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March 6, 2022 - 8th Updates (by CLT)
Updated automatically every 5 minutes

CORE CLASSES

Language Arts

(Please see Schoology for any course updates)

Math

Pre-Algebra

  • We will be starting Unit 11:  Area and Perimeter of Composite Shapes on Tuesday,3/8.  Study Guides have been provided in Schoology, along with an answer key.  The summative for this unit (our 4th for this quarter) will take place on Tuesday, 3/22 for A-day classes and Wednesday, 3/23 for B-Day classes.
  • Students should be accessing the Assignment Sheet/Schoology frequently for updates, copies of completed notes and additional resources to support learning.
  • ALEKS topics for the 3rd quarter have started, be sure students are completing a minimum of 5 topics a week.  All topics for the 3rd quarter will need to be completed on or before Friday, April 8th.

Algebra

  • Students are working in unit 10, graphing linear inequalities and systems of inequalities. Check Schoology for the date of your summative.  
  • Unit 11 will cover exponents.
  • Students should be working on their study guide for spiral review # 7 on Functions.  Check Schoology for the date of your mini-quiz.  
  • Students should be completing a minimum of 5 topics in ALEKS per week.  All topics for the 3rd quarter will need to be completed on or before Friday, April 8th.

Geometry

  • Our current Unit 11 focuses on the properties of quadrilaterals and calculating missing segments and angles of quadrilaterals.  The Summative Assessment is scheduled for 03/16 (A day) and 03/17 (B day).
  • Refer to the Unit Schedule posted in Schoology for notes, answer keys, study guides, and videos.
  • Reminder: Students are expected to complete a minimum of 5 topics in ALEKS each week.

Algebra 2-Trig.

  • Students took the unit 7 test on 2/17.  We are starting Unit 8: operations+graphing of rational functions.

Science

  • (Please see Schoology for any course updates)

Social Sciences

  • We are in the middle of our unit on the Political Process, which includes topics such as
  • Voting & Elections
  • The Electoral College
  • Political Parties
  • Political Campaigns
  • The Media

  • Students are practicing the above by running campaigns for mock elections and/or developing proposals for hypothetical candidates based on key demographic data and a given budget.

EL

(Please see Schoology for any course updates)

ENCORE CLASSES

Art

Shirk-

Art 8- Students are continuing work on a  drawing project that is focusing on translating music into a non objective artwork that utilizes counterchange and color blending with colored pencils!  They are also continuing to fill their sketchbook with self guided investigations that explore the different ways an artist can approach a blank page to express themselves.

3D design-

Students Are working on Paper Relief Artworks, using self made plates to emboss images into paper.

In their sketchbooks they continue to investigate different ways of using a sketchbook and continue to add content to their own self bound sketchbook! !

Band

(Please see Schoology for any course updates)

Chorus

  • After school rehearsal 3/9 3;30-4;25 - MANDATORY!
  • Assessment 3/16 - arrive to TMS in Concert Attire by 5:00. Performance and Sight Reading will be at River Bend Middle and we should return to TMS between 7:15 and 7:30

Intro Computer Science

Students will implement a program that accepts input values, stores them in named variables and produces expected outputs using Scratch.  Next, they will learn to build functions with parameters to organize code in Scratch and Python, making it easier to reuse.  Finally, students will learn to Pseudocode their projects prior to coding by deconstructing Capstone project #1 to use as an example.

Computer Science Foundations

Students use their knowledge of functions to create scenes in a story by calling a different function.  Next they will create functions to create a dance routine in both Python and Scratch.  Finally, students will use parameters to start customizing their function output based on an input or set of input values.

FACS

  • FACS 8 students just wrapped up a wonderful project: Pizza Around the World! Students worked in groups to research a country of their choice learning about dining etiquette, common foods, common spices used and even unusual dishes served in their country. They planned and prepared a pizza inspired by the cuisine they researched. Photos will be shared out soon!  
  • We will then transition back to the sewing room where students will complete another sewing project from a choice board. Project choices will include: lanyards, bowl koozies, felt hand sewing or inspirational wall hangings with a partner.

Guitar

Health/PE

  • Students are completing yoga/stepbox routines in the Aux gym and then begin new circuit workouts. Badminton will continue to be played in the main gym through the next week and will be followed by basketball. In Health, students are currently working on their advertising projects.

Orchestra

  • Depending on when this update is released, we may have just performed in the District Orchestra Assessment; if that is the case, students should have an updated summative grade in Student/ParentVUE
  • After District Assessment, we will work on 6/8 time, shifting, and other skills and techniques which will prepare students for a high school orchestra experience, all while preparing for our Spring Concert

Spectrum

  • Spectrum 8th graders have blasted off into their Future Cities- Moon projects.  They completed research on various aspects of the moon:  lunar features and terrain, lunar resources, and lunar hazards.  They will meet with their team to discuss how their research information can impact their Lunar City.
  • During this time period, we are participating in a special presentation via Google Meets with Mr. Sveum (my neighbor) who is working for Northrup Gruman on the Lunar Gateway Project.  His presentation shows the reality of what the students are designing in this project!

Robotics

  • (Please see Schoology for any course updates)

Tech Ed

  • Students are working on building a Candy Dispenser using wood and a mason jar.  They have to design their blueprints on TinkerCAD and then use the tools in the Production Lab to create and build it.

Drama

  • The drama students did an amazing job performing their first monologues! I was so impressed! We just finished up a unit on stage blocking and will touch on other parts of the theater such as stage lighting. The students will continue exploring monologues by focusing on character development and writing and performing a monologue for the class.

WORLD LANGUAGE

Grade 7/8

French 1

Touijar

  • We are working on identifying how to conjugate a new irregular verb to have, avoir, and we are reviewing and practicing the irregular verb to be, être,  learned previously.
  • We will learn and practice how to describe family members and friends.
  • Soon I will introduce Project # 4: La famille, the directions will be posted on Schoology.
  • Please make sure they don’t wait for the last minute to complete it.
  •  Merci for your trust and support!

French 2

Touijar

  • We are  working  on the past tense with Etre  and we are reviewing the past tense with Avoir.
  • We will have a major summative on it.
  •  I will introduce their project #4 a couple of weeks ago: Mon pays francophone. They will have 6 weeks to complete and submit it. Please make sure they don’t wait for the last minute.
  • It will be due on March 25, 2022.
  • Merci for your trust and support!

German 1

Kluber

  • Students have been discussing and sharing their hobbies and interests. Next week and beyond we'll be discussing the importance of some of these hobbies in German culture.
  • Our next Major Summative, a Show and Tell Presentation, will be on Tuesday Feb. 22. Students will need to present about their hobbies without reading off of notes.
  • If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

German 2

Kluber

Students have just completed our mini-unit about the past tense and have just started our main Q3 unit about traveling. Students will learn how to discuss steps when a planning a trip to a German speaking country.

The first Major Summative of the quarter, the Past Tense Project, was due on Thursday Feb. 17. Please confirm with your child that they have it submitted.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

Latin 1

Moran

CURRENT CHAPTER: Stage 7

  • Perfect verbs with x, Ä“, s, and u tense indicators.
  • Implied subjects

Since the start of the quarter, we have…

  • Wrapped up Stage 6, which introduced the imperfect and perfect tenses.
  • Been introduced to the Stage 7 vocabulary. Verb forms on our vocabulary lists now include present and perfect forms.
  • Started reading our Stage 7 stories.

New to the Grade Book:

  • Translation Summative #1
  • End-of-Stage 6 Summative
  • Quarter 2 PALS
  • Stage 7 Vocabulary Flashcards

Upcoming Assessments…

  • Stage 7 Vocabulary Summative: Friday, February 18th
  • Mini End-of-Stage 7 Summative: Wednesday, February 23rd

Please note…

  • Students should regularly check their school emails.
  • All Latin formatives and summatives are put into our course’s calendar in Schoology.

Latin 2

Moran

CURRENT CHAPTER: Stage 17

  • The genitive case
  • Ancient Alexandria

Since the start of the quarter, we have…

  • Wrapped up Stage 16, which introduced the pluperfect tense.
  • Reviewed all of our present, imperfect, and perfect tense endings and translations.
  • Talked about famous Celtic leaders and their responses to the Roman invasion of Britannia.
  • Reviewed the translations of Latin questions based on the presence of -ne, nonne, and num.

New to the Grade Book:

  • Stage 16 Vocabulary Formal Formative
  • Verb Endings Formal Formative
  • Questions Formal Formative
  • Quarter 2 PALS
  • Homework: Celtic Leaders Discussion Question

Upcoming Assessments…

  • Stage 17 Vocabulary Formal Formative: Wednesday, February 23rd
  • Stage 17 Vocabulary Summative Part 1: Friday, February 25th
  • Nouns Endings Formal Formative: Friday, February 25th
  • 2-Part Summative: Stage 17 Vocabulary Part 2 & Noun Endings: Tuesday, March 1st

Please note…

  • Students should regularly check their school emails.
  • All Latin formatives and summatives are put into our course’s calendar in Schoology.

Spanish 1

De Leon

  • Students have just completed the unit on the theme of school and the classroom. We are starting a new unit on food: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Please check the homework schedule with your child for assignments and upcoming summatives. Extra credit has been uploaded in Schoology. Due date is March 18th.

Spanish for Fluent Speakers 1

Collazos

(Please see Schoology for any course updates)

Spanish 2

Collazos

(Please see Schoology for any course updates)