For the week of October 30th - November 3rd.

Here is what you can expect this week:

There will be an all school celebration of Journey to the Center of the Earth on October 31st with treats and the movie Journey to the Center of the Earth. This movie is PG. If your parent would like you to skip out on this movie, please ask them to drop me an email. If you choose to bring a treat please make sure it is dairy free and peanut free. Here is a list of treats that are dairy free and peanut free: pretzels, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, lunch meat and cheese slices, popcorn and most potato and corn chips. We will begin our celebration during 3rd period. Don't forget you can dress up as a character/scene from the book. Your imagination is your only limit. PS. (That and the dress code 😉)

Student Lead Parent Teacher Conferences
Will take place from 3:30 - 7:00 pm on November 2nd and 3rd of this week.  This is a new format you may not have experienced.  Students will lead parents on a tour of the school/their classes and talk about the programs they use.  Report cards will be available for pick up and all middle school/ high school teachers will be in the gym to visit with.  There will also be a parent survey to fill out.  Parents and students finishing the conference checklist will be entered in a drawing for a free movie ticket.  

Math 1

We just finished our Topic 2 test.  I think a lot of the students were surprised how much studying is required to do well in math this year.  The program we use, Digits, moves rather fast and each concept builds off of one another.  Even if your student doesn't have homework, they should be studying math every night.  They can be reworking problems from their student workbook or can even go online back into the slides and do the "Close and Check" section.  15-20 minutes a night will make all the difference in the world.  

Reading

We are working on reading and digesting (aka comprehension) of all types of literature and informational text.  The class is covering everything from classic stories to speeches given by Presidents.  We will be moving into small book-club like reading groups to work on literary circles to assist on comprehending literary texts independently.

**Book orders will be due on Wednesday**

Science

We just wrapped up our unit on weather and the atmosphere.  Students should have walked away the following "big ideas":

1. Weather is a set of environmental conditions at one time in one place.
2. Weather conditions that can be measured and recorded include temperature, air pressure and humidity.
3. Air has mass and takes up space.
4. Air is made of particles that can be compressed or expanded.
5. Earth is surrounded by a layer of gases called the atmosphere and each layer is integral to life on this planet.

Home Econ

We continued on with seasonal treats and using the apples that were graciously donated to our class.  The students made pan made cinnamon applesauce.  This week we will tackle pretzels.  

Survey

Survey Link

For the week of October 22nd - 27th

Can you believe it is the end of first quarter on Tuesday?  Even though 6th graders are now on Semesters, along with all of junior high and high school, there are some changes you need to be aware of.  Any student with a C- or lower, in a core subject will be placed in mandatory study hall. Progress reports will be printed and ready for pick up at Parent Teacher Conferences on 11/2 and 11/3 from 3:30 - 7:00 each evening. I hope to see you all there.  If neither of those evenings work, please don't hesitate to set up another time that works for you.  I am available most days after school. 

This week is a busy week.  It is Homecoming week!  Here is what you can expect:

HOMECOMING WEEK:

All grades are invited to participate in the dress up days. (Dress code rules still apply.)

Monday, October 23^rd: School Colors -  wear maroon and gold

Tuesday, October 24^th: Twin day – match a friend

Wednesday, October 25^th:  PJ day - wear your jammies!

Thursday, October 26^th: Throwback (Dress up like a prior decade of your choice)

Friday, October 27^th:  Class Colors  - support your favorite high school class and wear their color!

Freshmen: Orange,  Sophomores: Green,  Juniors: Pink,    Seniors: Blue

VISION CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL MASQUERADE SOCIAL:

Sixth through eighth grade VCS students are invited to attend the Masquerade Social Friday, October 27th   from 4:30pm-6:00pm.  The entrance fee is five dollars and includes pizza and drinks. Prizes will be given for best costumes including one boy and one girl from each grade 6^th- 8^th grade. Costume Guidelines: No weapons or weapon-like objects. No gruesome, violent, or bloody costumes.  Modesty rules apply.  Dresses and shirts must cover to the edge of the shoulder. Skirts and shorts must extend to three inches above the top of the knee. Leggings must be covered by a shirt/shorts/skirt that extends to the finger tips.

**(Friends from other schools are not allowed to be brought to middle school dances.)

READING

We are learning all about characterization and what it takes to make a good character.  We are also diving into Washington Irving's "Legend of Sleepy Hollow".  

SCIENCE

The class just finished up with our unit on Weather and Atmosphere.  We will be working on study guides/notes this week for the test.  Students will be allowed to use their science journal on the test.  The test is scheduled for Wednesday.

MATH

In order to teach the students all the skills needed to pass 6th grade math, I have started having to teach 2 lessons each class.  Please make sure your student is diligently using their Digits workbook for the pre-read lessons.  I don't expect them to completely understand, but it helps the class move faster if they have seen the material prior to my teaching.  We are coming up on the end of another chapter.  I am aiming to have a test on Thursday, possibly Friday of this week.  

HOME ECON

We were blessed with an abundance of apples that were donated to the class.  Our next few recipes will involve using what we were given.  This last week, I introduced the class to the fine art of candy making.  We learned about about the different stages of cooking sugar:  soft ball, hard ball, soft crack and hard crack to make candy apples.  

Word De Jour and Quotes

Circumference

The Distance around something.

Quote of the week

Spending today complaining about yesterday won't make tomorrow  any better.

-Unknown

For the week of October 16th - 20th

Jobs


I hope everyone had a wonderful week off.,  We are back in the swing of things for sure.  Here is what you can expect for this week.

Reading
We are wrapping up the Journey to the Center of the Earth by comparing our version of the novel with a graphic novel on Myon.   We are also learning about what it takes to build a good character, along with several different archetypes.  There will be a short quiz about characterization on Wednesday.

Math
Math Monsters are due Tuesday, along with the pre-read for 2.4.  We are going to have to pick up the pace to cover all the skills needed for 6th grade.  Students will be receiving more math homework in the weeks ahead.

How many sides in this polygon?

Count the angles on this math monster

Science
In Science we are covering the different layers of the atmosphere.

Home Econ
We are wrapping up our quick breads unit and headed into cookies and cakes.

Homecoming Week  October 23rd - 27th
Next week is Homecoming Week.  Students are encouraged to dress up for each day's theme.  Modesty and Handbook rules still apply.

Monday - Maroon and Gold Day
Tuesday - Twin Day
Wednesday - PJ Day
Thursday - Throwback (to any era)
Friday - Middle school Social - Masquerade 4:30 - 6:30    Cost $5.00

Word de Jour and Quote

Don't ask why somebody keeps hurting you.  Ask why you keep letting them.

By Unknown

Camaraderie - a spirit of friendly good-fellowship

For the week of October 2nd - 6th

JOBS



Its our last week of school before Fall Break.  Here is what you can expect:

Reading
We are finishing up Journey to the Center of the Earth.  The end of book project is called a Chapter Map.  This is due Wednesday.  I posted examples on Edmodo.   It basically has to include a chapter title, a picture or two depicting what happened in that chapter and a brief 3-5 summary in words recapping the chapter.  I gave the students either poster paper for posters, folders for the matchbook maps or students could use Google slides.    The project is worth 75 points.   Students will be presenting their projects in class on Thursday.

Math
We just had our first math test last Thursday and will be starting a new chapter on Tuesday.  Students were allowed to make corrections on their tests for a better grade.  This was an option and not forced.  Some students chose to keep the first grade they received.  Corrections must be made in class.

Science
We just finished our first official lab in science.  You may have heard about the syringe and air pressure experiment.  This week we will be learning all about Earth's atmosphere.

Home Ec
We are still continuing our unit on breakfast foods.  Last week we studied about the effects of baking soda and baking powder, along with how over-handling dough leads to tough biscuits.  This week we are tackling more quick breads.

The "D" word
In 6th grade we have 2 types of detentions.  Detention with a big "D" is for  things like: disturbing class, disobedience and disrespect.   Detention with a little "d" is for not doing your homework.  I haven't been making students bring home their little "d" slips yet for parent signatures.  Mrs. Warr and I have been working with the students really hard on being prepared for classes, especially when they only happen every other day.  We understand that transitioning to this style of classes isn't easy.  However, after fall break, students not completing home and being sent to detention on a regular basis for not completing work will be expected to have their slips signed by a parent.

IC
If you haven't logged into Infinite Campus' Parent Portal yet, I highly suggest you do so.  I will have grades updated again over Fall Break.  If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to call, email or schedule an appointment after school.