The end of the year is fast approaching! It is time to get all community service hours logged into the student accounts. Earlier in the year we sent home a description of our program and the reporting of hours.
“Middle School Students are expected to complete a minimum of 10 hours of community service each school year. Service hours must be documented using the HDS Community Service Log, and be submitted to the homeroom teacher on an ongoing basis as completed, no later than May 1st of each school year.”
May 1st is upon us. Please be sure that your child's hours have been submitted. If you have any questions, you can contact Mrs. Chandler in the Middle School office.
8th Grade Parents:
*If you have not submitted your photos for the graduation slideshow, please do so before April 30th. Send them to Mrs. Chandler at achandler@hancockdayschool.org.
NOTES FROM 8th GRADE
8th Grade Algebra 1 Mrs. Reardon
Next week we will continue on Chapter 10 by learning other methods to solving quadratic functions and equations. We will work through several practice problems next week to ensure that the students have mastered these difficult concepts. No assessment next week.
8th Grade Geometry Mr. Lanfear
Next week we will learn ways to find the volume of prisms and cylinders (12.4). We will also learn how to find the volume of pyramids and cones (12.5). We will do a fun activity with popcorn on Tuesday.
8th Grade Advanced Algebra Mr. Lanfear
Next week we will continue our review of Algebra 1 by beginning to review solving systems of linear equations. We will review different methods of solving them including graphing, the substitution method, and the elimination method. There will be a quiz over systems of equations the following week.
8th Grade Language Arts Mrs. O’Connor
We will continue reading and studying Romeo and Juliet next week. Students will finish reading act two and take a quiz over this act on Tuesday, May 3rd. As the week progresses, we will study act 3 and explore how breakdowns in communication can have tragic results.
8th Grade History Mrs. English
This week we will discuss and study how World War II and atomic warfare ushered in a new war called the Cold War. Readings and homework will come from Chapter 25. 1 & 2. Students will also receive their last geography region, central and southern Africa. Looking ahead, we will have our last Geography test on Thursday, May 13th. Students should begin reviewing previous geography sections by visiting the geography games listed on my Google Classroom. In an effort to grasp the number of lives lost during World War II (an estimated 75 million!), students have been working on our cross-curricular straw project. Each student is responsible for stringing two lines of straws that will stretch between the primary and elementary buildings. This project started in math where they determined the exact measurements and number of straws needed. Then, students discussed the impact of public art in their art class and determined the best methods for stringing their straws. Finally, in history class we’ve discussed the social impact this number of lives lost had on the world. Here are some of the students working on their straw project during break and before school. 
8th Grade Physical Science Mrs. Huennekens
We are exploring Sound and Waves! We will have a quiz on Wednesday, May 4th.
8th Grade Spanish Ms. Hughes
Next week in Spanish class, the 8th grade will begin Chapter 7B. This chapter discusses camping, cookouts, food, weather, the outdoors, and food preparation. We will review the use of por and the usted and ustedes commands. There will be a graded listening and reading comprehension throughout the week.
NOTES FROM 7th GRADE
7th Grade Algebra 1 Mrs. Reardon
Next week we will continue on Chapter 10 by learning other methods to solving quadratic functions and equations. We will work through several practice problems next week to ensure that the students have mastered these difficult concepts. No assessment next week.
7th Grade Pre-Algebra Mr. Lanfear
Next week we will begin Chapter 10 by learning about properties of triangles (10.1) and polygons and quadrilaterals (10.2). We will also begin learning about finding the area of various polygons such as triangles, rectangles, squares, parallelograms, and trapezoids (10.3).
7th Grade Language Arts Mrs. Hannah
We are over halfway finished with the final novel of seventh grade! We will have a quiz Tuesday 3 May over chapters 9-13 of The Hobbit, and will finish the novel on Monday 9 May. The test over the novel will be Wednesday 11 May. The comprehension packet that students have been completing will be due on the day of the test. We are also continuing our study of pronouns, and will learn the difference between demonstrative pronouns and adjectives next week.
Please don’t forget that reading logs are due on May 23! Each seventh grade needs to read 360 minutes (6 hours).
7th Grade History Mrs. English
This week students will see how the North and South begin to take different paths. The North will become industrialized, while the South will lean on producing cash crops and retain the plantation system. Northern cities also rapidly grow and become more diverse with the first major wave of immigrants. Readings and homework will come from Chapter 11.1 & 2.
7th Grade Spanish Ms. Hughes
Next week in Spanish class, the 7th grade will present their movie projects on Monday, May 2nd. We will begin Chapter 9B which discusses computers, technology, and ways to communicate. I will also introduce the difference between the verbs saber and conocer. There will be a graded listening and reading comprehension throughout the week.
7th Grade Life Science Mrs. Huennekens
Students have been busy this week becoming experts in The Human Body. We will have a quiz on the Skeletal system on Wednesday, May 4th.
NOTES FROM 6th GRADE
6th Grade Earth Science Mrs. Reardon
Next week we will wrap up our study of the Earth, Moon, and Sun system and review for our Chapter 23 test that will take place on Wednesday, May 4. On Thursday, we will do a fun lab that puts the whole concept of the system together!
6th Grade Math Mrs. Reardon
Next week we will continue in Chapter 10 by discussing properties of triangles and polygons. We will review on Wednesday and have an open notes classwork assessment on Thursday, May 5.
6th Pre-Algebra Mr. Lanfear
Next week we will begin Chapter 10 by learning about properties of triangles (10.1) and polygons and quadrilaterals (10.2). We will also begin learning about finding the area of various polygons such as triangles, rectangles, squares, parallelograms, and trapezoids (10.3).
6th Grade Language Arts Mrs. Guggenheim
We will start a poetry unit next Tuesday. Additionally, Vocab List 12 (the last list) will be given out; the quiz will be the following week. Lastly, in grammar we will begin a review of basic comma rules and typical usage errors.
Please encourage your child to read and record their minutes in their reading log; there are still a number of students who have not given me any minutes this trimester. The reading log is due by 5/23. If you would like to know how many minutes I have recorded for your child, please email me.
6th Grade Ancient Civilizations Mrs. Hannah
The sixth grade has learned the tripartite government system used in the Roman Republic, and next week we will study the First and Second Triumvirates.Students will analyze the uses/abuses of power to better understand the fall of the Roman Republic and the establishment of the Roman Empire, and identify the key governmental differences between the two. Students will have a quiz Wednesday 4 May over the map of the Italian Peninsula and Chapter 12.
We have also been working over the past two weeks to create an ABC book for ancient Greece and Rome. Students have had multiple days in class to research four topics and compile that research with their group. Thursday 5 May will be the last day in class to complete the project, which will be due at the end of class that day. Most students have been working diligently, and some have already completed their portion! However, some students may need to work at home to complete the ABC pages for their four chosen topics.
6th Grade Earth Science Mrs. Huennekens
Students will test on May 4th on the Sun, Moon and the Earth. We have worked on moon phases and the Earth’s rotation with some hands on activities. Next Thursday, we will have a fun class assignment that all the kids should enjoy! Our next study will be on Stars!
6th Grade Spanish Ms. Sotomayor
This week I have loved seeing the faces of excitement as we discuss the rich cultural history of Spain and her roots in Ancient Rome. It’s been great hearing students connect what they are learning in Mrs. Hannah’s Ancient Civ class about Rome with what we are discussing in Spanish class! Also, I love receiving pictures of your child when he or she takes on a challenge to apply cultural lessons at home. Such is the case with great pics I’ve received from a student who decided to cook garlic shrimp at home using the Taste of Spain recipe cards I handed out. Next week, we will begin writing drafts for letters that we will exchange with an English language school in Argentina! We will also reflect on a discussion of what is being done to help victims of the recent earthquakes in Ecuador while using the Spanish language.
