Maple Avenue Middle School
Newsletter: September 2019
Student of the Month: Brooklyn Pyren
We chose Brooklyn to represent our team because of her perpetual positive attitude and dedication to excellence. She is a leader in the classroom, always setting an example of focus and curiosity. She goes out of her way to help others and make them feel included.
This year, Brooklyn is running for Student Council President, hopeful that her fellow students will give her a chance to grow her leadership skills. Brooklyn has been a musician in the school band for four years and is currently in the marching band as well. She has been active in Girl Scouts for 8 years and has been involved with the Boy Scouts for one. Outside of school, Brooklyn enjoys riding horses, reading, making candles, cooking, acting and listening to music. Brooklyn is not sure which passion she will pursue as a career but we are confident that she will be successful in whatever she puts her mind to!
Introducing Mr. Gnall
School Goals: Maple Avenue's Flight Plan
PAC: Parent Advisory Council
Contact Kenleigh Turner (kenleigh.turner@yahoo.com) or Jen Buckmaster (Jrbuck12345@gmail.com)
6th Grade: Team Bolts
MATH
Math 6-Mrs. Negley’s/Koontz’s and Mrs. Raubenstine’s Math 6 classes have had a busy start to the school year. Students have been hard at work discovering various ways to find area of different geometric figures. Using hands-on discovery learning, students are working together and discussing their findings. A reminder that there is a daily homework assignment for students to practice what we learned in class that day. Students are to be completing, checking, and grading their own work each day. Although there is normally time to get this completed in ACE, it is always helpful to have students share what they are doing at home. Finally, if students are absent or just need a refresher for the day, there is a link to each day’s work in Schoology.
Math - Mrs. Negley’s/Koontz’s Math 7 class has been working with scaled copies and drawings to kick off the school year. Students have been learning about scale factor and will be making scaled drawings and finding distances using a scale on a map. A reminder that there is a daily homework assignment for students to go over what we learned in class that day. Students should complete, check, and grade their work each day and make sure that is complete before turning it in at the end of the week. There is normally time to get this completed in ACE, but it is always helpful to have students share what they are doing at home. If students are absent or need a refresher for the day, there is a link to each day’s work in Schoology and they have a folder with lesson summaries that they should be looking through on a regular basis.
ELA/GEOGRAPHY
Mrs. Crouthamel’s English Language Arts classes are currently reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio. We are reviewing and improving skills in characterization, conflict, foreshadowing, theme and plot. In Geography, we are examining how and why geographers look at the world. Through station rotations we are learning how geographers use maps to answer questions and solve problems. Shortly, we will be moving in to Chapter 2: The U.S. and Canada. Our textbook is online (www.discoveryeducation.com).
Ms. Willet- Ms. Willet’s ELA and SS classes are practicing and learning how to improve RACE and TDA writing skills. In ELA students will begin the Study Sync program and address literature standards while reading the novel Wonder later this month. “What does it mean to think like a geographer? How do geographers look at the World? How do geographers use maps to answer questions and solve problems?” are questions that the students are currently exploring in geography. Our next chapter will focus on the United States and Canada.
Mr. Baumgardner- Mr. Baumgardner’s ELA classes are off to a fantastic start. The morning class is currently working through the novel Wringer by Jerry Spinelli and are focusing on certain reading and writing skills throughout the novel. The afternoon class is reading the novel Wonder by R.J. Palacio and are learning how to analyze and write about precepts and also learning to have appropriate discussions with classmates. In Geography class, we are just finishing up with Chapter 1: Visualizing the World and are moving in to Chapter 2: The U.S. and Canada. Since our textbook is online (www.discoveryeducation.com), the students are able to access it from home via their Chromebooks.
SCIENCE
Sixth Grade science is off to a great start! This year Mrs. Becker's and Mr. Urey's classes will be using the Integrated Science program. Students will have access to the book on-line. They have been given their username and password to get into the sight. The site can be found at: https://my.mheducation.com/login. They can also access the site through their Schoology site. Throughout the year, students will be immersed in lessons focusing on exploring our Earth, exploring life, understanding matter, and understanding energy. We will also be incorporating the nature of science throughout all units. In both classes, students will be working with interactive notebooks which will contain information to help them prepare for tests and quizzes. These notebooks should be brought to class each day. Our students are eager to learn, so we are looking forward to a fantastic year in science!
7th Grade: Team Aviators
The Aviators are flying high and off to a great start. The beginning of school will be fun and challenging for 7th graders. We have sorted the students into “Houses” so that students can work with each other academically and help each other with our teams behavioral expectations. Throughout the week points will be awarded and taken away from the homebase/house to see who can achieve the most house points and rewards!
Math
In math class we are focusing on rational numbers in our first unit. Students are reviewing concepts from last year and learning new math skills. By the end of the unit students will be able to convert rational numbers from fraction to decimal to percent. They understand the order of operations and also be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide integers and fractions.
Be sure to check out the homework help website if your student is ever having some trouble with a math homework problem. This website is a great resource that breaks down the problems and guides the students as they work to find the answer. https://homework.cpm.org/cpm-homework/homework/category/CC/textbook/CC2
Science
What a great start of the beginning of the year! For our first Pre Unit students are doing lots of hands on learning with the Tools of Science. We are exploring: tools for protections (Lab Safety); tools for exploring and discovery (microscopes/hand lens;, tools for measuring (lab equipment); and tools for recording (scientific method). The Digital Interactive Book Mcgraw Hill Series won’t be used until this Pre Unit is over. We will then launch into Unit 10 - Chemistry to start with our Science Content. More to come in next month’s newsletter. Students will be using Schoology for the platform to find work and assignments in science. Links to the digital book will be linked in Schoology. Students and parents will be able to also use the web site address to also access our science book when logins and passwords will be given. The ipad will have specific Apps that will be downloaded onto the ipad for easiest access to the science ebook. Any questions please contact me at sanderj@lasd.k12.pa.us! It is going to be a great year!
Social Studies
In social studies, we have been learning about Ancient Mesopotamia. In class, we have read an excerpt from the oldest story ever recorded The Epic of Gilgamesh. We will be using Schoology within the class, along with other additional resources. We will be finishing discovering about Mesopotamia soon and move onto Ancient Egypt. Any questions, please contact me at martinom@lasd.k12.pa.us
English
Students have been working diligently through their MAP assessments in preparation for our first class novel, The Outsiders. Students will explore the life of Ponyboy and the Greaser Gang as they battle with the Socs. Students have selected their first independent novels as well. As we dive deeper into the school year, students can expect to have various opportunities to demonstrate their best writing efforts. Text-dependent analysis essays will be our focus for the school year.
7th & 8th Grades: Team Lightning
SCIENCE Mr. Decker and Ms. Enoff
7th & 8th Grade Lightning Science
The year started with a focus on the metric system and how scientific inquiry is done. This involved the use of tools to collect data from experiments the students designed. The experiments addressed simple questions, but caused the students to develop detailed procedure and conduct an experiment as it would be done in the real world. As we approach the end of the 2nd week of school, 7th and 8th grade are going their separate ways. 7th grade will be using microscopes to discover what living things are made of and develop the cell theory. This will carry over into the study of the parts and functions of the cell. 8th grade has been tasked with development of an experiment that will answer the question “does a hat keep you warm in the winter?” This must be tested during September and causing them to really think. They will be moving into the study of matter, and how it changes along with gaining an understanding of the function of the period table and how to use it as a tool in chemistry.
MATHEMATICS Mr. Heller and Ms. Enoff
7th & 8th Grade:
All math classes have had a strong start to the 2019-2020 school year. As technology is introduced, students can become more independent learners and creative problem-solvers. Classes have been working hard through Chapter 1, not just focusing on content, but also learning the class procedures and expectations. If not already there, your student should be taking the assessment for Chapter 1 soon. Look for updated grades in Sapphire through the parent portal. This is a good way to stay on top of your child's academic progress. Please contact your child's teacher with any questions regarding grades in their class.
ENGLISH: Mr. Peglow and Mrs. Trout
7th Grade:
Mrs. Trout’s Class:
We have started this year with a primary focus on the elements of fiction. We will explore these elements through novel studies and our newest curriculum resource, StudySync in addition to other resources such as commonlit.org, newsela.com and Scholastic Scope.
Recently, your student took the MAP Growth test to determine their instructional level in Reading. This data will be used to measure academic growth throughout the school year (and from year to year) in Reading Literature, Reading Informational Text and Vocabulary. This detailed picture of what your child knows and is ready to learn—whether it is on, above, or below their grade level provides immediate and accurate information about your child’s learning. Teachers then identify students with similar scores that are generally ready for instruction in similar skills and topics, and plan instruction accordingly. Please watch for more information including goal setting plans that your student will develop with support from you and their teacher.
Mr. Peglow’s Class:
As human beings we all have a lot in common. And yet interacting with one another can often be extremely challenging. Why is it so difficult for people to get along? What are the barriers that hold us back from communicating with one another and forming strong, lasting relationships? In addition, humans face challenges in their interactions with the environment. As humans, we have used or changed the natural world to suit our own needs, and our interference with nature has had a huge impact on the other living things that share our planet. As we get started with this quarter’s unit, a variety of texts will help students explore the outside forces that create challenges for human interaction. They will read, discuss, and write about the steps people take to overcome these forces so that they can form meaningful relationships with other people. The unit begins with the novel The Outsiders, which focuses on class conflicts in the 1960s between two rival gangs from different economic groups. Other short stories and articles that stem from this novel will be used to create thoughtful discussions and in-depth literary analysis as well.
8th Grade:
Hairs rising on the back of your neck? Lips curling up into a wince? Palms a little sweaty? These are tell-tale signs that you are in the grips of suspense. But what attracts us to suspense? What keeps us from closing the book or changing the channel? What compels us to experience in stories the very things we spend our lives trying to avoid? Those are the questions students will explore in this Grade 8 unit. Alfred Hitchcock. Stephen King. Edgar Allan Poe. The masters of suspense are at work in this unit, and after reading classic thrillers, students will try their own hands at the genre, applying what they have learned about suspense to their own narrative writing projects. Students will begin this unit as readers, brought to the edge of their seats by hair-raising tales, and they will finish as writers, leading their peers through hair-raising stories of their own.
SOCIAL STUDIES Mr. Popoff and Mrs. Trout
7th Grade Ancient Civilizations:
Students in Ancient Civilizations began the year by setting their sights on some of the world’s earliest civilizations including the Sumerians, Phoenicians, Hittites, Babylonians, and Kushites. As we progress through the month of September students will try and decipher one of the most interesting and well-known civilizations in world history: the Egyptians. One thing each of these early civilizations had in common was that everyone had certain responsibilities. By sharing responsibilities each civilization was able to prosper.
8th Grade U.S. History:
Students in U.S. History began the year by focusing on early exploration and colonization of the Americas. We are finished with when Columbus sailed the ocean blue. We are setting our sights on the beginning stages of the great nation of America. Towards the end of September we will study the original 13 colonies of America. Creating each colony took teamwork. No one single individual would have been able to successfully create a colony. Everyone had certain responsibilities. As we progress into the month of October we will go into battle with our mother country, Great Britain as we fight for our independence during the Revolutionary War.
8th Grade: Team Sky Pilots
The Sky Pilot teachers are committed to providing your child with a meaningful and memorable school year. The new school year has had a very promising start thanks to a great parent turn‑out for Open House and a super group of students. Many interesting projects and assignments are under way and the students are working diligently. Please remind your child to charge their device each night when they go to bed.
Eighth graders can be quite challenging to parents and teachers alike. It is our belief that your child’s school year will run much more smoothly if we work together. The Sky Pilot team has come up with a few suggestions to make life easier for students and parents.
1. Set up a regular time, daily for your child to complete homework assignments. This should be away from TV and other distractions.
2. We suggest that you and your child review the contents of the agenda on a daily basis. Something should be written for every subject (even if there is no assignment).
3. Check to see that all assignments are complete.
4. Note any upcoming test dates.
5. Look for any notes from your child’s teachers.
6. Remember, the agenda is the primary means of communication between teachers and parents.
7. Students should email teachers when absent.
The Homework policy we follow is one that corrects the behavior instead of punishing the student’s grade. We believe that homework is very important. It allows us to assess the students informally. Instead of giving a score of zero (0), we will be assigning lunch detention. We need your help and support with homework. Again, we are trying to correct the behavior instead of punishing the grade.
Please visit https://app.schoology.com/login to see assignments, up- coming curricular assignments. If you would like the access code for your child, please email their homeroom teacher. Make these web sites favorites and visit them frequently.
Please Check out Mr Myers’ Newsletter which focuses on Growth Mindset. All Sky Pilot students will be completing an online Growth Mindset course in September.
We are looking forward to a great year!
Mr. Gilbert, History, Rm 304
Mrs. Thompson, LS, Rm 311
Mr. Myers, Math, Rm 303
Mr. Thomas, ELA, Rm 305
Mrs. Trone, LS, 315
Mr. Liberty, Science, Rm 302
Health Education: Mrs. Wagner
Welcome to a new year of Health Education classes at MAMS!
Students on all three grade levels have started off the 1st semester with enthusiasm and readiness to discuss and learn about many important, real-life health topics.
This semester, 6th and 7th grade students will explore the lifestyle habits of people who live in the BLUE ZONES.—communities across the world where optimal health, longevity and happiness occur at exceptionally high levels. Students will learn how to follow the Power 9 Principles to increase their personal health and wellness. They will discuss and debate the question: Can our community possibly become a future BLUE ZONE?!
Eighth grade Health class students are examining ways to optimize their future health by making conscious, informed decisions in the present. This involves avoiding the risk factors that are linked with many current health problems and “lifestyle diseases.”
As always, students will be encouraged to continue all Health class conversations at home with their families. Students who have open and honest discussions with trusted adults are more likely to make healthier choices, both now and in the future. Consider making the entire month of September a time to build healthy, strong family relationships and celebrate the positive influence you can have on your student’s health and wellness.
Best wishes for a healthy and successful school year 2019-20!
News from Our Nurse
I would like to welcome everyone back to the 2019-2020 school year and hopefully everyone had a great summer.
Just some reminders:
- As many of you know or have heard the MAMS building can get warm during this time of the year so please feel free to send a water bottle along with your student so that they can stay hydrated during the school day.
- The nurse’s office does not have allergy medicine for students, if your child needs allergy medicine. Please have them take it before coming to school.
- All 6th graders are required by Pennsylvania school health law to have a physical to enter the sixth grade.
- If you have not already done so please turn in all completed physical forms as well as update immunization records to the school nurse. Also per Pennsylvania department of health Tdap and MCV immunizations that are due by 7th grade must be given at age 11.
- All 7th graders are required by Pennsylvania school health law to have a dental exam to enter the seventh grade. If you have not already done so please turn in all completed dental forms. Mobile Dentist will be here the week of January 20th , 2020. Be on the lookout for the form coming out before the holidays.
- Also, be sure that your student is eating breakfast before coming to school so that they are fueled to start the day. Breakfast is available in the cafeteria in the morning before school starts.
School Counselor's Message
Expect your middle schooler to be successful this year
Don’t just hope your middle schooler succeeds in school this year—expect her to succeed! Studies show that when parents have high, yet realistic, expectations for their children, they are likely to rise to meet them.
To promote success in the classroom and beyond:
Believe in your child. Don’t act surprised when she succeeds. Did your child just bring home a B+ on a challenging science test? Tell her you never doubted that she’d do well. “That’s awesome! I knew all of your extra studying this week would pay off!” Praise the effort it took to be successful.
Support your child when she stumbles. Never belittle her when she messes up. Remind her that failure happens to everyone and mistakes can help her grow. Always be your child’s “safe place,” providing her with constant love and acceptance. Instilling a growth mindset can help a child build skills that will translate to a lifetime of success.
Empower your child to take action. When unfortunate things happen, don’t chalk them up to bad luck or blame someone else. That will make your child feel as if she’s a victim and has no control over situations. Instead, encourage her to think about what she can learn, and help her brainstorm ways to handle similar situations in the future.
Reprinted with permission from the September 2019 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2019 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: V. LoBue, Ph.D., “Expect the Best: On the Power of Expectation,” Psychology Today, niswc.com/mid_expect-best.
Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a program at the secondary level designed to help students overcome barriers in order that they may achieve, remain in school, and advance.
The core of the program is a professionally trained team, including school staff and liaisons from community agencies who are trained to identify problems, determine if the presenting problem lies within the school and to make recommendations to assist the student and the parent. When the problem lies beyond the scope of the school, the SAP team will assist the parent and student so they may access services within the community. The student assistance team members do not diagnose or treat however a referral for assessment can be made.
Anyone can refer a student to SAP when they are concerned about someone’s behavior. Students themselves can go directly to the SAP team member or fill out a referral form. The SAP team contacts the parent for permission to proceed with the SAP process. If you have concerns or would like more information on the SAP program, please visit the school website.
Mark Your Calendars!
Monday, 9-16 No School for Students (Teacher In-Service Day)
Wednesday, October 2 Fall Picture Day