FRIDAY, APRIL 25TH 6TH GRADE BAND CONCERT WITH GRAVELLY HILLS MIDDLE SCHOOL
6:00 PM IN THE AUDITORIUM COME AND SEE A GREAT SHOW WITH ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSED JUST FOR US!
APRIL
4/24 Baseball AWAY @ Butner Stem
4/25 6TH Grade Band Concert with Gravelly Hills MS at 6pm
4/28 Track Meet HOME @ FHS
4/28-4/30 Math I Remediation during class time
4/28-5/1 Science 8 Remediation Week
4/28-5/2 GRADE ALERTS GO OUT THIS WEEK IF YOUR CHILD IS FAILING A CLASS THIS QUARTER
MAY
5/1 MATH I CHECK-IN #2
5/2 SCIENCE 8 CHECK-IN #3
5/6 Track Meet AWAY @ LMHS
5/7 *LAST DAY FOR AFTERSCHOOL TUTORING
5/7 Nurse Appreciation Day
5/8 Track Meet AWAY @ LMHS
5/5-5/9 TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK - let teachers know you appreciate all their hard work!
5/5-5/9 Exact Path Diagnostics Math and ELA this week
5/8 EARLY RELEASE - students leave the building at 12:30pm
5/11 SUNDAY - MOTHER'S DAY
5/12-5/23 EOG REMEDIATION WEEKS FOR ELA, MATH, AND SCIENCE 8
5/15 SPRING CELEBRATION BAND CONCERT AND ELECTIVES PROJECTS SHOW
5/17 DISTRICT JOB FAIR @ LONG MILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (SATURDAY 9-11)
5/22 ATHLETIC AWARDS CEREMONY
5/24 SNEAKER BALL 6-8PM AT THE GYM
5/26 NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
5/28 READING EOG
5/29 MATH EOG GRADES 6-8
JUNE
6/3 8TH GRADE SCIENCE EOG
6/4 READING EOG RETEST (IF NOT PROFICIENT ON THE READING EOG)
6/5 MATH EOG RETEST (IF NOT PROFICIENT ON THE MATH EOG)
6/10 8TH GRADE CELEBRATION @ 9:00 AM IN THE AUDITORIUM
6/10 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - EARLY RELEASE - STUDENTS LEAVE BUILDING AT 12:30 PM
*REPORT CARDS MAILED OUT AFTER RETEST DATA IS AVAILABLE AND RETENTION DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.
MATH with MS. JENKINS:
Happy Springtime! Our students are off to a great start for Quarter 4. This week in math we continue to work in Unit 6, Geometric and Measurement Reasoning. The students have learned to find the circumference and area of a circle, how to build and draw polygons with given conditions, and how to find volume and surface area of non-rectangular prisms.
The last two weeks have been dedicated to preparing students for future assessments. Today, April 23rd, students took the last Math NC Check-In before the final EOG exam in May. In class, we have discussed the importance of completing assignments. Many lessons serve as remediation for topics students will be tested on at the end of the year.
Things to remember:
~Class attendance is important.
~Remember the school and classroom rules. (Exhibit responsible behavior at all times)
~Bring your materials (Chromebooks(charged), notebooks, and pencils) to class daily.
~Get a good night's rest and come to class prepared to work daily.
~IXL assignments are important. Take time to complete them, especially the ones that are graded.
Believe in yourself, you can do it! Giving up is not an option.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at litishajenkins@fcschools.net.SOCIAL STUDIES with MR. JONES: Dear Parents and Guardians, As we approach the end of the school year, students are diving into a vital unit on World War II, exploring both the global conflict itself and its lasting consequences on the modern world. Through discussions, primary sources, and interactive projects, students are gaining a deeper understanding of the war’s causes, major events, and the profound impact it had on societies, governments, and international relations. This is a powerful opportunity for them to connect historical events to current issues and reflect on the importance of global cooperation and resilience. As we enter the final stretch of the year, your support in encouraging students to stay focused and engaged is more important than ever. Let’s work together to help them finish strong and carry these valuable lessons with them beyond the classroom. SCIENCE with MS. BRACKETT: Hello, This is a quick update to let you know we’re about to make our way through an exciting new unit on Body Systems. In this unit we will explore the digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems. I encourage you to discuss this topic at home with your child. Here are some ways to connect the learning at school to home: Get active! Discuss which body systems are most active when you exercise. Take turns blowing up a balloon to see who has the largest lung capacity. Cook a healthy meal together. Don't worry if you have forgotten your body systems knowledge from school – your child will enjoy filling you in. It’s always good to admit if you don’t know something and encourage your child to find out the answer with you using Stile. The rest of this semester is going to be breathtaking! Ms. Brackett
ELA with MS. BAECHLE:
We are in Q4 and quickly approaching the end of the school year and finish the year out successfully! As we continue the second half of the year and where effort and consistency count more than ever!!
It remains critical that we remind our students to stay up to date with their work in class and located on Canvas, as well as their grades updated regularly on Powerschool. As a result, we continue to hold them accountable for their work and growth academically. Please check in with your students to ensure that they are completing their work regularly and submitting it for a grade. Please speak with the main office if you’d like to be added as a view on your child’s Powerschool account.
Reminders:
-Q4 ends on Friday, 5/30
-Math Check-in #3 in on Wednesday, 4/23 - please remind your students to get a good night's rest, eat a balanced breakfast, and to always try their best!!
-ELa EOG - 5/28
-MATH EOG - 5/29
-Reading ELA Retest - 6/4
-Math Retest - 4-3
-Last day of school for students - 6-10**
Note: As a grade level we grew roughly 5.2% on the recent Check-in three for ELA. The students worked hard and it showed. Please encourage them to continue to do their best every day!!
Growth and Accountability Agreement:
I will complete daily work (assigned in class)
I will finish any work that was not completed in class for homework
I will come to class prepared (work completed and a charged chromebook)
I will not disrupt the learning environment, or others
I will check Canvas daily for updated assignments and due dates
I will check Powerschool regularly for grades and missing assignments
I will always try my best
I will ask for further support from my teacher is I don't understand an assignment
I will maintain a growth mind-set for my academic and personal growth and goals!!
Expectations:
Students are to come to class on time, prepared and ready to work. If they are not following the non-negotiables, they will receive a warning to correct their chosen behavior before they are sent to ALC with a write-up and a parent contact.
Remember that each quarter every student begins with a 100% in their classes. What they decide to do with their grades and achievements are up to them.
Sports and Grades: Please ensure your student is keeping up with their work and on their best behavior. Good grades and exemplifying positive behavior is key to being able to play sports throughout the school year. Grads for S2 quarters 3 and 4 will determine Fall and Winter eligibility**
New Curriculum: We have begun a new ELA Curriculum this year called: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Into Literature. The material is scaffolded in a way that is easy to understand while including detailed lessons/units including: anticipatory sets, clear standards, relatable topics, a variety of genres and activities, as well as various reading and writing activities with vocabulary throughout and plenty of application (practice) of content in order to master numerous skill-sets.
Note: A digital copy of the text can be located on students' Classlink (ED with a yellow smiley face app) and include each passage we read in class, as well as several comprehension checks (assignments), and several resources.
Please encourage your students to use this resource at home to compete and classwork that was not finished, or any homework that may be assigned. It is very beneficial for students to not only take accountability for their work, but to practice skills regularly in order to master academic goals.
🧱 Supporting Standards
L.7.4 Determine and/or clarify (2) the meaning of unknown (context clues) and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 7 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies: context clues, word parts, word relationships, and reference materials.**
🎯Target Standards
RI.7.6 Determine (2) the author’s point of View (POV) in a text and
analyze (3) how the author distinguishes his or her position from that of
others. - HMH*
RL.3 Analyze (3) how particular elements of a story interact. - Original
Short Story*
✏️Writing Standards
W.7.2 Write an Informative Report/Poem (3-4) informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
Poem with a sport of choice (if time allows)
W.7.5 Conduct short research projects to answer specific guiding questions (4)
Short Story*
This Week:
Students continue to utilize beneficial strategies such as T-Chart graphic organizer in order to organize their thoughts, focus on unknown vocabulary and the summary (gist) of a passage/paragraph, and fully comprehend the meaning of any given text both NF/F for additional practice.
We are also in the sixth/seventh week of ProBowl review as well where we focus on specific strategies for additional practice in preparation for the upcoming EOG at the end of May.
Next Two Weeks:
We will begin to work on EOG practice with a variety of skill-sets based on challenging standards from prior Check-ins in the form of gamification and traditional review/stations.
In addition, students will begin to learn about the structure and elements of Short Stories and begin to outline their own for their own short story which will be due on Friday, May 23rd.
Project Links:
Fictional Short Story:
Mini-Lesson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlIBRGNG2ZY (Video with guided notes)
https://languageartsteachers.com/elements-of-fiction-and-short-stories-mini-lessons/
Graphic Organizers:
https://www.samnllc.org/userfiles/fck/file/10-Story%20Elements%20Graphic%20Organizers.pdf
Requirements:
End of Unit 5/6 Assessment:
Fictional Short Story:
Due 5/23 -
Write an original (fictional) Short Story with the incorporation of graphic organizers and story elements provided in class.
Cores: 1, 2, and 3 - 1 pg. typed minimal.
Core: 4 - 2 pages typed minimal.
Extra Credit: Write at least one page longer than the requirement.
Homework:
Students should expect homework two to three times weekly in order to continue to develop their skill-sets and to see growth. Please ask your child what work they have for homework, or have not completed on a regular basis to help keep them on track. Work is updated regularly for access on Canvas. Grades are also updated weekly and viewable on Powerschool. Students should expect classwork (homework if not completed) in order to maintain an understanding of reading both inside and outside of class on a weekly basis. The application process is so critical to close gaps in comprehension and to apply to later content**
Grades:
Student grades are present (updated regularly) on Canvas, and are now viewable to students and guardians on Powerschool. Students are expected to check their grades on a regular basis and reach out to their teacher for make-up work, or additional time to complete an assignment if they have been absent, as well as, emailing them a reminder once completed. I allow a one week timeframe to make up work before an assignment becomes a zero.
We are so close to the end of the school year and for what I consider to be the students' superbowl (EOG’S). Let’s finish strong and show us all what you have learned!!
Thank you parents and guardians for your continued support throughout the school year with what promises to be a successful year full of growth and achievements.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any further questions or concerns at:
SCIENCE with MS. DOWNUM:
As we move through this exciting time of year, I want to highlight some important updates and events happening in our classroom.
This week, we have our math check-in. Please ensure your child is well-rested and has a nutritious breakfast to help them perform their best. Remember, our school cafeteria serves breakfast for all students, so don’t hesitate to take advantage of that if mornings get too hectic. Following that, from April 28th to May 1st, we will begin science remediation, leading up to the final science check-in on May 2nd.
As we approach the end of the year, students are becoming increasingly excited about summer break and transitioning to high school. Since returning from spring break, I have implemented a new seating arrangement and reviewed expectations with the students. It’s crucial for them to remain focused during these final weeks so they can finish strong and set themselves up for success in high school.
We recently wrapped up our adaptations unit, which included a thrilling crayfish dissection that the students thoroughly enjoyed. I will share some pictures below. We have now started our final unit on Ecosystems, a topic the students are familiar with and excel in.
I also want to celebrate the end of March Mammal Madness, which concluded on April 4th. Congratulations to our trophy winners: Sterling, Cylas, Ghaziyah, and Wyatt! They had the opportunity to choose their trophies based on their point totals during lunch, where I announced the winners and took pictures. It was a fun way to recognize their hard work and enthusiasm!
Our recent field trip was a great success! Although it was hot, the students had a fantastic time hiking, observing nature, and enjoying Honey Baked Ham lunches provided generously by the school. They met with a hydrogeologist who was impressed by their enthusiasm for science. I commend the students for their flexibility and ability to enjoy the day, even with the pollen challenges we faced!
Finally, we have one last SEL unit to complete, which will take about a week, before we prepare for the EOGs. The science EOG will assess their knowledge across all three science disciplines learned this year: physical, earth, and life sciences. I will be refreshing their memories on these topics to ensure they are well-prepared. We are committed to meeting the goals we’ve set together, and I am confident they can achieve them, as they have already shown great progress. The EOGs are an essential piece of data that will demonstrate their readiness to transition to high school.
Thank you for your continued support!
SOCIAL STUDIES with MR. DOWNUM:
Hard to believe there are only 5 ½ weeks of school left, the school year has just flown by! We are working on early twentieth century America right now and will be for a little while longer. Please ensure that Powerschool is being checked and the students are keeping up on their assignments.
Next week is the science check in so lets make sure we are doing our best.
MATH with MS. CUNNINGHAM:
The students took their third math NC Check-in this morning. I will be sharing their results with them tomorrow and having them make a personal goal for their math EOG, which is scheduled for May 29th. There is a module on the math canvas page titled Math Vocabulary with links to use as review for each strand from our units for the year. Please have your child start reviewing these nightly in preparation for the EOG. The students have learned so much this year, EOGs are the time to shine and show what they know. Please encourage your child to do their best on the test. Students will also be completing their End of Year Diagnostic testing on Edmentum, which is an indicator of how they will achieve on their EOG. Please also encourage them to take the diagnostic assessment seriously and do their best. We are looking for the students to show growth. I know they can do it.
We are in full sprint to the finish line with the end in sight.
We are into Unit 4-Statistical and Probabilistic Reasoning, which will carry us through the end of April into the beginning of May. In this unit, students analyze bivariate data—using scatter plots and fitted lines to analyze numerical data, and using two-way tables, bar graphs, and segmented bar graphs to analyze categorical data.
Vocabulary
Scatter plot, outlier, positive association, negative association, two-way table, segmented bar graph, relative frequency, quantitative, categorical
Throughout the Unit
All students actively engaged in class discourse and persevering through points of difficulty, challenge, or error.
All students revise their thinking using feedback and through conversations with peers and teachers.
All students using paper and geometry tools* to organize or visualize their thinking and record key information when needed.
All students use multiple sentences to construct, critique, and defend their thinking.
Key Math Practice Standard(s)
MP2: Identify outliers and clustering in scatter plots and interpret the slope of a line of fit in context.
MP4: Draw and use a line of fit to predict values.
MP5: Create scatter plots, two-way tables, bar graphs, relative frequency tables, and segmented bar graphs to represent data and notice patterns.
We will then move into our last unit of Pythagorean Theorem and Volume, which is broken into 2 sections- Within the first section, students will identify and apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find the missing hypotenuse or leg of a triangle. They explore and prove the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse. The second section builds on students’ knowledge of the formula for the volume of a right rectangular prism from grade 7, learning formulas for volumes of cylinders, cones, and spheres.
Essential Questions for this unit:
How can lengths and distances be expressed –exactly or approximately –using understanding of square roots/irrational numbers?
What is the purpose of the Pythagorean Theorem?
What dimensions are needed to compute the volume of a cylinder, cone, sphere?
How are these dimensions used to compute the volume of this three-dimensional object?
Essential Vocabulary: Pythagorean theorem, hypotenuse, legs, right triangle, square root, cube root, cone, cylinder, radius, sphere, volume
Standards Covered:
NC.8.G.6: Explain the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse.
NC.8.G.7: Apply the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
NC.8.G.8: Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find the distance between two points in a coordinate system.
NC.8.G.9: Understand how the formulas for the volumes of cones, cylinders, and spheres are related and use the relationship to solve real-world and
mathematical problems.
Any questions or concerns, please email me at michellecunningham@fcschools.net
Here are a few pictures of a game titled “Capture the Flag” that we played to review for our last unit assessment. The students seem to enjoy reviewing for assessments this way. They get to collaboratively work with classmates on problems that are similar to test questions in preparation for the upcoming assessment, so they are learning from each other as well as teaching each other.
Review of Grade 8 Classroom Expectations… https://tinyurl.com/Grade8FMS
Please review each expectation with your child.
Earbuds, phones in eyesight, and excessive bathroom requests continue to disrupt learning…
Students should come to class on time, prepared, and ready to work.
If your child is not following the non-negotiables; they will receive a warning to correct their behavior before they are sent to ALC with a write-up and a parent contact.
Most importantly, I want your child to optimize his or her fullest potential to ensure your child is ready for high school!
Friendly Reminders:
Check PowerSchool frequently to ensure your child is up-to-date on assignments. The protocol for submission of late assignments is to send an email to me with the titles of the late assignments completed. Please encourage your child to check PowerSchool for missing assignments.
Note: Assignments close after two weeks and students cannot make up work after the assignment closes. Students are not penalized for submitting late assignments within this two week period. Again, it is the responsibility of your child to email me with the title(s) of completed work after the due date.
Curriculum:
We are finalizing Unit Five by the end of the day on April 24th. Students will have a Summative Assessment on Friday, April 25th. (It is an open book assessment) Summative Assessments hold significant weight on your child’s % for ELA. Please encourage your child to re-read both informational articles online at home in preparation for the Summative Assessment. Go to ClassLink to access the online textbook. The two articles tested are listed below.
“It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens” pages 367-375
“Outsmart Your Smartphone” pages 378-389
Percussionist in 8th Grade!
Drumline Auditions
Franklinton High School Drumline!!!
April 22nd and 24th
4:00 - 5:30 in the FHS Band Room
Only 1 snare spot and 2 bass spots are open!
SPRING MARCHING PRE-CAMP!!
Any band student currently in 7th or 8th grade!
April 28, 29, 30, or May 1st 2025
4:00 - 5:30 in the FHS Band Room
CTE with MR. PIRRONE:
Computer Science Discoveries 1 and 2:
CSD 2:
What We're Learning: Weeks at a Glance
Over the next two weeks, students will be applying everything they’ve learned so far in a series of engaging and creative programming projects. In Lesson 18, students will bring together key coding concepts such as drawing, variables, sprites, images, conditionals, and user input to design their own interactive greeting cards. This project gives students a chance to showcase their creativity while reinforcing their understanding of foundational coding techniques.
In Lesson 19, we begin exploring more advanced programming ideas with a focus on velocity. Students will learn how to simplify code using blocks that directly set a sprite's speed and direction, helping them better manage complexity and create more dynamic animations.
Lesson 20 introduces the concept of collision detection using a block called isTouching(). This lesson emphasizes the power of abstraction—using simple tools to handle complex problems. Students will work in pairs to understand how and why using such tools makes coding easier and more efficient.
Finally, in Lesson 21, students will use their knowledge of velocity and collision detection to create their own mini side-scroller game. They’ll brainstorm ideas, plan their game, and bring it to life in Code Studio. This hands-on project not only encourages problem-solving but also gives students another opportunity to express their creativity through code.
These upcoming lessons are designed to be both fun and intellectually rewarding, helping students grow their confidence and skills as young programmers.
CSD 1:
What we're Learning: Building Strong Teams and Better Websites
Over the next couple of weeks, our students will be deepening their web development skills while also learning the importance of teamwork, research, and thoughtful design.
In Lesson 15: Team Problem Solving, we shift focus to one of the most important real-world skills: working well in a team. Students begin by reflecting on what makes teams successful—whether in sports, school, or the workplace—and then apply those lessons to their own project groups. Together, they’ll create team norms and a plan for collaboration. This includes how they’ll communicate, solve disagreements, and support each other as they begin building their group website project. It’s a great opportunity for students to take ownership of not just the final product, but the process of working together effectively.
Lesson 16: Sources and Research builds on those group efforts by teaching students how to search for and evaluate information online. Students will watch a short video explaining how search engines work, then practice conducting research for their websites. They’ll learn how to distinguish trustworthy sources from unreliable ones—an essential skill in our digital world. By the end of this lesson, students will be able to explain why credibility matters, and they’ll start applying these standards to their own website content to make it more reliable and professional.
In Lesson 17: Linking Pages, students will explore how to build better user experiences through internal linking and site navigation. They’ll discover how the first webpage helped launch the World Wide Web by using hyperlinks, and then practice creating their own links in Web Lab. They’ll learn basic but important navigation strategies to make their sites more user-friendly. This lesson also includes personal goal setting, allowing each student to reflect on what they want to improve or accomplish as they move toward completing their website projects.
Finally, Lesson 18: CSS Pseudo-classes introduces students to a fun and visually impactful part of web design. They’ll explore how pseudo-classes—like :hover, :link, :visited, and :active—can change how elements behave when users interact with a site. This adds a new level of polish and interactivity to their websites, helping them understand how style and function work together to enhance the user experience.
Together, these lessons help students become more thoughtful creators, responsible digital citizens, and strong collaborators. They’re not only building websites—they’re building the skills to succeed in the digital world.
Keyboarding Skills and Basic Word Processing:
In this lesson, students will complete their foundation in keyboarding by reviewing all home row keys and expanding their skills to include the full keyboard. The goal is for students to demonstrate improved accuracy and technique while typing across the home row, top row, bottom row, number row, and basic punctuation keys. By the end of this lesson, students should be able to apply correct keyboarding posture and finger placement, use all rows confidently, and begin to build muscle memory to type without looking at the keys.
Paxton Patterson Career Labs:
We will start Rotation 3, students will pick themselves , the careers that they would like to learn about. This should bring us to the end of the year for this class.
ART with Mrs. CLIFTON:
Will look and discuss work by Elliot Erwitt.
Discuss the difference between posed, candid, and intentional photographs. Slideshow
Capture 5 photographs that reflect their world.
Blog about their experience and upload their 5 favorite pictures.
Print their favorite photograph to discuss in a class critique.
Our students have photographs on display at the Franklin County Library.
