6th Grade October Newsletter
Find out what's going on in 6th grade this month!
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Welcome 6th Grade Students and Families!
Happy October! We are excited to move into our second month at Meridian Middle School this year in 6th grade! Students have had a fantastic first month of school and we cannot wait to see all of the amazing things they will do this year.
This month we will continue to be working on our core values of:
- Resilience
- Respect
- Curiosity
- Leadership
Ask your student to explain what these core values mean to them and how they can practice them at school!
Please read below to find out what students are working on in each class, school-wide events, teacher contact information, and much more!
Collaboration
Rigor
Communication
General Announcements
- Students must be in uniform everyday! See the uniform policy here.
- Cell phones must be in students' lockers all day. See the full technology policy here.
- Request a Metro Kids Ride Free Card here.
- If you need Morning Extended Learning (7-8am), sign up here.
- Wednesdays students are released at 1:00pm.
- During the lunch block this year, students will have Crew Extension where students can select from different activities and get any extra help they need with schoolwork.
- Get any other forms or policies here.
Family Teacher Conferences will be October 5th. If you want to schedule a conference, please reach out to any of the teachers!
Progress Reports will be sent out on October 5th.
6th Grade Communication
Scholastic Book Fair
There's no Book Fair like a Scholastic Book Fair!
Becoming a good reader takes practice, and our Book Fair is the perfect place for children to find and choose the books they want to read. Please support our Book Fair!
Take a look at the booklist flyers here and here to see samples of the great titles that will be available. Many parents find it helpful to make a wish list ahead of time.
Get a jump-start on shopping through our Online Book Fair until October 6, 2022 at bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/meridianpubliccharterschool
Download the Book Fairs app to get the latest reading level information, book trailers, podcasts, and more. It’s the perfect shopping companion, and you can also use it to purchase books*: scholastic.com/bookfairs/app
Classroom Updates
English Language Arts (ELA)- Ms. Furst
Students have also been working on short response writing using the RACE model. This helps students to restate, answer, cite evidence, and explain their answer. Using this model helps students to create detailed responses that answer all parts of the question. It also ensures that students are using text evidence to support their answers. Ask students to explain the RACE model to you!
At home we are highly encouraging that students:
- Read for at least 30 minutes a night- students can get books from the library, ask me, or see Schoology for more ideas for how to get books.
- Practice on Lexia Power Up- students can access through Clever
- Read articles or the news and discuss it with people at home
- Ask Ms. Furst for more specific ideas for your student!
Math- Ms. Pearson
In math we are wrapping up the first unit on area, surface area, and volume. In this unit, students learn to understand and use the terms “ratio,” “rate,” “equivalent ratios,” “per,” “at this rate,” “constant speed,” and “constant rate,” and to recognize when two ratios are or are not equivalent. They represent ratios as expressions, and represent equivalent ratios with double number line diagrams, tape diagrams, and tables. They use these terms and representations in reasoning about situations involving color mixtures, recipes, unit pricing, and constant speed.
A ratio is an association between two or more quantities. For example, a hot chocolate recipe has a ratio of 1 cup of chocolate mix for every 2 cups of water. A unit rate is a simplified ratio that describes a rate for one of something. Speed limits are examples of unit rates, an example is 30 miles per 1 hour.
If you have any questions or would like to support your child’s learning at home, please reach out by phone or text for more information.
Science/Social Studies- Mr. Herb
In September students completed our first unit of Geography “The Tools of a geographer”. We learned how to read and graphs. Using the tools we learned we asked big questions about how the world affects our lives. Students created their own maps with all the elements we studied. Students also completed their first independent research project on a Climate Zone.
For the end of September through the beginning of October we will dive into our first unit of science. First we will examine the scientific method and what it takes to set up an experiment. For this unit we will be looking at biology, the study of life.
To help your students at home, simply encourage them to make observations about the world around them and think of questions that come from these observations!
Art- Ms. Birkhead
In art right now we are taking a look at Pop Art with a focus on famous painter Andy Warhol. Students have been looking at examples of Pop Art and discussing its use of color, repetition, and everyday objects. This week we’ve been working on creating our own Pop Art pieces using an everyday object of our choice and incorporating repetition into our artworks. As the week goes on we will continue to discuss color and outline and how to incorporate them into our pieces. Students will look at many artists throughout the school year and use them as inspiration in their own pieces.
To support your child at home, question them about what they have been working on in class and encourage them to share their ideas! Students work much better when they feel someone at home is sharing in the excitement of their learning.
Intervention- Ms. Frank
In intervention, students are currently exploring a variety of texts, poems, and articles with a focus on the importance of representation. We are discussing the importance of mirrors and windows, which is the idea that students should see a reflection of their identity and experiences in the texts they read as well as have opportunities to read about characters with different identities, experiences and perspectives. Students analyzed graphs and data that highlight inequities in representation across race and ethnicity and discussed the impact this has on our society. Moving forward, we will continue to explore the impact of representation in real world scenarios with a focus on pop culture and political leaders and representation in our government. Throughout the unit, students will have opportunities to analyze data, conduct research, and deepen their written and oral communication skills.
Extend their learning at home:
Ask them what they are learning about school and what thoughts and feelings it brings up for them!
Discuss current examples of representation in pop culture, politics, and everyday life.
Read together or discuss what your child is reading independently.
Encourage your child to practice skills on Lexia or other Clever programs at home.
General At Home Resources
- Clever- students have access to websites such as Lexia, Khan Academy, Quill, and many more!
- DC Libraries- see all of the amazing resources offered for free!
- Talk to your student's teacher to find out ways to support the individual needs of your student!
Upcoming Events
September 30th - October 6th: Scholastic Book Fair
October 17th - 31st: Pulsera SaleMonday October 3rd Flag Football Game vs Friendship Chamberlain
Wednesday October 5th: Family Teacher Conferences
Wednesday October 5th: Flag Football Game vs KIP DC N.E.
Friday October 7th: Professional Development Day (No School for Students)
Monday October 10th: Indigenous Peoples' Day (No School for Students)
Wednesday October 12th: Flag Football Game vs BASIS DC
Thursday October 27th: Fall Family Frenzy
Contact Meridian Public Charter School
Website: https://www.mpcs-dc.org/
Location: 770 Kenyon Street Northwest, Washington, DC, USA
Phone: (202) 793-2667