7th Grade Parent Newsletter Principal's Message Thank you to all the parents that participated in conferences this week. Now, more than ever, we are all partners in the process of educating our children. The routines of hybrid learning are settling in and distance choice learning continues to progress. However, we are always in planning mode for the next educational maneuver as we navigate the pandemic. Thank you for your partnership and patience as we carefully watch the data that will inform our next move. Be on the lookout for district communications announcing any refinement to our current situation. Enjoy the long weekend! Black History Month Celebration Wayzata East will be hosting a Black History Month Celebration on Thursday, February 25, at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. We are inviting all East students and their families to join us as we reflect on important and lasting contributions that African Americans have made. All students have been encouraged to create a very short video (under one minute) that highlights an African American individual who or event that made a lasting impact on our country. These videos will be compiled into one feature and presented on February 25 via a YouTube Premiere format that we will watch together that evening. Following the viewing we will meet in small breakout groups to discuss the presentation. Please register here to join the conversation. A Zoom link will be sent just prior to our gathering. If you have questions you may email Beth Benezra or Kaja Martinson. Wayzata Middle School Wrestling The Middle School Wrestling/Fitness Program will be starting February 16 and end at WPS Spring Break. Because of this unique school year, we are offering a combined program of Wrestling and Fitness/Cardio workouts. If you are not a wrestler, no worries... This is an opportunity where you can train in your off-season getting some cardio workouts as well as time in the weight room. Those who would like to wrestle will have the opportunity to do both. For those wrestling, we will be following the MSHSL Covid 19 Protocols which have been in use at Wayzata High School. Registration is available using EPay or by completing the Registration form and turning it into the Student Services Office, along with payment. If you have questions, please contact Curtis Miller (at EMS, coaching the West Middle School Program), Steve Newman or Mike Richards (both at CMS and coaching the combined East/Central Programs). East Middle School Fun Night! Students from Wayzata High School's Club Y.E.S will be hosting a free virtual fun night for East Middle School students. Students will have the opportunity to play games and interact with their peers. Activities will include Jeopardy, Kahoot, Apples to Apples, and Pictionary. This event is a great way to connect with others and enjoy some time together while having fun. Register to reserve your spot. Registration closes Wednesday, February 17. Media Center and Book Checkout Distance Learners library book pick-up (school days from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.): It is important that distance learners check their Destiny account before coming to retrieve books. After the student logs in they will 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 ready for pick up on the designated day. 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 - Students were solving equations with legal moves (algebraically.)
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned What We're Working on Next - Students will solve one variable inequalities and their graphs.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Describe the graph of x > -4.
Notes - Students will use a HW sheet to keep track of their HW problems. They will receive a signature on this sheet for completed HW, and it will be recorded as a group of assignments on Skyward.
What We've Been Working On - Students explored tables, graphs and equations of exponential growth and decay.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is the general form of the equation for an exponential relationship?
What We're Working on Next - Students are exploring sequences that relate to linear and exponential growth and decay.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What are the next three terms in the sequence: 15, 30, 60, 120, ...
Notes - Students should be working from the Canvas page everyday. Encourage consistent reliance on those pages for all things math.
What We've Been Working On - Students learned and applied the four standards of Unit 1 Informational Text. The standards included: author's purpose and perspective, main idea, supporting details, and inferences with text evidence.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What are the four purposes why authors write informational text?
- What is a main idea? Where can you usually find the main idea in informational text?
- What are supporting details?
- What is an inference, and why is it important to have text evidence to support it?
What We're Working on Next - Students will review standards and then complete the informational text unit by completing an assessment on Thursday, 2/18 (B) and Friday, 2/19 (A).
- Students will then begin a new writing unit with the purpose of writing to inform.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - For the upcoming writing unit, would you rather research and write about a potential school you would like to attend after high school, or would you rather research and write about a future occupation? Specifically, which school or which occupation are you interested in learning more about?
Notes - Unit 1 Informational Text Assessment is Feb. 18 or Feb. 19. The first independent reading book of semester 2 is due Friday, February 19.
What We've Been Working On - Students finished genetics, presented their research, and took the test.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is a surprising fact you learned from your research?
What We're Working on Next - Students will learn how genetics and evolution are connected, natural selection, population and species.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Why did some moths survive better in the gizmo than others?
What We've Been Working On - Over the past two weeks we have discussed the causes and conducts of WWI.
- We have also discussed war on the home front with a special focus on propaganda.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - In what ways did people in the U.S. support the war?
- When you created your propaganda poster, what techniques and tools did you use?
What We're Working on Next - Over the next two weeks, we will be finishing our studies on WWI by analyzing Wilson's 14 Points and the Treaty of Versailles.
- We will also begin our Roaring Twenties Unit.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Why did the U.S. decline to enter the League of Nations?
- Why were the twenties considered the "Roaring Twenties?"
Notes - We will be taking the current unit test (American Imperialism, Spanish/American War, & WWI) around February 24. This will be a larger test and the students have a study guide to complete and prepare for the test.
What We've Been Working On - Allen - We finished our Dribble, Pass, Shoot Skills Unit and started our Fitness Circuit/Cardio Kickboxing Unit.
- DeVoe - We have been completing cardio kickboxing exercises.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Allen - What skill-related fitness concepts were utilized in the Dribble, Pass, Shoot Unit?
- DeVoe - How is cardio kickboxing a great way to manage stress?
What We're Working on Next - Over the next two weeks both classes will be going outside for our outdoor unit. Information was communicated about the activities taking place outside. Please refer to letter that was sent via email on Feb. 5.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is the importance mentally, socially, and physically of being active all year round?
- What articles of clothing are you going to bring to make sure you stay warm outside?
Notes - Please make sure students are bringing sanitizer to class daily and keeping it in their backpacks. It is important that they sanitize before and after every class when handling equipment. If possible, an extra mask for PE/Health class would be helpful.
What We've Been Working On - We made more progress in our choir songs. In honor of black history month, students listened to and reflected on the sounds of a choir from a traditional HBCU (Historically Black College/University). This was the Tuskegee Institute Choir.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - How does count singing help with singing notes and rhythms?
- What is the difference between a quarter and eighth note triplet?
What We're Working on Next - I will introduce one new choir song for all grades.
- Sight Reading Factory Singing and Rhythm Practice
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - How can you improve your sight reading?
What We've Been Working On - Learned about Cut Time
- Minor Keys and extending our range up
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned What We're Working on Next - Sixteenth note rhythms
- Half and Whole steps-includes sharps, flats, naturals
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Can you play a song for me with sixteenth notes in it?
What We've Been Working On - Key Signatures
- G Major Upper Octave
- C Major Review
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - How does a key signature affect your fingers?
What We're Working on Next - C Major lower Octave (cellos/Violas)
- Single Eighth Notes
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - How is C Major similar to G Major? How is it different?
Notes - Please utilize string rental stores for instrument tuning and maintenance.
What We've Been Working On - Intro to Tech Ed
- WPM Pretest
- Project Selection
- Cornell Notes
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What are Cornell Notes and why are they important?
What We're Working on Next - Working on Wood project
- Continued safety tests
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Which project did you choose and why?
Notes - There is a $10 lab fee that is associated with making the Wood project. The fee can be made through EPay (a printed receipt would help me record it). If there is a financial hardship please feel free to send me an email.
What We've Been Working On - Over the last two weeks we have spent the time getting to know one another. We went over classroom rules and expectations.
- We are entering into our career unit where we are talking about learning traits and styles as well as identifying possible career choices that are fitting.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Do you know how to navigate through your Canvas page for FCS?
What We're Working on Next - Over the next two weeks, we will continue to learn about careers and look at some of the possibilities out there as students get closer to deciding what they would like to do for their future. The students will be putting together a project on their Future Career.
- After we finish with Careers we will move into Personal Financing.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What future career are you thinking about pursuing?
What We've Been Working On - Eugene: Practiced basic conversation questions and answers, and introduced basic classroom items and names of classes
- Rudolph/Story: Reviewed activity and describing words
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What words did you review?
- What new words did you learn?
What We're Working on Next - Eugene: Ask and answer about what class items I need and don't need for classes
- Rudolph/Story: Introduce class items and names of classes
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What class items do you need in which classes?
What We've Been Working On - Last week we took the Science and/or History Bee during class and this week we talked about tips and tricks to avoid procrastination.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Which procrastination tip or trick do you think will work best for you?
What We're Working on Next - We will review growth mind set and delve into the stress management technique of seeing the upside view.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is one mantra you have for the seeing upside view?
Culinary Express Meal Updates for February We are excited to be feeding students onsite again with the transition to more in-person learning. This does mean changes to food meal kit distribution starting the week of February 1. All students will continue to receive meals at no cost. All students can still order weekly meal kits. Please read through the following information carefully so you know what to expect. Culinary Express Meal Updates for February WPS Native American Education Resources We are pleased to announce the launch of Wayzata Public Schools’ Native American Education webpage. Through funds available from the Minnesota Department of Education, we are able to support Indigenous children with educational and cultural resources that we hope you will find meaningful. We invite parents/guardians of Indigenous children to participate in the Wayzata Indigenous Advisory Committee (WIAC), which will guide Wayzata Public Schools in matters pertaining to Native American Education. If you would like more information or if you have questions, please reach out to Sam Fredrickson, principal on special assignment, via email or by calling 763-745-5259. Screenagers: Growing Up In the Digital Age Screenagers: Growing Up In the Digital Age has been screened more than 8,000 times to 4 million people in more than 70 countries around the world. With multiple screenings happening daily in communities across the globe, SCREENAGERS is the first feature documentary to explore the impact of screen technology on kids and offer parents and families proven solutions that work. What started out as a personal story for one has grown into a national movement, helping millions of teens and their families navigate growing up in a world with instant access to screens. Once you have registered, your email address will be shared with the Screenagers organization. You will receive a unique link to view the film. You can view the film two times between February 15 - 27. Registration deadline: February 12 by 7:00 a.m. Learn more and register here! Financial assistance is available for all our classes. Call 763-745-5200 for more information. 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 Tuesday, March 23, 2021 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Friday, April 23, 2021 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Saturday, April 24, 2021 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Monday, February 15, 2021 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday, March 18, 2021 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Monday, February 22, 2021 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Monday, March 1, 2021 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM 12000 Ridgemount Avenue, Plymouth, MN 55441 | 763-745-6200 |