Principal's Message

With spring just around the corner it is time to start thinking about the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA). This year, building wide, our school has designated 3 days for testing. Below are the testing dates and which test will be given:

• Wednesday, April 10 - Reading MCA 
• Wednesday, April 17 - Math MCA 
• Thursday, May 2 - Science MCA (given only to 8th graders)
   

Students will be testing on their iPads so it is very important that they come to school with their iPads fully charged with a set of head phones or ear buds. On the days of testing we also encourage students to leave other electronic devices at home including cell phones and smart watches. The only electronic device allowed in the testing rooms is their iPad. If students do bring such devices, they will need to store them in their locker prior to entering the testing room. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Book Fair

The Wayzata East Middle School Media Center is hosting a book fair in conjunction with The Wild Rumpus Bookstore from February 28 - March 7. Students can stop by the Media Center to shop during their lunch periods. The book fair will also be open during Parent Teacher conferences on February 28, March 5, and March 7 from 4:30-9:00 p.m. 

Emergency Contacts for Students

The Welcome Center has provided instructions on how to add an emergency contact for students in Skyward Family Access.  Parents are able to add contacts by doing the following:

• Log into Skyward Family Access
• Open Student Info tab (on left)
• Select Student
  • Click on Request Changes (upper right)
    • Add Emergency contact(s) here

Please call the Welcome Center at 763-745-5240 if you have any questions.

Yearbooks

Yearbooks are on sale for $35.00 and available only at Jostens. 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

• Today, the students took the Unit 5B test. The learning targets included multiplying fractions and decimals, including mixed, area of a triangle, rectangle, parallelogram, and trapezoid, and how a multiplier affects a shape.

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

• How do you find the area of a triangle?
• How do you find the are of a trapezoid? 

What We're Working on Next

• In our next unit, the students will study the following learning targets:
  
  • Represent division of fractions using diagrams.
    
  • Divide whole and mixed numbers by fractions.
    
  • Use the Order of Operations to find the correct value of a numerical expression.
    
  • Combine like terms and simplify algebraic expressions.
    
  • Use a variable to represent any number. 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• How comfortable are you doing Algebra?  

Accelerated Math

What We've Been Working On

• Recently, we have been doing a ton of Algebra!!! The students have learned the "legal moves" to solve algebraic problems. They are able to 1- and 2-step problems, including using the distributive property, solve algebra problems with fractions, and solve and graph inequalities! 

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

• Where is your comfort level at with Algebra?
• Were you doing more of the mild, medium, or spicy Algebra problems?  

What We're Working on Next

• Once we wrap up Algebra, we are moving onto the following learning targets:
  
  • Solve problems involving distance, rate, and time.
    
  • Solve equations that have fractional or decimal coefficients.
    
  • Find the whole amount if you only know a percentage of it, and vice versa.
    
  • Calculate simple interest.
    
  • Set up and solve proportional equations.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What do you know about simple interest? Compound interest?  

Language Arts

What We've Been Working On

• We have been reading informational text; we read a text about a tsunami.
• Also, we had an author, Brian Wells, visit. Students got to meet him and read his book. 

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

• What did you learn about tsunamis?
• How was the author's visit?

What We're Working on Next

• We will be reading two poems about Hurricane Katrina. We will analyze both poems and then compare and contrast them.
• The following week, we will start researching for our research projects. Students should have a topic this week. 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What do you plan to research?
• What is an example of figurative language?
• How are the poems your read similar or different?

Science

What We've Been Working On

• We have started our unit on Waves, Sound, and Light. The students are learning the basic vocabulary and concepts of this unit and were engaged in a fun Waves Lab last week. Notes and assignments compliment the daily work. - Do you hear it? Sound is coming.....

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

• What are the 4 properties of waves that scientists measure?

What We're Working on Next

• We continue in our Sound unit, learning vocabulary and concepts, along with application of same.
• The students will be creating a "Sound Story" on their iPads using nothing but sound effects - challenging? -yes

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• Could you please show me the "virtual barbershop" sound story?

Notes

• Check Skyward often. Students are experiencing the predictable "March Slump" a little early - must be the weather - NHI's mean Not Handed In - please help you students catch up on missing work. Thanks! 

Social Studies

What We've Been Working On

• We have finished the Civil War Unit. Students either participated in a fishbowl discussion about the book, Soldier's Heart, or took a chapter 8 comprehension test.
• Students also presented information about a prominent and influential African American to celebrate Black History Month. 

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

• Who did you do your presentation on?
• What did your think about the book Soldier's Heart?

What We're Working on Next

• We will begin chapter 9, in the Northern Lights textbook, which is about the U.S and Dakota War of 1862. 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What is the U.S. vs Dakota War? How did it impact Minnesota?

Phy. Ed.

What We've Been Working On

• The past two weeks, both Mr. DeVoe and Mrs. Mozey's PE classes have really focusing on fitness. Both classes have covered muscles & lifts that go with them, the FITT principle, heart rates and interval training, aerobic capacity, and a few other fitness related terms.

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

• How do you find your resting heart rate?

What We're Working on Next

• In the next two weeks, both classes will finish up our fitness unit with a quiz and then we will have indoor gym games, sports, the PACER fitness test which will bring us up to spring break.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• When is the last time you have washed your PE clothes? 

Choir

What We've Been Working On

• Students have been learning All-State music and learning to mark their music as we learn.

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

• When you see a repeat, what part of the music do you go back to?

What We're Working on Next

• Students will begin reflecting on the meaning of songs and continuing solfege skills.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

•  What is a skipping pattern with your solfege starting on Do?

Notes

•  6th Grade ACDA All-State Auditions on Thursday and Friday morning from 8:15-9:00. Check email for more details.

Band

What We've Been Working On

• Finally we had our concert!
  
• Critique and reflect concert
  
• Returned to method book-3/4 time review

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

• What does 3/4 mean?

What We're Working on Next

• Extend range down and up
  
• Dynamics
  
• Single eighth notes and rests

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What are you looking forward to during the next couple of weeks in band?

Orchestra

What We've Been Working On

• D and A String notes
  
• Bowing and bow hold review
  
• Twinkle Twinkle Arco Test

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

• What areas of bowing can you continue to improve in?

What We're Working on Next

• Eighth Notes
  
• Fine Tuning

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What adjustments do you have to make to play quarter notes instead of eighth notes?

Art

What We've Been Working On

• In art, we researched an artist and then created an "artist trading card" and shared it with our peers.
• We also started designing our color wheels.  

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

• What is a tint, tone, and shade?
• What is special about the primary colors?  

What We're Working on Next

• We will finish designing our color wheel and start painting it. We will also do a peer critique of the color wheel.  

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• How do you paint using craftsmanship? What technique can you use?

Tech Ed.

What We've Been Working On

• Complete needed components for Part 1 of Treasure Box
  
• Using Band and Scroll saws and various sanders

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

• Which machine was the hardest to use and why?

What We're Working on Next

• Complete Part 2 of Treasure Box
  
• Intro to robotics and building robot
  
• WPM Mid-quarter

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• Explain the process of putting your Treasure Box together.

Spanish

What We've Been Working On

• We talked about what we do in our free time and began describing ourselves.

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

• How do you say what activities you like to do?

What We're Working on Next

• We will be describing ourselves.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What adjectives describe you that you want to know about in Spanish?

Gifted & Talented

What We've Been Working On

• Snow days have set us back quite a bit, but we were able to present some passion research and we are review our winter MAP scores so that we can write SMART goals.

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

• What is your SMART goal?

What We're Working on Next

• The next habitude is Perseverance.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• How can you show perseverance at school?

Notes

• I look forward to seeing you at conferences.

Young Scholars

What We've Been Working On

• But of more snow days, I was not able to meet with the Young Scholars to review MAP scores but we will this week.

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

• Do you know how you did on the MAP tests in December?

What We're Working on Next

• We will review MAP scores and right SMART goals to work towards for next year.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What is your SMART goal?

Notes

• I look forward to seeing you at conferences!

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