Middle School Minute

Honors English: 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. ELA students are also responsible for completing their Summer Reading Project, required by the district, by September 4, 2026. Please see the HCS website for information regarding the Summer Reading Project. There is a Book Talk template available on Canvas.

We also are conducting a novel study on Miles Morales, Spider Man by Jason Reynolds. Please see the attached calendar of readings for information about assigned readings for each week. Students are expected to be prepared for a quiz (which counts as a classwork grade) each Monday after completing the reading and assignments connected to the previous week’s content.

Miles Morales Calendar of Readings

Science: This entire semester we are studying Earth’s Dynamic Systems. This includes the study of earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, weathering and erosion and the fossil record. Our driving question, one we will return to all semester after each lesson is “How do the dynamic systems of Earth change its surface?”

We have learned to inventory a science kit (from AMSTI) in preparation for upcoming investigations. This week we explore the phenomenon of earthquakes, what they are and how they affect our world. We build an earthquake resistance structure using our knowledge of the earthquakes thus far.

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.

Not required, but fun: Citizen Science from scistarter. Science for every day of the month.

https://media.scistarter.org/curated/2026-08-03/August_2026_4.pdf?_gl=1%2A9hdebr%2A_ga%2ANjAzNzY2OTE0LjE3NTg4MDA5NzE.%2A_ga_D52TZM3QB4%2AczE3ODc2NzEyMzMkbzEwJGcxJHQxNzg3NjcxMzI1JGozNiRsMCRoMA..

📚 What Are We Doing This Week?

Now that I have retaught annotations, textual evidence, context clues, and figurative language, students will have an opportunity to improve their original grades. I will reassign these lessons in StudySync so students can complete and resubmit them.

📝 Monday and Tuesday: We will briefly review each skill, and students will have class time to complete their reassigned StudySync lessons.

⏰ Important Deadline: All reassigned lessons must be completed and submitted by Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. If a student does not complete and resubmit an assignment by the deadline, the original grade will remain in the gradebook.

📖 Beginning Wednesday: We must move forward with our Close Read: “Eleven” assignment. Students have already completed most of this lesson, so the only remaining task is to write a short literary analysis essay using textual evidence from the story.

Students should use their class time wisely and check StudySync carefully to make sure every reassigned lesson has been submitted.

What We Are Learning Fractions and Decimals: Converting between the two forms and solving operations.

Hello!

We are having our first quiz Monday August 31st (A Day) and Tuesday September 1st (B Day). Study guides were handed out Friday August 21st (A day) and Monday August 24th (B Day). After the quiz, we will be learning about Photosynthesis (Chloroplasts) and Cellular respiration (Mitochondria).

Late Work Policy:

All assignments, projects and hands on activities are to be turned in by the next class day (or listed due date) except in cases of absences.

2 days late = -10%

3 days late = -20%

4 days late = - 30%

5 days late = -40%

After 5 class days, all assignments, projects and hands on activities will not be accepted and will become a 0% in the grade book.

We will review for the test on geographic principles. Then we will take the test.

This week, we will continue exploring the different parts of a story and how authors use them to build meaning. Our main focus will be on point of view and plot, as students practice identifying who is telling a story, how events are organized, and how these choices affect the reader’s understanding. Students will continue building their reading and analytical skills through engaging activities and discussions.

In our Accelerated Math class, students are diving deep into the relationships between numbers by mastering ratios, unit rates, and proportions. They are moving beyond basic calculations to apply these concepts to complex, real-world problem-solving and proportional reasoning. Students will analyze connections between quantities, laying a strong foundation for advanced algebraic thinking. In our Math 7 class, we are working on essential number sense skills. Students will master core basics like adding and subtracting positive and negative integers, tackling fraction multiplication and division, and using scientific notation to easily read massive or microscopic numbers. Students are expected to bring their laptops, a charger, and binder(with dividers) every day.

We will continue our probe into the study of matter, focusing on physical and chemical properties of matter. Please make sure that your child is prepared for class with their science notebooks, writing utensils, and willing mindsets for authentic learning!

Greetings ,

Thank you for a wonderful start to the school year. Next week we will continue learning about the domain, range and functions. Their will also be a review order of operations/evaluating functions. The students will also complete their IXL diagnostic.

Students will analyze the use of literary devices, including simile, metaphor, personification,

onomatopoeia, hyperbole, imagery, tone, symbolism, irony, mood, and allusion, to

support interpretations of literary texts, using textual evidence to support the analysis. This will be done as they continue reading and responding to short stories.

This week we'll finish our study of early Christianity and the Byzantine Empire and we'll have an open- notes test in the 2nd half of the week. Students will get to use class notes for the test

NEWS FROM THE AAA LIBRARY

The AAA Library is excited for another great week of reading, learning, and creating! Students are encouraged to visit the library, explore new books, and continue building strong reading habits. Remember, just 15 minutes of reading each day can make a difference!

SAVE THE DATE: AAA BOOK FAIR!

Our Book Fair is coming September 9–14!

Students and families will have an opportunity to shop for exciting new books and support our school library. We are also looking for volunteers to help make our Book Fair a success!

Interested in volunteering?

Sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BA4A72AA1FCC07-65407185-aaabook

CHROMEBOOK REMINDER

Please remind students to:

Bring their Chromebook and charger to school each day.

Charge their Chromebook each night.

Keep food and drinks away from devices.

Carry Chromebooks carefully and report problems as soon as possible.

Keep Reading, AAA!

Your next favorite book may be waiting for you in the library. Stop by, check out something new, and READ • DISCOVER • CREATE!

— AAA Library Media Center

🎭 Clowns Update: Costume Design Week

This week, Clowns will begin designing their individual performance costumes! Each student will create three different, fully colored costume designs. Students may also include inspiration pictures to help explain their ideas.

Costume designs should:

Reflect a fun, colorful, and age-appropriate clown character.

Show creativity through color, shape, pattern, and movement.

Be easy for the audience to see and understand.

Allow the student to sing, dance, and move safely.

Fit securely while leaving some room for growth.

Be realistic enough to create using currently available fabrics and materials.

📅 All three completed and fully colored costume designs are due Friday, September 4.

After completing their designs, each student will conference with Mrs. Stricklin and the design team to select and approve one final costume. Students should not purchase fabric or begin construction until their design has been approved.

🎨 The fabric-swatch project and signed rental or fabrication form are due September 17.

Families have two costume options:

Fabrication: Families choosing to have the approved student-designed costume made must find their own seamstress.

Rental: Families choosing to rent a costume from Mrs. Stricklin must submit the signed rental form and the $20 rental fee by September 17.

🎬 Once a design is approved, its colors, fabrics, trim, and overall character concept may not be changed without permission. Completed costumes must be durable, safe for performing, and labeled with the student’s name.

🎭 Stars Update

The Academy Stars are currently learning the notes and vocal parts for their first two songs:

“Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

I have been incredibly impressed with how well students are working in their voice-part groups. They have helped and encouraged one another while working hard to keep their groups focused and on track. I am so excited about this year’s Stars group and cannot wait to see what they accomplish together!

📅 Important Deadlines

Due Friday, September 4:

Family Commitment Contract

Behavior Contract

Rental Agreement

$20 rental fee, paid by cash, check, or card through SchoolCash

Students must submit all required contracts and agreements along with the rental payment by the deadline.

🎬 Stars Checklist: All remaining Stars Checklist items are due by September 24.

Plot Mountain assignments are past due.

The Landlady reading activity is due Sunday, August 30.

The Landlady post-reading activity is due Sunday, September 6.

Don't forget to check the workshop schedule and have your workshop completed on time!

Our Visual and Media Arts students have jumped into the school year with impressive creativity! After mastering the 7 elements of art, Visual Arts students folded intricate origami dinosaurs, designed illustrated foldables to showcase their learning, and transformed their names into eye-catching bubble letter artwork. Meanwhile, Media Arts students also crafted origami dinosaurs and explored the 7 elements of art through a hands-on scavenger hunt—capturing photos throughout the school and justifying how each image represented a specific element. They've also designed vibrant digital neon signs featuring their names, blending technology with artistic expression.

This Week in Dance: Preparing for “A Cinematic Dance Experience”! 🎥🩰

It’s officially SHOWTIME season! Our dancers have been working hard as we prepare for our upcoming production, “A Cinematic Dance Experience.” This week, students stepped into their performer mindset and continued building the skills they’ll need to bring this production to life!

🎬 What We’ve Been Working On:

✨ Choreography: Students learned and auditioned for two dances as we begin casting and preparing for the show.

📚 Dance Vocabulary: Students learned new dance terminology and practiced applying these terms during class.

📝 Dance Quiz: Students put their knowledge to the test with a vocabulary and dance concepts quiz.

💃🏽 Across-the-Floor Combinations: Students learned short combinations across the floor to strengthen their technique, coordination, musicality, and performance quality while preparing for upcoming choreography.

🎥 Show Preparation: Every combination, vocabulary word, audition, and rehearsal is helping our dancers prepare to perform with confidence, precision, and purpose!

💗 Ms. Fuqua’s Note:

I am SO proud of the effort I’m seeing from our dancers! We are still in the early stages of preparing for “A Cinematic Dance Experience,” but the energy, determination, and willingness to learn have already been amazing to watch.

Remember dancers: Don’t just learn the choreography—learn how to PERFORM it! Your energy, confidence, and commitment are what will help bring this cinematic experience to life. 🎬✨

Keep working. Keep growing. Keep dancing!

— Ms. Fuqua

AAA Middle School Dance Magnet

Beginning Band:

Beginning band students will continue counting and writing rhythms, identifying note and rest values, as well as drawing the notes and rests. The students will begin learning the lines and spaces of the staff.

Thursday September 10, 2026, the students will be tested on their two instruments of choice. Gadsden Music will come to the school and test the students. The instrument they score the highest on will be the instrument they will play. Gadsden Music will come back to AAA and have an “Instrument Night”. On that evening, parents will be able to rent instruments. Parents…I encourage you to RENT the instrument and not buy the instrument. The renting of the instrument will go towards the purchase of the instrument. If you buy an instrument and your child decides they don’t want to play anymore, you’re stuck with an instrument. Whereas you rent the instrument and they decide band is not for them, just return the instrument. If you cannot afford to rent an instrument, let me know and I will find an instrument for them.

Choir Classes:

30 students signed up to attend the University of Montevallo Honor Choir Festival. The festival will take place Monday September 14, 2026. Permission slips have already gone home and there are no more available spots. Chaperones are welcomed free of charge.

The Huntsville All-City Choral Festival auditions will be held at Whitesburg Middle School on September 21 and September 22, 2026. All vocal tracks of the music is posted in Canvas along with the pdfs of the sheet music. The actual festival will take place at Trinity United Methodist Church on Airport Road October 29, 2926. Please encourage your children to listen to their voice parts and learn the music.

Advanced Band:

Parents…Please encourage your children to bring their instruments home so they can practice. Practice sheets will begin this week and will be a part of their grade. I am not a believer that practice makes perfect, but I DO believe that practice makes PROGRESS.

Remember…The $100.00 “Fair Share” fee is due Monday August 31, 2026. A BIG SHOUT OUT and THANK YOU to all the parents/guardians who have already paid the “Fair Share” fee in full and those who are paying in installments. We appreciate your support!