General Announcements
2021-2022 Sports Physical: All 5th, 6th, and 7th graders must have a Physical Examination Clearance Form before they can participate in sports for the 2021-2022 school year. Your student came home with the forms this week. If you have any questions, please contact Casey Meyaard at gro.naitsirhcada@draayemc
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 by Tues, Mar 23
When:
7:45am-3:15pm Wed, March 17
7:45am-3:15pm Thurs, March 18
7:45am-9:00am Fri, March 19
Where: The bus will be at the front of school during these times. Students can enter the front of the bus, drop off the books, and exit through the back of the bus.
What: We’re welcoming all gently used (or new) books for children from birth through 8th grade. Board books, picture books, easy reader books, beginning chapter books, middle grade books, graphic novels, non-fiction...we’d love them all! Books featuring people of color or written in Spanish are especially desired.
Why: 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.
Let's fill the bus!
5th Grade
Art: 5th graders started learning about George Seurat and Pointillism. Students do have some homework to do before next week’s art class in Google classroom.
Bible: This week students learned about and illustrated a number of teachings of Jesus. Students also took the Beatitudes quiz. Next week we will begin to talk about parables.
History: We began our Road to Revolution unit! We will continue to learn about the events that led to the American Revolution next week.
Language Arts: This week we finished the first drafts of our B.O.B. persuasive letters, revised with partners, and started the editing process. The final draft of the letter will be due Thurs, Mar 18.
Music - Band: Your student can give you a special Easter Concert - they have pages of songs to share. Enjoy - email me (gro.naitsirhcada@droonnavn) if you got to hear a concert - it’s worth a grade and points for them if they perform for you and it will be a blessing to hear them play Lent/Easter songs for you!
Music - Choir: We started to hear our Beethoven number from the Symphony this week...also drilled a little note reading and also rhythms.
Music - Orchestra: The 5th grade orchestra students continue to work in their Essential Elements Book 1. This week they continued playing short songs using mixed finger patterns. They continued to review Rigadoon using a faster tempo as well as well as to expand their work on Sword Dance. This week and last week they worked very hard on their playing posture and podium etiquette. Suggested practice: : First Scale March, Rigadoon and Sword Dance
Check in on their March practice card
PE: We have just wrapped up playing pickleball and will be moving on to badminton next week!
Science: We are studying living systems on Earth. This week, we began a compost investigation in partnership with Mr. Sportel.
6th Grade
Art: 6th graders have one more class period to complete piecing together the torn watercolor landscapes. Students will also be creating artist statements for these projects as well. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.
Bible: This week we wrapped up Paul’s second journey with a quiz. Students also completed their 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Bible memory quiz. Next up - journey three!
History: The sixth graders have been working hard to complete their research packets for World Fair! Their completed packets are due on Mon, Mar 15. Next, in social studies, we will begin our unit on ancient Greece!
Language Arts: This past week we finished up our Culture Poems and started writing informative paragraphs about our World Fair countries. The sixth graders are using their research from social studies to write these paragraphs. The first draft of the Land and Climate paragraph is due on Mon, Mar 15.
Music - Band: We are in our new book. EVERY WEEK there are songs to practice in the book - always! We also have some new music: Majestica, Easter Songs, Crown Point….and more.
Music - Choir: We continue with The Sound of Music! And singing…..go us!
Music - Orchestra: This week in 6th grade orchestra we worked in our Essential Elements Book 2, pasture and podium etiquette. They worked on strengthening their tone in the pizzicato sections of Dragon Hunter. They have begun working on their new piece, Eagle’s Pride. Suggested practice: El Toro, Dragon Hunter and Eagle’s Pride Google Classroom Video Assignment due Mar 21: Dragon Hunter measures 1-46
PE: We have just wrapped up playing pickleball and will be moving on to badminton next week!
Science: Students presented weather presentations this past week. We then examined the beautiful balance of the carbon cycle God has created here on Earth. We also discussed how human activities have altered the chemistry of our air and have created a situation in which Earth is warming at a faster rate than ever before. Students have great ideas for ways that we can help to make positive changes to help remedy this problem!
7th Grade
Art: 7th graders have their Lego portraits due next week Fri Mar, 18. Next up learning about artist Louise Nevelson. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.
Bible: For Bible Class we are diving into researching and learning about the different denominations of Christianity. Students are putting together a presentation about an assigned denomination to share with their class
History: As we have finished our study of World Religions centered in Asia and the Middle East, next week we introduce the study of United States history (which is the focus of 8th grade) with a study of the age of exploration that drove people to discover America in their search for Asia.
Language Arts: For the first half of the week, students will work on completing their Trouble FlipGrid projects. We will have a quiz on sentence structure.
Math - 7th Math: We began a new unit by looking at how we classify triangles and finding missing lengths. Next week we will look at area and surface area.
Math - Algebra: We will be wrapping up our chapter on factoring and FOILING next week. We have a couple more concepts to cover before we begin to review for the test. The test will be mid to late next week.
Math - Pre-Algebra: We are hitting some hard concepts this chapter and students are taking it well. We will be going slow through this chapter so that students will have multiple opportunities to practice these concepts. We looked into Desmos today, an online tool that will help us graph y=mx+b equations as a way to check our homework and experiment with line making.
Music - Band: We always work in our method book - every single week. We are also working on YMCA...Crown Point…Star Wars (tricky piece, but very cool).
Music - Choir: 1850s Presentations have begun. SO enjoyable. I am learning things myself. Ask your 7th grader what their project is about.
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. They are exploring the beginning techniques of vibrato. Suggested Practice: English Carol, Rocky Mountain Switchback and Pirates of the Caribbean -Google Classroom Video Assignment due Mar 21: Rocky Mountain Switchback measures 1-49
PE: We have just wrapped up playing pickleball and will be moving on to badminton next week!
Science: Next week we will be moving into looking at in an ideal world, how many salmon could we potentially have in the next three years, but why does this not happen?
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: Fri, Apr 16 or Fri, Apr 23 from 8:15am- 2:50pm. Space is limited, and students must register by emailing Vickie Fischer, Director of Admissions, at vfischer@grcs.org. 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 Tues, 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 have an artist statement due (print off and uploaded to Google Classroom) and their Frank Stella Family project next week Wednesday 3/17. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.
Huttenga/Homans Bible: Students are underway with the Plumb-Bob scripture reflection project. We will continue working throughout the coming week. Due dates for assignments are on the homework calendar.
History: Next we wrap up our study of the American Revolution. The poster project is due Wednesday and the test is on Thursday.
Language Arts: We have wrapped The Diary of Anne Frank. Next week students will begin brainstorming a writing project that will be tied in with art - “Milestones”. We will also begin our third and final novel study of the year, Gary Schmidt’s Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. We will have a quiz on sentence structure.
Math - Algebra: We have been FOIL-ing this week and we will move into factoring next week.
Math - Geometry: We are now learning about right triangles. We will spend time learning about the pythagorean theorem, special right triangles and trigonometry!
Math - Pre-Algebra: Students learned how to calculate the slope of a line in addition x and y intercepts. Next week students will learn how to graph slope based on a y=mx+b equation.
Music - Band: We will continue to work in our method books/sheet music as well.
Music - Choir: Ask your student to ACT for you - help them be expressive & confident!
Practice Schedule for next week: Lots of practice needed this next week- - we have only been on stage twice and need more drill and practice.
Mon Mar 15 from 3-5:00pm- 8H & 8S - Belles, Beasts, Cogsworths, Lumieres, Babettes, Mrs. Potts/Chips, Madames, Maurices
Tue Mar 16 from 3-5:00pm - 8H & 8S - Gastons, LeFous, Maurices, Silly Girls, Belles, Beasts, Mrs. Potts, Assistant Directors
Wed Mar 17 - ALL of 8S until 5:00pm (run entire show with costumes and all things)
Thurs Mar 18 - ALL of 8H until 5:00pm (run entire show with costumes and all things)
Fri Mar 19 - BOTH classes will rehearse during school. 8S might be a little late getting out at the end of the day - - (maybe 3:10)
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 with flat key signatures, now across several strings. They are continuing to work with chromatic passages and syncopated rhythms in Ragtime Dance and have run Pirates of the Caribbean a few times and are now woodshedding the piece. Suggested Practice: Mahler With a Twist, Ragtime Dance and Pirates of the Caribbean Google Classroom Video Assignment due Mar 21 Ragtime Dance measures 1-letter E
PE: We have just wrapped up playing pickleball and will be moving on to badminton next week!
Science: We are finishing our gravity and potential energy unit this week with marble runs, potential energy, and making a cumulative glogster about our learning.
Athletics
All girls basketball teams will be finishing up the season with a game on Saturday. Please have your daughter turn in their jersey to Mr. Meyaard next week.
Boys baseball is set to start the week of Mar 22. Track and Field will be starting the week after spring break. Be sure to check your emails for more updates regarding your child’s sport.