Middle School Minute

If you haven't already, please join the AAA PTA!

https://academypta.com

Academic Team tryouts will be this coming Monday (the 25th) during 1st block. Students in grades 6-8 may try out. This is a trivia based team where students answer questions using a buzzer system, competing to see who can earn more points. We compete against other Huntsville schools once monthly.

We continue with our project on narrative writing/script writing for a puppet play. In addition we are practicing independent reading time with a weekly record of our reading with a reading log/buddy exchange. iReady testing is complete with next steps being determined. ELA students are also responsible for completing their Summer Reading Project, required by the district, by September, 19, 2025. Please see the HCS website for information regarding the Summer Reading Project.

• This week, we will be focusing on essential skills and strategies for middle school ELA that will help us work smarter, not harder.

  Here are the key concepts we'll cover:

  • Annotations: Notes or comments added to a text to highlight important information, clarify meaning, or express personal reactions.

  • Context Clues: Hints or information within a text that help readers understand the meaning of unfamiliar words or phrases.

  • Text-Dependent Responses: Answers to questions that require students to refer directly back to the text for support and evidence.

  • Textual Evidence: Specific examples or quotes from a text that support a student's ideas or arguments.

  Additionally, on Grammar Friday, we will be studying prepositions to enhance our understanding of sentence structure.

  Please note that there will be a test on grammar concepts on Friday, September 26, including:

  • Conjunctions: Words that connect clauses or sentences (e.g., and, but, or).

  • Prepositions: Words that show the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence (e.g., in, on, at).

  • Interjections: Words or phrases that express strong emotion or surprise (e.g., wow! ouch! hey!).

  • Perfect Tense Verbs: Verbs that indicate completed actions, often formed with "have" or "has" (e.g., I have finished my homework).

  Ideas to Support Learning at Home:

  1. Reading Together: Encourage your child to read aloud at home. Ask questions about the text to practice using context clues and identifying textual evidence.

  2. Practice Annotations: Provide your child with a short article or story and ask them to annotate it by underlining key points and writing notes in the margins.

  3. Grammar Games: Play grammar games that focus on conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections. Online resources or flashcards can make this fun.

  4. Writing Prompts: Give your child writing prompts that require them to use perfect tense verbs and various grammatical concepts.

  5. Discuss Everyday Language: Encourage conversations that include the grammar concepts we’re studying. For example, ask your child to use interjections in their responses.

Students should have completed their book talk by Friday, August 22. Graded assignments so far are the parts of speech presentation, the Harrison Bergeron R.A.C.E. format questions, the Harrison Bergeron propaganda posters, and the book talk. Please ensure that your student is keeping up with their assignments, especially when they miss class.

Next week, students will complete the short story unit (plot, character analysis, mood, theme). Now that they have completed the diagnostic test for i-Ready, every week, students must complete 2 lessons of their Pathway. (It's designed to meet students where they are academic regardless of the grade.) They must score 80% higher for each lesson, and they must work in i-Ready for 1 hour. Every Wednesday during class, they'll be given the opportunity to work on their pathway (up to 40 minutes unless there is another scheduled activity). They must complete the rest of their time at home. If they complete both lessons with 80% or higher, that grade for the week will be 100% in PowerSchool. If not, they will receive a zero. Those students who have tested out of i-Ready will receive an alternate assignment.

* I've extended the Book Talk assignment from HCS (which was due today) It is now due Thursday, August 28th by 3:00. The following link provides the guidelines for the review. Please remind your student about the consequence(s) of using A I or other apps to complete their assignment. https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/page/2025-summer-reading

Dear AAA Faaamilies,

Your young learners just completed their first test on Ratios and Unit Rates (Check iReady for results) We will begin next week with Percents and Dividing Fractions. This might be a struggle for those who are not proficient in the multiplication facts. There will be at least one Alek's assignment and two iReady lessons that will be used as class work grades. Each student will work on iReady in class for twenty minutes a day to build and fill any gaps for those who are not yet at grade level and for those who already demonstrate proficiency, will be challenged by more rigorous and/or above grade level assignments. These lessons are an important equalizer for differentiated instruction along with the sixth grade content I teach all the students.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We’re happy to report that most of our students have completed the iReady Diagnostic for this term! We are finishing up just a few make-up assessments for students who were absent. Thank you for your continued support in making sure your child is ready to do their best each day.

Here's a quick look at what we’re working on this week in math:

• 7th Grade Accelerated Math students are continuing their work with rigid transformations—learning how to apply reflections, rotations, and translations to geometric figures. These concepts help students build a solid foundation in geometry and visual reasoning.

• 7th Grade General Math students are diving deeper into the topic of scaling. They are practicing how to use scale factors and proportions to resize shapes accurately, which ties into real-world applications like maps and models.

If you have any questions or would like tips on how to support your student at home, feel free to reach out!

Greetings students and AAA family,

Welcome back to a fabulous 2025-2026 school year! We have gotten off to an amazing start. Next week in math, we will continue working on refreshing previously learned skills with fractions, conversions between decimals and fractions, etc...We will also begin our unit on the Real Number System. In preparation for this we have been working on simplifying square roots, cube roots, squares and cubes. The students had their first iReady assessment for the school year. The students must complete 2 iReady math pathway lessons each week. We will begin those lessons next week. This will be worked on in and out of school (homework). Have an amazing week. :-)

We continue for the next 12 weeks with studying Weather and Climate. In collaboration with UAH, later in the 9 weeks we’ll get to launch a weather/high altitude balloon! UAH/DETECTS engineers will visit our classes at the end of the week. These fantastic scientists will give us a crash course on atmospheric science and start us on our way to preparing for data collection from our weather balloons. In October we will be headed for UAH to present our findings. Yes! It’s a field trip!!!!

In science, we will be using our online textbook as only a limited number of printed copies were supplied with our AMSTI kits. The textbook is available at Carolina Science Online. Username is: Estelle Student; password is: password123. Student notebooks and information about DETECTS is available at uahdetects.org.

We are going to start learning about organelles of the cell and the differences between plant and animal cells. This is in preparation for a Cell Analogy Project we are going to start September 2nd (A day) and September 3rd (B day), more information to come about the project.

Physical Science will be continuing our dive into Chemistry with our focus on the types of mixtures and classifying physical and chemical changes. All students should come to school dressed appropriately for lab inquiries and observations. Students will not be able to participate in labs if they have not turned in their signed safety contracts.

- Canvas Course is finally posted! Thank you for your patience as I figured out this new platform. You can find the syllabus under the course overview tab.

- New assignments posted in Canvas starting this week, August 19-22.

- Please check grades in PowerSchool. Students had three paper assignments from the week of August 11-15 and many students have missing grades from not turning in the work or turning it in with no name. I will still accept these paper assignments through August 29th to give students an opportunity to improve their grades.

- MAP TEST - RETAKES: 4A - Friday, August 22/ 2A - Tuesday, August 26/ B-Day - Wednesday, August 27 (website to study can be found in the Canvas course under course resources)

- Chapter 3 - Settling the West Test: 5B - Wednesday, August 27/ A-Day - Thursday, August 28/ 2B-3B - Friday, August 29

Study for your chapter test on socrative.com, room name: HESTER (link can also be found in Canvas course resources)

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We'll be finishing our study of prehistory early this next week with an open -book quiz Tuesday (A day) and Wednesday (B Day). The students will get to use their notes as a part of the quiz.

Then, we'll be jumping into our study of Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our costume design process! This week, we will hold costume conferences based on the designs created last week. I appreciate your patience, as this may take some time, but I will ensure I meet with everyone.

During the conference, we will discuss any changes and identify your child’s favorite design. This chosen design will be used for their swatch project.

Remember, students have the option to present this on Google Slides or on paper. Even if you choose to rent a costume, students will still complete the project, as it is essential for meeting our theatre design standards. This project allows students to engage deeply in the creation of their costume, so please hold off on renting or fabricating until after their project is complete. Early decisions can dampen their excitement and impact their grades.

Here’s a quick overview of the process:

1. Gather Ideas

2. Draw – 3 Different Themed Ideas

3. Attach Pictures – If drawing is a challenge

4. Approval – Conference with Mrs. Stricklin

5. Swatch Fabrics

6. Approval – Conference with Mrs. Stricklin

7. Work with a Seamstress

8. Costume Notes from the design team

9. Final Edits and Alterations suggested by the design team

Basic Concepts to Consider:

• Bright Colors

• Black and White

• Washable/Dry Cleanable

• Durable Materials (e.g., Sequins, Satin)

• Mix and Match Prints that will read from the stage

• Follow the Rule of 3

Fit and Accessories Reminders:

• Must allow for movement

• Should enable touching toes and wrapping arms

• Allow room for growth

• Legs must be covered (socks, tights)

• Shoes should have rubber soles

• Consider hats, ribbons, bows, petticoats, bloomers, and hot shorts

Families play a crucial role in supporting students with their costume design projects. Here are several ways they can help from home:

1. Encourage Creative Exploration

• Provide Materials: Discuss a variety of fabrics and colors for students to experiment with their designs.

• Inspire Ideas: Share images, movies, or books that relate to the themes of their designs to spark creativity.

2. Facilitate Brainstorming

• Discuss Ideas: Engage in conversations about their design concepts and encourage them to express their thoughts and feelings.

• Mind Mapping: Help them create a mind map to organize their ideas and visualize connections between different design elements.

3. Create a Design Space

• Dedicated Area: Set up a designated space at home where students can work on their designs comfortably.

• Access to Tools: Ensure they have access to necessary tools, like drawing supplies and colored pencils.

4. Be Involved in the Process

• Attend Conferences: Practice design conferences with their student to show support and interest.

• Provide Feedback: Offer constructive feedback on their design ideas, focusing on strengths and areas for improvement.

5. Manage Practical Aspects

• Discuss Budgeting: Talk about potential costs and help plan a budget for materials.

• Avoid Premature Decisions: Remind them to wait until after their project is complete before deciding to rent or purchase a costume.

6. Celebrate Their Efforts

• Positive Reinforcement: Acknowledge their hard work and creativity, regardless of the outcome.

• Share Progress: Encourage them to share their progress with family members, fostering a sense of pride and accomplishment.

By actively engaging in these ways, families can significantly enhance their child's experience and success in the costume design process.

Thank you again for your support, and I look forward to our conferences this week!

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our program!

This week, our Stars will have the opportunity to apply for the roles of dance captains and choreographers for our show choir—a significant honor. Students can find the application on Canvas. In addition, we will continue working on our first number, "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town." This beloved song has become a cherished tradition, as we perform it every year and invite alumni from both Stars and Clowns or the Lee High School Trouveres who have previously performed it.

We will also dive into music theory concepts, focusing on solfege and its related ideas, which will help enhance our students' musical skills.

Music Theory

Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music. It helps us understand how music works, covering elements such as:

• Notation: How music is written and read, including notes, rhythms, and dynamics.

• Scales and Keys: The foundation of melodies and harmonies, including major and minor scales.

• Chords: Groups of notes played together, forming the basis for harmony.

• Rhythm: The timing of music, including beats and tempo.

• Form: The structure of a piece of music, such as verses and choruses.

Understanding these concepts allows musicians to analyze, create, and perform music more effectively.

Solfege

Solfege is a method used to teach pitch and sight-singing using syllables. The main syllables are:

• Do (1st note)

• Re (2nd note)

• Mi (3rd note)

• Fa (4th note)

• Sol (5th note)

• La (6th note)

• Ti (7th note)

• Do (8th note, octave)

Each syllable corresponds to a specific note in a scale, helping singers understand the relationships between pitches. Solfege is often used in ear training, allowing students to recognize and reproduce musical intervals and melodies.

Overall, both music theory and solfege are essential tools for developing musical skills and enhancing performance.

Ways Families Can Support Music Education at Home

1. Encourage Daily Practice: Students should be practicing music and choreography on a daily basis. Set aside regular time for your child to work on their music and dance routines. Consistent practice helps improve skills and builds confidence.

2. Attend Performances: Support your child by attending school or community performances. This shows that you value their efforts and dedication.

3. Create a Music-Friendly Environment: Provide a space at home where your child can practice without distractions. Having the right materials, like sheet music and a speaker or wireless headphones can also be beneficial.

4. Engage in Music Discussions: Talk about the songs they are learning or the concepts they are studying in music theory. Ask questions about their favorite piece to show your interest.

5. Be Patient and Positive: Learning music takes time and effort. Celebrate achievements, no matter how small, and provide positive reinforcement to encourage persistence.

By actively engaging in these activities, families can significantly enhance their child's music education experience and foster a lifelong love of music.

- Canvas Course is finally posted! Thank you for your patience as I figured out this new platform. You can find the syllabus under the course overview tab.

- New assignments posted in Canvas starting this week, August 19-22.

- First 9 Weeks Genre Study: Fiction Short Stories using lessons from Jennifer Gessner's The Elements of Short Fiction

Tech is currently working on Safety and preparing the theater for the upcoming production schedule.

Congratulations to the Cast & Crew of Willy Wonka Jr! We are so excited to have you be apart of the show! Remember all information is on our website WhyAAA.org/MS-Theatre. Please make sure you are checking this and joining Remind 101!

Unfortunately, if you and your student were unable to attend any of our meeting and we have not been in communication yet, then your student is out of the show. We hope we can see everyone in November for the performances!!

If you didnt get chosen, no worries! We will have more auditions in January for our play, 67 Cinderellas!

Thank you!

Josh Feemster

Updates coming soon . . .

Hello Strings Families (New and Returning!)

We're finishing our 3rd week beautifully! I've very much enjoyed how students are settling into ORCHESTRA like PROS!

The most recent instrument flyers sent home with students from Hallman's Music Store (just up the road on Sparkman) expresses the best collaboration with AAA, as their prices and availability are UNMATCHED. Have no fear of seeking to supply your student with a great stringed instrument for practice, performances, and playing. They are 256-830-2303.

We're getting close to confirming a STRINGS PARENT MEETING opportunity that establishes not only friendly collaboration for excellence, but also everyone's understanding of membership, calendar commitments, volunteer support, classroom, rehearsal and performance and field trip expectations and such, and lastly, helps us introduce ourselves to the new computer communications and grading platform-Canvas. Thank you so much for sharing your talented middle school child with AAA Performing Arts Magnet String Orchestras.

Our Best Always,

Mary Peck

mary.peck@hsv-k12.org

Updates coming soon . . .

Our talented students in Visual Arts have completed their vibrant neon name projects, and they did an amazing job! In addition, they added their creative flair to designing some charming renditions of the Mona Lisa.

Meanwhile, our Media Arts students have been hard at work, tracing and coloring their shoes using Adobe Express. Their attention to detail is sure to shine through in their final submissions!

Looking ahead, we are excited to begin our next work of art in both Media and Visual Arts in the form of Zentangles!

AAArtists! Don't forget to bring your Galaxy of Lights entries to the art room by next Friday!!

My Amazon Wishlist:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2K9OTEY7SRJGD?ref_=wl_share

Please review the 6th Grade Behavior Essentials