Skip to main content.
Middle School Matters – Nov 06, 2020 November 06th, 2020

Middle School Matters

General Annoucements

School Lunch and Daily Snack - Free

We are happy to share with you that in addition to free school lunch this year, your student may also get a snack each day at no cost. Each day teachers will have enough snacks available for any student who would like one. Elementary snacks will be delivered to classrooms prior to morning snack break. Middle School snacks will be available in homeroom classes during lunch.

Lunch and Snack Menu

Virtual Book Fairs

Our virtual book fairs continue through next week (Nov 02-13). The links are included in the descriptions below. This would be a great time to stock up on Christmas gifts. All proceeds benefit the ACS library. 

JLG (Junior Library Guild) offers hardcover books starting at $5 that are shipped to your home.
Follett is 80% paperback books and their orders are shipped to school.

5th Grade

Christmas SEED Market: Teachers have reviewed SEED applications and will be sending them home next week. The $10 SEED money will be headed your way in the next week or two as well. Market is Fri, Dec 04. Please make sure that all products are ready by then. More information to come.

Art: 5th graders are working on printing their cut designs in many different colors. More color printing happens again next week.  

Bible: This week students began researching the countries of their new identities. We also talked about developed, developing, and underdeveloped countries; wants vs needs; and Biblical justice. Students received their November Bible memory work assignment - verses will be due weekly until your child has reached full points. The first verse will be due next week Fri, Nov 13 - they should complete 10 points worth of verses.

History: Students completed a shape poem displaying what they’ve learned about the people of the Pacific Northwest. Next week, they will investigate how different groups of Native Americans were affected by their environment, focusing on the Arctic Region.

Language Arts: This week we started reading A Long Walk to Water. We learned background information about Sudan before reading, and we are having fun connecting what we are learning to Bible class! Students are required to choose a Global Awareness book to read individually. They can choose a book in class, on Epic!, or pick one out at their public library. They must choose their book by Mon, Nov 09.

Math: We just finished up our chapter on dividing by one-digit divisors. We are starting to learn how to divide with two-digit divisors. The students will be learning a division card game for practice soon! You can ask them about it the middle of next week!

Music - Band: Keep practicing in the method books - they may use their iPad Apps to play along with the book if they like (it’s cool and fun to use). Record practice minutes on those practice calendars!

Music - Choir: We finished up It is Well….now we are learning some new songs and also learning about the Edmund Fitzgerald ballad...also doing Music Ace.

Music - Orchestra: We had a FlipGrid assignment that was due today. Keep working in the book, especially page 20!

PE: We wrapped up our football unit this past week, we will begin working on our volleyball skills next week.

Science: We wrapped up our study of space. Our next lessons will investigate one of the things that makes our planet so unique - water in the form of ice, liquid and gas!

6th Grade

Christmas SEED Market: Teachers have reviewed SEED applications and will be sending them home next week. The $10 SEED money will be headed your way in the next week or two as well. Market is Fri, Dec 04. Please make sure that all products are ready by then. More information to come.

Art: 5th graders are working on printing their cut designs in many different colors. More colo

Art: 6th grade students will be transitioning on to the next project after next week. Student will have next week’s class to wrap up the Picasso portraits. Please check the homework calendar for project and sketchbook due dates. 

Bible: This week we learned about the characteristics of love and service. Students gathered evidence as to how Jesus was loving and a servant and proceeded to put these traits into action.

History: This week, students learned the importance and power of architecture and completed a test. Next week, we will begin our unit on Ancient Mesopotamia.

Language Arts: Students have been busy brainstorming and writing as they work on their Tuck Everlasting Character Projects. This week we took notes on our chosen characters and drafted character poems. Next week, we will begin drafting diary entries in the perspectives of their characters.

Math: We just finished our chapter on multiplying and dividing fractions. Next week we will be starting our chapter on Ratios and Rates. If you have any empty boxes that held packaged items (fruit snack box, Capri Sun box, etc.) please have your 6th grader bring it in. I would like to create a “store” in our classroom where students need to find the unit price of items. Thank you! 

Music - Band: Great job on the worship videos! Keep recording practice minutes on the calendars. Ask for a concert at home!

Music - Choir: We finished It is Well With My Soul. We are blitzing Music Ace, singing loads of songs, and actively participating in movement and music!

Music - Orchestra: We had a FlipGrid due today! Keep working on the old songs, and the new Christmas song!

PE: We wrapped up our football unit this past week, we will begin working on our volleyball skills next week.

Science: We will be working with electricity (both static and currents) over the next week.

7th Grade

Art: 7th graders have been working on a texture painting inspired by the artist Patrick Rapai born in Zimbabwe and now of Johannesburg, South Africa. Please check the homework calendar for project and sketchbook due dates. 

Bible: This week students worked on their top five prayer projects during class. Next week we will begin our week by presenting our projects and then we will start our devotions unit. 

History: Students have their nation history projects due on Monday of this coming week, and we’ll spend the first part of the week with a sort of learning fair where students can explore and learn from each other’s research and presentations. At the end of the week, we’ll be jumping into our next unit -- exploration of the roles that natural resources and technological development play in history. 

Language Arts: We will continue our study of The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Students will practice observing and discussing both direct and indirect characterization, as they also learn their roles in reading groups to have sustained, productive, robust literary conversations.

Math - 7th Math: We are finishing up our unit on percents. Students can expect a test on Wednesday before we jump into our next unit of study on rational numbers, with an emphasis on adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions.

Math - Algebra: We will spend next week finishing up Chapter 3 and will begin reviewing for our chapter test. 

Math - Pre-Algebra: Students just finished up the Chapter 4 test. We are beginning chapter 5 on Ratios and Proportions. Students will be working quite a bit with converting units so anytime they can convert cups into pints or feet into miles would be good practice. 

Music - Band: ALL students turned in their solo video work (OR played it live - WOW!). Lots of practice now will make the actual event a lot easier and less stressful. Keep recording practice minutes on the calendars.

Music - Choir:  “I’ve Got a Mule….and her name is Sal” - we are planning to breed and raise mules (jk) We are working on our Erie Canal projects next, based on the Erie Canal song and all the things that changed in our nation because of this great feat of engineering.

Music - Orchestra: There was a FlipGrid due today for the progress on your Solo and Ensemble piece. Keep working through the checklist and practicing hard! Also, check the handbook out to make sure that you have the appropriate uniform for performing, black jeans are allowed.

PE: We wrapped up our football unit this past week, we will begin working on our volleyball skills next week.

Science: Our time studying Earth History is coming to a close soon- we have a rock quiz/test on Thursday and Earth History Test on Friday. 

8th Grade

Fun News: We are happy to let you know that plans for an 8th grade graduation party are underway! That's right - we are optimistic about what spring will bring. Mrs. Hedlund and Mrs. Cassiday have kindly offered to host the party. The party is a parent sponsored event. Details about the party and opportunities for volunteers will be shared the week after Spring Break. It is going to be fun!

Yearbook Pictures and Baby Pictures: Please read the details below (due Dec 01, 2020).

Yearbook Pictures

  • 8th graders may submit a different image for the yearbook than the traditional school photograph
  • It should be a portrait image (vertical, not horizontal).
  • The image should mostly be a "head and shoulders" or "waist up" shot
  • Please no pets
  • If a digital file...300 dpi or more image size should be equivalent to a 8 x 10 
    the image file size should be between 2 MB and 10 MB
  • Please send the images to Dani Buchanan ()
  • If you would like to use your child's school photo as their yearbook photo please email this choice to Dani Buchanan

"Baby Pictures" for Yearbook and Graduation

  • Each student needs to submit one "Baby Picture" that we can use for both the yearbook and at graduation.
  • You may submit either a digital image or an actual photo.  (The picture will be returned quickly and safely.)
  • The "baby picture" can be from the time your student was a baby or up to a young child. 
  • These pictures can be fun, sweet, cute, and all of that! 
  • Please send the images to Dani Buchanan (dbuchanan@adachristian.org) or have your student drop off the photo to Miss Buchanan in the office. 

Art: 8th graders are continuing work on their ceramic slab pots. A lot of students have transitioned onto making lids and integrated handles. Please check the homework calendar for project and sketchbook due dates. 

Bible Huttenga: We’ve begun our study of Lee Strobel’s The Case for Faith, and will continue this coming week. The 8th graders are learning about and will be discussing how scientists, philosophers, and theologians alike grapple with some of the most common and challenging objections to the Christian faith.

Bible Sloterbeek: With the purpose of learning more about what the kingdom of God looks like and why it is worth living for, we’ve been focusing on getting an overview of the messages of each of the 4 gospels this week. As a class, we have been watching and taking notes on the Bible Project’s gospel videos. We’ll continue this into next week. Students will also have a bible memory quiz on Hebrews 11:1-2 at the end of next week.

History: Students have their state history projects due on Wednesday of this coming week. We’ll spend some time in class finishing these projects, and the rest of the week will allow students to explore and learn from each other’s research and project presentations. 

Language Arts: NHD outlines will be due on Nov. 13, and we will continue to use class time to work on them Tuesday and Thursday. In the meantime, we will continue our class study of The Giver. In our study, we practice observing and discussing both direct and indirect characterization, as they also learn their roles in reading groups to have sustained, productive, robust literary conversations. 8th graders will also factor in types of conflict, and ponder the essential question: how does conflict impact our lives? 

Math - Algebra: Chapter 3 is off to a strong start. We will have a quiz early next week. 

Math - Geometry: We will continue learning about transformations. On Wednesday, students will have a quiz on sections 4.1-4.3. 

Math - Pre-Algebra: We are wrapping up a unit of study on powers and roots. Students can expect a test on Tuesday before we begin our next unit on ratios, proportions and similar figures. 

Music - Band: Festival is coming. To help us prepare, students are working to get 2 pieces as close to accurate and perfect as possible….so that as a team we can score well when the judges come on Nov 24. Videos of the march are due this week. 

Music - Choir: The Moldau is over - next up is a time to look at history and music from Nov 9 and 11 in world and Michigan history - - - Kristallnacht, Armistice, Edmund Fitzgerald. 

Music - Orchestra: There was a FlipGrid due today so make sure that you turn that in. Also keep working on our ensemble pieces for Solo and Ensemble November, 24. Check the handbook out to make sure that you have the appropriate uniform for performing, black jeans are allowed.

PE: We wrapped up our football unit this past week, we will begin working on our volleyball skills next week.

Science: We have been traveling through space on our scaled model solar system this week. We will continue looking into the planets of our solar system and comparing them to Earth. 

Athletics

The first week of boys basketball practice is officially complete. The first set of games is slated to start Sat, Nov 07.