THE TIGER QUARTERLY
Marking Period 2 - SY 23/24
Marking Period 2 Events
Tiger Pride Pep Rally
After the first marking period, the Honor Roll and Character Awards were recognized at our first Tiger Pride Pep Rally. The Tiger Teams competed in Minute to Win it games, as well as school trivia. The students from the winning team for each grade level won a Dunkin recess!
The Great Kindness Challenge
During the week of 1/22, HMS participated in the Great Kindness Challenge, a week-long program dedicated to creating a culture of kindness and compassion in communities worldwide. Students utilized the Great Kindness Challenge Checklist to keep track of their kindness and compassion.
CTY Meadowlands Environmental Center Trip
CTY students enjoyed an amazing trip to the Meadowlands Environmental Center where they learned about density and buoyancy. Students used microscopes to investigate aquatic life in the estuary, specifically plankton. Applying their knowledge, students were given popsicle sticks, paper clips, pennies, and tinfoil to attempt to build a structure that, like plankton, is neutrally buoyant.
A Message from Principal Sorafine
Dear Tiger Community,
As we close out the 2nd Marking Period at Hoboken Middle School, I would like to recognize the remarkable achievements of our students, faculty and families. Their commitment to academic excellence, positive behavior, and fostering a strong school community has exceeded all my expectations. In our newsletter you will get a snapshot of our 2nd Marking Period at HMS. I am proud that every student has taken the Link-It! Form B Assessment, and we have formulated a standards-based plan to optimize student success. We also began “Tiger Talks” during the Fine and Performing Arts periods and we are noticing a positive shift in student social interaction. The 1st Marking Period Assembly was a huge success and students supported one another in healthy competition. We also celebrated student’s academic achievements and acknowledged three students who earned Ms. Falcone’s Character Award of Excellence. We look forward to our 2nd Marking Period assembly where students will compete with their Tiger Teams in a grade level Tiger Family Feud. Thank you for your unwavering support in cultivating an environment where every student can thrive.
Enjoy the Ride!
Principal Sorafine
6th Grade
ELA
To begin the new marking period, students compared and contrasted texts in different forms and genres. They thought of their favorite stories, poems, or songs to help them understand how to compare and contrast different texts. After, students began reflecting on their essential unit 2 question; “How do relationships shape us?” to help them brainstorm and organize ideas for their Extended Writing Project. Then, students read the poem “Teenagers" in partner groups and annotated the text using the strategy of inferencing.
Math
We had a great time with 6th graders in the second marking period! Students first wrapped up Topic 3 to prepare for their assessment and reviewed concepts like greatest common factor, least common multiple, prime factorization, and more. Then, students discovered that algebraic expressions could be simplified and reviewed concepts that they learned for the first few months of the school year. This refresher was beneficial for the students because these concepts will be able to help them in the new topic. For Topic 4, students discovered that ratio tables could be used to compare ratios and solve problems. After, students used multiplication and division to generate equivalent ratios organized in ratio tables.
Science
Students did wonderful in the 2nd marking period! First, they wrapped up their STEAM Tank presentations and started Physics in a Box. Then, they did another lab about conversions. They filled out a conversion chart and memorized the conversion pneumonic. The next unit was heavily focused on mating rituals, sexual selection, and innate behaviors. Students had a plant and animal reproduction test where they practiced linear measurements, conversions, estimations, real-world applications, multi-step complicated problems, and learned the stack method to calculate the size of very small objects. Finally, students learned about the different parts of the plant, how they reproduce, and how pollinators help plants reproduce.
Social Studies
To kick off the 2nd Marking Period, students discussed the Second Continental Congress and accessed the success of Colonists/Patriots during the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Then, students learned that small states/colonies wanted the same amount of power as the larger states during the creation of the Constitutions. Student leaders led the classroom discussion on comparing and contrasting the New Jersey and Virginia plans with the creation of the National Government. Next, students learned about the enslavement of African Americans and its role in the creation of our national government. They studied the ⅗ clause and learned how tariffs played a role in the conflict between the Northern and Southern States. To increase their knowledge even more, students watched a speech by MLK, “What is your Life’s Blueprint” and analyzed the speech. To end off the 2nd Marking Period, students learned how the Framers solved conflicts between the Northern and Southern states.
7th Grade
ELA
To start off the second marking period seventh graders continued their exploration of highs and lows. Then they read two new texts, “My Mother Pieced Quilts” by Teresa Acosta and “Museum Indians” by Susan Power. Then students annotated the texts for common themes. Also students finished reading part ll of their core novel Tangerine by Edward Bloor. Then seventh graders began the new year by reading an informational named “No Dream To High”. After that seventh graders spent a week preparing and participating in a mock trial for the death of Luiz Cruz.
Math
To start off the second marking period students focused on forging connections between proportional relationships and percentages. Then students engaged in a card sorting activity that helped solidify their understanding of the relationship between fractions, decimals, and percentages. After that students continue their exploration of circle measurements. Then they learned about combining like terms. Then after that students extended their skills to solve equations like px+q=r.
Science
To kick off the new marking period students worked on modification and preparations for recording their video submission into the STEAM Tank Challenge. Then the classes explored energy transfer caused by chemical reactions, by creating slides and a Kahoot! to challenge fellow classmates. Students began the new year by making a natural disaster slide show.
Social Studies
At the start of the second marking period students finished learning about ecosystems. Then students started to learn the basics of economics and being able to tell the difference between needs and wants. Then students finished up their unit on culture and took a quiz on their knowledge. After that students started a new unit that focuses on the United States and Canada. Then students focused on native American tribes and the English colonies.
8th Grade
ELA
In the second marking period, 8th Grade ELA students took on Unit 2: Past & Present. In this unit, students revisited figurative language in poetry and analyzed for theme, author’s purpose, and point of view. We were excited to read Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, where students were exposed to the evils of racism in the deep south during the 1930s. Students took a journey through narrator Scout’s childhood in Maycomb, Alabama. The novel portrayed topics of racism, injustice, maturing, and courage. Students completed an argumentative essay in which they argued their stance on a major plot line within the novel.
Pre-AP Algebra
Pre-AP Algebra students took a look at bivariate data where they considered two variables and determined whether or not they are related. Students explored the connection between algebra and geometry using algebraic expressions to define the missing piece in a given context. Additionally, we completed correlation projects!
Pre-Algebra
During marking period 2, 8th Grade Pre-Algebra Students focused on linear relationships. We completed fun activities on Desmos where students learned how to write their own linear equations using slope intercept form (y=mx+b). Students were also able to find slope on any two given points. Lastly, students discovered how to write equations of horizontal and vertical lines.
Science
During the second marking period in science, 8th Graders learned about minerals and how to identify them. 8th Grade scientists researched various fossil formations. To conclude the marking period, we learned about electricity and magnetism. We applied what we learned by investigating circuits in our physics boxes!
Pre-AP World History
This marking period in Pre-AP History, students completed a source analysis performance task: To what extent do North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa have different regional characteristics? To continue, students were introduced to the causes and effects of the Neolithic Revolution. Students examined historical documents that explore the effects of plant and animal domestication as well as different cultivation techniques.
Social Studies
8th Grade Social Studies spent some time during marking period 2 learning about Ancient Rome. We analyzed influences from the Etruscan’s such as writing systems, architecture, and political systems. We also analyzed the origins of christianity. Furthermore, we examined the historical documents related to the fall of the Roman Empire. Lastly, we learned about the rise and legacy of the Byzantine Empire; this included the Justinian law code, Orthodox Christianity, and the cyrillic alphabet.
World Language
French
6th grade French students focused on vocabulary on likes and dislikes. We also continued working on pronunciation and writing skills! 7th grader French students learned vocabulary pertaining to the family and took a receptive language quiz on the topic. Students demonstrated mastery of all of the vocabulary related to the family by creating a personalized family tree. 8th graders developed presentational speaking skills by memorizing and performing their answers to questions based on the weather in the four seasons.
Spanish
In Spanish, Grade 6 students read about and discussed Christmas traditions in the Spanish speaking countries. Grade 7 started to learn about foods and drinks. Students discussed their favorite breakfast food choices and why they are their favorite. 8th grade students learned and applied appliance vocabulary. Grade 7 and 8 both completed a project on Christmas and New Year’s Eve traditions in Spanish speaking countries.
Mandarin
6th grade Mandarin students practiced the numbers from one to thirty and will use these numbers to express the month, day and their birthday. We also talked about the "lucky numbers and unlucky numbers" in Chinese culture.7th grade students practiced the dialogue for the speaking test including reading the sentences in Chinese characters and forming a dialogue asking and responding to the questions about their favorite color and favorite color of the clothes. Students used the colors they have learned to describe different clothes. 8th grade students are practicing the Chinese character, both recognizing and typing skills, and they finished their test by typing the Chinese characters.
Physical Education
During MP2 in Phys Ed, students had a blast with kickball and hockey!
Fine & Performing Arts
Visual Arts
Ms. Whelan’s visual art students had the opportunity to learn a variety of new skills, techniques, vocabulary, and art history during this marking period.
Creative Writing
In Creative Writing, students explored various topics including origin stories, different genres in fiction, and short stories. Students have been working each day to practice writing a variety of genres!
Pre-AP Dance
In Pre-AP Dance this first Marking Period students in the 6th grade tackled module one of the college board curriculum at HMS, and grades 7th and 8th embarked on module two. Students did an amazing job with putting their creative skills to practice during dance study performances!
Pre-AP Music: Band
In Pre-AP Music: Band, 7th & 8th grade students started Module 2, examining how scales are created using whole and half step intervals. In 6th grade, Module 1 students have been experimenting with interpreting music expressively by altering dynamics, instrumentation, tempo, and articulation. Students spent time preparing for the Winter Concert on December 6th!
Pre-AP Theater
In Pre-AP Theater, students participated in many different activities throughout the marking period to strengthen their stage presence. 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students performed pieces to demonstrate their stage presence skills at the end of the marking period!
Winter Concert ft. HMS Strings and Band
Clubs
Newsletter Club
The Newsletter Club spent the second marking period working on our “Tiger Quarterly” for MP2. We hope everyone enjoys reading our newsletter!
Student Council
Student council collaborated with NJHS to collect new and unwrapped gifts for the Hoboken Community Center's Holiday Market Drive. Student council had a Tiger Talk to reflect on what Student Council is, why we joined, and discuss the positive happenings at HMS. Student Council is now selling HMS jibbitz.
Academic Team
Academic Team prepared for their second Continental Mathematics League Meet of the school year. Students worked in teams and against the clock to solve math problems from previous CML meets. This week, the Academic Team competed in their second Continental Mathematics League meet of the school year. The Academic Team played a game of Holiday Jeopardy. Students worked in teams to complete the NYTimes 2023 End-of-Year News Quiz.
NJHS
Several members of the NJHS had the opportunity to attend a special volunteer shift at the Hoboken Community Center’s Food Pantry thanks to Mrs. Decker, and Jennifer Manzetti, Director of Operations at the Pantry. More students are volunteering for the tutoring & mentoring program.
GSA
Club members watched a short documentary about the history of Two-Spirit folks in Native American culture, who embody both masculine and feminine energies and defying the gender binary. The GSA welcomed new members to the club and continued to work on their anti-bias posters. The GSA spread the message “Think Before You Speak” by hanging posters around the building. . Club members engaged in a quick yoga/meditation practice and reflected on their own definitions of self-care
Best Buddies
During the second marking period, the Best Buddies club spread kindness throughout HMS. We put words of encouragement sicky notes on each grade's lockers. Additionally, we made encouragement posters!
Literary Club
The Literary Book Club explored options for their next book selection and decided upon The Book Thief written by Markus Zusak. This story is a historical fiction novel set in Nazi Germany during WWII. We had an ice cream party to celebrate the upcoming holiday break, but more importantly, we celebrated friendship, our common interests and love for reading with gratitude.
Chorus Club
HMS chorus rehearsed to get ready for their performance at the Hoboken Christmas Tree Lighting. Singers prepared for their concert on Wednesday night, focusing on part independence and memorization.
Band Club
The 6th Grade Band finished up with “March of the Sad Santas''. The 7th and 8th grade Band wrapped up their second concert piece, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Then, the middle school band put the final touches on their repertoire for the winter concert. Beginner band members worked on tone creation and reading simple rhythms.
Junior Thespians
In the junior thespians club, students get to have fun by playing games and learn about theater too. They learn acting techniques throughout fun games that contribute to theater. This week Junior Thespians was spent working on preparing competition material for STANJ. Junior Thespians participants practiced their improv skills with an activity called Mind Meld.
Hudson River Explorers Institute
Students in the Hudson River Explorers Institute looked at and examined various creatures collected at Caven Point Beach in Jersey City and Hoboken Cove in Hoboken. These creatures included a red beard sponge, a ribbed mussel shell, eastern oyster shell, horseshoe crab shell, seagull feather, razor clam shell, coral, blue crab shell and more. The students worked to identify the common name of each specimen and its genus and species (binomial) name. They then researched about each organism, including whether or not it is motile, what it eats, where it lives, whether or not it migrates, and more. They took careful measurements of the size of each specimen in terms of mass and length. Finally, the students presented their findings to one another.
Passport To Learning
During the winter session of PTL, students had the option of volleyball, table tennis/pickleball, cardio kickboxing, painting/sculptures/elements of the stage, cheer, chess, or soccer!