September 8-12

 2014-2015 Running Candidates for the HDS Student Government 

Students from Ms. Oosterhoudt's art class

Notes from the Head of the Middle School

Last week we officially kicked off our sports season with a pep rally on Thursday.  The volleyball and football teams had their opening games.  This week will be our first full week of classes.  It will be a busy week for assessments, especially Wednesday and Thursday.  Please plan time wisely and study throughout the entire week to be prepared.

AND THE RESULTS ARE IN!

Student Government held its election of officers and homeroom representatives.  Elected were:

President – Isabelle Stafford

Vice President – Madigan Mourning

Secretary – Jackson Selman

Treasurer – Ellie Smith

Historian – Jack Harn

Homeroom representatives elected were:

6^th Grade O’Connor – Lucas Tucker

6^th Grade English – Landon Stone

7^th Grade Blake – Wyatt Martin

7^th Grade Lanfear – Julia Marshall

8^th Grade Hughes – Callie Friedman

8^th Grade Reardon – Ashley Lanier

Congratulations to all of the winners and to all of the students who put it “all on the line” and ran spirited campaigns.

8^th GRADE HIGH SCHOOL VISITS

The dates for high school visitation for our 8^th grade students are filling up.  At this time we will be visiting BC and St. Vincent’s on October 20^th, Savannah Christian on October 27^th, Country Day on November 3^rd and St. Andrews on November 10^th.  A request for a tour has been sent to the Habersham School and Savannah Arts.  Application season is approaching!

EAGLE OPPORTUNITIES BEGIN THIS WEEK!

Students get two additional days of health and fitness activities, an opportunity to participate in a club, time for our Student Government to meet, and access to additional time for support from their teachers.  

6TH GRADE NEWS

Math 6 with Mrs. Reardon

Next week in Math 6, we will wrap up Chapter 1 by discussing the problem solving plan.  Students will use their problem solving skills to do an activity on Tuesday.  Wednesday, we will review for the Chapter 1 test that will take place on Thursday, September 11.

6th-7th Pre Algebra with Mr. Lanfear

Next week we will begin learning about solving equations.  We will learn about the commutative, associative, and identity properties of addition and multiplication (2.1), the distributive property (2.2), and using those properties to simplify variable expressions and combining like terms (2.3).  There will be a quiz on that material on Friday.

6th Earth Science with Mrs. Reardon

Next week in Earth Science, students will write a conclusion from the findings of Friday’s lab called “rate of reaction”.  They will have time in class to type up their formal observation.  Tuesday, we will review for the Chapter 1 test that will take place on Wednesday, September 10.  The end of the week, we will finish up our cross-curricular project on myths about the Greek gods and goddesses of weather. 

6th Earth Science with Mrs. Blake

The sixth graders performed an experiment today that reinforces the scientific method.  Next week they will learn how to write a formal conclusion for that lab.  The students will review on Tuesday and have their first chapter test on Wednesday.  At the end of next week, the will begin their chapter on atoms and elements.

6th Spanish with Ms. Dixon

Next week we’ll finish CapÍtulo 1A in our textbook and review the material from Para Empezar. Students can expect a chapter test on Friday, September 12^th. We’ll have a review session on Thursday. Continue to review the vocabulary and work on our verse of the month. “1 Juan 1:9: Si confesamos nuestros pecados, Él es fiel y justo para perdonar nuestros pecados, y limpiarnos de toda maldad.” 

6th Ancient Civilizations with Mrs. Hannah

 We are preparing to take our first test this coming Thursday! We have already taken quizzes on chapters one and two, and students will test over both chapters. The best way to prepare is to be familiar with the notes we have taken in class, the maps we have studied, and the quizzes they have taken over the material. On Friday, students will receive their graded test and correct any wrong answers, using all the materials we have studied so far (maps, notes, extra activities, etc.). If any student wants extra assistance or clarification, I will be in my room every morning at 7:45. Have a great weekend!

6th Language Arts with Mrs. O'Connor

Next week sixth graders will wrap up their study for short nonfiction pieces.  Our test over this unit is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10^th, and students already have a study guide that outlines the major concepts and texts to review.  After the test students will begin brainstorming and drafting their first major paper of the year – a memoir.  We will also continue our work in lesson two of Wordly Wise and explore predicate nouns and adjectives.

7TH GRADE NEWS

7th Grade English Language Arts with Mrs. Hannah

 We have spent the majority of this week beginning the short story writing process, and the rough draft of their original story will be due Friday, 12 September. I am very excited with the ideas the students have created so far! Next week we will also study Wordly Wise lesson 2, with a quiz on Thursday over the vocabulary. The next short story we read is Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, on page 199 of the literature text. Students should read the story over the weekend and be ready to analyze and discuss on Monday. I am in my room at 7:45 each morning, in case any students would like guidance on their short story, or simply clarification on what we discuss in class. Have a great weekend! 

7th-8th Algebra with Mr. Reardon

Next week in Algebra I, we will begin Chapter 2 by learning more in depth about integers and rational numbers.  Thursday we will do a hands-on activity and review briefly for the quiz that will take place on Friday, September 12.

6th-7th Pre Algebra with Mr. Lanfear 

Next week we will begin learning about solving equations.  We will learn about the commutative, associative, and identity properties of addition and multiplication (2.1), the distributive property (2.2), and using those properties to simplify variable expressions and combining like terms (2.3).  There will be a quiz on that material on Friday.

7th Grade Life Science with Mrs. Blake
The seventh graders will spend next week learning about classification.  They will look at the classification system proposed by Aristotle and how classification has developed over the centuries.  Near the end of the week they will perform a lab that reinforces the scientific method.  Their first chapter test will be on Sept. 16.

7th Spanish with Ms. Hughes

Next week in Spanish class the 7^th grade will begin Chapter 6B. In this chapter students will learn about rooms in a house, household chores, and how to tell someone to do something using affirmative tú commands. I will also be introducing the present progressive tense.  Students will have a quiz over the new vocabulary on Friday, September 12^th. 

7th American History with Mrs. English
This week in American History and Government I we will review for our first test on Chapter 1—Sections 1, 3, & 4.  Students will take the Chapter 1—Sections 1, 3, & 4 test on Wednesday, September 10^th.  On Thursday and Friday we will introduce the Age of Exploration by constructing models of  15^th century ships.  Looking forward to a great week!

8TH GRADE NEWS

8th Grade English Language Arts with Mrs. O'Connor
In the week ahead, the eighth graders will read two short fictional pieces in the textbook as we continue to explore themes in literature.  Students will also evaluate the role point of view plays in a story as they rewrite one of the pieces from a different perspective.  Additionally, we will also be working on sentence parts and continuing our work in lesson two of Wordly Wise.  Our next Wordly Wise quiz will take place on Thursday, September 11^th.  Looking further ahead, we will also take a test over the literature selections from the textbook on Thursday, September 18^th.

8th Grade Physical Science with Mrs. Blake

The eighth graders have been working in groups to design their own labs that reinforce the scientific method.  They will perform these labs on Monday.  At that point they will develop their formal conclusions.  Wednesday they will have their first chapter test and then start a chapter on measurement.  

7th-8th Algebra with Mr. Reardon
Next week in Algebra I, we will begin Chapter 2 by learning more in depth about integers and rational numbers.  Thursday we will do a hands-on activity and review briefly for the quiz that will take place on Friday, September 12.

8th Advanced Algebra with Mr. Lanfear

Next week we will start using our graphing calculators to help us graph quadratic functions.  We will learn about the properties of parabolas (10.1 – 10.2) and how to use them to solve quadratic equations (10.3).  There will be a quiz on Wednesday covering sections 10.1 and 10.2.

8th Geometry with Mr. Lanfear

Next week we will continue out discussion of Chapter 2.  We will discuss conditional statements (2.2) and applying deductive reasoning (2.3).  We will have a quiz later in the week covering those topics.

8th Spanish with Ms. Hughes
Next week in Spanish class the 8^th grade will begin Chapter 1B. This chapter discusses after-school activities, making comparisons, and time expressions. Students will learn about schools in other Spanish-speaking countries and how they differ from our school. There will be a quiz over the new vocabulary on Friday, September 12th. 

8th American History and Government with Mrs. English

This week in American History and Government II we will study the second half of the Civil War and the difficulties that both the North and South faced.  Students will have a quiz on Chapter 15—Sections 2, 3, and 4 notes on Wednesday, September 10^th.  Starting Thursday, students will learn about the atrocities at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and analyze Sherman’s total war during the March to the Sea. Looking forward to a great week!