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Middle School Matters - Jan 11, 2018

General Announcements

Grade Level Announcements

General Announcements:

Dates for your calendar:

  • Jan 30-Feb 02 - 6-8 Exploratory!
  • Mar 22-23 Dessert Theatre performances

Fifth Grade:

Chicken & Goat Care Sign Up & Instructions: click to view the sign up and also the instructions for weekend animal care duties.

BOB is back! We started reading on Monday. A book list and grading scale were handed out on Mon/Tue and should have a permanent home in the Take-Home Folder. Homework for LA is to simply read. 5th graders earn a ticket for every 20 minutes that they read at home. They can earn 2 tickets per day. Please sign the ticket sheet every day. Sheets will be checked every Monday/Tuesday in order to earn a chance to win auction points from the “Greedy Grab Bag.” Ask your 5th grader about it and let Mrs. Witte know if you have questions. BOB ends on February 19.

From the library: If you are a Red Wings fan and want to encourage reading in your home, check out the reading program Red Wings for Reading. When your child reads three books recommended for their grade level, they can submit an online entry form. Every student who participates will receive a Red Wings for Reading Fan Pack and will be entered into a drawing to win a pair of Detroit Red Wings tickets to the March 31st, 2018 game. The program ends January 31 and is open to Kindergarten-5th grade students.


Art: 5th grade is working on creating coil ceramic pots.

Band: We are on page 22 of our books - soon we will be giving you a concert and celebrating our 100th song. Go, us! :) Practice records are due every Thursday.

Bible: We are finishing Pilgrim’s Progress in the next couple of weeks while starting the Jesus Project. Our first Jesus Project lesson was on baptism. The students had to reflect on how their church approaches baptism and the importance of this sacrament.

Language Arts: In LA we are learning about Opinion Writing. If your 5th grader has not picked a nonprofit organization, please pick one soon. We will be doing one short assignment next week as we study opinion/persuasive essays. Look for a “Persuasion is All Around You” sheet coming home Monday. On the sheet, students will record 2 examples of persuasion on TV, magazines or Billboards. This sheet is due next week Friday. We are taking a break from spelling lists for the month of January, so the majority of homework in LA is to read!

Math: We are finishing up our unit on multiplying and dividing decimals this week with practice on dividing decimals. The test is Tues Jan. 16 and the practice test is due Mon Jan. 15. The practice test answer key was sent in an email so that you can check your child’s work. Keep practicing math facts!

Orchestra: We are working on slurs- a new bowing technique so ask for a demonstration. We are also starting the big goal - to get to song #100 and review # 1- 100. We are planning to have a concert for you when we reach #100. Stay tuned for details.

PE: We are learning how to play a fun new game called Speedball. A combination of ultimate frisbee, soccer, and basketball. We will continue playing next week!

Science: We’re noticing the difference between Science and Engineering and are enjoying a little bit of each. Mixtures and Solutions is our current unit. We will be having a test on Investigation 1 and 2 sometime during the week of Jan 22. Look for a review guide in the coming week.

Spanish: Time ran out before Christmas, so we are finishing our Christmas booklets and luminarias. On Friday we start a new Story! What will happen with Gabi and the vacuum cleaner???

Sixth Grade:

Chicken & Goat Care Sign Up & Instructions: click to view the sign up and also the instructions for weekend animal care duties.

Devotions: Please sign up to lead our class in devotions on a Wednesday this year. Click this link for details and an opportunity to sign up.


Art: 6th graders have their self and Picasso self-portraits due next Thursday. Next up is a watercolor unit. Check the homework calendar for project due dates and homework.

Band: Time to celebrate - today we finished book 1 and had our book party - next up - - Book 2! We handed these out in class today. YAY! Great work!

Bible:  We did a little unit to celebrate EPIPHANY.  Next week we will begin looking at an overview of the Bible as a book.  First memory work, due Jan. 25: All the Books of the Bible.

History: We have been plugging away at ancient Egypt. This week discussed how Christians and Egyptians alike prepare for life after death. We also created Mummification Process diagrams, discussed the gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt, and played a trivia review game.

Language Arts: Individual spelling lists will be tested on Friday (20 words). Next week we will read through several short stories as well as take the MAP tests.

Math: Chapter 6 Test on Expression will be Thursday, Jan 18. Students should be working on the study guide and practice test.

PE: We played castle football this week and had a lot of fun with it! Next week we will dive into flag football.

Orchestra: We are getting back into the book after working on lots of sheet music. Several students are doing a great job on 200 practice minutes for free Symphony Tickets. You may earn up to 4 free tickets!  

Science: After developing a working model for magnets, we will focus on electric circuits and electromagnets next.

Spanish: Unit 4 La Universidad continues. This week we begin creating our Story about a famous person and their University experience.

Seventh Grade:

Algebra (7th): We will continue studying Chapter 8. No tests this week.

Art: 7th grade organism sign are due next week Thursday. In class we will be reviewing traditional portrait drawing and compare that to how Lego creates faces in preparation for creating Lego self-portraits. Check the homework calendar for project due dates and homework.

Band: We continue to learn new concepts and refine tone, technique and fundamentals. Practice records are due every Thursday.

Bible(Huttenga): Students are continuing to learn about Sanctification, and are representing their knowledge of the concept through poetry and artwork.

Bible(Wanner): Working on completing our study of prayer and adding an A.C.T.S. prayer to the devotionals that students wrote at the beginning of the school year. A.C.T.S. prayer rough drafts are due Monday 1/15.

History: We are continuing our study of Africa next week. We will focus on how Europe ruled over Africa, how African countries gained their independence, and some of the struggles that have happened since. We will also highlight the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Finally, I am scheduling a map quiz on identifying 30 countries in Africa next Tuesday.

Language Arts: Many of the LA periods in the coming week will involve students taking two sections of the MAP test: Reading and Language Arts (usage, conventions, etc). Students should be regularly bringing novels with them to class and reading an average of 20mins-30mins outside of school each day.

PE: We are playing a game called Speedball. A combination of ultimate frisbee, soccer, and basketball. We will continue playing next week!

Math: We will wrap up our chapter about expressions. Students will be preparing for their test that will be coming up at the end of the week.

Pre-Algebra: Chapter 6 test on Percent coming Tues, Jan 16. Next topic: Algebraic Expressions

Orchestra: We are sight reading some great new music and many students are filling out the 200 minute practice sheets for free Symphony tickets! You may earn up to 4 free tickets.

Science: We will continue investigating chemical interactions and particle movement. No tests this week.

Spanish: Unit 4 La Universidad continues. This week we begin creating our Story about a famous person and their University experience.

Eighth Grade:

NorthPointe Christian High School Info Night ("Blueprints 2018") - Jan 30, 6:45pm NorthPointe Christian High School invites you to this year's Info Night. Meet the teachers and administrators, tour the school, and choose from the breakouts that most interest you, including our new real-world learning program (NPLC) or our accelerated learning breakout. Details and RSVP available at: http://www.npchristian.org/admissions/ or by contacting Brittany Noll at: 616,942.0350 x276

Dessert Theatre is underway. Our website is: www.adachristian.org/lionking or just go to the ACS website and type Lion King into the search bar. Rehearsal schedule is at this website and will also show up on Moodle for the students as well.

GRCHS - Jan. 12 counselor visit at ACS 10:40 am


Algebra: We will review for a Chapter 7 Test on Wednesday.

Art: 8th grade is working on plastering their family shape projects. Plaster should be wrapped close to exploratories. Check the homework calendar for project due dates and homework.

Band: We continue to learn new concepts and refine tone, technique and fundamentals. Practice records are due every Thursday.

Bible(Huttenga): Students are working on a project introducing them to the birth of the Christian Church and the first 11 chapters of Acts.

Bible(Van Noord): How should we pray? What does it mean to be blessed? What are the seven woes? What is the great commission? These and other questions are being answered as we study the book of Matthew - almost done!

Geometry: We will continue to study area, perimeter and right triangles.

History: We will continue to look at Chapter 11 on how the North and South went in different directions in the early 1800s. By the end of the week we will be preparing for an upcoming test.

Language Arts: Many of the LA periods in the coming week will involve students taking two sections of the MAP test: Reading and Language Arts (usage, conventions, etc). Students should be regularly bringing novels with them to class and reading an average of 20mins-30mins outside of school each day. We will also be working a bit on the Book of Memories project.

PE: We are playing a game called Speedball. A combination of ultimate frisbee, soccer, and basketball. We will continue playing next week!

Pre-Algebra: Chapter 6 test on Percent coming Tues, Jan 16. Next topic: Algebraic Expressions

Orchestra: Our sight reading skills are awesome and we are working on more advanced pieces with shifting into other positions. Be sure to go to the St. Cecilia orchestra concerts to hear 2 of our 8th graders perform downtown( the viola solo - played by our very own 8th grade violist!)

Science: We will continue our investigation of gravity and kinetic energy. No tests this week.

Spanish: Unit 5 La Corrida de Torros. We come back to a familiar topic but continue our vocabulary building. Look for a few songs!

Athletics:

5th and 6th grade basketball end of season tournaments are coming up! All of the tournament schedules can be found at the GRACEAC Tournament Schedules link