Student Life

Kung Fu Cats--Mr. Dooley, Mr. Leuhrs, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Rush

In Mr. Luehr’s math class, students have just started their third book entitled Variables and Patterns. This is an algebra unit. Students are learning how to write algebraic expressions and equations. They will also be using data from a table to graph lines and write equations. In the next week, students will be taking another formative test. Students on the Kung Fu team have shown good progress on the five formative tests that we have taken thus far. We want them to keep up the good work as we prepare for the all-important state assessments.

In Mrs. Rush’s science class the students are exploring the potential of energy. We’ve learned that energy is NOT drinking a Mt. Dew, but rather the ability to do work. Our next steps will be into the work of light and sound. In Mr. Dooley’s social studies class they will be looking at how technology has impacted the environment. Students will be creating a power point or poster on various technologies that have impacted the environment. They will also compare and contrast juvenile and adult law. Students will participate in a mock trial and have a political guest speaker.

In Mrs. Nelson’s language arts class, students are wrapping up a unit on literary elements. Students were assigned to reading groups and read various short stories in their literature circles. We will be doing an interdisciplinary unit next, where we will use our science textbooks to explore cause and effect text structures.

Team Powercat--Ms. DeBoard, Mrs. Meyer, Mr. Olson, Mrs. Probasco
In language arts we will be finishing up our novel Number the Stars, watching the movie, and taking a test over the novel. The students have become very interested in the history of WWII, the Holocaust, and the events that took place during this time period.

In math we will start a new unit titled, “Covering and Surrounding,” in which we will learn about area and perimeter, particularly that of squares, rectangles, and triangles. After this we will finish up our fraction concepts with adding, subtracting, and multiplying fractions.

In science we have been comparing and contrasting the characteristics of stars, planets, moons, comets, and asteroids (Sc. 4.3.1). We’ve found a wealth of information doing Google searches to find out more about the universe. We have also been using our new Trippensee Lighted Planetarium model provided by the EMS PRIDE committee to study eclipses and phases of the moon. Thanks PRIDE!

This past month in social studies students have been creating projects for both their ancient India and China units. These projects are examples of differentiated instruction that allow students to make choices about their learning based on their own learning styles. Some examples of how students showcased their knowledge of ancient China included creating a model of the Great Wall, a Silk Road board game, or possibly an ancient emperor comic strip. One of our favorite choices, of course, was the Chinese Banquet! Students were also responsible for completing and presenting information on each of their researched topics. In November, we will travel to ancient Egypt. We will be mummifying a chicken to show the process ancient Egyptians used to preserve the bodies of their deceased pharaohs. We are asking students to bring a container of salt or baking soda to help with this classroom project.

Cat’s Meow--Mr. Briggs, Ms. Green, Mrs. Towner, Mrs. Vides
Thank you to all parents who attended parent/teacher conferences last month. It was a pleasure to visit with you and share the great things your student is doing at school. In Language Arts we are getting ready to do our Expository Text, Cause/Effect, and Problem/ Solution unit. We took a formative test last week and instruction will continue to take place based on that test data. Our goal is to make Standard of Excellence in 7th grade reading again this year!

In social studies we took some time out from geography at the start of the month to look at the election-we couldn’t let the opportunity for a little bit of government and citizenship education pass us by. We will also have local World War II veteran Howard Cool talk to the students in observance of Veteran’s Day. The rest of the month will be dedicated to technology and the environment as we look at the ways humans have changed the earth and the increasing accessibility of Global Information Systems. We will close out the month by turning to juveniles and the justice system with more guest speakers and a mock trial.

Science for Cat’s Meow is studying phases of matter and phase changes. Lab activities which determine the freezing point of various substances have been used. We will be heading toward types of energy and energy changes till Christmas.

In math class the students are beginning to work with operations on Integers and order of operations, in order to prepare for solving equations in the near future. Algebra is alive and well in our classroom! We use playing cards to generate problems to practice and number lines and counters to model understanding of each concept. There is a hopscotch grid on the floor of the order of operations for students to practice with. Our students have done well overall in the three formative tests we have taken so far. Their desire to learn is evident, and their diligent efforts are paying off already this year.

Team Lions--Mr. Daniel, Mrs. Gillis, Mrs. McNary, Ms. Reeves
Congratulations to Katy Randall! She is October’s Student of the Month for the Lions team. Katy is an excellent student; she carried a 3.8 GPA for the 1st 9 weeks and is off to a great start 2nd 9 weeks. Katy is one of our most responsible students. If she has been gone, she always comes up to check and make sure she is all caught up or has all her work that she needs to get caught up. She is also very up beat and seems to always have a smile. Katy is very helpful to those who do not understand; she is a great peer tutor. Katy will receive a bag of tasty treats, as well as an October Student of the Month achievement certificate.

In Mrs. Gillis’s Algebra class, the students are working on functions and linear equations. Her Math III students have been reviewing linear equations and working on identifying right triangles by using the Pythagorean Theorem. In Mr. Daniel’s Science class, the students continue to study erosion and weathering.

In Ms. Reeves’s Social Studies class, during the month of November, her students will be looking at the cause and effects of the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party. They will also be studying the French and Indian War. They will discover who really was the winner in this war, plus what the Americans gained from this war. This will then carry them into the Revolutionary War.

In Mrs. McNary’s Language Arts class, the students have been studying the life and work of Edgar Allan Poe. They recently studied his biography and created timelines of his life. They just finished up “The Raven” and “The Tell-Tale Heart.” During the month of November, the students will study Expository text, which will include the 5 text structures, identifying main idea and details in text, and they will practice summarizing newspaper articles. They will have another writing assignment following Thanksgiving break.

ParV Lynx--Ms. Arpin, Mrs. Probst, Mrs. Robinson, Mr. Vargas
The PAR-V Lynx have chosen Kevin Wilson for our student of the month. Kevin has been extremely helpful and cooperative with his teachers and we have chosen him as a thank you for all his hard work. Kevin will be getting a certificate and a pass to B & B Theaters here in town for a free movie.

In Social Studies, Mr. Vargas’ class is currently starting the American Industrial Revolution. The students are working on a WebQuest, a virtual assignment through the internet, on the life of a child laborer and factory owner during the time period. They will be creating parallel journals from both perspectives.

In science, students are finishing their rocks and minerals web pages and will begin a more in depth look at the material.

Language Arts students have been practicing writing essays. The last one was on Snakes. We are going to be also working a few literary terms in the upcoming weeks. Students have a Biography/Autobiography Project due December 5, 2008. Please ask you student about this project.

Algebra is starting Chapter 5. We will be studying graphs and equations. Students will focus on the y-intercept form of an equation and slope. Math 3 is continuing to study the Pythagorean theorem. We are using squares to find the length of lines. Students are also studying the different types of numbers in the Real Number System. Irrational numbers is a new concept and will include determining if a number is rational or irrational.

Super Star Cats--Mr. Garbee, Mrs. King, Mrs. Mooney, Mrs. West
Team Super Star Cats will go on a field trip to the Museum of World Treasures in Wichita on Thursday, December 18th. Your child should have a permission slip for you to sign and return with the $6.00 admittance fee. All permission slips and money need to be turned into Mrs. Mooney by December 11th. The students will also need to bring a sack lunch. The school can provide a sack lunch if you let Mrs. Mooney know by December 15th.

Mrs. Mooney’s Social Studies class is studying Ancient Egypt. The students have started the mummification process for the chickens. She reports that the chickens will be completely mummified on Dec. 22nd. Be sure and ask your students for all the details. The mummification process lasts 45 days and will be completed by rubbing them with oil and spices. The chickens will then be wrapped with cotton gauze and then be buried. Students will be asked to write a list of events that have happened this year to be buried with the chickens. The culminating activity will occur when the students are in the 8th grade. The chickens will be dug up and examined to check on the success of the process.

In Mrs. King’s Language Arts class, students have just finished up the novel Number The Stars by Lois Lowry. This is a fascinating tale of historical fiction that focuses on the Nazi persecution of the Jews in Denmark and their consequent escape to neutral Sweden. Students will also be taking sample tests in preparation for the upcoming state assessments.

Ms. West’s math class has been working on the state outcome of fractions. We’ve been working hard and test grades show students are getting the process. We will finish
fractions in November and start on geometry.

In Science, students have been learning about the world of cells and the cell theory. This will be followed by a unit on microscopes, in which the students will learn correct procedures in operation and care of microscopes. The culminating activity for microscopes will be a lesson on creating onion cell slides. Be sure and ask your students how this activity went and what parts of the onion cell they could identify.

Allmond’s Angels--Mrs. Allmond
My students are very excited about our Thanksgiving feast coming up on November 21st. Invitations have been sent out and RSVP’s are coming in now. We have made place mats and written letters about being thankful. Cooking will be going on the entire week of the feast.

We enjoyed reading the book The Man Who Loved Clowns. We learned to have more compassion for people who are different. We have all been working on many new skills and social skills and making vast improvements.