february/march 2015 grade newsletter - mulberry...
TRANSCRIPT
8th Grade Newsletter
Mulberry Middle Mulberry, FL
863-701-1066
Februar y/March 2015
Volume 4 , Issue 1
Reminders to Parents
Check your child’s agenda daily to assist your child with homework, teacher’s notes and project due dates.
As we begin this 3rd nine weeks, teachers’ main focus will be to make sure all students have been taught all skills necessary to be ready for their state assessments. Remember that 8th graders will be assessed first on their writing skills on March 10th. Then they will have 18 days left before they are assessed for Reading, Math and Science.
Also, your child’s report cards were sent home on January 30th and we hope you were able to view and discuss your child’s overall academic progress. Remember it is required for students to pass all classes and have an overall 2.0 GPA in order to be promoted to high school. If you have questions or would like to make an appointment to speak to your child’s teachers, please contact Mrs. Hutton at 863-701-1069 to schedule it.
Celeste Gonyaw, Team Leader Maria D. Rivera, Team Leader
Ms. Ally – [email protected]
Dr. Blackburn - [email protected] Mrs. Booth - [email protected]
Mrs. Carabba – [email protected] Mrs. Carr – [email protected]
Mrs. Cruz – [email protected]
Mrs. Garrigan – [email protected] Mrs. Gonyaw – [email protected]
Mrs. Hartman – [email protected] Ms. Hayes – [email protected]
Mrs. Huffman – [email protected]
Mrs. Jennings – [email protected]
Mrs. Kang - [email protected] Mrs. Marovich - [email protected]
Mr. Nelson – [email protected] Ms. Rivera – [email protected]
Mr. Sula - [email protected] Mrs. Testerman – [email protected]
Teach
er’s
E-m
ails
Congratulations to Laiken Muzzy who
has been selected as 2015 TV Production student of the year.
February 13th – Valentine’s Dance (4-5:30)
February 16th – HOLIDAY (NO SCHOOL)
February 18th – Early Release Day
February 27th – Progress Reports
March 9th – SAC meeting
March 13th – Progress Reports
March 25th – Early Release Day
March 25th – End of 3rd Nine Weeks
March 30-April 3rd – SPRING BREAK (NO SCHOOL)
U.S. History
During the third quarter, students in Ms. Ally’s and Mrs. Cruz’s history classes will be focusing on Units 3 and 4. Unit 3 titled, “A New Nation” is civics-based. Students will learn about the Constitutional Convention, Constitutional Laws and requirements, and the Bill of Rights. The project for this Unit is composing a Bill of Rights rap song and performing it for the class in groups of 3 or 4. Unit 4, titled, “Launching a New Republic” details the early presidencies and how foreign policy was formed. Students will focus on the consequences America faced due to expanding her borders by examining the experiences and perspectives of significant individuals and groups. Students will complete a data-based question research project about the Mexican- American War. The final step is for students to write a five paragraph essay answering the question, “Was the United States justified in going to war with Mexico?” The essay should consist of text based evidence from the sources given in the DBQ packet. In Mrs. Hartman’s 8th Grade American History, students are currently studying the American Revolution. For the month of February, students will learn about key battles and turning points of the war which gave America its’ independence from Great Britain. Students will also embark on a Document Based Question project on Valley Forge. Looking forward to a great 3rd quarter with your student!”
Math Pre-Algebra students will focus on Module 3 on writing linear functions from graphical representations and investigating functions. Students will be expected to recognize that when the relationship has exactly one output value for each input value, it can be classified as a function. Evaluation of the function allows students to complete the function table, recognize the input/output or domain/range as an ordered pair or set of ordered pairs and plot points on the coordinate plane. They will also work on Module 4 which allows students to use linear equations and systems of linear equations to represent, analyze, and solve a variety of problems. Students experience real life situations, such as finding the volume of three-dimensional figures and abstract context such as solving literal equations. They will work with the solution of general one variable linear equations, including cases with infinitely many solutions or no solutions, as well as, cases requiring algebraic manipulation using properties of operations.
8th Grade Newsletter Page 2
MHS Transition Trip is on February 12th. Make
sure you have permission forms
signed!
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Mrs. Carabba – In Expedition 6, we are reading about the “Internet”, how it’s changed over time, identity theft, looking for a job online, and copyright laws. The students are building their vocabulary by using context clues and word parts (prefixes, suffixes and root words). We are working on the following reading skills: identifying the main idea, and putting events in sequential order. We will continue to build these skills as we move on to Expedition 7. In Expedition 7, we will be reading about money. Students are also working on Sortagories, VocabJourney and Solo. Students can work on all of these computer components at home and at school. The website to access them is www.edplicity.com . Students in Mrs. Hayes & Mrs. Huffman’s reading classes, for the third nine weeks, new unit will center on fiction and non-fiction stories that share how people are able to adapt to certain obstacles in life i.e. moving to a new country or city, coping with a disability or adapting to various changes at home. We will also practice test-taking strategies and review specific skills needed for our upcoming assessments in April. Throughout the course the school year, all students are still required to read Accelerated Reader books and complete Teen Biz assignments each week.
Reading
Comprehensive Science
Language Arts
Mrs. Booth, Mrs. Marovich, & Dr. Blackburn - 8th grade science students will be studying the universe, galaxies and solar system, followed by an intensive mini-lab review of 4 years of science concepts that will prepare students for the Science 2.0 test. Our request is that students do not miss any of the mini-lab reviews during the months of March and April. Please encourage your child to set aside a few minutes each evening to review a portion of the science vocab frayers and their folder notes from the beginning of the year to assist them in remembering science concepts that will be tested on the Science 2.0 test. Thank you for your help and your student’s diligence!
8th Grade Newsletter Page 3
Mrs. Garrigan, Mrs. Gonyaw, & Ms. Hayes - In language arts classes, the third quarter (January 20-March 25) will be a busy time! We will continue to work on preparing for the writing portion of the Florida Standards Assessment. The window for the writing test of the FSA is March 02-13. Your student will be taking a computer based writing assessment during this timeframe. We are working very hard to make ensure your student is prepared for this new test. A part of our writing curriculum is using the MyAccess writing program. This system allows students to enter their essays onto the MyAccess website and get immediate feedback on the progress of their writing. Additionally, we are currently working on a full process essay explaining and comparing ways people feel they belong to a place as the in class performance task for the unit of literature. Students will have further practice on their writing skills through targeted homework practice and classroom writing tasks. Students will continue to work on reaching their school-wide Accelerated Reading goals through English/Language Arts. All students are required to read an AR book: for 30 minutes each day, five days a week; complete two fictional novels and one nonfictional book per quarter; and take and successfully pass with an 80% or better three AR Quizzes on the three required books. The three quiz grades become a part of their English/Language Arts quarterly average. Please have a weekly conversation with your child about the book he or she is reading and the progress being made towards meeting the school-wide AR goals. We appreciate your continued support of your student’s educational goals. If you have any questions regarding your student’s English/Language Arts class, please email your student’s teacher directly and she will promptly respond with an answer.
8th Grade Newsletter Page 4
The District Awards were held on January 22, 2015. Ms. Rudinsky’s students received the following results: 1st place in Leadership went to Jessica Vadala-Slaten 1st place in the Intro to Computers category went to Jamie Wheeler 1st place in Public Speaking went to Gerardo Matias 2nd place in the Chapter Nametag Design went to Isabella Rose 3rd place in the Desktop Publishing Team went to DeeDee Lucas and Allison Bowie
POLK COUNTY YOUTH FAIR 2015 So far, these are some of the 8th grade results:
Kaleigh Evans – 4th place with her Heifer
Madison Barnett – Sold 281 lb. swine for $2.25 per lb.
Logan Barden – 2nd place with his Goat
Kaleigh Evans - 3rd place with her 1200 plus lbs. Steer
Feb 7 is the Platform 5 Art Showcase at Oasis Church on Winter Lake Road from 5-8. Student art will be shown from MMS. That same weekend is the Evelyn Bryant Cultural Fest in Mulberry, which will also showcase our students’ art!
The second semester has started and so TV Production students are learning the basics of how to use an Apple iMac computer, how to use a digital video camera, and basic editing techniques. They will start with a slideshow using the iPhoto app, and move on to scriptwriting and making a commercial! TV Production year-long students are immersed in getting packages ready for the Polk County Video Awards. We are currently in production for the music video and short film, as well as other small projects to showcase our school.