AMMS 7th Grade Gazette
September 20, 2019 Volume 3
Welcome Fall
Happy Fall Y'all!
Fall is a wonderful time of year! The leaves are changing, football is back in season and there are apples and pumpkins everywhere! Not to mention the weather is especially pleasant — lower humidity, fewer bugs, and better overall temperatures. What’s not to love? Here's a reminder for you and your student from FCS and AMMS with the upcoming season.
As we approach the upcoming holidays, candy, deserts, baked goods (store bought/homemade), or other edible items are not to be sold or distributed during school hours unless approved in advance by the administration. Students who do not adhere to this expectation are subject to disciplinary action for insubordination and all food items will be confiscated. Please discuss this expectation and possible consequences with your student(s).
This measure will help us maintain a safe environment for all students. You can help us protect your student(s) by requesting that they not eat anything given to them by another person, anything that they have not brought from your home or anything not in its original sealed package. Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping all of our students safe at school!
GET TO KNOW THE STAFF!!!!
Mrs. Amy Pate
Mr. Trey Martin
Officer Moody
ACADEMIC UPDATES
Math
70/7A
We are starting Unit 2, Expressions and Equations, which sets the foundation for Pre-Algebra and Algebra. In the next few weeks, we will be reviewing the properties of mathematics, learning the different parts of expressions (variables, coefficients, like terms, etc), how to combine like terms, and use the distributive property. (MGSE7.EE.1) In addition, we will be learning how to factor and expand linear equations. A quiz is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, October 3rd.
8 Math
Thursday, September 19th we had our first Unit 2 quiz covering only equations. Friday we will add word problems to equations; this is the last component before the equation test on Thursday, September 26th. The second half of this unit will be exponents and scientific notation. We will be learning how to add and subtract, multiply and divide, power to power, and zero power with exponents. These two concepts were introduced at the end of 6th grade so they have had a very solid background to build upon. If your child has any questions, we have keys and videos on our google classroom and Khan Academy is another excellent resource. And as always, help sessions at 8am!
Math Help Sessions:
70n Thursday 8:00-8:30
7A Thursday 8:00-8:30
8th Wednesday 4:15-4:45
- Every AM 8:00 Beyer will help any math student!
Science
We are in the process of wrapping up the classification unit by studying dichotomous keys!
We will have our first science test on Thursday, September 26. Students should study ISN pages and their workbooks to review.
The study guide for the test was posted on Google Classroom on Thursday, September 19.
As a reminder, our help sessions are on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 8-8:30am. Students will be picked up promptly at 8am from the cafeteria.
We will begin our cells unit on Friday, September 27 by studying the differences and similarities between plant and animal cells, organelles structures and organelle functions.
Please reach out to your child’s science teacher with any questions or concerns!
Social Studies
We have wrapped up our Geography Unit and are moving on to Culture and Religion. Assessment dates will be forthcoming. On Friday, October 18th, we will welcome guest speakers who have expertise in this area to come and speak with students. Please email your child’s social studies teacher if you are interesting in presenting/speaking (full day encouraged, half day is possible if necessary). We will also be reaching out with more details on that soon. We are really excited for our students to demonstrate cultural tolerance, maturity, and respect during this high-interest unit.
Reading
Reading classes are wrapping up our study of the Notice & Note fiction signpost strategies which we will incorporate throughout the year. Next, we will move into learning about different types of conflict, characterization, and figurative language using short stories.
What are you reading? Our reading teachers have been enjoying the following texts:
Language Arts
ELA has started our first book club of the year! Please ensure your student has a copy of their chosen novel at school every day until we finish up in October. Through the reading of this novel, your student will apply and practice their understanding of characterization, setting, theme, mood, and determining author’s word choice. Students will also be participating in academic book club discussions in which they talk about the events of the book, as well as other topics, together with their peers. Writing will be a big focus throughout this period as we have the students complete journals in which student reflect on key parts of their novels. The kids are very excited about their book choices, and we are excited to facilitate this club with them!
The 2019 Scholastic Book Fair is coming! Please see this link for more information: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/homepage.do?method=homepage&url=autreymillmiddleschool1
And here is Mrs. Bongiorno’s wonderful flyer with even more tips and tricks: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1YuV2yBHGqTdxAzhQ9QPBsDvzToauc_CeyvXfeqo7DLE/edit?usp=sharing
Spanish
¡Hola a todos!
We are very proud of our Spanish students for completing their first Speaking PBA (Performance-Based Assessment) on the language labs! Please congratulate them along with us. As we wrap up the first half of Lección 1, we will be moving into some exciting new topics. In the upcoming weeks, your child will learn how to express information about themselves using the verb Ser (to be). This section will include expression of origin, occupation, possession and more. There will be a quiz on the verb Ser at the beginning of October. We have reached a key point in the curriculum where the concepts begin to build upon the foundation students have already created so far this year. For this reason, it is key that students continue to review materials daily and come to help sessions for extra practice. Please remind your child to continue studying vocabulary and notes at least 20 minutes per day. We hold help sessions on Tuesdays from 8-8:30am. In addition, we have help sessions on Fridays from 8-8:30am by appointment. If your child would like to attend a Friday session, they must notify their Spanish teacher by Thursday of a given week. As always, study and practice resources can be obtained in class, found on Google Classroom and the textbook website component, VHL Central. Thank you for your support from home as your child continues their journey en español!
Muchas gracias,
Srta. Brown; Sra. Clark; Srta. Underwood
French
In French7 we are continuing with lesson 1A.1 Nouns and Definite/Indefinite Articles. Students will soon begin to talk & write about what is in their back packs and classroom. The questions used in this lesson are ‘What is there in your backpack/ classroom/ school’ and ‘What is that’. We also will use the question ‘Who is that’ to point out various people (actor, singer). Then we will have a spoken PBA test and a written PBA test over the lessons of Greetings and Nouns.
French Club was SO much fun last week! Students who want to run for council are encouraged to stand up and present their prepared speech at the next meeting. We also hope to vote on TShirt designs which the students are creating at the next meeting.
Latin
September 23-27
- This week, we will be working on a student choice project about the city of Pompeii and the Roman empire. They can make a video, design a poster, or prepare a booklet about topics they learned about in Pompeii during this unit. We will also be reviewing language concepts in anticipation of a language concepts quiz on Friday, September 27th
September 30 – October 4
This week, we will read some interesting stories about daily life in the city of Pompeii, Caecilius’s whacky visit to a barber shop, the Hercules myth, and prepare for a summative assessment on Friday, October 4th.
Calling All Muggles! The Book Fair is Coming to AMMS!
Need Extra Help?
Starting Tuesday October, 1st REACH tutoring will be taking place after school in the cafeteria. JCHS students are available to support all AMMS students in ALL academic subjects. If you would like more information, please contact Natalie Cowart at cowartn@fultonschools.org.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- 9/30 - 10/4 Book Fair in the Media Center
- 10/1 Reach program begins (every Tuesday) after school
Autrey Mill Middle School
Website: ammslions.org
Location: 4110 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek, GA, USA
Phone: 470-254-7622