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Middle School Matters - Oct 24, 2016 October 24th, 2016

Pajama Drive this week!

Grade Level Announcements

General Announcements:

Pajama Drive: We are having a school wide pajama drive to benefit children at Mel Trotter Ministries. From Oct 24-28, everyone who brings in a pair of pajamas to donate gets to participate in our school wide pajama day on Oct 28. We specifically need NEW pajamas size 8-14 for boys and girls. There will be bins at the end of each hallway for drop off.

Fifth Grade:

Art: All class will begin work on printmaking by working on creating a design to be cut and then printed.

Band: Mon: WW/Perc, Tue: Brasses, Thu: Full band!

Bible: We are wrapping up our study of the Pentateuch, and looking forward to Nov where we will shift our focus to global awareness from a Christian perspective.

Language Arts: This week we continue to learn about and write narratives. In Reading, we focus on finding a “good-fit” book. In afternoon groups we are compiling our survival newspapers.

Math: We are fully immersed in long division problems. There are several steps in these problems, but the goal is to become so familiar with them that it becomes almost “second-nature” as we cruise through these equations.

Orchestra: Mon/celli Tue/violins&violas Thu/full orch. Playing quiz #30 &39 on Mon&Tue.

PE: We will begin our volleyball unit this week! Just a reminder that students need to come prepared to PE with appropriate clothing and shoes for activity.

Science: We continue to study “Living Organisms”. We are working on a school compost heep and learning about producers, consumers and DECOMPOSERS.  We will also be designing and carrying out an experiment using yeast. In this experiment we will learn how yeast is activated by the starch (simple sugar) in the bread and forms CO2 bubbles to help the bread “rise”.

Social Studies: We continue our study of Colonial America. This will also be a big week in our historical simulation - Discovery II. Alas, some of the colonies will not survive. Ask the kids who their “mother country” is and how they are doing.

Sixth Grade:

Art: In class we will be working on drawing our final artwork that visually displays how the artist sees God in their life. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook assignments and project due dates.

Band: Our practice record for Oct is due Nov 01. Some of the Sep practice records were lower - - would love to see a jump in the numbers for Oct! Go team!

Bible: We’ve finished our Bible cube projects. Mrs. Koetje will be beginning a unit with 6K and Mrs. Westrate will begin a new unit with 6W this week.

History: This week we see an amazing creative God when will begin a unit on the different landforms on the earth. We will have a quiz at the end of next week over the different landforms.

Language Arts: We will have a spelling assignment due on Thursday.

Math: Students will be taking their test about decimals, fractions and percents tomorrow.

PE: We will begin our volleyball unit this week! There will be a test at the end of this unit. The review sheet is posted on Moodle.

Orchestra: Last 2 students for the playing quiz will play for me on Tue-lunch hour.

Science: We continue our study of weather, focusing specifically on air. A quiz will take place early next week (aiming for Monday) over investigations 1 and 2. Students should study from their science notebooks. We will be highlighting key points to study in class, but encourage your student to explain their notebook’s organization to you and describe the key concepts that we’ve been working on in class. There will not be a formal review sheet, but students will create their own “study lists” during class.

Spanish: Test on Fri Oct 28, details on Moodle.

Seventh Grade:

Trip to Washington D.C.: This summer from June 13 - 17 a groups of students and parents will be heading to our nation’s capitol for a great trip. If you are interested in joining us, there is still time to sign up. Please turn reservations to Mr. Witte soon, or contact him if you have questions.

Algebra (7th): We will begin chapter 6 on inequalities. We are on schedule to have a chapter 6 test on 11/2 which is next week wednesday.

Art: In class we will continue our work on the texture project by adding painted acrylic detail to our final artworks. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook assignments and project due dates.

Band: Solo and Ensemble is Tue, Nov 08. We are working hard and getting ready. You should hear solos at home! The next practice record is due Nov 01. GO TEAM!

Bible: We are working on a collaborative devotional project.

History: This week we are looking at the history of South Asia from around 1800 - the present.

Language Arts: We will continue our novel study of The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and also be experimenting with descriptive writing.

PE: We will begin our volleyball unit this week! There will be a test at the end of this unit. The review sheet is posted on Moodle.

Math: We will be finishing our chapter about percents. Test will be this coming Thursday!

Pre-Algebra: We continue working with Powers and Roots.

Orchestra: Solo and Ensemble is Tue, Nov 08. Practice with the piano player is Tue & Thu this week. We will also play for each other in class this week and next.

Science: Monday - Wednesday students will be creating a “fun fungi” slide show. The work will be done in class. On Thursdsay we will begin Investigation 5.

Eighth Grade:

Trip to Washington D.C.: This summer from June 13 - 17 a groups of students and parents will be heading to our nation’s capitol for a great trip. If you are interested in joining us, there is still time to sign up. Please turn reservations to Mr. Witte soon, or contact him if you have questions.

Yearbook Pictures and Baby Pictures: Each year, several families choose to submit a “professional” picture for the yearbook instead of the traditional school picture. This is a choice and not something that has to be done. However, if you would like to submit a picture, we would like to collect these over the next month. Please send the images to Mr. Witte. Each student also needs to bring in a baby picture for the yearbook. This can be a digital image or an actual photograph (all photos will be returned lovingly). Thanks.

Requirements for yearbook picture:

  • Head and shoulder shot
  • High quality resolution--300 dpi
  • File size--at least 1 MB or more

You are invited to the Grand Rapids Christian High School FALL SHOWCASE 2017!

On Tue, Nov 01, at 7:00pm come to the Grand Rapids Christian High School Fall Showcase 2016! See how a Christ-centered, student-focused approach to learning has made us one of West Michigan's top-performing high schools and such a good fit for so many students!

The evening will include an introduction to Grand Rapids Christian High School, including a mini-chapel service, an introduction from Principal, Dr. Randy Morris, and hear about life at GRCHS from a current student.

Additionally, choose from over a dozen breakout sessions designed to help you learn more about our academic programs, athletics, Winterim program, transportation, and much more.

You will also have the opportunity to meet members of our Spiritual Life Team as well as other staff members, and hear how they encourage our students in their spiritual journey. Talk to teachers as you explore our outstanding academic programs, meet coaches and athletes as you learn more about our broad array of athletic opportunities, discover our exceptional Fine Arts program and the many hands-on experiences it offers students, and experience the difference our distinctive Christian education makes in student’s lives.

Algebra: We are learning how to graph linear equations this week using a variety of different strategies.

Art: In class we will begin thinking about and working on creating the 8th grade ceramic slab pots. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook assignments and project due dates.

Band: Festival is Tue, Nov 08. We are working hard on our festival music!

Bible (Westrate): We continue our study of the book of Matthew. Memory work, Matthew 5:1-12, is due on Fri.

Bible (Huttenga): Students continue to work with their groups to bring the missions of Paul to the silver screen.

Geometry: We will continue to study transformations!

History: We are learning about the how the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights were created and why they are still important this week.

Language Arts: Students are working on drafting their essays. Their outlines will be returned this week.

PE: We will begin our volleyball unit this week. There will be a test at the end of this unit. The review sheet is posted on Moodle.

Pre-Algebra Enhanced: Today we started our study of Powers and Roots.

Orchestra: Solo and Ensemble is Tue Nov 08. The 8th graders will perform 3 or 4 pieces as an ensemble and then many will also perform solos and duets. Ask for a small concert at home!

Science: We will wrap up a study on moon phases and shift our focus on craters this week. A quiz will take place near the end of this week or early next week.