april 2014 - TL Handy Middle School

T.L. Handy Middle School
APRIL 2014
HANDY MIDDLE SCHOOL PRESENTS
SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK LIVE TOO!
AUDITIONS ARE TAKING PLACE
MONDAY, APRIL 14TH
4:00PM-6:00PM
&
TUESDAY, APRIL 16TH
4:30PM-6:30PM
SHOWTIMES ARE SCHEDULED FOR
MAY 29TH & MAY 30TH
7:00 PM
PLEASE LOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!
HMS APRIL NEWSLETTER
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT………...
HMS APRIL NEWSLETTER
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7th Grade ELA News
Students just finished their Greek Myth units and really enjoyed learning about, reading, and
creating greek myths. All students finished a common assessment at the end of April. Scores
continue to rise as our students prove they are learning content this school year! The next unit
is Poetry and we end the year with Drama.
It is extremely important that students read over the summer months when they are away from
school. There is a Summer Reading Program through the Bay County Library System. This
year's program is entitled Beneath the Surface and runs from June 10th to July 10th. Laura
Meirlaen from the Sage Library has been invited to Handy to explain the program to our
students. Please encourage them and read with them this summer!! It has been a pleasure and
joy working with your children this year and our 7th grade ELA staff is so proud of their
efforts!!
Math News
6th Grade
We will finish working on Chapter 5 which deals with the coordinate system. Students should
know the vocabulary that is associated with this: x and y axis, Quadrants 1-4 and ordered pair.
We will be starting Chapter 6 in the next week.
7th Grade
We are continuing to work on Chapter 6, solving equations. We have been doing a variety of
activities centered around both one and two step equations. Students are engaging in activities
involving the following vocabulary words: variable, coefficient, expression, equations, and
constant. Parents can help by asking your child to describe and discuss the meaning of the
vocabulary we are emphasizing. With every lesson we are targeting math practices that are used
to guide students along in the process of problem solving. Seventh grade math students have
been immersed in algebra, targeting algebraic expressions involving basic operations. As we
charge forward, we will specifically turn our focus to solving equations and inequalities. Each
lesson of the new math series makes a strong connection to the real world and future learning.
Along with focusing heavily on problem solving, a strong emphasis will be place on math
language and vocabulary. The remainder of the year will involve work in the areas of Geometry
and Probability and Statistics. Don't forget to use your online resource for extra support and
practice. The online tutor is great!
8th Grade
We have been studying how Algebra is used in the field of Geometry. Some of the key topics are
lines, finding measures of angles, proofs, the Pythagorean Theorem and the Distance Formula.
HMS APRIL NEWSLETTER
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SOCIAL STUDIES HAPPENINGS FOR APRIL
6th Grade
Ms. Garcia's Social Studies classes have just started Chapter 13. The students will learn about the
three major periods in the early history of Europe. In the first section, they will learn about ancient
Greece, were life was different. There were no rulers who held power over all of Greece. People lived in
independent cities which had their own government, culture, and way of life. Then in the second section,
they will learn about Rome which was one of the most powerful civilizations due to their well-trained
army. Through these conquests, Rome built a long lasting empire that left its mark on the languages,
cultures, and government of Europe. Lastly, in section 3 students will learn about the Middle Ages,
which was a time of great change in Europe.
Mrs. Zanotti's Social Studies classes have begun our study of Europe. Europe is in the Eastern
Hemisphere so 6th graders will learn more about Europe as 7th graders. We hope to be able to work in
"survivor tribes" after Spring break. Please remember to check and sign your child's planner on Thursday
evening, thank you.
7th Grade
In March, Mrs. Fischer’s class studied the continent of Africa. We learned about many fascinating
geographical areas. Ask your student about Victoria Falls and why it is called “The Smoke that
Thunders”. Ask them if they would jump into the “Devil’s Pool”. We traveled across the great Sahara
Desert. Ask them if Timbuktu really exists. We learned about some interesting animals. Some were just
plain fascinating- ask your student about the Okapis and how it is NOT related to the Zebra. Some
insects were just plain nasty- ask your student how a mosquito causes hundreds of thousands of people to
die every year from malaria in Central Africa. We studied two amazing people who changed the lives of
their African countrymen. Ask your student how Paul Rusesabagina of Rwanda saved over 1200 lives
during the Rwanda civil war and genocide. Ask them to give you TRRFCC character examples from
Paul’s heroic actions. Ask your student how Nelson Mandela became the first democratically elected
Black South African President. Ask them to tell you about Mandela’s ideals and his famous speech before
the South African high court.
In Mrs. Dupuie's class we recently finished our unit about ancient Mesopotamia. The next unit
relates to these religions of the Eastern Hemisphere: Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Students will learn
about the beliefs, traditions and history of the religions.
Mrs. Floyd’s students also wrapped up their studies of Africa in March with an in-depth
investigation into the genocide in Rwanda. We watched the movie “Hotel Rwanda” and discussed the
actions of Paul Rusesabagina and how one person can make a big difference. We just marked the 20 th
anniversary of this genocide and we encourage others to learn more so that it never happens again and
we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. Honors students competed at the district level of Michigan
History Day on March 8 with amazing projects that were the culmination of four months of research and
development of a persuasive argument related to “Rights and Responsibilities in History.” Thirty-one
Handy students competed. Of those, 9 students are headed to the state finals in Saline, Michigan on
April 26th! Congratulations and best of luck to Cassidy O’Farrell, Nadia Khan, Ally Hill, Tia Good, Mariah
Gilboe, Chase Derocher, Zoya Mead, Isabella Gripentrog and Emily Kato!
8th Grade
8th grade social studies is moving into our Civil War unit. Students will be looking at the differences
between the North and South and the events that led our country to split apart. Students will have one
more final exam to round out the year before moving on to high school.
HMS APRIL NEWSLETTER
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HMS APRIL NEWSLETTER
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ART ROOM NEWS
The Art Room would like to send a
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS
SHOUT OUT to 7th Grade
student Linzi LaPouttre. Linzi
had her water color symmetrical
painting selected to represent
Handy Middle School in the 45th
World Schoolchildren’s Art
Exhibition held at the National
Taiwan Arts Education Center in
Taipei, Republic of China
(Taiwan)! She is one of ONLY 60
student art works sent from the
United States! The exhibit will be
held this coming Fall.
CONGRATULATIONS LINZI!!!
HMS APRIL NEWSLETTER
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END OF THE YEAR
IMPORTANT DATES
April 15th
April 16th
April 18th
April 21st
April 22nd
April 23rd
April 25th
April 28th
April 29th
May 1st
CHS 2014/2015 9th Grade Orientation
6:30 pm-7:30 pm @ CHS auditorium
Spring Picture Day
Parent Coffee
No School
7th & 8th Grade Explore Test
Booster Club Meeting 4pm
7th & 8th Grade Explore Test
Bank at School
End of 5th Marking Period
8th Grade Scheduling for High School
8th Grade Scheduling for High School
8th Grade Field Trip ~ CHS & BAISD
HMS APRIL NEWSLETTER
May 7th
May 14th
May 20th
May 21st
May 23rd
May 26th
May 29th
May 30th
June 3rd
June 4th
June 5th
June 6th
Bank at School
Parent Coffee 7:30am
Spring Vocal Concert CHS 7pm
Band Concert:
6th Grade @ 6:30 pm
7th & 8th Grade @ 7:30 pm
Bank at School
No School
No School
School House Rock Live Too
School House Rock Live Too
End of Year Awards Assembly
8th Grade Exams
8th Grade Exams
8th Grade Send Off Dance
Last Day of School ~ Half Day
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