Middle School Minute
December 9 - 13, 2024
Please Join PTA!
If you haven't already, please join the AAA PTA! As of right now, we only have 14% family participation in PTA. We would love to have 100% participation!
THANK YOU for helping us achieve over 95% attendance this week!
Attendance matters EVERYDAY!
📕 ELA 📕
Mz. Estelle
Honors English
Next week, December 9, 2024 we will be drafting and revising an opinion piece in speech form. This project should take us to the end of the semester on December 20. Students are still responsible for work on iReady and ReadWorks. ReadWorks assignments are accessible via Google Classroom.
For both my English and Science classes, students are accessing work via Google classroom. Within the google classroom, students have access to work on Flocabulary, ReadWorks, iReady, and NewsELA. Science students are also using Generation Genius to expand their science knowledge and skills.
***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.
*** All sixth grade classrooms are in need of hand sanitizer and tissues. My science class is in desperate need of paper towels. We would be MOST grateful if you can send those items in.
➕➖ Math ➖➕
🧪 Science 🧪
Mz. Estelle
Science
Science: We have concluded our project on Engineering Design: Wearable Alert System. Our next unit is on Space Exploration. When the kits arrive, we will be using AMSTI materials to explore Earth and Space concepts via the AMSTI hands-on investigations.
For both my English and Science classes, students are accessing work via Google classroom. Within the google classroom, students have access to work on Flocabulary, ReadWorks, iReady, and NewsELA. Science students are also using Generation Genius to expand their science knowledge and skills.
***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.
*** All sixth grade classrooms are in need of hand sanitizer and tissues. My science class is in desperate need of paper towels. We would be MOST grateful if you can send those items in.
📜 Social Studies 📜
Mrs. Hester
Some assignments and due dates have changed due to practice ACAP testing.
- The Great Migration - Due Sunday, December 8
- Chicago Race Riots Primary Sources - Due Sunday, December 15
Mrs. Maynard
Civics
Grades are still in the process of being input and updated due to Mrs. Maynard's maternity leave and absence. If you have questions or concerns about your grade, please reach out to Mr. Jones or Mrs. Smith and they will get you the information you need.
🎭 Fine Arts 🎭
✍🏻 Creative Writing - Mrs. Hester ✍🏻
Students should be working on Draft 3 of their fiction story.
All 2nd 9 Weeks workshop submissions due by Wednesday, December 11
🎻 Strings - Mrs. Peck 🎻
Hello MS Strings Families and Super Students! Winter Concert will be history after this week and we will have a fantastic 2nd week of December in orchestra classes gearing up for holiday break and Spring preparations! Thanks so much for what we've shared and accomplished in 2024! We want to be sure and get the letters for TRI M inductees home and then returned before the honor societies inductions ceremony in early 2025. Nominees are those who have decided for sure they want their highest commitment to music and all grades in music staying above low B average and all other classes staying above C average:) Thanks in advance for their commitment/dedication, and congratulations. TRI-M can remain through High School and College.
ELEMENTARY strings 3rd and 4th grade classes will give in-class recitals December 16,17,18,19. Teachers have sent newsletters and invitations! January will also be the month that 4th grade strings prepare for their February SHOWCASE at the Von Braun Mark C. Smith Concert Hall in conjunction with the Symphony Young People's Concerts Series Field Trip.
Best, Mary Peck-AAA 3rd-8th Magnet String Orchestras
🎭 Theatre - Mr. Feemster 🎭
Check out all AAA Theatre Info online @ WhyAAA.org/Ms-Theatre
🎨 Art - Mrs. Dare-Jackson 🎨
February 2025 is National Magnet Schools Month, and we are thrilled to announce the 19th Annual National Magnet Schools Poster Contest! This is a fantastic opportunity for elementary, middle, and high school students to express their creativity. Each school can submit one poster!
Entries are DUE January 10th, 2025! Please turn them into your art teacher.
Poster Requirements/ Scoring Rubric
- Use of Pillar(s) Theme (Themes are: Diversity, Innovative Curriculum and Professional Development, Academic Excellence, Leadership, and Family and Community Partnerships) 30 pts.
- Poster Sizes: 8.5x11, 11x17, or 22x28 20 pts.
- Originality and Organization 30 pts.
- Use of Color and Design 20 pts.
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Middle School Art Students who would like to join National Junior Art Honor Society can now visit https://www.whyaaa.org/ms-art.html to fill out a membership application form.
6th Grade Updates
- Make sure you have signed up for the 6th grade Remind CLICK HERE or HERE to join the class the code is @ceecdk
- Check PowerSchool often. Directions for creating a Parent Portal account are attached below.
7th Grade Updates
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.