Western Heights Middle School
Issue 1: January 2017
What You Want to Know
6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Happenings
LANGUAGE ARTS: Novel Study - City of Ember: STEAM project - designed and built pipework system to best transport water, Socratic Seminar - discussing ethical dilemmas from novel, Working towards writing an argumentative essay where scholars will argue whether there are benefits of challenging social norms, Will soon be exploring Arts Integration with the concept of light vs dark using the novel to develop theme in an artistic manner, Conducting book clubs, Creating a living poem about imprisonment/inequality, Multi genre group projects to represent theme
SCIENCE:
- Some projects/activities we have worked on in December:
- Rock cycle creative writing stories
- Plate boundary models
- STEM challenge activity called mini snowball launchers where students designed and built a device that would launch a “snowball” (cotton ball)
- We will be launching into our new module on Scale and Proportions with content focused on astronomy topics and forces influencing objects in our solar system and on earth (upcoming in January)
HISTORY:
- National History Day research projects: Students chose a topic related to the theme of “Taking a Stand in History”, and had the choice of creating a website, exhibit, documentary, performance, or paper.
- Biography project: Students chose an important person who took a stand in history, and presented the story of the person’s life by creating Adobe Sparks, exhibits, Keynote presentations, and iMovies.
In January, we will be studying the culture of ancient Greece.
MATH:
students are wrapping up a module about ratios and percents. Then moving into solving equations.
7th Grade: MAP testing will begin in January, Magnet program will be taking a field trip to DC
8th Grade: WEB students will visit 6th grade to talk about stopping gossip/rumors, WEB students will be hosting a Valentines Dance for 6th grade on February 10, 2017, student projects due early January for National History Day, South Hagerstown High reps will begin scheduling 8th graders for the 2017-2018 school year
News You NEED TO KNOW
When PARCC rolls around, we will be asking that all iPads remain at school during the entire testing window.
If You Can Help Out
The fewer germs we spread, the fewer days we miss.
Students of the Month: 6th, 7th, 8th grade
7th Grade: Isaiah Underwood
8th Grade: Gabriel Pixler
Mr. Mauriello, Principal
Western Heights Middle School Spelling Bee Winners
7th Grade: Ameerah Rouzee, Patrick McCarthy
8th Grade: Busayo Ojo , Alexis Dillow (not pictured)
Staff Member of the Month: Mrs. Digiovanni
Parent posting
Parent posting
Administrator posting
Mr. Raley's 6th grade students collected the most money to help other children.