March 31-April 4, 2014

The 8th grade Campaign Project

WORDS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR

ELECTION DAY IS HERE!

Tuesday, April 1^st, Hancock Day School will be holding a Presidential election to select a candidate from either the Green Party, Virginia Maxwell or the Gold Party, Mason Stoever.  The election marks the conclusion of an 8^th grade Social Studies project about the electoral process.  It has been an exciting two weeks at school as the candidates and the campaign teams campaigned hard to earn electoral votes.  Best of luck to each of these parties as they both worked VERY hard.

8^th GRADE KANUGA TRIP MEETING

8^TH grade families will meet at 6:30 on Tuesday, April 1^st to go over the details of the school’s trip to the Mountain Trail Outdoor School in Hendersonville, NC.  We are looking forward to an exciting week (April 14^th – 17^th) in the mountains and a visit to sites in Asheville, North Carolina.  If last year’s trip is any indicator, this should be a great capstone experience for 16 fantastic students who have enjoyed many years together at Hancock.  See all of you at 6:30 on Tuesday.

3 X 3 BASKETBALL
The Hancock Heat remains undefeated (as of Thursday) and leads the league.  We will finish league play on Friday, April 11^th.  After a week off to accommodate the 8^th grade trip we will begin a double elimination, seeded tournament.  It has been a great experience for everyone!  Stop by and enjoy a game daily from 1:00 – 1:20!

Don't forget to sign up for summer camp!


Hancock Day School Cheerleading
Sign-ups 2014-2015
Football and Competition Squads

Who is eligible? Rising 5th, 6th, 7th, & 8th graders
April 3rd and April 4th- Cheer Clinics: 3:00-4:30pm, HDS Gym.  Come learn a cheer, pom routine, and skills needed for tryouts.

April 10th, Tryouts-3:00-4:30pm, HDS Gym.
Cheer forms due on this day!

April 25th-Uniforms will be ordered.  No one will be added after this date for the 2014-2015 year!

6TH GRADE NEWS

Dance Club

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

Sixth grade students are currently working on research for an expository research project.  For this assignment students have selected a person who has made significant contributions to the world, and each student is responsible for exploring a variety of print and web sources to learn more about their selected topic.  By the end of next week students will organize their research into a basic outline format and select a genre they would like to use to present and share their information.  We will also take a short quiz over the research process on Wednesday, April 2^nd.  

Does your child enjoy creative writing?  Please consider registering for the Creative Writing Camp at HDS July 14^th-18^th.  This camp is a week-long opportunity for students to focus on improving their writing in a fun and supportive environment.  Campers will experiment with a variety of writing styles and genres.  Registration forms can be found here:  http://hancockdayschool.org/files/misc/campocconor2014.pdf

Math 6 with Mrs. Reardon

Next week in Math 6 we will begin into Chapter 10 learning some basics of Geometry with a little touch of Algebra mixed in.  We will discuss special types of angles and triangles.  On Monday, students will receive an outline for their Math Facts Quiz that will take place on Wednesday, April 2.  On Thursday, we will start on a poster project in class.  Students will need to bring in 2-3 magazines that can be cut up by Thursday, April 3.  On Friday, April 4, we will take a Chapter quiz over lessons 10.1-10.3 and finish the poster project.

6th Earth Science with Mr. Crawford
Mr. Crawford will send an email out to the parents in his earth science class!

6th Earth Science with Mrs. Blake

The sixth graders started a solar system project the week before spring break.  After researching a specific planet or moon, each student designed an alien that could live in that specific environment.  On Monday, the students will give their presentations.  They will also learn about asteroids and comets.  The class will have a quiz at the end of the week.

6th Spanish with Ms. Hughes

Next week in Spanish class, the 6^th grade will be working with their new vocabulary and grammar from Chapter 5A. This chapter discusses families, celebrations, and expressing possession. The students will begin a new project where they will create a family album with pictures and descriptions of each family member in Spanish. The Chapter 5A test will be Friday, April 4^th.

6th World Civilizations with Mrs. English

This week in World Civilizations we will continue our study on the ancient Chinese.  We will discuss the Great Wall of China and Qin Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Army.  We will also do a little fact versus fiction concerning the Disney movie Mulan.  Students should expect to read in Chapter 11-Lesson 4, define vocabulary, and answer chapter review questions for homework.

7TH GRADE NEWS

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

Seventh grade students are busy preparing to write a research paper.  All students have selected a topic related to our Science or Social Studies curriculum, and in the week ahead students will continue to explore a variety of print and web sources to learn more about these topics.  As students explore research they are responsible for completing source cards and taking careful notes.  Next week students will begin to organize their research into an outline.  We will also take a quiz over run-ons, comma splices, and fragments on Thursday, April 4^th.

Does your child enjoy creative writing?  Please consider registering for the Creative Writing Camp at HDS July 14^th-18^th.  This camp is a week-long opportunity for students to focus on improving their writing in a fun and supportive environment.  Campers will experiment with a variety of writing styles and genres.  Registration forms can be found here:  http://hancockdayschool.org/files/misc/campocconor2014.pdf

Pre-Algebra with Mrs. Reardon

Next week in Pre-Algebra we will finish out Chapter 9 by learning a little trigonometry.  We will look at tangent, sine, and cosine ratios.  On Monday, students will receive an outline for the Math Facts Quiz that will take place on Wednesday, April 2.  On Thursday, we will review Chapter 9 and students will take their Chapter 9 test on Friday, April 4.

7th-8th Algebra with Mr. Lanfear
Next week in Mr. Lanfear’s Algebra class (Grades 7/8), we will continue our discussion of exponent rules (8.1 – 8.2).  We will discover what a zero exponent means (8.3).  We will have a quiz on Thursday.

7th Grade Life Science with Mrs. Blake

The seventh graders are beginning their study of the human body.  They have started with the skeletal system.  They are learning about the structure of bone and the different type of movable joints.  They will then look at the muscular system.  On Thursday, they will have a quiz over the skeleton.

7th Spanish with Ms. Hughes

Next week in Spanish class, the 7^th grade will continue to work with the vocabulary and grammar from Chapter 2A. This chapter covers reflexive verbs and vocabulary discussing daily routines. There will be a graded listening on Wednesday, April 2^nd and the Chapter 2A test will be Friday, April 4^th.

7th American History with Mrs. English

This week in American history we examine government and culture under presidents Washington, Adams, and Jefferson.  Students should expect to read in Chapter 8-Section 1 & 2, define vocabulary, and answer chapter review questions for homework.  We will also learn so interesting attributes about our early presidents.  Did you know that Thomas Jefferson spoke 6 different languages? 

8TH GRADE NEWS

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

Eighth grade students have just finished reading A Raisin in the Sun.  We will take a test over this play and contextual vocabulary on Tuesday, April 1^st, and we will begin viewing the film version of this story in class on Wednesday.  Permission slips for the film went home today, and they should be signed and returned by Tuesday.   

8th Grade Physical Science with Mrs. Blake

Next week the eighth graders will continue their study of solubility by looking at the various factors that impact solubility.   They will also learn about acidic and basic solutions and how they react together.   During the week they will also perform a solubility lab.  They will have a quiz over these topics on Friday. 

7th-8th Algebra with Mr. Lanfear

Next week in Mr. Lanfear’s Algebra class (Grades 7/8), we will continue our discussion of exponent rules (8.1 – 8.2).  We will discover what a zero exponent means (8.3).  We will have a quiz on Thursday.

8th Advanced Algebra with Mr. Lanfear

Next week in Mr. Lanfear’s Intro to Geometry class (Grade 8), we will be continuing to explore Surface Area and Volume.  We will learn how to calculate the surface area of cones (9.3) as well as the volumes of prisms and cylinders (9.4).

8th Spanish with Ms. Hughes

Next week in Spanish class, the 8^th grade will continue to work with the vocabulary and grammar from Chapter 5B. This chapter discusses medical terminology and the imperfect progressive tense. The students will have a graded listening on Wednesday, April 2^nd and the Chapter 5B test will be Friday, April 4^th. 

8th American Government with Mrs. English

This week we vote on our election campaign! I am very proud of all the 8^th grade students for all their hard work! In class we will continue our study on the executive branch and specifically define the different roles that the executive branch plays.  Reading will come from Chapter 7-Section 2 &3.  Students should be prepared to answer chapter review questions and define vocabulary.