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Middle School Matters – Jan 25, 2019 January 25th, 2019

General Announcements

Reminder: No School on Mon, Jan 28

Jasmine's Closet: Thank you to all who donated a dress or two to Jasmine’s Closet! We have around 15 gently used dresses to choose from. Please come check them out in the back conference room to see if your daughter could wear one for the Daddy/Daughter Dance. If one of them works, please take it at no charge! Here’s to a special night for our girls and their daddies.

Fifth Grade:

Top Secret (sshhhhhh): 5th graders don’t know about this yet and we would like to keep it a secret until Tuesday. While the 6th-8th graders participate in “Explore” classes next week, the fifth graders will have a theme week in which they will have the opportunity to UNCOVER some  MYSTERIES in each of their classes as well as DISCOVER their IDENTITY in CHRIST. 

Also, if you have a trench coat that you would be willing to lend a teacher next week, please email Bethany Koetje in advance!

Hot lunch will be available to 5th graders as usual this week. Please note that the lunch served on Jan 29 will be a make-up of the menu scheduled from Jan 15.

Pencils: Many students are running low on pencils. Please check in with your child and provide them with a few boxes of pencils so that they can be prepared for class.

SEED Market: Please keep working with your child on SEED market projects. The market is Feb 13 from 2:00-4:00pm. Here is a copy of the information sheet that was sent home and signed. SEED money and approval information was sent home with your child today - please check their binder! Thank you for your support in this project. Please direct questions to Anika Slauer or Jessica Reidsma.

Reproductive Education: A reminder that at the end of May, after Spring Camp, the 5th grade team plans to begin a short unit on Reproductive Education. Miss Slauer and Mrs. Reidsma will be meeting with the girls while Mr. Hoo will be meeting with the boys. In addition to going over the physical aspects of puberty, we plan to include discussions on God’s design for our bodies and reproduction, as well as treating our bodies with dignity and respect. Please have a conversation with your child before we have this conversation at school. If any parent would like more information, let one of us know and we would be happy to talk with you.

Band: All band students will meet BOTH Tuesday and Thursday Jan 29 and 31. All instruments are needed both days. Yay band!

Orchestra: ALL string players will meet both Tues and Thurs, Jan 29 and 31 so all instruments need to be at school on those 2 days! We will have fun reviewing all of our first 100 pieces of our books.

Spanish: Students will have one Spanish class on Wednesday.  We will review and take a quiz over our story: “El chico que juega golf.” Go to Moodle for more info and a Quizlet link.

Sixth Grade, Seventh & Eighth Grade Exploratory News

No hot lunch this week for 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade: Due to the unique schedule of Exploratory Week, 6-8th grade will not be able to order Hot Lunch this week. Please be sure to send your students with a sack lunch each day.  Thanks.

Missing Work: One of the great things about Exploratory Week is that there won’t be any new homework.  However, this is a GREAT week for students to spend some time at home getting caught up with any late work. Students should check PowerSchool to see if any work is missing and then get it done.  

3D Printing: Next week Mr. Musch and I are really excited to join you in designing and printing 3D creations.

  • You will need your laptop (charged) each day
  • We will use tinkercad as our design tool. 
  • You will design a luggage tag for your laptop
  • You will design something you dream up.
  • The items need to be pretty small - 4” x 4” or smaller
  • Send an email to Mr. Kiser and Mr. Musch before Monday with an idea of something you think we could design and print.   

Bowling: Be ready to bowl! We are going to have a great time bowling at Eastbrook Lanes. If you have your own bowling ball and shoes, feel free to bring them along.

Construction Trades: We are going to have so much fun building a couple little houses.

  • Each day for session 3 (right after lunch) you will meet Mr. Bill in the bus garage.
  • The bus garage is heated, but not as warm as school (approx 60º). 
  • Please wear work clothes.
  • Bring a hammer and tape measure in you have one.

Creative Games: We will be meeting in the south gym (the one with the stage). We’ll be moving around quite a bit over our 4 days of games, so please be sure to bring appropriate gym clothes. There are drinking fountains in the gym, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a water bottle (just water, please, to avoid sticky spills).

Culinary Arts:  For Tuesday, please make sure that your baking group has all of the following supplies here at school. Thanks!

  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 small mixing bowl
  • 1 potato masher
  • 1 rubber spatula
  • 1 fine-mesh strainer (for sifting dry ingredients; this is great if we can get these but if not, they aren't strictly necessary)
  • 1 set measuring cups
  • 1 set measuring spoons
  • 1 spring-loaded scoop (like an ice cream scoop)
  • 2 standard-size 12-count muffin tins

Digital Photography: We will be spending time indoors/outdoors and travelling around Grand Rapids/Ada to take pictures and develop our photography skills! Students will need their computer, camera, a cord to transfer pictures, and warm clothes. :)

Film Study: We are watching “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” on Tuesday.  We will follow up with discussion on Wednesday. Thursday we will watch “Prince Caspian.”s  We will follow up with discussion and an artistic reflection. No materials necessary although students may bring their prefered art supplies.  Students may also bring a blanket and slippers for our viewing time. Popcorn will be provided as well as basic art materials.

MVP: Students should bring normal PE clothes for this activity and a water bottle.

Outdoor Adventures: Please come prepared to spend a significant amount of time outside each day. Our schedule for the week is as follows: Tuesday: Snowshoeing, Wednesday and Thursday: Cannonsburg, Friday: Ice skating at Rosa Parks Circle. An email will be sent out to students this weekend with more details.

OE with Mr. Hoo: Come dressed to work outside.  Good boots, snow pants, gloves, and a hat are helpful.  

Rock Climbing: During the week we will be traveling to Inside Moves and Higher Ground. Students should wear normal PE clothes for this activity. Please be sure to bring your lunch and water bottle with you each day as we will eat at the climbing center.  

Scrapbooking: Remember to bring a scrapbook,  acid-free scrapbook paper, pictures, double-sided tape, and whatever embellishments (stickers, pens, etc) you might want to add to your scrapbook!

Soccer: Please be sure to bring your soccer gear for this activity

So You Dance?: Please be sure to wear comfortable clothing that you can easily move around in!

Strategy Games: Get ready to have fun playing old and new games that will test your wits and will! We will be meeting in Mr. Huttenga’s room on Tuesday to start, but every day after that we will meet in the MS student lounge.

Stop Motion: Come ready to make some fun and creative stop motion films this week. We will use school iPads and an app called Stop Motion Studio.

Yearbook: Please make sure that you bring your laptops to school each day and that they are charged.