6th Grade Parent Newsletter Principal's Message On March 15, 2020, Governor Tim Walz issued Executive Order 20-02 ordering the temporary closure of public schools. Exactly one year later, we are pleased to welcome back all of our in person learners together on March 15, 2021. We will continue to be vigilant in our efforts to ensure our safety. In order to keep our schools open for in person learning, we need continued cooperation from staff, students and parents to maintain safe practices. Thank you for this cooperation. Please continue to read all communications coming from Wayzata Public Schools. Order Your 2020-21 Yearbook Yearbooks preserve the events that happen each school year, and this year is so unique! The Yearbook Club has been working diligently to document and reflect this special year at East Middle School. If you would like to order a yearbook, please visit Jostens. The cost is $35.00. 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 - We have been working on teaching the students division- both traditional and now fractions. We worked on boosting their confidence that, yes, you know how to divide!! We can do hard things:) With fractions, we've been going "visual" to show how division is breaking amounts into smaller parts.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Where is your comfort level at with "division" today? Both traditional and fractions?
What We're Working on Next - Moving forward, the students will be learning the math algorithm for dividing fractions: "Stay....Change.....Flip". In addition, they'll learn to divide fractions... both with whole numbers and mixed fractions!
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What do the steps "Stay...Change...Flip" mean? Explain each of the steps as you work through a fraction division math problem.
What We've Been Working On - Rigid Transformations: Translations, Reflections, Rotations
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - How do you define Translations, Reflections, and Rotations? How can you write equations for those transformations?
What We're Working on Next Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - How can we know if we enlarged (make bigger) or reduced (make smaller) a shape correctly?
What We've Been Working On - Students have been gathering information on their research topic. They have been learning about reliable sources and bias.
- Students continue working on their self-paced grammar.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is your research topic and what is something interesting you have learned?
What We're Working on Next - Students will begin creating a 5 paragraph essay on their topic focusing on their essential questions.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is your topic sentence/grabber for your essay?
What We've Been Working On - We are nearing the end of our Rock Cycle unit. We have learned about how rocks are formed and what determines whether they are Igneous, Sedimentary, or Metamorphic rocks.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What are the 3 types of rocks and how do they get formed?
What We're Working on Next - Our Written Assessment will be Monday and Tuesday, March 1 and 2. Please have your child prepare for the written assessment - there will be activities on the Module pages and of course all of their reading material and Activities for the Rock Cycle unit.
- Also, there will be a Skills Project Assessment for this unit. Please look at the Modules instructions for this project and as always, follow the rubric to be successful.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What are characteristics of Sedimentary, Igneous, and Metamorphic Rocks?
Notes - Finish all late/missing work for the Rock Cycle unit as soon as you can; we are testing next week and having a Skills Project Assessment.
What We've Been Working On - The students each created a Google Slides presentation on a notable African American person either from history, or from today. They will present this to their class period over the next few weeks.
- We finished Ch. 8 about the American Civil War, and Minnesota's contributions to it.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Who did you report on for Black History Month? What important contributions did this person make to our society?
What We're Working on Next - We will study the causes and effects of the U.S. Dakota War of 1862 using Ch. 9 in our MNHS textbook. We will have a test on this chapter, then proceed to Ch. 10, in which students will work on a project in class where they design a fictional town during the 1870s in Minnesota using economic concepts.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What were a few reasons tensions were rising between the Dakota and the U.S. Government agents?
- What are some ways that the war affected both the Dakota and the settlers?
What We've Been Working On - All classes have finished up with the outdoor unit. Please make sure to have your son or daughter bring home any and all winter gear or equipment. Remember, students are not allowed to bring sticks or sleds on the bus.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Which way did you find to get exercise in the winter & cold months? Why did you enjoy it so much? How can you do it again?
What We're Working on Next - Over the next week PE/Health classes will finish our Cardio Kickboxing & Fitness Center room unit.
- After that, PE/Health classes will begin our third and final Health unit of the school year.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is something you are looking forward to about cardio kickboxing/fitness room unit?
What We've Been Working On - We worked through our choir songs, as well as sight reading and rhythm reading. A new song was introduced for each grade level with rhythm being the first element taught.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is your favorite song you are singing in choir?
- What is your least favorite song in choir? Why?
What We're Working on Next - We will continue to label solfege, students will be assigned a new rhythm assessment, and a possible creative project/recording assignment.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Which choir song can you sing best?
- Which choir song are you least confident singing?
What We've Been Working On - Students have been learning the Concert Bb major scale and playing the easy melody "London Bridge".
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Play the song "London Bridge" for me.
What We're Working on Next - Students will be moving to the songs "Stodola Pump" and "Skip To My Lou". Might sound easy....yet....it is a challenge to play these songs on a band instrument.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - I want to hear you play the fun and quick melody "Stodola Pumpa".
Notes - Students should be playing their band instrument each day. Pick 3-4 songs to study and play. Maybe play a concert for someone in your family.
What We've Been Working On - D and A string notes
- Bowing Open Strings
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What notes are you struggling with on the D and A string?
What We're Working on Next - Bowing Twinkle
- EE P. 12-16
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What does good bowing technique look like for your instrument?
Notes - Please utilize your string rental store to get your instrument tuned! An in-tune instrument is absolutely necessary for success on string instruments. Contact Ms. Dennis is you need help figuring this out.
What We've Been Working On - We finished a drawing unit, focused on observational drawing, building our skillset as drawers, and building stamina by drawing for 40 minutes on one drawing.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What was your favorite drawing you made during the drawing unit? Why?
What We're Working on Next - We are starting a new unit called Non-Representational Self Portrait.
- Students will be creating their own personal color palette that represents their own personal culture.
- Students will be exploring with watercolors and other water soluble media to create a non-representational artwork that represents them.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What did you learn about color and culture?
- What characteristics did you include on your personal color palette? What colors did you create? How do they symbolize your characteristics? What did you name your colors? Why?
- What ideas and media are you experimenting with for your final artwork?
Notes - Please remind your child(ren) to check their Canvas every school day they are at home. There is a maximum 30 minutes of work they are expected to engage in.
What We've Been Working On - Working on Wood project
- Continued safety tests
- Graphic Design Basics
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Explain how you use the miter saw.
What We're Working on Next - Continue working on Wood project
- Graphic Design: Final your person Brand/logo
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What are you thinking about doing for your Design?
Notes - Due: Friday, Feb. 26
- 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 - Tell what activities I do or don't (like to) do in Spanish.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Name some activities you (like to) do and some you don't.
What We're Working on Next - Describe myself in Spanish
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What are some characteristics of your personality? Describe yourself.
What We've Been Working On - Students completed the growth mindset escape room puzzles.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - How can you show perseverance at school?
What We're Working on Next - We will move on to the next Habitude which is how to be courageous at school.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - In what ways can you show courage at school? Why is that important?
Update Health and Emergency Contact Information We need your assistance updating your child's health information and emergency contact information in Skyward Family Access. For most of you this will only take a few clicks of the mouse. Your school nurse will receive an alert to the updated information. Thanks in advance for your help. Update Health Information Culinary Express Meal Updates for March Learning models are shifting, which requires Culinary to shift as well. With more students returning to our schools for in-person learning, Culinary resources must be adjusted to equally meet the needs of both our in-person and distance choice students. Starting Friday, March 5th Culinary will transition back to providing two meal services. Students will only have access to the meal service that is provided for their learning model and we will no longer be able to serve meals to the greater community. Meal Updates for March Apply for Federal Meal Benefit Families in our district who qualify for free or reduced-priced meals are now eligible for federal Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT). In addition, if your family income has been affected by the pandemic, or if you are eligible, and have not yet completed an online Application for Educational Benefits (Free or reduced-price meal application) for this school year, please complete and submit your application by Sat., Feb. 28, 2021. Overview of Federal Meal Benefit Minnesota School Board Recognition Week February 22-26 is School Board Recognition Week! A special thank you to our elected district leaders for their service to our school community. As a member of the board they help make decisions that have a tremendous impact on your child's future and the quality of life in our community. School board membership can be one of the most personally demanding forms of public service, especially during a pandemic. They devote a great amount of their time to learning and studying health and education issues and listen to the concerns of families and teachers. A special thank you to our Wayzata Public School board members. Meet the School Board 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, March 12, 2021 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Friday, April 23, 2021 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Saturday, April 24, 2021 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Monday, May 10, 2021 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM Tuesday, May 11, 2021 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Thursday, March 18, 2021 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Monday, March 1, 2021 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Monday, March 8, 2021 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM 12000 Ridgemount Avenue, Plymouth, MN 55441 | 763-745-6200 |