Welcome Back! …. FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS- February 2017 Issue 6

PS/IS 226 Panther Pride Press “Together We Make Our School a Success”

school website to read more about what's in store for each day during the

This February we have 29 days to continue that momentum as we leap into a calendar full of activities to help our students learn, grow, and develop. On February 10th, middle school students will have a designated time slot for them to attend our annual Valentine's Day dance. PS/IS 226 is happy to announce we are differentiating Respect for All for middle schooler's for the very first time due to the guidance and support of our amazing student council. As a cabinet, student council representatives came together to review activities that would provide students with a platform to celebrate diversity and show respect for all as well as bring attention to issues they feel passionate about, such as depression. For further details, please be sure you visit our

Ms. Trovato 6th Grade Social Studies

Grade 6 just has just completed their unit assessment on World Religions. We are now working on analyzing how great civilization rise and fall.

Ms. Sapienza 7th Grade Social Studies

The 7th graders just finished their mid-unit assessment - writing an informational essay on the reasons colonists in the 1700s chose to stay loyal to the British crown, or fight for independence with the Patriots. The second part of the unit will be focused around the influential thinkers that played a role in the ideas outlined in the Declaration of Independence, the battles fought during the American Revolution, and the creation of America's first government.

Ms. Sapienza- 8th Grade Social Studies

The 8th graders are wrapping up their American Imperialism unit. The students are currently working on their informative essays. The writing skills gained from writing informational essays will support them later on in high school when they take their Social Studies Regents exams. This past unit will segue into the causes of World War I, our next unit. The WWI unit will be focused on different beliefs countries had that resulted in the world war. The students will be using simulation games to show what life was like for soldiers in the trenches and focus their writing on

Ms. Montanes- Monthly Highlights and Inspirational Quotes

Ms. Issa 6th Grade ELAAfter a very productive and exciting unit on World Wonders, we are now extending the unit through essay writing on these wonders. Students are assuming four possible options of roles (news reporter, travel agent, archeologist, or a persuading letter) in writing an argumentative essay about the wonder of their choice. We are already very excited during the drafting process and we can't wait to see where this will take us!

Ms. Jompulsky 7th Grade ELANow that we've closely read our two texts, it's time to write! We've spent weeks reading and analyzing both 'Twelve Angry Men' and 'I Have a Dream,' determining how these two talented authors convey their ideas about democracy. We will now be taking on the role of a historian, examining how these authors convey their unique perspectives by using such strategies as figurative language, repetition, dialogue and stage directions. In this timely written piece, we will be exploring how these authors are disappointed in the democracy of their times but are also quite hopeful for the future. M

Ms. Stansici 8th Grade ELA

8th Grade continues its art unit with the story, "Zebra" by examining various literary layers that make this a favorite story. Some of the skills include character types, mood, imagery, and inference. Students will soon take a page out of

conditions. They are also working hard on their long-term investigatory projects.

Ms. Salcedo- 7th Grade Science

The 7th graders are focusing their study on the diversity of life through the study of cells. They are observing wet mounts, creating models of plant and animal cells, comparing and contrasting prokaryotic and

provided by the sun that causes atmospheric movements and weather transferred through Earth's systems and demonstrating how energy is

Ms. Salcedo-6th Grade ScienceThe 6th grade young scientists are exploring the structure and composition of the Earth's atmosphere. They are creating models of the thin envelope of air and illustrating how it protects life and insulates the Earth. They are also investigating the mechanisms by which energy is

I'm hungry!learn more about Pi. Wait - did someone say Pi? Great now, Geometry, the measurements of shapes. We cannot wait to

Mr. Hadzovic- 8th Grade MathematicsBefore February we were working on how to solve an equation with one variable, but now we are transitioning to a system of linear equations! A system includes two or more equations that contain two or more variables. During the middle of February we will be transitioning to

let's keep it going. "Success is built on the essence of hard work."study. Stay warm and keep working hard - it's been a great year so far,

Mr. Greene- 7th Grade MathematicsCan you believe it's February already? Wow, how time flies when you're having fun! Let's talk inequality, numerically speaking. An inequality is when two sides of an equation are not equal. Inequalities are so important and will be a major part of our continued focus in our unit of

excellent work super stars!classmates and are willing to conduct lessons. Amazing!!! Keep up the

This month we are working on calculating percents of a quantity and solving real-world percent problems involving sales tax, discounts, interest, etc. Our 6th grade super stars are progressing beautifully and are able to make real-world connections. Test-taking strategies are being incorporated into the lessons, which are beneficial to all learners. Students are even volunteering to create power points for their

MathematicsD’Acierno- 6th Grade Ms.

Ms. Toyber- 8th Grade Science

This month our seniors are exploring the different types of rocks, weathering, and erosion. Through a series of hands-on activities and experiments, they identify the various tests used to determine rock properties, as well as the difference between weathering and erosion. On the other hand, our 8th grade Living Environment seniors are exploring the different human body systems, all while making connections to their own lives. All IS 226 scientists are eagerly working on their long-term scientific investigation projects.

Ms. Reyes- Spanish ClubThis month my bilingual learners are going to compare and contrast the

erate. delibwill s student

As Respect for All week begins, students will tackle the issue of bullying as it relates to another topic that has made news lately, the First Amendment. Do students have the same freedoms that their parents do? When does the First Amendment apply to cases of bullying? These are the types of questions that

Mr. Kent- Digital Literacy

Panther Pride Press- January 2017- Issue 6

A Note from Our Guidance Counselor-Ms.

Tsekouras"

Education Council meeting appointing our new principal, Mr. Klein.  

Seventh and Eighth grade band students have been working on a higher level of artistry by shaping the notes and rhythms on the page. They are looking forward to performing on February 15th at the Community

Ms. Trombetta

Ms. Trovato 6th Grade Social Studies

Grade 6 just has just completed their unit assessment on World Religions. We are now working on analyzing how great civilization rise and fall.

Ms. Sapienza 7th Grade Social Studies

The 7th graders just finished their mid-unit assessment - writing an informational essay on the reasons colonists in the 1700s chose to stay loyal to the British crown, or fight for independence with the Patriots. The second part of the unit will be focused around the influential thinkers that played a role in the ideas outlined in the Declaration of Independence, the battles fought during the American Revolution, and the creation of America's first government.

Ms. Sapienza- 8th Grade Social Studies

The 8th graders are wrapping up their American Imperialism unit. The students are currently working on their informative essays. The writing skills gained from writing informational essays will support them later on in high school when they take their Social Studies Regents exams. This past unit will segue into the causes of World War I, our next unit. The WWI unit will be focused on different beliefs countries had that resulted in the world war. The students will be using simulation games to show what life was like for soldiers in the trenches and focus their writing on

8th Grade students, who applied for Specialized HS, will receive letters with Round 1 results in March. At this time, you will need to accept. You must do this by the date indicated on the Round 1 results letter. Students who do not receive an offer in Round 1 must submit a Round 2 application the date on the letter.  If you prefer programs on the Round 2 program list to your Round 1 offer, you may also submit a Round 2 application. By doing so, you agree to the following: You will give up your Round 1 offer if your child matches to a program you list on the Round 2 application. You will not be able to choose between your Round 1 and Round 2 offers. An appeal to your Round 1 offer will not be considered. If you do not receive an offer in Round 2, you will keep your Round 1 offer.   Round 2 applications and a list of available programs will be in my office, Room 461 after Round 1 results are distributed. If you are interested in submitting a Round 2 application, you should plan to attend the Round 2 Fair. The Fair dates and time will be published here: http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/High/events/default.htm. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at:  (718) 234-4940 extension 4611.   Sincerely, Your School Counselor – Ms. Tsekouras Mr Pratt/ Mr. Convissar- Physical

EducationOur amazing girls volleyball team finished the regular season with a perfect record. In their final match they beat Cavallaro 25-20 and 25-22. We are now headed into the playoffs looking to bring the city championship back to 226. GO PANTHERS!!

Art students have been creating drawings influenced by traditional Chinese art in celebration of the Lunar New Year. Next, we will be looking at scenes of nature and begin depicting winter landscapes.

ArtMr. Geraci- Middle School

Ms. Toyber- 8th Grade Science

This month our seniors are exploring the different types of rocks, weathering, and erosion. Through a series of hands-on activities and experiments, they identify the various tests used to determine rock properties, as well as the difference between weathering and erosion. On the other hand, our 8th grade Living Environment seniors are exploring the different human body systems, all while making connections to their own lives. All IS 226 scientists are eagerly working on their long-term scientific investigation projects.

"Ms. Shammas & Class 804 It's February! The first month of the new year is already in the books. In our ELA section, seniors continue to promenade through our unit of study, "The Power of Art". The benefits of this unit are manifold - sharpening students' abilities to make predictions, ask questions, infer themes, cite text evidence, and examine author's purpose and characterization. At the same time seniors are experiencing for themselves the power art has to influence their own lives as well as society in general. Math continues its uphill slope into linear and non-linear equations and how they can be identified, created and applied to real life situations. To celebrate Black History Month, the class will be discovering and analyzing the impact black culture and its contributions have had in our communities and on our

Ms. Alvarez & 704 In ELA, class

next. Students will learn how to

decimals, how to find the whole from a percent, and how to find the percent of a quantity. We are

world wonders. They are reading the text, "World Wonders, Worn

whether or not we have a duty

Class 604 just finished our chapter on ratios in Math. We will begin exploring percent next. Students will learn how to model percent, how to write percent as fractions and decimals, how to find the whole from a percent, and how to find the percent of a quantity. We are in our 3rd unit of study in ELA. Students are learning about world wonders. They are reading the text, "World Wonders, Worn Down?" and they will write an argumentative essay about whether or not we have a duty to preserve world wonders for future generations.

3

"Ms. Shammas & Class 804 It's February! The first month of the new year is already in the books. In our ELA section, seniors continue to promenade through our unit of study, "The Power of Art". The benefits of this unit are manifold - sharpening students' abilities to make predictions, ask questions, infer themes, cite text evidence, and examine author's purpose and characterization. At the same time seniors are experiencing for themselves the power art has to influence their own lives as well as society in general. Math continues its uphill slope into linear and non-linear equations and how they can be identified, created and applied to real life situations. To celebrate Black History Month, the class will be discovering and analyzing the impact black culture and its contributions have had in our communities and on our

Ms. Thomas- In the month of January our digital scholars have been hard at work focusing on student led learning. Students are taking an active role in their learning process by taking on teacher roles and leading the entire class in academic discussions. Not only is this process exciting but our students are definitely getting more bang for their educational buck by learning through teaching!

ENL students this month will be expanding their vocabulary by learning new strategies like creating visual mnemonics to remember and utilize advanced word choice in their writing and speaking. They will also be studying the paintings of Norman Rockwell. Students will be analyzing his works and exploring their stories through tableau, silent conversation, and improvisation. At the end of the unit, students will write a descriptive paragraph about their favorite Rockwell painting.

DelmonteMr. ENL with

begun exploring division using different picture strategies. We will continue to work on this throughout the month. In Math in 805, we will continue practicing our money skills as well as multiplication and subtraction.

differentiated by reading levels. For Math in class 605, we have also continue working in our guided reading groups discussing the difference between realism and fantasy. We will is a play. Through our theme of Exploration we will be be finishing up our unit on Exploration. Our last genre in the unit Classes 605 and 805 continue to work hard! This month we will