Welcome, Middle School Families, to our 2023-24 school year! We would love to welcome our returning and new families to middle school. This group of students has been an absolute pleasure to start the year with. Each day has been full of new and exciting experiences, from navigating a new schedule to meeting new students.
Before we get to the weekly class review, here is some important Middle School information:
- Thursday, 9/28, from 10-2, MS and Upper El will go to the Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport, CT, to participate in their ropes courses. A bagged lunch will be needed.
- The Middle School Play will be on the evening of Thursday, 12/7, with immersion weeks beginning 11/27. We are trying a new time of year to spread out some of our bigger middle school experiences.
- 8th-grade families: Internship dates will be Monday, January 22-Wednesday, January 24—more information to come.
Now for our week in review:
Math
Welcome to Middle School Math! Students are off to a busy start with textbook distribution, completing their first homework questions, and practicing note-taking skills. Ms. Sutherland is excited to learn and grow alongside the energetic middle school mathematicians this year.
In the Pre-Transition math class, students reviewed how to write numbers in written form and identify place values in large numbers. This class can measure units using customary measures and divide line segments into equal parts.
In the Transition (pre-algebra) math class, students learned how to use rational numbers to solve real-world problems, graph integers on a number line, and multiply values by powers of ten. This class can use inequalities to compare numerical values and define a rational number.
In the Algebra 1 math class, students explored how to use variables to describe real-world situations, determine if expressions are equivalent, and identify the associative and commutative properties of multiplication/addition. This class is learning how to use new graphing software called Desmos and should remember to bring their Chromebooks/ laptop computers to class each day.
In the Geometry math class, students can determine distance on a number line, write and graph linear equations without technology, and determine the properties of Euclidean geometry. This class can also use the various descriptions of points and lines to model real-world situations.
Math Joke: Why did the math teacher bring a ladder to class?
Because she wanted to show her students the steps to success!
Humanities
All Humanities classes completed Identity Maps to start the year. These maps include identifiers and visually represent what students wish their peers and teachers to know about themselves. They can certainly change each year, so it is a great way to start fresh.
Most classes have also presented their summer independent reading presentations to classmates. There were great book choices and a good mix of genres. Mrs. Lamb also added some books to her must-read list!
In addition to the work above, the 6th grade Humanities class did some additional group-forming activities. While the group already knew each other well, they found some new information they didn’t know about each other. This helps students become comfortable sharing. In Humanities class, students often share personal writing and perspective, so these additional activities help with listening and responding. Students also drafted a poem titled “Where I’m From,” inspired by George Ella Lyon’s poem of the same name. This is another way to demonstrate identity and consider how familiar items, people, and culture define who you are. 6th-year students also completed writing assessments to demonstrate independent writing skills and began their first class novel, Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper.
The 7th-grade Humanities class began their unit surrounding China by starting the class novel Ties That Bind, Ties That Break by Lensey Namioka. They researched and defined some key vocabulary that will be seen in their study of this region and completed political maps of China. Finally, students completed a writing assessment to identify their independent writing skills at the start of the year.
After giving their summer reading presentations and completing identity maps, 8th-grade Humanities classes began their class novel, The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton. This timeless novel has students discussing stereotypes and how they can influence groups of people (in this case, socioeconomics) and loyalty among friends. Students additionally began reading together A Different Mirror for Young People: A History of Multicultural America and defining what it means to be American. Finally, students completed a writing assessment to identify their independent writing skills at the start of the year.
Science
6th-year Earth Science students have begun the year exploring how to generate an experiment to answer a question or solve a problem. Students spent several days identifying examples of dependent and independent variables from a set list of experiments while creating their own at the end. We also began our first unit from our Discovery Education tech book, Earth’s History. Students will learn what factors influence the preservation potential of fossils and the information one might obtain from this discovery.
7th-year Physical Science students have begun the term learning about the scientific process of combining and separating mixtures. Students were tasked with separating a mixture in class using various methods, such as magnets, sifters, filter paper, and evaporation. Real-world applications of this practice, such as the clean-up of oil spills, were later discussed and analyzed.
8th-year Life Science students have begun the term on the unit Cell Theory. Within this unit, students are first introduced to the three tenets of cell theory: “All living things come from preexisting cells, cells are the basic unit of life, and all organisms are made up of one or more cells.” Students are working on identifying similarities and differences between a plant and animal cell, which they will represent by creating their plant/animal cell cake. Students will choose items to represent and identify each cell’s organelles using the food that best represents each organelle. Students will present their work to the middle school students once completed.
Thank you for adhering to your child’s scheduled, staggered arrival and dismissal times. Arrival for middle school is at 8:00, and dismissal is from 3:10 to 3:20. If you arrive before 8:00, please have your child wait in the car until arrival begins.
We are looking forward to seeing you next Thursday, September 21st, at 5:30 for Curriculum Night!
We hope everyone has a great weekend,
Michelle, Zak, & Megan
