was a movement in arts and literature that began in Switzerland during the first world war, spread throughout Europe and across the pond to New York City, and ended around the mid-twenties. Nevertheless, Dada's flair for the absurd, humorous, and chaotic had a butterfly effect on art movements of the 20th century such as Surrealism, Pop, and conceptual art. After studying the historical background of Dada - students had the opportunity to experiment with a medium that the Dadaists helped to develop - Collage and Photomontage! Here are some process shots of our class beginning their collage projects.
Health & Fitness Education
Physical Education
This week students explored the advantages and disadvantages to both indoor and outdoor basketball. Featured is our indoor session of basketball, students experienced what it was like to play in our indoor space.
HMS Health
The 6th grade health classes have continued their study on personal health care this week. The 7th graders have discussed alcohol and the effects that alcohol has when consumed. The 8th grade health classes have discussed communicable diseases such as the common cold which is important to know how to look for signs and symptoms.