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
Annual Society Meeting: The time is fast approaching for our Annual Society Meeting. This annual meeting is where the members of the Ada Christian School Society (faculty, staff and parents of children in grades K-8) gather (digitally) to formally vote to approve the school's budget for the 2021-22 school year and elect new members to the Board.
We'll also take time to distribute Staff Service awards and to hear reports from the Principal, the Director of Advancement, and the Board. A link to a prerecorded video of the meeting will be send out on Mar 30.
Begin reviewing the information now
5th Grade
Art: 5th graders worked to draw their landscapes this week in preparation for working to add color with pointillism.
Bible: We discussed what parables are and looked at a variety of parables that Jesus shared. Matthew 6:25 is due Fri, Mar 26.
History: This week we learned about the French & Indian War, the Proclamation of 1763, the Sugar Act, and the Stamp Act. Students even participated in a simulation! We will continue to learn more about the events that led to the American Revolution next week.
Language Arts: This week we finished up our B.O.B. persuasive letters! Next week we will start our unit on biographies.
Math: The 5th graders have been learning about adding and subtracting fractions. We will continue to add and subtract mixed numbers next week by looking at recipes!
Music - Band: We have a pile of Easter and Lent songs, and our newest number is Beauty and the Beast. We also continue to practice in our method books!
Music - Choir: We have sung Irish songs - - and songs from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! And we continue to learn about instruments and the music we will hear from the Grand Rapids Symphony. We also have been voting in the March “March” Mania with the US Marine Band.
Music - Orchestra: The 5th grade orchestra students continue to work in their Essential Elements Book 1. They are working on expanding their knowledge of notes by using notes on the lower strings on their instruments. They continued to review Rigadoon using a faster tempo with dynamics. They also just finished their first week of playing through Sword Dance. Suggested practice: First Scale March, Rigadoon and Sword Dance. Check in on their March practice card
Science: We’ve created our compost environments and have been keeping close tabs on the work of our worms. We’ve noticed some pretty interesting results so far. We’re also beginning an investigation about plants and how they acquire the food that they need.
6th Grade
Art: 6th graders have their torn watercolor landscapes due next week and will be introduced to our unit on ceramics. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.
Bible: We began Paul’s 3rd missionary journey this week and students took a mini Bible memory quiz on Ephesians 6:13-14. Ephesians 6:13-17 is due Fri., Mar. 26.
History: We began our unit on ancient Greece! Students spent time learning the unit vocabulary, mapping, and exploring the geography. We will have a map quiz on Wed., Mar. 24.
Language Arts: This week we finished our Land and Climate paragraphs for World Fair, and we started our People paragraphs. Next week we will continue the revising and editing process for the People paragraph. The final draft of this paragraph is due Tues., Mar. 23.
Math: This past week we learned how to find the area of parallelograms and triangles. We needed one more day of review because finding the base or height when given the area can be quite difficult (especially when fractions and decimals are involved). Next week we will be learning how to find the area of trapezoids and composite figures.
Music - Band: We have a pile of Easter and Lent songs, and our newest number is Beauty and the Beast. We also continue to practice in our method books!
Music - Choir: We have sung Irish songs - - and songs from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! We continue to watch The Sound of Music. We also have been voting in the March “March” Mania with the US Marine Band.
Music - Orchestra: This week in 6th grade orchestra we worked in our Essential Elements Book 2. They worked on hooked bowings and students were introduced to syncopation. They are getting a much stronger tone in the pizzicato sections of Dragon Hunter. They have had several run-throughs of Eagle’s Pride and we are now working on the timing issues in certain areas of the piece. Suggested practice: El Toro, Dragon Hunter and Eagle’s Pride Google Classroom Video Assignment due Mar 21: Dragon Hunter measures 1-46
Science: We have wrapped up our weather unit and will begin a study of life science next week!
7th Grade
Art: 7th graders are engaged in working to create assemblage wood sculpture inspired by the work of Lousie Nevelson. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.
Bible: We are exploring different denominations of Christianity and the values that each denomination upholds. Students will spend time next week learning about the sacraments and the importance of those in services
History: We continue learning about the Age of Exploration, focusing on the exploration of North America and the reasons European countries competed for the land.
Language Arts: 7th graders have begun The Westing Game. They will be introduced to reading group practices next week.
Math - 7th Math: We spent some time talking about 3D figures and different types of angles and how we can solve equations to find missing measurements. Next week we’ll look at scale diagrams before ending our unit with a test near the end of the week.
Math - Algebra: We wrapped up a BIG chapter about factoring polynomials! Next week we will learn how to graph and solve quadratic equations.
Math - Pre-Algebra: We are working on mastering the slope Intercept form (y=mx+b). We have spent some time practicing how to graph equations in this format, but it is helpful for students to be practicing this at home as well. We have 1 more lesson in this chapter and then will review. It looks like we will have a test late next week or early in the following week.
Music - Band: We continue to work in our Method Books...we also are playing music from Star Wars and now Beauty and the Beast.
Music - Choir: Lots of great 1850s projects - WOW….from personal ancestry to wood chopping to baking and cooking, handcrafts and fashions, to inventions and how things were all over the world during the 1850s - so many interesting things to see and hear!!!
Music - Orchestra: This week the 7th grade orchestra students worked out of their Essential Elements Book 2. They are currently working at the end of the book on longer multi-part songs. They are beginning to work on the second half of Rocky Mountain Switchback and are putting together the first quarter of Pirates of the Caribbean. 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
Science: We are finishing up our populations and ecosystems unit by looking at invasive species.
8th Grade
Graduation Letter: Please read this letter with details about graduation.
Art: 8th graders are in the beginning stages of a project that connects art and Language Arts class together in thinking about, writing about, and creating about milestones that students have achieved or hope to achieve. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.
8th Bible: Students continue work on their Plumb-bob projects. Due dates, instructions, etc. can be found on both the homework calendar as well as the front page of our Google Classroom sites.
History: We’ll be taking a brief look at how the new country of the United States set up its government, including the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Language Arts: Students have begun our final novel study of Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. They have been assigned reading groups and will be consistently checking in with each other on group Docs with rotating roles for Reciprocal Reading. Students are also working on material for artist statements in the LA/Art collaborative project, “Rites of Passage”
Math - Algebra: We are becoming masters of FOIL-ing and factoring.
Math - Geometry: We are entering the world of trigonometry and other fun right triangle problems!
Math - Pre-Algebra: Students continued to learn about slope by graphing equations written in slope intercept form (y=mx+b) and understanding what the different components of the equation represent.
Music - Band: We continue to work in our Method Books...we also are playing music from Star Wars and now Beauty and the Beast.
Music - Choir: Dessert Theatre Approaches!
March 22 - 8H Dress Rehearsal(s)
March 23 - 6:15pm 8H Performance
March 24 - 3-5:00 8S Rehearsal
March 25 - 8S Dress Rehearsal(s)
March 26 - 6:15pm 8S Performance
Music - Orchestra: This week the 8th grade orchestra students are continuing to work with chromatic passages and syncopated rhythms in Ragtime Dance. In Pirates of the Caribbean, they are working on style and gradually speeding up the tempo. 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
Science: We are finishing up our Gravity and Kinetic Energy unit by making a Glogster of what we have learned- Students have had and will have time to work on it in class, though a bit of work this weekend would be nice so that next week they are just putting finishing touches on it.
Athletics
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.