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10/17 - 7th Updates (by CLT)
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Mrs. Carlson, 7th Grade

  • Wow! The end of the first quarter is rapidly approaching. Please remind your students to check in on their StudentVUE to ensure they have all assignments completed as we move toward closing out Q1.
  • If you see something, say something! We are encouraging all students to speak up if they see or hear something that seems out of the ordinary. For example, if they see a water spill - let an adult know so that we can be sure the area is clean and safe! Any reiteration of this message at home would be greatly appreciated to encourage our young citizens to keep our school safe and clean.

School Counselor and Wellness

TMS School Counseling Website

  • Need temporary assistance with your heating or cooling system or bills.  You may be eligible for assistance through the Energy Assistance Program.  For more information and check your eligibility, please click on the below links:        
  • Looking for a parte training program designed specifically for how to address behaviours such as Truancy, Family Conflict, Drug Use, or Violent Behavior?  LCPS & The Parent Project are hosting a 10 week program taught by trained facilitators to help parents maneuver those hard to address topics/behaviors.  For more information, please see the Parent Project Flyer.
  • The application to apply for the Academies of Loudoun is open to all interested 8th grade students  The admissions criteria for the Academies are:
  • Enrolled in Algebra I or above at the time of application
  • Writing Assessment
  • STEM Thinking Skills Assessment
  • Final grade of C or above in Math and Science courses in grades 6 and 7, and semester 1 of grade 8
  • The deadline to apply for the Academies of Loudoun has been extended to Monday, October 25th at 11pm. For more information about the admissions process, including parent information nights and a copy of their parent presentation, please go to the Academies admissions page at https://www.lcps.org/AcademiesAdmissions.
  • October is National Bullying Awareness Month - October 21st we will have our Orange Out to show that TMS is United Against Bullying!  Students are encouraged to rock their orange to show their dedication to stand up against bullying.
  • The Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition - Middle and high school students have an opportunity to identify an issue in their communities and implement a solution as they contribute to the world around them.
  • In the past few years, we have seen projects delve deep based on things already being done in school as part of Project Based Learning and Personalized Learning methods. These provide the perfect place for students to make their project work public by explaining, displaying and presenting it to people beyond the classroom. This year, students will create a team video due March 3, 2022, and then the top 40 teams will present live to judges on March 24, 2022.
  • Registration for the Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition is now open. You will find information about SULYC and the link for the application at: www.loudounyouth.org under Programs: Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition.

CORE CLASSES

Language Arts

  • Students have finished up and submitted their own picture books. We are so impressed with their creativity! Ask your student to share their hard work with you.
  • We are now starting to explore characterization through our reading. Students will be selecting a book club book the last week of the quarter to further this learning.
  • We are focusing on using and identifying noun types, this will be the students last summative for the quarter on 10/25 and 10/26
  • As always, students should be reading for at least 20 minutes a day.

Math

Foundations of Algebra

  • The Summative Assessment for Unit 3 took place on Wednesday 10/13(A day) and Thursday, 10/14 (B day).
  • As a reminder, students are expected to learn 5 topics in ALEKS each week (Monday morning through Sunday evening). Students should have a minimum of 20 topics completed as of 10/11/21.
  • Please check your Schoology page frequently for updated assignment sheet and calendar updates.
  • Our last unit of the quarter will include Practical Problems involving Rational Numbers, the tentative test dates are Thursday, 10/21(A Day) and Friday, 10/22, B Day.

Pre-Algebra

  • The last Summative Assessment for Quarter 1 on Solving Multi-Step Equations and Simplifying Expressions will take place on Tuesday 10/19 (A day) and Wednesday, 10/20 (B day).
  • As a reminder, students are expected to learn 5 topics in ALEKS each week (Monday morning through Sunday evening). Students should have a minimum of 30 topics completed by 10/28/21.
  • Please check your Schoology page frequently for updated assignment sheet and calendar updates.

Algebra

  • We will be beginning literal equations on 10/19.  This is the topic for our last summative of the quarter.  The summative on literal equations will be Monday 10/25 (A Day) and Tuesday 10/26 (B Day).
  • Please check your Schoology page frequently for updated assignment sheet and calendar updates.
  • Students should be completing a minimum of 5 ALEKS topics a week.  Students need to have completed 30 topics by 10/28.  Students can earn extra credit for the quarter by completing extra ALEKS topics.  All information about ALEKS and extra credit can be found in Schoology on the student assignment sheet.  

Geometry

  • Unit 4 Will begin on 10/19/21.  This unit will focus on Coordinate Geometry for distance, midpoint, and slope from a graph as well as parallel and perpendicular lines on a graph.
  • The Unit 4 Summative is scheduled for 10/27/21 (A day) or 10/28/21 (B day).  This is the last summative for the 1st quarter
  • The Unit Schedule, found in each Unit folder on Schoology has notes, practice, answer keys, and some videos to help with additional review or when you are absent.
  • Reminder: students should be completing at least 5 ALEKS topics each week.  More information about how ALEKS topics can earn extra credit for the first quarter is in the Extra Credit folder on Schoology.

Science

  • Students have started the Cells Unit where they will focus on structure and function of both plant and animal cells.
  • Students will complete a Cell Analogy Project with a small group during class for a summative grade during the week of October 18th.
  • Students will have their Cells Summative test the week of October 25th. The study guide is currently posted on Schoology in the “Study Materials” folder as well as a link to quizlet vocabulary practice.

Social Sciences

  • We just completed our quiz on the Homestead Act and Transcontinental Railroad
  • Next, students will explore how westward expansion affected Native Americans following the Civil War
  • Topics include assimilation, land rights, depletion of resources, important battles and leaders, and policies of the American government
  • Native American Summative - 10/19 (A-Day) 10/20 (B-Day)

ENCORE CLASSES

Art

  • Students are updating their Digital Portfolios which can be viewed on Schoology with their current work. Portfolios will be checked for all work submitted for Q1 and then we will be doing Experimental Studio Days on the week of October 25th. If you are looking for Formative and Summative information, it is also on Schoology.

Chorus

  • We are working on concert music! You may hear some music being sung at home. Encourage it! :)
  • We are working on basic music literacy skills and identifying and reading whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, and time signatures.
  • Order forms for Concert Polo Shirts will begin Monday October 18-Friday Nov 19 on the TMS Portal

FACS

  • Students are demonstrating their culinary skills as they complete a variety of food labs.
  • We will then focus on nutrition and apply that knowledge as students learn how to read nutrition labels.
  • Next, students will begin the machine sewing unit and will create a pencil pouch.

Guitar

  • 7th grade guitarists are working on their first concert music in 3 and four parts.
  • Students have become fluent in sight reading in c major and g major scales.  They will begin to learn the fourth string and the key of d major

Health/PE

  • Students have been completing fall fitness testing in the Aux gym and will begin soccer skills in the Main gym. In Health, students are finishing work on the Cardiovascular Unit.

Spectrum

  • Students are working on our Investigating the Future unit.   We examined the Theory of Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner and students took a survey to see how they rank on the various intelligences.  
  • Next, students will participate in an analysis simulation where they will examine applicants for a program to determine if these candidates display a need for gifted services.  This leads to a great discussion.

WORLD LANGUAGES

English Learners

  • Students have been learning the letters of the English alphabet, focusing on vowel sounds.  They’ve been practicing the sounds of long and short vowels, as well as using letters to make words using those sounds.  Students are learning the elements of a story, focusing on characters, setting, and prediction.  We’ve also been enjoying a whole class read-aloud from the book Front Desk by Kelly Yang.