Middle School Minute
April 7 - 11, 2025
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ACAP Testing is Almost Here
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.
March 28 - April 7: Make up/small group ELA and science testing
Tuesday, April 8: Math section 1
Wednesday, April 9: Math section 2
📕 ELA 📕
Mz. Estelle
Honors English: We continue with our novel study and its comparison to the Hero’s Journey. Our novel is Miles Morales: Spider Man by Jason Reynolds. We are currently studying Chapter 7. Chapter 8 is due next week. A calendar of readings is posted to Google Classroom. Students are using literary analysis to complete discussion questions, write short essays based on a novel prompt and taking short quizzes. Students continue to be responsible for work on iReady and ReadWorks. ReadWorks assignments are accessible via Google Classroom. iReady is accessible via Clever. Students should be completing 45 minutes of iReady per week in addition to two passed lessons (70 or better).
***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.
Ms. Stricklin
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 -
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief: We have just completed reading Ch. 5-7. We have not only learned about Percy Jackson but Greek Mythology as well. Students will participate in vocabulary, figurative language, text-dependent questions, and arts integration activities as we follow Percy Jackson through a heroic journey. Next up: Reading ch. 8-10.
Honors 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 -
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief: We have just completed reading Ch. 1-4. We have not only learned about Percy Jackson but Greek Mythology as well. Students will participate in vocabulary, figurative language, text-dependent questions, and arts integration activities as we follow Percy Jackson through a heroic journey. Honors students are held to a higher standard of learning than my regular classes. This will include more writing and an occasional extended project.There will not be a project for Ch. 5-7 due to our field trip to Matilda at Lee High School.. Next up: Reading ch. 8-10.
Ms. Hurst
All periods will have a vocabulary quiz on Friday, April 4th. Vocabulary words will be given Monday, March 31st, and their review will be due on Wednesday, April 2nd.
All classes are writing a research paper on "A Woman in History". The rough drafts are due on Friday, April 4th.
First and fifth block are reading the Hunger Games.
Third and fourth block are completing assignments in Studysync which can be accessed on Clever.
Ms. Fletcher
➕➖ Math ➖➕
Mr. Moore
Ms. Whitney
Important Announcements
Math ACAP Testing: Next Wednesday and Thursday, our students will participate in the Math ACAP Testing.
Action Items:
Please discuss test-taking strategies with your child.
Encourage them to reflect on what they have learned this year in math.
Ensure they receive ample rest on both testing days to help them perform their best.
Celebrations of the Week
We are excited to share some of the wonderful learning experiences our students have had recently:
7th Grade Math: Students have been delving into linear equations and problem-solving strategies. Their growth in understanding equations, expressions, and inequalities is commendable.
7th Grade Accelerated Math: Our accelerated learners have been tackling percentages and complex problem-solving, demonstrating enthusiasm and skill.
We celebrate each student's progress and the efforts they put into their learning!
T Whitney 7th Grade Math
Ms. Cuff
🧪 Science 🧪
Mz. Estelle
Science: We have started 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.
Mrs. Thrasher
We will be learning about extreme weather this week. We will be completing a Severe Weather Brochure the week of April 14th. Students will be researching a Severe Weather event and creating an informational brochure.
7th Grade
We will be learning about ecological succession and biodiversity. We will be starting a ecology culminating project Monday April 14th (A day) and Tuesday April 15 (B day) that will cover everything we have learned this quarter. Students will be researching an animal and the ecosystem they live in.
Ms. Plummer
📜 Social Studies 📜
Mrs. Hester
6th Grade Social Studies:
- WWII - Chapter Test - Friday, April 4(A) / Monday, April 7(B)
Study on socrative.com
Room name: HESTER
- Cold War Flocabulary - Assigned for April 8-9 - Due April 13
Mrs. Maynard
Dear Parents,
We are wrapping up our project on the Oregon Trail. Students have been writing journal entries from the perspective of a person traveling the trail. Please remind them to finish up any last-minute details over the weekend.
After the completion of this project, we will be moving on to learning all about the continent of Africa.
Thank you for your support!
Mr. Hughes
🎭 Fine Arts 🎭
🤡 Clowns - Ms. Stricklin 🤡
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 finished 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 have started learning the music for the next song as soon as we finish choreographing the medley. Clowns competition theme is “Don’t Be Afraid to Grow Up.” We are still working on a title.
We have one more performance coming up on April 17 @ The Orion. Thank you to those few of you that came to perform for the Fine Arts Festival. We were few, but we were mighty. Please remember that performances are mandatory. We will be performing for the 40 Years of Magic gala at the Orion on April 17. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make every effort to have your child there for the gala. This is an astonishing accomplishment for our creative and performing arts magnet program. Most do not last this long. Check the website for more detailed information. https://www.whyaaa.org/ms-stars--clowns.html
🤩 Stars - Ms. Stricklin 🤩
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 have started choreography on “Jump ‘n’ Boogie” next week. Stars competition theme is “Dancing Through the Decades!” I cannot wait to see this come together.
We have one more performance coming up on April 17 @ The Orion. Please remember that performances are mandatory. We will be performing for the 40 Years of Magic gala at the Orion on April 17. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make every effort to have your child there for the gala. This is an astonishing accomplishment for our creative and performing arts magnet program. Most do not last this long. Check the website for more detailed information. https://www.whyaaa.org/ms-stars--clowns.html
✍🏻 Creative Writing - Mrs. Hester ✍🏻
- Open-Mic Night - Tentative Date - Friday, April 25, before Drive-In Movie event.
Please let me know if you have any conflicts with the date above.
- PlayWriting - Lesson 1: How to begin - Due, April 11
- PlayWriting - Lesson 2: How to Write a 10-minute Play - Due, April 13
🎭Theatre - Mr. Feemster 🎭
Tickets for Princess and the Frog are coming soon! Stay tuned for more details!
🎻Strings - Mrs. Peck🎻
We're into our favorite part of pre-contest assessment--we're staying after school today for snacks, fellowship, music 'mock assessment' with friendly adjudicators who are local professionals and look forward to being with our students to give them last minute performance tips! :) Friday, April 4 we embark to Alabaster, Alabama-Thompson High School for the OMPA. We truly hope we can bring back Superior and Excellent ratings.
April will also have us focus on our May 6, full music department Spring Concert (choirs, bands, strings, and full orchestra combining advanced band with strings:)
ADVANCED STRING ENSEMBLE will play for us and represent us at the April 17 GALA at Orion. They are: Riley Rose, Remiah Rogers, Sophia Orr, Cillian Stanford.
Several MS strings members are preparing participating with the Festivals Music Competition in St. Louis May 1st thru 4th.
Thank you so much for a fantastic August/Summer, November/Fall, and January/Winter. Not much further to go!
Our Best Always, Mary Peck-AAA 3rd-8th Magnet String Orchestras
🎤 Choir - Mr. Snodgrass 🎤
🎨Art - Mrs. Jackson 🎨
The Academy for Academics & Arts Art Department is now selling t-shirts! All funds raised will directly benefit our wonderful Prek-8th grade students in the Art Room. Please purchase a shirt to help support the AAArt Team! We can’t wait to see everyone wearing their art shirts!
Order here!
6th Grade Updates
- 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!
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.