Pacific Intermediate Newsletter

Communicating gratitude is always important, but especially at Thanksgiving.

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Pacific Intermediate Family,

Welcome to the start of November! I hope this month is filled with joy and wonder for you and your family.

As we head into the final stretch of the first trimester, I want to remind you that the last day of school in the first trimester is Friday, November 8th, and it's a half day for students.

I also want to emphasize the importance of checking your child's grades regularly and making sure they are staying on top of their homework. Students who have three or more F's at the end of the trimester may be required to attend summer school and are being considered for possible retention.

To help your child prepare for upcoming tests and assignments, consider the following tips:

• Create a study schedule: Help your child develop a daily or weekly study plan that breaks down assignments into manageable chunks.

• Find a quiet study space: Ensure your child has a designated area free from distractions where they can focus on their work.

• Use effective study techniques: Encourage your child to try different study methods, such as flashcards, mind maps, or teaching someone else the material.

• Ask questions: Remind your child that it's okay to ask teachers or classmates for help when they are struggling.

Please keep in mind that our school will be closed for the entire week of Thanksgiving for a break beginning November 25th. School will resume on December 2nd.

I wish you all a wonderful November filled with gratitude and togetherness.

Sincerely,

Matt Agee

Mrs. Jackson~ Math & Science

Mrs. Menley~Language Arts, Reading & History

Mrs. Alcorn~Math

Ms. DiBlasi~History & Science

Mrs. Tandy~Language Arts & Reading

Mr. Crabtree~Math

Mr. Gilcrease~Language Arts & Reading

Mr. Wengler~History & Science

As we come to the completion of first trimester, we are also ending our units over whole-digit numbers and moving into our geometry units. As we work on our geometry unit, students will review adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing in spiral review activities for homework, classwork, or project grades.

During our geometry units students will be required to study, memorize, and be assessed over many formulas and vocabulary terms. These formulas and vocabulary terms will be given to students to study nightly in order to be ready for their assessments. Within the units the vocabulary terms are used to identify and classify the hierarchy of two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes. Please help remind your child that they will need to study these vocabulary and formulas nightly for all of November and December.

Students have been learning about tone, similes, metaphors, sequencing, and using descriptive language in our writing. As we finish our first unit in reading, we will be reflecting on what we learned and taking a quick assessment over the skills we learned in the last several lessons. Unit 2 is all about early ancient civilizations. This unit describes an overall history and timeline highlighting the rise and fall of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations. In addition, the unit describes innovations, discoveries, and myths about these early civilizations.

As we continue through the year, we will continue to become writers. This unit will be focusing on informative/explanatory writing. Students will be writing about each different ancient civilization. All of the information will then be used to create a Codex Project. (More information to come!)

The upcoming unit will have a spelling component included. Be on the lookout for spelling words in the upcoming weeks.

History is working on the Civil War, and Science is working on their Web of Life Unit.

You may have received a paper copy, but it is possible to fill out this form online:

• Log into your Infinite Campus Parent Portal

• Click on More Click on Meal Benefits > Meal Benefits Application

The Big Smiles School Dentist will be here on December 5th and 6th. In order for a student to be seen they must have turned in a permission slip. The deadline for the forms is November 15th. If you need a form sent home with your student, please contact the nurse. Or you can sign up online by using the QR code listed below.

Mrs. Boling~English

Mr. Effan~Social Studies

Ms. Griffin~Science

Mrs. Voss~Math

Mrs. Stumborg~English

Mr. Slaughter~Social Studies

Mrs. Todahl~Science

Mrs. Weil~ Math

Mr. McMahon

Ms. Shearin

Math:

Math students will be starting Ch. 3: Ratios and will move on to Decimals, Percents, and Fractions. They have homework every night and should bring it home.

Advanced classes will be starting Ch. 5 Algebraic Expressions and moving to solving one-step equations.

Social Studies:

We are finishing up our chapter about Mesopotamia. Next, we will be looking at the history of Ancient Egypt, and the major impacts their society had on the ancient world.

English:

English students just finished their first major project and presentation, which used student-created surveys to collect and report information. Next, students are going to be learning about transition words. We will use transition words in our next big project which is a personal narrative essay. Students will be writing about events they experienced in their lives.

Science:

This month we are learning about the water and climate. We started the unit building terrariums to observe the water cycle in action. Please check with your child nightly to see if they have work to finish in their science binder.

Reading:

In reading class, we are currently working on Unit 6- "Hidden Truths". We have just completed two folktales. During this unit, we focused on plot, theme, and narration. Next, we will be reading a play entitled "Prince and the Pauper." We will also read a couple of nonfiction selections and some poetry.

Hello PI families!

Trimester 1 will be ending on Friday, November 8th which will be an early release day for students. Most sixth-grade students will start their second exploratory class beginning Trimester 2. The district will email parents on November 13th to notify parents when report cards are available in their Infinite Campus Parent Portal, and directions on how to access report cards. Hopefully you and your student will be happy with their grades, and hard work. Parent involvement and clear expectations are crucial to achieving higher grades, displaying appropriate behaviors and establishing good study habits. Working as a team we can help your student overcome obstacles to success. However, it is important that each student takes primary ownership and responsibility for their success or failure.

Last month character education lessons focused on “Drug Prevention” efforts to recognize and celebrate Red Ribbon Month. Students discussed how drugs prevent us from reaching our goals. In addition, how it affects all areas in our lives such as health, relationships, and school/career goals. We also discussed how drugs can lead to addictions, criminal issues, and loss of life. In support of Red Ribbon week, we celebrated with spirit dress up days, a student essay/drawing contest, door decorating, and student developed skits. The celebration ended with a school assembly featuring the Pacific Police Department as guest speakers discussing drugs and the dangers. Additionally, students shared essays, artwork, and skits to encourage each other to choose to be drug free.

As our tradition has been the last several years, we have partnered with a local church which generously donates gift cards to families in need for a “Thanksgiving meal.” If your family is struggling, please contact us and let us know if your family could use a Thanksgiving Basket. To encourage our students to be part of their community and help others, we will be providing an opportunity for students to participate in our “PI Caring Community Change War.” The Change War will take place from November 4th - November 11th. Monetary donations will be used to help us provide each family a complete “Thanksgiving Dinner Basket” to include vegetables, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, fruit, and dessert items. To make things more fun and increase donations, we will have a competition between homeroom classes to raise funds. The top eight classrooms will receive school recognition along with the reward to participate in a dodgeball tournament to become "PI Dodgeball Champions” and play at a school assembly in December. We hope to encourage donations, but still emphasize to students “Caring means feeling a genuine concern for the well-being of others without expecting something in return. Joy is received in helping others.” Your help in providing change for your child to donate is appreciated.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break. Appreciate what you have, and enjoy your time with family and friends.

Sincerely,

Jeanne M. Diamond

6th Grade Counselor

636-271-1425 x 3504

Allison Speicher

5th Grade Counselor

636-271-1425 x 3509

Pacific Intermediate

195 N Indian Pride Dr.

Pacific, MO 63069

www.mvr3.k12.mo.us

Phone: 636-271-1425

Fax: 636-271-1465