Skip to main content.
Middle School Matters - Oct 12, 2017 October 12th, 2017

General Announcements

Grade Level Announcements

General Announcements:

OUTDOOR EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP!!!!  Next week Thursday through Saturday Mr. Boerkoel and Mr. Hoo will be working outdoors on some big OE projects. We could really use some help…..dads, moms, kids (students do need a parent with them)

What:

  • Raised bed box construction for the garden
  • Fence building for the garden
  • Log cabin prep work….hauling logs….fieldstone foundation
  • Staining the rest of the barn and the OE bulletin board
  • Goat and Chicken care
  • Big fire each day of wood scraps and invasives
  • CIDER & DONUTS

When: Thursday, Friday or Saturday from 9 - 11 or 12

Call Mr. Hoo (616-250-0089) or just show up! THANKS!!!

****Anyone who has a tractor with a scoop and/or three-pt. hitch for hole drilling that is willing to bring would be HUGE!!!

Boys Volleyball “Faith. Strong.” Club: 5th-8th grade boys are invited to participate in a volleyball club. The focus will be on developing skills and understanding of the game. There is no cost. The club will meet for 3 Wednesdays (11.01, 11.08, and 11.15) from 3:00-4:30pm in the North Gym. Email Coach DK to sign up ().

Fifth Grade:

500: In honor of our school theme, we 56ers are on a mission to exercise 500 intentional acts of kindness this month! Click here for important information about this project.

Chicken & Goat Care Sign Up & Instructions: click here to view the sign up and also the instructions for weekend animal care duties. Our goal is that each family signs up at least twice. If you see an opening that you are willing to fill, please sign up!

Art: Working on printmaking and the print design step.

Band: We are working hard! Practice often - practice is GREAT for the brain! Practice cards are due every Thu. Mon: Brass/Perc. Tue: Woodwinds, Thu: ALL!

Bible: We are continuing to work through the Pentateuch. The students are updating their Pentateuch books and focusing in on themes from these well-known stories.

Language Arts: This week we spent time learning about character traits, in ourselves, and our book’s character. We continue to read Sign of the Beaver in class. No homework this week, but to read, read, read. Two survival books should be finished by October 23.

Math: This week we took our Chapter 2 test on multiplication. We are now beginning a unit on division. The students are representing division equations with models, and they are relating multiplication to division.

Orchestra: We learned a new note G,this week and worked on some tricky bowing and fingering technique on pages 21 and 22. Be sure to have your musician practice each and every line 3 or 4 times in a row so that the fingers and bows get familiar with the song.

PE: We are learning how to play Ultimate Frisbee!

Science: We will continue studying the moon and our solar system this (short) week.

Social Studies: We wrapped up our study of the explorers and move on to the colonization of America. In Discovery II most of the kids ships successfully crossed the ocean and are attempting to land.

Spanish: Adding on! This week new words were introduced (se llama, busca). Students added to their picture dictionaries and we used our new words in two enjoyable activities. We will continue to add new words next week as we work towards our first short story.

Sixth Grade:

500: In honor of our school theme, we 56ers are on a mission to exercise 500 intentional acts of kindness this month! Click here for important information about this project.

Chicken & Goat Care Sign Up & Instructions: click here to view the sign up and also the instructions for weekend animal care duties. Our goal is that each family signs up at least twice. If you see an opening that you are willing to fill, please sign up!

Devotions: Please sign up here to share devotions with the 6th grade class on a Wednesday morning. We meet for devotions from 8:00-8:10am. Come join us!

Art: 6th grade is working to complete the hand project by finishing up the drawing and coloring of the hands that visually displays how the artist see God in life. Check the homework calendar for sketchbook assignment and project due dates.

Band: Lots of good sounds coming! We just got some more new music to learn. Ask for a concert at home and keep the practice minutes coming!

Bible: We are working on Thank-you notes for our service project locations as well as finishing a study of Spiritual Gifts. 6K has memory work due Tuesday.

Choir: We learned the story of Horatio Spafford and It is Well With My Soul. We will do a project about this topic and also sing this song. Ask about the story!

History: This week the students have been working with archaeologist Neal Bierling. Neal has been on digs in 11 countries around the world, and is currently an archaeologist in Peru. The students have been learning about what life is like as an archaeologist, and will be have the opportunity to do a dig of their own here at ACS.

Language Arts: Students have been working on pesky pairs (homonyms/homophones) and Tuck Everlasting.

Math: We are coming to the end of Chapter 2: Fraction/Decimal/Percent. Our test will be on Tuesday, Oct 17. Students received a study guide and practice test on Wed, Oct 11.

PE: We are having fun playing Ultimate Frisbee!

Orchestra: This group is working very well together and learned 2 new pieces . Keep the practice minutes coming. Only 45 minutes per week!

Science: We will begin to look at cell structures this week and continue observing microorganisms with microscopes.

Spanish: Running of the Bulls! Or el encierro de toros, was the theme or our week. Students used their vocabulary in reading, listening, and translating activities. We also used it to understand a presentation on the running of the bulls in Spain. Quiz next week!

Seventh Grade:

Algebra (7th): We will continue our study of chapter 4, the coordinate plane.

Art: Project one is coming to a close with the addition of line samples to our sculptures. Check the homework calendar for sketchbook assignment and project due dates.

Band: Solo practice should be well underway. You should hear work on your student’s solo often. Ask for a concert! We will be performing live for judges on Tue Nov 14.

Bible(Huttenga & Wanner): Writing of personal devotionals is happening. We will be having your students share their devotionals with you at home. Please keep an eye on the homework calendar for due dates.

History: We are learning about the beginnings of Hinduism and Buddhism in 7th grade history. As we are learning about these religions, we are also comparing how their worldviews compare to our Christian worldview.

Language Arts: 7th graders have wrapped the first unit on short stories. Now they will continue reading through The Witch of Blackbird Pond and learning about characterization.

PE: We are having fun playing Ultimate Frisbee!

Math: On Monday and Tuesday we will begin chapter 2 about percent.

Pre-Algebra: On Tuesday we will begin Chapter 4: Exponents and Roots. It will be important that students memorize the Properties of Exponents.

Orchestra: Hopefully you are surrounded by beautiful solo string pieces. Ask to hear your string player perform for you. Tue, Nov 14 is the Solo Ensemble festival here at school.

Science: We will continue investigating what is going on in our Minihabitats.

Spanish: Running of the Bulls! Or el encierro de toros, was the theme or our week. Students used their vocabulary in reading, listening, and translating activities. We also used it to understand a presentation on the running of the bulls in Spain. Quiz next week!

Eighth Grade:

Yearbook Pictures and Baby Pictures: Dear Parents, I would love to start collecting any pictures that you may want to use for this year’s yearbook. Submitting a yearbook portrait is optional--I will use the school picture if you do nothing. However, I do need a baby/young child picture for each 8th grade student. Please send those either in digital or traditional format. Thank you. --Mr. Witte

Algebra: This coming week we are scheduled for a test on Chapter 3 covering solving equations, ratios and rates, and percent problems.

Art: 8th graders will be working on ceramics unit next. Check the homework calendar for sketchbook assignment and project due dates.

Band: We perform for our judges on Tue Nov 14 at school at 2:05pm. Mark your calendars and come to listen to us!

Bible(Huttenga): Students are wrapping their Paul Mission videos and will be showcasing them in the coming week. 

Bible(Van Noord): We are almost done with the book of Matthew. The rest of the Gospels are next, along with a visit to Luther’s 95 Theses.

Geometry: In Geometry we will begin studying reflections and translations.

History: Monday we will be taking a test on chapter 6: The American Revolutionary War. Students have access to a review sheet and flash cards on the course moodle page. We are reviewing a couple of days in class this week, but students will need to spend some time getting ready before Monday.

Language Arts: Students are continuing to tie together the concepts of theme, characterization, and analytical writing through a series of projects regarding John Steinbeck's "The Pearl".

PE: We are having fun playing Ultimate Frisbee!

Pre-Algebra: On Tuesday we will begin Chapter 4: Exponents and Roots. It will be important that students memorize the Properties of Exponents.

Orchestra: We are working on ensemble performance (without a conductor) for our festival music. English Collage needs attention so work on the fast 8th note passages.

Science: We are journeying out beyond the Moon and will begin to investigate what else is going on in the Solar System.

Spanish: Running of the Bulls! Or el encierro de toros, was the theme or our week. Students used their vocabulary in reading, listening, and translating activities. We also used it to understand a presentation on the running of the bulls in Spain. Quiz this Friday!

Athletics:

Sign-up for Winter Basketball for 5-8 boys and girls now. Please visit the ACS Athletic Webpage to register. The deadline to signup will be Fri, Oct 20.

5th and 6th grade dates to remember:

  • Week of Nov 06 - 5th & 6th teams begin Practice
  • Week of Nov 27 - 5th & 6th games begin

7th and 8th grade dates to remember:

  • Week of Dec 04 - 7th & 8th teams begin practice
  • Sat Jan 09 - Possible Pre-Season Tournament for 7th & 8th grade teams
  • Week of Mar 12 - End of 7th and 8th grade season (approximate)

If you have any questions please contact