Maple Avenue Middle School
May/June 2019
Student of the Month: Anthony Shirdon
The Sky Pilots and Maple Avenue have chosen Anthony Shirdon as our Student of the Month. Anthony has done an amazing job this year. He has risen to the challenge of the academics in 8th grade and stands out for his hard work and kind demeanor.
Anthony’s favorite subject in school is Math. His hobbies include playing sports, riding dirtbikes, and video games. Anthony wants to work in the mechanical field with cars and other automobiles. He wants his focus to be to work on engines.
Maple Avenue and the Sky Pilots are so proud of you Anthony. Keep up the great work and the stellar example of PRIDE.
Mark Your Calendars!
May 10: Mothers' Day Appreciation Breakfast 6:30-7:30 am in the MAMS Cafeteria
May 10: Dance 5:30-7:00 pm
May 25 & May 27: No School, Memorial Day
June 5: 8th Grade Farewell
June 6: Field Day
June 7: Last day of school!
6th Grade: Team Bolts
Math, Core 1-
Mrs. Koontz's and Mrs. Raubenstine's Core 1 math classes are transitioning to our Statistics unit which has students collecting and displaying data using multiple representations including stem and leaf plots, dot plots, histograms, and box plots. Students will also be analyzing data to determine the different measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode, range). In the second section of this unit students will be demonstrating their knowledge by collecting and displaying data to make conclusions and to describe the “typical” value. Although the year is coming to an end, students should remain organized and push to succeed this final marking period. Have a great summer and get plenty of rest for next school year!
Math, Core 2-
Mrs. Koontz’s Core 2 math class is transitioning from Probability to Geometry. Within this unit, students will be exposed to a variety of geometric concepts including angle relationships, area and circumference of circles, surface area, and volume of 3-dimensional objects. It is important that students stay focused and driven as this year comes to an end as we will be revisiting concepts we have explored throughout the entire year. Have a wonderful summer, and come next year ready to better yourself and expand on what you already know. Have a great summer and get plenty of rest for next school year!
ELA/Geography
In Miss Collins' class, we are currently exploring “Turning Points” through a variety of texts such as poetry, non-fiction and fiction. We are reviewing and refining skills like point of view, context clues, central idea, text structures and using Greek and Latin roots and affixes to determine the meaning of words. We will spend time exploring poetry about turning points such as, “The Road Not Taken”. As well as a week dedicated to baseball while reading texts such as, “I Never Had It Made” an autobiography of Jackie Robinson. In Geography, we are starting our unit on East Asia. In this unit we will study the countries of Japan, China, North and South Korea, Taiwan and Mongolia.
Mr. Baumgardner’s ELA students are currently exploring a unit called “Turning Points.” Throughout this unit, we will read a variety of texts such as poetry, non-fiction and fiction. We will continue to work on our reading and writing skills as we focus towards the MAP assessment which will be coming up this month. In Geography, we are finishing our unit on Australia and New Zealand. We will be ending the year exploring some themes throughout all the locations that we have visited.
In Ms. Willet’s ELA/SS class, we are learning about human-environment interaction and how the petroleum industry has affected life in North Africa and Southwest Asia. We will be completing activities and projects in preparation for the field trip at the end of the month, including writing a legend. In ELA students are writing argumentative pieces. The students will also be working on improving point of view, context clues, central idea, and text structures skills by utilizing the Study Sync Program. Students should be completing thirty minutes of Edgenuity a week for ELA.
Science-
In Science, classes will be finishing the year exploring matter and energy. Students will be exploring atoms, states of matter, along with identifying the differences between chemical and physical properties. Through their exploration of energy, they will identify the different forms of energy and how energy is related to work. At the end of the year it would be a good idea for students to hold on to their interactive notebooks as they will be a great resource for 7th grade!
7th Grade: Team Aviators
Science-
Wow- this year has flown by so quickly! At the moment we are working on a mini project to reinforce body systems from Health Class. Then we are returning to Earth science and will be on a journey into the Earth. To finish out the year we will be working with Newton’s Laws. Last but not least we will dissect a frog to spiral back to systems in living organisms.
ELA-
Students are starting their last class novel, Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie. We are busy working through our StudySync unit as well. The final independent novel projects are due May 31st!!! Please refer to Schoology for project choices and rubrics. Note: Project choices have changed from previous quarters. Students are working hard to reach their spring MAP goals through StudySync and DGDP.
Math-
We are finishing out the school year with a unit on Geometry. Students will learn about the ratio pi and use it to calculate the area and circumference of circles. Students will also learn about angle relationships and different types of triangles. The year will conclude with finding the volume and surface area of rectangular prisms. On Fridays students will continue to work on their individual goals and the class goals to prepare for the final MAP assessment this year.
Social Studies-
In Social Studies, we have been learning about the Medieval times and how geography influences the development of feudal societies and manors. Throughout the month of May, students will be presenting their research projects on the Middle ages or Renaissance. Also, we will be doing our last leadership study with Machiavelli's, The Prince. Students will see how his ideas of leadership are seen throughout history and today.
7th and 8th Grades: Team Lightning
SCIENCE Mr. Decker and Ms Enoff
7th Grade Science:
Students are wrapping up their study of the Earth and moving towards the impact humans have on the Earth. Students will choose a specific area and propose potential solutions for the environmental problem. Students will also be taking the last MAP test of the year in a few!
8th Grade Science:
Students are working on simple machines; levers, inclined planes, wheel and axle, pulley, screws, wedge. As we learn about these we are learning how to calculate the mechanical advantage of each machine and understand how the use of these machines makes our lives easier. Throughout this section we will be applying our understanding of simple machines to build mouse trap cars, and create a Rube Goldberg machine.
MATHEMATICS Mr. Heller and Ms Enoff
7th and 8th Grade Math:
Spring is here, and it's time to celebrate a successful completion to PSSA testing! All classes will be diving deeper into topics already covered this year, and previewing material to assist them for next year. Keep an eye out for summer math opportunities, especially those in accelerated pathways to help bridge gaps between grade-levels. The last diagnostic test we have ahead is the MAP. This is a time for the students to show us how much they have grown throughout the year! Don’t forget to enjoy your summer and be that best at whatever it is that you do!
Algebra
Students just finished up prepping for the Keystone Exams which will be taken the week of May 13th. They should feel proud of their accomplishments and what they have achieved this year. Their knowledge base and understanding of Algebraic Concepts is much stronger than it has ever been which is why they should feel confident when taking the Keystones. Following these assessments we will work through inquiry based projects for the remainder of the year, including a geometry project to introduce vocabulary they will be utilizing regularly next year. We are almost there -continue to gROW, and next stop...Geometry!
ENGLISH: Mr. Peglow and Mrs. Trout
7th Grade:
Students will be reading their way through “Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie” for the remainder of this month. There is a focus on reading literature, vocabulary and literature skills. Students have set goals to improve in these areas choosing actionable steps to take responsibility for their growth. Soon, they will take a final MAP assessment which will show overall growth in reading skills. Students are working very hard to meet their goals, we are very proud of them and you should be too!
8th Grade:
Our final unit of 8th grade explores the complexities of wartime morality as it existed during World War II. The unit opens with a powerful speech, “Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat,” delivered by Winston Churchill as the United Kingdom entered into the war against German fascism. Other selections explore both the hope and despair created by war, as expressed by Anne Frank, John Boyne, Elie Wiesel and other Holocaust survivors. Students will explore the brave, critical, and illuminating choices that those in extreme conflict are forced to make, and the ramifications of these choices. As the year winds down to a close and students begin looking towards summer and high school, they will be completing their graduation speeches, and completing their final “farewell” tasks to wind up the month and their career as middle school students.
SOCIAL STUDIES Mr. Popoff and Mrs. Trout
7th Grade Ancient Civilizations
The final hurdles students will encounter before the school year ends will be the Renaissance and Reformation. Europe experienced a “rebirth” after one of its darkest time periods. This “rebirth” was a revived interest in art and literature. Many of Europe’s preeminent figures evolved during the Renaissance including: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rafael, Donatello, William Shakespeare, Martin Luther, and Copernicus. Advances also occurred in science and education as well during the Renaissance.
8th Grade U.S. History
As the year comes to an end, students will focus on life after the American Civil War. Students will see the assassination of one of our nation’s greatest Presidents, Abraham Lincoln. Because of Lincoln’s untimely death, President Andrew Johnson encounters the responsibility of reconstructing the nation. Students will compare and contrast the reconstruction plans of Lincoln and Johnson. Along with the Reconstruction Era ends, students will analyze the Progressive Era. The last hurdle students will face before crossing the finish line will be the Spanish-American War.
Making Learning Fun!
Impressive!
Collaboration & Communication!
8th Grade: Team Sky Pilots
What an exciting time we are having in English class this month! Students will be fully immersed in The Diary of Anne Frank filled with character analysis, dramatic readings, and inferences! In small groups, students are assuming roles and reading On the days they are not reading, they’re learning historical information that is relevant to the play and analyzing characters. Students are completing extension activities to prepare them with background information for their field trips to Gettysburg and Washington D.C.
Core Connections 3 put forth a tremendous effort in preparation for the Math PSSA completed in April. As the year comes to an end students will continue working on expressions and equations. They’ll have opportunities for inquiry based learning activity. Students will learn how to use the Desmos Graphing calculator.
Geometry students will complete chapter 9 and begin chapter 10, Circles and Conditional Probability. Students will learn how to use the Desmos Graphing calculator.
Science has been studying Geology, investigating our Earth, it’s formation, and how it changes. We are continuing to investigate earthquakes, volcanoes, landmasses, ecosystems, ecology and ending with how human systems interact. Students will end the year by creating interactive textbooks summarizing their learning in Science. Ask to see your child’s book. I think you will be impressed. It’s been a great year and the young scientists have a lot to be proud of.
In History, the entire eighth grade will attend a field trip to the Gettysburg National Military Park. They will take part in Park Service Programs— Caring for the Wounded and the National Cemetery Fallen Soldiers. Students will also complete a breakout box on the battlefield.
Thank you for a great year! The SkyPilot Team wishes our students the best as they venture through the high school toward their goals and dreams!! It has been an AWESOME YEAR!!!!!
Art Show at Maple Avenue
A Message from the Nurse
As the school year comes to an end please remember:
That current 6th graders must have an up to date Tdap and MCV vaccine to start the 2019-2020 school year per the Pennsylvania Department of Health. If your child does not have these shots please be sure to get them or they cannot start the 2019-2020 school year on August 21, 2019. Please schedule your student’s appointment if they need these shots. Once the student has the shots please get a copy of the updated immunization record to the school office.
The current 6th grader will also need to have a dental exam done for the 2019-2020 school year. Please have the dentist fill out the dental form that was sent home with the students and return it to school once the student has visited the dentist. We will be having mobile dentist come to the school the week of January 20th, 2020 if you would like your student to participate with mobile dentist be on the lookout for the forms to come later in the year.
If your student has any medications, epi-pens, and inhalers in the health room please stop by the health room on the last day of school to pick them up.
If your student is running a fever, has diarrhea or vomiting please do not send them to school. It is recommended that the student be fever free, no diarrhea and not vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school.
Have a safe and healthy summer.
8th Grade Farewell Information
A Note from the School Counselor
Middle schoolers still need structure over the summer
Summer usually offers more freedom for your child. This is promising for him/her, but it requires more oversight from you. During the school year, you generally know where your child is and what they are doing during certain hours. That may not be as true during the summer months.
To set the stage for a safe summer:
Establish rules with your child at the beginning of summer. Rules should cover exactly where they are allowed to go, with whom and when. Let them know that any exceptions need to be discussed and approved by you in advance.
Do not allow your child to “go hang out with friends.” Ask, “Which friends?” They shouldn’t be hanging out with anyone you don’t know. Ask to meet friends and find out their ages. In general, middle school students should not be spending unsupervised recreational time with high school students, especially with those in the upper grades.
Establish consequences for breaking the rules. Make sure the consequences fit “the crime.” For example, if your child comes in late, she may have to stay in the house the next night.
Keep your child busy! Enroll her in a summer learning program or camp. Help her research interesting internship or volunteer opportunities. Suggest she start her own business babysitting children, walking dogs or mowing lawns. She could even take an online class.
Summertime can also be wonderful family time. You may see your child more during the day. But even if you don’t, you can take advantage of the less stressful evenings.
To spend time with your child this summer:
Establish a weekly family night. Cook a meal together, talk, play board games. Avoid screen time.
Ask for your child’s opinion. Many middle schoolers enjoy current events. Because kids this age tend to be idealistic and would like to “save the world,” they also have strong opinions. Establish conversation and take time to hear your child’s thoughts and ideas.
Hold regular family meetings to solve problems and share ideas about fun ways to spend time together.
Ask your child to join you when you go on errands.
Participate in family traditions. If you always go to the same park to watch fireworks or attend summer sports events in your town, keep doing it. No traditions? Brainstorm with your child and start some.