Martin's Memos
Volume 2, Issue 27: March 22, 2019
This Week
Parents,
Spring is FINALLY here!
Please read the information in our newsletter below and let me know if you have any questions. Look below for the link to the article about the opening of the Avondale GATE Magnet School in the Rochester Post (C&G)!
We are also entering that time of year when we begin thinking about the mSTEP assessments. Here is a Parent's Guide to mSTEP testing you may find useful. The 5th graders will be taking the Science and Social Studies assessments in addition to ELA and Math. 4th graders will only take the ELA and Math mSTEP assessments. We will begin testing in April. More specific testing dates to come.
Have a great weekend!
-Ms. Kate Martin
Important GATE Middle School Reminder
-We have our own classes that will be provided at Meadows/GATE. Please refer to the slide from our Meadows presentation below. Any class with the "GATE" after it will be provided by us.
-The ONLY classes 6th graders might go to AMS for are: Concert Band 6, French 6, and Algebra 1 (if they tested into it).
-GATE is only offering 2 tracks - the Non-Band track and the Band track. Students that are interested in doing the Band track need to complete and return the pink sheet they received earlier this week. We are not offering choir, although music will be an option at our building.
This would also be a great time to review the "Move to Meadows" Presentation that was given to current families earlier this year. It has been linked in my newsletter since the presentation, but I've moved it up for your convenience.
We will start our own scheduling process and will provide more information after spring break.
Positivity Project - P2
This week's character strength is: Forgiveness
This week we focused on the character strength of FORGIVENESS. I included all of the description in this week's Memo, mostly because I think this is such a wonderful trait that students and adults can practice.
Forgiveness means that you forgive those who have done wrong. You accept that people make mistakes. It is the ability to move past being injured, and allow yourself to reconcile with the person who hurt you. Forgiveness can often be seen as a selfless act, but it also carries many benefits for those who practice it.
Those who demonstrate forgiveness have the ability to move forward after someone has hurt them. Forgiveness is often rooted in the idea that all people are valuable and worthy of a second chance. Many who forgive have the ability to consider things from another’s perspective.
Forgiveness does not mean rolling over and allowing yourself to be harmed. It does not mean that you forget the transgression. By forgiving someone, you don’t have to say that what he/she did was okay. And, forgiveness is not contingent on the other person apologizing.
For individuals, forgiveness has benefits that range from increased health to developing positive relationships to coming to an understanding that no one is without fault. Remaining bitter and angry increases your stress levels, and forgiveness helps an individual release that resentment, and repair or strengthen his/her relationships.
The ability to reconcile differences and move forward positively is a trait of any effective group. When people work together, conflict is inevitable. However, when people value each other’s contribution and believe in the group’s goal, they become more capable of moving past conflict and toward genuinely positive behavior. A group member’s willingness to forgive imperfections of both other members and the group as a whole contribute to overall success.
To understand why Johns Hopkins psychiatrist Karen Swartz says forgiveness calms stress levels and improves health -- and how you can bring more forgiveness into your life, even if it's not your natural inclination.
Pictures of the Week - "Enrichment Conference"
Superintendent Dr. Schwarz - Mystery Reader!
An insightful discussion ensued!
This Week...
Math: Students will continue their in their math groups.
Yellow- I can understand surface area and volume.
Green-I can understand intro to statistics.
Orange- I can understand equations.
Purple- I can understand fractions and decimals.
Science (5th): Our class finished our science unit, Mixtures and Solutions! We began a mini-unit on the stars and our universe.
Reading We are still in the midst of our Novel Study. While students are working on this, I've been pulling small reading groups to work on their focus skills. Students should have finished with part G and D this week.
Writing: We continued a unit on expository/informational writing. Here is what the students will be doing: Directions Sheet. The students are getting to the point where they are finishing their notes and starting to draft in their writing notebooks.
Enrichment: We had our first ever "Enrichment Conference" and it was fantastic! It truly made it more authentic and challenged the students in a new way in their presentations.
Looking Forward to Next Week...
Math: Students will continue their in their math groups.
Yellow- I can understand surface area and volume.
Green-I can understand intro to statistics.
Orange- I can understand equations.
Purple- I can understand fractions and decimals.
Science/Social Studies (5th): mStep review
Reading: We will continue a novel study! Here's the details - CLICK HERE! We are getting close to the end! Please check in with your child to see where they are at in the novel study and what they are working on.
Writing: We will continue a unit on expository/informational writing. Here is what the students will be doing: Directions Sheet
Enrichment: This time will be used for a variety of things: Some students will use this time to catch up on classwork that they haven't completed. Many will update their Online Educational Portfolios. Some will start to learn how to use our Spheros.
Upcoming Field Trips
Oakland University - Engineering Lab
April 8th from 9:00-1:30 ***This is the day we return from Spring Break!!!
Bring disposable sack lunch & a disposable snack
Cost = $17 for admission
OU Chaperone:
Ms. Weadock
Avondale GATE PTO Information!
Current Avondale GATE families,
We wanted to inform you of a few upcoming dates for those parents who are interested in running for a position in our 2019-2020 Avondale GATE Magnet School PTO.
March 12th: Parents came to the Woodland PTO Meeting @7pm. During this meeting, the Avondale GATE PTO "Elected Officers and their Duties" was shared. The process for electing our PTO was also be shared. If you are interested in running for a position, we ask that you complete the online form that is provided by April 8th. Information provided from each candidate and their desired position will be shared with the Woodland community.
May 14th: Ballot elections will be held (if there are more than 1 person running for the position) during the Woodland PTO Meeting @7pm. All of the Woodland community will be able to vote for our positions. COME VOTE IN PERSON!
After this meeting and elections are completed: The Avondale GATE PTO will be officially formed and stay under Woodland's guidance until the summer.
March is Reading Month!
The students that turned their popcorn in will receive a weekly prize! The next popcorn piece is due this Friday the 29th.
Avondale Anime/Comicon Event!
Upcoming Important Dates
Normal School Hours: 8:32 - 3:39 (GT dismissal 3:34)
Half Day Hours: 8:32 - 11:45 (GT dismissal around 11:40)
Early Release: 8:32-1:39 (GT dismissal around 1:34)
Late Start: 10:32-3:39
Apr. 1-5: Spring Break (Ms. Martin goes to Disney World! Yay!)
Contact Me
Email: kate.martin@avondale.k12.mi.us
Website: katemartingt.weebly.com
Location: 6465 Livernois Road, Troy, MI 48098, United States
Phone: (248) 537-6900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100017787916756
Twitter: @AvondaleGATE