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| Georgia Congressman Jack Kingston answers questions on the current events in Syria in Mrs. English's 8th Grade Government Class. |
WORDS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR
The
Middle School is off to a quick start in this 2013-2014 school year! Last week we held elections for our student
government. Congratulations to everyone
that participated, and to the students who were selected as leaders for this
year. They are:
President – Gray Solana
Vice President – Mac Graham
Secretary- AnnaGiles Truax
Treasurer – Gracie Smith
Secretary- AnnaGiles Truax
Treasurer – Gracie Smith
Historian – Rachel Mascolo
Clubs-- Next week we
will be starting our clubs for the first semester. Each student made a first
and second choice for a club. Those
assignments will be completed at the beginning of next week. This year the clubs
will be held on Wednesdays. Wednesday
the Middle School follows a slightly different time schedule to provide for
time just before lunch for clubs to meet.
The fall semester clubs are:
Student
Government – Ms. Hughes & Mrs. Reardon
Junior
National Honor Society – Mrs. Blake
Quiz
Bowl/Geography Bee – Mrs. English
Debate
– Mrs. O’Connor
Dance
Choreography – Ms. Edie
Math
Club – Mr. Lanfear
Chess
– Mr. Crawford
Study
Skills/Study Halls – The Middle School altered its period
structure to give more time to academic instruction. Stretching out our periods an additional 10
minutes provides an additional 13 hours of instruction over the year in each
subject area. That makes 65 hours for
the 5 core courses! However, this did
come at the expense of having a study time every school day. Currently there are two study times each
week, one for 30 minutes and one for 55 minutes. Moving forward, we will begin the delivery of
a Study Skills curriculum in the 30 minute block. This instruction will not consume the entire
block and will use a student’s current assignments as the basis for
instruction.
6TH GRADE NEWS
This week students concluded their study of our first unit in the literature textbook. We took a test over types of nonfiction today, and next week students will try their hand at writing some of their own nonfiction. We will begin drafting our pieces in class on Monday, and completed rough drafts will be due on Wednesday. Students will have time to type their final drafts in class on Thursday and Friday, though it is possible that your student may need access to a computer at home to finish this assignment during the later portion of next week. If this is a problem, your student is welcome to come in early or stay late to use the computers at school. Our typed, final drafts will be due on Monday, September 23rd. We will also be working with subjects, predicates, and direct/indirect objects in our GUM books as well as completing lesson three in Wordly Wise.
Math 6 with Mrs. Reardon
Next week in Math 6, we will complete Chapter 2 by learning
scientific notation, and measuring and converting metric units. On Thursday, we will review Chapter 2 in
class and students will take their Chapter 2 test on Friday, September 20. Please note that there is extra practice on www.classzone.com for this course. Just click on "Middle School Math," then "Georgia," and the click on "find your book."
Click on the "Math Course 1 book."
You will find extra practice for every chapter.
6th Earth Science with Mr. Crawford
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| Lab day in Mr. Crawford's Earth Science Class. |
TENTATIVE schedule is:
Monday – In class – Discuss Rotation/Revolution
and Seasons. Homework – p37 Multiple
Choice 8-12; Applications 5 & 6.
Tuesday – In class – Quiz on section 2.1; Discuss
rotation and time; Time worksheet.
Homework – Read 33-34; p 37 MC # 13; App #8.
Wednesday – In class – Discuss the questions on
the bottom of page 32; Do section 2.3 in class; Prep for lab found on page 35.
Thursday – In class – Complete page 35 lab. Homework – complete lab report.
Friday – In class – spiral back through the
concepts presented this week. Homework –
unknown at this point.
6th Earth Science with Mrs. Blake
This week’s chapter test will be sent home today. Please look over it with your 6th
grader and sign it. Next week, the class
will begin their chapter on atoms and elements.
As part of this study the students will be doing their first project of
the year on elements. The majority of
their work will be done in class.
6th Spanish with Ms. Hughes
Next week in Spanish class the 6th grade will be
learning about the verb “gustar” and the vocabulary associated with the verb.
The students will be practicing through a variety of oral and written
activities. There will be a vocabulary quiz on Thursday, September 19th.
6th World
Civilizations with Mrs. English
This week we will begin Chapter
2: Early Farmers and City Dwellers. We will discuss how early people
produce food and what types of food different cultures grew around the
world. All of the major culture groups grew different types of crops and
domesticated different animals. We will also discuss how geography influenced
agriculture, and how food influenced early civilizations. For homework students
will define vocabulary, respond to section review questions, and complete a
worksheet on the effect of farming on livestock, settlement, land ownership,
and society rules. We will have an assessment on Chapter 2—Section 1 at
the end of the week.
7TH GRADE NEWS
Students are almost finished with our first major unit in the literature textbook. Our test over short stories is coming up on Tuesday, September 17th. Students have a list of every short story we have read in this unit on the syllabus, as well as list of concepts and skills that we have been practicing in the class notes section of their binders. In addition to taking this test next week, students will also be demonstrating their knowledge of short stories by writing their own creative pieces. We will begin drafting these in class on Wednesday, and completed rough drafts will be due on Friday, September 20th. I plan to give students some specific guidelines for this creative writing assignment during the early part of next week. We will also be working with direct/indirect objects as well as learning about predicate nouns and adjectives. Finally, we will be completing lesson three in Wordly Wise.
7th Pre- Algebra with Mrs. Reardon
Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will continue in Chapter 2
learning how to solve equations with variables as well as solving equations
using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. On Thursday, we will review for the chapter
quiz that students will take on Friday, September 20. The quiz will cover sections 4-6. Please note that there is extra practice on www.classzone.com for this course. Just click on Middle School Math, then
Georgia, and the click on find your book.
Click on the Math Course 3 book.
You will find extra practice for every chapter.
7th-8th Algebra with Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Algebra, we will be starting Chapter 3. We will be solving one-step, two-step, and multi-step equations (Sections 3.1 – 3.4). There will be a short quiz on Wednesday (9/18) on sections 3.1 – 3.2.
7th-8th Algebra with Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Algebra, we will be starting Chapter 3. We will be solving one-step, two-step, and multi-step equations (Sections 3.1 – 3.4). There will be a short quiz on Wednesday (9/18) on sections 3.1 – 3.2.
7th Grade Life Science with Mrs. Blake
At the beginning of next week, the seventh graders will be
writing a formal conclusion to their lab on acid-base indicators. They will be composing their first draft in
class, but will need to type the final product at home. They
will also be starting their next chapter which is devoted to the microscope and
the cell.
7th Spanish with Ms. Hughes
7th American History with Mrs. English
This week we will finish Chapter 1 by completing section 4 “The European Heritage.” This section is an introduction to the Age of Exploration. It overviews the religious, governmental, and social background of Europe in an effort to explain why Europe began looking outward to unexplored lands. In conjunction with this section, we will work on our Exploration mini-project. For this project, students imagine they are 1400s explorers trying to get supporters for their next adventure. They will write a speech and make flyers to convince others to join their cause. Students will consider the dangers and rewards of being an explorer. Students will perform their speeches with a partner at the end of the week. For homework, students will be required to thoroughly read the section, define vocabulary, answer section review questions, and work on their projects. We will have an assessment on Chapter 1—Section 4 on Wednesday.
7th Spanish with Ms. Hughes
Next week in Spanish class the 7th grade will be
learning about the present progressive tense and informal commands. They will
be practicing the new grammar through a variety of oral and written activities.
There will be a vocabulary quiz on Thursday, September 19th.
7th American History with Mrs. English
This week we will finish Chapter 1 by completing section 4 “The European Heritage.” This section is an introduction to the Age of Exploration. It overviews the religious, governmental, and social background of Europe in an effort to explain why Europe began looking outward to unexplored lands. In conjunction with this section, we will work on our Exploration mini-project. For this project, students imagine they are 1400s explorers trying to get supporters for their next adventure. They will write a speech and make flyers to convince others to join their cause. Students will consider the dangers and rewards of being an explorer. Students will perform their speeches with a partner at the end of the week. For homework, students will be required to thoroughly read the section, define vocabulary, answer section review questions, and work on their projects. We will have an assessment on Chapter 1—Section 4 on Wednesday.
8TH GRADE NEWS
8th Grade English Language Arts with Mrs. O'Connor
The eighth grade students are currently reading Ender’s
Game by Orson Scott Card. Students have a reading calendar that
outlines their reading homework for each night of the week, and students are
welcome to read ahead at any point. We have a quiz over chapters 7-12 on
Wednesday, September 18th. Our test over this novel is
scheduled for Thursday, September 26th. Students will also be
writing a major paper over the novel, and this assignment will be given to
students on Tuesday, September 24th and due on Thursday, October 3rd.
8th Grade Physical Science with Mrs. Blake
The eighth graders have just started a new chapter on
measurement in science. Students will be
using their math skills a great deal in the next few weeks. They began by reviewing rounding of decimals
and the importance of estimation. They
are learning the difference between precision and accuracy and how they relate
to each other. All of this leads to our
coming work with metrics.
8th Spanish with Ms. Hughes
8th Spanish with Ms. Hughes
Next week in Spanish class the 8th grade will be
learning about sports and extracurricular activities. We will be practicing
these new words and grammar points through a variety of oral and written
activities. There will be a vocabulary quiz on Friday, September 20th.
7th-8th Algebra with Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Algebra (Grades 7/8), we will be starting Chapter 3. We will be solving one-step, two-step, and multi-step equations (Sections 3.1 – 3.4). There will be a short quiz on Wednesday (9/18) on sections 3.1 – 3.2.
8th Advanced Algebra with Mr. Lanfear
In Advanced Algebra, we will be discussing the mathematics behind the formula for the axis of symmetry. We will also discuss how to solve quadratic equations by using square roots. There will be a mid-chapter test on sections 10.1 – 10.4 on Thursday (9/19) with a review on Wednesday (9/18).
7th-8th Algebra with Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Algebra (Grades 7/8), we will be starting Chapter 3. We will be solving one-step, two-step, and multi-step equations (Sections 3.1 – 3.4). There will be a short quiz on Wednesday (9/18) on sections 3.1 – 3.2.
8th Advanced Algebra with Mr. Lanfear
In Advanced Algebra, we will be discussing the mathematics behind the formula for the axis of symmetry. We will also discuss how to solve quadratic equations by using square roots. There will be a mid-chapter test on sections 10.1 – 10.4 on Thursday (9/19) with a review on Wednesday (9/18).
8th American
Government with Mrs. English
Last week we wrapped up the
Foundations of Government and discussed the rights and liberties of all men and
women. This week we look forward to the Origins of American Government.
We will discuss the history of governments that led to the creation of the
American colonies. This section illustrates the importance of religious
and intellectual influences that fused to create the basic foundations of the
American government. Important intellectual thinkers discussed will
include John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Charles de Montesquieu. We
will continue our discussions on current events happening around the
world. Homework will include thoroughly reading Chapter 2—Section 1,
defining section terms, and begin research on government in the early
colonies. An assessment on Chapter 2—Section 1 will be given at the end
of the week.
UPCOMING EVENTS
From the MS Art Room-
Sept 23-29, 2013 at the Jepson Center’s Eckburg Atrium
The Monks Return! Tibetan Monks Residency and Sand Mandala
Painting
Our HDS 6th Grade art students are creating
personal Mandala’s right now in their art class! What a great opportunity
for all HDS students…..The Tibetan Buddhist monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery
return to the Jepson Center for the first time in more than four years to
create an exquisite sand mandala painting as part of a weeklong residency.
Programs related to the monks’ residency include a variety of activities for
all ages! You can view the creation of the Mandala Tuesday-Saturday, September
23-29 from 10am-5pm. The opening ceremony is Monday Sept. 23 at 5pm and
the closing ceremony is Sunday, Sept. 29 at 2pm. More information can be
found at www.Telfair.org
For questions about this event, contact Nancy Oosterhoudt at noosterhoudt@hancockdayschool.com
SPORTS EVENTS
Volleyball Game
Hancock vs. St. Andrews at St. Andrews
Tuesday, Sept. 17 @ 6pm
Volleyball Game CANCELED
Hancock vs. SCDS in Hancock Gym
Thursday, Sept. 19 @ 5:30pm
Football Game
Hancock vs. Blessed Sacrament at Daffin Park
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| Thursday's Pep Rally. |
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| Huddle up! |
Please support our students and our teams by attending an event this week!
