6th Grade Parent Newsletter Principal's Message The transition to distance learning for the hybrid groups this past week has been largely successful. Thank you to all the families that continue to support the schools and provide the appropriate learning environment for their children as they learn from home. I would like to highlight our annual Giving Tree drive that is going on now at East Middle School. Gift card donations are being collected in the front vestibule of the building. The donations will be distributed to families in need who have children enrolled at East Middle School. Gift cards will be accepted through Friday, December 11. Stay safe and well. Giving Tree Are you looking to make a difference in the lives of others this holiday season? Our East Giving Tree program is a wonderful opportunity to help families right here in our community. As you know, the holidays can be a time of excitement and celebrations, but for many of our families it is a time of added stress and limited resources. If you would like to help, please purchase gift cards at Target or Cub and drop them off in our Giving Tree Box in the front vestibule at East by December 11. The vestibule will be open between 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on school days. The gift cards will be distributed and delivered to our families in need. All donations will be anonymous. If you have any questions about the Giving Tree program, please contact Kern Wilson at 763-745-6231 or Jessica Morales at 763-745-6218 in the Student Services office. Thank you for making a difference! Student/Family Support During Distance Learning If your student or family needs extra support (academics, SEL/mental health, resources), please feel free to contact our counselor, Kern Wilson, or our social worker, Jessica Morales. Students and families can reach out via email or phone and Mr. Wilson or Ms. Morales can set up meetings via Zoom if necessary. Kern Wilson (7 and 8th grade): 763-745-6231 or Kern.Wilson@wayzataschools.org Jessica Morales (6th grade): 763-745-6218 or Jessica.Morales@wayzataschools.org A good resource for parents to have in order to support their child's academic success is the Skyward Missing Assignment Notification. The notifications are sent to parents every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. Please follow these instructions to turn this feature on in Skyward Family Access. Media Center Media Center and Book Checkout - All Students During distance learning, books will be available for check out and pick up from the mnedia center. To put books on hold, students should follow the instructions in the video provided in the East Media Canvas course. The books will be set out on tables in the front entryway of the main entrance to the building and available for pick up on regular school days between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Please check Destiny to make sure that the book(s) are checked out to the student before coming to pick them up. To do this, the student will log into Destiny and see the "my info" tab. Select that tab and then confirm that the book that has been put on hold is actually checked out to the student. There will be times when the book on hold is still checked out to another student and will not be available yet. If you have any questions, please email Beth Benezra. Enrichment Opportunities East now has an Enrichment Canvas page. This page houses academic enrichment opportunities that are open to all students. What We've Been Working On - Prior to the Thanksgiving break, the students were learning about probability situations. Specifically, what the difference between theoretical (math) and experimental probability is. They also understand that probability is always between 0 (impossible) to certain (1).
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is the difference between theoretical (math) and experimental probability?
What We're Working on Next - This week the students will continue working on probability: ordering probabilities, compound probability, and subtracting probabilities. Thursday was the review. Friday was the probability assessment.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - How prepared were you for the Probability assessment? If you have any questions, please email your teacher for extra help:)
What We've Been Working On - Integer Operations
- Beginning Pre-Algebra
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What do we mean by "Order of Operations"? Why does this order exist?
What We're Working on Next - Scale Factor
- Proportional Relationships
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - How do we use scale factors outside of the classroom?
What We've Been Working On - Over the past two weeks in Language Arts we have been reviewing the Elements of Literature, including character, setting, plot, conflict and point of view.
- We have also started reading the novel Tangerine by Edward Bloor.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What does the terms protagonist and antagonist mean?
- What kind of conflict is happening in your choice reading book?
- What is happening in the novel Tangerine?
What We're Working on Next - Over the next two weeks, we will continue to read Tangerine up through Winter Break.
- We will also be looking at other elements of literature, such as foreshadowing and flashback, memory moments, and cause & effect.
- We will also be expanding student's vocabulary in this unit.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - How is Tangerine going?
- Is there anything in this novel that surprises you?
- What do you like most about the book?
What We've Been Working On - In science these past 2 weeks, we have been studying the solar system; gravity, planets, moons, orbits, and of course, the sun.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What happens to the gravitational pull of an object in the solar system if you increase the distance from the sun?
What We're Working on Next - After we assess the solar system, we will begin our first unit on the history of planet Earth. This unit begins by the study of the layers of the earth.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is the top layer of the earth called?
Notes - Assessment Time! Our solar system assessment will be on Wednesday December 9 - we will take this in full Zoom class. The students will have a Solar System Scale Comparison assessment due on Friday December 11.
What We've Been Working On - We took a test on Chapters 3 and 4.
- We learned about Veterans Day.
- We wrote a Compare and Contrast paper on the Dakota and Ojibwe nations.
- Then we began our study of the Fur Trade by starting a novel called The Broken Blade by William Durbin.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What were some of the hardships that voyageurs faced on their long journeys during the Fur Trade?
What We're Working on Next - We will continue to study the Fur Trade in Minnesota by reading The Broken Blade novel, studying our MNHS textbook, and completing a special creative writing project called "The Fur Trader's Journal". Students will write a journal or diary as if they are a fur trader.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is the name of your Fur Trader, what country are they from, and what are some creative ideas you have for your journal to make it a bit unique?
What We've Been Working On - Completed a health unit. The health unit covered: health triangle, self-image, decision making, and nicotine. The homework during the health unit included a health survey, a working document about our in class health lectures, and a health quiz.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What are the 3 C's when it comes to decision making?
What We're Working on Next - The next two weeks will be a focus on personal fitness. Information covered will include components of fitness (health & skill).
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What are 3 of the 5 health-related components of fitness?
Notes - For upcoming Zoom PE/Health classes on Wednesdays or Thursdays students will need some space for movement, they should be wearing athletic clothing, some type of resistance (light weights if possible) and have a water bottle. Please reach out to the teacher with specific questions.
What We've Been Working On - The class worked on labeling solfege in the short folk songs introduced at the beginning of the year. Progress was made in the choir songs for each grade.
- We reviewed both the major and minor scales.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - How do you feel about labeling solfege?
What We're Working on Next - We will continue to label solfege, work on choir songs in each class, and intervals.
- Sight Reading Factory assignments
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Do you know what an interval is?
What We've Been Working On - 6th grade band students are doing awesome!! We continue to review the first 5 notes we learned and are now learning a few new notes.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Play "Dreydl, Dreydl" for me.
What We're Working on Next - We will explore and study the melody "Mary Ann" in our method book.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Play "Mary Ann" for me. I hear it is a song that has a 'tie". What is a tie?
Notes - Students should be practicing their instrument each day for a few minutes. Play each assigned song 2-3 times.
What We've Been Working On - Number songs
- Left Hand Shape
- Open String Bowing
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - How do you change the pitch of notes on your strings?
What We're Working on Next - Number Songs
- Book 1
- Open String Bowing
- Twinkle- Pizzicato
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What makes for a good sound while playing pizzicato?
Notes - Students should be practicing 20 minutes 5 days a week.
What We've Been Working On - We have focused on the 7 Elements of Art through discussions in class and a photo Scavenger Hunt at home.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Can I see your art pic collage?
- Where did you see the 7 Elements of Art in our home?
What We're Working on Next - We will be starting a non-representational self portrait painting! Students will be learning about how color is used in various cultures, and will create a personal color palette symbolizing different parts of themselves.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What did you learn about color in different cultures?
- What characteristics did you choose to represent in your personal color palette?
- What colors and color names did you use to represent your characteristics?
Notes - Your art student will begin painting this week! Please help them find a spot where you are comfortable with them painting. I recommend having them put their painting supplies on a cookie sheet or tray with edges, so if they spill it is contained. If you have any questions, please let me know!
What We've Been Working On - Graphic Design
- Project Selection
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is Graphic Design and why is it important?
What We're Working on Next - Cornell Note Taking
- Machine Safety
- Starting Projects December 14
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Why is it important to take notes while watching a technical video?
Notes - There is a $10 lab fee that is associated with making the projects. The fee can be paid online using ePay on the East website. If there is a financial hardship, please send an email to Terri Bostrom.
- Project pick up is December 10 and 11. Please look for an email from me so you can fill out the form on what works best for you to pick it up.
What We've Been Working On - Making creations about school vocabulary
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What school creation phrases do you remember?
What We're Working on Next - Write about what I and other people do in class
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What are some new -AR verbs you know?
- Say some things you do in class (I ....)
What We've Been Working On - We have finished the first 2 habitudes: Imagination and Curiosity.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What are you curious about?
What We're Working on Next - We have started our passion unit, Habitude 3.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What would you like to learn more about?
COVID-19 Resources for Support Culinary Express Meal Updates for December As we transition to all distance learning we are also making some changes to distance learning day meals. We are adding weekend meals to the bundles, adding more pick up sites and opening up the meals to anyone 18 years of age and under. Weekly registration is still required through Nutrislice! You will no longer need a PIN to register for a Nutrislice account, but the weekly orders must still be placed. Pick-Up Schedule and Ordering Information for December Thank a Teacher this holiday season with a bundt cake! Want a fun way to honor your child’s teacher and support a good cause? Show your support and say thank you to Wayzata Public Schools' teachers and staff with a donation to the Wayzata Education Fund. Each donation made in honor of a teacher or staff until December 18 will include a special certificate of thanks from you, and every donation of $25 or more will come with a bundlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes. We’ve always known that we have the greatest staff around, but this year it has been more evident than ever! Whether they’ve helped make a difference in-person or virtually, show your appreciation by participating in our Thank a Teacher program. Cakes and certificates will be delivered as long as it is safe to do so. If deemed unsafe, certificates will be emailed and cakes will be delivered at a later date. Parent Tool Kit: Friendships, Relationships, and Social Distancing Friendships are incredibly important to young people. How do we help our children foster healthy friendships and connection during a time of social distancing? Join Health Educators from myHealth for Teens & Young Adults in conversation and activities to learn what we can do to help our children navigate friendships and relationships. - Date: Thursday, November 5, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
- Place: Online
- Cost: Free
- Learn more
Financial assistance is available or call 763-745-5200 for more information. Tuesday, February 9, 2021 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Wednesday, February 10, 2021 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday, February 11, 2021 4:30 PM - 8:30 PM Friday, February 12, 2021 8:15 AM - 4:15 PM Friday, March 12, 2021 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Friday, March 19, 2021 10:10 AM - 12:10 PM Thursday, January 14, 2021 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Tuesday, January 19, 2021 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Wednesday, January 20, 2021 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Thursday, January 21, 2021 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM Tuesday, January 26, 2021 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM Monday, December 7, 2020 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Monday, December 14, 2020 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM 12000 Ridgemount Avenue, Plymouth, MN 55441 | 763-745-6200 |