Principal's Message

A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) found that adequate sleep on a regular basis leads to improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health.

It is recommended that children 6 to 12 years of age should sleep 9-12 hours per 24 hours on a regular basis to promote optimal health and that teenagers 13 to 18 years of age should sleep 8-10 hours per 24 hours.

Here are three tips to keep technology from being a distraction to adequate nightly sleep:

Establish a Storage Location
The AAP recommends that screens not be allowed in children's bedrooms. Create an expectation for when and where technology will be stored overnight in the home. Utilize a common space to store and charge devices such as the kitchen counter or the adult's bedroom.

Create a Bedtime Routine without Technology
The AAP suggests that screens be turned off 30 minutes before bedtime. Set a timer to signal 30 minutes until bedtime. Come up with alternate options for your child prior to bedtime such as reading a book, playing a board game, or having a conversation.

Turn Off Network Access at Bedtime
Disabling internet access at bedtime can reduce the temptation to jump back online during the night. Routers can be unplugged each night manually or owners can set an auto timer on their routers (read through your user manual for directions). Purchasing a mechanical outlet timer is another less technical solution for putting this nightly routine in place.

Yearbooks

Yearbooks are available only at Jostens. Order now through February 22 and get your book for $33.00 and personalization for $6.00 (see details on the website). After that, books will be $35.00. No orders will be accepted after May 18.

Please save a printed/electronic copy of your receipt in case questions arise. For more information, or if you are not sure you ordered one yet, please contact Terri Bostrom.

Math

What We've Been Working On

• Create scatterplots that show the relationship between two variables.
  
• Identify associations between sets of data and represent the relationship with a trend line.
  
• Find the slope of a line given its equation, its graph, or any two points on the line.
  
• Find the equation of a trend line to fit linear data.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• What does it mean when there is a negative association on a scatterplot?

What We're Working on Next

• Calculate compound interest.
  
• Determine whether a relationship grows linearly or exponentially.
  
• Rewrite expressions using exponents and scientific notation.
  
• Perform operations with numbers written in scientific notation.
  
• Determine if a relation is a function by looking at its table or graph.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What do you remember from the self paced Exponents Learning Plan you did before Winter Break?

Notes

• Math MCAs will be April 17. Please talk with your student about not stressing, and all they can do is try their best. 

Accelerated Math

What We've Been Working On

• We have been working on exponential relationships, specifically compound interest and appreciation and depreciation of an item.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• What is the difference between appreciation and depreciation?
• How do you write an equation for something that loses 15% of its value?

What We're Working on Next

• Next week will take our unit 7 test.
• Unit 8 will explore quadratic relationships

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• Are you prepared for the unit 7 test?
• Can you confidently solve a system of equations?
• What are the key features of a quadratic relationship?

Language Arts

What We've Been Working On

• Students did an amazing job on their POP Day speeches and held a wonderful celebration on POP Day. We raised over $1800 to use toward books and literacy initiatives as East. Students were so excited to present their speeches to the public. 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• How would you rate your confidence level with public speaking after your POP Day experience?

What We're Working on Next

• We are starting our unit on social justice with several priming activities to discuss identity, justice, and equity. Students will be reading articles and stories from our textbook and participating in a variety of discussions.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What is social justice? What have you learned in your class discussions?

Science

What We've Been Working On

• Types of tectonic plate movement and plate boundaries. 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• What are the types of tectonic plates and how do they move?

What We're Working on Next

• Types of volcanoes and earthquakes

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What causes earthquakes?
• Why can't scientists predict earthquakes? 

Social Studies

What We've Been Working On

• Students have been studying about what culture, cultural hearth and cultural diffusion mean, the difference between surface cultural traits and deep cultural traits and the 12 Universals of Culture.
• Students have also completed the first draft of the Cultural Photos and Captions project piece for the Global Festival Project. 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• What does cultural diffusion mean? Give one example of cultural diffusion from any of the unit activities completed in class.

What We're Working on Next

• The Cultural Geo. Unit study continues with students continuing to focus on one of the 12 Universals of Culture... economics, by finishing two assessment pieces for the Global Festival Project, the research and data gathering for the Data Bank and creation of the Standard of Living Bubble Maps.
• In addition, students will begin another project piece: Current Issues which ties in with two more of the 12 Universals of Culture, history and government.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What does Human Development Index mean and what is your project nation's HDI rank, according to the United Nations HDI Index? 

Notes

• The Blue Team's Global Project Festival is Wed., March 20, between 12:40-2:10 p.m. in the large gym. The Gold Team's Festival is Thurs., March 21, at the same time and place. A festival invitation will be emailed to parents within the next week.

Communications

What We've Been Working On

• We covered orientation to class.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• What are you most concerned about/excited about Communications?

What We're Working on Next

• We will be learning about how to think and write like a journalist.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What did you write about in News Story B and C?

Health

What We've Been Working On

• Components of Health
  
• Analyzing Influences

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• What are the steps to follow when you need to Analyze Influences on your health decisions?

What We're Working on Next

• Mental/Emotional Health
  
• Stress
  
• Mental Illness
  
• Advocacy

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• How can I advocate for Mental Health and Mental Health support?

Notes

• Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns regarding the upcoming unit: Mental/Emotional Health

Phy. Ed.

What We've Been Working On

• Mozey- Heart Rate Zones and Cardio workouts
  
• DeVoe- Muscles and Lifting

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• Mozey- How do you calculate your target heart rate zone? What are the benefits of exercising in this zone?
  
• DeVoe- Can you name the 12 muscles and a lift to strengthen each one? 

What We're Working on Next

• Mozey- Muscles and Lifting
  

• DeVoe- Heart Rate Zones and Cardio workouts 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• DeVoe- How do you calculate your target heart rate zone? What are the benefits of exercising in this zone?
  
• Mozey- Can you name the 12 muscles and a lift to strengthen each one? 

Notes

• Make sure your assignments are turned in!

Choir

What We've Been Working On

• We began writing in solfege for our Semester 2 music to sight read on our own.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• How do you find "do" in new music?

What We're Working on Next

• Students will continue to strengthen their music reading skills by connecting our sight reading skills to their music score.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What part do you sing for each song?

Band

What We've Been Working On

• We have been exploring the 12 bar blues progression and the Bb blues scale.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• Play the jazzy melody "Wayzata East Rockin' The Blues" for me.

What We're Working on Next

• Students will have three assessments in our jazz unit:
  1. Bb blues scale.
  2. Wayzata East Rockin' The Blues main melody.
  3. 12 bar of improvising using the Bb blues scale.

   

• We are also starting to study our May concert songs "Barnburner" and "Springtime Ride".

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• Play the Bb blues scale for me.

Notes

• Band students have two home practice calendars:
  1: U of M Golden Gophers. (Jan. 14th through Jan. 27th)
  2: Mickey Mouse. (Jan. 28th through Feb 10th.) 

Orchestra

What We've Been Working On

• Finger Patterns
  
• G Major finger patterns and scale work

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• Why is it important to practice and be fluent in finger patterns?

What We're Working on Next

• D and C Major scale work
  
• High School Audition materials

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What can you do to be better prepared for your high school audition recording or in class test?

Notes

• High School auditions are due March 8 and are submitted in Canvas.

Music X

What We've Been Working On

• We have been working on learning the Bb blues progression and the Bb blues scale. 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• What are the notes of the Bb blues scale? 

What We're Working on Next

• We will continue our study of the Blues Progression. Students will have a test playing an improvised solo on the piano during the 12 bar blues.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• How has it been going as you improvise on the piano in Music Exploration?

Notes

• Students should have a three-ring notebook for all of our class handouts.

Tech Ed

What We've Been Working On

• Power Miter Box safety and use
  
• Leg Pieces: cutting/sanding and assembly

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• How did you do quality control on all the pieces that you used for the legs?

What We're Working on Next

• Table Saw safety and use
  
• Starting Table Body and Table top components 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What is the difference between using the power miter box and the table saw?

FCS

What We've Been Working On

• We had a guest presenter from Sojourner who taught us about about identifying our core values, and the qualities of a healthy relationship.
• We have also learned about how to communicate and how to best handle: conflict, peer pressure and cliques. 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• Ask your child about why it is important to know your core values when in a relationship.

What We're Working on Next

• Our next unit is Sewing. We will learn how to: thread needles, tie knots, make a running stitch, and sew on a button.
• The Foods unit follows. We will start by reviewing kitchen safety, and where items belong in our school kitchen. We will also learn about food science and the functions of specific ingredients.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What does a leavening agent like baking soda do in a recipe?
  It reacts with moisture or sweetener to produce carbon dioxide which causes small bubbles to form in the product.

Spanish

What We've Been Working On

• We finished reviewing old vocab and learned to talk about family, age and professions.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• How would you describe one of your family members?

What We're Working on Next

• Eugene: We will be ordering food at a restaurant in Spanish.
  
• Rudolph: We will be using TENER with family and begin the restaurant scene.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What was your favorite food from 7th grade vocabulary and what food would you like to learn how to say?

Gifted & Talented

What We've Been Working On

• High School registration is finally complete!

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

• Are you happy with your choices?

What We're Working on Next

• We will be reviewing MAP scores from this winter and writing SMART goals.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What is your SMART goal?

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12000 Ridgemount Avenue, Plymouth, MN 55441 | 763-745-6200