Principal's Message

After our "abbreviated" start to the second semester, we are back in full swing! This is a great time to review goals for the year and make any adjustments necessary to ensure the success of your child for the rest of the school year.

8th Grade Encore Registration

Last week, your 7th grade student received a registration form for 8th grade encore classes.

In 8th grade, students are assigned their regular core classes, a music class, a physical education class, and two other encore classes of their choosing: Art, Family and Consumer Science, Spanish, and Technology Ed.

Please read the directions on the form carefully as well as the course descriptions located on the back. Parents/guardians need to sign the completed form. If they haven't already, please have your student turn it in by Monday, February 4. Please contact Sarah Clinite, the Student Services secretary, if you have any questions. 

Health Office Request

 Our health office is in need of clean, gently-used clothes:

• T-Shirts (boys and girls)
• Pants (boys and girls)
• Larger-sized shoes

Thank you!

Math

 What We've Been Working On

• Students were transforming 2 dimensional figures on a coordinate grid--translations, reflections, and dilations.

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

• How does a translation affect a figure on a grid?

What We're Working on Next

• Students will be solving equations algebraically using legal moves.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What are two legal moves when solving an equation algebraically?

Notes

• Students should continue to use Canvas to check HW and use their calculator for basic operations involving arithmetic.

Accelerated Math

What We've Been Working On

• We took a test on arithmetic and geometric sequences. We also learned how to write equations for both types of sequences. 

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

• What is the standard form for an exponential equation?

What We're Working on Next

• We will begin Chapter 7 where we will talk about slope and slope-intercept form and discuss positive and negative association. 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What do you know about the slope of parallel lines and/or perpendicular lines?

Notes

• If anyone would like to donate dry-erase markers to our classrooms, it would be appreciated. We are running low on our supplies.

Language Arts

What We've Been Working On

• We finished Unit 1 Informational Text and ended the semester with assessments for Quarter 2 Vocabulary and Quarter 2 Writing Mechanics and Punctuation.
• Students also finished reading the six books that were required for the first semester.

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

• In what particular standard(s) do you still need to work on for informational text? In which standard(s) in informational text do you excel?
• Did you complete reading all six books for the semester?
• What was your favorite book you read this past semester? Why did you enjoy this book?

What We're Working on Next

• We will focus on finishing writing "My Favorite Mistake" narrative story. Students will receive daily instruction to improve their story such as adding "show" details, developing the character, adding dialogue, etc. Each night, students will continue to write each part of their story adding details to their story after the class instruction for the day.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• Ask your child to read the beginning of the story to you. Does it grab your attention?
• Does it hint at the possible theme of the story? What is the theme of the story?
• Ask your child to share with you "show" details that were added to the story versus "tell" details.
• Ask your child to share dialogue that was added to the story. Does the dialogue sound authentic?

Science

What We've Been Working On

• Students learned about selective breeding and genetic technology.

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

• What is selective breeding and how is it beneficial?

What We're Working on Next

• Students will present their genetic projects and begin the evolution unit. Students will learn about the theory of evolution and complete a lab on environmental disasters and genetics.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What are the four parts to the theory of evolution?

Social Studies

What We've Been Working On

• Over the past two weeks, we have been discussing America becoming a superpower through imperialism, expansion and leading into WWI.

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

• What were the three territories that the United States acquired after the Spanish American War?

What We're Working on Next

• For the next two weeks, we will be covering the causes and conduct of WWI along with the nations involved, and the US involvement in WWI.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What country role did you play during our alliance simulation activity? What country did it represent in WWI?
• What are the causes for WWI? (Hint: MANIA)

Phy. Ed.

What We've Been Working On

• The past two weeks, Mr. DeVoe's classes have been finishing an indoor games unit and Mrs. Mozey's classes have been finishing a badminton unit.

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

• What was the most difficult part of serving in badminton?

   

• What game played in PE was the most fun during the games unit? 

What We're Working on Next

• In the next two weeks, both classes will be learning about muscles and start lifting some light weight.

   

• In addition, both classes will be going outside to participate in broomball (weather dependent). We will be giving students a days notice in class when their class will be going outside.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What is a muscle you learned about and a lift that goes with it? 

Choir

What We've Been Working On

• Created a performance presentation with small groups and performed for the class

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

• How should you stand to show professionalism and confidence? 

What We're Working on Next

• Learning new music
• Students will learn to highlight their voice part in a vocal score and write in solfege to help learn their individual melodies.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

•  Which part do you sing for "Inscription of Hope"?

Band

What We've Been Working On

• Sixteenth note counting
  
• New key signatures

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

• How do you count sixteenth notes? What are they?

What We're Working on Next

• Counting and playing combinations of eighth notes and sixteenth notes
  
• Mini Recital songs

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• Which song do you like that you are practicing for the mini recital?
• What is the mini recital?

Orchestra

What We've Been Working On

• Dotted Quarter Note Rhythms

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

• How do dots affect music and rhythm?

What We're Working on Next

• A Major

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What things change when you play in the key of A major?

Tech Ed

What We've Been Working On

• Spanish

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

• Spanish

What We're Working on Next

• Keyboarding and Pre-Test
  
• Whitebox STEM dragsters

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What did the tutorials teach you about designing your practice dragster?

FCS

What We've Been Working On

• After getting to know each other, we started our first unit on careers. Students will be researching several chosen careers to find out what skills are needed, what kind of education is required, and how much money they can earn. Finally, students will create a final project to share what they learned about his/her chosen career.

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

• Based on your interest inventory, what are some of the careers you might want to pursue in the future?

What We're Working on Next

• Our second unit is Personal Finance. Students will practice decision-making using the PACED model. PACED stands for P- state the Problem, A-look for Alternative options, C-Criteria (identify what is most important), E-Evaluate the choices based on what you think is important, and D-make a Decision. 

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• After practicing the PACED model, how would you spend $200 on new clothing?

Spanish

What We've Been Working On

• We have just gotten to know names and classroom procedures.

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

• What is your Spanish teacher's name?

What We're Working on Next

• We will review these topics from 6th grade: describing self and likes and dislikes.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What adjectives or activities do you remember from 6th grade? How are you going to study to refresh your memory?

Gifted & Talented

What We've Been Working On

• I met with the kids to work on Word Master Analogies and we discussed how to advocate for ourselves.

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

• When is the Word Masters exam and have you studied?

What We're Working on Next

• We have a little more work to do with advocating and perseverance, but then we are going to start a Stock Market unit.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• In what areas of life do you practice perseverance?

Young Scholars

What We've Been Working On

• We have not met in the last couple of weeks.

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

• What personal management grades did you get in your classes?

What We're Working on Next

• I am trying to work out a time to meet with them soon. We will review winter MAP scores and set goals for next year.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

• What is your MAP goal for next year?

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12000 Ridgemount Avenue, Plymouth, MN 55441 | 763-745-6200