SAUK PRAIRIE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Middle Level News - March 2018
Attendance: 643-5580
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FROM THE PRINCIPALS DESK
March is here—my favorite month! March means spring, early-season trout fishing, Shamrock Shakes, spring break, and my birthday! The school year is moving along quickly.
Parent/teacher communication is critical to student success in middle school. Some of you may have had a conference with your child’s teachers recently. However, if you didn’t, it’s not too late! If you are struggling at home with your child and worried about things at school, please contact the teacher, your child’s counselor, or an administrator. Our staff is committed to your child’s success in middle school, socially and academically, and we need to know when you are concerned so we can help!
Our state testing, the Wisconsin Forward Exam, is coming up in April. All students in grades 6, 7, and 8 will take Math and English Language Arts/Reading exams. Grade 8 will take Science and Social Studies exams as well. Testing will happen during your child’s regular classes and take a few hours spread out over a few days. The exam is taken on the computer (please send inexpensive ear bud headphones) and incorporates a variety of tasks including multiple choice, short answer, and short essay questions. More information will come out shortly before Spring Break. If you have questions about the exam, don’t hesitate to contact me at 643-5505!
Thank you, as always, for your commitment to Sauk Prairie Middle School. I want to encourage all of you to get involved in our school community. Call a teacher. Volunteer in a classroom. Chaperone a field trip. Come to the Parent Connection meeting or a school board meeting. And, as always, call or visit me any time to chat about how we can work together to maintain the pursuit of excellence here at SPMS.
Yours in education,
Ted Harter
7th GRADE MATH
Students in Math 7 are wrapping up a unit on integers. We have been developing algorithms for adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing integers and applying them to real world situations. We will extend those concepts to working with positive and negative fractions and decimals (rational numbers). We will then begin working with algebraic expressions before spring break.
Students in Math 7+ are working on a unit involving ratios and proportion. We have been finding useful ways to calculate and make sense of unit rates. We have also applied the use of unit rates to real-world situations and converted units of measure to a more useful measurement. We then shifted our focus to understand what a proportional relationship is. We used tables and graphs to identify a proportional relationships and wrote equations for those situations. After wrapping up this unit, we will review some percent concepts before shifting our focus to algebra.
7th GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES
In 7th grade social studies classes, students are continuing their learning about the diverse and fascinating continent of Africa. After learning much about the physical geography, we'll be transitioning into studying human geography and cultures. We'll also focus on some historical events such as the effects of colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade.
7TH GRADE SCIENCE
Team S-Science
We are currently wrapping up our unit on Chemistry, where we have been learning about atoms, elements, and the Periodic Table. Our next unit is Environmental Science. In chapter one, we will be learning about Ecosystems, determining Population size, and how animals adapt to their environment.
Team P-Science
We will be exploring topics in chemistry during the month of March. They will learn about properties of matter and how to distinguish between physical and chemical changes. Students will be introduced to the basic subatomic structures. They will also learn how the Periodic Table of Elements was developed and became an ordered system that provides information about the elements. The last unit of study for the year will be environmental science and current issues regarding human impacts on our planet.
7TH GRADE ENGLISH
8th GRADE MATH (& SM-1)
SM1 will be working working on exponential growth and exponential decay. Studies of biological populations, from bacteria and amoebas to mammals, often show exponential patterns of growth. The populations increase over time at an increasing rate of growth. Graphs of the data curve upward. This same pattern of growth is seen when money is invested in accounts paying compound interest. In other situations, quantities decline as time passes, at a decreasing rate-like medicine in your blood-stream. Students will learn to recognize and represent exponential growth and decay in tables, graphs, words and symbols. We will also learn exponent rules.
8TH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES
Team L students just completed a study of the Louisiana Purchase and the Corps of Discovery with the completion of a museum display or journal entries that share what they learned. We move on now to a brief look at the War of 1812 and the Monroe Doctrine before taking a deeper look at Andrew Jackson and his impact on the office of the president.
8TH GRADE SCIENCE
8TH GRADE ENGLISH
Focus on Fiction: Students have studied the Hero's Journey, writing a story of their own that follows the pattern. They are moving on to study the King Arthur legends.
ELA:
Beginning Band Meeting
Beginning Band Informational Meeting - Monday April 9th @ 6pm, Middle School cafeteria
For parents of current 4th graders who are interested in starting band in 5th grade and for all parents of older children who hope to start band for the first time as a 6th, 7th or 8th grade student next fall. The meeting will be about 30 minutes but is very important for a variety of reasons. Parents will sign up for an instrument trial appointment as part of this meeting. Student attendance at this meeting is not necessary.
7th & 8th Grade Track
From the Counselors
8th grade parents and students are invited to participate in a Grade 8 Academic and Career Planning Conference. This planning conference will include a small group of your child's peers, parents and counselors.
The conference is specifically designed for you and your student to focus on your child's current talents and interests, their educational and career development, and information to begin planning for their future. Conferences generally last 30 minutes. Your involvement in this conference is VOLUNTARY.
Topics covered will include an overview of students' Academic and Career Plan (ACP), high school transition and scheduling.
Please sign up for a date and time that works for you and your son/daughter using this link:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0948a8ae23abf85-academic
Please check in at the front office and you will be directed to the computer lab.
We are looking forward to meeting with you and your 8th grade student.
Sincerely,
Mindy Breunig & Bob Marquardt
Middle Level Leader
Alexis Strunz is the Optimist Middle Level Leader for February. She is an 8th grader and is the daughter of Gerald & Elizabeth Strunz. Alexis was nominated by the teachers on Team M.
When asked to select a student for Middle Level Leader, Team M immediately thought of Alexis. In everything she does, she strives for excellence, but she does so in a way that is selfless. She is helpful to other students, which she demonstrates by being a 6th grade mentor and student council member. She also spends her free time during study hall to tutor some of our English Language Learners. During class, she is consistently ready to help others who need it, even when it takes time away from her own work. As busy and involved as she is, she never fails to have smile on her face. She is friendly and welcoming to all of her teachers and peers.
In English, Ms. Sullivan says that Alexis gives her all. She asks great questions, edits and proofreads her own work, seeks input from her peers to ensure that she is doing quality work. Her writing is sophisticated and effective.
In Math, Mr. Bakken commented that Alexis is currently taking SM1, which is typically taken by Freshman. She is doing outstanding work in the class and is able to persevere with difficult problems. Mr. Bakken can always count on her to keep her partner or group on task and motivated to solve the problem at hand.
In Social Studies, Mr. Bacon says Alexis is one of his best students this year. She is well-informed and ready to participate in classroom discussions. She seems to have a genuine interest in American History because she is willing to try to answer the “what if” questions. This year, there are more small group activities in the class, and he can always count on Alexis to help others and keep her group on task. Working positively with her peers is a true strength for Alexis.
In Science class with Ms. Garczynski, Alexis demonstrates a high level of scientific knowledge that is advanced beyond 8th grade. She has been working on independent projects that help challenge her and allow her to explore science topics that she is passionate about. For example, she researched White Nose Syndrome in bats and created a house that cleans the bats when they enter. Her goal is to help prevent the spread of the disease and save the declining bat population. Here is yet another example of how she is always thinking of ways she can make a positive impact on the world.
At school Alexis is involved in Show Choir, Forensics, Student Council and is also a Sixth Grade Mentor. Her activities outside of school are gymnastics, Dance, 4H and Sauk County Junior Leaders Council. Alexis would like to attend Harvard University one day to pursue a career in neurology or occupational therapy.
GOOD CITIZENS, ROLE MODELS & LEADERS
6th Grade Good Citizens:
Savannah Acker / Tristan Kerska
Anna Bruckert / John Dietmann
7th Grade Role Models:
Jack Boerger / Molly Fabian
Danny Latham / Alorrianna Sitton
8th Grade Leaders:
Claire Thiede
Erin Tierney
Aaron Ripp
News from the G/T Department
Forensics
Since November, the Sauk Prairie Middle School Forensics team has worked under the leadership of Julie Breunig and Kathy Bruno on presentations ranging from solo and group acting, demonstration speeches, and four-minute informative speeches to prose interpretation, reader’s theater and non-original oratory. Some students wrote their own speeches, while others interpreted the words of others. They presented to their friends and family in January, and then, on February 6th, all of their efforts culminated in the Level I Festival at Beaver Dam Middle School. Sauk Prairie’s 32 students joined students from eight other schools to present their pieces to judges. Every team member received at least two A ratings (out of three scores) to advance to the Level II Festival, which will be held on February 26th. Congratulations to these middle school public speakers.
Pictured are members of the Sauk Prairie Middle School Forensics Team:
Front: Hope Zander, Chloe Wernsing, Alana Buffardi, Jade Reeves, Elena Homar, Emerson Drew, Shannon Tierney, Addison Strunz, Erelyn Apel, Bri Maier, Ellery Apel
Middle: John Dietmann, Finn Ruyle, Ella Midthun, Will Judge, Jack Rausch, Ellie Lankey, Lexi Been, Lexy Schwartz, Marcus Martinez, Kiana Travis
Back: Molly Fabian, Carly Kinnamon, Jack Boerger, Will Osgood, Annika Staedter, Evelyn Fritsch, Kylie Krayer, Natilee Johnson, Alexis Strunz, Ryan Godwin, Angel Galvan
Notes from the Nursing staff
Tdap requirements for 6th grade students next year-2018-19
The Wisconsin Student Immunization law requires that all students entering the 6th grade receive a dose of Tdap vaccine. To be compliant with the school law, parents must provide their child's school with proof of immunization or claim a waiver.
1. What is Tdap?
Tdap is a vaccine that protects against Tetanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis (whooping cough).
2. What grades are affected and what vaccine is required?
All students entering grades 6 through 12 must have one dose of Tdap.
Local Business Volunteers with 7th Graders in a Pilot Program
The 7th Grade Computer and Technology classes are participating in a pilot program called Junior Achievement. This program looks for volunteers from local businesses to come in and teach the six lessons to the students. Junior Achievement inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy through volunteer-led, hands-on activities that reinforce the concepts of work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. They offer several types of programs at the middle school level.
Our students are participating in the Economics for Success. This program provides an opportunity for students to learn how to earn money, spend wisely within a budget, save, invest, use credit cautiously, and protect personal finance.
Volunteers from Quartz have been coming in and teaching the lessons to these 7th graders. This has been a very valuable experience for the students and a big thank you to Quartz for working so closely with us to provide this opportunity to our students.
Bridgez students' valentine sale
Packing food bags four times a year and working working to remove invasive species and planting flowers at August Derleth Park.
BE A MENTOR - MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Are you someone who cares about the people in your community and willing to invest one hour a week to assist, encourage and accept? Sauk Prairie friends, we are looking for volunteers to be mentors to our students at the Middle School. Mentors in our program offer emotional and education support to youth attending the Middle School.
Mentors encourage good attendance, promote learning through responsible study habits, help students get organized and set goals, build career awareness and appreciation for higher education. The mentor program is designed to be an in-school service.
If you can volunteer your time once a week during a study hall, we’d love to hear from you! Contact sherri.ramaker@saukprairieschools.org for an application or to learn more about this opportunity!