What a busy week! In addition to daily musical rehearsals of Willy Wonka, Jr., highlights of the week included the Farewell to the Class of 2026 and Spanish Food Presentations.

The Farewell is an FWM tradition when the current 6th and 7th-grade students say their goodbyes and honor their graduating classmates. This year, a speech was given highlighting each of the graduates, superlative awards were distributed, personalized graduation caps and posters were shared, and an individualized Timegussr game was created. The celebration ended with some delicious cake and good conversation. It is clear that the class of 2026 will certainly be missed.

Coming Up:

• MS Trip: Balance and med drop off due this week. Click here for information.
• MS Musical: Willy Wonka, Jr., May 21st @ 7 pm.
• CLICK HERE TO RSVP Middle School Dance on Friday, May 22nd @ 6-8:15 pm.
• MS ARRIVAL BEGINS AT 8 am
  

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Spanish

This week in Spanish class, our middle school students presented their hard work in their Spanish Food Presentation. After researching the history and background of each dish from across Spain and Latin America, students did their slide and video presentation. They also included in their presentation a lot of information about culture and flavors. It is fantastic to blend cultural learning with hands-on experience, turning the classroom into a vibrant celebration of Spanish culinary traditions. Students enjoyed every aspect of this project, from making slides to recording and editing a video, and obviously, the cooking and tasting part. All of them waited eagerly for this time of the year. Every presentation was great, showing a lot of work in research, confidence in public speaking, and culinary skills. Great job!

The following dishes were presented:

Arepas con queso, horchata, nachos, flan de caramelo, dulce de leche cake, ensaimadas, tres leches horchata cake, tortilla de patatas, quipes, quesadillas, churros, gallo pinto, patatas bravas, pan con tomate, piña colada, ceviche de camarones, tres leches cake, arroz con pollo guisado, chivo guisado, empanadas de carne, torrijas, y tarta de Santiago.  

Humanities

6th and 7th-grade Humanities classes continued learning about the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazism prior to WWII. They also began their final novel, which is a memoir by Marion Blumenthal Lazan called Four Perfect Pebbles. This book gives Marion’s account of her experience during the Holocaust when her family was sent to Bergen-Belsen, a concentration camp in Germany. Additionally, students worked on preparations for the Farewell celebration.

The 8th-grade Humanities class has almost completed their final book, She Came to Slay. Reading this biography about Harriet Tubman allowed 8th-grade students to annotate and lead discussions surrounding the life and legacy of Tubman. Conversations about her achievements, struggles, and ability to persevere made the class realize what a heroine she truly was. Next, the 8th-grade students began writing the final piece of their Fraser Woods career: their graduation speech. It is hard to believe they will be wrapping up their time and memories at FWM.

Math

Pre-Transition: This week, students wrapped up Chapter 7 and have shown so much growth in their division skills. They can find quotients of positive and negative numbers as well as solve multiplication and division problems using fact triangles and related facts. Students are also becoming experts with both the short and long division algorithms. They wrapped up the week with a review of Chapter 7 concepts and took the Chapter 7 test. 

Transition: This week, students wrapped up Chapter 8 and practiced several important algebra skills. They learned how to solve and check equations in the form ax+b=c, use inverse operations to solve for variables, graph equations in the form y = mx + b, and solve linear inequalities. Students finished the week with a full Chapter 8 review and will take the Chapter 8 test on Monday, May 18.

Algebra: This week, students continued learning and applying exponent rules in Chapter 8. They can now simplify products, quotients, and powers of powers, as well as rewrite powers of products and quotients. After taking the Chapter 8 quiz, students were introduced to simplifying square roots and cube roots, and they began practicing how to simplify radical expressions.

Geometry: This week, students wrapped up Chapter 6 with the chapter test before jumping into Chapter 7, Applications of Congruent Triangles. Students learned the different triangle congruence theorems and how to apply them to prove whether or not triangles are congruent. They also practiced constructing triangles that satisfy given conditions, as well as determining whether all triangles meeting those conditions would be congruent.

Algebra II: This week, students began their study of quadratic equations and explored how quadratic functions differ from linear functions. They learned how to identify key features of quadratic equations, graph parabolas, and recognize how the coefficients affect the shape and direction of the graph. Students also practiced solving quadratic equations using a variety of methods.

Science

Middle School students continued working on lessons from the Discovery Education e-book. This week, 6th and 7th-graders continued learning about atoms, elements, molecules, and compounds. They learned that there could be two types of molecules: elemental molecules (O2) and compound molecules (H2O). Students also learned that compounds could be made of two or more different elements that are chemically combined. The atoms in a compound are bonded together by strong chemical bonds, such as ionic and covalent bonds. An ionic bond is the chemical bond that happens between a metal and a non-metal element and is formed when one atom donates electrons to another to become a positively charged ion. The other type of chemical bond is the covalent bond; this happens when atoms, typically non-metals, share the valence electrons, so each atom attains a full outer shell for stability, like water (H2O).

Eighth graders continued learning about cell division. Living organisms constantly make new cells to replace old or dead cells. The new cells can replace old ones and repair damaged cells. Students learned that there are three main types of cellular division: mitosis, meiosis, and binary fission. Binary fission is an asexual reproduction that occurs in prokaryotes, where a single parent cell divides to produce two genetically identical daughter cells. They also learned that mitosis occurs in complex eukaryotes, and it is the process of cell division that produces two genetically identical cells. In addition, students learned that mitosis has different phases, such as interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis. Classwork supported these lessons, and at this point, students can recognize each of the phases of Mitosis. All these science lessons and new concepts are supported by classwork, videos, readings, and explanations in class, followed by weekly science articles where students can practice their critical thinking to answer the questions.

We enjoyed last week’s Grandparents and Special Friends Day and the Spring Concert! We have included pictures this week with our weekly pictures.

This week, Middle School students spent time completing sections of the ERB CTP-5  standardized test. This gives students the practical life experience of taking standardized testing, which may be part of their educational path following Fraser Woods.

Finally, this Friday, we come together as a community to celebrate the class of 2026 at 4:30 pm. Students are welcome to bring a change of clothes for the event, as it is a dressy-casual event. The program will last under an hour and conclude with cake.

Coming Up:

• MS Trip: Complete the required medical form and submit medical authorizations for medication distribution ASAP.
• Please submit the initial $500 deposit for the MS Trip that was due Monday, 4/20
• MS Musical: Willy Wonka, Jr., May 21st @ 7 pm.
• SAVE THE DATE! FAREWELL TO THE CLASS OF 2026 on Friday, May 15 @ 4:30 pm
• SAVE THE DATE! Middle School Dance on Friday, May 22nd @ 6-8 pm.
• MS ARRIVAL BEGINS AT 8 am
  

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Math

Pre-Transition: This week in Pre-Transition, students strengthened their division skills by working with the short division algorithm using both whole numbers and decimals. They practiced solving a variety of problems while building accuracy and confidence with decimal placement. Students also explored fractions and learned how to determine whether a fraction will result in a terminating or repeating decimal.

Transition: This week in Transition, students continued building their algebra skills and became masters at solving two-step equations. They practiced using inverse operations to isolate variables and solve equations. Students also began graphing linear equations by creating tables of values, helping them make connections between equations, ordered pairs, and graphs on the coordinate plane.

Algebra: This week in Algebra, students dove into Chapter 8, which focuses on exponent rules. So far, they have learned the Power of Products, Power of Powers, Quotient of Powers, and Zero Exponent rules. Students practiced applying these rules to simplify expressions involving powers and are building confidence in working with complex exponent problems.

Geometry: This week in Geometry, students wrapped up Chapter 6 and demonstrated a strong understanding of rotation symmetry, reflection symmetry, and the theorems used to prove geometric relationships and properties. Through practice, students strengthened their ability to apply these concepts to a variety of geometric figures and proofs.

Algebra II: This week, students reviewed several important concepts learned throughout the year to strengthen their foundational skills before beginning quadratic equations. This review helped students make connections between prior topics and the new material to be sure they are prepared to solve more complex problems involving parabolas, factoring, and quadratic functions.

Humanities

The 6th and 7th grade Humanities classes wrapped up their Animal Farm essay drafts by self and peer editing. It is great to watch their writing process and reflect on their progress since the fall. There has been more independence, increased writing stamina, and a better knowledge of planning and composing an essay.

8th grade had a focused week in Humanities class. They continue with their class biography of Harriet Tubman, She Came to Slay. They annotated and led a discussion on the text. Additionally, they continued their study of the amendments of the Constitution, working their way through the Reconstruction amendments (13-15). Finally, the 8th grade read and listened to excerpts of Frederick Douglas’s speech, “What to the Slave is the 4th of July?” They learned about Douglas and his relationship with Harriet Tubman in their class reading assignments this week.

Science

Middle School students continued working on lessons from the Discovery Education e-book. This week, 6th and 7th-graders continued learning about atoms, their structure, and their subatomic particles. Students learned how to use the Bohr atomic model created by Niels Bohr, where the nucleus of the atom represents Protons (+) and Neutrons (no charge) surrounded by electrons (-) traveling in shells or levels of energy. Students really enjoyed an activity where they were given a card with an unknown element’s Bohr atomic model, and they had to find out the number of subatomic particles and discover the element’s identity and its location in the periodic table. We also started talking about the periodic table and how it was organized in groups and periods.

8th graders started a new unit this week called Meiosis. We started talking about general concepts of bacterial replication and chromosomes as a general introduction to cell division. We talked about us as humans having 46 chromosomes, 23 pairs, where 22 are autosomes and 1 pair of sex chromosomes. We also talked about chromosomes, chromatin, chromatids, centromeres, and telomeres. In addition, students learned that some mistakes in cell division could lead to an extra chromosome in an embryo. Students learned about trisomy in chromosome #13 (Patau Syndrome), chromosome #18 (Edwards Syndrome), and chromosome #21 (Down Syndrome), and their general characteristics. All these lessons and new concepts are supported by classwork, videos, readings, and explanations in class, followed by weekly science articles where students can practice their critical thinking to answer the questions.

On Wednesday, April 22nd, the Middle School Community came together to support our graduating 8th graders as they presented their Expert Projects. These 10-15-minute presentations were a wonderful representation of the research they have been doing since early January. Additionally, students wrote a research essay using interviews they completed with experts in the field as a resource. The 8th-grade students should be proud of their hard work and dedication to their projects. Bravo!

They presented the following topics:

• Camden: Blitzkrieg: The Tactic that Reinvented Warfare
• Aryan: The Memory-Decision Loop
• Bennett: CrossFit: Redefining Fitness
• Tristan: Organized Crime: Underground Groups and Markets
• Allie: Understanding the Criminal Mind

Coming Up:

• MS Trip: Complete the required medical form and submit medical authorizations for medication distribution ASAP.
• Please submit the initial $500 deposit for the MS Trip that was due Monday, 4/20
• MS Musical: Willy Wonka, Jr., May 21st @ 7 pm.
• SAVE THE DATE! FAREWELL TO THE CLASS OF 2026 on Friday, May 15 @ 4:30 pm
• SAVE THE DATE! Middle School Dance on Friday, May 22nd 
• MS ARRIVAL BEGINS AT 8 am

Humanities

6th and 7th-grade Humanities classes are wrapping up their studies of Animal Farm. Much like the animals from Manor Farm, they staged a Humanities Rebellion and overthrew Mrs. Lamb, taking control of Humanities classes. With Mrs. Lamb out of the picture, the classes had to move forward with making plans for the future of Humanities class. With those plans, they were allowed to run a class period. Mrs. Lamb enjoyed being the student and having both of the 6/7 sections as the guides. Currently, the groups are drafting literary analysis essays. Students chose from three prompts and will use examples from the novel to support their focus. The 7th-grade students will find and use direct quotations from the novel as well.

After wrapping up expert projects last week, this week was spent immersed in history. The class began reading the Constitution and learning more about its development. Using resources from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and segments from the PBS Series “Constitution USA with Peter Segal”, they are having a deeper understanding of the text and its current use. Additionally, the class began reading the biography, She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman by Erica Armstrong Dunbar.

Math

Pre-Transition: This week, students focused on the short division algorithm, strengthening their ability to divide multi-digit numbers efficiently. They practiced breaking down division problems into manageable steps. Students worked on both independent problems and guided examples to build confidence.

Transition: This week, students continued practicing solving one- and two-step equations to find the value of a variable. They focused on using inverse operations and checking their answers to make sure they were correct. Later in the week, students were introduced to graphing linear equations by creating a table of values. They learned how to choose input values, find the corresponding outputs, and plot the points on a coordinate plane to see the line’s pattern.

Algebra: This week, students wrapped up Chapter 6 by reviewing and taking the Chapter 6 assessment, which demonstrated their understanding of all concepts related to slope. They worked with concepts like finding slope from graphs, tables, and equations, and interpreting what slope means in real-world situations. At the end of the week, students began previewing Chapter 8, which covers exponent properties and how to simplify expressions using exponents.

Geometry: This week, students learned about reflection and rotation of symmetric figures. They explored how shapes can be flipped over a line (reflection) or turned around a point (rotation) while still maintaining their size and shape. Students practiced identifying lines of symmetry and determining how many times a figure can be rotated onto itself. They worked with a variety of shapes to better understand how symmetry appears in different figures.

 Algebra II: This week, students reviewed key concepts from Chapter 5 and then took the Chapter 5 assessment to show their understanding. After completing the test, they began Chapter 6, where they were introduced to quadratic equations. Students began exploring what makes an equation quadratic and examined the basic form, beginning to understand how these equations create parabolas when graphed.

Middle School certainly felt the heat this week! With all of the running around outside, classes sometimes meeting outside, and outdoor Community Service, please have your middle school student(s) check the weather forecast for the day before leaving home. Sweats and winter attire are not needed in 80+ degree weather. Additionally, sunscreen is encouraged with all of the additional outdoor time. Thank you for your attention to this!

Coming Up:

• 8th Grade Expert Presentations: Wednesday, 4/22 @ 6 pm
• The initial $500 deposit for the MS Trip is due Monday, 4/20
• Be on the lookout for communication regarding medical forms required for the MS trip!
• MS ARRIVAL BEGINS AT 8 am
• MS Flower Schedule
  

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Math

Pre-Transition: This week, students continued building their understanding of division. They began by exploring divisibility using arrays, which helped them visualize how numbers can be grouped and shared equally. From there, they moved into factorization, learning how numbers can be broken down into their factors and identifying multiples. Students were also introduced to prime and composite numbers, strengthening their ability to classify numbers based on their properties. To tie it all together, they practiced writing the prime factorization of a number, developing a deeper understanding of how numbers are constructed.

Science

This week, 6^th and 7^th graders continued working on their understanding of changes of matter. They worked on a hands-on project called The Tasty Phase Change Lab. Students were able to see how a mixture of cream, sugar, and vanilla extract changed its state from liquid to solid and turned into delicious ice cream. To understand the science of changes in states of matter, students used this laboratory and went through it in detail to understand the science behind it.  Students followed a procedure where they prepared the materials and measured them before starting the activity. For the first step, students created a mixture of cream, sugar, and vanilla extract in a small Ziploc bag. Then, they stored the mixture bag in a bigger bag with ice and rock salt, understanding that the function of the salt is to create a freezing point depression. Next, they dropped the freezing point of the ice from 0 ̊C to approximately -9 ̊C, causing the liquid mixture to lose heat energy quickly. This caused the molecules to slow down, get closer, and change state from liquid to solid. Students understood how the liquid mixture lost heat energy and the ice/salt mixture gained that heat energy.  Also, they could observe condensation on the outside of the plastic bag.  Students worked on formulating the experiment hypothesis, recording data, and using their critical thinking skills to come up with their conclusion. The time to see their results was 10 minutes. In addition to that, they worked on a scientific explanation using the CER framework (claim, evidence, and reasoning) about the changes in states of matter, where they used evidence from their observations and data collected from both laboratory activities, Bottle Mystery and The Tasty Phase Change Lab.

8^th Graders were also very interested in learning the science behind ice cream, so they participated in a lab to learn the changes of states of matter, following all the protocols and understanding the science behind making ice cream. Also, 8^th graders continued learning about fermentation, and they are currently working in the same laboratory activity they did virtually, comparing it with the hands-on project done in class. They will be able to point out the similarities and differences between the virtual and in-person activity. In this activity, 8^th grade students are testing variables such as the amount of sugar and the amount of yeast, knowing that the optimum water temperature is 42 ̊C. Their goal is to run three trials of each variable to find the best conditions for fermentation, measuring the production of CO2. All these lessons for middle school are supported by classwork, videos, readings, and explanations in class, followed by weekly science articles where students can practice their critical thinking to answer the questions.

Humanities

6th and 7th grade Humanities classes are just about done with Animal Farm by George Orwell. This week, they completed the anticipated “Animal Farm: Who’s Who?” activity. This classwork has the students use their notes and knowledge from history lessons surrounding the Russian Revolution to try to identify which historical figure/concept is represented by each of the characters and the setting of Animal Farm, and give the evidence supporting their answers. They did great! Additionally, the 6th and 7th grade Humanities students composed original poetry this week, surrounded by a snapshot in nature of their choosing. These pieces embody the culminating knowledge of using figurative language and imagery in writing.

8th grade Humanities classes this week surrounded their Expert Projects. Students had another round of feedback for their Expert Presentations and completed their research essay revisions. They are just about ready for their final presentations next week!

It was an active and focused week in Middle School. Props for the Musical are being designed in Makerspace, and the sounds of rehearsals of both spring concert songs and Willy Wonka songs are filling the hallways. When walking by the classroom, students are engaged in labs, books, and their classwork. This is an excellent time of year to get through material as our brain is focused with the weather inviting body breaks.

Coming Up:

• Be on the lookout for communication regarding medical forms required for the MS trip!
• 8th Grade Expert Presentations: Wednesday, 4/22 @ 6 pm
• MS ARRIVAL BEGINS AT 8 am
• MS Flower Schedule
  

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Humanities

This week in grade 6/7 Humanities classes, students reached the halfway point of Animal Farm by George Orwell. In addition to daily discussions regarding plot, they simultaneously learned about the Russian history that is being depicted in the novel. They covered the Russian Revolution of 1917, propaganda, the Bolshevik party, and the following people: Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and Joseph Stalin. Students are starting to make guesses about who/what in history represents characters in the novel. This will be an activity next week.

Grade 8 Humanities class spent some time this week on history and also their expert projects. First, students interpreted and answered questions from Thomas Jefferson’s notes regarding apportionment when deciding government structure in the new United States. Then, they learned about the time in the states following the American Revolution, which saw the newly drafted Articles of Confederation not work the way they hoped. Coupled with fast-growing populations in the states, it necessitated a new doctrine for the country. The Constitutional Convention aimed to create this.  Students will pick up with the Constitution next week. Additionally, 8th-grade students delivered their expert presentations for a first round of feedback. Some were even able to revise and deliver a second time. It is exciting to see these months-long projects come to life!

Science

Middle School students continued working with the lessons from the Discovery Education e-book. This week, 6^th and 7^th graders continued working on their understanding of changes of matter. They worked on a hands-on project called Mystery Bottle. Students were able to see how water changed its state from liquid to gas and store it in capped plastic bottles. They got two bottles: one was left on the counter, exposed to cool down at room temperature, and the other was submerged in a bucket of cold water. Students worked on formulating the experiment’s hypothesis, recording data, and using their critical thinking skills to come to a conclusion. They were able to see that as the water in the bottle cooled down or lost heat energy, the shape of the bottle was being compressed. This was due to the water molecules being condensed and needing less space, causing a drop in the internal pressure. After 15 minutes, when the observation ended, the plastic bottle was completely compressed as a result of the higher atmospheric pressure than the enclosed system pressure.

On the other hand, 8^th Graders continued learning about Cellular Respiration and Fermentation and their importance in our lives. This week, they were learning how the process of fermentation works. They worked in a virtual laboratory to investigate how yeast works and what its function is when making bread. In this virtual laboratory, they had a mission: to solve why a bread recipe turned out flat in the Rocky Mountains (at a higher altitude and lower atmospheric pressure). Students had to test variables such as the amount of sugar, water temperature, and altitude. They had to run multiple trials to find the best conditions for the fermentation of the dough. In addition to that, they had to find a scientific explanation with their evidence for all the multiple possible reasons that could cause the bread to be flat. All these lessons are supported by classwork, videos, readings, and explanations in class as well as weekly science articles where students can practice their critical thinking to answer the questions.

Math

Pre-Transition: This week in Pre-Transition, students began Chapter 7. They reviewed key division vocabulary, including divisor, dividend, quotient, and remainder. Students also refreshed their understanding of multiplying positive and negative numbers, revisited related division facts, and reviewed the rate factor for multiplication.

We are excited for this year’s Middle School Trip to Washington, D.C.! The trip is designed to be educational, fun, and a bonding experience for our middle school group. This is where many memories are made, and it also allows students to come out of their comfort zones. They are able to rely on each other differently than they would in the classroom and experience independence away from home. Please review the trip communication for more information and important dates related to the trip.

Announcements:

• Please RSVP for the MS Trip to Washington, D.C. using this form
• Trip Communication can be viewed in MS Resources
• 8th Grade Expert Presentations: Wednesday, 4/22 @ 6 pm
• MS ARRIVAL BEGINS AT 8 am
• MS Flower Schedule
  

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Humanities

Grade 6 and 7 Humanities classes had a great week. They finished their overview of World War I and began learning about Russian History during the same time period. They also began learning about the political economic systems of capitalism, socialism, and communism in order to better understand their latest novel, Animal Farm by George Orwell. Students read the first couple of chapters of this allegory and completed some accompanying comprehension questions. Additionally, students read and wrote their own children’s poetry this week for our weekly poetry lesson.

8th grade Humanities class finished up the American Revolution and backtracked a bit to learn about the two meetings of the Continental Congress that led to the formation of the initial government of the USA. They learned about apportionment and also read some of the Articles of Confederation. Separately, students are completing the presentation portion of their Expert Projects and will have their first round of feedback on Tuesday.

Math

Pre-Transition: Students wrapped up Chapter 6 this week, focusing on multiplying percents by numbers as well as multiplying mixed numbers. To reinforce these skills, they completed the Chapter 6 self-test and participated in a review game to practice key concepts covered in this chapter. Students will take the Chapter 6 Assessment on Monday, April 6th.

Transition: Students completed Chapter 6, where they were introduced to key concepts in geometric transformations. To wrap up the chapter, students explored the properties of parallelograms and the triangle sum theorem, and they learned how to calculate the distance between two points on a coordinate plane. To prepare for the assessment, students completed the Chapter 6 self-test and participated in a review game to reinforce their understanding. They will take the Chapter 6 test on Monday, April 6th.

Algebra: After finishing Chapter 5 and using the self-test as a study tool, Algebra students reinforced their understanding by playing a review game. They then demonstrated their learning by taking the Chapter 5 test. The week closed out with an introduction to Chapter 6, “Slopes and Lines.” Students explored the concept of slope, also known as the rate of change, and learned the formula for calculating the slope of a line using two points.

Geometry: This week, the Geometry class wrapped up Chapter 5 by exploring the sums of angle measures in polygons. Students are now able to apply the triangle-sum, quadrilateral-sum, and polygon-sum theorems to determine unknown angle measures. They also practiced using the exterior angle theorem to solve problems involving triangle angles and learned how to draw auxiliary figures to support their proofs. The week ended with the Chapter 5 self-test, and students will take the Chapter 5 test on Monday, April 6th.

Science

Middle School students continued working with the lessons from the Discovery Education e-book. This week, 6^th and 7^th graders continued working on their understanding of changes of matter. They worked on virtual lab sessions about different substances changing their state of matter, testing their variables, and discovering that each substance has a different boiling, freezing, and melting point. They also worked on finding examples of sublimation (change of state from solid to gas) and deposition (change of state from gas to solid). They conducted research and used reliable sources, helping them to explain their thinking.

8^th Graders continued learning about respiration and cellular respiration and their importance for all living organisms. They are learning how glucose is broken down slowly and regulated by enzymes in aerobic and anaerobic respiration, following multiple steps that allow them to produce the energy (ATP) needed by a cell from a living organism. Additionally, students learned about the latest NASA mission, Artemis II , the first crewed mission to fly around the moon in 53 years, making a very important test of the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS). This mission will be in orbit for 10 days, carrying important scientific studies to improve and help medical studies, explore the deep space environment, and test critical life support, navigation, and human spacecraft interaction away from Earth. Students were able to see the launch of the Orion spacecraft. They enjoyed watching it and showed a lot of interest in this topic. All of these lessons are supported by classwork, videos, readings, and explanations in class, followed up with weekly science articles where students can practice their critical thinking to answer the questions.

Happy spring, and welcome back to the middle school students! It was a great week of learning and being outside. Finally feeling warmer temperatures, the middle school ate lunch outside for most of the week.

Announcements:

• 8th Grade Expert Presentations: Wednesday, 4/22 @ 6 pm
• MS ARRIVAL BEGINS AT 8 am
• MS Flower Schedule

Math

Pre-Transition: It was a great first week back from spring break! Students began the week by reviewing key concepts from Chapter 6 to refresh their understanding and build confidence. From there, they continued their learning by working with exponents, including calculating values and rewriting numbers in expanded form. Students also practiced multiplying decimals without the use of a calculator, strengthening their number sense and accuracy. In addition, they explored how to find the percent of a number, applying this skill to a variety of problems.

Humanities

The 6th and 7th-grade classes had a busy start to the trimester. They first completed a writing assessment to start the trimester by responding in essay form to a prompt of their choosing. Then, the classes dove into their unit, Powerful European Leaders. Beginning with a discussion about what they feel are important qualities of a great leader, they created a class list. Then, they chose two of these qualities to highlight and expand upon in a piece of writing. Students also completed a current political map of the continent of Europe. Finally, the class spent time investigating significant events, people, places, and outcomes of WWI. Next week, they will hone in on Russia’s Revolution of 1917 and begin reading George Orwell’s allegory, Animal Farm.

The 8th grade also had a busy start to the trimester. Their expert research paper drafts were due on Friday, so they spent some time editing, formatting, and finishing these. Additionally, the class delivered brief presentations of the research they completed before the break on the causes of the American Revolution. Then, they began learning about key events in the American Revolution as well as the involvement of both enslaved and freed people of African descent in the war.

Science

Wow! What a great (and busy) week before break for the Middle School.

6th and 7th-grade students presented the culmination of a 5-week research project surrounding the theme, A Moment in History. Students gave 5-6 minute presentations about a time or event of historical significance that they chose to research, which contained interesting graphics, research, and multimedia. The evening was a big success, and all of the students should be proud of the work they did preparing and the bravery they showed in delivering a presentation of this scope.

Also, 8th-grade students finalized their research for this year’s Expert Project. Additionally, some have completed interviews with their experts or will be completing them over the break. The 8th-grade class has been working hard on these projects since our return from winter break and looks forward to presenting on April 22nd!

We hope you and your family have a rejuvenating two weeks. We look forward to welcoming you back to school on Monday, 3/23.