Academy Charter School

NEWSLETTER Principal: Barbara Gerard Phone 907-746-2358 Assistant Principal: Peter Olson Fax 907-746-2368 Website http://matsuk12.us/acc

April 21, 2017

Dear Families,

Save the Date! Duck Derby Tickets, Color Fun Run, Festival and Bazaar – Saturday, May 6!

We currently have 168 runners registered for our Color Fun Run and will continue to take registrations, even the day of the race. This will be a fun and healthy way to enjoy your Saturday! Registration is still open!

Duck Derby Festival and Bazaar begins at 11 a.m. Please come out and support this event! It is similar to a mini carnival with children’s games, Bounce House, Dunk Tank, and great food!

The first Duck Derby Race Heats begin at 1 pm! Come cheer those ducks on as they float down our man-made lazy river at Academy!

We need parent help! Come for even a couple of hours…you will make a big difference!

1. Friday, May 5th – 8 am – 6 pm - set up the man-made lazy river, prepare game booths, set up and mark the Color Fun Run.

2. Saturday, May 6th – 8 am – 6 pm – final preparation for the race, the games and booths.

CHANGE: Next Advisory Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 16th at 3:30 pm

Taekwondo Demonstration – Friday, April 28th

This is an opportunity to watch your child as they demonstrate the Taekwondo forms and break a board. Master Keller has already tested each of the students during class so this is more of a demonstration. Students will receive their new belts at the end of the demonstration. All welcome to come and watch! (In the gym)

• K-5 begins at 12:25 pm • 6th – 8th grade at 1:25

Continued -

3rd Grade Piano Recital

The 3rd grade students will show off their great progress this school year! We are especially thrilled with their progress! Brain research has proven that piano playing and reading music develops the spatial and mathematical side of the brain. The recital will begin at 1 p.m. in the Taekwondo Room. All parents are welcome!

Turn ‘Em In!

The turn in date of April 28th for all Duck Derby tickets is just around the corner! Each duck sold must be entered into an Excel Randomizer Spreadsheet. It would be helpful to receive any sold duck derby tickets so they can be entered slightly ahead of the masses.

A $24 Increase a Year in the Educational Enhancement Fee

After 20 years of maintaining the same educational enhancement fee, the Advisory Board voted to increase it by $24 a year to $195. It is a one-time fee and should be paid no later than October 31st of each school year. Through the school budgeting process, plus the nonprofit entity that hosts two school wide fundraising opportunities, and the annual Holiday Bazaar combined with this small educational enhancement fee, Academy Charter School is able to offer small class sizes, ability grouping, specialists to teach the subject area, and the many wonderful, beyond the classroom walls learning opportunities and fieldtrips! What is an educational enhancement fee? Education Enhancement Fees Academy Charter School offers several unique classes, learning opportunities, and activities not found in traditional public schools. Eighteen years ago, Academy families created a non-profit account that helps to pay for those extra costs outside of the traditional school district budget. We call this fee an educational enhancement fee. Please keep in mind that this program is designed as a non-profit entity. The fee helps pay for contract staff and additional classroom supplies to support the dynamic programs. Some other uses of this fund: Fieldtrips related to specific subject topics, purchasing science and art supplies, library books, paying for our music instructor, subsidize our enrichment activities, Taekwondo and Fitness instructors, Taekwondo uniforms, physical fitness equipment, Middle School Intensives and electives, teacher reimbursement, “On-time” gas cards and prizes, subsidizes classroom annual fieldtrips (such as 5th grade to Denali, 7th grade to Seldovia), facility upkeep and many other unexpected costs related to maintenance. We also supplement this fund by holding an annual raffle and Duck Derby. All money goes to help support your child's education. An enhancement fee waiver is available to any family. The waiver form is available in the front office. All information is kept strictly confidential.

Continued-

World Fair Week and Public Viewing From 2:30 pm – 5 pm

The week of May 1st – 4th is our World Fair Week! What is a World Fair? The World Fair began approximately 18 years ago in an effort to provide a full week immersed in a unique hands-on learning project of turning each classroom into a themed world! The theme is specific to each grade level’s Core Knowledge Curriculum ranging from a country, a science topic, or one of the other many historic events included in their year-long study. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the classrooms are altered and evolve into the theme. This includes costumes, food, and modifying the classroom into the theme. On Thursday beginning at 2:30 pm the culminating event is that each classroom is judged by Advisory Board Members, School Board Members, the Palmer Mayor, Assembly Members and other local dignitaries. Here is the judging rubric:

1. Classroom has been transformed and vividly communicates what the class has been learning. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

2. When asked, a student can clearly communicate important information and facts about what their class has learned for World Fair. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

3. A second student is able to confidently share important information and facts about what the class has learned for their World Fair focus.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 4. Students are in costume or dress in a way that contributes to their classroom topic and/or focus.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 5. The classroom has used a number of different props, scenes, and displays to depict focus and/or topic.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 6. The topic or focus is represented dramatically through art.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7. The topic or focus is portrayed through the use of technology.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 8. The classroom provides food that is representative of the topic and/or focus.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9. The students are well behaved, attentive, and on task.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 TOTAL ________ POINTS Here are key dates and times! Jump in and join the fun in helping to transform your child’s classroom into their theme, bring a food item, or make a costume. Whatever you do…every little bit helps and counts toward your parent participation hours!

Monday, May 1st – Wednesday, May 3rd – Transform classroom, make costumes, and foods

Thursday, May 4th –

• 9:00 a.m. - Classes tour each other’s classrooms in a preplanned, organized manner. • 11:30 a.m. – Lunch • 12 – 1:45 pm – final prep • 1:45 pm - SNACK for entire school provided by Academy nonprofit…..

• 2:15 pm - Judges arrive into the office to pick up score sheets • 2:30 pm – Judges begin in the your classrooms • 2:30 – 4 pm – Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade classrooms are open for viewing. Close at 4 pm. • 2:30 – 5 – 3rd thru 8th grade classrooms open for viewing. Close at 5 pm. • 5 pm – 7 pm - Clean up! Vacuum.

Friday, May 5th – NO SCHOOL (normally would have been an early release day, but due to the late extended work day on Thursday, no school for students on Friday.)

Parent jobs…….

End of school clean up and summer jobs.

After May 11 - the home economics kitchen need a thorough cleaning- Empty and clean out fridges and unplug, remove all food (but canned) clean and get ready for summer break.

JUNE 17, 18, and or 19th Work party we will be repainting the back buildings and trim we will supply all the paint and painting equipment- NEED lots of parents - This can count towards next year’s hours if you have all hours already for this school year. Need gravel spread out, grounds cleaned up and lots more done.

Need a parent to mow the grass over the summer and right before the back to school picnic in August. Call or email the office if you would like this task.

Date to Mark Time Events

4/18-5/11 At 3:30 Afterschool swimming lessons

4/26-26 overnight 1st and 2nd Seward Sea life

4/27 1pm Piano recital

4/28 Taekwondo testing

May 1 &2 K-3 AIMS WEB testing

May 4 All day Till 5:00 pm

World Fair Day

May 5 NO School for students

Academy Charter

Day Two: Wednesday, April 12

6:30 - 7:25 BREAKFAST

7:25

Meet in hotel meeting room to Prep for Day - need coat, money for lunch, dressed professionally, ready

to depart

7:45 Walk to Capital Building 8: - 8:30 Senator Dunleavy rm 11 Beltz Room

8:30 - 9:00 Representative David Eastman Beltz Room

9:00-9:30 Senator David Wilson (Wasilla) RM 115 907-465-3878

walk downstairs

9:30 - 10:00 Cathy Tilton Tom Stewart Rm

10:00 - 10:15 AM Bathroom break

10:30

Floor Session, Senate, 2nd Floor, Capital Building; a MatSu Senator will introduce the group and once all

introductions are over, the representatives will debate the day's legislation; max; Need to get there

by 10:45 to reserve seats for the 11:00 session

11:45 - 1:00 Divide into small subgroups for lunch

1:00 - 1:30 Senator Coghill

1:30 - 2:00 Governor's House 465-3500 Justin

2:00 - 2:30

Rm 125 Senator Hughes 465-3743 Tom Stewart building connect by sky bridge

2:30-3:00 Speaker Of The House Bryce Edgmon Speaker's

Chambers

3:00 - 3:30 Change into play clothing

3:30 - 4 drive to St Therese

4:00- 5:00 St. Therese and explore

5 p.m. drive to Eagle's Beach

5:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.

Bonfire @ Eagle's Beach

Showers, brush teeth, ALL QUIET by 9:30 p.m.

6th Grades Juneau “Government in Action” 3-day Fieldtrip The Juneau schedule is carefully designed to maximize every waking moment. (See our schedule for just one of the three days in Juneau!) It’s busy, amazing, and provides our students with three days of intensive learning opportunities that they never forget! We were so proud of our students! We remind them that they represent their family, their school, and who they are. The students “wowed” the Senators, Representatives, Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General with their thoughtful, intelligent questions and true desire to learn! The Governor had budgeted 15 minutes for our group and ended up spending 32 minutes with us! Kudos to our outstanding staff, Mr. Titus, Mr. Schumacher, Mr. Olson for their willingness to spend three days in Juneau with 30 sixth graders! I am very thankful to have them with me as we create the best possible enhanced learning opportunities possible! Why do we take students to Juneau? Because Academy students have the opportunity to see government up-close and personal, while developing an understanding as to how government works, the importance of government and their rights and freedoms, and that every one of us work diligently to engage in the protection of those rights and freedoms in America!

Thank you to Mr. And Mrs. Titus for another year of excellent learning opportunities. Thank you for teaching our students how to be an apiarist (Beekeeper) Look out for all the wonderful honey that will be for sale in the fall

Classroom News

First-Grade Facts . . . Betsy.Mayer@matsuk12.us

All the permission slips for Seward are in!! I will send home some information about our field trip on Monday so be on the lookout!

Keep sending the $5 and H2Oasis permission slips in!

Thank you Little Birdies Worm Farm for educating the class on these underground creatures and donating some red wigglers to us!

Great fun along with the normal routine of Spalding, Daily 5 and fractions in math this week .... planting sunflowers, learning about the water cycle, food chain pyramid and stacking cups and of course worms!

Contact me anytime! Mrs. Mayer

We had such a great turn in for our birthday boxes that with just a little boost, we were able to do 4 boxes for the homeless shelter. The staff at Family Promise were most grateful for our generosity. Thank you to all of the Kindergarten families for your support!

This week’s stories were about ducks. Our Core Knowledge story was The Ugly Duckling. It was a great time to review treating others the way you want to be treated. We also did the rhyme Humpty Dumpty since he was an egg.

In math we reviewed ways to make 5 and ten. Students mostly worked in pairs for these tasks. Our class also learned a new version of the game Bump It! Ask your student about the game.

Contact me anytime.

Ronni Berg Verona.Berg@matsuk12.us

Second Grade News Michelle.Booth@matsuk12.us

We need more spoons to get us through the rest of the year. Thank you!

Our week has been about assessments and finishing up our units for the year. We are going to finish our cursive unit with capital letters.

There has been many permission slips coming home. We are trying to get all of them back to us by the end of next week.( April 28th)

Once World Fair week begins, it is very busy and our rooms are transformed. We don't want to lose any papers. Please send back any slips you many have at home.

We are excited for our Seward Sea Life Center trip. Let's cross our fingers for good weather.

Have a good weekend! Mrs. Booth

Holler for Reading!

Holler for Reading! The 2nd graders have been reading some excellent short stories this week. They also sharpened their skills in auditory learning. They listened to the the folktale from Indian called "The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal", then wrote a story map and illustrated a book cover. We continued to work on punctuation and specifically capitalization. I am proud of the students' efforts and progress.

Holler for Math! The students have been learning about different kinds of graphs and practicing counting money. They have had fun surveying each other and then using the information from their tally's and pictographs. We have also been practicing telling time on an analog clock. It would be great reinforcement if you could quiz your child at home occasionally. Thank you for your continued support with school to home learning! This week was our last homework for both reading and math!

Classroom News 3rd 4th and 5th grades

Third Grade News Naomi.Weetman@matsuk12.us Wonderful families. Please read both my section and Ms. Kile’s section of the newsletter for all upcoming events. To save space we don’t always post everything in both sections. Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to help for World’s Fair. I know a notice has gone out on our Facebook page, as well as a sign up outside the main office. On Wednesday, I sent home a paper copy of what is still needed for World’s Fair. Please have World’s Fair costumes to school by Monday, May 1st. We will be taking some pictures during this prep time. Room redesign will start on May 1st as well. It is our goal to have everything ready to go by Wednesday afternoon. The week after World’s Fair we have several events going on as well. Making dog treats and dog toys for our annual field trip to the animal shelter. We will need helpers for these events too. We will also be taking a field trip with 4th grade to Reflections Lake. This is so Mrs. Manley and Ms. Benbow can get to know the upcoming students. We will need parent volunteers for this as well. We will be sending permission slips home soon but, we don’t want to bombard you with everything all at once. Speaking of permission slips, all H2Oasis slips are due by Monday, May 1st. Mrs. Weetman

Fourth Grade Buzz with Mrs. Benbow Believe it or not, exit interviews are coming up. They will be May 16, 17 and 18. Please let me know ASAP if you have a time/day preference. I will not be available the afternoon of the 16th. Language Arts continued to get spelling and sentence writing practice as we did Spalding lessons although we did not have spelling homework or a test this week. We did MAP testing and saw some really great results that show positive growth; I cannot wait to share the scores at Exit Interviews in a few weeks. Math reviewed symmetry as we created art projects that are available for viewing in the hall outside our room. We also started working with Metric Measurement. By breaking the class into groups and having each groups teach a lesson to the rest of the class. As always, if you have any comments or concerns, please feel free to email us! cherie.benbow@matsuk12.us

Kile’s Kiddo’s tamela.kile@matsuk12.us

This week in LA we completed MAP testing and reviewed vocabulary and old spelling words. Your children were great. In math we also completed MAP testing and started on Chapter 11 - measurements and time. The class participated in several multiplication bees, ask your child how he/she did. Thank you for your help at home it shows.

There was a sign up sheet sent home, posted on the web page, and put up on the office bulletin board for World’s Fair. Please

sign up to help so that we can provide a successful event for all to enjoy. In addition to this sign up we will need parents to help

make dog treats and toys on May 8th prior to our field trip.

Enjoy the sunshine and be sure to contact me if you have nay questions. Thank you

The Manley Minute

Our fourth grade class spent part of our week taking the MAP Tests. I am so proud as many students improved a great deal from the beginning of the year! Way to go students!

Thank you to the parents who have helped out with the sewing projects. It couldn’t be done without you! Our final day of sewing will be Monday the 24th from 12:30 – 2:30 pm. Some students still have trim to put on but we are simply out of time. If you would like to sew the trim on at home, I am happy to send it home.

Language Arts: We reviewed parts of speech such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, plural nouns and adverbs with MAD Libs and practiced editing paragraphs with partners. It seems they have editing other’s work down but need more practice self-editing

Math: This week we focused on ordering 3-4 fractions with uncommon denominators. There is a lot of work that goes into this process but the students did quite well. We finished our week with our Hawaiian party for those students who mastered their multiplication facts. Nicely done!

As our year is coming to an end, I would just like to say how much I have enjoyed working with this group of amazing fourth graders!

The Real Report

5th grade end of year fieldtrips:

1. Palmer Clean Up Day 5/8 (10:30- 2pm)— Walking- Parents welcome to help. Students need to dress for the weather-wear sturdy shoes (it is often windy and chilly) NEED GLOVES or tongs to pick up trash (City will provide bags).

2. Seward Trip-5/9- We have drivers- Thank you

3. Climb the Butte- 5/10- (10:30- 2pm) Need drivers Students need to dress for the weather-wear sturdy shoes (it is often windy and chilly) and bring sack lunches

4. River Park Field Day- 5/11 (Time TBA) Walking-No chaperones needed

Students need to dress for the weather-wear sturdy shoes (it is often windy and chilly) and bring sack lunches.

LA- Students finished MAP testing and worked on their My Mysteries. The GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS and COMPLETED MYSTERIES ( with cover, forward and dedication, and a wanted poster) are DUE 4/24. By Wednesday, we began to have a rowdy good time learning about and playing with SHAKESPEARE!!!

Math: This week students finished MAP testing and continued FRACTIONS, FRACTIONS, and more FRACTIONS! We have made great progress and are completing Chapter 9.

Have a great weekend-Mrs. Real

MR O Hello 5th Grade!

Language Arts- This week we finished our end of the year Measures of Academic Progress testing on the computer as well as finishing up any loose end projects and writing before worlds fair starts heating up. Next week we will be finalizing our research reports, finishing Sherlock Holmes, and putting the finishing touches on our spelling notebooks.

Math- Our final chapter on fractions is about over, the students spent this week changing fractions to decimals and percents and should be ready for a test early next week. We also got caught up on homework and assignments this week so no one should be missing anything that has been recently assigned. Please make sure if your student needs some extra explanation that they check our google classroom website for videos and pdfs that will help explain topics that we have covered in class.

Español with Señorita Catarina

The fifth grade mercado was successful. Students raised $1400 For the Pulsera Project in Nicaragua and The Heart of The Sky Fair Trade Cooperative of Guatemala. We will plan to schedule it a bit earlier next year so it does not coincide with the science fair. I am very grateful to the parents that helped cook enough churros to feed our entire school! Muchissima Gracias to Brenda and Darryl Schurmann, Michelle and Tammi Stone, Julie Miller, Traci Lenard and Angela Nelson. Special Thanks to Miss Fawn for rallying and coordinating fifth grade parents via social media and helping with every aspect of Mercado preparation and takedown. I am so proud of my fifth graders for the patience working and playing games with our younger students and their maturity dealing with our old students. Special recognition goes to Matti Lenard and the Pugh sisters who donated their own well made handicrafts to help raise money for Nicaragua! Fifth graders were also very impressed with Aidan and Aliyah in 3rd grade and Rayvn in 8th for donating money so those children without could get churros!

Reports from our Labs

K-2 Science

A huge THANK YOU goes out to the Drasky ladies for cleaning up the mosaic bench and the tulip beds!

Kindergarten, First and Second grades explored how magnetism and electricity work as we discussed invisible forces that affect our everyday lives.

Computer Lab- Primary grades are in lab these last weeks before World Fair and they are excited to be back! We have also been doing some testing in lab so not to take away instruction time during language, reading, and math class. The Kindergartners will be busy working on ABCmouse exploring new learning opportunities, 1st Grade is busy with literacy websites like Lexia and ABCya, and 2nd grade is working on telling time, money, and graphing games.

Hello Families,

This week in art was Fantastic! The 3rd grades created origami style birds with Miss Jessica and used colored sand to make paintings on Friday. Some of 4th graders were finishing sewing and the others practiced colored pencils techniques and illustrate vegetables. In the 5th grade the students built paper mache' masks inspired by the Mayan culture. They also used that same medium to construct gourds. It was a fabulous and creative whirlwind of art projects this week!

Spanish News

Kindergarten students are learning their shapes in Spanish. First graders are learning clothing vocabulary. Second graders are learning their alphabet and creating the new alphabet number line for our classroom.

This is the last rotation for my 3rd-5th graders. The third grade class is finishing their unit on Rivers. We studied The Parana, Congo, Yukon Rivers this week.

The fourth grade class wrote thank you letters to the Great Alaska Pizza Company for the pizza boxes, which we used for our Alaska Relief maps. They have been a supportive company for my class for 10+ years. If you stop by their store, please let them know we appreciate them. :O)

The fifth grade class revisited latitude and longitude. I am prepping them for their final activity of the year, Candy bar mapping around the world. They are

excited.

We are wrapping up the year with a poetry unit for 4th and 5th graders. This week they completed rough drafts and final drafts of 6-room poetry. If your daughter is in honor choir please remind them to turn in their work. The third graders worked on 1st drafts of a Viking story. These will be saved for World’s Fair. Mrs. Weetman

News from 6th, 7th and 8th

Bienvenidos a la clase de español escuela media

Español with Señorita Catarina

Sixth Graders are letting go of the reins of government and getting back to Spanish class.

Seventh graders are starting Chapter 5 in their Spanish textbook and working with restaurant words.

Eighth graders are learning beach and vacation words.

Vamos con Senor Reilly (6th, 7th, 8th grade

Our sixth graders are trying to find their way around in a Spanish-speaking town. They are learning to ask directions & be able to understand the directions they are given. They have homework to do for that this weekend. In addition, we are having out last test concerning this material next Friday. So, encourage them to be reviewing for their test!

Seventh grade has put their directions in the rear view mirror and students did very well in their testing on the material. Next Monday will be our final Spanish class and so we are having a pinata party. Each student is responsible for bringing in a certain type of food for us to eat a Mexican meal together. SO, ask your child what they are responsible for bringing in to make it a success.

Eighth grade has completed their newscasts about an innovative story from either Spain or Mexico. Students worked in pairs and were very professional as they presented their current event, with their newscast partner, in front of the class. Eighth grade also studied and tested concerning asking & giving directions. They did well in their testing!

Enjoy your time with your family over the weekend! Mr. Reilly

6th Grade News

Special thanks to all the parents who helped make our Juneau trip a success!

Students are working on their World Fair Projects in science and writing classes. We will be researching the connections between wild, feral, extinct and domesticated animals and people in Alaska. Students will have individual assignments and roles in a group to perform.

We are studying functions, area, surface area and volume in our math classes. Geology and Biology are science topics. Students are reading The Giver,developing connections between their choices and the role of government.

Watch for permission slips:

Butte 5/10& Sutton 5/11 Need coats, proper boots/foot wear

H2Oasis 5/12

We need drivers, hikers and swimmers! Mr. Titus Mr. Schumacher

6th Grade Composition We continued to work on poetry this week as we revisited the 6 Room poetry style that was learned in last year’s Writing Lab. We also did a small writing project about how the Easter Bunny came to be. We did not meet on Thursday. Mrs. Benbow

Señorita’s Superb Sixth Graders

Our sixth graders are doing their valiant best to finish the Prince and the Pauper in between Map Tests and field trips.

Remiez Report

MATH: Why have we been playing with dice in math class? We have been learning about probability! We began the unit by predicting probabilities of a single event. Then we compared our predictions with experimental data. Now we have been working on figuring the number of possible choices and combinations. Math problems like how many kinds of ice cream sundaes or sandwiches can be created have even been making our stomachs growl. The new format for math assignments has been a success so far. Students have been turning in a greater percentage of homework and correcting their mistakes when they don’t understand. Thank you for reminding them to bring their math packets to class so they can receive grades, make progress and be successful. SCIENCE: Please make sure your students have the required gear for Seldovia. Rain gear, boots, warm clothes and a water bottle are required. We have been practicing identification of animals we will see on the beach. Monday was our sea star dissection. Students did very well! Everyone participated and no one had to go into the hall because of a weak stomach. Students were able to observe the sea stars reversible stomach and water vascular system. If you have questions about the Seldovia trip, please email or call. Mrs. Ramirez

Reilly’s Weekly Review

Around the World in 180 Days: We are studying WWII: the countries involved leadership, causes, events, and timeline. The class just tested on this material and did well in articulating their answers. We are diving into America's entry into WWII with one of our students presenting a slideshow from her experiences at Pearl Harbor. In addition, we are watching actual footage about the atrocities that occurred by the Nazi's, concerning the attempt to eliminate the Jews.

Write On! Students are presenting a short one-page short story about an experience they have had with a pet or some wild animal in their life. I shared an example and afterwards students seemed clear what was being asked of them. Therefore, we will be sharing those stories with the class today. We have also been reading aloud the short James Thurber story called The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Most of the students enjoyed the story and and said that they could relate to it, as they shared what their impression of the story was. Also, we have put our poetry unit in the rear view mirror. I was quite pleased with how enthusiastic this group of students has been in writing many different types of poems and how well they did in expressing themselves through that medium.

Have a great weekend with your family!

Mr. Reilly

7th grade Mrs. Wright mary.wright@matsuk12.us

ALL MONEY needs to be in for Seldovia. Food shoppers are headed out early next week to buy for our trip. If money is not provided, there will not be enough food for the drivers who do not contribute. Thanks.

MAP testing for 7th grade is Monday-Wednesday next week. There will be NO make-ups if a student is absent.

7th grade LA: Students chose their books for our last unit of the year on dystopian literature. They are giving book presentations on lit circle groups and preparing their final project, a book trailer. This week, they are filming scenes from the first twenty percent of the book; next week, we'll fit editing in iMovie around MAP testing.

7th grade math: Our lessons covered surface area, area of circles and polyhedrons this week. Students used several formulas to calculate surface area and worked with clay models to help visualize cross sections of 3D figures. This class wants to be the first to finish the book, so we will get as far as possible before our last class on April 28.

7th grade history: Students were given an introduction to the Holocaust this week, following a fascinating discussion with a former Hitler Youth member, 83 year-old Franz Geigerl. Thanks to Mrs. Holler and Conrad Holler for setting up this special interview! Students also studied the descent into institutionalized killing by the Nazi party, and watched a PBS special about the escape from Sobibor, told by the few who survived.

Real’s English 1

This week students completed MAP testing and continued to work on their end of the year project, an Autobiographical Portfolio, (DUE- in it’s entirety- 5/8). On Tuesday we “hurley- burlyed” into SHAKESPEARE! E1 wrote a sonett and is reading/performing Romeo and Juliet and (hopefully) 12th Night! It’s a great way to end the year!

Remember to CHECK MY WEBSITE REGULARLY!

This week in 8th grade we completed the mandated Spring MAP testing. The students worked hard and were incredibly patient throughout the process. I appreciate their dedication to working hard through this additional testing session.

In addition to MAP testing, in Math our group worked on our Million Dollar Project, as well as ALEKS & skills fluency. I am so proud of our students that have finished or are very close to finishing their8th grade ALEKS pies. Please encourage your child to spend just 20 minutes a day at home on ALEKS. It makes an enormous in their overall math progress.

My Language Arts group is beginning to wrap up Ji-Li Jiang’s Red Scarf Girl, a memoir of the author’s experiences as a young girl during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. This text pairs perfectly with our investigation of China in Social Studies. The students also presented their 3rd & final Independent Reading Project.

Next week we will follow a fairly normal schedule for which we are incredibly grateful! :D

Please mark your calendars with the following dates:

May1st-4th: World Fair Week **please attend meeting on April 11th to see how you can help out!

Friday, May 5th: No School for students but we can use student & parent volunteer help to set up for Duck Derby & the Fun Run

Saturday, May 6th- 4th Annual Duck Derby

Thursday, May 11th –Clean Up & 8th Grade Celebration Day **watch for details to come home!

Thursday, May 11th, 6:00pm: 8th grade graduation at the Palmer Train Depot

Friday, May 12th- H2Oasis

As you can see, our schedule is getting busy! Thank you to all of you for all of your tremendous support.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Molina

8th Grade Science

Scoring and testing of the sugar cube earthquake houses began this week. We have already had 1 indestructible house that had 1 room survive the simulated quake!

Algebra 1

Chapter 8 is in the books! We will move on to Chapter 9 as soon as MAP testing is finished.