Announcements: April 22 - May 2, 2014

Photos of the 7th grade art class working on middle school fiber arts project with Katherine Sandoz. The final work will be presented on May 16th. 

WORDS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR

Community Service Day on Tybee Island is Friday, April 25

Friday, April 25 is a 12pm dismissal

The Middle School Play will be Thursday, May 1st at 6 pm and Friday, May 2nd at 8:30 am

6TH GRADE NEWS

6th Grade English Language Arts with Mrs. O'Connor

Sixth graders have just finished up their research projects and are concluding research presentations this week. We are also starting to read A Wrinkle in Time.  Students will get a reading calendar outlining homework assignments our study of this novel on Monday, April 28^th.  Our first quiz over the novel will take place on Wednesday, April 30^th.

Math 6 with Mrs. Reardon

This week in Math 6 we will take Tuesday and Wednesday to review in depth for the Chapter 10 test that will take place on Thursday, April 24.  Next week we will jump right into Chapter 11 exploring square roots, the Pythagorean Theorem, and area of parallelograms, triangles, and trapezoids.  On Wednesday, April 30 students will take a math facts quiz. The outline will be distributed on Monday, April 28. Then on Friday, May 2 there will be a Chapter quiz over sections 1 – 5. 

6th Earth Science with Mr. Crawford

Over the next two weeks we will be concluding our study or rocks and minerals.  Each day this week we will hear 2 or 3 student presentation on the research they did on minerals.  Homework and class work will center on the Rock Cycle and the study of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.  We will be working from a handout the students received today in class.   Tuesday – review rock cycle answer questions 5-6-7 on pages 84 and 85 of handout.  Wednesday – Igneous Rocks – pages 85-88; questions 3 & 4 page 88.  Thursday – Sedimentary Rocks 89-93; pages 92 & 93 questions 1-2-3.  The following week we will finish up the handout, have a quiz on rocks and conclude on Friday with a test on rocks and minerals.

6th Earth Science with Mrs. Blake

The sixth graders continue their work concerning stars and galaxies. Last week they constructed a graph showing the fluctuation of sunspots over a thirty year span and this week they will graph data on solar flares. They will also learn how to read an H-R Diagram which shows the relationship between a star's temperature and its magnitude. The ability to understand diagrams and graphs is critically important in all areas of science. They will have a quiz on Thursday of this week. Next week they will look at the changes stars go through and the different types of galaxies.Their chapter test will be on Friday, May 2. 

6th Spanish with Ms. Hughes

This week in Spanish class, the 6^th grade will be presenting their famous Spanish-speaking individual. Next week we will continue to work with por and para and begin a new unit describing people and ordering a meal in a restaurant. Students will have a quiz over por and para on Thursday, May 1^st.

6th World Civilizations with Mrs. English
The 8^th grade trip was an awesome experience, but I’m glad to be back with the entire Middle School.  I am especially eager to see all the hard work that the 6^th graders put into their projects last week.  This week they will present their research and tri-folds to the class.  We will discuss the successes and problems that some of them ran into with research.  We will also brainstorm how to approach research projects in the future and why it is an important part of being a historian.  On Thursday we will change gears a little because we have a special guest speaker coming Thursday evening at 6:00 pm in Hancock Hall (students, parents, and friends are all welcome!).  Students are not required to come, but highly encouraged.  Our speaker is Colonel Patricia Blassie who is the sister 1^st Lt. Michael Blassie, a pilot that was killed during the Vietnam War and served as the Vietnam Unknown Soldier at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington D.C. Colonel Patricia Blassie will discuss her fight to find her brother after 26 years of not knowing his whereabouts and ultimately finding him in the Tomb of the Unknowns.  In class on Thursday we will discuss the events that led up to Michael Blassie’s burial at the Tomb of the Unknowns and students will get to see artifacts and documents of the burial.  They will also see how tombs for unknown soldiers are as old as the ancient Greeks! Amazing! Hope to see you at the talk, Thursday @ 6:00pm in Hancock Hall.  Next week we will have our ancient China test on Tuesday April 29^th.  

7TH GRADE NEWS

7th Grade English Language Arts with Mrs. O'Connor

Seventh graders are nearly done with their formal research papers.  We had to take a break to work on a couple of small end of the year projects (your child can tell you more about these), but our final drafts of research papers are due on Tuesday, April 29^th.  Later this week we will begin to explore background information for our last novel of the year, The Pearl by Steinbeck.  Students will get a reading calendar outlining homework assignments for our study of this novel on Monday, April 28^th.

Pre-Algebra with Mrs. Reardon

This week in Pre-Algebra we will continue in Chapter 10 discussing circumference and area of circles, as well as surface area of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones.  On Thursday, April 24, students will take a math facts quiz. Students will receive the outline for this on Wednesday, April 23.  Next week we will wrap up Chapter 10 learning about volume of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones.  We will take 2 days to review since the content is so rich and students will take their Chapter 10 test on Friday, May 2.

7th Algebra with Mr. Lanfear

This week in Mr. Lanfear’s Algebra class (Grades 7/8), we will be starting the sections on exponential growth (8.5) and decay (8.6).  This involves a fun activity on Wednesday involving M&M’s and Skittles!

7th Grade Life Science with Mrs. Blake

The 7^th graders have started a very short chapter on nutrients and digestion.  Each student was asked to keep a 24 hour food log.  They will look closely at the various food groups and see how well each student’s diet falls within the guidelines set forth by the USDA for a healthy diet.  They will also learn why each of the six nutrients is needed by the body.  Next week they will look at the structures that make up the digestive system and the process of digestion.  Their chapter test will be on Friday, May 2.   

7th Spanish with Ms. Hughes

This week in Spanish class, the 7^th grade will be presenting their famous Spanish-speaking individual. Next week we will begin a new chapter discussing shopping, paying for purchases and different fabrics used to make clothing. Students will have a vocabulary quiz on Friday, May 2^nd.

7th American History with Mrs. English

The 8^th grade trip was an awesome experience, but I’m glad to be back with the entire Middle School.  I am especially eager to see all the hard work that the 7^th graders put into their projects last week. This week they will present their president presentations to the class. We will discuss the successes and problems that some of them ran into with research.  We will also brainstorm how to approach research projects in the future and why it is an important part of being a historian. On Thursday we will change gears a little because we have a special guest speaker coming Thursday evening at 6:00 pm in Hancock Hall (students, parents, and friends are all welcome!). Students are not required to come, but highly encouraged. Our speaker is Colonel Patricia Blassie who is the sister 1^st Lt. Michael Blassie, a pilot that was killed during the Vietnam War and served as the Vietnam Unknown Soldier at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington D.C. Colonel Patricia Blassie will discuss her fight to find her brother after 26 years of not knowing his whereabouts and ultimately finding him in the Tomb of the Unknowns.  In class on Thursday we will discuss the events that led up to Michael Blassie’s burial at the Tomb of the Unknowns and students will get to see artifacts and documents of the burial.  They will also see how the Tomb of the Unknowns is a long standing tradition in American history! Tombs for unknown soldiers actually date back to Greece’s Peloponnesian War, amazing! Hope to see you at the talk, Thursday @ 6:00pm in Hancock Hall.  Next week we will have our Chapter 8 (Sections 1 & 2) and Chapter 9 (Sections 1 & 2) test on Tuesday April 29^th.  

8TH GRADE NEWS

8th Grade English Language Arts with Mrs. O'Connor

Now that the eighth graders are back from their trip, we are completing a couple of small end of the year projects (your child can tell you more about these).  In the next few days we will be starting to explore background information over Romeo and Juliet.  Students will begin reading this play in class next week. Our first quiz over the play and background information will take place on Thursday, May 1^st.

8th Grade Physical Science with Mrs. Blake

After their week away, the eighth graders will spend this week reviewing their chapter on solutions and solubility.Their test on this chapter will be Thursday. Next week they will begin a chapter on organic chemistry. They will learn why carbon is present in so many compounds and the main groups of saturated hydrocarbons. They will also look at isomers and preform a quick lab activity in which they made models of isomers.  

7th-8th Algebra with Mr. Lanfear

This week in Mr. Lanfear’s Algebra class (Grades 7/8), we will be starting the sections on exponential growth (8.5) and decay (8.6).  This involves a fun activity on Wednesday involving M&M’s and Skittles!

Intro to Geometry with Mr. Lanfear

This week in Mr. Lanfear’s Intro to Geometry class (Grade 8), we will be reviewing Chapter 9 which involves surface area and volume. We will have our Chapter Test on Thursday.

8th Spanish with Ms. Hughes

This week in Spanish class, the 8^th grade will begin a new unit discussing food preparation and how to follow a recipe. We will also cover negative tú commands and the impersonal se. Students will have a vocabulary quiz on Tuesday, April 29^th. 

8th American Government with Mrs. English

The 8^th grade trip was an awesome experience!  I was so proud of all the students and their ability to encourage each other as they learned to stretch their comfort zones.  One of the camp instructors told the chaperones that the kids were the most polite and encouraging group they had ever taught! The next few days this week are going to be exciting. First, we will finish up our study of executive departments and begin looking at how the government funds all of these massive budgets.  Then we will change gears a little because we have a special guest speaker coming Thursday evening at 6:00 pm in Hancock Hall (students, parents, and friends are all welcome!). Students are not required to come, but highly encouraged.  Our speaker is Colonel Patricia Blassie who is the sister 1^st Lt. Michael Blassie, a pilot that was killed during the Vietnam War and served as the Vietnam Unknown Soldier at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington D.C. Colonel Patricia Blassie will discuss her fight to find her brother after 26 years of not knowing his whereabouts and ultimately finding him in the Tomb of the Unknowns.  Col. Blassie will visit the 8^th graders and we will discuss the events that led up to Michael Blassie’s burial at the Tomb of the Unknowns.  Students will get to see artifacts and documents of the burial.  They will also see how the Tomb of the Unknowns is a long standing tradition in American history. We will discuss how the executive branch had the power to erase Michael Blassie’s identity and place him in the Tomb of the Unknowns!  We will also talk about how monuments and memorials are images that promote nationalism in a country. Hope to see you at the talk, Thursday @ 6:00pm in Hancock Hall. 

Announcements: April 14-17, 2014

Dissecting frogs in Mrs. Blake's 7th grade science class

Pennies for Patients
We are please to announce that Hancock raised $3016.17 for Pennies for Patients! Many thanks to the third grade for orchestrating the fundraising and helping us succeed for this great cause! Go Hancock!

Don’t miss the opportunity to bid on your favorite Hancock Items.

Following Items are CLOSED

Vet for the Day

Reserved Seating & Parking for Kindergarten Graduation

Reserved Seating & Parking for 8^th Grade Graduation

November and April Birthday Marquee

Go to www.biddingforgood.com/HancockDaySchool

Bid often and help support Hancock Day School!

Online Auction will close on Saturday, April 19^th at midnight.

Do not forget to check out this year's Fund a Need items. All donations to the Fund a Need are tax deductible. 

Any questions, please contact Felicia McManamy at fmcmanamy@hancockdayschool.org

Study Skills Course for College-Bound Middle School Students Preparing for High School and your BEST academic year! 

When: Monday, June 9th through Thursday, June 12th, 2014

Where: St. Vincent's Academy, Room 3C

Instructor: Mrs. Jody Riddle, High School Counselor

For more information on these sessions, email Bekah Edie at redie@hancockdayschool.org

WORDS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR
CONGRATULATIONS TO CARLISLE McCULLOUGH

 Since 1928, the annual Optimist International Oratorical Contest has been held. Around 200,000 students under the age of 18 participate across the US and 30 other countries. Carlisle McCullough won the Savannah competition on March 1, 2014. She traveled to Warner Robins this past weekend to compete against students from 4 zones in Georgia. Carlisle delivered a flawless speech and finished second in the competition. Next Wednesday, Carlisle has been asked to give her speech here in Savannah at the Fire Officer of the Year Award Ceremony! Congratulations Carlisle!

COMMUNITY SERVICE AT TYBEE ISLAND

 This year instead of simply raising money for a cause, the student government chose to complete a hands on community service project.  On Friday morning, April 25^th,  we will be working with the Savannah Tree Foundation on Tybee Island cleaning and planting around the Tybee Lighthouse. There is much excitement being generated by this project. Over the next week student government is putting together transportation details and getting appropriate permission forms distributed and collected. Watch for a form and more project details in next week’s blog.

8^th GRADE TRIP

 The 8^th grade is headed to the Mountain Trail Outdoor School in Hendersonville, NC for a week of environmental education and team building experiences. The trip will include a visit to the Biltmore Estate and the Calhoon Museum and Planetarium. This trip marks the final “transition” trip for our 8^th grade students. Next year we will be headed to Washington, D.C.!  Details on that trip will be released after Easter break.

EASTER BREAK BEGINS ON GOOD FRIDAY!

 Next week is a 4 day week to permit students to have a long weekend over Easter.  No school Friday, April 18^th and Monday, April 21^st.  Enjoy your celebration of this joyous holiday!

 

8th grade art

6TH GRADE NEWS

6th Grade English Language Arts with Mrs. O'Connor

The sixth grade has continued to work on our research projects this week. Next week we will be revising our work, wrapping up our bibliographies, and putting the finishing touches on this assignment. The final draft is due on Thursday, April 17^th.

Math 6 with Mrs. Reardon

Next week in Math 6 we will continue in Chapter 10 using proportions with similar polygons, as well as looking at transformations and symmetry of polygons.  On Wednesday, we will review lessons 10.4 – 10.7 and they will take a chapter quiz over those sections on Thursday, April 17.

6th Earth Science with Mr. Crawford

We are going to take what we learned about minerals and apply it to rocks.  Next week we will concentrate on how rocks are formed and introduce the three basic types of rocks.  Monday in class we will hear the reports that were completed over the weekend on minerals.  Homework – orange book p 90-93; questions p93 1-3.  Tuesday we will watch an introduction video on the Rock Cycle and complete an interactive virtual lab.  Homework – Rock Cycle worksheet.  Wednesday will be mostly lecture covering the material on pages 90-93.  Home – study for Rock Cycle quiz.  Thursday we will have a rock cycle quiz.

6th Earth Science with Mrs. Blake

This week the sixth graders began their chapter on stars and galaxies. Next week they will continue to study the difference between absolute and apparent magnitude. It is important that they understand how these quantities relate to each other. After that the class will take a more in depth look at our star, the sun.

6th Spanish with Ms. Hughes

Next week in Spanish class, the 6^th grade will be working on a project where they will research and present a famous Spanish-speaking individual. Ms. Roberts will be their substitute as I will be in Asheville for the 8^th grade trip. I have already distributed the rubric and requirements for the project.

6th History with Mrs. English

I will be on the 8th grade trip, but 6th grade will be working on their Ancient China projects. 

7TH GRADE NEWS

7th Grade English Language Arts with Mrs. O'Connor

The seventh graders are finishing up their research outlines and composing rough drafts in the week ahead.  We will be learning about parenthetical citations and continuing to practice using MLA format.  The final draft of this paper will be due on Friday, April 25^th.

Pre-Algebra with Mrs. Reardon

Next week in Pre-Algebra we will continue in Chapter 10 investigating the area of parallelograms and trapezoids, as well as  looking at circumference and area of a circle.  On Wednesday, we will review lessons 10.1 – 10.4 and they will take a chapter quiz over those sections on Thursday, April 17.

7th-8th Algebra with Mr. Lanfear

Next week Mr. Lanfear will be gone on the 8^th grade trip, so Mrs. Blake will be covering his Algebra class.  They will be exploring scientific notation further.

7th Grade Life Science with Mrs. Blake

Dissecting frogs

The seventh grade class spent this week on their frog dissection. I was quite pleased with their work. Next week they will finish their first chapter on human body systems by looking at the integumentary system. At that point they will have a test which will include three systems and frog anatomy.

7th Spanish with Ms. Hughes

Next week in Spanish class, the 7^th grade will be working on a project where they will research and present a famous Spanish-speaking individual. Ms. Roberts will be their substitute as I will be in Asheville for the 8^th grade trip. I have already distributed the rubric and requirements for the project.

7th American History with Mrs. English
I will be on the 8th grade trip, but the 7th graders will be working on their Presidents Project.

April 7-11, 2014

The 8th grade art class works on the "Art Bomb" project for the end of the year

WORDS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR

HIGH STAKES TESTING VS NO STAKES TESTING and THE ERB’S

We have all heard horror stories about the requirement that a student pass a state administered exam in order to graduate from high school. This type of assessment is called a High Stakes Test. It causes anxiety and many other problems for students and families in preparing for it, taking it, and waiting for the results. The opposite of a High Stakes Test is a No Stakes Test. A No Stakes Test is an assessment that the person who is taking it feels will have no effect on his/her life.  An example of a No Stakes Test is an aptitude test like the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test that is used to evaluate readiness to enroll in an algebra course. While students may see a test as No Stakes, they are NEVER REALLY a No Stakes test.  Assessments are given with a purpose in mind, not simply to consume time. Therefore, the data that the test generates will be used in some way that WILL AFFECT the test taker's life.  The ERB is one such test. Increasingly over the years we hear students talking about how this assessment has no impact on their life.  NOTHING COULD BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH! 

The high schools to which our students will be applying for grades 9 – 12 use these results as a prime indicator of student achievement.  The standardized number gives them something to compare Hancock students with students from other middle schools.  So achieving results year after year that accurately reflect student accomplishment is critical.  For our 8^th grade students this will be one of the numbers held in high regard when the high school is making level placements for ninth grade. At Hancock we use the results to place students in the correct level of math. For sixth grade students this will be one of 5 factors that will help us accurately create our Pre-Algebra and Algebra classes next year. 

Long story short, the ERB is FAR from a No Stakes Test. While no one will fail to graduate from HDS for a low ERB score, the data the test generates will have a major impact on a student’s academic life over the next several years. Hence, students must put themselves is a position to succeed by coming prepared to do their best on the ERB’s. 

How a student come prepared for the ERB:

·        Make sure your child gets enough sleep each night.
·        Avoid scheduling medical or dental appointments on testing days.
·        Bring your child to school on time.  Rise early so you aren’t rushed
·        Prepare a good, hearty breakfast for your child to help with energy and brain power.
·        Send TWO nutritious snacks on each day of testing as the Middle School will have two breaks each day.
·       Offer positive encouragement as you send your child to school each morning. Be calm and cheerful; they take cues from you!

In order not to put additional stress on students, Middle School assignments will be severely curtailed between Tuesday and Friday of next week.

We hope that everyone will be in top form next week and are accurately assessed!

6^th Grade Earth Science – Mr. Crawford

Next week we will only meet Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to accommodate the administration of the ERB. We will be working in class on a research project on minerals, their mining and their uses.