Meeting in the Middle
May 2017
Dear Parents/Guardians:
April flew by, and May is here! Where did the year go? It’s hard to believe that in just over a month we will be saying good-bye to our eighth graders and preparing for a new class of sixth graders!
As May wears on, we are moving along with the M-step testing. Eighth grade is completely finished, and the seventh grade will be kicking off their testing. I appreciate all of the support from families and students during this testing time!
We are beginning to make plans for the traditional end of year eighth grade activities. We will hold the eighth grade recognition ceremony on Friday, June 9th from 8:00-9:30 AM. Students may be signed out of school after the celebration. The next parent meeting to plan the traditional Yearbook Signing Party is Tuesday, May 2nd at 6:00 PM in the media center. This celebration does not happen without eighth grade parent volunteers. Please help us get this event ready for our eighth graders!
To attend the annual eighth grade activities, students must return permission slips. Students will be given a letter and permission slip on Monday, May 8th. The permission slip must be turned into advisory teachers by the due date indicated on the slip. Students who do not return a signed permission slip will not be allowed to participate in the events.
Unfortunately, it is also that time of the year to consider student summer school requirements and retention. Toward the end of May, teachers will meet and make summer school recommendations. I will be in touch with families of those students who will be required to attend summer school to be promoted to the next grade. Our summer school dates are June 19-July 27th. We meet Monday-Thursday each week. This summer, we plan to provide limited transportation for summer school. Again, more information will come out toward the end of the month.
I continue to stress the importance of helping students stay focused and on-track as the year winds down. We have much to do before June 10th. Please continue to encourage your child to stay current with school work and continue communicating with teachers.
Thanks for a great year!
Sincerely,
Julie Brown
"Fidgets"
LMS Art Show
Thursday, May 11, 2017, 02:30 PM
Linden Middle School, Lobdell Road, Linden, MI, United States
LMS Art Show
Friday, May 12, 2017, 02:30 PM
Linden Middle School, Lobdell Road, Linden, MI, United States
Talented Talons (Beckman, Mazza, Thorin)
Language Arts: The students in Ms. Mazza's Language Arts classes are writing argument essays. They have learned that evidence to prove claims can include reasons, personal experiences, statistics, confirmed facts, and expert research. Students are also learning strategies to determine if sources are reliable and how to quote primary and secondary sources in the written work.
Math: We’re in the middle of studying Geometry (Gee I’m A Tree). Our first topic focused on finding the area of various polygons. Students have been required to show all work in order to gain credit on homework. Most assignments are on paper and not Digits. This practice will continue next week as we move on to surface area which requires maximum attention to detail.
Science:
We are currently in the middle of our Energy unit. Students just completed their engineering design projects where they designed a testable lab to discover the relationship between potential and kinetic energy. We will be finishing the unit looking at the Law of Conservation of Energy. After our Energy unit, we will close the year out looking at Waves.
Winged Warriors (Adams, Baldridge, Cook, Kimball)
Math classes have finished ratios and percents and have started Geometry. We will be finding area of different polygons, including triangles and different quadrilaterals. We will be working on volume and surface area in topic 14. Homework completion continues to be a problem with many students. Test questions come directly from homework assignments and not doing homework makes passing a test improbable. Students are given two days to do an assignment. After two days, the assignment is past due and a zero. Students have study skills, advisory, and before and after school time to use computers for homework. Please remind you child of the importance of doing their homework.
Language Arts classes are continuing practicing punctuation rules. They will be starting the comprehensive unit on pronouns this month. Spelling lessons and tests will continue to the end of the year. The next reading logs are due on May 2, May 16, and May 30.
In Social Studies, we are studying life in the Central Andes of South America. The students are learning about the altitudinal zones and how they differ with regards to climate, plant and animal life. They are learning about the lifestyles and the adaptations of the people living in the various elevation zones.
The trip to Imagination Station was very successful! Many smiling faces showed their enjoyment. We continue our study of the Earth. We have covered Earthquakes and Mountain Building and will finish the year learning about the Rock Cycle and Soil Formation. The year has passed quickly in spite of the long, long cold snowy winter.
Reagal Eagles (Coleman, Schultz, J. Smith)
Language Arts We have just begun our unit study on Greek Mythology. For this unit, we will be focusing on these classic stories and discussing the role of oral storytelling and traditions in literature. Students have chosen names of Greek gods/goddesses to use while we read these stories.
The students will also be analyzing the characters from the Greek Myths and answering the question of what it means to be a true hero. Contemporary works (books, movies, video games, etc.) will also be examined as the students explore the lasting effect that these ancient myths have on modern storytelling.
Toward the end of the school year, as the weather improves, students will be focusing on a poetry unit. Students will be spending time outside as they use figurative language and poetic devices (similes, metaphors, hyperboles, personification, alliteration, and onomatopoeia).
Science In science, we just finished learning about cellular respiration, which is the process that occurs in the cells of all living things where glucose is broken down into usable energy for life functions. Students are finishing up their projects tying together the concepts of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in a creative format that they will present to their classmates.
Next, students will be learning about the flow of matter and energy in organisms and ecosystems. Students will begin by learning about environmental interactions between biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors. Then, they will learn how matter and energy are transferred in ecosystems by creating models of food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids. In addition, students will understand how the growth of organisms and populations are related to the availability of resources by examining specific ecosystems (biomes).
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Social Studies Students have been learning about Ancient China, its geography, dynasties, and overall culture. They worked in groups producing a poster about China’s five major regions, its climate and vegetation. Next, students learned about the “Three Ways,” that have profoundly influenced how the Chinese believe and behave. We watched a movie that showed us how all the ancient Chinese cities were built for protection so the emperor and empress would be protected. Did you know that China is the oldest civilization on earth and it is also the most populated? Students learned why China developed in isolation and how the Great Wall helped further this isolation. We will be finishing the unit on China by completing a Timeline Challenge.
The school year will finish up with short units on Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. We still need to learn about how these two powerful empires continue to influence us today.
Soaring Eagles (Boyer, Marton, Strong)
It’s hard to believe May is here already! Seventh grade students will begin M-STEP testing on May 1. We are encouraging students to get a good night’s sleep and eat a good breakfast on testing days.
When students are not testing, they will be hard at work in their classes! Ms. Marton’s language arts classes are learning about Greek Mythology. In math, Mrs. Boyer’s classes will be working on surface area. In social studies, Mrs. Strong’s students are learning about China.
The 7th grade will be going on a field trip to Lansing to see the Lugnuts play baseball on Tuesday, May 23. We are hoping for good weather for this fun day at the ballpark!
If you have any questions or comments, please contact your child’s teacher as soon as possible. Updated grades are available on StudentVue & ParentVue. If you do not know your child’s log-in information, please contact the main office at 591-0711.
8th Grade Parent Planning for Annual Yearbook Signing Party!
Tuesday, May 2, 2017, 06:00 PM
Linden Middle School, Lobdell Road, Linden, MI, United States
8th Grade Newsletter
It has been a long winter and wet spring, but hopefully the Michigan warm weather will be here soon! Please make sure your student is properly dressed according to the school dress code. For your reference, use a 4 by 6 inch card to measure length of skirts shorts (from the knee) and necklines!
Spring fever has hit the 8th grade!! It is more important than ever to remind your student that the school year is not over yet! It is never too late to check your student’s progress on ParentVue! (Synergy). Also, teachers are posting homework assignments with due dates and upcoming tests/quizzes on ParentVue to keep you informed. If you still cannot access your account, please call the office. It is also important to keep checking your student’s Digits math account. This will help you check for missing assignments!
Language Arts is exploring the futuristic world of Science Fiction! We have been to Utopia, read about robots and much more. This quarter we will read a couple science fiction novels and many short stories. May the force be with you!
Eighth grade Recognition Ceremony will take place on June 9th. That means practice will be held on Thursday, June 8th the day after Cedar Point. All students must attend the practice!!! Don’t be late to school!!
Last but not least, CEDAR POINT! The trip will take place Wednesday, June 7th. The bus leaves LMS at 6:15 A.M. and returns at 10:30 P.M. The cost is $90 and includes ticket, transportation and an unlimited drink wristband! Checks can be made payable to Linden Community Schools. Permission slips have been sent home and are due back no later than May 15th!