Illing Insider
February 23, 2021
Principal's Student Advisory Board Survey:
Last week Illing students were given the opportunity to complete a survey that was created to help us understand students' experiences this school year. Ask your student if they saw and completed the student survey during Crew last week, and if not have them take a moment to do so by clicking this link. We know this school year is totally different and unexpected. So, we want to hear from you to see how we can help and have a positive impact. Please do not hesitate to email cconstantino@mpspride.org with any questions.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
The IMS Principal's Student Advisory Board
Resources For Families:
Each week in February we will be sharing a variety of resources for families to use and learn from about Black history. This week features two collections of books from Illing's library which showcase Black authors and Black culture and history. One list is of fiction books and one is of non-fiction books. These are great resources for staff and students!
The lessons this week focus on activism. The PBS resource is an interactive lesson about activism during the Civil Rights Movement, the lesson from Common Sense Media is about how to be an activist, and the New York Times lesson covers student activism throughout history and today.
Our spotlight individual this week is emergency physician Rob Gore. He was named one of CNN's heroes a couple of years ago for his work in medicine, but mainly for founding Kings Against Violence. Lastly, there are some fun trivia "quizzes" from PBS where you can test your knowledge about black music, famous quotes, and the year 1963.
Click the button below to visit the page & access all of the resources. Enjoy!
Next week's resource includes The Undefeated 44. It is a book that can be viewed online that has short biographies of 44 of the most influential Black Americans in history. It is "a collection of dreamers and doers, noisy geniuses and quiet innovators, record-breakers and symbols of pride and aspiration" (Merida). Also, check out the beautiful portraits by Robert Ball that accompany the bios!
The lessons this week are about "The 1619 Project Curriculum" from the Pulitzer Center and New York Times Magazine.
Leslie Odom Jr., an American actor and singer, is the spotlight individual. You can read a news article, watch an interview with him, and take a look at his website.
Finally, there are two great museums to check out that showcase African art, African-American history, and culture. You can view online exhibitions, watch videos, and see the collections. There are even virtual events that you can register for and participate in online!
Please click the button below! These are fantastic resources for families to utilize!
IMS Oratory Contest
We are excited to report that roughly 60 students have reserved their spot to take part in Illing's 1st Annual Oratory Contest. This year’s topic “Black History is American History” offers students an opportunity to use their voice to explore themselves and their ability to impact this community.
These students will be researching, writing, and presenting an original 2-4 minute speech related to the topic "Black History is American History" that will be performed to compete in 2 rounds of judging, first on March 10th. The finalists will perform in the final round of judging March 17th. The judges will select 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners who will be awarded cash prizes of $300, $150 & $100 respectively. We are very excited to see all of the students performances! Stay tuned!
Attention Parents/Guardians of 7th Grade Female Students:
Scoliosis Screenings:
If you DO NOT wish for your child to participate in the scoliosis screening, please have your student return a signed copy of the letter below. You may click here to open and print the letter.
To Our EL Families:
LAS Links Assessment Schedule:
Week of February 22nd-26th
In case of snow, the test date will be the same day of the following week.
Monday and Tuesday during period 3 from 9:15 - 10:15am In-person testing in room 121A
5 students at the time.
Thursday and Friday during period 6 from 10:15 - 11:15am. Remote testing
5 students at the time. Parents of remote learners will be notified over the phone and/or via email.
Hybrid students are encouraged to bring their own earphones or headphones for the test as well as their Chromebooks. If a hybrid student does not have earphones, they will be provided with a brand new set to keep.
Semana del 22 al 26 de febrero
En caso de nieve, la fecha de la prueba será el mismo día de la semana siguiente.
Lunes y martes durante el período 3 de 9:15 a 10:15 am Prueba en persona en el salón 121A
5 estudiantes a la vez.
Jueves y viernes durante el período 6 de 10:15 a 11:15 am. Prueba remota
5 estudiantes a la vez. A los padres de estudiantes remotos se les notificará por teléfono y/o correo electrónico.
Se anima a los estudiantes híbridos a traer sus propios auriculares o audífonos para la prueba, así como sus Chromebooks. Si un estudiante híbrido no tiene auriculares, se le proporcionará un par nuevo para conservar.
Mrs. Acosta
TESOL teacher
DEPARTMENT NEWS
MLK Jr. "I Have a Dream" Speech Reflection
Students in ELA classes were given Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I have a dream speech" and the following assignment. After reading/watching the speech they were given the following instructions to show deeper understanding of the text in collaboration with their classmates.
Listen to the full speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. here.
Optional extension: You can watch children perform parts of his speech here. (It’s awesome!)
Optional extension: You can read it here.
As you listen, choose ONE of the following parts to focus on and add to the graphic organizer:
Two words you don’t know the meanings of
Two visually clear images (things you can picture in your mind)
Two emotionally beautiful phrases or images (phrases that warm your heart)
Two parts of the speech that you think are relevant (still true) to today’s society
Schoolwide Enrichment Model - Reading (Sem-R)
Read 180
Grade 7 Science
During the third week in February, students will complete an assessment to demonstrate all their new knowledge about the inner on goings of the Earth. Ask your scientist to explain how earthquakes occur, where we can find plate boundaries around the world, or how islands are created!
Below is a Convection Currents Diagram by Grace Golas on Team CCSU
8th Grade Science
This week, students have started to discover the causes of solar and lunar eclipses. When looking at the night sky and you see the moon, ask your student what phase the moon is in! Or, have your student explain the phenomenon of eclipses using household objects! If you saw the solar eclipse that was visible in Manchester a few years ago, tell you student about your experience in viewing that event.
NEWS FROM OUR TEAMS
It is third quarter already! URI students continue to navigate the challenges brought on by this pandemic and we are proud of their efforts. The team encourages both students, parents and guardians to regularly check home access to monitor student progress.
This quarter language arts classes started with the students engaging in a mentor text titled, “Don’ut Break Tradition.” Through this mentor text they began work with literary skills such as setting, mood, symbolism, and theme. Students then chose an independent text to continue their work on these skills. As a language arts department we wanted to build off of the social studies content and Middle East unit. Therefore, we chose stories that focused on Middle Eastern characters and the holiday of Eid. The culminating project for this unit will be a literary analysis, giving students the choice of how they want to present their work.
Check out some work samples from students in Mrs. Gabbai's language arts class below:
Math scholars on URI are currently in the middle of their Rational Numbers Unit. Students have learned the differences and similarities between rational and irrational numbers. They have also learned about integers and how they fit into the category of rational numbers. Additionally, they have practiced adding and subtracting rational numbers and will begin to work on multiplying and dividing rational numbers next week.
In Social Studies students are learning about the geographic features of Africa. Throughout the course of this unit, students will be writing DBQs (document based questions) and learning how to improve their analytical skills. The unit will culminate with a project on Africa.
Our young Scientists are learning about plate tectonics and evidence that supports their movement across the Earth's surface. Next week they will begin preparing for their unit assessment in Earth Science.
In SEM-r students are continuing their study of inference. This week they focused on Dystopian literature and what it says about our society while examining different literary devices that are used.
Ms. Ruberto’s Art classes on Team URI, have been discussing the importance of Black History and having conversations about celebrating people that have made an impact on our lives.
In doing so, students are to choose someone whom they think to be a positive influence in their lives, someone who they would like to highlight for their achievements, contribution to culture and society and that have meaning to their lives as well.
We are currently working on creating a contrasting piece that includes several techniques and processes such as watercolor painting, a stained glass portrait effect and written text that showcases the individual’s talents and importance.
Below are a couple examples of work in progress. Stay tuned for finished work!
Unfamiliar with The Children's March? Watch this video presented by Atlanta History Center:
Erin Ted Okaikoi
Maya Ruiz-Marentes
Alyssa Arroyo
Jasmine Prempeh
In their next lesson, students used water color to create winter birch tree scenes. They learned various watercolor techniques such as wet on wet, dry brush, salt wash and then learned how to add a cast shadow. The results were beautiful, see for yourself!
By Iana Kendrick
By Kylie Resto
By Davahr Smith
By Loriana Lawhorn
By Rachellys Vasquez-Galeano
A few reminders from the team:
1. Make sure to check out the Syracuse Newsletter that goes out every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday onto the Team Syracuse Google Classroom.
2. Keep an eye out for an email on Friday from the team teachers. This email will let you know which classes your student is missing 3 or more assignments in.
Team Syracuse Class updates:
Music Classes in Team Syracuse will be "entering into the studios" of Soundtrap!!! They are starting this week with creating a backbeat, but they will be progressing to writing their own tunes using technology for "looping" and "layering" audio tracks with also the ability to create their own as the quarter continues! (Stop by their "studio session," and listen in on one of their creations in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Mrs. Hilton who is happy to be with Team Syracuse for the third quarter! b21chilt@mpspride.org
ELA kids are currently in the middle of writing their Literary Essays on "All Summer in a Day." They have been working hard at analyzing the story to find figurative language that could help support the theme.
In Science students are learning how sunlight, gravity, the orbits of both the Earth and moon cause moon phases and tides.
In Math students are starting their third unit on Systems of Equations. This unit takes what they have learned in Unit 1 and 2 and brings it together. Check out Ms. Parr & Ms. Marsh's virtual classroom in the photo below!
From the Library/Media Department
The Library Media Center continues to support hybrid and remote students and families with Chromebook swap outs and troubleshooting any issues. Remote students should continue to use the IT Helpdesk to report issues and hybrid students will have issues taken care of while in school.
Still having issues?
Email infosys@mpspride.org OR
Call or Text 860-682-0607,
Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
For all other questions, email support@mpspride.org or call 860-647-5041,
Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Please refrain from calling individual schools.
Important Dates
Thurs Feb 25th - 7th Grade girls scoliosis screening
Fri Feb 26th - 7th Grade girls scoliosis screening
Free Meal Pickup for Students
- Bennet -- 11:00 a.m.- Noon
- Buckley, Waddell & MHS -- Noon -1 p.m.
- Bennet -- 3-4 p.m. (includes frozen items for next-day lunch)
Contact Us
Email: igomero@mpspride.org
Website: www.mpspride.org/illing
Location: 227 Middle Turnpike East, Manchester, CT, USA
Phone: (860) 647-3400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Illing-Middle-School/802258026499553
Twitter: @MPS_Illing