6th Grade Classroom Update - December 7, 2018

6th Grade Parent Newsletter

December 7, 2018

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The safety of your student is important to us at East Middle School. This certainly includes their safety as they leave the school building for the day and load into your personal vehicles.

As you arrive to pick up your student, please start the parking line as far as possible to the North past the building. Continue the line along the curb without leaving any gaps. If a vehicle in front of you leaves, please carefully pull forward to fill that space. As you enter the lot, please join this line at the end.

When this area in front of the school fills with vehicles, we ask that you would not park on Ridgemount Ave. This is unsafe for you, other drivers, and especially our students using the crosswalk to cross the street. You are asked at this point to enter the parking lot and find an open parking space to use until the school period is over.

We also want you to share this information with your student as you now may not be in your "Regular" spot. The traffic clears out quite quickly so just a moment's patience is well worth the time. More snow and ice is on the way so as always please drive carefully and watch for students.

Thank you.

EMS Giving Tree

Would you like to help some of our families this holiday season? As the winter holiday season approaches, many of us are excited about family gatherings and celebrations. Yet, there are many East families worried about not having the means for family celebrations this year.

We are asking EMS students, families and staff who are able to provide a donation to assist us in meeting the needs of our less fortunate families. If you would like to help East families this holiday season, look for the East Giving Tree in the school's front entryway or at the winter music concerts and Wolf Ridge meeting. Choose a "leaf" from the Giving Tree, purchase the gift card indicated on the leaf, and return it to Beth Dahl in the front lobby by Wednesday, December 19. All donations will be given anonymously to families in our school community.

If you have any questions about the giving tree, please contact Debbie Kimlinger in the student services office at 763-745-6231 or Debbie.Kimlinger@wayzataschools.org. Thank you for helping our students and families this holiday season.

Lifetouch School Pictures Special Offer

Lifetouch is offering a free photo book by ordering school pictures online.

Math

What We've Been Working On

The students have spent the past few weeks working on their understanding of probability. They are doing an excellent job of understanding all of the probability vocabulary. They have enjoyed playing a variety of games involving chance to enhance their learning.

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

What is the difference between theoretical and experimental probability?

What We're Working on Next

The students are taking their math MAP test this week. They seem excited to take it as they haven't since 4th grade. We will be moving onto higher order probability, including compound events and independent and dependent probability.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What is the difference between independent and dependent probability?

Accelerated Math

What We've Been Working On

The students been learning how to use algebra tiles to help them solve a variety of mathematical situations. These include combining like terms, using the Distributive Property, and using substitution to solve expressions.

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

How confident are you using the Distributive Property?
How confident are you combining like terms? Using substitution?

What We're Working on Next

The students are taking their math MAP test this week. They are excited as they haven't taken them since 4th grade! We'll wrap up the unit by understanding how the area and perimeter of similar shapes are related.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What was your favorite question on the math MAP test?

Language Arts

What We've Been Working On

Personal Narrative Unit
Fast and Furious Writings: slow and stretch it out, emotions, leads

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

What lead did you use for your fast and furious writing #4?

What We're Working on Next

Personal narrative mini lessons: transition, dialogue, conclusions
Begin writing final personal narrative assessment

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What message or lesson learned will you write in your final narrative?

Notes

Many students are stating they do not have pencils. Please check in with your child to see if they need more pencils. Thank you.

Science

What We've Been Working On

In the last two weeks, we have concentrated on the properties and behavior of solids, liquids and gases.

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

How did you do on your SLG Assessment?

What We're Working on Next

In the coming weeks, we will be working on a video project where the students will tell a fictional story that follows the "story line plot" they have used in Language Arts to label and demonstrate different physical and chemical changes and behavior of particles.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What is your iMovie video project story and how does it show the chemistry involved?

Social Studies

What We've Been Working On

Students will be able to explain the motivations different groups had for signing treaties, the results of the treaties for American Indians and for settlers, and describe how the treaties still apply today.

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

What happened to the Dakota as a result of the treaties of Traverse de Sioux and Mendota?

What We're Working on Next

Minnesota's Newcomers - Students will be able to explain how population changed during the territorial period, describe reasons for migration, and explain experiences of European settlers, Dakota, and Ojibwe during time.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What were some of the challenges settlers might have faced when they first came to Minnesota?

Phy. Ed.

What We've Been Working On

Mrs. Mozey's classes have been participating in an indoor games unit.
Mr. DeVoe's classes have been participating in badminton.
In addition to the sports, both classes have learned about health related and skill related components of fitness. The students have learned and participated in activities tied into those components.

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

What are the 5 heath related components of fitness, and what are the 6 skill related components of fitness?

What We're Working on Next

In the next two weeks, classes will flip sports and cover more fitness topics.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What is your fitness goal and have you started practicing it yet?

Notes

Double check with your student to see if they have been wearing their PE shirt consistently. Also, have them bring it home for washing.

Choir

What We've Been Working On

Preparing for the Winter Concert
Learning to memorize the order of a song, adding diction, and dynamics

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

If there is a rest after a word, what sound do you put on the rest?

What We're Working on Next

Finishing touches to our Winter Concert: checking that posture is performance ready, eyes are focused on conductor, memorizing songs and faces show the expression of the piece.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What are rehearsal practices you can do at home without singing?

Notes

The Winter Concert is Monday, December 17 at 6:00 p.m.

Band

What We've Been Working On

Eighth notes
Extended range up or down

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

How do you count eighth notes?

What We're Working on Next

New notes extending range up
3/4 time signatures

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What does 3/4 mean?

Orchestra

What We've Been Working On

D Major Scale Notes
Bowing

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

How are you doing with reading and playing notes on your D and A strings?

What We're Working on Next

Bowing
D Major and section solos

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

How can you practice your bowing at home?

Notes

Practice calendars are due every 2 weeks. Students need to be practicing 20 minutes 5 days a week.

Art

What We've Been Working On

Students chose an artist to research and researched that artist using multiple sources. Students created a presentation about their artist and presented it to a small group in class.
Students learned about The Elements of Art and Principles of Design.
Students designed and created and glazed their crazy coil pot.

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

What are some of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design, how can you find/see them in the world around you?

What We're Working on Next

Students will design their own color wheel and learn how to mix secondary and intermediate colors, and tints, tones, and shades of each color.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

How did you use radial symmetry to create your color wheel?

Tech Ed

What We've Been Working On

General and machine safety
Technical reading
Layout, cutting and sanding project pieces

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

What was the hardest part of the project so far and why?

What We're Working on Next

Project Assembly
WPM Mid Quarter
Starting Robotics

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

How did your WPM Mid-quarter go?

Spanish

What We've Been Working On

Eugene: AR verb conjugation, school classes and activities
Rudolph: school classes and activities

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

What classes do you have? Describe them. Describe the teacher.
Say things you need in each class. Say what activities everyone does in classes.

What We're Working on Next

Rudolph: AR Verb conjugation, Writing Assessment about school classes
Eugene: Writing Assessment about school classes

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

Write some sentences from the assessment about school classes. Describe the class, the teacher, name some objects and say what people do in the class.

Gifted & Talented

What We've Been Working On

We have been working on our curiosity unit and have been practicing our questioning skills.

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

What "genius questions" did you use in school today?

What We're Working on Next

We will be moving on to self-awareness and passion as the next two Habitudes.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What can you do to be a more active participant in your learning?

Young Scholars

What We've Been Working On

We have completed our organization unit, and have discussed curiosity and how to use questioning skills in class.

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

Are you caught up on your homework?

What We're Working on Next

We will begin a self-awareness unit where we will look at our unique learning styles and how we can actively participate in the learning process.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

How do you learn best?

PTO News

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Around the District

November 2018 Legislative Action Committee (LAC) Update
At the November 14 meeting of the Wayzata Legislative Action Committee, senators and representatives-elect for districts representing Wayzata Public Schools were invited. Able to attend were Senator Warren Limmer, Senate District 34; Representative Jerry Hertaus House District 33A; and Representative-Elect Ginny Klevorn, House District 44A.

The LAC reviewed election results for districts representing the District (full election results can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State website). The LAC will start meeting with legislators before the 2019 Legislative Session begins January 8 to build positive relationships with our officials.

The LAC reviewed and discussed the 2019 Legislative Platform draft, which is scheduled to be approved at the December 10 School Board Meeting. This platform will guide LAC advocacy at the Minnesota Capitol during the 2019 Legislative Session.

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

Looking for a way to say thank you and wish your child’s teacher a happy holiday season? Show them you care with the Wayzata Education Fund’s Thank A Teacher program. A donation made through this program will come with a certificate of appreciation to that teacher from their student. As a bonus, any donation of $25 or more also comes with a bundlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes – Minnetonka. Any donation through the program between now and December 18 will be delivered to your child’s teacher before winter break. Say thank you and support a good cause all at once.

Ask Ali the tough questions you might be too scared to ask in person. Alison Wobschall, M.A., director of Partners in Prevention, is a psychologist with 14 years of experience in prevention. She has a special passion for healthy brain development. Submit any questions you have regarding topics surrounding substances, mental health, and parenting strategies.