SMS Scoop
November 18, 2019
LEVEL UP Your Reading
So what is a lexile anyway? Some of you may be thinking this. To better understand your own data, you need to understand a few basic concepts.
A lexile is a number that describes the complexity of written text. Every book, article, test, instruction manual, web site, and tweet have a lexile. A technical manual for a radiology machine with lots of difficult medical vocabulary would have a very high lexile. A children's picture book would have a lower lexile.
You can easily understand things written below your current lexile. It is harder to understand things written at a higher lexile. When this happens at school, teachers will use techniques to help you. They'll talk about vocabulary, main idea, author's purpose, etc. What is the last thing you read at SMS where a teacher gave you some supports like this? When teachers aren't providing help, you can understand a higher lexile text by doing these things yourself! Identify unknown vocabulary. Look for main idea.
Everyone has a lexile and every lexile can be improved with appropriate practice. Appropriate practice means that your reading is at or just above your level. To better understand this, let's use an analogy of strength training. If you are wanting to get stronger muscles, you need to lift weights that strain them. If you can bench press a weight bar with 10 pounds on it. You don't get better only lifting 10 pounds. You also won't really help yourself trying to lift 200 pounds on the bar. If you can do 10, the next step is 15.
When you are reading in Newsela where you have a choice of lexile, you need to know your current lexile and then select that level or the next higher level. Take time today to open up your Student Binder in Newsela and confirm your current lexile. Lexile numbers get more accurate after you have taken eight article assessments. How many assessments have you completed?
Starting next week ALL elective Guided Study Hall students will select and read one article every Monday during class. All students are encouraged to explore Newsela for reading practice. We'll look at setting lexile goals in the next issue of the Scoop!
Warrior Wednesday Store: Are you ready??
Okay students, how many Hero points do you have? Open your app and count them up because the Warrior Wednesday Store will have its Grand Opening this Wednesday, November 20 during each lunch that day.
We will have items to “buy” with your Hero points, such as pencils, small candy, candy bars, slushies, Schoo-ber (a school 'Uber' trip to Taco Bell, McDonalds, or Hardees), pizza slice tickets, Lon's donut tickets, excursion sign ups (Laser Tag, Pet Store visit, etc.), vocal lessons with Ms. Kruth, and more. There will also be a suggestion sheet where you can suggest items that you would like to have available for purchase.
If you don't want to shop this week, save up your points. The next Warrior Wednesday Store will be on Wednesday, December 11, during lunches. If you have trouble accessing Hero or checking your Hero points, please see the Media Center for help.
Dance Success!
Gear Up for Academic Super Bowl!
If you’re the type of person who takes on a challenge with confidence and a smile on your face, you might enjoy Academic Super Bowl! Academic Super Bowl is a math, science, literature, and social studies competition that takes place on Saturday, May 2nd. Until that time, students meet about once a month studying the topic The Roaring 20s. Students work together in squads to answer questions based on their subject.
If you think you might like to participate in Academic Super Bowl and are academically eligible (have all passing grades), please pick up an information packet/application in the Media Center this week. Applications are due next Monday, November 25th.
If you participated in Academic Super Bowl last year and received an invitation, you will be exempt from filling out a full application, but need to submit your squad choices.
If you have any questions about Academic Super Bowl, grab an information packet in the Media Center. If you still have questions, please see Mrs. Shuler, Ms. Sutton, Mrs. Raichel, Mr. Hicks, or Mrs. Cox.
Letters for Mr. Bell!
Let's get some holiday letters ready for Mr. Bell!
He was not able to join us for our Veterans Day program but we can certainly let him know how much we miss him and how proud we are of him! Get your one page letter or drawing to Mrs. Walsh by Thursday. We will mail them to him on Friday and he'll get them before Thanksgiving! Thank you!!
Big Events!
We've got several big events happening in the next two weeks. Here is the rundown!
Seventh grade students will attend the first of two field trips today and tomorrow. The Dream Team will be touring Marengo Cave today. The Cool Rays will tour the cave tomorrow.
Eighth graders will meet with SHS Principal Chris Routt in team meeting settings tomorrow to hear more about the opportunities that await them at SHS!
SCSD2 will have a late start schedule on Wednesday, November 20th. We'll be on a two-hour delay to allow staff to participate in professional development. Teachers will be studying the concept of resilience and learning about ways to help students overcome obstacles. Bus routes will run 2 hours late. SMS will start class at 10:05. The office will open at 7:30 for students whose parents must drop them off early due to a work schedule.
Eighth graders will have state-mandated vision screenings on Thursday. A team from Wal-Mart vision will be conducting the screenings.
Eighth graders will be touring SHS next week. Explorers will tour Monday morning. Voyagers will tour Tuesday morning.
SCSD2 staff and students will have three days off next week to celebrate Thanksgiving. There is no school Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, November 27th-29th. It should be noted that Wednesday, November 27th is a potential snow make up day... but based on current weather forecasting, it looks like we won't need to spend that day in school. Enjoy your holiday!
Because of the short week next week, we will not have a Scoop for November 25th. The next issue of the Scoop will be published on Monday, December 2nd!
Box Tops
The SMS Recycling Team uses the Box Tops for Education Program to help fund learning activities. Thanks to all of our community members that clip and donate Box Tops coupons to our school! The Box Tops program is undergoing a transition from clipped coupons to digital scanning. Check out the Box Tops for Education website to learn more about the new program. Please continue to clip and submit any coupons from General Mills products. And thank you for supporting our school!
Team of the Week: Spell Bowl
This Week...
Mon. Nov. 18: B day, DT field trip, Robotics, Science Olympiad, 6 GB @ East Wash, 7 BB A/B v. Austin, 8 BB A/B @ Austin
Tue. Nov. 19: A day, CR field trip, 8th grade SHS presentation, StuCo Officers, Archery, Yearbook, 6 GB @ Borden
Wed. Nov. 20: B day, TWO HOUR DELAY, Warrior Wednesday Store, Cross, Science Olympiad, Robotics, 7/8 GB @ Hazelwood
Thu. Nov. 21: A day, Student Council, Archery, 6/7/8 GB @ Charlestown, 7/8 BB v. New Wash,
Fri. Nov. 22: B day
Mon. Nov. 25: A day, EX tour SHS, Art Club, Science Olympiad, 7/8 BB v. Madison
Tue. Nov. 26: B day, VO tour SHS, 7/8 BBB v. Southwestern
Wed/Thu/Fri: Thanksgiving Break! Enjoy time with your family!
Scottsburg Middle School
Email: knass@scsd2.k12.in.us
Website: www.sms.scsd2.k12.in.us
Location: 425 South 3rd Street, Scottsburg, IN, United States
Phone: 812-752-8926
Facebook: facebook.com/ScottsburgMiddleSchool/
Twitter: @ScottsburgMS