Sandwich Middle School
February Newsletter 2022
6th Grade News
Goodbye, January…Hello, February….This month, our 6th graders will stay very busy in their core classes, learning even more amazing skills and content in all our subjects!
In Language Arts, we will finish working on analyzing informational text and begin the process of writing a personal narrative. We will then begin our novel study of Bud, Not Buddy. AT Language will start the novel Hoot and will be reviewing elements of fiction.
Instructional Language Arts class is working hard on learning to write a paragraph. We’ll also continue with our reading series and focus on mixed genre, as well as a nonfiction unit before entering another novel unit later in the school year.
In Social Studies, we will be “Roaming with the Romans” as we study Ancient Rome!
Science will continue exploring Ecosystems and Biomes. Then we will shift to planet Earth. We will explore our resources and some of the challenges we face and how we can overcome them.
All levels of math will be working with percents, fractions, and decimals. They will also be practicing how to find tax, tip and discount. (Real world situations using percents!)
Our Students of the Month for 6th grade are Alexandrea Laporte and Logan Trigg! Awesome work, guys!
7th Grade News
We have just a few reminders to help your student be successful. Please sit down with your student on a regular basis to look at Google Classroom. You can see the status of the work by going to the “classwork” tab on the top. Then, on the top left, click on the “View Your work.” Please keep in mind that Google Classroom will NOT show your student’s grade, so please check Tyler for grades. Also, please check with your child to make sure that they have the supplies that they need to be successful in school.
If you are absent, please make sure that you are checking Google Classroom and completing the work that is posted. It is important that you stay up to date on all of your work.
Students may want to bring a refillable water bottle with them to school to stay hydrated throughout the day. Please note that only water is allowed in the classrooms. Also, please make sure that your student is bringing the necessary supplies to class each day. It is very important that students charge their Chromebooks every night to be ready for the next school day. We are seeing a lot of students using up the battery in their Chromebook because games are being played throughout the day. Please reinforce the importance of wearing masks correctly while in the building. This includes covering both the mouth and the nose. We appreciate your support while we continue to navigate through this pandemic.
The 7th-grade Students of the Month are Clayton Anderson and Eleanore Vanatta. Congratulations to you both! Keep up the good work.
8th Grade News
February 8th Grade Newsletter
Last month, the high school guidance counselors and a group of high school students came over to give a presentation to the 8th grade class about what to expect. They spoke about classes, expectations, the layout of the school, and many other topics. Please contact the high school if you have any questions about freshman registration or class selection. Soon we will be participating in state testing. Students will take the IAR (Illinois Assessment of Readiness) and the ISA (Illinois Science Assessment) in March. Even though Covid has made academic life a little challenging, we still know that our students will do their very best.
Please encourage your child to check Google Classroom everyday and complete the assigned work. Also, please ask your child to check Tyler everyday. We find that our Tyler program is the best way for students to stay on top of their academic progress.
History: We will be starting our study of World War II during the beginning parts of February. Students will become familiar with the causes and effects of the war, major battles, war mobilization on the homefront, and the Holocaust. After our study of World War II we will transition into a unit on the Cold War.
Language Arts: In February, we will begin another novel unit as we continue studying about influential African Americans throughout history. We will be reading The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis. In this unit, we will continue to learn about the different types of figurative language as well as characterization, dialogue, and other literary devices.
Instructional Language Arts:
Instructional LA students are finishing up The Cay by Theodore Taylor. We will move right into our next novel study after a week of building up our reading and writing skills. Our next novel is The Watsons go to Birmingham- 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis. While reading this novel we are going to continue to focus on our summarizing skills and building up our vocabulary skills.
Math: We are now well into Chapter 3: Expressions and Equations. In class we have been discussing the importance of being able to solve algebraic equations and write and solve equations from real life situations (word problems). The students are picking up these new skills quickly! We continue to practice our basic math skills through daily Math Minute warm-ups (Minute 100 is scheduled for the first week of February and then we’ll take a short break as a reward), weekly work on iXL.com, and weekly real-world problems solving skills. Please encourage your students to log into iXL at home and practice outside of class.
Instructional Math: In Instructional Math, we will be finishing our work on integer operations from before the break before heading into Chapter 9 (variables and expressions) and Chapter 10 (equations). As always, we continue to work on our basic math skills through daily practice on Math Minutes, weekly iXL time, and periodic review of real-world problem solving strategies. A reminder: iXL problems that are assigned on Fridays must come from the “starred” (recommended) list since these are skills that support and enhance what we are working on in our lessons.
Science: Students will be continuing their work on the oceanography unit including study of waves, tides, currents, the ocean floor, and the ocean zones. They will transition to a short unit on marine animal adaptations and habitats that includes a research project. Please make sure your students have colored pencils and rulers to be successful in their work.
Students of the Month: The 8th grade Students of the Month are Shayla Green and Nick Michalek. These are two kind, hard working students who take pride in their work. We are lucky to have them in our classes!
PE News
Hello from the Phys Ed department. We hope everyone had a wonderful winter break. Physical Education has been quite busy since we have returned from break. Right from the “get go” our students participated in our action packed badminton unit. 6th grade students worked on their serving skills and rules understanding, 7th fine tuned all learned skills and played some competitive games, and our 8th grade students participated in a round robin tournament.
In the near future, our students will move onto our exciting Olympic unit. This unit will consist of activities such as: Hockey shot, luge, bobsled, speed skating, volleyball, and many more. We are very excited to see the action unfold right before our eyes!
We would like to congratulate one student who has dramatically improved, has gone above and beyond all expectations, and has displayed outstanding leadership skills. This month’s Physical Education student of the month is none other than Fernanda Anguiano. We are so proud of you. Keep up the great work!Band News
The SMS Music Department is in need of some specialty instruments and equipment for their extracurricular Jazz Band. They are looking for electric and bass guitars in working condition as well as amplifiers. If you have any of these you aren't using and are willing to donate, please contact the SMS office or email ekilley@sandwich430.org
Nurse News
February is American Heart Month:
Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Know your risk and protect your heart. Check out the resources available from the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute and join us for National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 4th.
February is also National Children's Dental Health Month:
Through a charitable donation from Delta Dental, we were fortunate enough in our district to be the recipients of enough dental health kits and educational materials to provide one to each grade school, 6th & 7th grade student in the district. Watch for these to be coming home with your students in the month of February & take some time to review the handouts and supplies together.
Dental Reminder:
Completed Proof of School Dental Exam forms are required for current sixth grade students by May 15, 2022. If you are unable to obtain the required dental exam, please complete the Dental Exam Waiver Form.
Sincerely,
Ashley Quiles, BSN, RN, PEL-SN
Sandwich Middle School
815-786-2138
Patriot's Pen Winners
On behalf of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1486 we thank the school, teachers, and students for participating in this year's contest.
We are pleased to announce the following Patriot's Pen winners:
1st Place Dylan Johnson
2nd Place Delaney Kotecki
3rd Place Haylee Lilliebridge
Tyler Parent Portal Registration Instructions
Important Dates
February 18-11:10 Dismissal
February 21-No School/Non-attendance Day
District News
2022-2023 School Calendar Adopted
The 2022-2023 school calendar has been adopted setting the first day of school as August 17, 2022. School will be dismissed at 1:10 pm on this day.
The SHS Class of 2023 graduation date was set for May 21, 2023.
8th grade promotion for this year’s class is set for May 24, 2022 (additional details forthcoming from SMS for 8th grade families).
The 22-23 calendar is located on the district’s website.
2022-2023 Registration Season Launched – Current Students
Sandwich CUSD 430 uses a fully integrated online registration system. This system can be accessed through the Tyler Parent Portal link where parents check grades, lunch account balances and any other fees that have been or need to be paid.
For convenience, parents and students may use the shortcut to the Tyler Parent Portal on the "Taskbar" located at the bottom of the students school issued Chromebook. Additional registration information is located on the district’s website.
Incoming Kindergarten Registration Process – 2022-2023
The Sandwich School District will be holding Kindergarten Registration for the 2022-2023 school year the week of March 14th – March 18th from 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. If your child will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2022, he/she is eligible for Kindergarten.
Additional information is located on the district’s website.
If you are unsure which elementary building your child will attend, please contact one of the following schools: Woodbury (815)786-6316, Prairie View (815)786-8811 or Haskin at (815)786-8812.
Welcome to the Class of 2035!
School Registration for the 22-23 School Year
Registration for next school year is open and must be completed by May 1, 2022. Please log in to your Tyler Parent Portal Account to complete registration.
No money is due at this time, only registration.
If you need your user name and/or password, please contact our office and we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you,
Sandwich Middle School
815-786-2138
2022-2023 District Calendar
The 2022-2023 school calendar has been adopted setting the first day of school as August 17, 2022. School will be dismissed at 1:10 pm on that day.
The SHS Class of 2023 graduation date was set for May 21, 2023.
The 2022-2023 calendar is located on the district’s website or at this link 2022-2023 District 430 Calendar.
e-Learning Days – in lieu of “snow days”
Chromebooks
Chromebooks
We definitely understand that everyone is forgetful now and then.
When it comes to Chromebooks, regularly forgetting to bring a fully charged one to school can begin to negatively impact your students’ grade if they are unable to complete digital work while in school. While a limited number of loaner Chromebooks are available for students at school, there are not always enough to accommodate every day.
Here are some tips to help your child remember to charge and bring his/her Chromebook to school daily:
Please remind them that this is a school expectation. Just as we would expect them to come to school on time, bring textbooks, or pens/pencils, students are also expected to bring their Chromebooks, fully charged.
Set a nightly routine with your child.
Plug in the Chromebook to charge at the same time every night or at the same time that phones are plugged in to charge.
Always charge the Chromebook in the same place.
Consider always leaving the Chromebook and charger in the bookbag except when using it to do homework. Even when charging, it can be left in the bag with the zipper open to plug in the charging cord.
Set a morning routine with your child.
Regardless of when they get out of bed and get ready for school, have them keep their bookbag in the same place so that they can grab it on their way out the door.
If not keeping the Chromebook and charger in the bookbag when not in use, have them always in the same place, near the bookbag, when not in use.
Preschool Screening Information
Lunch and Breakfast Menu
About US
Email: smorel@sandwich430.org
Website: www.sandwich430.org
Location: 600 South Wells Street, Sandwich, IL, USA
Phone: 8157862138