Team Berlin Update 34
April 25, 2025
Snack Request
Team Berlin is requesting boxes of snacks for testing! We need four variety boxes of snacks each day (one per room). We are asking for snacks that are nut free, have gluten free options, and vegan/dairy free/egg free options. In the past, the variety packs of chips is helpful, a variety pack of granola bars are also great. Students should eat breakfast before school and will have a snack when the test is finished. Students may not eat during the test. We are also calling for large bags of mints (individually wrapped) for during testing.
If you’re able to contribute please send them in with your child the week of before testing (starting April 21) through testing May 9. We are also in need of four large plastic bins (with lids) to keep snacks safe from any pests. If you order anything from Amazon please have it sent to Amy Trenkle, Team Berlin at Alice Deal MS (3815 Fort Drive, NW WDC 20016). We will distribute to the entire team (students in a any testing group).
Thank you to the families who already sent in snacks! We have about 2 days worth of snacks covered (out of 6).
Trackers for CAPE
During CAPE we will offer daily incentives for students who are able to do the following:
—arrive on time to school and are in their testing room by 8:45 am
—have two pencils each day for their test
—Have a book that they will read after they are finished testing (not an e-book) that they will keep under their desk (Ms. Byrns is happy to help them find one!)
—Have no violations or disruptions during the test.
Students will earn one ticket each testing day and at the end of the week there will be drawings for prizes. Please encourage, and help, your student to test with success!
Earth Science with Ms. Ballantine
Hello scientists!
I hope you’ve had a chance to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather recently! We had a busy first week back. Students reviewed weather fronts and air pressure with a Silent Victory game. We then moved on to graphing weather data for our very own Washington, DC, before diving into the Coriolis Effect and how it leads to the creation of hurricanes.
Next week is the start of CAPE testing, which means an altered schedule but still time for science! We will be reading about hurricanes and doing a game-like simulation in which students learn about the conditions necessary for a hurricane to form and how meteorologists can predict hurricanes.
We will NOT have a Roots quiz next week due to CAPE testing. Term 4 Roots quizzes will resume the following week.
Please remind your student to bring a book next week to read if they finish CAPE early! I have some available to borrow in my classroom for students testing with me but strongly encourage kids to bring their own books if they are reading something on their own.
Math with Mr. Brown & Mr. Gawthrop
Math 6
This week, students worked on analyzing and displaying statistical data. This week students will begin DCCAPE standardized testing and will receive instructions and begin working on their “Statistics Project.” Students will continue to be provided the opportunity to work on and retake recently taken assignments/projects during iRecess at their request. Included in our virtual classroom is a link to a portion of Illustrative Mathematics website curriculum dedicated to allowing parents to give support of current topics from home.
Math 7
This week, students worked on calculating the area of complex figures and analyzing angle relationships. This week, students will begin DCCAPE and will receive instructions and begin working on their “Statistics Project.” Students will continue to be provided the opportunity to work on and retake recently taken assignments/projects during iRecess at their request. Included in our virtual classroom is a link to a portion of Illustrative Mathematics website curriculum dedicated to allowing parents to give support of current topics from home.
Please encourage students to utilize the “Parking Lot” in class to leave questions or requests (ie. retake requests) Notes and videos on current/previous/upcoming concepts as well as supportive platforms can be found in the virtual classroom (www.framevr.io/brownmath).
Any questions or concerning SMAC Program invitations should be sent (and will be forwarded) to DealSummerMath@k12.dc.gov
Thank you,
Language Arts with Ms. Byrns & Mr. Gawthrop
This week students did an outstanding job with our Inside Out & Back Again socratic seminar. Students discussed both their thoughts about their novel and drew connections with what today's world looks like for refugees and immigrants. Each class had two rounds of discussion, allowing for more students to share. Students then voted for discussion awards after each round. I served as tie-breaker or at times fact-checker on these awards. You can see them all listed below.
Geography with Ms. Trenkle
This week in Geography we have been talking about culture! We learned about the Roots of the Americas (Indigenous, European, and African Descendants), and read an article about the Nacirema (If you don’t know them, ask you child about them! ;) ). We also discussed a cultural iceberg to further study visible and hidden aspects of culture. We also had a visit by Ms. Eva on Wednesday and shared our DC Site slides with her—she’s been teaching us about German sites, so we reciprocated and all had so much fun!
Next week, students will start their week with their quiz of the US States. Links for studying are in Canvas, and each student has a map that they can also fold in half and practice with at home! The rest of the week we will work our portraits of Americans and their letter to their chosen global citizen. This will all be done in class with resources, but students may take them home if they want to do further research and/or work on it home.
If students are interested in a Team Berlin T-shirt—please see the group order form here: https://www.customink.com/g/mxy0-00cw-wf3w If we do not receive the minimum order, then the order will not be placed and no cards will be charged. This is optional for those that are interested!
Please find Team Berlin photos of our students in action here: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B1g5IRuBxGAvG9 It will be updated as we go along!
Team Berlin’s Playlist can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6XGJMmooyuna2fwFQ9pj9A?si=416e41ad228f4c11
Deal Gala Returns!
Ta-da! The Alice Deal Community Association is happy to announce the return of Deal Gala: an evening of community, celebration and support!
- When: Saturday, May 17, 2025
- Time: 6:00 p.m.
- Attire: Creative Black Tie: a jacket or dress of your personal style, and comfortable shoes for dancing!
- For more details: https://e.givesmart.com/events/I9q/
German Club @ Deal
Would you like to learn German and find out more about German-speaking countries? The German Club meets every Thursday from 3:30 -4:30 pm in W103. Please contact igenzel123@gmail.com if your student is interested.
Library Corner
Learn about the great things happening this month at Deal's library. Check out great books and media, read about events at Deal and around the city, and stay connected with Deal's Library:
