J.M.S. News...
By Donald F. Gately, Ed. D - March 2017
Quote of the Week of February 27-March 3:
Quotes for the Month of March:
March 6-10: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
March 13-17: “Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” – Malcolm Forbes
March 20-24: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
March 27-31: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Monthly SEL Theme for the Month of March: FRIENDSHIP (REACHING OUT TO OTHERS, & SHARING)
We must help you to realize that true friendship can form bridges that last a lifetime. Strong friendships will embrace you with the necessary strength and love to meet the challenges that confront you throughout your lifetime. Remember, Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave and impossible to forget.
Remember, "An open mind is the beginning of self-discovery and growth." - (Erwin G. Hall) and that throughout life's journey your attitude will allow you to form friendships that are a necessary ingredient to successful and meaningful human relationships.
Classroom News!
Team 6A:
In ELA, the students of Team 6A have independently read novels in the fantasy genre and, as a class, we completed our novel study of "The Girl Who Owned a City." We will be working on argumentative writing in the coming weeks. In Social Studies, we have just finished learning about the geography, religions, and achievements of ancient India. Students did an excellent job using the Smart Board to teach other about different aspects of Hinduism and Buddhism! We are looking forward to exploring ancient China after the break. In Math students have been learning about the relationship between integers and rational numbers by creating human number lines and playing games. In Science we are going to begin learning about Matter, because Matter matters!
Team 6B:
Team 6B has been using music to learn the elements of The Periodic Table. Many students can sing along with the ASAP Science Song, The Elements of the Periodic Table. Ask your child to play it for you (or sing it) if you have not heard it already. Our team excited to learn more about the elements, and to zoom in on a specific element once we begin our class project. Team 6B is as good as Au... they should be able to tell you what that means :) !
Team 6C:
What do you think is Awesome? Students on team 6C investigate the world of Awe by experiencing the sounds, sights, and smells of the world around us. Through a discovery learning activity students explored the feeling and expression of Awe and how Awe impacts the world around us because a world without Awe would be Awful. Do you agree?
Team 6D:
Team 6E:
Eleventh Annual Personal Best Day at Jericho Middle School. This is a schoolwide initiative to encourage and support the academic and social emotional development of every member of the Jericho Middle School Family. Enjoy the pictorial sampling of some of the classroom related activities enjoyed and created by students to celebrate the day.
Team 7A:
We have just finished reading the Newbery Award winning novel, Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jaqueline Woodson. The book is a compilation of Woodson’s personal memoirs written in free verse. Since Jacqueline’s stories occurred during the 1960’s and 1970’s, we delved into the Civil Rights Movement, and researched historical figures that were mentioned in the book. We also listened to music from that era and interpreted the lyrics from the perspective of art being a reflection of a certain time period in history. As a child, Jacqueline Woodson lived an ordinary life in an extraordinary time period. The students were able to connect to Jacqueline on many levels. Their insightfulness and depth of understanding led to well-thought out, intuitive writing entries and scintillating discussions. As a culminating activity, we are having an Equality party on Friday, March 3rd. The students will be displaying their graffiti boards and Haiku poems representing the historical figures studied in this unit. Volunteers will be donating food from various cultures and times explored in the book.
Team 7B:
Students were shown two inspiring videos to motivate the them to do their personal best. We then had an activity where they picked an inspiring quote and wrote about what it means to them. The students also formed groups and chose which quote they would like to see on the wall and made a poster.
Team 7C:
Team 8A:
Team 8B:
On Monday, February 6th, 2017, Team 8B students went to the Vanderbilt Planetarium in Centerport, NY. This was a two part field trip addressing the Social Studies and Science curriculums. Students toured the collections of William K. Vanderbilt II, including cultural artifacts, wildlife dioramas and marine specimens. Students also explored concepts essential to understanding climate. This was a wonderful experience for all.
Team 8C:
World Language Department!
What's going on?
Parent: How was your day?
Child: Fine.
Parent: What did you do in school?
Child: Nothing.
Does that conversation sound familiar to you? We know that some middle school students are not forthcoming in sharing details about their days, but there is always something new, fun, exciting, and relevant going on in your child’s world language class. You can follow your child’s class on Canvas and from emails from your child’s teacher, but we know that a picture is worth a thousand words. All of the World Language Teachers have Twitter accounts where you can see what is happening in class
- Sra. Bolton @MaryBolton21
- Signora Gangidino @rgangidino
- Ms. Guo @nihaoguolaoshi
- Madame Mueller @MmeMueller
- Sra. Vidal-Nuñez @ProfesoraVidal
- Sra. Waters @ElisawatersJMS
Tips from the Middle School Nurse!
Say YES to BREAKFAST!
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Nearly half of all American families regularly skip breakfast. Studies have shown, a nutritious breakfast makes for a healthy student and healthy students are better learners.
Here are some tips for adding breakfast to your child’s morning routine…
Prepare the night before- It’s a good idea to plan ahead. This will allow you to have a wide range of healthy choices. When preparing, think protein, fruits and vegetables. To save time in the morning cut up fruits and vegetables the night before.
Plan your morning schedule- Make sure you are setting the alarm to allow time for your child to eat without pressure. If your family is one that rushes out the door in the morning, start stocking up on healthy grab and go foods.
Offer nutritious breakfasts that your child likes- Invite your child to go shopping with you so they can pick out healthy items with your guidance.
Put sleep on the menu- Make sure your child is getting enough sleep so they are able to arise with sufficient time to eat.
Always check with your child’s healthcare provider for advice as they know your child best.
Resource:https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Breakfast
Dates to Remember...
March 2: MS PTSA Meeting & Principal's Coffee Hour - MS Library - 9:15AM
March 3: SEPTA Exec. Meeting - 9:30AM
March 15: MS/HS PTSA Faculty & Staff Recognition Lunch
March 16: MS Parent Brunch & Learn - MS Library - 9:00AM-10:30AM
March 16: Middle School Play - HS Little Theater - 2:15PM-3:30PM
March 17: Middle School Play - HS Little Theater - 7:00PM
March 28: MS Spring Sports Season Begins
March 28: 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Guidance Evening Hours - 7:00PM–9:00PM
Recognizing that other commitments often make it impossible for parents to find time to meet with counselors during the regular school day, we will continue a program of evening meetings this year. If you would like to meet with your child's counselor but are unable to do so during the school day, please call the counselor in order to schedule an evening appointment.
March 30: Board of Education Meeting - MS Library - 7:15PM
Jericho Middle School
Email: dgately@jerichoschools.org
Website: jerichoschools.org
Location: 99 Old Cedar Swamp Road, Jericho, NY, United States
Phone: (516) 203-3600
Twitter: @JerichoMS