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Middle School Matters - Oct 26, 2017

General Announcements - Christmas Concert Attire Grades 5-8

Grade Level Announcements

General Announcements:

5-8 Christmas Concert is Tue Dec 19 at ACS, 7:00pm

Concert Dress:

  • 56 - blue retreat T-shirt, khakis or black pants or skirts (dark legs)
  • 78 - white dress shirts, black dressy pants or skirts (dark legs)

Fifth Grade:

We are working hard on our Survival Newspapers to wrap up our survival unit. These are due next week Wednesday. Some kids may need to do some work at home this weekend. NOTE - We’ve done some proofreading but much of their written work will have some errors. As the year goes on we will be working hard on their writing skills.


Art: Printmaking continues and we are deep into the images transfer step and beginning the cutting of the block step.

Band/Choir: We are playing (and singing) at the Christmas Concert Tue Dec 19! See note above for what to wear.

Bible: We are wrapping up our unit on the Pentateuch this week with an overview of Leviticus. Pentateuch Books for Miss Slauer’s class are due Wed Nov 01 and the Ten Commandments are due Tue Nov 07 (note that this is a change in due date). Ten Commandments memory work is due for Mr. Hoo’s class on Friday, Nov. 10.

Language Arts: This week we are working with Story Plot Mountains based on our survival books. We also continue to read Sign of the Beaver and are finishing up our survival newspapers. Next week’s homework will be filling out and individual Survival Plot Mountains based on our second survival book. They will be due next week Fri Nov 03. Don’t forgot that we have a spelling test and THT #6 due tomorrow.

Math: We have learned four different methods to solve division problems: long division, modeling with base-ten blocks, the hangman method “partial quotients,” and using the distributive property. Our next test will be Fri Nov 03. Continue practicing math facts at home so that the focus can be on solving the problem rather than recalling multiplication facts.

Orchestra: We are playing at the Christmas concert-see date and details above.

PE: We are wrapping up our ultimate frisbee unit and will begin volleyball next.

Science: We’re working on a Solar System Project. We will wrap it up this coming week and begin studying stars and constellations. A test will likely take place the week before Thanksgiving Break. Stay tuned for review information and specific dates.

Social Studies: We continue to study colonial America - Puritans, Pilgrims, Jamestown, Quakers…… We are also starting to colonize America in Discovery II.

Spanish: So exciting! 5th Grade began presenting their Google Slides this week. We will continue next week until all slides are shown. Student worked hard to create a slide with animation that included 5+ sentences in Spanish. They have really impressed me!

Sixth Grade:

Art: Up next is portrait drawing and learning the proportions of the the human face. 6k hands projects is due next week and 6w is due the week of Nov. 6. Please check the homework calendar for project due dates and sketchbook assignments.

Band/Choir: We are playing (and singing) at the Christmas Concert Tue Dec 19! See note above for what to wear.

Bible (Koetje/Westrate): In Bible class next week we will celebrate the Reformation and discuss what it means for us today. We will also begin our new unit on the Bible as a book. For this unit, your child will need to bring in an empty cereal box.

History: This week in social studies we started talking about our first ancient civilization--Mesopotamia. The students will complete three projects in the course of three weeks. Parent signatures are due Mon Oct 30 (6W) and Tue Oct 31 (6K). Project 1 is due Fri Nov 03, Project 2 is due Fri Nov 10, Project 3 is due Fri Nov 17, and the optional extra credit project is due Mon Nov 20 (6W) and Tue Nov 21 (6K). Keep studying for the Middle East Map Quest! The PreTest is Fri Oct 27 and the Quest is Fri Nov 03. There has been a change to the map quest--the country names will be provided in a word bank, so no need to memorize spelling.

Language Arts: We will continue to work with prefixes next week. Students will also work to identify the different traits of characters in Tuck Everlasting and in their independent reading books. On Friday of next week, students will receive a review sheet for an upcoming test (Nov 10).

Math: Computation with Fractions. Reviewing your student’s work this weekend and Monday evening would be helpful as they will be subtracting mixed numbers with regrouping.

PE: We are wrapping up our ultimate frisbee unit with a short quiz. We will begin volleyball next.

Orchestra: Put this date on your calendar for Christmas Concert: Tue Dec. 19.

Science: We’re continuing a study of microorganisms in the coming week(s). Bacteria, Archaea, and other tiny creatures are on our list of things to discover and discuss.

Spanish: On November 22, Disney and Pixar are releasing a new movie about the Latin American holiday, Dia de los Muertos. This holiday takes place November 1-2. A brief explanation of the celebration will be given in class this coming week. Here is the link for the movie trailer “Coco.”

Seventh Grade:

Algebra (7th): We will wrap up chapter 4 with a test on Thurs.

Art: 7th grade sculpture, color, and line projects are due next week. Next we will work with abstract texture paintings. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.

Band/Choir: Solo Day is Tue Nov 14 at ACS. We are working hard on our solos! We are playing (and singing) at the Christmas Concert Tue Dec 19! See note above for what to wear.

Bible(Wanner): We have entered into our study of prayer. This week we have just begun thinking about what is prayer, questions we have about prayer, and what position people took to pray in the Bible.

History: Monday we will take a quiz on the beginnings of Hinduism and Buddhism. Students can study from their note sheets and from their Worldview comparison chart. Next week we will start a quick study of some key moments in the history of South Asia. We are also planning to work outside with Mr. Hoo for some OE time on Thursday. Students should come to schools with the correct clothes, jackets, boots, etc to work outside and get a little dirty.

PE: We are wrapping up our ultimate frisbee unit with a short quiz. We will begin volleyball next.

Math: We will continue to work on percents. Students are doing a great job so far!

Pre-Algebra: We continue to work with exponents. Students will have a quiz on Monday applying their skills of the Properties of Exponents.

Orchestra: Tue Nov 14 is our Solo and Ensemble Festival at ACS. Ask for a performance from your string player and be sure that they bring all music every M,T and Th. Thanks for your encouragement and support.

Science: We will continue to observe our habitats, milkweed bugs and investigation of producers. No tests this week.

Spanish: On November 22, Disney and Pixar are releasing a new movie about the Latin American holiday, Dia de los Muertos. This holiday takes place November 1-2. A brief explanation of the celebration will be given in class this coming week. Here is the link for the movie trailer “Coco.”

Eighth Grade:

Northpointe: You are invited to NorthPointe Christian's High School Preview Day!

On Wed, Nov 08, NorthPointe Christian High School is hosting a shadow day. Students can shadow a current NorthPointe student and experience the day as a high school student! Parents are also invited for a tour, breakfast and Q&A with our administrators, and chapel. If you are interested in attending, please email Brittany Noll at visit npchristian.org/admissions.

Grand Rapids Christian: You are invited to the Grand Rapids Christian High School SHOWCASE 2018!

On Tue, Nov 14, at 7:00pm come to the Grand Rapids Christian High School Showcase 2018! 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 and over a dozen breakout sessions designed to help you learn more about our academic programs, athletics, fine arts, Winterim program, and much more.

You will also have the opportunity to meet members of our staff 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.

Yearbook Pictures: If you are interested in submitting a special picture for the yearbook (as opposed to the school photo), please email Mr. Witte the image before Thanksgiving Break.


Algebra: Next week we will finish up Chapter 4 on graphing linear equations. We may even be looking at a test by the later part of the week.

Art: Working on getting the walls up on our ceramic pots. 8th graders should be studying and reviewing the ceramic terms for the upcoming quiz. Please check the homework calendar for project due dates and sketchbook assignment.

Band/Choir: Festival Day is Tue Nov 14 at ACS. We are working hard on our music! We are playing (and singing) at the Christmas Concert Tue Dec 19! See note above for what to wear.

Bible(Van Noord): Great work on memorization from Matthew. Parable projects are done. Mark is on the horizon. Ask your student about the parable he/she chose and what it means for us today.

Geometry: We will begin a new unit about congruency proofs!

History: We will continue our study of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We will also practice being lawyers and determine if certain actions are constitutional or not constitutional.  

PE: We are wrapping up our ultimate frisbee unit with a short quiz. We will begin volleyball next.

Pre-Algebra: We continue to work with exponents. Students will have a quiz on Monday applying their skills of the Properties of Exponents.

Orchestra: Solo and Ensemble Festival is Tue Nov 14 here at ACS. Your string player is practicing with piano accomp.each M,T,and Th so be sure to have them bring their music to school! Ask for a solo performance!

Science: We will continue to investigate what is beyond the Moon.

Spanish: On November 22, Disney and Pixar are releasing a new movie about the Latin American holiday, Dia de los Muertos. This holiday takes place November 1-2. An explanation of the celebration will be given in class this coming week. We will incorporate reading and listening skills in Spanish as we discuss this topic. Here is the link for the movie trailer “Coco.”

Athletics:

Coach Needed: Looking for a 5th/6th grade girls’ basketball coach. Contact Mrs. O’Brien at you are interested or know of someone who may be interested.

Uniforms: Please return fall sports uniforms to Mrs. O’Brien.