Announcements: May 12-16, 2014

Photos from last week's production of "Greeks on Stage" 
Director: Maggie Hart

Student Government prepping for the dance

MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCE

WHEN: FRIDAY, MAY 9, 7-9:30 

WHERE: HANCOCK HALL

THEME: NEON

WORDS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR

A big thank you to the parents who made Teacher Appreciation Week so special! It's parents like YOU that make Hancock so special. 

HANCOCK STUDENTS EXCEL!

Each year qualifying 7^th grade students from Hancock Day School participate in the Duke University Talent Identification Program, aka Duke TIP.  Duke TIP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving academically gifted and talented students.  Duke TIP works with students, families, and educators to identify, recognize, challenge, engage, and help students reach their highest potential.  The 7^th Grade Talent Search identifies bright seventh graders based on standardized test scores achieved while attending middle school.  Candidates are invited to take the ACT or the SAT college entrance exams as seventh graders, which allows them greater insight into their academic abilities.  In addition, they gain valuable benefits and have access to unique resources for gifted students.    Based on these test results, participating students will be further recognized by the University at the State level.

Congratulations to these all of these students:

 Ally Best, Caroline Gilpin, Will Gladden, Hunter Simpson and Anson Siu.

ANOTHER TOURNAMENT APPEARACE FOR HANCOCK DAY SCHOOL!!

Yesterday, the HDS golf team qualified for the SPAL golf tournament!  They will be playing at Bacon Park this coming Monday at 4:00.  This is the 9^th tournament appearance for our teams this year!  CONGRATULATIONS on a fine season!  Thank you players and coach Adam Moody.

8^th GRADE STUDENTS GAIN ADMISSIONS TO AREA HIGH SCHOOLS….NOW WHAT?

Congratulations to this year’s graduating 8^th graders on being admitted to their schools of choice for their high school studies.  This marks the completion of a long selection and admission process that began in the fall (earlier for some!).  The important thing to remember, the job is only half done.  Moving on to high school is a two-step process: admissions and placement.  These are two distinct functions at high schools usually involving two separate departments and staff members.  The questions is, what is the family’s function in selecting courses and advocating for their student in this process?  To help answer that question, the Middle School will be hosting a presentation by Helese Sandler from Savannah Educational Consultants.  Ms. Sandler is a licensed counselor who assists families selecting and transitioning to high school and college.  She presented to our families in the fall discussing the admissions process.  Her presentation on Wednesday, May 21^st at 6:30 will discuss how to navigate the guidance process in planning your child’s high school career.  The presentation is open to all HDS families.

“Navigating the Guidance Process for Incoming Freshmen”

Helese Sandler

Savannah Educational Consultants

6:30 - May 21, 2014 – Hancock Hall

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 8^TH GRADE GRADUATES

Our graduates have been accepted to a diverse group of high schools throughout the Chatham County area.  Their acceptance was the culmination of a process that took them through selecting the right school for them and then gaining admission in an increasingly competitive market.  Congratulations to:

Virginia Maxwell                 St. Vincent’s Academy

Claudia Marshall                 St. Vincent’s Academy

Allie Rathbun                      St. Vincent’s Academy

Alex Mason                        St. Vincent’s Academy

Gracie Smith                       St. Vincent’s Academy

      Mason Stoever                    Benedictine Military School

     Philip Dusek                        Benedictine Military School

Abel Martin                         The Habersham School

Kaitlyn Rowe                      The Habersham School

Michael Waller                    St. Andrew’s School

Gray Solana                        St. Andrew’s School

Sawyer Smallwood              Savannah Country Day School

Madeline Mascolo               Savannah Country Day School

Jessica Tucker                     Savannah Arts Academy

Jack Usher                          Savannah Arts Academy

                                 Lucy Batchelor                    St. Vincent’s Academy or Savannah Christian                                     Preparatory School

6TH GRADE NEWS

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

Sixth grade students are wrapping up our study of A Wrinkle in Time.  Students have a test over the novel coming up on Wednesday, May 14^th.  After the test students will be working on creating persuasive travel brochures for planets inspired by those visited in the novel.  The brochures will be due on Tuesday, May 20^th.

Math 6 with Mrs. Reardon

Next week in Math 6 we will begin in Chapter 12 by classifying and sketching solids, as well as learning the formulas for surface area and volume of rectangular prisms and cylinders. On Thursday (5/15) students will take a math facts quiz. They will receive the outline for this on Tuesday (5/13).  Students will not have a chapter quiz or test over Chapter 12 – the material will just be included on the final exam.

6th Earth Science with Mr. Crawford

A week ago Friday the student’s took an examination covering the topics of rocks and minerals.  The results, while passing for most students, were sub-par for most students.  I decided to use that exam as a formative assessment.  Therefore, we spent the week reviewing the topics and took a follow up assessment today (Friday).  We also began our unit on Energy.  Due to the review of rocks and minerals we did not make the progress desired.  Next week we will discuss potential and kinetic energy, renewable and non renewable energy and the relationship of energy to heat.  Students will begin the week in the Energy handout and move to the Renewable and Non renewable handouts.

A word on Power School grades.  The rock and mineral examinations are not entered into Power School.  Also not entered is a grade for the mineral paper/poster/oral presentation because the entire class has not finished delivering their projects.  Most everyone is doing very well on this assignment which will count as a lab assignment.  We will finish delivering the projects on Monday and I will get all these grades entered.  You will most probably see a major shift in your child’s grade. 

6th Earth Science with Mrs. Blake

The sixth graders continue their chapter on weather next week. They will look at fronts and the different types of severe weather, especially hurricanes. The students will also study station models and learn how to read a weather map. At that point, they will have a lab activity dealing with weather maps. The following week, they will have their final chapter test.

6th Spanish with Ms. Hughes

Next week in Spanish class, the 6^th grade will finish Chapter 5B. They will begin a writing assignment where they will create and describe their own restaurant using the vocabulary and grammar skills from this chapter. The Chapter 5B test will be Thursday, May 15^th.

6th World Civilizations with Mrs. English
This week we will continue our study of ancient Rome in Chapter 12-Section 3 & 4.  We will have an ancient Rome test on May 21^st.  

7TH GRADE NEWS

7th Grade English Language Arts with Mrs. O'Connor
Seventh grade students are wrapping up our study of Steinbeck’s novel The Pearl.  Students should finish reading the novel over the weekend, and our test over the book will take place on Tuesday, May 13^th.  After we finish the test students will be writing an in class essay exploring a major theme from the novel.  This will be our last big writing assignment of the year!

Pre-Algebra with Mrs. Reardon

Next week in Pre-Algebra we will continue in Chapter 12 by multiplying monomials, binomials, and polynomials. On Thursday (5/15), we will review sections 3 through 5 and students will take a chapter quiz over those sections on Friday (5/16).

7th Algebra with Mr. Lanfear

Next week in Mr. Lanfear’s Algebra class (Grades 7/8), we will continue our exploration of polynomials.  We will spend the week learning about different methods factoring.  We will factor the GCF (greatest common factor) and learn about factoring binomials as well as factoring the difference of two perfect squares (DOTS).  We will have a short quiz near the middle of the week.

7th Grade Life Science with Mrs. Blake

In seventh grade, the students continue their study the heart & blood.  They have followed the pathway of blood through the body and learned about the functions of blood.  They will be reintroduced to blood types.  When they studied blood types previously, it was in connection to the inheritance of your blood type.  At this point they will be learning about antigens and blood compatibility for transfusions.  Near the end of the week, the class will have their final chapter test of the year.  

7th Spanish with Ms. Hughes

Next week in Spanish class, the 7^th grade will begin a writing assignment using the grammar and vocabulary from chapter 2B. They will create and describe their own fashion magazine. This assignment is due on Thursday, May 15^th and will count as a quiz grade. Students will receive their rubrics on Monday.

7th American History with Mrs. English
This week we will continue our study of the American West in Chapter 13.  We will have a Chapter 13 test on May 21^st.  

8TH GRADE NEWS

8th Grade English Language Arts with Mrs. O'Connor
Eighth graders are continuing to study Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.  Students have a quiz on Monday, May 12^th over the Act 2.  We will have another quiz on Wednesday, May 14^th over Act 3.  Our test over the entire play is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21^st.  

8th Grade Physical Science with Mrs. Blake
The eighth graders spent this week learning about substituted hydrocarbons and biological compounds-proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.  They studied these biological compounds last year in Life Science; so much of this was a review for them. Their chapter test is on Wednesday.  This will complete the chemistry portion of the text and the students will spend the last two weeks working on speed and momentum.   

8th Algebra with Mr. Lanfear

Next week in Mr. Lanfear’s Algebra class (Grades 7/8), we will continue our exploration of polynomials.  We will spend the week learning about different methods factoring.  We will factor the GCF (greatest common factor) and learn about factoring binomials as well as factoring the difference of two perfect squares (DOTS).  We will have a short quiz near the middle of the week.

8th Intro to Geometry with Mr. Lanfear

Next week in Mr. Lanfear’s Introduction to Geometry class (Grade 8), we will finish off our foray into the world of logic. Students experienced a first look at mathematical proofs this past week.  We will be having our final test of the year on Thursday. After that, it’s review, review, review!

8th Spanish with Ms. Hughes

Next week in Spanish class, the 8^th grade will begin working with the new grammar and vocabulary from Chapter 7B. Students will also being a writing assignment where they will select and present their favorite recipe. There will be a vocabulary quiz on Thursday, May 15^th. 

8th American Government with Mrs. English

This week we will continue our study of the American Civil Liberties and Rights.  We will have a test on May 21^st.