Newsletter October 23, 2015

We apologize for the lack of newsletter last week but wanted you to know that it was an amazing day at the courage retreat.  many students did courageous acts by standing up and sharing what they want to change in the world.  Please take a moment to ask your child about what they want to change.  Just a reminder that there is no school for students next Thursday and Friday, October 29 and 30.  Teachers will be spending the days collaborating, creating and learning. 

It is also the end of the quarter this coming Wednesday, October 28th.  This means that all re-takes, assignments, and anything missing must be handed in and completed by Wednesday.  Please check IC with your child to make sure everything is turned in.  Report cards with standard scores will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.   

Speaking of report cards, we want to make sure that if your child receives something less than a "3" that they do not think they have failed at that standard.  Instead it shows us areas we need to continue to work with them on, as well as areas that are currently being developed.  Many classes have opportunities for standards to be evaluated again in later quarters to show growth.  

Projects and Deadlines coming up:

October 26th - Map quiz (Geography Stoller)

October 26th - Challenge project due (Westrich EE)

October 28th - End of Quarter

October 28th - Summative citations due (Tech Tools Shumaker)

October 29th and 30th - No school  - Teacher PD days

November 6th - All word work due (English Ripp)

November 17th and 19th - Conferences

November 25th-30th - No school - Thanksgiving break

Geography (Stoller):  

Students wrapped up their introduction of the 5 themes with a quiz today.  Scores will be posted by Tuesday so please check with your child and decide if a make up is needed.  We began learning about different types of maps, map projections and practiced using maps to gather information.  

Ask your child about Climate maps, Physical maps, Political maps and Road maps.  You can also ask her/him about the Mercator vs Robinson projections!  We will have a quiz on Monday on using those maps.

Science (Spaeth):

The cell project will be introduced Monday or Tuesday.

Ask your child about their quiz.

Westrich:

English:Challenge Text projects due Monday.

German:
Waldo Summatives this and next week.

Integrated Literacy (Bures):

Students are working on their identity video. 

Ask them about their five identity features and if they need help finding pictures.

Math (Gratzl)

How do you add an subtract integers?  What would be some examples?
How do you feel you did on the quiz?
When is the last day to turn late homework in for this quarter?

English (Ripp)

How do you feel you did on the summative?

What do you need to still work on in English?

What are your goals for second quarter?

What are the 4 signposts we have discussed and used in class?

Did you see the conference sign up for English?  http://www.mrsripp.com/2015/10/fall-conferences-in...

Tech Tools (Shumaker):

The summative citations are due Wed. Oct. 28th.  

Students will demonstrate the difference between citations from websites and citations from digital images. Students have been practicing taking notes and putting information in their own words using diigo.com.