General Announcements
Willing to Wait (5-8): ACS has expanded Willing to Wait to include grades 5 - 8. We ask that parents read the Willing to Wait parent letter and fill out the permission slip.
Stuff-a-Bus Book Drive Edition: Hello, my name is Mrs. Alphenaar and in addition to being an instructional aide at ACS, I am also an officer with the Grand Rapids Police Department Volunteer Unit. My job involves performing many tasks needed to keep the citizens of Grand Rapids safe. Last year when COVID-19 closed schools and libraries, I began to collect/purchase books to hand out to children in the city. This has been a great way for us as officers to connect with children living in Grand Rapids and to promote the importance of reading. In keeping with the March Reading Month theme, the PTO of ACS graciously approached me with the idea to create a partnership with this important police program.
Please help us fill a bus (Mar 17-19) with as many lightly used books as possible to distribute to the children in the city of Grand Rapids.
More details to come next week in the Ada Connection.
5th Grade
Art: 5th Graders will be learning about Georges Seurat and pointillism in art next week. 5th graders do need to complete an artist statement in the art google classroom by next Tues, Mar 09.
Bible: This week in Bible we took a closer look at the Beatitudes - what they mean and how we can put them into action. Matthew 5:3-12 is due Fri, Mar 12.
History: We will continue our study of the 13 colonies, focusing on the southern colonies.
Language Arts: This week we planned and drafted the body paragraphs for our B.O.B. persuasive letters. Next week we will plan and draft our conclusion paragraph, revise our letters, and edit our letters.
Math: Next week the 5th graders will have a quiz on Monday. We will then learn how to compare fractions and write fractions as decimals. The students will be receiving a review sheet early next week for a test on Fri, Mar 12.
Music - Band: We have a new packet of songs and they are sounding GREAT. Ask for a concert. Practice page 27 and 28, and all sheet music.
Music - Choir: We are making videos for the Symphony Concert we will “attend” soon.
Music - Orchestra: The 5th grade orchestra students continue to work in their Essential Elements Book 1. This week we started playing short songs using mixed finger patterns. They continue to review Rigadoon using a faster tempo as well as continuing to work on Sword Dance. February practice cards were due and they now have their March practice card. Suggested practice: First Scale March, Rigadoon and Sword Dance
PE: We will be playing racket sports until about spring break. This week we started up pickleball learning the skills and rules.
Science: Students are beginning a life science unit. We explored 4 subsystems of Earth including the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere. Although our main focus will be the biosphere, we will think about the interconnectivity of all 4 subsystems.
6th Grade
Art: 6th graders continue to work on putting together their torn watercolor landscapes. 2 more class periods remain to work on this project. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.
Bible: This week we continued our conversation on Paul’s second missionary journey. We looked at the conversion of Lydia as well as Paul and Silas’ miraculous “jail break.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 is due Fri, Mar 12.
History: Students started researching their assigned country for the World Fair Project. They will continue researching next week. A World Fair letter was sent home on Wednesday to provide parents with more information about this project.
Language Arts: This week students started brainstorming, planning, and drafting their Culture Poems. These poems will be part of the final World Fair Project. The first (printed) draft of the poem is due on Mon, Mar 08. The final (printed) draft of the poem is due on Wed, Mar 10. Digital copies of the directions and rubric are available on Google Classroom.
Math: Next week the 6th graders will have a quiz on Monday. We will then learn about inequalities and how to graph them. The students will be receiving a review sheet early next week for a test on Fri, Mar 12).
Music - Band: We have one of our new books and will begin to work through it. We also have new songs, including Crown Point and a song packet to practice as well.
Music - Choir: We will continue to watch The Sound of Music, and learn the songs from it.
Music - Orchestra: This week in 6th grade orchestra we worked in our Essential Elements Book 2. This week they worked playing short songs in D major using more challenging bowing patterns. They also worked on speeding up their tempo and on the pizzicato sections of Dragon Hunter. They received a new piece, Eagle’s Pride. Suggested practice: El Toro, Dragon Hunter and Eagle’s Pride Google Classroom Video Assignment due 3/21: Dragon Hunter measures 1-46
PE: We will be playing racket sports until about spring break. This week we started up pickleball learning the skills and rules.
Science: 6th Graders became meteorologists this past week and will present a weather report to the class this coming week for a particular location in the U.S.
7th Grade
Art: 7th graders are nearing the end of the Lego self-portrait project and a final due date will be given next week. If students are behind they are welcome to come at lunch recess or before/after school to work on and complete this painting. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.
Bible: We are researching Bible verses and writing about them for the sermons final in Bible class. The final paper will most likely be due on Tues/Wed of next week. After we wrap up this unit we will start into an overview of the different denominations and the sacraments that are upheld in services.
History: We are studying World Religions. In particular, we are looking at their Worldviews and how religious beliefs affect lives and cultures. We have learned about Hinduism and Buddhism and next week we look at Islam. We will spend time comparing the worldviews using the Christian worldview as a baseline. Test later next week.
Language Arts: By the time you read this, we will be done with the book Trouble! Next week we will have a quiz on clauses and sentence structure.
Math - 7th Math: We finished up our unit on equations and inequalities this past week. Next week we’ll begin looking at geometric figures - specifically triangles and how we classify them.
Math - Algebra: We will continue to learn about polynomial equations and factoring. There will be a quiz on Monday on chapter 7 sections 1-4.
Math - Pre-Algebra: In Pre-Algebra we are beginning Chapter 9 on functions This is the hardest chapter of the year so we will be taking it slow. In this chapter students will learn about slope, y intercept form, and solving functions through graphing and substitution.
Music - Band: We had a quiz this week on Lisbon Bay. Keep working through the method book - also practice Crown Point and YMCA. We also participated with kindergarten in I is for Instrument this week.
Music - Orchestra: This week the 7th grade orchestra students worked out of their Essential Elements Book 2. They are currently working on a longer two part song using more advanced bowings and complex rhythms. Suggested Practice: English Carol, Rocky Mountain Switchback and Pirates of the Caribbean -Google Classroom Video Assignment due 3/21: Rocky Mountain Switchback measures 1-49
PE: We will be playing racket sports until about spring break. This week we started up pickleball learning the skills and rules.
Science: This week we have looked into producers, photosynthesis, sap, and food. We are tracing the energy from the sun to us to figure out how exactly we get energy when we eat.
8th Grade
Graduation Letter: Please read this letter with details about graduation.
Lowell High School Enrollment: If your 8th grader is thinking about attending Lowell high school next year, please review this enrollment/orientation information, complete the enrollment form and make an appointment with the Counseling Office to request courses and take a tour.
GRCHS 8th Grade Visit Opportunities: Friday, Apr 16 or Friday, Apr 23 from 8:15am- 2:50pm. Space is limited, and students must register by emailing Vickie Fischer, Director of Admissions, at gro.scrg@rehcsifv. Students will have the opportunity to explore high school life while they:
- Survey 4 classes
- Learn more about electives
- Connect with current students
- Tour campus
- Experience lunch
GRCHS Enrollment - Welcome Class of 2025!
Ada Christian 8th Grade Students that plan to attend Grand Rapids Christian High School in 2021-2022, need only complete the Continuous Enrollment Contract to secure their spot. It is that easy! If you still need to complete course scheduling for 9th grade, we invite you to attend an additional 8th Grade Scheduling Night on Tuesday, Mar 16 at 7:00 PM at GRCHS. Please email Jill Anderson (gro.scrg@nosrednaj) in the Counseling Office to RSVP. If you have questions about the enrollment process or the transition to high school, please contact Vickie Fischer, Director of Admissions, at either 616-574-5605 or vfischer@grcs.org.
Art: 8th graders are continuing work on their family shape project by painting. 1 more planned class for painting remains and a final project due date will be given next week. If students are behind they are welcome to come at lunch recess or before/after school to work on and complete this painting. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.
Huttenga/Sloterbeek/Homans Bible: As the 3rd trimester begins, so does a new format to Bible. Per tradition, the entire 8th grade class will be having Bible class “together” as they begin the Plumb-Bob project under the dual instruction of Mr. Huttenga and Mrs. Homans. During 1st hour we will typically meet together in the commons so that we can maintain an appropriate distance. Once the project is underway, students will be able to work more independently in assigned “zones”.
History: This past week we began studying the American Revolution, especially the Declaration of Independence. Next week we study the Revolutionary War.
Language Arts: This week we will have a small quiz on clauses and sentence structure. Now that we’ve finished The Diary of Anne Frank, we will be working through an activity using previous work to articulate/demonstrate the major characteristic changes of Anne throughout the story.
Math - Algebra: We finished up Ch 6-Exponents this week and are moving into FOIL-ing and factoring in Ch 7.
Math - Geometry: We will be wrapping up chapter 8 with a test on Tuesday and then we will spend a bit of time reviewing before jumping into chapter 9.
Math - Pre-Algebra: We began our chapter on functions this week by learning about what functions are and deepening our understanding of independent and dependent variables. Next week we will begin writing and solving functions.
Music - Band: We had a quiz on a Scott Joplin Rag this week, also we are learning a number of new pieces including a medley from Star Wars.
Music - Choir: We need to ALL be practicing our musical songs and lines - the show is THIS MONTH!
Tue, Mar 23 - 8H evening performance
Fri, Mar 26 - 8S evening performance
Practice this week:
Fri, Mar 05 - On stage, 8H until 5:00pm (mics and stage for the first time!)
Wed, Mar 10 - On stage, 8H until 5:00pm (*hopefully with some costumes!)
Fri, Mar 12 - On stage, 8S until 5:00pm (*hopefully with some costumes!)
Music - Orchestra: This week the 8th grade orchestra students continued learning about playing their instruments in 3rd position. In their book, Essential Techniques for Strings (3), they continued to explore short songs using third position in keys written using flat key signatures.They are working with chromatic passages and syncopated rhythms in Ragtime Dance and have finished their first run of Pirates of the Caribbean Suggested Practice: Mahler With a Twist, Ragtime Dance and Pirates of the Caribbean Google Classroom Video Assignment due 3/21 Ragtime Dance measures 1-letter E
PE: We will be playing racket sports until about spring break. This week we started up pickleball learning the skills and rules.
Science: We have spent time learning about gravity and Newton’s laws. We will continue applying these next week and be looking into the law of conservation of energy.
Athletics
ACS Spring Sport Sign-ups close today, Fri, Mar 05. Please get your son/daughter signed up. After sign-ups close, please contact Casey Meyaard to see if there is still room on the team roster.
Specific teams details such as coach information and practice times will be sent out to each team early next week.