Jonas Clarke Middle
News and Notes October 2017
From the Principal
I love this time of year even though it is packed with activity. Our construction is finally winding down and we are starting to see grass and enjoy all of the beautiful landscaping. It truly looks like a different school. The patio has been an amazing improvement to our arrival and dismissal process and we hope that you have also noticed that our parking lot flow has greatly improved as well.
As we get used to our new traffic patterns and parking lot, I would like to remind all parents to please use the front entrance (via Brookside Ave) to pick-up and drop-off your child. The rear entrance (via Stedman Rd.) is reserved for school buses. We ask that families honor the privacy of our neighbors on Stedman Rd., including the Franklin apartments, by not pulling into their driveways and parking spaces. Thank you for paying attention to this important reminder.
Thank you to all of you who came out for Back To School Night earlier this month. We had two great evenings and we hope that you enjoyed walking the hallways and seeing some of your child's classrooms and getting to meet teachers. We recognize that not all staff were able to be present due to the event being split into two evenings and we encourage you to reach out to staff directly if you have questions or concerns about the class, the curriculum or other topics. In addition, we urge you to sign up for conferences with not only your child's team teachers but World Language and exploratory teachers as well. (see information below on how and when to sign up)
Finally, just a reminder to check our Daily Announcements for information about what is happening both in and after school at Clarke! This site is updated daily with information that is given to students during the morning and afternoon announcements. You can find the info under Announcements on our website or here: Daily Announcements
Upcoming Parent/ Teacher Conferences
Sign-ups will begin on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 @ 6:00AM. There will be a link on under Announcements on our website. Parent conferences are scheduled for the following days:
Friday, November 17, 2017 8:00AM – 3:00PM Conferences for All Grades
Monday, November 20, 2017 3:10PM - 4:30PM Conferences for All Grades
Wednesday, November 22, 2017 8:10AM – 11:40AM 6th Grade Conferences Only
Friday, December 1, 2017 8:10AM – 11:40AM 7th Grade Conferences Only
Friday December 1, 2017 12:30PM – 3:00PM Conferences for All Grades
Friday, December 8, 2017 8:10AM – 11:40AM 8th Grade Conferences Only
Friday December 8, 2017 12:30PM – 3:00PM Conferences for All Grades
Step-By-Step Directions:
Visit the Clarke website, clicking Parent Conferences link under Announcements.
Select the team and individual conferences desired.
Select the desired date and time, clicking on the “Submit and Sign Up” button.
You will be prompted to enter your child’s name, along with your phone number, allowing teams and teachers to prepare for the conference and contact you if needed.
Return to the Clarke website to sign up for another team or teachers. Changes can be made up to 5 days prior to your conference day.
Permissions and Handbook Acknowledgement Reminder
IMPORTANT: We are still missing many signatures on our permissions and handbook acknowledgement form. Please take a few minutes to review our Student Handbook.
After reviewing, we ask that you complete the acknowledgement form below.
This form also includes a place for you to grant permission for your child to be photographed, as well as an acknowledgement of our Student Internet Guidelines.
Permissions and Handbook Acknowledgement
We thank you in advance for your cooperation.
BARK at CLARKE
In early November, the entire school will be participating in a Balance activity during WIN. This activity is meant to get students thinking about balance in their life and what they do to find balance in their day to day busy lives. Each quarter we will focus on another one of the letters from BARK and provide students with an activity and tools to consider what BARKK means. Each and every day we want our Clarke students to bring their BARK to Clarke! Below is a wonderful illustration of Balance submitted by Sitara Mitragotri, a Clarke 6th grader. This is a wonderful visual for how we all can find balance in our lives. Thank you Sitara!
Jonas Bark working the crowd!
BARK at CLARKE
Trivia about Clarke to get the Pep Rally going!
News from the Counseling Office
Our counseling department is often trying to think about how to communicate the extensive resources that our community members have access to. We have compiled some commonly used community resources for Lexington parents listed below. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your grade level counselor or one of the social workers listed on our website for questions, concerns or more information.
Lexington Youth and Family Services Inc: LYFS is a resource for Lexington families and teens who are struggling, feeling stressed, anxious, depressed or just need a place to talk and get support through walk-in accessible counseling and crisis support.
Lexington Department of Human Services: The Lexington Department of Human Services provides central access to information and referral, clinical and financial assessments, connection to resources and consultation services to all Lexington residents, including access to short term clinical support and therapy referrals.
Lexington Community Coalition: A partnership between the Town of Lexington, the Lexington Public Schools and the Community, addressing shared goals to support Lexington's youth. The Coalition's community book discussions of How to Raise an Adult are coming up soon. Please reference www.facebook.com/lexcoalition for more information.
Walk and Roll Day to Clarke a Success!
Games!
Jonas Bark was there to greet students
A beautiful walk!
Upcoming Dates
Tuesday October 24 | PTO Parent Forum: Get to Know Your School
7:30PM - 8:30PM Clarke Cafeteria
Wednesday October 25 | Magazine Drive Kickoff
Help support Clarke by supporting the Clarke PTO Magazine Drive!
Monday October 30 | School Picture Make up day
Wednesday November 1 | Parent Conference Sign - Ups Begin
The link for sign ups for parent conferences will go live on November 1st.
Wednesday November 1 | Washington DC Parent Info Meeting
7:00PM in the Clarke Auditorium. Informational session on the 8th grade DC trip.
Friday November 3 | 8th Grade Social
6:30 - 8:30PM
Tuesday November 7 | Clarke PTO Flatbreads Fundraiser
No need to cook! go to (or order out from) Flatbreads in Bedford for delicious pizza and support Clarke!
Thursday November 9 | Clarke PTO Meeting
8:30AM Clarke Cafeteria
Thursday November 9 | LEF Trivia Bee
7:00PM LHS Auditorium. Come cheer on Clarke's FOUR teams in the BEE!
Friday November 10| No School
Veterans Day Observed
Friday November 10 | 1st Quarter Grades Close
Monday November 13| No School
Lexington Teachers Full Day of Professional Development
Friday November 17 | No School
Parent Conferences (Middle School Only)
Wednesday November 22 | Early Release
11:45 AM Dismissal for all Middle School students
November 23rd and 24th | No School
Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday December 1 | Early Release
11:45AM Dismissal for MS Parent Conferences
Friday December 8 | Early Release
11:45A Dismissal for MS Parent Conferences
News from the 7th Grade
Team Adventurer
Adventurer students have been learning the process of doing science by investigating the scientific method. Students conducted a sponge animal capsule lab where they dissolved capsules in different liquids (lemon juice, Coke, salt water, etc) to see which liquid broke down the capsule the fastest. The pH and viscosity of the liquids was considered. Students wrote a comprehensive lab report to share their findings! Currently we are studying the life processes and needs of living things. Next we'll be learning more about organic compounds and conducting another lab looking at types of carbohydrates in different foods. Then it is on to cells! Adventure on!
It has been a great start in 7th grade math. Homework is assigned on Friday and it is due the following Friday. It includes Review, Present material, and Problem Solving/ Challenge problems. The Review section includes material previously learned. The Present section includes problems that are related to what is being covered currently in the classroom. The problem solving section is a range of difficulty that students are not expected to know how to solve right away. We want the students to be comfortable with struggle, and the idea of not knowing….yet. General suggestions for your child: Start early, plan your time, form a study group during WIN, use the resources to access help during the week, In the Grade 7 math class, there is an opportunity to complete the honors homework weekly, and the opportunity to take a challenge test for each unit.
We have finished our Shapes and Design Unit on two-dimensional geometry and our Integers unit. We will be exploring similarity, ratio and proportional thinking in our next unit.
Geography students are still being introduced to the wonders of world climate, and the huge impact that climate has on human settlement and development.
In English, Adventurer students are in the midst of our short story unit. Using our “Look Who’s Coming to Dinner” Anthology, we’re honing our close reading skills. Beyond reading to understand the plot, we’re noticing “contrasts and contradictions,” which focus our thinking on potential conflicts. And, we’re mindful of writers’ use of “repetition” to emphasize a central idea to the story. Furthermore, while writing about the literature, we’re crafting convincing claims, identifying persuasive evidence, and constructing context and analysis to clearly communicate our thinking. No doubt, our argumentative writing is impressive.
Team Endeavor
Endeavor Science students have begun to learn how to use microscopes to view cells of all types. Once we have seen that all living things are made of cells and the characteristics that all living things share, we will begin to examine the organic compounds that are the basis for their structure and energy. From there it is off to an in depth study of the cell itself.
In World Geography class on Endeavor Team, we just completed the Introduction to Geography unit in which the students learned content and skills that will provide the foundation for our future studies this year. Students will be able to apply the five themes of geography to our studies of the history, geography, economy, culture, and governments in regions throughout the world. Now onto our first region… Europe, here we come!
In our short story unit, Endeavor students have been practicing their Nancy Drew and Sherlock Holmes detective skills by finding clues in the text that support theories about characters and conflict. Students have also been using the force--of their brain power--to Obi-Wan Kenobi or analyze these clues to further prove their theories. In addition to reading and writing, students are using signing and dance moves in class to connect ideas and commit them to memory. They are learning to take what they do seriously, but not themselves. We expect this last part to take all year.
It has been a great start in 7th grade math. Homework is assigned on Friday and it is due the following Friday. It includes Review, Present material, and Problem Solving/ Challenge problems. The Review section includes material previously learned. The Present section includes problems that are related to what is being covered currently in the classroom. The problem solving section is a range of difficulty that students are not expected to know how to solve right away. We want the students to be comfortable with struggle, and the idea of not knowing….yet. General suggestions for your child: Start early, plan your time, form a study group during WIN, use the resources to access help during the week, In the Grade 7 math class, there is an opportunity to complete the honors homework weekly, and the opportunity to take a challenge test for each unit.
We have finished our Shapes and Design Unit on two-dimensional geometry and our Integers unit. We will be exploring similarity, ratio and proportional thinking in our next unit.
Team Enterprise
Enterprise Team teachers have enjoyed getting to know both new and returning
students to Clarke. We appreciate the enthusiasm and energy that is brought to our
classes everyday through lively and engaging conversations.
In an effort to encourage students to extend school conversations with you at home,
you might want to talk with them about:
Math
It has been a great start in 7th grade math. Homework is assigned on Friday and it is due the following Friday. It includes Review, Present material, and Problem Solving/ Challenge problems. There is an opportunity to complete the honors homework weekly, and the opportunity to take a challenge test for each unit. We have finished our Shapes and Design Unit on two-dimensional geometry and our Integers unit. We will be exploring similarity, ratio and proportional thinking in our next unit.
Science
In science students have been learning about what it means to be living. They practiced identifying the seven characteristics of life in different organisms and are honing their microscope skills looking at examples of plant and animal cells.
English
Students are continuing to select Choice Books and regularly update their reading
calendars. Many readers are managing the required thirty minutes of reading per
night and some are even going beyond! Individuals continue to revise their reading
goals and are finding new ways to challenge themselves.
While analyzing literature in our “Look Who's Coming to Dinner” anthology, many interesting plot twists have been revealed. Students will have an opportunity to come together and creatively showcase their favorite characters from the stories they have read.
World Geography
Students continue to develop an understanding of the “Five Themes of Geography”
(location, place, human/environment interaction, movement, and region). One way
individuals have begun to appreciate the way we are connected is through the study
of maps. Students are able to identify the elements of the map and make insightful
connections based on the latitude and longitude of a particular location. We will be
transitioning from introductory unit of study to focus on particular regions (beginning
with the Europe) and the country that was selected by individuals at random for the Country Profile Project.
Team Explorer
We can’t believe it is already October! Time really does fly when you are busy learning! Explorer Team this year is off to a great start. Students have been working hard in each subject. Below you will find a brief summary of some of the skills and content they have been working on:
In Math, homework is assigned on Friday and it is due the following Friday. It includes Review, Present material, and Problem Solving/ Challenge problems. The Review section includes material previously learned. The Present section includes problems that are related to what is being covered currently in the classroom. The problem solving section is a range of difficulty that students are not expected to know how to solve right away. We want the students to be comfortable with struggle, and the idea of not knowing….yet. General suggestions for your child: Start early, plan your time, form a study group during WIN, use the resources to access help during the week, In the Grade 7 math class, there is an opportunity to complete the honors homework weekly, and the opportunity to take a challenge test for each unit. We have finished our Shapes and Design Unit on two-dimensional geometry and our Integers unit. We will be exploring similarity, ratio and proportional thinking in our next unit.
In Science, they have just finished wrapping up a successful scientific method unit, and Explorer scientists are currently studying life processes and the characteristics of living things! In this unit, students investigate what makes an organism alive. From bacteria to elephants, Explorers are using their knowledge of life processes to prove whether or not an organism is living. As a precursor to our unit on cells, studying life processes is a fantastic bridge into the remainder of our life science curriculum.
In English, we're continuing our investigation of the short story, looking at how great authors develop characters and conflicts in ways you might not expect. Soon after we finish this unit, we'll start writing our own personal narratives, concentrating on implementing some of the techniques we learned from the short stories we read earlier in the year.
In World Geography we are finishing up our Introduction Unit with our Country Profile Projects and Climate. Each student has chosen a country and has been working hard to gather information about that country. Some examples of this data are: Life Expectancy, Literacy Rates, and GDP per capita. As we continue our studies of the world these pieces of data will allow us to have a better understanding of the countries in each region. Students will be creating iMovies to present their data with the class when we are studying the unit their country is in. After we finish these projects we are off to learn about Europe!
Please look out for an Explorer Team postcard that could be coming your way. We will be picking two students each week that have stood out as model students and/or citizens in the Clarke community, and recognizing their contributions by sending a quick note home. We are excited to keep exploring!