It’s been a beautiful week in Middle School. The students are settling more into their routines and getting used to the schedule. After school sports have started as well, and the foliage around the field is starting to turn. The students also participated in their first Community Service period of the year and spent time in the classrooms of their younger peers. We are looking forward to a few events next week (see below).

Here are a few reminders:

• Drop off for Middle School students begins at 8 am. 
• 9/24: RESCHEDULED High School Placement Meeting for 8th grade families at 8:15am
• 9/26: Curriculum Night at 5:30 pm
• 9/27: Field Trip to the Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport. Full school day. Bus transportation to and from the Adventure Park. Please complete a required waiver form for your child/children.

Humanities

6th-grade Humanities classes are easing into the year. Students have just completed their summer reading presentations to the class. They have learned how to load their work into Google Classroom; some utilized the Chromecast, and they were excited to use the remote clicker (and learning to resist the urge to shine the laser pointer in the classroom). The 6th grade has also begun their identity maps that all middle school students complete at the start of the year, visualizing what it is about themselves that they want their school community to know about them in the 24-25 school year. Finally, the class is learning how to listen and speak to each other respectfully, which is the first step in forming a safe space for communication in the classroom.

7th-grade Humanities classes are moving quickly through the material! They began the year by giving their summer reading presentations to the class and selecting articles for their first current events presentations. Additionally, they began their unit about China. First, the class completed a map of China’s provinces and major rivers. Then, they watched a Geography Now! video about China, which provided more information about the landscape, political geography, and the variety of diverse people within China. The class began their first novel, Ties That Bind, Ties That Break, by Lensey Namioka, which follows a young Chinese girl through the fall of the last dynasty and cultural revolution. Finally, they are working on their 2024-25 identity maps.

The 8th-grade Humanities classes began the year by delivering their fiction and nonfiction summer reading presentations. Next, they began their exploration into multicultural American history with a discussion about American identity. They began reading Ronald Takaki’s book, A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America. Next, they talked about the importance of the land, imagining what the country looked like both before European Colonization and at the time of its independence. Many preconceived ideas of the landscape and borders were brought to light. Finally, the students completed research and presentations about Pre-Contact American Civilizations. In addition, 8th-grade students are working on their 2024-25 identity maps.

Science

It has been a great start to the year in Science classes. Ms. Pickard has enjoyed getting to know the MS students and learning about their interests in class. This week, all Middle School students completed a lab safety worksheet to prepare for other experiments. In addition, students asked the question, “Is listening to music beneficial to test scores?” and came up with hypotheses as a group. The students also completed work about the fundamentals of a proper lab report and how to format their writing.

Math

Pre-Transition This week students started to work with the UCSMP textbook and are learning how to use this new resource. They started our learning with Chapter 1 and managed to go through the first three lessons all together. Students discovered how to write word names for decimals, classify values in the number system, use fractions to divide line segments and use different measuring tools to find the exact length of objects in our classroom. 

What a wonderful week for the Middle School! It has been wonderful to see our new group of students and teachers all together. We have been enjoying our spaces inside the school as well as the new turf field (and even the new patio out front). Classes are learning about what’s ahead and developing goals for the year. We are revving to go, and getting into our rhythm is feeling so nice as we form this new group.

A few items coming up:

• 9/24: RESCHEDULED High School Placement Meeting for 8th grade families at 8:15am
• 9/26: Curriculum Night at 5:30 pm
• 9/27: Field Trip to the Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport. Full school day. Bus transportation to and from the Adventure Park. Please complete a required waiver form for your child/children.

Dismissal Reminder
Thank you for adhering to your assigned arrival and dismissal times to help arrival and dismissal run smoothly and to reduce your time waiting in line. 

• Toddler: arrival-8:30, dismissal-2:45
• Primary: arrival-8:20, dismissal-3:00
• Elementary: arrival-8:10, dismissal-3:10
• Middle School: arrival-8:00, dismissal-3:10

Families with children at multiple levels can arrive at the oldest child’s arrival time and dismissal time.

Please form only one line in the morning when dropping off, leaving the left lane open for toddler families to pull through.

In the afternoon, please form only one line on the left before 3:00, leaving the right lane open for toddler families to pull through. Starting at 3:00, form two lines. 

Well, Middle School Families, the 2023-24 year has come to an end. What a busy and memorable last week we had! From the trip last week to Spirit Week to the Farewell celebration, and then finally, commencement, it has been one for the books.

Last week, we traveled to Boston and had an amazing trip filled with activities. Traveling to Boston on the Amtrak was relaxing and quick. Once we arrived, we checked into our centrally located hotel and embarked on our three-day journey. Click here to view the trip photos: FWM 2024 Boston. Here is a list of all we did:

• Museum of Science
• Meals at Faneuil Hall
• Shopping in Quincy Market
• Ghosts & Graveyards Historic Tour
• New England Aquarium
• Boston Tea Party Historical Tour & Reenactment
• Red Sox Game
• Kayak Tour of the Charles River
• Student-led Tour of the Freedom Trail

This week, in addition to Spirit Week, we began a new tradition for our graduating class: Farewell to the Class of 2024! This event was completely planned and run by the 6th and 7th  grade class. They read a speech they wrote, gave out awards, and recited a poem. Additionally, the 8th grade was surprised with a slideshow highlighting them over the years. Everyone ate cake and had a beautiful goodbye.

Commencement was another memorable event. Graduates and teacher read speeches highlighting the experiences of the graduating class over their time at Fraser Woods. Tears were shed, diplomas were distributed, and it was a lovely evening overall. Click here to see Commencement 2024 Photos

We hope everyone has a beautiful summer. Look out rising 7th and 8th graders for summer materials including Humanities reading requirements.

Thank you to the Middle School Families. Your unwavering support throughout the year makes everything run smoothly. We make a great team.

Until next year,

Michelle & Zak

It was a wonderful evening listening to the graduating class of 2024 present their research project to families and students in our community. The topics were as follows:

**REMINDER: 8th Grade Expert Project Presentations are next Wednesday, 5/22 at 6 pm in the Commons**

**REMINDER: Spring Concert and End of Year Picnic next Friday, 5/24. Drop off for kids @ 5pm, concert @ 5:30**

What an exciting time of year! This week were the culminating project presentations for Independent Study and Science Fair.

In Independent Study, 6th and 7th grade students wrote project proposals at the start of the trimester for something they would like to study, build, or showcase. There were a variety of topics including building a raised bed and growing carrots, building a March Madness bracket, and creating the plan for a historical non-fiction book. This week, students presented their work to their classmates.

This week, both the 6th-year Earth Science and 7th-year Physical Science students completed their research and preparation for their science fair topics and poster boards. The main goal of this science fair was to spark curiosity in a topic of their choice, identify a question or problem related to that topic, and carry out a scientific investigation. Each student went through the process of identifying a question or problem, formulating a hypothesis, creating a procedure, conducting the experiment or research, analyzing the data, and drawing a conclusion.

I am thrilled to see the effort and dedication each student put into this project. It was wonderful to see their interests merge with academic learning. For instance, one student explored why different colors are only visible at specific depths concerning fishing lure colors for specific fish species, while another student researched the structural components of acoustic guitars and their impact on sound.

Thank you for supporting your child throughout these projects!

Wow! A lot is happening! A larger communication will be coming out with details about the trip and other end-of-year events. For now, here is a snapshot of what is coming up:

• Wednesday, 5/15 @ 2:15 – Science Fair
• Friday, 5/17 @ 5 pm- Middle School Semiformal- Parent Assistance Sign Up
• Wednesday, 5/22 @ 6pm – 8th Grade Expert Presentations
• Friday, 5/24 @ 5 pm End of year picnic and Spring Concert
• Wednesday, 5/29- @ 8:30 am-Friday, 5/31 @ 8:30 pm – Middle School Trip to Boston
• Wednesday, 6/5 @ 5 pm  Farewell to the Class of 2024!
• Thursday, 6/6 @ 5 pm Commencement at Newtown Meeting House
• Friday, 6/7 – Last day of school, 11:30 am dismissal

In addition to attending the Farewell to the Class of 2024 on June 5th, please consider attending the 8th Grade Expert Presentations with your middle school student. It is important to our community that the students come together to support one another for these milestones.

On Thursday, we had an awesome day with 5th-grade students joining us! They were able to live a typical day-in-the-life of an FWM middle school student. We are looking forward to them joining us full-time in the fall.

Humanities

The 6th grade has been reading a new class novel, Shooting Kabul, by N.H. Senzai. This book follows an Afghani family fleeing the rule of the Taliban and coming to the United States shortly before 9/11. Students have been annotating the chapters and using those to guide daily book discussions. The class has been interested in the history and timeline of the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan. We also looked at the process for refugees and asylees looking to find safety in the United States.

The 7th-grade class finished A Gift From Childhood this week. They completed the index of proverbs and metaphors from the novel and also looked at fables. They read a few of Aesop’s fables and discussed the elements of this short genre that impart wisdom through anthropomorphic characters. Then, they chose a proverb and developed their own fables. This class has been enjoying a round of the quick geography game Worldle at the start of each class.

8th grade gave their first round of Expert Presentations this week, and each received written feedback for further revisions from Mrs. Lamb. They are well on their way towards their final presentations on May 22nd! This week, on the history side of 8th-grade Humanities, the 8th graders have been studying WWII. The rise of Fascism in Europe, the expansionism policies of Japan and Germany, and the differing political ideologies are the focus as they continue this unit.

Math

This week, pretransition math students delved into Chapter 5, where they explored the world of statistics. Students started by understanding the basics of statistics and how it helps us make sense of data. Throughout the week, they learned about different ways to represent data graphically, such as stem and leaf plots, bar graphs, histograms, and circle graphs. By studying these concepts, students gained valuable skills in organizing and interpreting data, setting a strong foundation for their future mathematical endeavors.

Transition math students who have completed Chapter 10 on Linear Equations and Inequalities are now working on Chapter 11, where they will explore Geometry in Space and Shapes. In this new chapter, students began by understanding basic concepts related to planes and points of intersection. They will then progress into representing 3-dimensional shapes on a 2-dimensional surface by creating the net shape of each object. As the chapter unfolds, students will explore topics such as surface area calculations, geometric prisms, and cylinders, expanding their knowledge and skills in geometry.

In Chapter 12 of Algebra, students are continuing their work on quadratics. This week, they began being introduced to concepts such as graphing y – k = a, mastering the technique of completing the square, and exploring the intricate process of factoring the quadratic function. From factoring an unknown variable when it equals one, to handling scenarios where A  is greater than one, students are continuing to work on unraveling the complexities of quadratic equations one concept at a time.

The geometry class is learning about surface and lateral areas of prisms, cones, pyramids, and cylinders. They are distinguishing between the many different formulas to help them calculate these areas. From the pyramids in Egypt to paint cans, the eighth grade is learning how surface area is used in the real world. They have engaged in various hands-on activities to enhance their learning.

Science

Both the 6th-grade Earth Science and 7th-grade Physical Science students have been diligently working on their science fair projects this week. They will put their hard work on display next Thursday, May 15th, from 2:15 to 3:00. They have been researching, gathering data, formulating hypotheses, drawing conclusions, and organizing their poster boards with precision. Each project aligns with the student’s current Earth or Physical Science curriculum, showcasing their dedication and passion for science.

This week in Life Science, 8th-grade students have continued working on the unit The Nervous System, with a special focus on the intricate workings of the brain. Throughout this week, students have immersed themselves in a variety of articles, honed their presentation skills through oral reports, and are currently engaging in creative ways to visually represent the distinct functions associated with each part of the brain. This hands-on approach not only enhances their understanding of neurobiology but also allows them to showcase their artistic talents.

The Middle School started the week off trying progressive muscle relaxation, a form of moving meditation to calm the body, releasing tension (seen in pictures). We also said farewell to the old field and look forward to the new one in the fall! Now that the weather is nicer, we have had lunch outside daily with plenty of time to run around and hang out with friends. We are in for a busy month ahead, so be on the lookout for upcoming informational emails about the Middle School Social on 5/17, Honoring the Class of 2024 on 6/5, and the Boston trip on 5/29-5/31! Exciting events ahead!

Here’s the week in review:

Humanities

6th-grade Humanities class has transitioned to Subcontinental Asia for their final unit of study. They learned the geography of the region and used Google Earth to explore different areas in each country. They were also curious about the demographics, especially the population, languages spoken, and religions practiced. This led nicely to our study of two of the predominant religions of Subcontinental Asia, Islam and Hinduism. We will begin our final novel, Shooting Kabul, by N.H. Senzai in the coming week.

7th-grade Humanities classes have been reading A Gift From Childhood by Baba Wague Diakite. This memoir looks at the Malian tradition of storytelling and generational life lessons using proverbs and metaphors. As students read, they use their annotations to highlight important information, ask questions, and identify the proverbs and metaphors. They are keeping an index of these figurative sayings to use for a future writing piece. Students also read about the colonization of West Africa by the French, and how European colonization throughout the continent of Africa influenced culture.

8th-grade Humanities classes have just about finished She Came to Slay. They spent some time learning about the Great Migration, an important time of history that corresponds with Harriet Tubman’s life and work. Additionally, they are working hard on their expert presentations. Students will run through them for the first round of feedback next week with Mrs. Lamb. In US history with Mr. Newman, the class is transitioning from the Gilded Age to the 1920s and The Great Depression. Many of the advancements during the Gilded Age led to prosperity and the “Roaring Twenties,” which in turn set the country up for an economic crash. The class will be studying the causes and effects of the economic crisis of the late 20s and early 30s.

Math

In the final stretch of Chapter 10, “Linear Equations and Inequalities,” Transition math students are learning about the properties of graphing with equations like Ax+By=C and inequalities such as Ax+By<C. This week, they are mastering the art of representing time-distance relationships graphically and visualizing formulas through graphs. Their next chapter (11) is titled “Geometry in Space.”

Pre-transition math students have successfully completed Chapter 9 on Area and Volume this week, expanding their understanding of geometric concepts. Moving forward, the upcoming chapter on Probability will delve into exciting new topics. Students will be introduced to fundamental principles such as the multiplication counting principle, sample spaces, probability calculations, the use of probability tree diagrams, and the concept of fair games. This new chapter will engage students in a thought-provoking exploration of mathematical probability.

In the world of Algebra, students have just wrapped up their exploration of Polynomials in Chapter 11. Now, as they embark on Chapter 12, “More Work with Quadratics,” they will discover new concepts that will deepen their understanding of quadratic equations. They will learn to graph equations in the form y-k=a(x-h)², master the skill of completing the square, and unravel the mysteries of factoring quadratic equations. This chapter promises to be a journey full of challenges and discoveries as students continue to sharpen their algebraic skills.

The eighth-grade geometry class continues to explore the facets of pyramids and cones. They can identify the apex, lateral edges, lateral faces, base edges, and slant height. They apply previously learned theorems and special right triangles to find these edges, bases, and altitudes.

Science

In 6th grade Earth Science, students are exploring the consequences of human actions on our planet. This week, the focus is on identifying various ways in which humans negatively affect the environment, such as pollution and deforestation. Students are challenged to think critically and propose sustainable alternatives that can achieve the same goals without harming nature. By exploring these concepts, students are not only learning about environmental issues but also developing crucial problem-solving skills for a more sustainable future.

In 7th grade Physical Science, students continued to work on discovering the properties of reflection as they investigated various surfaces like smooth, rough, concave, and convex. Through hands-on activities, students designed experiments to determine whether mirrors or foil would cause a greater temperature change in water when exposed to a heat lamp. Prior to the experiment, students formulated hypotheses, fostering critical thinking and scientific reasoning skills essential to the exploration of reflective surfaces.

In 8th year Life Science, students researched the role of our nervous system, unraveling its impact on our daily lives. Through research, they discovered the two primary systems that compose our nervous system—the central and peripheral nervous systems—recognizing the distinct functions each system carries out in our bodies. Additionally, students were asked to identify and present information on the three different types: motor neurons governing movement, interneurons facilitating communication between neurons, and sensory neurons responsible for transmitting sensory information to the brain.

Have a great weekend!

Another busy week!

**If your child is going on the MS trip to Boston, please make sure your health forms are in ASAP! Here are the links: