SOARING EAGLES
MATA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
IMPORTANT DATES
2 Read Across America Day
2 Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss
13-17 Spring Break
22 Crime Stoppers Speaker in the Family Center 9:30 a.m.
22 Spring Fitness Fest 6-7 p.m.
23 Report Cards sent home
24 Girls with Goals Schoo Dance 4:20-5:45 p.m.
25 Family U Conference 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
SCHOOL NUTRITION
USDA Proposed Rule
USDA is currently in a public comment phase for new proposed rules that impact meal patterns for reimbursed meals. The proposed rules would further restrict sodium & sugar. This would impact Alief students. Comment period will end in 41 days. Parents can call 281-988-3420 with any questions they may have.
Link to flyer and comment period is found here: USDA Proposed Rule
COUNSELOR CORNER
Self-care is when you take time to do things that make your mind and body feel calm and happy. By taking care of yourself often, you are better able to cope with stress or other feelings that you may experience. Read below to learn how you can start practicing self-care!
Share Your Feelings…
It is helpful to find someone to talk about your feelings with often. This could be a counselor, a close friend, or a family member. Talking about your feelings is a healthy way of coping and can help you feel happier.
Learn to Relax…
Take some time to do something that relaxes you and calms your mind and body. This might mean turning off electronics and going out in nature. You could also try meditation, yoga, or listening to calming music.
Take Care of Your Body…
The healthier you are, the easier it’ll be to cope with stress and negative feelings. Make sure that you’re getting enough sleep every night. Exercise often, and eat healthy meals.
Things to remember…
1. Stay connected with the Teacher!!
· Why wait for a parent-teacher conference?
· Connect with your child’s teacher by text, Class Dojo, Schoology, email, phone calls, parent conference, or Zoom.
2. Encourage your child to take ownership of their learning!
· Students should be able to show parents their complete/incomplete assignment grades.
LIBRARY
Thank you to everyone who supported our Spring Scholastic Book Fair!
During the month of March, students will be participating in Makerspace activities during their library time, as well as checking out new books. Makerspaces are self-directed, hands-on activities that spark interest and creativity. They allow students an opportunity to use critical thinking skills and to collaborate with others through team efforts.
Over Spring Break, please access eBooks via AliefHub>Alief Digital Resources: Capstone, MackinVia, and Lightbox. Please access educational games via AliefHub>Alief Digital Resources: World Almanac, World Book, and Learn360.
Please follow us on Twitter: @Mata_Library
#MataReads
TECHNOLOGY
Digital Safety – Managing your Passwords
Are you managing your passwords? You should change your passwords often and do not use the same passwords for all of your sites. This will help to keep your privacy in the online environment. Check out this resource http://bit.ly/3QwZGHz. Why is it important to manage your passwords?
SCIENCE
5th Grade is leaning about Unit 12: Ecosystems- During this unit, students describe biotic and abiotic factors of an ecosystem in which organisms interact. They must be able to identify which components of an ecosystem are biotic or abiotic. Students also study and diagram the levels of organization within an ecosystem, including organism, population, community, and ecosystem. When presented with a scenario or diagram, students must be able to identify which level of organization is represented
6th Grade is learning about Taxonomic Groups- During this unit, students learn that all living things are composed of cells and recognize that the presence of a nucleus determines whether a cell is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. Students also identify basic characteristics of organisms including autotrophic, heterotrophic, unicellular or multicellular, and modes of reproduction. Students recognize that the taxonomic system is based on understanding differences at the cellular level and the broadest taxonomic classification is divided into currently recognized Domains. Students construct tables to compare and contrast characteristics of organisms in order to determine their classification
READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS
Reading and Language Arts
For the month of March, fifth grade students will focus on the essential question, “What role does curiosity play on exploration?” They will also have opportunities to identify author’s craft, theme, and to make and confirm predictions as they encounter informational, persuasive, science fiction, and narrative nonfiction texts. As students build their vocabulary and synthesize topic knowledge, they will read and respond to texts in writing about exciting land, sea, and space discoveries. In writing, students will reinforce the mindset of questioning, which involves how asking questions and curiosity lead to exploring new ideas, materials, and skills. They will use various questions to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish a research report about a discovery that was made in the past that affects our lives today.
The sixth grade students will focus on the essential question, “What fascinates us about our seas and shorelines?” They will also review central ideas, text structure, author’s craft, and supporting ideas to better understand informational texts and poetry. As students build their vocabulary and synthesize topic knowledge, they will read and respond to texts in writing about how the ocean is critical to human survival and our understanding of the world. In writing, students will also reinforce the mindset “questioning” to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish a research report on a topic that delights or amazing them about our seas or shorelines.
Please make sure your child is reading for at least 20 minutes daily to not only prepare them for our upcoming Reading STAAR test on April 18th (5th grade) and 19th (6th grade), but to also help them improve all skills in math, reading, science, and social studies.
Social Studies
For the month of March, fifth grade students will complete and be tested on Unit 4: Manifest Destiny on how our young nation has grown to include the following topics: The Louisiana Purchase, The War of 1812, Native Americans, Women and African Americans. Then, they will explore moving topics to include: Inventions, Roads, and Railroads; The Lone Star State, Trails of the West, and the California Gold Rush. Lastly, they will then begin their study on Unit 5, The Civil War and Reconstruction.
Sixth grade students will complete and be tested on Sub-Saharan Africa’s geography, early states, slave trade, and colonization to independence. Then, they will study Southwest Asia’s physical geography, culture, government, and economics.
MATH
Happy Spring Mata Families! This year has truly been speeding along. We are now in a time of renewal and new beginnings. This also holds true for our students. In the month of March, right after spring break, our students will take the State Spring Interim
Assessment. Fifth grade will be taking the test on March 21st and sixth grade will take the test on March 22. Please make sure that your students get a good nights rest and breakfast on the day of the test.
Upcoming units of study are:
5th: Geometry along with Personal/financial literacy and data
6th: Personal/financial literacy
While your students are on winter break, continue having the work on iReady and their math facts.
Continuing this year will be our department’s accelerated math instruction. This instruction reviews math skills and will be 30 to 45 minutes daily with their math teacher.
Along with our accelerated math instruction time, we will have 20 minutes of reteaching time at the beginning of each of our class times to reinforce those high-leverage math skills. Please encourage your student to let their teacher know if they need additional help.
We look forward to continuing to partner with you for your student's success along our adventure. At Mata, our math department’s motto is Math Achievement Through Actions, which will help your student!
STAY CONNECTED
Website: https://www.aliefisd.net/Mata
Twitter: @mataeagles
Phone: (281) 983-7800
Amy Coleman-Diaz, Principal
Rasolyn McKenzie, Assistant Principal
Lizette Zeren, Assistant Principa