November 2013 - Great Neck Public Schools

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE
G R E A T N E C K S O U T H M I D D L E S C H O O L PT A
NOVEMBER 2013
SMSTimes
this issue
Principal’s Message P.1
PTA President’s Message P.2
8th Grade News P.3
7th Grade News P.6
6th Grade News P.10
Special Area & Club News P.13
Halloween P.21
GREAT NECK SOUTH
MIDDLE SCHOOL
349 Lakeville Road
Great Neck, NY 11020
(516) 441-4600
www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/
gnps/sms/
PRINCIPAL
Dr. James Welsch
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
Dr. Gina Cartolano
Mr. Gerald Cozine
PTA PRESIDENT
Vicki Vlantis
EXEC. VICE PRESIDENTS
Lisa Carbone
Tiana Manfred
VP COMMUNICATIONS
Kuniko Langel
VICE PRESIDENTS
Michelle Hung Balkcom
Laura Becker
Ray Beckett
Joanne Chan
Lisa Goodwin
Lian Hou
Miriam Kobliner
Sarah Moss
Julia Paek
Lorin Ugolini
TREASURER
Debbie Volk
CORRESP. SECRETARY
Jane Tucker
RECORDING SECRETARY
Debbie Bernstein
UPTC DELEGATES
Tammy Blancher
Judy Liman
Jill Madenberg
Barbara Sperling
SEPTA
Mindi Parrott
SHARED DECISION MAKING
Jennifer Fazzini
Principal’s Message
Dear South Middle School
Parents,
Welcome to the 2013-2014
school year!! I hope the
year has begun well for
your child(ren) and your
family. From my
perspective, we are off to a
Dr. James Welsch great year. Our leadership
class, the eighth graders, are beginning to
settle into their role as the leaders of our
school; our seventh graders are beginning to
see and feel the differences between sixth
and seventh grade and are “gearing up” for
their leadership opportunity next year; and
our sixth graders have made a wonderful
transition from the elementary school to our
middle school. Life at South Middle School is,
as usual, great and busy, and full of
excitement and learning.
Our enrollment as of September 30th was
793 students: 256 in sixth grade; 247 in
seventh grade and 290 in eighth grade. We
have very good class size averages. Our
average class size is approximately 22 for
the school in general.
make it to open school night, I hope you will
call us if you have questions or concerns
about your child’s experience at South
Middle School.
Administrative responsibility will remain the
same this year, as it was last year. I am
overseeing the sixth grade program, while
working with each of the sixth grade teams.
Mr. Cozine is working in the same capacity in
seventh grade and Dr. Cartolano in eighth
grade. We have also divided up the special
areas such that a building administrator is
working directly with each department head.
I will be working with Music, Computer, and
Guidance departments. Mr. Cozine will be
working with the Special Education and
Physical Education departments, and Dr.
Cartolano will be working with the World
Language, Health, Technology, Home and
Careers, and Art departments. As always, if
you have a question regarding your
child’s experience in any class, please
call the teacher directly first. If you need
to follow-up, call the department chair; if
you need further follow-up, please call the
administrator directly involved.
I would like to devote the remainder of my
column to helping parents understand who
to call if you have any questions. Schools are
complex organizations. Many different
We welcomed several new teachers to our
individuals serve student needs in a variety
ranks this fall. Ms. Gillian Disney in Social
of capacities. Often, when a question arises,
Studies; Ms. Alicia Edgar in Art, Mr. Carlos
Mendoza in Physical Education, Mr. Paul Bott parents are unsure as to whom to call to
in Science, Mr. Brian Pernice in Science, Ms. have their questions answered. If a parent
Linday Burcyk in Special Education, and Ms. has a question about homework, tests,
quizzes, assignments, grades, or any
Jackie Hazel in Special Education. We also
aspect of classroom life, parents are
welcomed back Ms. Karyn Horowitz to our
strongly advised to call the teacher
Guidance Department. I know you will
first! In the majority of cases, conversations
warmly welcome these new staff members
between parents and teachers resolve most
to South Middle School.
questions. If you have a question concerning
We held our “Open House” on the seventh
your child’s adjustment to school, issues
day of school this year, Wednesday,
regarding friendships or peer pressures, or
September 11th. It was a great evening of
general academic adjustment concerns,
information sharing and many parents
please call your child’s counselor. Questions
commented to me how supportive they are
regarding school behavior/consequences and
about our school. If you were unable to
or buses should be directed to the dean or to
PTA President’s Message
the assistant principals. Questions regarding
curriculum, budget, and staffing, should be
directed to the principal.
To assist you in expediting communication,
the following is a list of the new telephone
numbers here at South Middle School:
Principal: Dr. James Welsch 441-4600
Asst Principal: Jerry Cozine 441-4600
Asst Principal: Dr. Gina Cartolano 441-4600
Deans’ Office: Ms. Karla Krupala 441-4604
Counselors’ Office
Grade 6 - Mr. Nadherny 441-4622
Grade 7 - Ms. Horowitz 441-4623
Grade 8 - Ms. Gerstein 441-4621
Main Office: 441-4600
Art Department: 441-4640
Computer Department: 441-4642
English/Reading Department: 441-4644
Health Education Department: 441-4647
Home and Careers Department: 441-4646
Language Department: 441-4648
Library: 441-4649
Math Department: 441-4649
Music Department: 441-4651
Nurse’s Office: 441-4610
Physical Education Department: 441-4652
Psychologists: Dr. Erstein 441-4635
Dr. Rolih 441-4636
Science Department: 441-4654
Social Studies Department: 441-4655
Social Worker: Ms. Joan Greenberg 441-4637
Special Education Department: 441-4656
Technology Department: 441-4659
I hope you find this information helpful. Thank
you for your continued support of our school
and for sending such wonderful students to us
each day!
Peace,
James R. Welsch, Ed. D.
Principal
Dear South Middle School Parents, Staff and
Students:
Welcome Back! The 2013-14 school-year is well
under way and many activities and events are
being planned at SMS. The intent of this
Vicki Vlantis
newsletter is to keep you informed of upcoming
events as well provide you with photos and a
synopsis of everything going on at SMS. In addition to this
newsletter, please check out our PTA webpage. It can be found
at: www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/GNPS/SMS/pta. Here, you will find
the most up to date information.
We just had our Scholastic Book Fair. Thanks to you, it was a
huge success. It was great to see the children come in early
every morning, during lunch, with their classes and, yes, even
after school to browse the variety of books available to them.
Some of them could not be torn away.
Thank you to all of the staff and families that have already joined
the PTA. If you have not joined, please consider joining as the
second stage of our membership drive is currently in full swing.
With your membership, the PTA is able to help support various
events and programs throughout the year. Please check out the
rest of this newsletter, where you will find valuable information
and resources as well as ways to get involved. Please do not
hesitate to contact us directly at [email protected]
with any questions or concerns you may have. We in the PTA
believe that it is of ultimate importance that we do everything
we can to enhance the learning environment of our children as
they truly are our future. It will take all of us working together to
ensure that this happens. I look forward to working with you this
year. Thank you!
Vicki Vlantis
SMS PTA President
NOT TO BE MISSED!
Nov. 19: Gr. 6 Greenkill Trip
Nov. 26, 2:45pm: Apple Tasting
PTA Sponsored Book Fair
Dec. 4, 7:30pm, NMS: Joint PTA
Meeting
Dec. 10, 7:30pm: Winter Concert I
Dec. 11, 7:30pm: Winter Concert II
Jan. 16, 7pm: Gr.7-8 Parent Guidance Meeting; 8pm: PTA Meeting
2
8th Grade Highlights from Gina Cartolano
Dr. Gina Cartolano
Welcome back to all families! As you will see in
this newsletter, many exciting events are
happening at SMS. It is our hope to keep you
informed of all the wonderful things going on in
our school. As you will read in the following
section, our eighth graders are involved in many
meaningful endeavors. We hope that you enjoy
the entries and if you have any questions or
comments, please do not hesitate to get in touch
with us. We love your feedback! You can contact
me via email at [email protected]
or by phone at 441-4600.
Some important dates for 8th graders this year:
 November 4: Team 8C Trip to Discovery
Times Square, Bodies/Lego Exhibit
 November 6: Team 8B Trip to Lahaska, PA
 November 15: Team 8A Trip to Museum of
Moving Image
 March 19: 8th Grade Trip to see Matilda
on Broadway
 May 29: 8th Grade Dinner Dance at the
Village Club of Lake Success
fiction-nonfiction summer reading
literary pairing. They have been
On November 15th , our 8th grade
exploring short stories through wholeTeam A students will be going on a
class texts and independent readings.
field trip to The Museum of the Moving They even had the opportunity to
Image, in Astoria, Queens. The trip
create challenging assignments for
includes a 90-minute guided tour of
their classmates based on classic
the core exhibition of the museum,
texts; boy, were those assignments
entitled “Behind the Screen.” The
tough! Students have been having
exhibition immerses students in the
regular interactions with new and
creative and technical process of
useful vocabulary as well as with
producing, promoting, and presenting important grammar tips. For the next
films, television shows, and digital
month, students will be working to
entertainment.
GRADE 8: TEAM A
reflecting the knowledge and skills
that our students need for success in
college and careers.
Pre-Algebra 8 began the year
receiving a new Glencoe workbook
that each student can write in. We
have just completed the first two
chapters learning about the Real
Numbers as well as solving Equations
and problem solving. Pre-Algebra 8
will begin graphing shortly with
equations in two variables.
Pre-Algebra 7 students
also are using a brand new
textbook this year. We
completed the first 3
chapters of The Language
of Algebra as well as
Operations with Integers
and Rational Numbers. We
will begin Powers and
Roots shortly.
Students will be given the
opportunity to see artifacts
detailing the history of the
moving images, including:
film and television
cameras, projectors,
television sets, sound
recording equipment,
costumes, board games,
lunch boxes, and more.
Algebra students just
The Museum has also been
completed a unit on
a pioneer in collecting
Functions and Everyday
video arcade and console
Situation. The students are
games, including a
now able to articulate
prototype of the first video
verbally the relationships
Mr. Piteris, Ms. Klein, Mr. Zweig, Mr. Bua, Mr. D’Angelo
game created for the
between variables arising
computer. The Museum
in everyday contexts. We
craft original fiction stories based on
also makes available technology that
learned
how
to reason abstractly and
the topic of their choosing. Parents,
allows students to create their own
quantitatively
while analyzing
ask your child what s/he is writing
flipbooks from a series of stop-motion
functions
using
different
about; the ideas they have generated
photographs, or even record their
representations.
Our next topic will be
are truly original and intriguing!
voices over dialogue from a film. The
the
number
properties.
We are all
Here's to a great beginning to the
guided tour will be followed by a short
looking
forward
to
a
great
year!
2013-14 school year.
screening and discussion of an
CIENCE: Mr. Piteris' Science 8
ATH: Math with Mr. Zweig is off
episode of I Love Lucy. We are looking
students are exploring the many
to a great start! In all courses
forward to this fun and educational
facets
of physics with motion, forces,
we have immersed ourselves into The
trip off campus!
and
Newton's
Three Laws. His Earth
New Common Core State Standards.
NGLISH: It is amazing how time
Science
classes
are enjoying field
The new standards seek to develop
flies. Though the school year is
mapping
and
topographic
studies. All
both students’ mathematical
still fairly young, students in English 8
of
his
classes
are
looking
forward
to
understanding and their procedural
have already accomplished so much!
his
upcoming
presentations
in
the
skills. The standards that we are
Students were able to prove their
district's new Starlab, a computerupholding are designed to be robust
knowledge and understanding of the
integrated portable planetarium!
and relevant to the real world,
S
M
E
3
S
OCIAL STUDIES: This year,
students in Mr. Bua's and Mr.
D'Angelo's classes are embarking on a
thematic exploration of the past
hundred years of American history. In
order to provide a functional
foundation for students as we embark
on this process, we started off the
year with introductory mini-units,
beginning with a brief overview of the
Age of American Imperialism, and
ending with America in the New
Millennium. Since completing these
mini-units, we have been exploring
our first theme: the impact of
economics, and of economic decisionmaking, on the lives of Americans
throughout the 20th century. Students
are developing a working knowledge
of complex economic concepts and
processes, and are now able to
discuss the historical basis for many
programs that continue to impact our
lives today. Self-Select students are
supporting these understandings
through a reading of Charles
Wheelan's Naked Economics. As a
culminating project, students will be
creating a fictional Facebook page
representing the opinions of one of the
economic policy-makers or theorists
we have studied in class, complete
with "comments" from other policymakers, theorists, authors, and
industrialists from throughout the 20th
century.
GRADE 8: TEAM B
E
NGLISH: Students in
Mr. Carras’s English
classes have been working
on a variety of assignments.
Their reading for the first
quarter has centered on
short stories, as well as a
novel for an outside reading
project. In addition, they
have finished their first
essay of the year, a Critical
Lens assignment that
involved applying a quote to
the particular works of
literature they read. The
upcoming weeks will bring a
continued focus on reading
and writing skills, a new novel,
additional non-fiction reading and a
continuing look at grammar skills that
are necessary for eighth grade.
Ms. Kostopoulos started the year off
exploring the world of short stories.
Students read short stories and
practiced annotating the stories,
looking for a variety of plot and
literary elements. Students used these
annotations to begin entries in their
Reader’s Notebooks. They focused on
personal reflection as well as
examining the stories as literature.
Students also used their Writer’s
Notebooks to practice collecting ideas
that will eventually come off the page
as personal narrative. In addition,
students had their first Outside
Reading Project using the vast
classroom library. Using their ORP
novel and the short stories they read
in class, students tackled their first
Critical Lens essay. Once that is
finished, Miss Kostopoulos’s classes
will be the first in the school to read
Countdown, a “documentary novel” by
visiting author Deborah Wiles. Ms.
Kostopoulos is also excited to begin
the unit devoted to graphic novels,
which will explore the art of visual
Ms. Hodgson, Mr. Carras, Mr. Isaac, Ms. Hoey, Ms. Byrnes,
Ms. Stanick, Ms. Kostopoulos, Ms. Cohen, Mr. Pelech
storytelling. This unit will culminate in
students creating visual
representations of their own stories.
M
ATH: Students in Pre-Algebra
with Mr. Pelech just completed
their first unit of study, which focused
on the solving of one-step and twostep equations. During this chapter,
students were able to apply the laws
of equivalence to isolate a variable
and arrive at a solution. The process
of seeing the students use their
inquiry skills to accomplish this was
quite impressive.
Students in Mr. Pelech’s Algebra II
class recently completed a unit on
time versus distance scenarios.
Students made low inference
observations of real world situations,
and used this data to create accurate
time and distance graphs. This gave
students an opportunity to model
exponential, linear, and quadratic
functions without knowing the
equations first. Mr. Pelech hopes that
all of his students have had a fantastic
first marking period!
Students in Mrs. Hodgson’s Algebra
class started off the year with a study
4
of situation graphs. They analyzed and
constructed time-distance and timeelevation graphs that modeled linear,
quadratic, and exponential situations.
They analyzed rates, acceleration and
deceleration, and worked with
piecewise functions. Students wrote
equations for the linear graphs and
determined algebraic solutions for
problems involving two graphs. The
next unit of study involved an
exploration of the properties of real
numbers. Students learned how to do
quick calculations using the properties
and they also used properties to
justify steps in algebraic proofs. We
are now working with polynomials and
all operations involving them. After
polynomials, we will study equations
and inequalities.
S
CIENCE: All of Dr. Stanick’s
science classes spent the first
weeks of the school year reviewing
the scientific method, measurements,
and graphing. From there, Integrated
8 students studied the forms of matter
and energy, as well as renewable and
non-renewable energy resources. We
are now engaged in an in-depth
investigation into the laws of motion.
Earth Science students investigated
the size and shape of the Earth and
learned how to navigate using the
North Star, Polaris, as well as latitude
and longitude. They also learned how
time zones were developed, and how
to read topography maps. We are now
studying Earth’s place in our solar
system, our galaxy and our universe.
S
OCIAL STUDIES: This quarter,
students in Mr. Isaac's class
embarked on a thematic exploration
of the past hundred years of American
history. In order to provide a
functional foundation for students, we
started off the year with introductory
mini-units, beginning with a brief
overview of the Age of American
Imperialism, and ending with America
in the New Millennium. Since
completing these mini-units, we have
been exploring our first theme: the
impact of economics, and of economic
decision-making, on the lives of
Americans throughout the 20th
century.
Students are in the process of
developing a working knowledge of
complex economic concepts and
processes, and are now able to
discuss the historical basis for many
programs that continue to affect our
economy today. Self-Select students
are supporting these understandings
through a reading of Charles
Wheelan's Naked Economics. As a
culminating project, students will be
creating a fictional Facebook or
Twitter page representing the
opinions of one of the economic policy
-makers or theorists we have studied
in class, complete with "wall posts”
and “re-tweets” from other policymakers, theorists, authors, and
industrialists from throughout the
20th century.
GRADE 8: TEAM C
Our school year has been off to
an introspective start. This
year, the social studies
department is approaching
American history through a
thematic lens; each quarter will
be dedicated to a particular
theme. To kick start the year,
students spent the first two
weeks covering a timeline of US
history to help put the previous
120 years into perspective. This
helped to create a base to begin
the exploration of various eras
using a theme-based template.
Following this, students began
work on the first major theme:
Economic Policy and the American
Dream. Here, US history will be
dissected using a scalpel forged from
economic theory. For example,
American Imperialism was approached
through the eyes of a manufacturer
and the role of advertising and
installment buying discussed as a
recipe for disaster. Eventually, classes
will go back again and focus on
American wars and quests to keep a
fragile peace.
Ms. Rieger, Ms. Re, Mr. DeSiano, Mr. Powder, Mr. Pernice, Ms. Cahn, Ms. Hoey
have been put in place to hone
skills. A special concentration on the
format of the critical lens essay is a
prime writing focus for this quarter. Of
course, the rudiments of usage,
grammar, and essay structure will
accompany a year of skill refinement.
M
ATH: Mr. Powder's Pre-Algebra
classes have been focusing on
the course's alignment with the
Common Core Standards. They have
been using the textbooks and online
software to implement these
standards. As far as the subject
content, students have studied these
concepts: number systems,
expressions and equations, and
functions. Soon we will be moving into
a study of Geometry.
This is just the beginning of an
exciting year of academic growth in
preparation for the high school years!
S
CIENCE: Students in Integrated
Science 8 are investigating
physical science concepts through
hands-on experiences. After briefly
reviewing the scientific method,
students studied the properties of
matter and are currently studying
energy forms and energy conversions.
Earth Science began the year with an
exploration of how the lithosphere,
NGLISH: Ms. Cahn’s English
hydrosphere, and atmosphere
classes are also exercising their
interconnect to form Earth’s systems.
critical thinking skills. Students have
Students next explored the accuracy
been guided through literary analysis
of science models, and determined
as it applies to the short story format.
that classroom globes are less
Learning the language of symbolism
spherical and rougher than that of
and figurative elements, students
Mr. Powder's Core Algebra classes
Earth. Students learned how
have acquired a deeper understanding
have been following along with the
Eratosthenes determined Earth’s
of the author’s craft and intention.
State Module 1 for the course. We
circumference using his powers of
Subtle hues of mood, tone, and theme
have been developing a strong
observation and trigonometry, and
have been siphoned from the surface
understanding of reading and
how Polaris’ altitude above the horizon
of contextual references. An analysis
interpreting graphical relationships;
determines the observer’s latitude.
of words in context and SAT
this will progress into equation solving Currently, Earth Science students are
vocabulary have complemented this
and the exploration of polynomial
exploring how to interpret topographic
unit. Reader’s and writer’s notebooks
relationships.
maps.
E
5
Also, in Mr. Pernice’s Earth Science
classes, students have been able to
determine their latitude by measuring
the altitude of the North Star, Polaris.
In addition, students learned how
time zones are established and the
rate at which the Earth rotates. They
were introduced to the three spheres
of the Earth, the hydrosphere, the
lithosphere, and the atmosphere.
Next, students learned how to read
topographic maps and were required
to create profile maps, which
represented a cross section of a
landscape. We have been completing
labs to reinforce the content learned
in class. Coming up, we will be
studying astronomy.
In science research, students began
the year by reviewing the scientific
method and developing skills as
researchers. The class performed an
experiment in which they tested the
effectiveness of hand sanitizer versus
soap and water for washing hands.
During this activity, students learned
sterile techniques and how to
inoculate agar plates. Currently,
students are researching areas of
interest for future experiments and
projects that will be entered into
various competitions.
120 years into perspective. This
helped to create a base to begin the
exploration of various eras using a
theme-based template. Following this,
students began work on the first
major theme: Economic Policy and
the American Dream. Here, US
history will be dissected using a
scalpel forged from economic theory.
For example, American Imperialism
was approached through the eyes of a
manufacturer and the role of
advertising and installment buying
OCIAL STUDIES: This year, the
discussed as a recipe for disaster. Self
social studies department is
-Select students are also reinforcing
approaching American history through
the material with a reading of Charles
a thematic lens, and each quarter will
Wheelans’ Naked Economics.
be dedicated to a particular theme. To
Eventually, classes will go back again
kick start the year, students spent the
and focus on American wars and
first two weeks covering a timeline of
quests to keep a fragile peace.
US history to help put the previous
S
7th Grade Highlights from Jerry Cozine
Mr. Gerald Cozine
Welcome Back! After a successful opening of
school, South Middle is in full swing and focused
on providing your children with a phenomenal
middle school experience! It definitely appears as
though our “new” seventh graders are enjoying
their promotion from the sixth grade, and I hope
that your children have come home with great
stories about the exciting events taking place on
the seventh grade level.
Once again, I must thank you for your continued
support, and I encourage you to contact me by
phone 441–4600 or via e-mail at
[email protected] should you have
any questions or concerns.
The first Team Day was held on September 13th,
and the seventh grade team teachers utilized this
Be well,
day to introduce several “team-building” activities
Jerry Cozine
designed to familiarize students with their
teammates and to work toward a common goal.
GRADE 7:
TEAM HERO
Our first team day
was a success. Fun
was had by all!
After analyzing
Apple’s “Think
Different”
advertising slogan
and commercials featuring heroes,
students were organized into small
groups to design Team Hero’s logo
and motto. The votes are in. Our team
logo features a pig wearing a red cape
and flying through the air, and our
team motto for this year is "Nothing is
Impossible."
E
In the pages that follow, you will find a brief
overview of the learning that has taken place at
SMS over the first ten weeks. Indeed, it makes
you wonder about what the rest of seventh grade
holds in store for our students!
NGLISH: Why is there good and
evil in the world? Where do we go
after we die? Why are there so many
different kinds of people in the world?
Students in the Mrs. Marr's and Mrs
Peretz's English classes
recorded their questions
about themselves and
the world in their
notebooks to start off the
unit on Greek Mythology.
Students marveled that
ancient Greeks asked
similar questions about
nature, human behavior
and the origin of things in myths
created thousands of years ago.
Ancient Greek myths have persisted
for so long because they explore
mysteries that we still face today, and
because they are so emotionally and
intellectually engaging. Who can ever
forget the despair of Demeter when
she loses her daughter Persephone?
Or the dread we feel when Odysseus
arrogantly reveals his true name to
the cyclops Polyphemus and is cursed
by his father Poseidon? Students have
analyzed the heroic, yet flawed,
6
nature of Ulysses (Odysseus) in
Bernard Evslin's The Adventures of
Ulysses, an adaptation of Homer's
Odyssey, and are applying what they
know to Percy Jackson in The
Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, to
Beowulf in Robert Nye's adaptation, or
to William in The Castle in the Attic by
Elizabeth Winthrop. They are thinking
critically about the dual nature of man
and the values that a culture
expresses through its literature.
Students have been annotating texts
with Post-Its and writing double-entry
journals (DEJ) to show their analyses
of characters and plot and will be
refining their writing skills by
composing essays with engaging
openings, clear thesis statements and
specific evidence from the text. For
their creative writing assignment this
quarter, students are composing
stories featuring heroes and monsters.
Their stories are a wonderful
amalgamation of the myths and
fantasy novels they have read.
Inspired by the vivid stories and
images of Greek gods, monsters and
heroes in stories, in picture books, in
nonfiction texts, and in The
Adventures of Ulysses students have
researched myths in flex class. They
have written an essay making and
supporting a claim about the myths
that they have read. For enrichment,
students may volunteer to participate
in a Mythology Bee or in a lunch book
club discussing Rick Riordan’s new
novel The House of Hades.
Glencoe book that was made for PreAlgebra, and the 7th grade Common
Core curriculum. Mrs. Doyle is looking
forward to a great year with a group
of fantastic students.
S
CIENCE: Ms. Willis welcomed her
new crew of sailors aboard the R/
V DALEC and quickly put them to
work learning all the parts of their
ship, such as bow from stern, and
bunk from cabin. They got right to
work studying the metric system
through measurements of Limulus
polyphemus (go ahead and ask
them…they know what it means!),
Looking ahead in the second quarter, clarified the proper components of a
we will be focusing on historical fiction controlled experiment and involved a
by studying 1776, The Musical,
fun lab on collecting quantitative data
reading My Brother Sam Is Dead, and about soap bubbles’ longevity! Our
participating in historical fiction book
unit on chemistry culminated in a
series of discussions about organic
clubs. As always, students are
compounds and a hands-on
encouraged to submit writing pieces
to The Rebel Pen,
South Middle’s
Art and Literary
Magazine, and to
Middleview,
South Middle's
student
newspaper.
F
the allotted time period. Students
have also answered the age-old
question “Why do autumn leaves
change colors?” by performing their
first chromatography experiment and
separating out the four distinct
pigments in autumn leaves. Ask them
how this topic related to our topic of
chemistry!
S
OCIAL STUDIES: In 1630,
sailing aboard the Arbella along
the coast of Massachusetts, Puritan
Governor John Winthrop delivered a
sermon where he stated, “We must
consider that we shall be as a City
upon a Hill, the eyes of all people are
upon us.” Winthrop’s words have not
only been interpreted to symbolize
the mission of the Puritans in the
Massachusetts Bay Colony, but also
the goal of the United States of
America. How has America lived up to
LEX: For our
flex period we
have decided on
an eight day
rotation schedule.
This allows each
teacher to see all
of the students
on the team over
Ms. Marr, Ms. Willis, Ms. Burcyk, Ms. Corona, Mr. Nahoum, Ms. Peretz, Ms. Hoey, Ms. Doyle
an eight day
period in small
experiment that found studentthis ideal? Have there been times
groups, rather than just the 20 - 25
researchers testing a series of
where it has fallen short? These
that have been assigned to that
substances for the presence of these
essential questions started off the
teacher. Each individual teacher is
compounds using chemical indicators. year in Mr. Nahoum and Mrs. Hoey’s
using this time for supplemental
We will next begin our earnest
seventh grade social studies classes.
instruction to his/her curriculum.
investigation of the myriad forms of
Students have been studying Colonial
Occasionally, teachers double up for
living things on Earth, followed by an America and the settlement of the 13
special lessons and interdisciplinary
investigation of all the surprises that
English colonies along the Atlantic
projects.
abound in the MICROworld! Stay
coast. We have explored the tough
love leadership of the swashbuckling
ATH: Mrs. Doyle's math classes tuned for updates from our next port
Captain John Smith, the dissent of
will be starting Study Island, an of call!
Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson,
online assessment practice with
Our science flex time has been
the tolerance of Pennsylvania’s
lessons, games, and drills. Study
devoted to honing our science skills
founder, William Penn, and the
Island has adapted to the Common
for each unit and conducting
zingers of John Peter Zenger and
Core curriculum. In Math Flex groups,
supplemental activities that
freedom of the press. We have
the students have been exploring
complement our curriculum this year.
studied the unusual forms of
alternate methods of solving math
The student favorite so far has been
punishment, education laws, slavery,
problems. Seventh grade regular
our “Metric Mania” scavenger hunt,
and the daily life of American
math is finishing up percents with
that left student-teams breathless as
colonists. While studying this unit, we
some projects coming up. Pre-Algebra
they tried to “beat the clock” by
have also analyzed the social,
classes will be moving on to powers
finding and solving as many metric
political, and economic development
and exponents. We are using a new
conversion problems as possible in
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7
of what will become the United States
of America.
events that occurred in Colonial
America led the framers of the
Constitution to include freedoms that
we cherish today. Students have seen
that the events of the 17th and
18th centuries played a crucial role in
the development of our Republic.
In our quest to think like historians
through literacy, we have been
analyzing primary source documents
from multiple perspectives to draw
our own conclusions about events and
people we are studying. Our time has As always, our classes have stayed
also been spent discussing how the
current by completing weekly
GRADE 7:
TEAM MINION
F
“Nahoum’s News Challenges.” In each
challenge, students analyzed the
major news stories that have occurred
since September including: Syria, the
government shutdown, the debt
ceiling crisis and many more. This
practice will continue all year in our
quest to remain informed citizens.
LEX: We did a metric scavenger
hunt during flex. Students
enjoyed finding strips of blue
paper that required conversions
buried around the rooms. Sixty
conversion slips were hidden...some
were hidden so well they have yet to
be discovered!
to each other. We also combined flex
groups with Mrs. Giani and wrote
about how we made qualitative
observations using our sense of
smell. We logged onto Edmodo and
designed an experiment testing the
effect of soapy water on plant growth.
Students ran a simulation of the
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experiment, recorded data, and made
conclusions. We are currently finishing
up our chemistry unit. We performed
a chemical indicator lab in class and
in flex learned how to use red
cabbage as a chemical indicator for
acids and bases. We will do a CSI lab
to determine which spooky suspect
killed Sam Quiggle. We are starting to
learn the characteristics of living
things.
The Minions kicked off the year with
the Mindtrap Trivia Contest! The heat
was on even though summer was
winding down! In the cafeteria, the
eight flex
groups
competed
vigorously
against each
other to solve
brainteasers
successfully.
We realized
that
teamwork and
enthusiasm
are two key
components
of seventh
grade
Mr. DeSiano, Ms. Zambrotta, Ms. Giani, Ms. Rabinovich, Ms. Rieger, Ms. Hazel, Mr. D’Angelo (not pictured Ms. Caplain)
achievement!
E
NGLISH: In Mrs. Giani’s English
classes, we are studying a unit on
Greek Mythology. We read Bernard
Evslin’s The Adventures of Ulysses.
Rising to the challenge, we tackled
this action-packed classic text with
gusto! Connections were made to
myths, film clips, fairy tales, tableau,
The Lightning Thief, and even the
novel, Petey, which is about a man
with cerebral palsy. Our first literary
essay will prove that we can apply the
hero archetype to many different
genres of literature. The iPads are
enhancing our learning experience!
We have been using the Subtext app
to analyze and respond to non-fiction
articles. Our comments on the iPads
are very insightful! We have
discovered that most of us prefer
digital writing, but when it comes to
reading we’d rather grab that good
old paperback! We are currently
reading biographies as tools for the
creation of a modern-day
mythological character. Maybe
someone will even dress up for
Halloween as his or her character!
ATH: Advanced Algebra
students were issued their new
TI-Nspire CX graphing calculators. We
are learning the necessary keystrokes
to aid them with computations. We
will be using these calculators later in
the fall to assist us with graphing a
line. Math lessons in all math sections
revolve around the present Common
Core Standards. Our new textbooks
have online resources. Virtual tutors
and additional worksheets for extra
practice and challenge material are
online and just a click away! Students
were issued their usernames and
passwords to access the online
textbook and resources. Please make
sure your child can log on
successfully.
S
OCIAL STUDIES: Mr. D'Angelo
and Mr. De Siano's social studies
classes started off discussing the
English colonial period in North
America, giving special attention to
the crazy life of England's King Henry
VIII and the repulsive medicinal and
hygienic practices of colonial times.
We have now moved on to the
CIENCE: In science this quarter
peculiar institution of slavery. Scenes
we performed labs using our
from the groundbreaking miniseries
measuring skills. We discovered which
"Roots" are being used to help
soap makes bubbles that last the
reinforce the ideas being discussed in
longest. We combined flex groups
class. In flex, we have been studying
with Mrs. Zambrotta and
American geography.
made bioglyphs to introduce ourselves
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8
led to the development of the slope
formula and the concept of direct
variation. The next topic studied was
percents. Students applied the
NGLISH: What can we learn
percent proportion to solving a variety
about the world today through
of problems, including commission,
our study of Greek Mythology? Even
percent of change, discount, markup,
though these stories were told
tax, tip and simple interest. Students
thousands of years ago, they still hold
have to find real-life examples of
particular truths about human life
percents in newspapers or magazines
today, and reveal universal
(or online) and submit an assignment
experiences that are timeless. Ms.
based on these examples. After
Dervin’s English students have spent
percents, we will study and work with
time in the library and in class
integers.
immersing themselves in the reading
of myths and creation stories from
Mrs. Hodgson’s Pre-Algebra students
around the world. They used these
started off the year with a study of
myths as inspiration and models for
algebraic expressions, number
their own original myths that
properties, and problem solving. The
explained either the creation of the
concepts of relation, domain, and
universe or a natural phenomenon.
range were introduced and relations
Their encounters with the heroes,
were graphed in the coordinate plane.
monsters, and gods of mythology will Next, the different number systems
also prepare them as they explore the were studied (we even delved a bit
GRADE 7: TEAM REBEL
ALL-STARS
E
the slope formula and the concept of
direct variation. The next topic studied
was percents. Students applied the
percent proportion when solving a
variety of problems, including
commission, percent of change,
discount, markup, tax, tip and simple
interest. Finally, we move on to the
study of integers, which will provide a
foundation for working with other
number systems later in the year.
Pre-Algebra 7 students are using a
brand new textbook this year. We
completed the first three chapters
including The Language of Algebra,
Operations with Integers, and Rational
Numbers. We will begin Powers and
Roots shortly. We are excited for a
great year together!
S
CIENCE: Students in Mrs. Keyes’
science class have been busy
popping (and eating) various brands
of popcorn to practice the scientific
method of problem solving.
Following the popcorn
experiment (we found that
the generic brand of Fairway
popcorn popped the most
kernels), we continued to
learn about corn being a
carbohydrate and containing
carbon as one of its
elements. We completed a
lab to determine the
indicators for protein,
carbohydrates, and lipids in
everyday foods and other
items. A French fry will no
Ms. Disney, Mr. Powder, Ms. Dervin, Ms. Keyes, Ms. Galgano, Ms. Byrnes, Ms. Hodgson, Mr. Zweig
longer be just a French fry…
it is a food product
containing both starch and lipids.
hero’s journey in Bernard Evslin’s The into imaginary numbers!) and
Adventures of Ulysses, Rick Riordan’s students worked with integers and
In November, we are planning a field
fantasy novel, The Lightning Thief,
rational numbers. They converted
trip to the Dolan DNA Learning Center
Robert Nye’s translation of Beowulf,
between fractions and decimals,
in Cold Spring Harbor where students
and Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant learned an algebraic technique for
will actually perform a genetics lab.
Peach. Their fantasy book club unit
changing repeating decimals to
Science competitions and Science
culminates in a critical lens essay that fractions, and solved problems
Olympiad Clubs have begun meeting
encourages students to think critically involving all operations with rational
and welcome all interested students.
about the archetypal characters in
numbers. We are now working with
OCIAL STUDIES: To what do we
their novels.
powers and roots, investigating
owe the past? Everything!
exponent rules, negative exponents,
ATH: Mrs. Hodgson’s Math 7
Students in Ms. Disney’s social studies
and monomials.
students started off the year
classes are currently studying the
with a study of ratios, rates and
In Mr. Powder’s Math 7 class, his
Colonial Era in American History. The
proportional relationships. Students
students started off the year with a
disappearance of the Roanoke
learned how to convert units using
study of ratios, rates, and
settlers, the Salem Witch Trials, and
“dimensional analysis,” a procedure
proportional relationships. Students
cries for independence all shaped our
that is often used in science when
learned how to convert units using
culture and society. Students are
doing calculations involving different
“dimensional analysis. They examined closely examining history through the
units. They investigated the rate of
the rate of change for linear
use of primary and secondary
change for linear relationships and
relationships and found this rate by
sources, lively discussions, video clips,
determined this rate by analyzing
analyzing graphs and using data in a
pictures, and more. At the conclusion
graphs and using data in a table. This table. This led to the development of
of the Colonial Era unit, we will study
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9
the American Revolution and the
founding of our modern nation.
In Mrs. Galgano’s social studies
classes we have completed our unit
on English colonization and are just
beginning the American Revolution.
We began our unit on English
colonization by creating a map
locating the thirteen colonies, major
cities, and the three colonial regions.
Our focus for the New England, Middle
and Southern colonies was on their
geography, economy, society, religion
and government. While examining
African slavery in the Southern
colonies, we watched clips from the
movie, Roots, which depicted a slave
auction, the middle passage to
America, and life on a plantation. We
will begin learning about the American
Revolution by examining the British
actions and the colonists’ response
through documents such as Paul
Revere’s engraving of the Boston
Massacre. We will also read and
analyze the Declaration of
Independence as well as poems, such
as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s
“The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.”
To understand differing points of view,
we will watch clips of the movies John
Adams and The Patriot. 
6th Grade Highlights
GRADE 6: BLUE TEAM
E
NGLISH: Welcome to English 6!
Ms. Kuhn’s classes started the
year off by reading short
stories and non fiction
articles. Students learned
how to annotate these texts
as they read, and then were
asked to record their
thinking and noticing in
double-entry journals. We
began with simple summary
based annotations and
slowly expanded our
thinking until our
annotations were at a higher
level of analysis.
in the novel. Our second outside
reading project will be assigned
during the second quarter as we read
Touching Spirit Bear in class.
the regular class, our focus has been
on equivalent ratios and rates and
their use in solving word problems.
Presently, we are working on a
decimal, fraction, and
percent unit. This will be
followed by the practical
application of percent
problems in their lives, now
and in the future.
In order to best help your
child, math center is open
every day after school. In
addition, the three sixth
grade math teachers each
have a different day to be
available for the students.
Since we plan together
Ms. Musmeci, Ms. Kuhn, Ms. Lipetz, Ms. Gerber
All of the short stories were
weekly, the students are
able to go to any extra help
connected by a social issue
Be sure to ask your child about Home- session. In addition, practice work is
and helped lead us into our writing
Adventure-Home. The students were
given before each test.
unit. Students were asked to write a
introduced to this concept at the end
five-paragraph essay with a thesis
Looking forward to a successful year!
of October, and it will be focused on
that connected two of the short
for years to come.
stories that we read. We worked on
CIENCE: September and October
this essay in class, paragraph by
have been exciting times in
ATH: Your children are currently
paragraph. Students had to write
science class. We started the year off
following the Common Core
multiple rough drafts at home and this
by learning how to make observations
Math Curriculum, as set forth by the
helped them see the benefits of the
and inferences about the wonderful
state. The focus of the new
writing process. We also reviewed
world around us. We will use these
curriculum is problem solving, while
grammar basics to help our essays
new skills throughout our science
stressing accuracy with calculations.
become P.A.C.T.S perfect. They then
lessons. Currently, we are exploring
They currently have Book 1 of the
spent a week in the computer lab
the world around us by studying
McGraw-Hill series, and will be
putting the finishing touches of these
ecology. We will delve into the
receiving Book 2 by December. With
essays before turning them in.
importance of our Earth and the
this series, they have on-line access
resources it provides to us. These
The first outside reading project of the to the two workbooks, as well as,
topics will make our trip to Greenkill,
year was assigned in mid-September. tutorials within the program.
where nature will become both the
The students were asked to pick a
The EP classes started with a unit on
classroom and the teacher, that much
book of their choice from our
integers. They have completed all
more meaningful as the children apply
classroom library and to answer a
four operations, solved equations,
what they learned in the classroom to
series of questions about it. These
evaluated expressions, and applied
a real life outdoor environment. The
questions included describing the
the order of operations with the
students who do not go to Greenkill
protagonist internally and externally,
integers. They are currently working will have a similar experience right
providing details about the main
on a unit finding the GCF and LCM,
here in our own school.
problem and how it was solved,
with and without variables, problem
making connections and predictions
The students will also learn important
solving related to GCF and LCM, as
as well as defining vocabulary found
research skills and are in the process
well as, ratio and rate problems. In
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10
of selecting an animal that lives in the
country they are studying in social
studies. They will become the expert
in their particular animal and will
chose how they wish to present all of
the information they have learned.
This is an amazing interdisciplinary
project that brings all four core
subjects together.
further the students’ 21st century
skills, all classes have gotten
subscriptions to the New York Times
online. They have been introduced to
the website to which they will have
access both at school and at home.
The year began with activities
commemorating 9/11. After a
presentation on the morning news,
our classes further discussed the
OCIAL STUDIES: Current events
importance of this day. Our classes
are an important focus in the
also celebrated Constitution Day by
sixth grade social studies
discussing their rights through an
classroom. It is important for the
article entitled, “Watching You” and a
students to have an understanding of
political cartoon involving “Security
the world around them and see why
vs. Privacy.” When the General
and how what happens in other parts
Assembly of the United Nations
of the world can affect them. This will
convened, we discussed the role of
be accomplished through weekly
the UN as it applied to current issues
discussions and a variety of resources
in the news, such as chemical
including print and Internet. To
weapons in Syria. The students also
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watched A Day in the Life of Ban Kimoon to see what happens on a
typical day at the UN. The year
continues with an exploration of world
geography. Map skills including
legend, scale, latitude, and longitude
are being honed using the classroom
atlases. The goal is for students to
understand why where a person lives
affects how a person lives. The
students will study the world through
four of the five themes of geography,
a way geographers organize
information. They will apply this
knowledge to their environmental
studies, either at Greenkill or the stay
-at-home program. The unit will
culminate in an interdisciplinary
project about an organism of each
student’s choice from the country they
have adopted for the year. 
GRADE 6: RED TEAM
E
NGLISH: The year has gotten off
to a great start! We have been
focusing on the origin of the students’
names. This research became our first
formal essay. The connection to
literature is that authors also give
their characters names for symbolic
reasons, and we will begin to delve
into that analysis in the very near
future.
As you already know, we have been
reading many non-fiction articles that
relate to technology’s expanding role
in education and the students’
personal responsibilities that go hand
in hand with that role. This has been a
hot topic of conversation in our
classes and it has turned into a
persuasive essay. The 6th grade
English goal is to seamlessly
incorporate the Common Core
Standards into our curriculum so that
it does not only appear to be test prep
a month before the ELA.
The iPads have arrived! In flex class,
the students are learning how to use
the calendar and set alerts to remind
themselves of important due dates for
long- term projects and tests. Our
technology department, under the
capable watch of Mr. Lander, has
assigned the students their own
school Google Docs account so that
they can easily access their
documents from home and school. We
are navigating this process on the
iPads as well.
Grammar, spelling, and editing skills
Dr. Friedman, Ms. Bazzani, Ms. Kaplan, Ms. Corona, Ms. Keys, Ms. Rauch
(P.A.C.T.S.) are all important
components of our sixth grade English
curriculum. These topics are
interwoven into reading and writing.
The skills reviewed this quarter so far
have been parts of speech.
Capitalization, end mark usage, and
sentence structure will be next. We
will continue to emphasize these
important skills throughout the year.
Edmodo has been a great asset this
year. Encourage your children to
continue to refer to it nightly.
F
LEX: In preparation for the
impending interdisciplinary
research project the students have
been learning how to conduct
research using their ipads. The
handout, “History is Mystery”,
required them to find famous
American documents using key words.
They will also be learning how to
differentiate a credible web site from
ones that are not credible. Tips on
how to avoid plagiarism will also be
11
discussed.
M
ATH: The math classes are off
to a running start and have
covered many topics already this
year. In the regular math classes we
have learned GCF, LCM, ratios, rate
and unit rate. Students have been
taught to find the unit price of items
and to figure out where to get the
best bargain when shopping for
specific items. Do you shop in Costco
and pay $5.99 for 35 bottles of water,
or do you shop in a local supermarket
where water is on sale for $3.99 for
24 bottles? These types of problems
are part of the common core
curriculum where we teach our
children to be problem solvers.
The EP classes started the year with
units on integers, solving equations,
and simple algebra. They then moved
on to GCF, LCM, ratios and rates and
will be soon heading into decimals,
fractions and percents. Children will
be able to convert from one to
another and this will help them figure
out their percentage on a science test
when Dr. Friedman tells them they
received a 22 out of 26 questions!
The three sixth grade math teachers
work very closely together to help all
of our students. Your child can attend
extra help with any one of us or go to
the math center at any time. We
share our curriculum with them as
well, so they know what all the 6th
grade students are studying.
In the future, we will be using the
ipads for research and so much more.
We have begun our ecology unit and
are delving into the importance of
living and non living things. The
students have been working in groups
on different activities such as the
importance of limiting factors in an
ecosystems and how food webs can
be created from food chains.
The Middle East has been at the
forefront of our current events
discussions for the last three years. As
a result, our students have become
proficient in the politics and
geography of the region. They’ve also
come to learn what’s at stake for the
U.S. in countries like Syria and Egypt.
Our classes celebrated Constitution
Day on Tuesday, September 17th. We
interpreted the Bill of Rights and how
The ecology unit will continue until we
meaningful it is to our lives.
embark on our trip to Greenkill. Both
Constitution Day became even more
We have been building math
the stay-at-home program and the
consequential with a discussion of
vocabulary and using strategies to
Greenkill trip will expose the students
privacy rights and the government
help solve word problems. Children
to actual ecosystem and allow them to
secretly collecting Americans’
should be asking themselves, “does
further develop the concepts of
telephone records. Our discussion
my answer make sense?” Please
Ecology.
centered on President Obama’s quote
encourage your children to think
after the secret tracking programs
OCIAL STUDIES: In an attempt
mathematically and include them in
were disclosed : “You can’t have
to develop an awareness of local
your conversations when talking about
100% security and then also have
and world issues, current events are
things math!
100% privacy and zero
an important focus in the sixth grade
inconvenience.”
CIENCE: The school year started social studies classroom. This is
with new and different things to
achieved through weekly discussions
The year continues with an
learn and explore in science. The
and a variety of resources including
exploration of world geography. Map
students learned the importance of
print and Internet. To further the
skills including legend, scale, latitude,
following directions and how to make
students’ 21st century skills, all
and longitude are being honed using
observations and inferences.
classes have received online
the classroom atlases. Through the
subscriptions to the New York Times.
“Five Themes of Geography,” students
We have been using iPads in class to
In addition, for the 2013-2014
will be able to organize the world in a
enhance student learning. The
academic year, students can now
meaningful way. The goal is for
students have utilized the calendar for
access the New York Times using the
students to understand that, where a
reminders of exams and long term
PressReader iPad app in class. It
person lives affects how a person
assignments. Quizlet helps students
makes for easy access to online news
lives.
for studying science vocabulary words.
articles.
S
S
GRADE 6: WHITE TEAM
E
NGLISH: Well, we have certainly
hit the deck running. We have
just completed our second essay, a
persuasive essay based on extensive
readings regarding the impact of
technology on children and education.
We worked diligently to further
develop our skills for reading nonfiction: learning to read the textual
support and annotating for
understanding. The culmination of this
unit was a four paragraph essay. We
practiced writing good thesis
statements, and learned how to
provide appropriate evidence to
support our points. Through the use of
Google docs, we were able to create
‘ongoing teacher/student dialogue’ as
the essay was being written. This
interactive method of writing allowed
the students to review and edit their
work daily along with my comments
and suggestions. The essays have
shown a great deal of understanding
not only of the writing process but of
the use of technology in classrooms
and in their lives as well.
Students have all received iPads and
are using them throughout the day in
many classes. Initial use has been as
online planners. Students have
learned how to create homework
assignments that may run weeks at a
time. They are setting up alerts to
remind themselves of important
deadlines. Our goal is for students to
begin to see the importance of time
management and planning ahead. Of
course, some students are discovering
that they are more comfortable with
paper planners, and are learning how
to use them to manage time as well.
On the reading front, we have begun
our short story unit. We are learning
about protagonists, antagonists,
12
characterization and the ‘HomeAdventure-Home’ plot chart, as
theorized by Joseph Campbell. This is
an exciting unit that helps students
understand the pattern of all literature
(and movies). I hope they will share
the stories and their understanding of
the authors’ craft with you.
As always, with any writing and
reading we do, we are aware of
PACTS and the need to incorporate
good grammar in every assignment
we complete. Additionally, it is the
goal of 6th grade English to
seamlessly incorporate the Common
Core Standards into our curriculum
and that it not appear a month before
the ELA as test prep. All of our
assignments reflect that goal, along
with the hope that the materials/
novels will be engaging and
motivating to the students. Based on
classroom discussions, we are on the
right track!
M
ATH: The sixth grade teams are
currently following the Common
Core Math Curriculum. The Core
Curriculum provides the educational
resources that will enable students to
become the problem solvers of the
21st century. We have been stressing
problem-solving skills while working
through multiple layered word
problems.
EP math classes learned about
following the order of
operations (PEMDAS), solving
algebraic equations, evaluating
expressions, prime and
composite numbers and used
GCF and LCM to solve word
problems. We will get into ratio,
rate and proportions. In our
regular math classes, we
focused on equivalent ratios
and rates. We are now getting
into decimals, fractions and
percents. The focus this year is
on real life, multi-layered,
problem-solving applications.
In order to best serve the sixth grade
students, the sixth grade math
teachers work closely together,
planning curriculum and assessments
together at their meetings each week,
so that all students, whether in
regular or EP classes, are presented
with the same material and are tested
on that material at the same time.
This allows students to attend extra
help any afternoon from Monday to
Thursday. Students can also attend
extra help at the math center during
their lunch period or after school
Monday through Friday. We are off to
a great start!
S
CIENCE: In Science, students are
learning about Ecology. We are
studying various organisms and their
role on planet Earth. The students are
learning the importance of the
relationships among organisms with
each other and with non-living factors
such as the sun. The students are
creating their own food chains and
question, “How does where you live
affect how you live?” Geography
basics, cardinal and intermediate
directions, using map scale, climate,
and latitude are a few of the topics
covered. The kids should be excellent
navigators on family vacations, able
to compute the distance between
locations.
Latitude and longitude are
examined separately in terms
of climate zones and time
zones, and will be plotted
together to analyze ships and
planes that have disappeared
in the Bermuda Triangle.
Current events are discussed
often; newspaper articles are
read, and news videos are
viewed to help the children see
our place in the world,
nationally, and locally.
Students will be using the New
Ms. Whidden, Ms. Cooper, Ms. Cimbalo, Ms. Conlon
York Times online to access
food webs. In class, the students
articles in order to develop an
practiced creating a food web for
awareness of local and world issues.
organisms in the Kimberley region of
Important events are discussed
Western Australia by using a food web
including a 9/11 commemoration and
App on the iPad. The students were
Constitution Day. The opening of the
able to create food webs for three
United Nations General Assembly and
different difficulty levels. They were
the responsibility of the UN in
also able to introduce an invading
maintaining world peace were
species to see how a change in food
discussed. The short film, “A Day in
relationships can change the size of
the Life of Ban ki-Moon,” was viewed
certain populations of organisms. The
in order to see the pace at which the
students will soon be learning about
United Nations moves.
animal adaptations. This will prepare
them for their outdoor adventure to
We will finish our study with the Five
Greenkill.
Themes of Geography, the lens we
use to view all locations. This is the
OCIAL STUDIES: The beginning
perfect bridge as we move to the
of the year is being spent
study of culture.
exploring geography and the essential
S
Special Area and Club Highlights
ART
The sixth grade students will be
creating a large scale collaborative art
project using discarded cardboard box
packaging. The work, which will be
created throughout the school year, will
be revealed at the end of the year.
Parents can help us out by sending in
empty colored cardboard boxes to
either art room. Thanks in advance.
Ms. Edgar, Mr. Mead, Ms. Krupala, Ms. Smith
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BUSINESS OF BASEBALL CLUB
advanced statistics, scouting, and computer-generated
reports to field the best team possible. Going forward,
students will have to manage lineups, deal with injuries,
make trades, as well as manage ticket and concession
prices to build an organization that is successful both on
and off the field. 
Students have been put in control of their own baseball
team. Starting in the year 2005, students were first
asked to draft their team from the players that were in
the league at that time. Now, they will compete against
each other in an online, text-based simulation, using
COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE
The Community Action Committee meets in room 603 on Friday afternoons. The club is involved in
many charitable endeavors. Presently, we are making turkey boxes to fill with non-perishable food
items to give to needy families. By the time you are reading this newsletter, the turkeys will be in
the front lobby. Children may drop off their donations in the morning before going to homeroom.
Our next activity will be getting ready for the holidays by wrapping gifts for children with special
needs. Everyone is invited to join us.
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
The FACS department is in full swing. Mrs. Stefandl’s and
Ms. Teixeira’s classes 6th grade classes have completed
the sewing unit and moved on to the food and nutrition
units and students are eager to begin. Mrs. Rosenblume’s
sixth graders have completed their foods and nutrition
portion of the course successfully and have now moved on
to sewing where they will receive instruction on hand
sewing. Several of the six graders have continued their
recipe exploration at home. Seventh graders continue to
prepare fall seasonal recipes, and fine tune their etiquette.
Both Mrs. Stefandl’s and Ms. Teixeira’s classes have
completed their first machine sewing project, the travel
pillow. Mrs. Stefandl’s 7th grade students are currently
working on the tote bag.
After finishing their own felt pillow and travel pillow
projects, Ms. Teixeira’s 6th and 7th grade FACS students
got a chance to “pay it forward” with a service learning
project. Both grade levels teamed up to create Smile
Dolls for the Operation Smile charity, applying the skills
they have learned in FACS. 6th graders pinned and cut
Ms. Rosemblume, Ms. Stefandl, Ms. Teixeira
the doll patterns, while 7th graders were able to sew the
dolls using the sewing machines. The finished dolls will
soon be on their way to Operation Smile to help comfort
and explain surgical procedures to children in need across
the globe!
The 8th grade chefs classes have prepared several recipes
and currently are planning their group demonstrations. 
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soon, including the
Girls
Another busy and
Empowerment
exciting year is
Group. Since
underway in the
today’s youth faces
guidance office.
a new world of
Since the students
challenges and
have the ability to
opportunities, the
reach their peers in
Girls Empowerment
ways that adults may
Group provides a
not, the Eighth Grade
unique and positive
Peer Leadership
way for girls to
Program is
meet these
continuing this year.
challenges and
Students in this
utilize opportunities.
program will
It is a creative and
participate in several
fun learning
Ms. Horowitz, Ms. Greenberg, Mr. Nadherny, Ms. Rolih, Ms. Erstein
training sessions to
experience offered
help develop and
at Great Neck South
refine their leadership skills so that
Middle. The group encourages girls to
process of organizing our first annual make positive choices at this critical
they can use their positive peer
South Middle School Career Fair
influence to help create a supportive
stage in their physical, cognitive,
school environment. The Peer Leaders for seventh grade students. The event emotional, and social development.
will take place on May 15, 2014. We
have served as guides for various
The program focuses on topics
hope to make students aware of a
school events and as greeters for
relevant to the changing lives of
wide range of careers, thereby
students who are new to South
middle school girls. The topics include
developing respect for and awareness identity, self-esteem, relationships,
Middle. In upcoming months the
Leaders will create and facilitate their of the diversity of the world of work.
peer pressure, respecting for oneself
We also hope to help students realize and others, as well as goal setting.
own advisory lessons. They will also
organize and supervise the events for that their current choices and
Please continue to check the guidance
decisions can have an impact on their
Relay Field Day.
website for upcoming events,
long-term goals.
The guidance office, in conjunction
registration information, and much
Enjoyable and informative groups are more. 
with the Family and Consumer
currently underway or will be forming
Sciences Department, is also in the
GUIDANCE
Students worked together
to present topics including:
EALTH 6: Health Education is a
broken bones, head injury,
unique class that helps to
bleeding, poisoning,
provide social and emotional support
anaphylactic shock, CPR,
to sixth graders as they transition into and AED. Being prepared
the middle school. The children are
in an emergency can save
beginning to understand how
precious time. We were
important their health can be and are visited by the Manhasseteager to get started in health class.
Lakeville ambulance. The
We will be exploring themes such as,
students were able to work
peer-pressure, drug and alcohol use,
closely with professionals
cyber bullying, safety and hygiene in
to learn about their roles in
the first semester. The topics, lessons our community.
and activities present a positive
Have you ever put yourself in
stepping stone in the adjustment from
someone else’s shoes? If you have,
elementary school to middle school.
you have empathy. The seventh grade
Most sixth graders have never had a
students are learning about the
health class before. Questions are
important skill of empathy. When we
starting to formulate, and of course,
show and understand empathy we feel
answers are always clearly explained.
better about ourselves and become
Technology will be used each lesson,
better citizens.
keeping the activities up to date and
interesting. It is going to be a very
We are studying the social problems
healthy and successful year.
of cyber-harassment and cyberbullying. As this topic is explored we
EALTH 7: The classes learned
are learning about the laws that
about emergencies and safety.
protect young people who are
HEALTH EDUCATION
H
H
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Ms. DiPalo, Ms. Cristofer, Ms. Goltzer
victimized. In health class we have a
variety of activities that help our
students understand their behaviors
and actions.
H
EALTH 8: In 8th grade, the
health classes kicked off the new
school year with our introductory
Wellness Unit. The students
understand that Health is not just the
absence of disease but a “pie” made
up of pieces comprising physical,
emotional, mental and social
components. With this “Wholistic”
viewpoint in mind, we had students complete a survey to
evaluate their overall level of health. Not surprisingly,
most middle school kids have similar concerns: “I have to
stop wasting time on the computer, I want to make more
friends, I have trouble making conversation with adults, I
eat too much sugar, and I sleep less than 8 hours a night
on a regular basis.” This exercise, while not shared
between students, enables us to reassure our 8th graders
that they are not alone in their adolescent development.
Students will gain factual information through a variety of
hands-on lessons and modern technology. In the
classroom we
mix a touch of
humor with a
deep concern for
the academic,
emotional and
social success for
all our students.
We are off to a
great start and
we are looking
forward to the
continued growth
and well being of
our students.
E
ARTHKEEPERS: It makes no difference whether you
are the parent of a 6th, 7th or 8th grader! Please join
our recycling effort here at South Middle by sending your
used plastic bottle caps of any size or shape in with your
child(ren). Not only will you be doing your part but also
you will increase the chance of your child’s homeroom
winning our yearly CAPS CONTEST. If your son or daughter
is interested in the environment, suggest he/she join us in
the Earthkeepers Club on Wednesdays in room 212.
G
SA (GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE): On October 11,
students at South Middle participated in the National
Coming Out Day School Awareness Campaign. NCOD
raises awareness, decreases violence, and builds
leadership to create safer and more supportive learning
environments for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender
(GLBT) youth, families, and allies. The GSA distributed
over 800 rainbow ribbons, information cards and ally
stickers. The GSA meets weekly on Wednesdays in room
215.
R
AINBOW LOOMING CLUB: Ms. Goltzer, health
teacher for the 6th grade program, has introduced the
love of looming to South Middle. This new, popular club is
open to all grades. The club members work on the looms
to design and create one of a kind bracelets. One of the
club’s members donated hundreds of pink and white
rubber bands. The club made bracelets to be given to
patients who are battling a breast cancer diagnosis. The
RLC meets in room 214 every Tuesday.
S
ADD (STUDENTS AGAINST DESTRUCTIVE
DECISIONS): Do you want to be part of an incredible
national student organization? Then SADD is for you! We
work on school wide activities that reinforce healthy
decision making. SADD hosted Dr. Stephen Dewey on
October 24. This world renowned researcher discussed
with students the devastating effects caused by drug use.
To learn more about Dr. Dewey and his work:
thisisyourbrainondrugs.org. 
G
TV: GTV the movie club is featuring the television
movie “Cyber-bully.” All students are welcome to
join. We meet Wednesdays in room 214. Join us and check
out the next exciting film, as always: FREE POPCORN!
Dr. Dewey discusses the dangers of drugs
LEGO CLUB
The Lego club had a great start this year. We have already made robots made of Lego
bricks, and we are currently working on monochromatic sculptures. Our next project will be
Lego Town.
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LIBRARY
New and exciting things are happening in the library! Our nonfiction section has been completely renovated to make it more
accessible to students and teachers. We have purchased many
new resources on various topics. Our fiction collection has also
expanded, and we are in the process of shifting those books to
fit all of our new materials! Don’t forget that you can access our
library catalog on the GNPS Homepage in the upper right-hand
corner.
On another note, we now have a full computer lab right next
door to the main library! This will allow more students to have
Ms. Sulinski, Ms. Lao, Mr. Lander, Ms. Graybosch, Ms. Caggiano
access for projects, research, and much more. We are very
excited about all of the new happenings in the library media
center and hope that you come in to check it out! Please see Mrs. Graybosch if you have any other questions and
don’t forget to visit our library website.
MUSIC
It gives the Music Department an
unbelievable amount of pleasure to
announce that Great Neck South
Middle School will be sending SEVEN
students to Syracuse to participate in
the New York-statewide Middle
School Honor Concert Band. These
students were selected by a
statewide panel of music educators
from the New York State Band
Directors Association (NYSBDA):
Katelyn Z., Flute, Grade 8
Rachel K., Flute, Grade 7
Kelly F., Oboe, Grade 8
Jeremy C., Oboe, Grade 7
Eric Y., Clarinet, Grade 7
Stephen K., Bass Clarinet, Grade 8
Noah S., Trumpet, Grade 7
Out of the 260 students who applied
to the New York State Middle School
Honor Band, only 98 students in total
were selected to participate. This
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The Great Neck School District is in
the 2nd year of the U.S. Department
of Education’s Carol M. White Physical
Education Program, which issues
three year grants. The district has the
opportunity to renew this grant for 1
more year, bringing the grant total to
more than $1 million. Funds will be
used to purchase equipment, teacher
training, and education. We will be
increasing our nutrition education and
employing a greater use of
instructional technology to help
engage the students more effectively
and help teachers track their
performance and progress. We are
looking forward to using pedometers,
i-touches, and iPads this year.
clearly indicates
that these South
Middle students
are among the
top flute, oboe,
clarinet, bass
clarinet and
trumpet players
in their age
group in New
York.
Ms. Willcox, Mr. Schwartz, Mr. Boschen, Mr. DeNise
"The Magnificent
Seven" talented individuals will be
rehearsing and performing a concert
with some of this state's most
talented instrumental students from
the seventh and eighth grade. Their
performance will be conducted by a
college wind ensemble director and
will take place in Syracuse on
Saturday, March 8, 2014.
Our entire department is immensely
proud of this achievement for these
musicians. They represent the best
in all of us and show fellow students
that aspirations can indeed be
realized with determination and an
insatiable work ethic. If they bring
their leadership abilities shown in our
building up with them to Syracuse,
then I am positive that this year's
festival will be the best that it ever
has been!
Bravo to our students and bravo for
our school!
We started the school year off
with cooperative activities and
team passing games. We used
our problem solving and
teamwork skills in soccer skill
activities. Our 8th grade
students started their Dancing
Classrooms experience. The
culminating event, Dancing
With Our SMS Stars, will be
held on the evening of
Monday, December 16th.
As we presented during open
Mr. Mendoza, Mr. Lemanczyk, Ms. Sulinski, Ms. Dnyprowsky,
house, students will now
NTRAMURALS: Morning
receive letter grades (A, B, C, D, F) in
Intramurals are being held every
Physical Education class. Students will
morning at 7:25 in Gym 1. After
be assessed on their participation,
School Intramurals are held Monday
application of skill, and application of
thru Thursday from 3:00-4:30. Bring
knowledge.
a friend and join a game! We are
I
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looking forward to using our newly renovated recess
area!
in playing a Winter 1 sport (Girls Volleyball, Boys
Basketball, Boys Swimming) need to hand in a new
B Form and emergency contact card. Form A
(physical) must be up to date. For more information,
including schedules, directions, etc. please visit our
website www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/GNPS/SMS/
departments/phys_ed/athletics/index.htm 
A
THLETICS: The fall season is in full swing! We have
over 200 students involved in our interscholastic
athletic teams. Our teams are practicing or playing in a
game every school day. The Winter 1 season begins
on Wednesday, November 6th. Students interested
RECESS AREA
SMS students enjoying their first day of recess on the new courts! Many
thanks to Alfredo Cavallaro, Director of Buildings and Grounds, and his
assistant Mr. Steve Challis, for overseeing the entire project. 
SCIENCE
SHARED DECISION MAKING
In Science Research, students began the year learning
effective research techniques that will further their
investigations into areas of special interest.
Background research will help students develop
experiments and projects that may be presented at
future science competitions. Also, students are excited
about using the new greenhouse. This year we are
hoping to grow a variety of vegetables. The students
are currently researching which plants grow best
during the fall-winter months. Finally, Science
Olympiad Club and the Science Challenge Club
have begun and there has been a tremendous turnout,
but there are still a few slots open.
The first meeting of South Middle School’s Shared
Decision Making committee was held on Wednesday,
September 25. This is the one committee where the
voices of administrators, teachers, parents, and students
are heard equally. With the aim of the committee being
to improve student achievement and provide increased
success for the students, each group elicits goals from
their respective constituents. One Wednesday a month,
this group meets to work on these goals.
The group attended the district training session at the
New Hyde Park Inn, where the group skyped with Tony
Wagner, the author of Creating Innovators: The Making
of Young People who will Change the World and The
Global Achievement Gap. Our committee will then
reconvene on November 6 to begin to choose goals for
the year. We look forward to another successful
collaboration with our home-school community.
Greenhouse Club planted nasturium and tomato
seeds that sprouted this week. We transplanted
seedlings, sowed more seeds, and look forward to a
fine crop of vegetables soon.
TECHNOLOGY
6
th
GRADE: Some 6th grade students are completing
their written invention report. This is a great research
project that allows for exploration of a specific invention
and then classroom discussion about where in our
country’s development the invention took place. The
Industrial Revolution and the internet age are being
explored. The mass production project is in full swing too
with students using basic hand tools and machines to
complete a wooden stationery holder.
7
th
GRADE: 7th grade technology students have
completed a study of drawings and a unit on
construction theory. They are now designing and building
toothpick bridges. Math formulas and science concepts
are integrated into this engineering challenge. The
STEMLAB is in its first full year of operation and students
are really being encouraged to think and invent.
8
th
Mr. Lane, Mr. Ruvio, Ms. Elzer-Lento, Mr. Mead
D
igital Photography Class: This semester’s
photography class is busy learning to use digital SLR
cameras. Camera functions and features are explored and
students are encouraged to experiment with composition
and creativity. Their portfolios are developing nicely. An
on-campus field trip is being planned for the end of
October and students will have the opportunity to
photography the beautiful nature available here on the
Phipps estate.
Grade: 8th grade technology classes have
completed a study of orthographic projection
drawings as well as computer assisted drawing. They
have also completed a unit on construction theory. They
are now designing and building toothpick bridges. Math
OODWORKING: This semester’s woodworking
formulas and science concepts are integrated into this
students are currently building their own poplar
engineering challenge. The STEMLAB is in its first full year
bagel cutter while learning basic hand tool and machine
of operation and students are really being encouraged to
use in the woodworking lab.
think and invent.
W
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WORLD LANGUAGES
The Spanish A and Spanish I classes
have been studying how to talk about
themselves and applied their acquired
skills to create passports documenting
a trip to a Spanish-speaking country.
In order to get a taste of Hispanic
architecture and culture, the students
also took a virtual trip to some
interesting locations in Spain and Latin
America, using Google Earth.
Back Row: Mr. Moore, Dr. Pontone
In Señora Falow’s Spanish 8 classes,
Middle Row: Ms. Falow, Ms. Zucker, Ms. Paez, Ms. Lynch, Ms. Livaditis
students used materials designed for
Front Row: Ms. Zhao, Ms. Cantante, Ms. Blanco
native Spanish speakers. Students
acquire better language skills when
they feel success in the real Spanish
speaking world. The classes watched sports broadcasts at
http://www.telemadrid.es/?q=deportes as well as read the
sports column of several newspapers from Spain. The students
are currently integrating technology into developing their study
skills using iPads and several apps such as Memo and Flashcard.
Students made online flashcards and flipped them. The
Flashcard app was exciting for students as the app also allows
students to use the very same cards to create matching ,
memory and word search games as well as to create quizzes and
true/false statements.
It is was a tremendous honor for
twelve of our seventh and eighth
grade Chinese students and their
teacher Ms. Zhao to be invited to
New York University on Sunday,
October 6 for the Chinese
Character Festival. Many
students attended the award
ceremony with their parents. The
students received special prizes
because of their high caliber
work in the “My Favorite Chinese
Character” summer activity.
Great Neck South had a booth to
display the outstanding projects. Our school congratulates the
participants and their families.
French A: The students recently put on animal skits. They
combined everything they have learned so far, including
animals, cognates, and introductory conversation skills.
Students worked with partners and practiced having
conversations.
French B: Students learned adjectives and adjective agreement.
Students created "name tags" of adjectives that describe
themselves and designed them accordingly. Students’ creativity
was evident as they took pride in their works. They also created
a Family Tree of descriptive and personality adjectives. French B
had a wonderful and creative time designing their family trees.
Bon travail!
French 8: Students have been reviewing grammatical structures.
After having studied famous French comics, students have
created their very own “bande-desinees.” Students had the
liberty to write about whatever interests them. Students wrote
about school, teenage romance, food, and shopping.
19