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Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School
Parent Newsletter February 7, 2014
Dear HMS Community, HMS honored their Stars of the Month for January 2014 this morning with a breakfast ceremony. As you probably know by now, Stars of the Month are chosen by their teachers for many reasons, including academic achievement, improvement, effort, and going above and beyond for others. We had many teachers on hand this morning to assist me with recognizing the students for their hard work. As usual, at the conclusion of the breakfast, everyone went to the gymnasium to try taking some ½ court shots with a basketball. Students have the chance to win a $25 gift card if they can make the shot. Although none of the students made the shot this month, some came very close. Mr. Holden and I also tried taking some ½ court shots this morning. Although we were not successful, we also came very close! Congratulations to our Stars of the Month for January (pictured above). The names of the students are listed on the next page. Tonight is our Valentine’s Dance. The doors open at 6:30 pm. All students must have their ride at the school by 9:00 pm. Our HMS basketball teams will be competing at Taunton Catholic Middle School this weekend in the Butler Tournament. I wish the best of luck to both of our teams. Next Friday, February 14th, we will hold our 2nd Annual Student vs. Faculty “Afternoon in the Gym.” Students and staff will compete against each other in basketball, dodge ball, and volleyball. The boys’ basketball team will take on a team of male faculty members, and the girls’ basketball team faces off against female faculty members. As for dodge ball and volleyball, all students are eligible to play in those events. Next week, we will hold raffles for the students during lunchtime to determine which students will be chosen to participate. This is a school-wide event, as the entire student body and faculty/staff will be present in the gymnasium for an afternoon of fun and excitement.
@DrWhalen3
TERM 2 Report Cards were distributed TODAY, 2/7/14!
HMS Stars of the Month January 2014 Grade 6 Lyla Carvalho and Joshua Valente Samuel Parks and Bailey Adams Grade 7 Evan Lima and Kayleigh Medas Joshua Carroll and Saarah Papineau Grade 8 Jack Doorley and Aubree Lawson Alexia Desrochers and Noah Brennick Encore Elizabeth Arruda, Zane Propatier, Ethan Santos, and Catherine Testa, Cam Flores
Close But No Cigar… photo by Mrs. Lehane
From the Library… Principals’ Coffee
Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of parents at the Principals’ Coffee regarding the role of the HMS library. The goal of this presentation was to give parents a better understanding of how library services fit into the curriculum. Topics that were discussed include reading promotion, as well as an overview of research & tech skills that are taught.
The Principals’ Coffee was a good setting for this, as parents had an opportunity to ask questions in a face-to-face setting. I hope all who attended enjoyed the event as much as I did!
Something New! I started the “Read This” board in the library as a way for students to share their favorite books with other HMS students. It is a way for students to learn what other students are reading and can use this board to find a reading suggestion. I started the board last week, and within three days, the board was over half-way full! If your child has not had a chance to add their favorite book to the board, please encourage them to stop by soon!
GRADE 8 MATH – Orange Team
As you can see below, students did an excellent job of creating their own designs to represent transformations (rotations, reflections,
translations, and dilations).
Students completed their geometry/measurement unit, finishing up
with volumes of cylinders, cones, and spheres. Students used play
dough to compare the volumes of cylinders and cones and the volumes of cylinders and spheres. They found that cones have 1/3 the volume
of cylinders with the same base and height and spheres have 2/3 the
volume of cylinders with the same base and height. They used their
findings to develop formulas for finding the volume of cones and spheres.
http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/51800/51894/51894_conecylsph.htm
We are now working with properties and patterns with exponents. Students are multiplying and dividing powers and also working with
negative and zero exponents.
Blue Team Math Students in Mrs. Geddes's math classes are finishing up rational number operations this week, with a quiz planned for early next week. They are incorporating these skills into real world problem solving tasks, such as revising recipes and calculating hiking distances. After vacation, they will begin working with ratios, rates, and proportions. Blue Team Science Respiratory system quizzes were returned to students on Thursday and some students are choosing to re-write their answer to an open response question in an effort to improve writing skills. Students have been learning about the digestive system. They learned that digestion starts in the mouth, where chemical and mechanical digestion takes place. As a homework assignment, students researched fun facts about the digestive system and found out that humans create 1.7 liters of saliva a day! Students will be working in groups to write a digestive system play. They will be using google docs, so they can still work in their groups while they are at home. The plays, with costumes, will be performed next Thursday. Blue Team Social Studies This week marks the beginning of third term, and the beginning of our third area of study. Social Studies will be focusing on Central America, South America and the Caribbean this term. We have been working hard to review the maps of all of these different regions so we know where all the countries are located. We're looking forward to another great term! Have a good weekend! Spelling Team Spelling Team has started back up again! Our practices will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from dismissal until 330. Our meet for the spring is on March 7th. Students received their spelling lists this week and we'll be ready to compete when March rolls around. Go Seekonk!
Congratulations to the following students who were chosen for the Blue Team's second quarter On a Roll award:
Cheyenne Ayotte
Isabella Bartlett Tommy Ciolfi Jenna Dunphy
Makenna French
Robert Gerardi Dominic Lopo
Felicia Prata
Gabby Raposo
Kiara Sandoval Ethan Santos
Nicole Simas
Ty Wheeler
Students were chosen based effort, behavior, citizenship, and being a positive role model. Along with their parents, they will be honored at a breakfast on February 14, 2014 at 7:20 A.M.
Art News with Mrs. Farrow
All students who just started art for the second semester are creating
fabulous portfolios
to store their artwork in for the remainder of the school year. To start this
project, students
draw two small sketches including one cartoon character, their first name &
a bit of background onto paper with two rectangles drawn onto it. Once
completed, together we choose the one that would look best to be enlarged on
their folder. Students fold & staple huge white paper & draw largely &
lightly. Next, they outline all pencil lines in black Sharpie. Lastly, students
color with colored pencils, markers or crayons. The results are strong & bold.
Computer Applications News from Mrs. DeLeo 6th Grade: Students have begun a keyboarding review. Please ask them if
they are using the correct technique when they use their computers at home.
They will soon begin a unit on How Computers Work. This is a difficult unit
for many students. But, if they stay focused during class and study at home,
they will do well!
7th Grade: Students have been exploring a database while shopping online at
www.toysrus.com and using a worksheet and calculator to spend $1000 while
“purchasing” toys for 100 children and paying sales tax for those items. We
will use this information to create Excel spreadsheets and write formulas to
calculate everything they’ve done long hand with pencil, paper, and
calculator.
8th Grade: Bonjour! Students are learning some basic French vocabulary and
will begin researching French culture as we start World Culture Exploration.
Vocab quizzes next week for the French Quick Start 1 unit in Transparent
Language, a distance learning experience!
Health Education News from Mrs. Latimer
6th Grade: Students will begin talking about Hygiene. We will be discussing
personal hygiene as well as dental hygiene. Chances are they already know
about hygiene, but chances are they will learn something new!
Students will be able to:
o Identify the importance of how grooming and cleanliness shows
consideration for others
o Explain how overexposure to the sun can lead to melanoma
o Identify factors than contribute to tooth decay
o Demonstrate skills of good oral and persona hygiene
MA Frameworks Standards covered:
o Disease Prevention & Control (8.12)
o Growth & Development (1.9)
National Health Education Standards:
o Standard #1: Core Concepts
o Standard #5; Decision Making
o Standard #7: Self-Management
7th Grade: Students are currently building on health skills. Students will
also have received their first homework assignment that will be sometime
next week. In this self-directed learning assignment students will
demonstrate skills in accessing reliable health information.
Students will be able to:
• Describe the influence of health habits on growth & development
• Describe the contribution of a personal support system to good mental
health
o Identify at least one person they can turn to as their support system
o Identify internal and external influences that impact decisions
regarding health and wellness
• Identify at least 4 reliable sources of information
• Identify at least 5 health skills that will provide a lifetime of benefits.
MA Frameworks Standards covered:
o Growth & Development (1.8, 1.10)
o Mental Health (5.8)
o Family Life (6.7)
o Community Health and Resource Management (12.6)
o Community & Public Health (14.4, 14.5)
National Health Education Standards:
o Standard #1: Core Concepts
o Standard #2: Analyzing Influences
o Standard #3: Access Information
o Standard #5: Decision Making
o Standard #7: Self-Management
8th Grade: Students are continuing learning about Nutrition with Mr.
Gauthier. This week and the beginning of next week they will be focusing on
reading Nutrition Labels.
Students will be able to:
o Accurately read, analyze and compare food nutrition labels
o Distinguish between good fats and bad fats
o Identify six of the main nutrients
o Describe what is needed for healthy meals (MyPlate)
MA Frameworks Standards covered:
o Nutrition: 3.8, 3.9, 3.11
National Health Education Standards:
o Standard #1: Core Concepts
o Standard #7: Self-Management
o Standard #8: Advocacy
Guidance News
There will be representatives coming next Thursday, February 13th and
Friday, February 14th to conduct interviews with all Bristol Aggie and Tri-
County applicants. If your son/ daughter is interested in applying to either of
those schools, please be sure to send their application in to Mrs. Czech as soon
as possible.
Mrs. Czech will be working with students throughout the week to adequately
prepare them for the interview process. They will be reviewing a series of
sample interview questions, and you are encouraged to review those with them
as well. If you have any questions regarding this process, or would like more
information, you may contact Mrs. Czech.
Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School HMS Idol 2014
Friday, February 28, 2014 7:00PM
Seekonk High School Auditorium
ADMISSION
STUDENT/ADULT: $6.00
# STUDENT/ADULT TICKETS: __________
CHILDREN 10& UNDER: $2.00 *Infants/toddlers are free!
# CHILD TICKETS: _____________
AMOUNT ENCLOSED
CHECK #__________(MADE OUT TO THE TOWN OF SEEKONK CASH AMOUNT $_______________
At this time tickets will be sold in advance ONLY! February 10
th through February 28
th during all
lunches.
Students must present this signed permission form with check/money order/cash
in order to get their ticket(s). Ticket(s) will be distributed to your child a few days before the show during lunch.
AT THIS TIME NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE DOOR! Tickets are
NONREFUNDABLE All proceeds benefit the HMS Yearbook to reduce the cost of our school
yearbook.
Please note: If you are disrupting the show by loud talking or inappropriate behavior during the performances, etc. you will be asked to leave the auditorium and will have to be picked up by a
parent immediately.
PERMISSION SLIP (Please return entire slip/do not cut in half)
I give my child ________________________________, permission to attend the HMS Idol 2014 on Friday, February 28th at 7:00PM. I understand that my child will not be allowed to leave the show before it is over unless I notify you in writing. Home Number/ Cell Number: _____________________________ Emergency Phone Number at time of show: ___________________ Parent/Guardian Signature: _______________________________ Student’s Grade: ________ Team ________ Homeroom ________
The Hurley Middle School PTO will again hold a Snowflake Ball on Friday March 7th for girls and their father or father figures to enjoy a
wonderful evening at the Venus De Milo in Swansea. The ball last year was a fun evening for all. Following a sit down dinner and a formal dance lesson the remainder of the night the dance floor stayed filled! The girls and their escorts participated in some table conversation questions and activities on the dance floor for prizes in between dances. There was also a photographer and raffles being offered. It was a nice evening to spend with that special person. Please be sure to turn in your RSVP and deposits by February 28, 2014 to the school office.
Snowflake Ball R.S.V.P. Friday, March 7, 2014
Venus De Milo
Student Name ____________________________________________
Grade 6 7 8
Student Dinner Selection (Please circle your choice)
Chicken Tenders w/Fries Broiled Fresh Boston Scrod Roast Stuffed Turkey
Adult Dinner Selection
Broiled Fresh Boston Scrod Roast Stuffed Turkey
Student Ticket Price $ 30_____ Adult Ticket Price $ 30 _____
Additional Daughters Ticket Price $ 26 ea. _____
Please deliver your RSVP to the main office along with payment in full By February 28, 2014
Please make checks payable to HMS PTO
THIS PART OF THE FORM SHOULD ONLY BE USED IF THERE IS A BALANCE DUE
Snowflake Ball R.S.V.P. Friday, March 7, 2014
Venus De Milo
Student Name _____________________________________________ Grade 6 7 8
Amount (balance due) _______________________
Please drop off your balance due at the main office by March 1, 2013
Please make checks payable to HMS PTO
Student & Adult Tickets $ 30 ea. Additional Daughters Ticket Price $ 26 ea.
.
7th Grade Green Team - Mrs. Costa's Math Classes
Mrs. Costa's math classes are just finishing up a chapter on rational number
operations. They will have a chapter test next week. The study guide is posted
on Edline and is due on Tuesday. They are also working on a unit on Probability
and Statistics during Supercore class. Students have learned how to identify
populations and samples and to calculate inferences based on sample data.
Measures of center and variability (including their favorite statistical data
MAD!) will be the next topics. Think spring!
YELLOW TEAM NEWS
Yellow Team Math:
We have wrapped up fraction operations in math class
and are now moving onto Ratios, Rates, and Proportions. We
are excited to start introducing a new resource in math class,
Gizmos! These are interactive online simulations that students
can use to gain a better understanding of many math
concepts.
In Supercore, we are working on the surface area of
rectangular and triangular prisms with the use of nets. Our
current Mathletics assignment is due on Friday 2/14/14.
Yellow Team Social Studies
It’s third quarter and we have begun our third book of the year,
Asia and Oceania. We began with 5 map challenges where
students worked with a partner to use special purpose maps to
answer questions about Asia and Oceania. Then they used what
they had learned to identify the location of a field photograph.
This is the second time they have done an activity of this sort
and they have done really well.
Asia is extremely diverse in its land formations, climates, and
cultures. We’re going to study a region at a time and change the
sequences of the book to focus on the physical features, the
history and culture, and modern characteristics of one region
before moving onto another region. I think this will make more
sense to the students and lead to more continuity.
Yellow Team ELA
With all of the snow lately, it has been great to escape to the
tiny island of Curacao in 1942, the setting for The Cay, by
Theodore Taylor. Students are reading this adventurous
historical fiction novel, and then writing in response
journals for each chapter. Since the main character is a boy
about their age, students’ journal responses are insightful, as
they imagine themselves in the predicaments of World War
II.
Super Core English classes have been enthusiastically
working on an informational text Iditarod unit. We began by
reading “Race Against Death”, a nonfiction selection about
the diphtheria epidemic in Nome, Alaska in 1925. The
adventure is presented as a journal, with courageous
dogsled drivers and their teams of dogs racing across Alaska
on the Iditarod Trail to deliver a crucial serum to the
children in the remote town. Students are now looking
forward to the Iditarod Race on March 1, which we will
follow in Super Core after vacation.
(www.visitnomealaska.com)
Yellow Team Science
We have been working on our SUPER BIG ECOLOGY FINAL PROJECT! With such a broad
range of ecosystems (from the Arctic Ocean to New Zealand to the Kalahari Desert!) we are sure
to be well versed on ecosystems and their happenings. Our projects include abiotic and biotic
factors, food webs, symbiosis, cycles of matter, and ecological succession. It's been a zoo in
Miss Karalis' classroom but students are creating magnificent projects that they can really be
proud of. See next week's newsletter for final products!