General Announcements:
No School Mon Sep 25 - In Service
Christmas Concert Dec 19 7:00pm: What to wear!
- Grades 56 - Blue Retreat T-Shirt and a pair of pants(or a skirt is ok too) - either khaki or black (no jeans)
- Grades 78 - White on top (dressy) and black on the bottom (pants or skirt and dark nylons or leggings so legs are all black)
Artprize
Artprize is happening now through Oct 08. This art focused community event is awesome and a great chance to get downtown to view art of all kinds and engage in a conversation about the art you see.
In art class this week, 5th - 8th students were presented an opportunity in the form of an Artprize packet to fill out and return. The packet is asking the students to reflect on their favorite and least favorite art piece at 3 different locations. If your student completes the Artprize packet they will receive extra credit ( 6th - 8th grade) and an art themed prize (5th - 8th grades) that will hopefully spark some creativity.
Please remember this is an opportunity and not a required assignment and we do encourage ACS families to go downtown to see and talk about the art.
Fifth Grade:
Art: Next week we complete our first project and begin learning about the process of printmaking.
Band: Beginning 10.02 brass/percussion will have band on Mon/Thu and woodwinds will have band Tue/Thu - (Full Band will always be Thursdays!) We are working on learning more notes and adding to our musical skillsets.
Bible: The amazing stories of the Patriarchs continue….Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel).....and the stories of Joseph.
Language Arts: This week and next week we are taking our MAP tests. In writing we are previewing the 6 Traits of Writing. The dialogue writing homework is due Wednesday or before. 5th graders should be half way through their survival books by next week. Happy Reading! If you have an extra scissors at home, please have your 5th grader bring it to school. Thanks!
Math: Our week began with MAP testing. Once we were done with the test, we continued to learn about prime factorization. The students are getting good at building their factor trees and noticing patterns within prime factorization.
Orchestra: We are making wonderful progress on using the bow (arco) and have added new notes! Focus this week on pages 18 and 19. Parents, please point to notes while your child practices. This helps so much! Keep up the super progress!
PE: This week we finished our soccer unit. We will learn a fun new game next week!
Science: We took our first iCheck test on Friday about shadows and models for day and night on Earth. Up next - investigating the night sky.
Social Studies: We have begun our study of US History with the Age of Exploration. We’ve also begun our first simulation event - Discovery II. Ask your child what country they belong to and how the journey across the ocean is going. At the end of the maps unit we made a huge map of the world…..a scale drawing project. It’s in Mr. Hoo’s old room on the floor. Maps packet and test are coming back today. If they did not know the US states well and would like to improve their grade they can do so with a retake on Monday or Tuesday.
Spanish: Many classes had a substitute teacher this week as I was sick. We will resume our lesson plans and continue with our first short story unit by introducing new vocabulary.
Sixth Grade:
Art: 6th graders are beginning to transition to part 2 of the first project. If students have not completed the part 1 pattern work by the end of class on Thur Sept 21 (6w) or Wed Sept 27 (6w) it will be homework for the following week. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.
Band: Wow - I really enjoyed Trumpet Voluntary quizzes - - great work! Lots of volunteers who were willing to play duets. So fun to hear!
Bible (Koetje & Westrate): Outside/Inside Bags will be presented beginning Mon Oct 02. Encourage your student to work on this project throughout this coming week and not to save it until the last minute.
History: This week we finished up a topography unit. The students applied their knowledge of contour lines in their Mt. St. Helens replicas before and after the volcano erupted. We also finished up our regional travel brochures, where the students researched different types of regions within a given country.
Language Arts: We will take MAP tests next week Tuesday/Wednesday. Service Project on Thursday and Friday. Also, ask your child about the new book club opportunity for 56ers!
Math: Next week we will continue working with Fractions, Decimals and Percent. Your student should be reviewing their flashcards daily. On Tuesday students will have a quiz on common fraction, decimal, percent conversions. Here is an online set if your student doesn’t bring their flashcards home.
PE: This week we finished our soccer unit with a quiz. We will learn a fun new game next week!
Orchestra: We are still reviewing scales and skills in the Muller Rusch book. We will review lessons 31 and 32 and add pages 37 and 38 this week also.
Science: We’re learning about microscopes and how they can help us further investigate and classify living and non-living things.
Spanish: Many classes had a substitute teacher this week as I was sick. We will resume our lesson plans and continue with our second unit: Running with the Bulls by introducing new vocabulary.
Seventh Grade:
Algebra (7th): We will continue our study of equations and balancing equations.
Art: 7th graders are busy sculpting Henry Moore inspired forms in class. We hope to be done sculpting on Fri Sep 22 and have a primer coat of paint applied. Next up, adding line and color to the sculpted forms. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.
Band: We have a quiz on #74 next Tue. They are sounding really good.
Bible(Huttenga/Wanner): 7th grade was engaged in listening to various speaker come and talk about how they do personal devotions. Next up students will engage in creating and writing their own devotional. Bible Memory Quiz on Ephesians 2: 8 - 9 will happen Wed Sep 27.
History: Next week we will start our study of South Asia.
Language Arts: this coming week we will be working on a project about perspective in writing
PE: This week we wrapped up our soccer tournament. We had so much fun with it! We will try a new game next week.
Math: We will have a short week together. Student will take their MAP test on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Pre-Algebra: We are just getting started with Rational Numbers (fractions). Also will complete our MAP assessment on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Orchestra: Focus on Fantasia and English C Collage. Look at all of the key changes. Remember to have a parent sign your 100 practice minutes per week.
Science: We will be studying pond ecosystems this week at Calvin College. Students will either go on Tuesday (7A) or Wednesday (7B) for the first 2 periods of the day. They will not miss any other classes because we have a block (2 back-to-back classes) of science. Each class will only go one day.
Spanish: Many classes had a substitute teacher this week as I was sick. We will resume our lesson plans and continue with our second unit: Running with the Bulls by introducing new vocabulary.
Eighth Grade:
8th Grade Yearbook Pictures: Our 8th grade students will have the opportunity to submit their own yearbook picture once again this year. If this is something that your family would like to do, we would just ask that you are able to submit the photograph to Mr. Witte before Thanksgiving Break. Please make sure that the photograph is a high quality image (300 dpi or more). Usually the file size of the image is at least 2 MB. Anything less than 2MB (and everything that is KB) in size may not work well in the yearbook and look pixelated. I will work with you to make sure we have the correct quality image, but if you are able to check before submitting, that is appreciated.
8th Grade Baby Pictures: To go along with the yearbook picture request, we also ask that you submit a baby/young child picture that we can use in the yearbook and at graduation. These images can be digital or actual photographs. If you would like to submit an actual photograph, please make sure your child’s name is on the picture or included with the picture. You can turn these pictures into Mr. Witte and he will scan the image and make it work. All digital photos can also be emailed to Mr. Witte.
Algebra: Next week we will be taking our MAP tests during algebra.
Art: 8th grade is working on printing their cut designs. Printmaking quiz will happen Tues Oct 3. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.
Band: We have some great pieces going right now. Fundamentals and skills are improving. Practice records are due each Thu when we have normal school. Due to the Service Project the next Practice Record is due Oct 05.
Bible(Huttenga): Students are delving into the book of Acts to do an explorative writing project.
Bible(Van Noord): We are spending time in the book of Matthew and pondering what it means to be blessed.
Geometry: We have a short week together. Students will be taking their MAP test on Tuesday and Wednesday.
History: We will continue our study of the American Revolution focusing on the Battle of Saratoga, Valley Forge, and more.
Language Arts: While students await the feedback from their outlines, we will be focusing on independent reading and preparing for “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
PE: This week we wrapped up our soccer tournament. We had so much fun with it! We will try a new game next week.
Pre-Algebra: We are just getting started with Rational Numbers (fractions). Also will complete our MAP assessment on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Orchestra: Awesome work on 120 minutes of practice per week! I just need to see a few more signed sheets. Focus on Fantasia for Strings (speed up the slurred 8th notes) and intonation on English C. Collage. You are sounding so great!
Science: We will continue our study of the moon and its phases. We will have our second I-Check the week after the service project.
Spanish: Many classes had a substitute teacher this week as I was sick. We will resume our lesson plans and continue with our second unit: Running with the Bulls by introducing new vocabulary.