6th Grade Parent Newsletter

November 2, 2018

 
Central Middle School Header Photo

Principal's Message

This coming December and January, students will be taking the NWEA-MAP test. This year, your student will be taking the test on their iPad. Your student needs to make sure their iPad is fully charged on their testing days. If your student is absent or does not finish in the time frame we have blocked off, they will be able to finish the test on the makeup days.

6th Grade
December 3-4: Reading
December 5-6: Math
January 7-8: Science

7th Grade

December 3-4: Math

December 5-6: Reading

January 9-10: Science

8th Grade
December 10-11: Math
December 12-13: Reading
January 9-10: Science

 

Math

What We've Been Working On

  • The students have been working on the relationship between fractions, decimals, and percents. They've learned how to represent them using a "portions web" and how to "build, write, and draw it".  

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

  • How comfortable are you writing a "portions web"?
  • Can you "build, write, and draw" any fraction, decimal, or percent? 

What We're Working on Next

  • The students will soon be moving onto the addition and subtraction of opposite numbers. Basically, adding and subtracting positive and negative integers!
  • They'll also be learning what absolute value is. 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • Where's your understanding of adding and subtracting positive and negative integers?
 

Accelerated Math

What We've Been Working On

  • The students have been working on order of operations and the addition and subtraction of integers. They've also transitioned to the multiplying and dividing of integers.

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

  • Do you understand why multiplying (or dividing) two negatives is a positive value?

What We're Working on Next

  • We will be moving onto multiplying decimals and all the division operations. We will then wrap it up with math properties they need to know in 6th grade.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • How well do you understand the associative, commutative, and distributive properties? 
 

Language Arts

What We've Been Working On

  • In the past two weeks we have done presentations on phobias, read the story "The Ravine" by Graham Salisbury, and taken a poetry quiz. 

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

  • What is an inference?
  • What phobias did you present on?
  • What happened in the story "The Ravine?"

What We're Working on Next

  • Reading "Fine?" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
  • Taking a Unit 1 Literature Test and Poetry Test
  • Starting the Personal Narratives

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What did you think of the story "Fine?" What was the conflict/tough question/Theme?
  • How do you think you will do on the Literature Assessment and Poetry Assessment?
  • What is a story about your life that you want to write about?
 

Science

What We've Been Working On

  • We have started our Chemistry unit! Elements, compounds, mixtures, atoms and more!

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

  • What is the difference between a solvent and a solute?

What We're Working on Next

  • We began discussing solids, liquids and gases on Monday and the energy it takes to change from one form to another.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • At what temperature does water change from a liquid to a gas?

Notes

  • Field trip permission slips were due Monday. Please turn them in. Thank you!
 

Social Studies

What We've Been Working On

  • Students have learned about the similarities and differences of the Dakota and the Objibwe.

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

  •  What is one difference between the Native American groups and why are they different?

What We're Working on Next

  • Students are learning about the fur trade and taking part in a simulation. They will be doing a project on the Voyageurs who were part of the fur trade.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What role would you choose if you were involved in the fur trade?
 

Phy. Ed.

What We've Been Working On

  • Mr. DeVoe's classes have been participating in a soccer unit and Mrs. Mozey's classes have been participating in a rugby unit.

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

  • What was your favorite part of soccer or rugby and why?

What We're Working on Next

  • For the next two weeks, both classes will be inside more consistently and we will be finishing up any Fall fitness testing that is left.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What was the most difficult fitness test? 

 

Band

What We've Been Working On

  • Learned two new notes
  • Reviewed and refined embouchure and posture

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

  • How many notes do you know now?

What We're Working on Next

  • Extending the range up
  • Eighth notes
  • Improving tone

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What is your favorite song to play up to now?
 

Orchestra

What We've Been Working On

  • Bow Builders
  • Twinkle Twinkle Pizzicato Playing Test
  • D String Notes

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

  • What should a successful bow hold look like for your instrument and how can you be improving your bowing?

What We're Working on Next

  • Bowing Open strings
    D and A string note reading

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What is one area of bowing you can continue to work on and how can you improve it?

Notes

  • Students need to be practicing 20 minutes 5 days a week. There is a new practice calendar on Canvas every 2 weeks.
 

Art

What We've Been Working On

  • Completed color wheels, color wheel critique
  • Glazed coil pots, coil pot reflection  

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

  • What is glaze, and how does it change pottery?  

What We're Working on Next

  • Students will create a figure drawing and create a presentation about the artist they researched at the beginning of the quarter. Students will present their artist to a small group. 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What technique can you use to create a figure drawing using the correct body proportions?  
 

Tech Ed

What We've Been Working On

  • Building robots
  • Basic and beyond basic programming

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

  • What is a threshold and how does it apply to sensors?

What We're Working on Next

  • Final WPM Keyboarding Test
  • Move to Art

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • Did you see improvement from the beginning of the quarter to the end when Keyboarding?
 

Spanish

What We've Been Working On

  • Writing and Speaking about what we do and what we are like

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

  • What did you say on the Speaking assessment?
  • How did you describe yourself and what you do?

What We're Working on Next

  • Class subjects and describing them.
  • Rudolph - telling time

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What classes do you have in school? Describe them.
  • What time is it?
 

Gifted & Talented

What We've Been Working On

  • We have completed our investigation of Imagination as the first Habitude.

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

  • How can you use your imagination to be successful in school?

What We're Working on Next

  • The 2nd habitude is Curiosity and how we can use it to be successful in school.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What are you curious about?
 

Young Scholars

What We've Been Working On

  • We have finished our investigation of Habitude #1: Imagination.

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

  • How can you use your imagination in school?

What We're Working on Next

  • We will work on Habitude #2: Curiosity.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • How can you use your curiosity to be successful in school?

Notes

  • We will continue to work on organization and planning.
 

PTO News

Order spirit wear until November 8! Purchase your blue and gold and show your school and holiday spirit. Remember to choose East Middle School at checkout. Orders will be shipped to your home.

 

Our next PTO Meeting is November 13 at 9:30 a.m. Please join as we will have guest speaker, Superintendent Chace Anderson.

 
Around the District

The District Legislative Action Committee (LAC) met October 10 with Jim Westrum, Wayzata Public Schools Executive Director of Business and Finance, as the guest speaker. All candidates for Minnesota House of Representatives seats in districts serving Wayzata Public Schools were invited. Mr. Westrum gave a brief overview of past accomplishments of LAC advocacy, an overview of public education finance in Minnesota and an update on the current financial position of Wayzata Public Schools. This year’s Legislative Platform is scheduled to be finalized at the November LAC meeting and approved at the December 10 School Board meeting. This Platform will guide LAC advocacy at the State Capitol during the 2019 Legislative Session which begins January 8.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Zohra Tridane, EMS’ LAC representative or visit the District Committees webpage.


Wayzata High School Theatre presents The Secret Garden at Wayzata High School in Auditorium 1. Performances Friday, November 9, 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, November 10, 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, November 15, 7:00 p.m.; Friday, November 16, 7:00 p.m.; Saturday November 17, 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at whstheatre.com for adult $15.00, senior $12.00, student/staff $10.00.


 
Community Education

Check out our addition of Discover Racquetball with Life Time! Find more information here. Beginners welcome! Register today!

Destination Imagination registration is open until Nov 7! Visit our website for more information.

Upcoming Events:
Young Scientist Roundtable - NASA's Stardust Mission: Bringing Comet Wild 2 to Earth - Tuesday, Nov 13, 7 p.m. at Central Middle School.
How to Learn Math - A Workshop for Parents: Nov 14 or 15 6:30-8:30 p.m., register here.
Both events are free, registration required only for How to Learn Math.

Register now for Fall Youth and Adult Enrichment! 

 


 

Calendar

Friday, November 16, 2018
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
 
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
 
Monday, December 17, 2018
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM
 
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
 
7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
 
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
 
Monday, November 19, 2018
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
 
Monday, November 26, 2018
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
 
Monday, December 3, 2018
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
 
Monday, December 10, 2018
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
 
 
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12000 Ridgemount Avenue, Plymouth, MN 55441 | 763-745-6200