Middle School Minute

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We will begin the week after Spring Break. Please ensure your students get plenty of rest, are well fed, and are prepared with charged devices for testing days. Testing dates are listed below. Small group testing and make up test may occur on days following planned testing dates. Elementary will test the same dates and time as middle school, but testing content may vary.

Tuesday, March 18: Science (grades 6 and 8 only)

Wednesday, March 19: ELA sections 1 and 2

Thursday, March 20: ELA sections 3 and 4

Tuesday, April 8: Math section 1

Wednesday, April 9: Math section 2

Regular ELA - This week students will have assignments on Schoology, AcceleratedReader (AR), and i-Ready. We will go to the library on Friday!

• i-Ready - Students are required to complete 50 minutes of i-Ready Reading and two passed lessons. The more lessons they do and pass with an 80 or better; the more tickets they get to spend at the i-Ready store.

• Accelerated Reader (AR) - Students need to be reading and taking AR tests. The only way to grow in reading comprehension is to practice.They need to look at their individual goal through Clever on Renaissance Learning.

• Schoology -

• Writing: We have started working on our personal narratives. We will continue to work and build on these assignments. Up next: Finish up prewriting activities and start the drafting process.

• i-Ready - Students are required to complete 50 minutes of i-Ready Reading and two passed lessons. The more lessons they do and pass with an 80 or better; the more tickets they get to spend at the i-Ready store.

• Accelerated Reader (AR) - Students need to be reading and taking AR tests. The only way to grow in reading comprehension is to practice.They need to look at their individual goal through Clever on Renaissance Learning.

• Schoology -

• Writing: We have started working on our personal narratives. We will continue to work and build on these assignments. Up next: Finish up prewriting activities and start the drafting process.

Information coming soon!

Science: The week of March 24, 2025 we start a new unit for AMSTI: Weather and Climate Systems. We will be tying our knowledge of weather and climate with our project from the beginning of the year, DETECTS weather balloon. Investigations will include making clouds, modeling heat transfer and convection, and human impact on climate trends.

Our science text is available online at carolina science online. The link is posted to the Google Classroom. Username: Estelle Student; password: password123.

***Please know that classwork must be completed ON TIME. Per our class syllabus, no late work is accepted with the exception of excused absences. If your child is absent and misses work, all work should be completed within five days of return.

6th Grade

We are learning about the water cycle and then we are going to be learning about the layers of the atmosphere!

7th Grade

We are learning about Ecology this quarter. We are starting with Food webs and food chains, then about limiting factors, abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem. There will be a vocabulary quiz- A day April 2nd and B Day April 3rd. Blooket reviews were published March 18th in Schoology. We will be going over the vocabulary words in class and practicing them before the vocabulary quiz.

In Physical Science, we are continuing our study of electricity, waves, and information transfer with a focus on transverse, longitudinal, and electromagnetic waves. There will be several collaborative station activities to begin our 1st semester review in preparation for the upcoming ACAP test beginning March 18th.

6th Grade Social Studies:

- WWII Flocabulary - Due March 21

- Tuskegee Airmen Flocabulary - Due March 21

- WWII - Chapter Test - Friday, April 4(A) / Monday, April 7(B)

Study on socrative.com

Room name: HESTER

As we wrap up this nine-week period, I wanted to share some important updates regarding your child's progress in our classroom.

Grade Updates:
I have updated all grades for assignments currently submitted. Students have been informed that any missing assignments are due by March 5. Please encourage them to check their progress and complete any outstanding work.

Current Learning Focus:
We are currently exploring Chapter 5, which covers the Western United States.

Upcoming Project:
After Spring Break, we will begin an exciting project where students will write a narrative from the perspective of traveling across the Oregon Trail. This will be a wonderful opportunity for them to apply their creativity and knowledge in a historical context.

Thank you for your continued support! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.

Make sure you are checking the website, www.whyaaa.org and join the Remind. Please turn in your $20 rental fee if you are renting.

• We have started choreography for our first medley called “When I Grow Up/Naughty!” The students are doing well, but they need to keep practicing their music. We will start learning the music for the next song as soon as we finish choreographing the medley. Clowns competition theme is about growing up. We are still working on a title.

Make sure you are checking the website, www.whyaaa.org and join the Remind. Please turn in your $20 rental fee if you haven't.

• We are almost finished learning our first medley called “Jump ‘n’ Boogie.” We have started learning the next medley called “Rock and Roll is Here to Stay.” We will start choreography on “Jump ‘n’ Boogie” next week. Stars competition theme is Dance Through the Decades! I cannot wait to see this come together.

Creative Writing:

- What is Drama? Flocabulary - Due March 30

- Summer Writing Workshop Opportunity for current 8th Graders posted in Schoology

• Volunteers Needed! We have a AAA Theatre Workday scheduled for Saturday, March 1st from 10-3pm. We need adult help.
• Ticket Sales GO LIVE on Saturday, March 1st! Make sure you purchase your tickets at WhyAAA.org!

See the flyer regarding dance merch!

Tickets for Princess and the Frog are coming soon! Stay tuned for more details!

Your child will be bringing the OMPA permission slip home to you for signature and return deadline (or sooner:) of March 27th please.

Students from across Alabama orchestras are presenting for constructive feedback, and the opportunity to be 'Superior' , or 'Excellent' in ratings numbered '1', or '2'. We also undergo not only the performing of 3 music pieces accepted from the list, but also, we are tested in a 'sightreading session'. We've been preparing. The judges 'RUBRICS' are in your child's Schoology. It would be extra helpful if you read through those with them. Many Thanks!

Attention all artists!

We're excited to announce two amazing community events!

South Huntsville Art Walk & Chalk
Date: March 29, 2025
Time: 10 AM - 2 PM (arrive at 9 AM)
Location: South Huntsville Public Library
Theme: "Flower Power"
Entry Fee: $10

Join us for a FREE celebration of creativity with a sidewalk chalk art contest! Win cash prizes: 1st Place: $250, 2nd Place: $100, 3rd Place: $75. Food trucks will be on-site!

There will also be an amateur/kids area for those who want to participate outside of the competition.

Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd71JHamuLo4r4Eq3kF-daXRnuNileTsIUG2ng8iku5vG7t9w/viewform

AAA Fine Arts Festival
Submit your sketch for a chance to create a piece of sidewalk chalk art themed "Welcome to the Jungle" at the entrance of our building right here at AAA! Entries due March 28th. Questions? See Mrs. Jackson!

Don't miss out on the fun! Are you ready to create?

• Make sure you have signed up for the 6th grade Remind CLICK HERE
• Have students read at home for 30 minutes every day.
• Students need to be more mindful of the expectations here at school. Students are starting to bend and break the rules and procedures.

*** All sixth grade classrooms are STILL in need of hand sanitizer and tissues. We would be MOST grateful if you can send those items in. Thank you to all those who have sent in supplies!

iReady in ELA and math will be graded based on work completed Monday - Friday going forward. Time and lessons completed on Saturday and/or Sunday will not count toward their iReady classwork grades.

Please encourage your students to complete their classwork at school. The goal is for students to not have much homework and to use their classroom instructional time efficiently. This should also help decrease the number of missing assignments students have in PowerSchool.