Poland Middle School Newsletter
February 2018
Monthly Message from the Principal Team
We can't believe we are moving into the month of March! In the month of February, students had many academic and extracurricular opportunities to learn from and participate in at our school.
The school participated in Start with Hello Week with students showing their support for others by dressing in various themes attached to special messages. Students also participated at a Mix-It-Up lunch to get to know others. We even had some high school students come down to talk with the 8th grade class during this time. 8th grade students also had an outstanding opportunity to Skype with students in India as part of Capture Kindness Month at school. The students found they are not so different, despite the distance and cultures.
Our 8th grade class was able to hear from Mr. Vagas and Mrs. Volosin, the school counselors from the high school. Mr. Vagas and Mrs. Volosin discussed class offerings available to high school students and how students are placed into classes. Students were then given the opportunity to sign up and take placement tests to help with scheduling. 8th grade students will be scheduling in the month of March at the middle school.
Additionally, the 5th grade class participated in Growing Up Nights for both girls and boys to help understand the many changes that will take place over the course of their middle school experience. A large thank you goes out to Mrs. LeFoer, Dr. Hymes, and Dr. Mowad for the success of the evenings.
Mrs. Marconi and Mrs. Zedaker also hosted It Takes a Girl to Build a Village event to participate in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day movement. The girls were able to create binary code, and work to make pieces that will be used to complete a doll house that will be donated to Poland Union.
We are so proud of our students and their leadership! We look forward to a great March!
Sports
Academics
Band
Classroom Happenings
Math
In Mrs. McMahon’s 8th grade math class we just finished the unit on solving systems of equations. Students used three methods to solve systems, which are graphing, substitution, and elimination. We are leaving the world of Algebra for a while and are now in the world of Geometry. Students are learning that when parallel lines are cut by a transversal special angle relationships are formed. We are learning that you cannot state something is fact unless you can prove it.
Mrs. Hohloch’s math students have completed the unit on exponents and scientific notation. The next chapter will take them from solving simple to complex equations in one variable. They will learn the importance of showing their work on the easier problems to be able to handle the more difficult ones. This will give them the foundation needed to move on to linear and proportional relationships. To help prepare for the test on scientific notation, students participated in a “breakout box” activity!
Mrs. Hohloch’s algebra students have just finished exploring the idea of sequences. They are able to write explicit and recursive equations for arithmetic as well as geometric sequences. They have discovered how the arithmetic sequence represents a linear function and a geometric sequence represents an exponential function. Students also learned that sequences are similar to functions, but with a domain limited to positive integers with graphs of discrete data. In the next chapter, students will dive deeper into linear functions and learn how to find the equation for a line of best fit for a scatter plot, find the residuals, and apply that information in real-world situations.
In 7th grade math we have recently started our Geometry unit! This unit is always a student favorite due to the multiple hands-on activities the students will participate in over the next few months. Our current learning tasks include constructing geometric figures and describing the relationships between them. Our students will also solve problems involving scale drawings of geometric figures, including computing actual lengths and areas from a scale drawing and reproducing a scale drawing at a different scale. We will solve many real-world problems around this topic. The students will also draw geometric shapes with given conditions using protractors and rulers. We are also learning how to describe the two-dimensional figures that result from slicing three- dimensional figures, also known as cross sections. These learning tasks are critical to our students developing mastery in Geometry now and for their futures in mathematics!
In sixth grade math, we are finishing our concentration of ratio/proportional reasoning, completing function tables, and graphing information on the coordinate plane. We will be moving on to a concentration on positive and negative integers and absolute value next week.
In fifth grade math, we are concentrating on adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers with like and unlike denominators, finding the GCF, and simplifying. We are also practicing the use of order of operations, writing and evaluating numerical expressions, and identifying patterns.
English Language Arts
In fifth grade we have just begun our Informative Writing unit. In this unit, students will be tasked with reading and viewing information around a common topic. These texts will be complex in nature and the students will have an opportunity to annotate the material for a deeper understanding. Students will then be asked to integrate the information within those texts into an academic essay. Students will be taught the beginnings of essay writing that will carry them throughout middle school and high school. Completing this unit will allow students to learn effective introductions (with hooks, topic descriptions, and thesis statements), balanced body paragraphs with elaboration and evidence, and well-developed conclusion writing.
In 6th grade Language Arts this month we have been focusing on reading nonfiction texts and looking closer into author’s perspective with paired texts. Additionally, we have looked closely at author’s purpose, text features, and text structure in order to compare various authors presentations of the same topic. We are also working on plot structure and elements of literature to study how episodes connect to contribute to a story.
As we finish the second half of the third nine weeks, the 7th grade ELA classes have been diligently writing informational essays by practicing and learning each of the 8 STEPS along the path. A variety of textual passage sets are given each with a prompt to practice how to TAPE up a prompt and compose a structurally well-written essay in response. Next, we segue into how authors organize their writing structurally. Discovering the text structure of a text will foster a better understanding of a text. Then, we move on to argumentative writing. Since teens are so proficient in the skill of arguing, this unit simply appeals to their skill set.
In 8th grade language arts, readers and writers who can recognize how authors structure their information can better understand a text. Over the course of the last several weeks, students have been exploring nonfiction texts in a variety of ways, including through speeches, newspaper articles, and books. Students have been working collaboratively in stations and groups analyzing these texts in preparation for writing explanatory writing.
Science
The year seems to be flying by, and we keep delving deeper into our science studies.
This month in 8th grade science, students learned about the constructive and destructive forces that shape Earth’s surface. We are currently learning about the geologic record and how scientists date rocks using relative and absolute dating techniques. This picture shows Haley Ho participating in a whole class virtual lab that we’re completing this week.
7th grade science is wrapping up our unit on Energy Transfer. Students have had the opportunity to demonstrate and explain how energy travels through several kinds of mediums. 7th grade has also completed energy projects, using everyday tasks to explain and identify energy transformations. This extension of the unit has allowed students to show a performance level of the content knowledge from class, according to Ohio Content standards.
Our 6th grade science class has a student teacher. Mr. Doud, the student teacher has been teaching a variety of lessons about how the three types of rocks form and their characteristics. We have had hands on investigations as well as Chromebook research and activities. The students now have a strong foundation of types of rocks as we move into the "rock cycle".
In fifth grade science we are working on learning about the cycles and patterns of the Earth and Solar System, specifically day/night and the seasons. Students are extending their learning in STEM class by creating websites about the planets.
Social Studies
8th Grade-8th grade students are studying the effects of two major laws passed in the 1780s. Students will be analyzing the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Students will be working in groups discussing the effects these two laws had in the early formation of the United States of America.
7th Grade-7th Grade students have been learning about Islamic Empires in the middle east and Africa. Students are reading about the cultural impacts Islamic Empires have had on present day countries in Africa. Students have been using maps to chart Muslim conquests from the past to make predictions about population features today.
6th Grade-6th grade students will be studying the cultural characteristics of ancient and modern China. The unit will focus on many fascinating topics, such as, The Great Wall of China, The Terracotta Army, and Eastern Asian philosophies.
5th grade-5th grade students are finishing their studies of Eastern Hemisphere Indian Civilizations. Currently, 5th graders are working on a presentation for the Mississippian Valley Civilization of North America. Students will be using the GRAPES format to organize material that they research in class, and they will be presenting this information in the coming weeks.
Specials Spotlight: Library
The Library Media Center is busy, busy busy. The 5-7 ELA classes come to the Library on a regular basis. The 7th grade ELA classes are practicing writing informational essays using Google Classroom, while the 5th and 6th grade classes are learning how Google works, how to pick search terms and evaluate websites for use in research projects.
The Library Media Center is available during advisory for all 5-8 students. Students can come and use the computers for class projects, check out a book or work in small groups to study for tests. Kindness Club is scheduled in the Library every Monday. There is Chess Club every Tuesday and Wednesday for 5-8 students who want to participate. There are currently over 80 students signed up.
The Library Media Center is also open for 5-8 students in study hall. Students can sign in to work on homework, do group work, read a book, use the computers, quietly play chess or solve a rubix cube!
School Counselors
In February, the students celebrated the Sandy Hook Promise’s Start With Hello Week and listened to Andre Elliott talk about what it means to Start With Hello. On Friday, February 9, students participated in the National No One Eats Alone Day where they were mixed up at lunch to talk to someone new.
The School Counselors also went into the classroom for guidance lessons about Kindness and Empathy this month encouraging the students to create communities of inclusion.
In Success Class, students took part in breakout boxes to tie up the grit/ growth mindset lesson. Students also talked about kindness and are now beginning to work on posters for the self-control video.
A classroom of 8th grade students will be skyping with Shanti Bhavan School in India on Tuesday, February 27 to discuss the following topic: Hearing each other's 'stories', dynamics of close-knit student's relationships and/or bullying or social cliques.
Sports
Academics
Dance
March Event Dates
3/1: PTO Meeting 9:15am
3/5: 8th Grade Scheduling (@PMS)
3/6: 8th Grade Scheduling (@PMS)
3/6: Winter Sports Awards (6:30pm in PMS Gymnasium)
3/9: PANDA Lock-In (3:15pm-8:45pm)
3/12: Spring Pictures (Grades 5-8) Forms are not given ahead of time. Proofs will be sent home for optional purchase.
3/19: Book Club-The Seventh Wish (Panera Market Street 3:45pm-4:45pm)
3/26-4/2: Spring Break Recess (No School)
4/5: PTO Meeting 9:15am
STEM
Academics
Sports
Spring 2018 Testing Dates-Poland Middle School
English Language Arts
5th Grade- 90 minutes (9:00-10:30am)
6th-8th- 120 minutes with extra 15 (9:00-11:00am)
Monday, April 9th
ELA pt 1
5th Grade & 8th Grade
Tuesday, April 10th
ELA pt 2
5th Grade & 8th Grade
Wednesday, April 11th
ELA pt 1
6th Grade & 7th Grade
Thursday, April 12th
ELA pt 2
6th Grade & 7th Grade
Friday, April 13th
ELA MAKE-UP DAY
Mathematics
5th-8th Grade- 90 minutes (9:00-10:30am)
Monday, April 30th
Math pt 1
5th Grade & 8th Grade
Tuesday, May 1st
Math pt 2
5th Grade & 8th Grade
Wednesday, May 2nd
Math pt 1
6th Grade & 7th Grade
Thursday, May 3rd
Math pt 2
6th Grade & 7th Grade
Friday, May 4th
MATH MAKE-UP DAY
Science
5th-8th Grade- 75 minutes (9:00-10:15am)
Tuesday, May 8th
Science pt 1
5th Grade and 8th Grade
Wednesday, May 9th
Science pt 2
5th Grade and 8th Grade
Thursday, May 10th
Science MAKE-UP DAY