Middle School
Weekly Update
Week of March 3rd
01
Calendar
3/15: No school for students
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Office Updates
From Mrs. Lomax
On Wednesday, the whole school attended an assembly on the April 8th solar eclipse with Jennie Cartie, an educator from Kopernik Observatory & Science Center in Vestal. We learned how eclipses happen as well as how to observe them safely. Students will be receiving eclipse glasses so that they can watch the eclipse safely!
5th Grade
5th Grade Daily Planner (Please bookmark for your use). Please check your students’ take home folders and planners with them daily. Calling ALL PENCILS!!! Please remind students to bring spare pencils from home with them to school (either daily) or to store in their lockers! We are giving them the same messages here at school. THANK YOU!!!
ELA: This week students had the mission of finishing their free read book so they could report on its theme. We discussed the differences between subject, main idea and theme, practiced finding common themes in Disney movies, children’s stories and even music. Their week #4 activity is to TEST their free read book in order to determine a common theme. This will be due next week.
Math: We began our dive into Module 4 this week. Students learned a variety of ways to find fractions of a whole number. We discussed how when we multiply a whole number by a proper fraction, the product is less than the whole number. When we multiply a whole number by an improper fraction, the product is more than the whole number. We took our exit ticket on this skill on Friday and students will get them back on Monday. Ask your student how they did.
6th Grade
6th grade planner (please bookmark this link)
Social Studies: This week students began exploring the geography of China. We also started to explore Ancient Chinese customs.
Math: In math we are using ratios to find unit rates. Try to find unit rates around the community as a family.
Science: Students in science class spent last week exploring the evidence we have that land masses were once connected. They modeled what they thought the land masses used to look like. They also supported their thinking using evidence of rock types, mountains, glaciers and fossils.
ELA: Students listened to Steve Jobs' speech given to Harvard University commencement. We also began planning and writing our own Hero’s Journey. Ask your student about their main character and what the problem is in their story.
Health 6: Be sure to ask your child about their mindfulness toolbox that we built this past week and what they know about stress and the brain! With a continued focus on disease prevention, students will learn about basic nutrition and fitness recommendations. Another lesson this week will focus on tick prevention.
Band: Mrs. Posegate’s Lesson Schedule
Chorus: MP3 Lesson Schedule / MP3 Lesson Groups
THRIVE: After-school tutoring is in progress. Fill out this form to sign-up.
7th Grade
7th Grade Digital Planner (Please bookmark this link.)
Please remind students to bring pencils, their Chromebook charger, and a water bottle to school.
Science: This week, we learned about adaptations and natural selection, using examples such as the peppered moth and the finches of the Galapagos islands. We also learned how to include scientific principles when writing CERs (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning). Next Friday (3/8), we will have a CER on natural selection. Students will need to use the scientific principles of adaptations and natural selection. There will be a review session after school next Tuesday (3/5)
ELA 7: This week we will continue to journey with Cole Matthews in Touching Spirit Bear. Will Cole survive the frigid temperatures of the Alaskan waters? Will he survive the elements on the island without his supplies? How will his anger affect the animals on the island? If students go to their ELA Google Classroom, then they’ll have their own survival kits with links that will help them complete their epic reading and questions. To help your 7th grader succeed in the wilderness of our classroom, here is our reading calendar.
Math 7 & Pre-Algebra: Math 7 students will dive into linear equations and inequalities this week. We’ve visited this topic before, and now we’ll work to deepen our understanding and refresh our thinking. Pre-Algebra students will wrap up our study of systems of equations. Pi Day is coming up on March 14th. We are still seeking some pies and some servers for a few periods. If you are able to sign-up, we’d love to have your help. View the sign-up sheet. Mrs. Lomax is ready to help us celebrate in her Staff Slam Pi jersey.
Chorus: Lesson Schedule / Lesson Groups
Music: Students finished up their ukulele playing assessments this week. Each student chose a song to play that demonstrated their knowledge of how to play several chords along with a YouTube play-along. This week, we will start a mini-unit on why music played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement.
7/8 Band: Students should be practicing their band music! We have an upcoming assessment that will involve playing sections from each band piece. More details to come soon! THIS document outlines what will be on the assessment. It is also posted in Google Classroom. NYSSMA prep is under way! If your student is participating and hasn’t chosen their solo yet, they will be doing that this week!
7/8 Band Lesson Schedule/Groups- week of 3/4
8th Grade
Parents: Reminder--Students should be emailing their teachers when absent -- that way they can know what was covered in class. Also please follow the below steps to check assignments in your child’s Google Classrooms.
Algebra: Students began looking at quadratic functions. We graphed them and looked at key features such as turning points and x/y intercepts. Students also began solving them by using different factoring methods. Next week we will cover the method of solving a quadratic by “completing the square.”
Math 8: Students explored the pythagorean theorem this week and looked at various applications of the formula a^2 +b^2 = c^2. There will be a quiz on monday next week. We reviewed on Friday and students should use those notes as a study guide to prepare.
Kotler’s ELA 8: This week, students will conduct research on civil rights activists. Today, they’ll receive their research subjects and note 2 relevant details. Tuesday, students will join with a group to create a brief slideshow. Thursday, students will peer edit biography paragraphs within their groups. Friday, slideshows. Additionally, students are working together to take notes from excerpts of A Mighty Long Way by Carlotta Walls LaNier and Little Rock Girl 1957 by Shelley Tougas to identify the impact of media (e.g. TV, radio, photography, etc.) on the Civil Rights Movement. On Friday, we will use class notes to write a summative paragraph.
On March 12th, we will have guest speaker Roald Hoffmann joining us!
Social Studies: We kicked off the Great Depression this week with a live simulation on the causes, followed by group work on the effects. Students will have time to explore another MissionUS online simulation called Up From the Dust.
Chorus: Lesson Schedule / Lesson Groups
7/8 Band: Students should be practicing their band music! We have an upcoming assessment that will involve playing sections from each band piece. More details to come soon! THIS document outlines what will be on the assessment. It is also posted in Google Classroom. NYSSMA prep is under way! If your student is participating and hasn’t chosen their solo yet, they will be doing that this week!
7/8 Band Lesson Schedule/Groups- week of 3/4
Clubs & Activities
Student Council
Next Student Council meeting will be coming up soon. We will be working to plan the next dance and other exciting events for the coming spring.
You must sign up for the late bus with Mr. Begeal or Ms. Salib by 1:00 PM on Tuesday.
Drama Club
Please check the Drama Club website for the rehearsal schedule.
Washington, D.C. Trip
8th Grade Washington DC trip - Our trip is scheduled for June 12 -14th. There will be a mandatory parent meeting later in the spring to go over the logistics of the trip. We will also have a student meeting prior to the trip to discuss expectations and polices. Stay tuned for more info.
PTO
Please be sure to follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tburgpto
Yearbook
Yearbook Club will meet in the Media room (next to the Tech room) on Thursday, March 7th, from 3-4:00pm.
*Students needing to ride the bus will be dismissed at 3:35pm to get on the late bus. Students getting picked up/walking home will be dismissed at 4pm.
Any student participating in Yearbook Club who needs to ride the late bus must let advisors Lisa Magee or Tammy Parker know by 12:00pm on the day of the meeting.
Future Meeting Dates:
March 26th
March 28th
Modified Sports
Modified Spring Sports Registration is now open in Family ID for softball, baseball and outdoor track and field.
You can find more information on our Athletics homepage at tburgschools.org; just click on the basketball towards the bottom of the page and look for a big blue box titled Sports Sign-Ups. There you will find specific information important for registration. Please email Coach Beam at tbeam@tburg.k12.ny.us if you have any questions.
Community
Community
Building Contacts
Main Office: Brenda Everhart, 607-387-2825
Attendance: Lauren Conners, 607-387-7551, x1425
Nurse's Office: 607-387-2827
Student Services Team: 607-387-7551 ext. 1449
Bryce DeSantis, School Psychologist
Lisa Magee, Administrative Assistant
Brian Cobb, LCSW, Social Worker
Claire Valletta, Guidance Counselor
IT Help: help@tburgschools.on.spiceworks.com or 607-288-2821 (Monday - Friday 8 am to 4pm)
Newsletter items/help/unsubscribe: Gail Brisson, gbrisson@tburg.k12.ny.us