7th Grade Parent Newsletter

December 21, 2018

Central Middle School Header Photo

Principal's Message

I would like to thank our students, staff, and parents for contributing to the East Middle School community that we are all so proud to be part of. We look forward to the students' return on Thursday, January 3. Please take time over the winter break to talk with your child about their experience at East and their goals for the second half of the school year. Have a wonderful winter break!

Giving Tree Thank You

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the students, families and staff members who so generously contributed to the Giving Tree this year. Gift cards were donated totaling over $3,000. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we were able to provide assistance to 15 families this holiday season. Thanks to all of you who donated and helped to make the holidays a little brighter for our students and their families. We genuinely appreciate your generosity.

Math

 What We've Been Working On

  • Students have been working on the 5-d process as a strategy to solve word problems.

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

  • What are the 5 D's that assist you when solving word problems?

What We're Working on Next

  • Students will be studying transformational geometry on an x,y grid.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What does the rule (x+8, y-4) mean?

Notes

  • Continue doing homework each night and checking it with the Canvas answers.

Accelerated Math

What We've Been Working On

  • We worked on systems of equations and tested on it as well.
  • We also spent time looking at linear functions in slope-intercept form, standard form and point-slope form. 

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

  • How can you translate among all three different forms of linear functions? 

What We're Working on Next

  • After break, we will begin work on sequences and exponential growth. 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What is the difference between an arithmetic and geometric sequence? 

Notes

  • Encourage all students to bring a calculator with them in their backpacks daily. 

Language Arts

What We've Been Working On

  • Students finished reading The Outsiders, compared / contrasted the book to the movie, completed signpost bookmarks, and wrote an analysis of the theme in the novel.
  • Students wrote the beginning of their favorite mistake story.
  • Students completed the MAP Reading test.

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

  • What is theme of The Outsiders? What were some similarities and differences between the novel and the movie? Which did you like better and why?
  • What method did you use to write the exposition or beginning of your favorite mistake story? How did you grab your reader's attention?

What We're Working on Next

  • Students will continue writing their story of their favorite mistake.
  • Students will also begin learning and applying the four standards of Unit 1 Informational Text (nonfiction).

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What are show-don't-tell details in writing?
  • How can you use figurative language, sensory details, and dialogue to develop your story?
  • Based on the informational text pre-test results, which standard(s) do you need to improve (text evidence and inferences, supporting details, main idea and summary, and/or author's purpose and point of view)?

Notes

  • All six book credits should be earned (through conference or Google form) by the end of the semester January 24.

Science

What We've Been Working On

  • Students were supposed to complete their human body portfolio/project and prepare for their test.

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

  • How do the nervous system and the circulatory system interact?

What We're Working on Next

  • Students will be starting the genetics unit. We will explore different genetic topics before diving deeper into them.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • Where do your traits come from?

Notes

  • Please check Skyward regularly for your grades. Once a unit ends, we no longer accept late or missing work.

Social Studies

What We've Been Working On

  • Finished with post Civil War Reconstruction
  • Started the Gilded Age-which covers, Tensions in the West, Rise in Industry, Immigration and the Progressive Movement
  • Working on Note Taking Strategies for the different chapters

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

  • Ask your student what were some of the reasons Native Americans were pushed on to reservations.

What We're Working on Next

  • We will continue to learn about the Gilded Age Era and work note taking strategies.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • Who were some of the main people during the Rise of Industry?

Phy. Ed.

What We've Been Working On

  • Students have learned and practiced the Health and Skill Related Components of Fitness. They have also been playing Badminton (DeVoe) and a games unit (Mozey).

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

  • Can you explain the difference between the Health and Skill Related Components? Can you name them? 

What We're Working on Next

  • Students will switch units and Mozey's classes will start badminton and DeVoe will start the games unit. 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What components of fitness do you want to work on for your personal fitness growth? Does this align with your SMART goals?

Notes

  • Please check skyward; many students have not turned in their SMART goals. 

Choir

What We've Been Working On

  •  Preparation for the Winter Concert

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

  • What was successful about the concert (facial expressions, diction, vowels...)? 

What We're Working on Next

  • When we come back from break, we will start our new repertoire. Within this, students will work on their solfege and sight reading skills.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What are you looking forward to for the Spring Concert? 

Band

What We've Been Working On

  • Concert music
  • Articulation and dynamics

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

  • Which concert song do you think the band performed the best? Why?

What We're Working on Next

  • Sixteenth note patterns
  • Counting systems

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • How do you count sixteenth notes in 4/4 time?

Orchestra

What We've Been Working On

  • Concert Preparation

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

  • How have you demonstrated growth within your concert pieces over the last two weeks?

What We're Working on Next

  • Concert Reflection
  • Dotted quarter notes

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What can you take from this concert to apply to your future learning?

Tech Ed

What We've Been Working On

  • General and Machine Safety
  • Start and finish Model Dragster in the Production Lab

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

  • What are you most proud of with your Model Dragster?

What We're Working on Next

  • Winter Break

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What was your favorite part of break?

Notes

  • All Model Dragsters should be brought home over winter break. Students can start to paint them also. Directions are located on Canvas under Production Lab. Feel free to email me if you have questions.

FCS

What We've Been Working On

  • We kicked off our Foods unit! We learned about proper hand-washing, kitchen safety, and kitchen math.
  • This week we made Strawberry-Banana Smoothies and microwave popcorn in a lunch bag.

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

  • What are 4 ways to stop the spread of pathogens or germs?
    • CLEAN (wash hands, surfaces, tools), COOK foods to proper temperature, SEPARATE (stop cross contamination by keeping meats and produce separate), and CHILL (refrigerate foods that need to stay cold)

What We're Working on Next

  • We will be making whole grain pancakes and Snickerdoodle cookies.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What makes a grain whole-grain?
    • It contains the bran, endosperm and germ. 

Spanish

What We've Been Working On

  • Writing and Reading assessments about dinner and healthy foods

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

  • What did you write on the Assessment about Bandeja Paisa?

What We're Working on Next

  • Speaking assessment about a meal the student likes

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What questions will you ask on the Speaking Assessment? How will you answer others' questions?

Gifted & Talented

What We've Been Working On

  • We are working on Gifted and Talented terminology and what brings us together.
  • We are also starting our work on advocating for ourselves and what we want others to know about us.

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

  • What is one thing you want your parents to know about you and your gifted qualities?

What We're Working on Next

  • We will continue the self advocating unit and practice scenarios what we might want to advocate with our teachers.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What is one thing you want your teachers to know about you and your gifted qualities?

Young Scholars

What We've Been Working On

  • I have checked in with all Young Scholars on their grades and being up to date on their classroom homework and assessments.
  • We have also begun the 2nd set of Wordmaster words in Language Arts which all Young Scholars are responsible for .

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

  • Are you caught up on all your school work?

What We're Working on Next

  • Students will continue to work on Wordmaster words weekly. I have sent them a copy of my definitions to help guide them.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

  • What is your favorite Wordmaster word?

PTO News

Around the District

When to keep your child home from school
If your child has a fever, is vomiting, or shows signs of other illness, Wayzata Public Schools follows the Hennepin County Infectious Diseases in Childcare settings and Schools Manual to determine if your child is well enough to attend school. The intent of exclusion is to promote a healthy school environment by preventing exposure and spread of illness. Please report all illnesses or health conditions to the school's health office. Please keep your child home for 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting/diarrhea and until your child does not have a fever without using fever reducing medications.

Influenza Symptoms
Our school health offices are asked to report the number (not names) of students and staff who are experiencing Influenza-like Illness to the Minnesota Department of Health. When contacting the school to report that your child is sick, please be specific including if the fever is 100° or greater and if your child has a cough or a sore throat. If you have questions about these guidelines, please call your school health office.


Partners in Prevention Logo

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.


Community Education

Check out our addition of Discover Racquetball with Life Time! Grades 3-12, beginners welcome! Register here.

Upcoming Event:
Young Scientist Roundtable - Keeping Bees on Their Six Feet
Wednesday, January 16, 7:00 p.m. at Central Middle School
Event is free. 


Calendar

Thursday, January 10, 2019
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
 
Monday, January 14, 2019
All day
 
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
All day
 
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
All day
 
Thursday, January 17, 2019
All day
 
Friday, January 18, 2019
All day
 
Monday, January 14, 2019
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
 
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
 
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
 
Thursday, January 24, 2019
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
 
Monday, January 28, 2019
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM