Middle School Matters – Sept 06, 2019

General Announcements

Student Relations Snippet

Like you, our desire is to nurture a school culture in which everyone feels safe, valued, and loved.

Ten years ago a leading expert on helping students get along, Dr. Marcia McEvoy, joined us for an extensive faculty, staff, parent, and student training program. Since then, we have remained committed to continued teacher and student training as we work to "sweat the small stuff".

During the first month of school, teachers will cover important topics and facilitate discussions on things like: What is a hurtful behavior? What is the difference between an annoying and hurtful behavior? What should we do if someone is annoying us? What should we do if someone is being hurtful?

Q. How does ACS describe a hurtful behavior?

A. A hurtful behavior is a look, word, gesture, or action that hurts a person's body, feelings, friendships, property, or reputation.

Q. What should my student do if someone is annoying (bothering) them?

A. First - Look person in the eye and put on a calm face. Use a calm voice and say, "That's bothering me. Please stop. If the person stops, say thank you.

Second - If the person does not stop, count to 10 slowly and then say, "That's bothering me. Please stop or I will report it. If the person stops, say thank you.

Third - If the person does not stop, report it to an adult and say, "I asked nicely two times for (name) to stop (behavior). S/he keeps doing it. Will you help me?

Q. Is there anything I can do to partner with ACS in helping guide my student in kind behavior?

A. Sure! Of course, modeling and expecting students to be kind is key. Also, helping students practice the things we are teaching in school related to Student Relations can make a big difference. Following are a couple ideas:

While watching shows, reading books, or interacting with siblings, parents can ask things like, "Was that an annoying behavior -- why or why not?" or Was that a hurtful behavior -- why or why not?" And then, talk about it as you help your child understand and articulate differences between annoying and hurtful behaviors.

Help your child understand and practice what it means to have a "calm" face and to use a "calm" voice. Practice when a student is not upset.

Guide students in using the approach we ask them to use if someone is annoying them.

Fifth Grade:

Pictures Forms: Picture Forms are due Sept 13. Please send form to your child’s homeroom teacher.

Parent Information Night: We look forward to meeting with you at Information Night on Tue Sept 10. If your child is or plans to be involved in ACS Athletics this year, there will be a meeting beginning at 6:50 in the Elementary Music Room. Afterward, we will meet as a 5th Grade team at 7:10 in the Media Center.

Survival Camp: Please be sure to attend Parent Night Sept 10 to receive information on camps. This year Survival Camp is Sept 26-27.

Art: 5th grade is working on creating abstract art and enjoying drawing ACS landscapes outside around the soccer field.

Band: Mon- Brass and Perc. Tue - Woodwinds, Thurs - Everyone! We are getting started! Practice calendars are in everyone’s boxes - the first things are putting horns together/playing our first page (Full Band Page 6), taking the instrument apart- maintaining good playing condition is important. Practice a little bit every day - frequency is better than duration.

Bible: This week in Bible we started studying the Pentateuch by journaling through the creation story and the fall. We also started working in our Survivor groups that we will compete with at camp. The Who Am I? book is due Sept 9 and Isaiah 64:8 is due Sept 18.

Language Arts: Students will take MAP tests next week and continue working through various writing activities and reading our survival story, Hatchet.

Math: We are continuing to learn about Place Value, specifically comparing numbers. Next week will be be comparing numbers with decimals by weighing objects we find outside! Look for a quiz early next week. Our test will be late next week or early the following week.

Music: We are singing the songs for our school theme, learning some Stomp moves with some scripture and beginning theory as well.

Science: We are becoming experts on lab safety, have practiced using our iPads, and have begun talking about what it means that scientists are “model makers.”

Orchestra: This week we were excited to meet together 2 times and play our instruments pizzacato. All cello players will practice on Mondays and Thursdays with all violinists and violists on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Be sure to practice 5 days this week and keep track of all practice minutes!

PE: We are continuing to get into the routine of middle school PE. This week starting a flag football unit and we will be focusing on skills needed to play flag football. Additionally, we will be working on our cardiovascular systems.

Social Studies: On Monday, we will spend time outside with Mr. Hoo. Please make sure students wear tennis shoes and work clothes. The rest of the week we will learn about latitude and longitude. Students will practice finding places on a map.

Sixth Grade:

Chicken duty: Click here to see when your family is on the schedule for weekend chores. If you have a conflict on your assigned weekend, please work in advance to switch with another family. Click here for the instructions for Weekend Chicken Checkup. Questions? Contact Bill Hoo at 616.250.0089

Devotion Sign-up: Sign up to lead devotions for our 6th Graders on a Thursday (8:00-8:10am) this school year. We love to have parents and guests come to share a story, song, verse, prayer or devotional with us!

Art: Students will be learning about pattern and working to visually display how they see God’s hand in their life. Please check the homework calendar for sketchbook due dates.

Band: We are focusing on p. 22 in our books - we have done some review as well. Practice calendars are out - practice every week and write it down - this is part of our grade. Go band!

Bible: This week in Bible we focused on our identities - if we understand whose we are we can be confident in who we are. We also spent time in worship together - this will happen every Thursday. The Outside-In brainstorm sheet is due Sept 20 and the Outside-In Bag is due Oct 01.

History: On Tuesday, we will spend time outside with Mr. Hoo. Please make sure students wear tennis shoes and work clothes. The rest of the week we will continue studying the 5 themes of geography, taking a closer look at location. If you have any shoeboxes at home, please send them in with your child. We will need them for an upcoming project. Thanks!

Language Arts: Students will take MAP tests next week and continue working through various writing activities and reading Tuck Everlasting.

Math: We are continuing to compute with multi-digit numbers. Next week will be estimating, multiplying, and dividing decimals. There will be a quiz next week in the form of a grocery list! Look for a test late next week or early the following week.

Music: We are singing the songs for our school theme, learning some Stomp moves with some scripture and beginning a project about a special song.

Science: We’ve had some great debates about the classification of living and nonliving things this week. We will begin learning about and using microscopes next week to investigate some very tiny pieces of God’s Creation.

Seventh Grade:

Algebra (7th): We are off and working hard on our new Algebra textbook. It is challenging students to discover new algebraic topics using previous knowledge and, often times, shapes & familiar geometric properties. Plan on a test on chapter 1 next week Wednesday.

Art: 7th graders will be working with form, color, and line in their 1st project. Please make sure to check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.

Band: We have been busy reviewing - we are going to begin solo work soon! Practice records were handed out - practice is essential! Encourage regular, consistent practice at home, and thank you!

Bible: The students will be having a quiz on Reformed Worldview philosophy on Thursday, Sept 12. Due to scheduling, 7th graders will also be taking a portion of the MAP test in Bible class on Wednesday, Sept 11. In the meantime, we will begin our first major unit of the year in which we study the act and necessity of devotions.

Choir: We are singing the songs for our school theme, and also chapel songs too. We have started a unit about a historical song, we will do a project about it.

History: History: Next week we will finish making our presentations on the 5 Themes of Geography. Next, we will look at different types of maps and review the concepts of latitude and longitude.

Language Arts: Students will have their first spelling quiz this coming Thursday (Sept 12). They can expect to take a spelling quiz every Thursday from here on out. We will continue discussing reading habits and strategies on Tuesday and Thursday. The other days we will begin laying the groundwork for writing workshop procedures. We’ll begin by developing voice in writing.

7th Math: Students have done an outstanding job reviewing and mastering Integer concepts. We will have a chapter 1 assessment on Wednesday. Also, we will take the MAP Growth assessment on Thursday and Friday next week.

Orchestra: Remember to bring your instrument, bow and books and all sheet music on Mon, Tues. and Thursdays. Turn in 100 minutes of practice this coming Thursday- Sept 12. Remember 5 days, 20 minutes each day! You've got this!

Pre-Algebra: Next week we will finish up chapter one by looking at solving story problems and reviewing the coordinate plane. Later in the week we will quickly review the chapter for a test at the beginning of the following week.

Science: We are investigating what makes a certain ecosystem unique. We did this by observing various ecosystems on our property at the end of last week. We finish this week out by investigating at Ada Lake (our retention pond) - doing water quality tests and scooping for various critters in the water. We will discuss our results further next week.

Eighth Grade:

Yearbook Pictures and Baby Pictures: Earlier in the week an email went out with information about these pictures. Here are the bullet points once again. Thank you for reading and responding to this on a timely basis.

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
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 (gro.naitsirhcada@nanahcubd)
Due date: Dec 01, 2019

"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 Mr. Witte.

Algebra: We are off and working hard on our new Algebra textbook. It is challenging students to discover new algebraic topics using previous knowledge and, often times, shapes & familiar geometric properties.

Art: 8th grade has begun designing a print that includes the artist initials and show something that the artist is interested in, passionate about, a future goal, talent, or hobby. Please make sure to check the homework calendar for sketchbook and project due dates.

Band: We are reviewing and playing an overture; it’s going really well - it is difficult music but they are able to do it. Very cool. Practice records were handed out - practice is essential!! Encourage regular, consistent practice at home, and thank you!

Bible Huttenga: The students will be having a quiz on Reformed Worldview philosophy on Tuesday, Sept 07. From there we will begin our first unit, a study of CS Lewis’s The Last Battle, which will serve as an allegory for Reformation.

Bible VN: We are reading Matthew, listening to the stories of the life of Jesus. Regular questions and mini projects will be assigned as we dive deep into the Bible.

Choir: We are singing the songs for our school theme first, and doing a project about types of music we like.

Geometry: We continue to review a few foundational Algebra concepts. Next week we will review solving systems of equations and will complete the Fall MAP Growth assessment.

History: This past week we spent two days researching our NHD topics in class and taking notes. We also spent a day with Mr. Hoo working on the log cabin and spreading mulch on the ACS trails. Next week we hope to get each student an opportunity to keep working on the log cabin. As far U.S. History...next week we will be looking at the Boston Massacre, British taxes, and the Boston Tea Party.

Language Arts: 8th graders will be spending their class periods on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday researching their topics for NHD. Each class period will also have an accompanying mini-lesson to offer help and insight into their research methods as well as making sure they are focusing on the narrative of the theme. On Monday, students will be awarded points based on whether or not they have a separate three-ring binder to hold all the project’s materials. On Tuesday and Thursday, students will be in the Reading Zone and will be expected to bring a novel to class and keep one stored in their locker as a backup.

Orchestra: Remember to bring your instrument, bow and all music on Mon, Tues and Thurs. Turn in practice - 5 days with 20 minutes each day! Play through Concerto in G 5 times!

Pre-Algebra: Next week we will finish up chapter one by looking at solving story problems and reviewing the coordinate plane. Later in this coming week we will quickly review the chapter for a test at either the end of the week or the beginning of the following week.

Science: We have been looking into the shape of the Earth. We have done many investigations to look into this- from “sailing” a ship across a spherical Earth and a flat Earth to going outside and looking at the differences in the shadows of a flat Earth vs a spherical Earth.

Athletics

If you have any questions regarding your child’s sport season please contact: Angela VanDuyn (gro.naitsirhcada@nyudnava)

For all up to date announcements, schedules, sport sign-ups please visit our ACS 5th-8th Grade Athletic Website