January/February 2013

Dear Parent,

Middle school presents a unique opportunity for students to be appropriately challenged in their academics and to simultaneously be encouraged to take risks while they explore skills that goes beyond the "traditional" curricula. Over the past 9 months I have had the opportunity to both learn about past conversations that have occurred and to take part in conversations between JGMS teachers, students and parents related to the desire to restructure the manner in which our existing "choice" classes are offered and accordingly play out in student schedules. In recent months, the conversations I have had with Arts/ Wellness teachers, the MSPA and the scheduling self-study committee have led me to better understand the urgency in restructuring these course offerings. I am proud to announce that from all of this collaboration arose the exciting notion of offering "exploratory" courses in lieu of the existing "choice" courses. Since there will be no monumental change necessary to launch these courses within our present schedule, I feel energized that we will move forward with these new options in 2013-2014 academic year.

The Arts/Wellness teachers are well into the process of designing exploratory courses that guide children to take intellectual risks out of their comfort zone in the hopes of uncovering an unknown passion or interest. These new offerings will be less restrictive than the current "choices", such as Babysitting, Building Model Cars and Yoga/ Pilates. These semester-based "exploratory courses" will focus on a myriad of engaging content and skills and serve as curricular extensions to the grade level courses currently offered in art, music, technology education and physical education/wellness.

As staff, parents and students can attest, the vast majority of JGMS students do not currently end up in the "choice" class they had requested. There are a number of factors that lead to these constraints. Without delving too deep into the complexities, the introduction of this "exploratory model" should drastically help with some long-standing frustrations on the 6 x 6 block schedule's inability to fit most choice requests into student schedules. The same number of exploratory course sections will match the pattern of what presently exists in the "choice model"; however, the current "choice" topics would collapse into potential units within a more general exploratory curriculum at each grade level. While there will be few exploratory offerings there will be more of an opportunity for one to obtain their preferred class because more sections of the same courses will be offered. While it is deliberate that the courses, when combined, may create a single threaded curriculum over the three grades, the courses are not intended to be prerequisites in nature. In other words, a child may opt to take Art Exploration all three years, but (s)he may also chose to take Art Exploration in 6th grade and take Music Exploration in the 7th grade, but pick up Art Exploration again in the 8th grade. It is important to note that these exploratory courses will run concurrently with chorus, band and orchestra, and there is no foreseen negative impact on these established programs. Just as it has been with "choice" classes, Band, Chorus and Orchestra will be provided in lieu of an Exploration option.

As one parent stated, "Principal Tracey, in describing the evolution of this curricular and scheduling change, it appears that you and the members of the Arts/Wellness wanted everything, but did not want to give up anything". The parent was spot-on with her observation. My "curricular selfishness" may connect back to my single child upbringing. Regardless, I will humbly admit the character flaw and remain resolute supporting great ideas from to departments to maximize the learning opportunities we offer students. J

These proposed changes were presented to the School Council parents, students and staff, my MSPA Leadership Board and to a comprehensive group of staff on our scheduling self-study committee. In addition, school committee did approve the decision to adopt exploratory courses at their recent January 29th meeting. There was great enthusiasm and support on all fronts and we appreciate everyone's feedback as we worked our way through the creative process.

Please see below for the exploratory offerings in art, physical education/wellness, music/theater and technology education for the 2013-2014 academic year.

6th GRADE

Grade 6- Explorations in Art; Mediums Tools and Techniques
Students will have the opportunity to explore a variety of mediums and tools while enriching their general understanding of the visual arts. In addition to the general art curriculum students will explore a variety of 3-D and 2-D materials.

Grade 6 - Stay Active-Get Fit Exploration*
Students will participate in high energy games/activities such as rugby, capture the flag, Dance, Dance Revolution, Rollerblading as well as lifetime sports such as Golf, Bowling and Social Sports (Bocce Ball, Horseshoes, and Croquet).

Grade 6- Technology Education Exploration (6)
In the 6th grade, students explore keyboarding and computer literacy. Utilizing the software program Mavis Beacon, students work at their on pace to develop keyboarding skills. Instruction will also focus on word processing, spreadsheets, and multimedia presentations.

7th GRADE

Grade 7- Explorations in Art; Composition, Style and Design
Students will be learning more advanced techniques in 2D design while studying composition and style. Looking at historical works of art students will be enriching their understanding of style as a powerful principle of design.

Grade 7- Court Games and Movement Exploration
This course will offer students a variety of movement activities placing an emphasis on the racket sports of Tennis and Pickleball. Movement activities that may be offered are Cricket, Speedball, Hackey Sac, and Yoga.

Grade 7- Technology Education Exploration (7)
In the 7th grade, students will study communication technology and transportation technology. In the area of visual communication, students will learn how to draw 3 dimension drawings. Using technical drawing skills, students will design, build, test, and race a model CO2 car during the transportation unit of study. Additionally, students will develop an awareness of how transportation systems impact people, society, and the environment.

Grade 7- Explorations in Music*
Explore making and sharing music with friends, with a focus on guitar. Learn new skills and expand on what you already know to create music in a variety of styles. Projects will build on and reinforce music experiences from elementary school music class. The pace and special topics will be structured around the interests and abilities of the class members. Students who choose to take this class for both semesters will continue and improve their skills while learning new songs and techniques.

8th GRADE

Grade 8- Explorations in Art; Art in the World Around Us
Participants in this elective will be exploring contemporary mediums and concepts in art and design. Students will work toward developing a new sense of personal expression while exploring their place in the world around them.

Grade 8- Food and Fitness Exploration
Participants will learn about the nutritional needs of the teenager and what food choices are best for them. Students will learn the importance of combining healthy eating with exercise to maintain good health as well as kitchen safety, time management, and clean up. Granola, hummus, couscous, salsa, and pizza are a few of the foods that may be prepared. A food and exercise journal will be included as a class assignment. The exercise portion of the course will require students to complete a specific pre-planned workout and participate in Fitness Challenges.

Grade 8- Explorations in Music
Explore ideas and topics in music, using guitar, drums, and a variety of instruments. Join others with a high level of interest in music to create hands-on musical experiences in a variety of musical styles. No previous music training is necessary, and beginners are welcome. Students who started guitar or world drumming in grade 7 can continue to increase their skills. Areas of focus are based on the interests and abilities of the group, including but not limited to songwriting, improvisation, and projects in listening and responding to all kinds of music. This class is also an opportunity to practice and share the skills you've learned from a private teacher, and use them in flexible creations with other musicians.

Grade 8- Explorations in Theater Arts*
This is an elective for students who are interested in continuing their exploration into the world of the theater and performing arts. Beginners are welcome too – no prior experience necessary. Class projects will include theater and improvisation games, and reading skits, scenes and short plays together. Class members will make contributions to the production of the annual JGMS spring musical according to their talents and interest. They are offered the opportunity to explore playwriting as extra credit, and have their own work read in class. Units are customized to the interests of the class members. Topics could include: exploration of the theater arts in Shakespeare's time, modern American playwrights, the development of stand-up and spoken-word comedy, and the contributions of choreographers and film-scoring composers to the world of the performing arts. Assessment is based on attainment of personal goals, active participation with a positive attitude, and cooperative, collaborative contribution to group projects.

Grade 8- Technology Education Exploration
In the 8th grade, students study design technology. In the area of construction, students design houses using 3D Home Architect. To increase technological literacy in the area of robotics, students use Lego Mindstorms to design, build, and test robots. Additionally, students will develop an awareness of how robots have and can impact people and society.

* One section each semester will be offered once per six-day cycle for those students opting for band, orchestra and/or chorus

Last, but certainly, not least, many thanks and congratulations to the educators within our Arts/Wellness department, who recognized a serious concern negatively impacting our students and school, collaboratively met to problem-solve a solution, and ultimately, will dedicate valuable hours to designing rich, fun courses that will empower our students to explore a passion within the arts and wellness curriculum.

Respectfully,

Kevin

2013 MCAS Schedule

March/ April 2013

 Important notes:

-Grade 6: 2 (60 min. sessions) ELA Reading Comprehension
-Grade 7: 2 (60 min. sessions) ELA Reading Comprehension
                2 (45 min. sessions) Comp. (Mandated date: 3/19; Mandated Make-Up 3/28)
-Grade 8: 2 (60min. sessions) ELA Reading Composition

-March 11-16 – JGMS Musical
-March 25 – Passover begins at sundown
-March 29 - Good Friday/ Half day of school
-March 31 – Easter

May 2013

 Important notes:

-Grade 6: Math 2 (45 minute sessions)
-Grade 7: Math 2 (50 minute sessions)
-Grade 8: Math 2 (50 minute sessions)
Sci/Tech 2 (45 minute sessions)

-Memorial Day: May 27th
-Washington DC Trip: May 28 – May 31

A Letter from BHS Principal Turner

Dear Grade Eight Student and Parent(s),

Welcome to the Bedford High School community! This letter home is my first formal contact with you. I hope it is the start of a positive, rewarding relationship between student, parent, and the Bedford High School learning community. Each year, we strive to challenge, stretch, and support our students as they gain knowledge and skills and develop the ability to analyze and draw conclusions about themselves and the world around them. Although you are still in the middle of what I hope is a very fulfilling eighth grade year, it is also time to begin the transition to grade nine. Scheduling for next year begins now. This letter will explain the scheduling process and alert you to important dates.

The process. The schedule at Bedford High is built each year from the thousands of student requests. Building the most workable schedule is a time-consuming process, and explains why we must begin so early in the year before. Dr. Diane Ryan, Director of Guidance, will visit with eighth grade students on February 8 to introduce students to the high school's schedule and requirements, and to explain which course choices are made by teacher recommendation, and which choices are made by the student alone. Please look for a copy of the BHS Program of Studies, which will be posted on the BHS website on February 1st, at:

Bedford High School Website (Click Here)

I hope that you will be able to attend our Eighth Grade Parents Night. You will hear from our program administrators about the ninth grade curriculum and, I hope, get a "feel" for the freshman year at BHS.

EIGHTH  GRADE  PARENTS  NIGHT

February 7, 2013

7:00 – 8:30 PM

BHS High School Auditorium

Ninth Grade Curriculum Presentation

Followed by Curriculum "Fair" in the BHS Library

A typical schedule consists of five five-credit courses (majors) and four two-and-a-half credit courses (minors). The five credit courses are core academic requirements in English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Foreign Language. (Variations on this pattern can include postponing the foreign language for a year or undertaking a sixth major.) One of the grade nine two-and-a-half credit courses must be Health I and Fitness I, unless a student chooses to take Junior ROTC. For a grade nine student, almost all courses work to fulfill some aspect of our graduation requirements. It is important to note that the student's grade eight teachers determine the proper level of challenge for the student in the core five-credit courses. For the description of our leveling system, please refer to page 13 in the Program of Studies

Bedford High School Course Sign-Up occurs online, through the Aspen system. Between February 14 through March 1, students will complete their list of course requests on Aspen. Directions for entering course requests will be posted on the Bedford High School web site. Those students who do not have access to the Internet at home will fill in their course requests at school with your child's Guidance Counselor.

When the student enters Aspen on February 14, the student will be able to view both the previously entered eighth grade teachers' recommendations plus Health I and Fitness I, and the elective course choices available to grade eight students. Students are typically able to request either three two-and-a-half credit courses, or one five-credit course and one two-and-a-half credit course.

Contacting Grade 8 Teachers. The teacher recommendations of course or level cannot be changed by the student on Aspen. Grade eight teachers have known and worked with your child and are also aware of the requirements of each level at Bedford High. Their recommendations, made after weighing all factors, are usually correct and should be taken very seriously. There will still be time, however, during the sign-up time, between February 25 and March 1, for you to contact your son or daughter's teachers by email or phone regarding a change of placement, if you wish.

Requesting a Level Change. If, after talking with the teacher, the teacher continues to recommend the original level and, after discussion and deliberation, you still disagree with the teacher's decision, you may make a level change request by filling out the Level Change Request Form available at each school and on the Bedford High Counseling page. Such level change requests must be submitted to the appropriate program administrator at Bedford High by April 1.

Important Dates:

February 1 Program of Studies will be posted on BHS Website
February 7 Parents' Night at BHS.
February 8 Students will learn about scheduling
February 14-March 1 Students will access Aspen, view teacher recommendations, and request remaining courses.
February 18-22 Vacation.
February 25-March 1 Parents may phone or email middle school teachers to discuss teacher recommendations, if desired.
April 1 Level change request forms are due at Bedford High, in the appropriate program administrator's mailbox.

I look forward to meeting and working with you.

Sincerely,

Henry J. Turner
Principal 

JGMS Principal's Accolades

Congratulations to Ava Altman, Savannah En and Sonia Shah for their wonderful showings at this year's Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards. Ava earned a Silver Key for her painting entitled, "Justin Bieber Extravaganza". Both Savannah and Sonia received Honorable Mentions for their work. Well done!

Congratulations to 7th grader, Taline Dawson, who is this year's JGMS Geography Bee Winner. Taline will now take a qualifying test to see if she can compete in the State Finals at Clark University in early April.

Hats off to all students participating on the stage and behind the scenes in this year's musical production, "Once upon a Mattress". The show debuts on March 14th at 7PM. Break a leg, everyone!

From the Health Office

REMINDER: physical exams are due for 6th graders. I need to have these in order to update immunizations for the 7th grade state survey in October.

During the month on March I will be checking all students for scoliosis. The postural screening program is conducted during physical education classes, and each student is checked individually. Assessments for lateral curvature of the spine and /or other postural concerns will be the focus of the program. The Mass. Dept. of Public Health has mandated that children be screened yearly in grades 5-9. These grades cover the years in which adolescents experience rapid growth, and in which signs of curvature most often appear. This program provides for early detection, and regular monitoring. It is not meant to provide medical diagnosis, but rather to detect possible early signs of spinal problems, which should have further medical evaluation. Parents will be notified if their child is referred for evaluation by their physician.

Cold and Flu season is in full swing. The cold weather leads to increased person-to-person contact due to indoor activities. This results in a significant increase in colds. The rhinovirus can live for hours on hands, as well as on surfaces such as Formica, wood and plastic. Thorough hand washing and disinfecting surfaces can result in fewer colds.

Some guidelines that should be considered when making the decision of whether an unwell child should come to school:

A Sore Throat that is not relieved by over-the-counter pain medication. If you suspect your child has strep throat, please call your physician for a throat culture. If an antibiotic is prescribed he/she should remain home at least 24 hours after starting the medication.

Elevated Temperature over 99 degrees F in the morning. Temperatures are at the lowest in the morning and often rise as the day progresses.

Active Coughing and Sneezing. "Germs" can be spread far and wide with one cough or sneeze via droplet infection.

Vomiting and/or Diarrhea. If a child has these during the night or in the morning, he/she needs to remain at home. It is very stressful for a child to "get sick" at school.

Stress Frequent Handwashing! It Really Helps

Please feel free to call me with any questions or concerns.

Thanks,

Carol Eaton, R.N. 781-275-3165

Parent Training Invitation

Save the date: April 5, 9-11 (location TBD)

Parents are invited to a parent training presented by school counselors entitled Effective Strategies for Homework Completion Across the Years. Topics will include creating structure around homework time, managing distractions, and behavioral techniques for dealing with refusal. From 9-10, the presenters will focus on elementary school and from 10-11 on Middle and High school. Please email Elizabeth Goldmann with any questions.  

RSVP required.

Library News

Book Fair News

Thanks to all who supported our annual School Book Fair. Students were scheduled to attend the Fair with classroom teachers during the week of Nov. 26th. We made the largest profit in recent years because of the enthusiasm for our students and their families.
Book fairs provide students with a wide variety of titles that are of specific interest to them. They become bookstores designed for middle school only.
Special thanks to the parents who helped run the Fair.

Library Activity

Jim Nagle and Joe Casey began research projects exploring the Renaissance period. Eighth graders used electronic databases, e-books, and websites to gather information.

Ms. Hammer and Mr. McGonagle shepherded their students through Ancient Egypt topics. Students used the library webpage to do research and to create electronically create citations.

Ms. Breakall's 6th graders did biographical research on individuals who have made significant contributions to society. They utilized print and non-print materials paying close attention to note taking skills.

Book Selection

Pat Stephen and Marilyn Bemis escorted their 8th grade classes to the library to select books for a third quarter book project. Historical fiction, biographies, non-fiction and challenge books were chosen. Ms Stephen and Ms Bemis require outside reading for all students. Level One students are to read four to ten books throughout the year, and Level Two students are required to read four to seven books. Kids complete reader responses and maintain reading logs.

SOS teachers Sandi Smith and Kristen Gobiel regularly schedule library visits for their 6th grade students. They have an opportunity to check out books and post reviews on the library circulation system, Destiny. Students rate the titles and offer their recommendations to fellow Destiny users.

Reading

A thank you to all parents who continue to encourage reading. Students gain so much from dialogues about books. The JGMS summer reading list is posted on the school website. This is a source for book suggestions.

The familiar slogan, Kids Who Read Succeed, is very true. Currently there are 568 books in circulation.

8th Grade News

As we approach the second winter interlude, February vacation, it is hard to believe that this school year is halfway over. The weather has cooperated, and unlike two winters ago, we have been able to maintain the normal ebb and flow that usually accompanies this time of year in all of our classes. As we enter the second half of the school year, we continue to encourage all of the 8th graders to continue bring enthusiasm and a strong work ethic to all of their classes.

Washington D.C. Trip Update:

All registrations for the 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. are now past due. Currently we have 177 students registered for this annual trip to be held May 28-May 31st. The next step in the planning process will come in mid-March when World Strides will be sending each participant a final bill. It is also at this time that students will be asked to create a "wish list" of possible roommates for the trip that they will submit to Mr. Casey.

A parent meeting is planned for sometime in mid April. (More info to follow) Parents can direct any questions to Mr. Casey.

English:

Just prior to winter break, English classes finished writing a personal narrative about a winter memory. Currently, students are in the midst of reading The Call of the Wildby Jack London. This classic novel explores the themes of survival of the fittest and the quest to return to an instinctual life or one's ancestral roots. In our next unit, students will be analyzing Martin Luther King's "I Had a Dream" speech as an example of a powerful persuasive speech. They will also research, write and present their own persuasive speeches.

The English department is delighted to announce that our nominees for the Promising Young Writers' competition are Deborah Weidman and Gillian Russell. Honorable mentions go to Hannah Wait and Felicia Barber.

Math:

Students in Algebra have just completed a unit on systems of equations and inequalities. The unit focused on methods to solve systems, writing equations and inequalities to represent real-world situations, and examining constraints placed on those situations. The next unit of study focuses on rules for exponents and exponential decay. Students have also been preparing to take their two-day midterm.

Pre-Algebra students have recently begun a unit on polygons and transformations. Students will be classifying angles, triangles and quadrilaterals and solving equations to find missing angles measures. The next unit of study focuses on real numbers and right triangles. Students will be taking a midterm before February vacation.

Math recommendations for ninth grade are currently being made.

Science:

This winter has been very busy and productive for the Science Department! Ms. Ferri's classes have worked on lessons pertaining to the minerals, rocks, and the rock cycle. They are beginning their study of rocks and the fossil record and plate tectonics this week. Students on both teams worked extensively on a rock abrasion lab. Mr. Puopolo's classes completed units on the rock and fossil record and geologic time and plate tectonics. Currently, students are learning bout the connection between plate tectonics and earthquake activity. Students on both Teams have been engaged in many hands on activities. Both teams have begun MCAS reviews of physical science.

Also, all JGMS students took the You Be the Chemist Challenge before vacation. The student that scores the highest will go on to the state championship in the early spring. In April the top scoring 10 students from JGMS will compete against another middle school for the honor of representing Massachusetts in the national competition in Philadelphia in June.

Social Studies:

Students in Mr. Casey's and Mr. Nagle's classes are finishing up their Europe unit by discussing the Age of Exploration, The Scientific Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment. Students will begin work shortly on a major essay assignment that will be asking them to discuss the development of political, social and economic systems from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Modern World.

Geography Bee
TALINE D IS THIS YEAR'S GEOGRAPHY BEE WINNER

Congratulations to all of our class winners for this year's National Geographic Geography Bee! After an exhaustive final round, 7th-Grader Taline D was crowned this years' winner by answering the following question correctly:

Delaware Bay separates the state of Delaware from what other state to the north?

Answer: New Jersey

Taline has taken a qualifying test in hopes of being in the top 100 scores in the state, which will allow her to compete in the State Finals to be held in mid-March at Clark University in Worcester. Congratulations to Taline and all of our participants for a great Bee!

7th Grade News

It is hard to believe that we have already started term 3 and are more than half way through the year! All the 7th grade teachers are looking forward to a great second half of the year.

Social Studies:

During the month of January, Social Studies classes competed in the National Geographic Geo Bee. In addition, students began to study ancient Egypt. To supplement the unit, both teams traveled to the Museum to Fine Arts in Boston to take a first hand look at ancient artifacts. As part of this unit, students will also complete the Egypt Project. This project consists of a five-paragraph essay and a visual/oral presentation. Students are allowed to choose a topic relating to ancient Egypt that they would be interested in researching. The research consists of using books and online resources to gather facts to prove a student's thesis. This project will help teach students how to keep track of their sources by having them create a bibliography to hand in at the end of the project. Ms. Hammer's classes began the project in mid-January, while Mr. McGonagle's classes started at the very beginning of February. In addition to the field trip and the project, students have been learning about the geography, culture, and the history of ancient Egypt.

English:

The third quarter is off to a great start. Students continue to expand vocabularies, improve grammar skills, and write with coherence and clarity. We are bolstering skills in reading for deeper meaning as students are currently reading historical fiction either during the 1960's with The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt or during the 1800's with The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. In addition, students will begin their global literature circles book project on Moodle after reading one of nine globally focused books.

The end of February brings March and MCAS testing for language arts. The long composition will take place on March 19 with the reading portion on March 26-27. This will be one of the places where students can highlight their skills in reading and writing.

Science:

In Science class, students have been studying cells. They have learned the parts of the cell and the role each part plays in maintaining life. For example, students learned how cells interact with their environment. Using a chicken egg as a model cell, students were actually able to detect water molecules moving into or out of the cell through observations and data collection. Students then designed and implemented their own experiments around this process (called osmosis). In addition, students discovered how some organisms make their own food using light energy from the sun. They learned how the food that is made is then changed into an energy molecule that is used by our cells to fuel all the activities that we do each day. Students will explore a new unit, Heredity, following February vacation.

Math:

All 7th grade students will be taking assessment tests between February 11-13, 2013 which will be part of the criteria for their 8th grade math placement. Letters will be sent home with students' results explaining the placement process. The 7th Grade Math classes just finished the Ratio and Proportions unit and are now working on Percents. They need to bring in a poster board and a cartoon for the cartoon enlargement project, which will take place in mid February. The 7th Grade Pre-Algebra classes are working on a Geometry unit. They will be completing a project involving the Pythagorean Theorem at the end of the unit. They will also be working collaboratively on a Google Sites project which will be due in March. Please check with your child to make sure he/she has a calculator, graph paper, and pencils for math class every day. Thank you for your assistance.

General Announcements:

Student of the Month:

The Orange Team would like to congratulate Taylor Simons on earning the prestigious honor of becoming November's Student of the Month. Taylor displays all the characteristics of a strong student. She is an all around solid student who works hard and puts a great deal of effort and thought into her work. Taylor is always organized, very dedicated in her schoolwork, and always brings a great attitude to class. She takes pride in her work and strives to always do her best. She shows humility, is always kind to others and is willing to help whenever asked. She is polite, inclusive and exhibits an enjoyable sense of humor. Taylor is a model student. For these reasons, Taylor is an exemplary student of the month.

The Yellow Team would like to congratulate Ian MacPhee on earning December's Student of the Month award. Ian is a student who displays pride and attention to detail in all his assignments. His dedication to his school work and positive attitude among his classmates is to be admired. We applaud his effort and tenacity. Congratulations, Ian!

School Newspaper:

If you have not yet had a chance to read the student newspaper, The John Glenn Journal, it is located on our website. Check out Mr. Tracey's interview, book suggestions, a review of a local restaurant, and more! Our next issue should be out in early March. If you have not yet had a chance to read the student newspaper, The John Glenn Journal, it is located on our website. Check out Mr. Tracey's interview, book suggestions, a review of a local restaurant, and more! Our next issue should be out in early March.

Curriculum Updates:

Math: As we close the second term here at JGMS, 6th grade math students will continue their work with fractions and mixed numbers. We will be spending a quarter of our time on multiplying with fractions and mixed numbers, 0.2 of our time introducing and exploring reciprocals, 3/8 of our time learning how to divide fractions and mixed numbers and the remaining 17.5% of our time working with converting fractions to decimals and decimals to percents.

English: In English, the Yellow Team is hard at work on our Change-Maker Research Essay unit. In December, we took research notes on people who have made a positive difference in the world, and now, we are using our notes to compose a five-paragraph research essay. Our essential question for this portion of the unit is "What is a thesis?"

Students on the Orange Team finished their short story units. We have quite a few budding authors in our midst. Though it was an intimidating task for more than a few, we shared our stories with seventh and eighth graders. They were excited to be able to hear stories with riveting conflicts and vivid imagery.

We are in the beginning stages of a major research assignment focusing on learning about people who have made a difference in shaping our world as it is today. This unit encompasses a wealth of skills from evaluating sources, taking research notes, organizing information, presenting it in a succinct, focused essay with a thesis, and more. We are excited to learn more about these ordinary people to understand how they became extraordinary.

Social Studies:
In sixth grade social studies we have recently completed a brief unit covering European conquest, slavery and independence on the continent of Africa. Students examined the European colonial powers, the areas they controlled and the paths that different African nations took to independence.

As a culminating activity we watched the movie NightJohn. This movie helped students connect our study of Africa to American history. Both Ms Bakerian and Miss Mallott were impressed with the thoughtful reflections students completed following the film.

Below are some quotes students wrote on their reflection sheets:

"I like the way the movie showed us history through the eyes of those affected."

" The movie made me feel angry because of the violence against the slaves."

"The movie was sad because families were separated in it."

"I learned that slaves needed passes to leave their plantations."

"My favorite character was NightJohn because he did not care what the owners did to him. Also he inspired the other slaves."

"The movie really helped me get a grasp on slavery."

"The movie is connected to what we are learning in social studies because we are learning about Afica and the slaves were originally from Africa."

We are now beginning a unit examining Southern and Central Africa. Be sure to ask your students about their "station" work in the coming weeks.

SOS (Student Owned Strategies): 

During the first part of the second term, students learned different ways of organizing information using the "Thinking Maps" program. Once mastered, students applied their content area knowledge to each "map" to demonstrate the transfer of skills.

Later in the term, students read a variety of non-fiction text and utilized several strategies while reading. Students looked for the central ideas of the text and practiced techniques such as highlighting, writing marginal notes, and using concept maps. Students engaged in active reading by making connections, inferences, and drawing conclusions.

Science:

In Science we are focusing on quantifying and understanding the world around us. Students are learning to measure the mass and volume of different objects in all forms of matter (solid, liquid, and gas) using proper laboratory procedure. Students are also being introduced to density, an important tool in identifying and understanding the characteristics of different substances. This will segway into our next unit, identifying physical and chemical characteristics and changes.

Spanish News

Students in grade 6 Spanish are beginning Unidad 1 Lección 2. In this unit, students will keep practicing and extending the concept of ser. Not only will they be able to use ser for describing origin but also to describe what somebody is like and his/her profession. They will also learn how to identify people and things. We will still explore the influence of the Latino community within the US and its history (for example: El Alamo, Texas).

In grade 7 Spanish we are starting a new unit based in Puerto Rico. The first chapter will feature extending and responding to invitations, talking on the phone, expressing feelings, saying where you are coming from, and saying what just happened.

In 8th grade Spanish our new unit takes place in the cultural context of Barcelona, Spain. Students are learning to describe their daily routine, talk about grooming, tell others to do something or not to do something and discuss daily household chores. New grammar points include the introduction of reflexive verbs and affirmative and negative familiar commands. The cultural reading takes place at the Pablo Picasso Museum in Barcelona. For one of the activities of the lesson students will be able to create and present an advertisement for an imaginary pharmacy. With this advertisement students will demonstrate mastery of the new vocabulary and the use of affirmative and negative commands. 

French News

In 6th grade French we just completed and presented our Google presentation/slide show on Family. This involved use of vocabulary for family and adjectives and some basic ER verbs. We are now starting Leçon 4 which introduces telling time in French with both the military 24 hour clock and our 12 hour system. Weather expressions, months and days of the week will be reviewed/recycled material in this chapter. The students are currently working on designing a French menu on Google apps with a partner. This project encompasses a lot of material from both Leçon 2 and Leçon 3.

In 7th grade French we just finished Unit 4 with a unit test. The students are continuing with regular and irregular verb forms and practicing writing prompts. We are also telling stories in class with the aid of a picture. The students enjoy this and are getting quite good at creating and narrating short stories. Leçon 13 introduces the various cities in France with a particular focus on Tours. I studies as a student in Tours so have been sharing with students my adventures as a youth in France. We are going to create a Glogster (virtual poster) as a Tourism poster on a site in France during this quarter which should be great fun!

In 8th grade French we have just taken the high school placement exam and switched over to the high school level French text Blanc 2. This transition to a new text is symbolic of where we are in the academic year as well as the more demanding pace from here on out. The students are starting to do some peer teaching in the class when reviewing grammar points and verb conjugations. We will be focusing even more on writing prompts and oral assessment over the next few months.

JGMS Performing Arts

QUICK GLANCE CALENDAR:

• February 12th - JGMS Chorus classes at BHS, 7 pm
• March 6th through 9th - BHS Spring Musical "Footloose", (see BHS website for times)
• March 14th through 16th - Spring Musical "Once Upon A Mattress" at JGMS, Thursday and Friday at 7 pm, Saturday at 6 pm.
• March 19th - JGMS Band classes at BHS, 7 pm
• March 20th - JGMS Orchestra classes at BHS, 7 pm

Junior District Music Festival

Our music department is proud to say that eleven of our musicians have been accepted by audition into the annual Eastern District Junior Music Festival. On January 29th, 27 students from grades 7 through 9 traveled to Concord-Carlisle High School to compete with other students from our district for a spot in the chorus, band, orchestra or jazz band. Congratulations to the top scoring students who were invited to participate in the Festival, which will be held on March 8th and 9th at the Lincoln-Sudbury High School. Chorus members accepted were Matt B., Chris C., Chloe D., Julia D., and Jordan PM. Orchestra members are Ethan G., Annie H., Douglas K., Hannah R., and Rachelle S. Bravo and Brava to all who spent the extra time outside of school to prepare for this special musical challenge.

JGMS Music Ensembles - Band, Orchestra and Chorus

There are several musical performances coming up for JGMS music students. On Tuesday, February 12th, the chorus classes from grades 5 through 12 will combine to perform a "vertical" concert, which will be held at Bedford High School, at 7 pm. Student participating should be at BHS by 6:30 for warm-ups with their director.

Later in March, instrumentalists in the Band and Orchestra classes will also participate in their vertical concerts. Tuesday, March 19th, the Band students in grade 5 through 12 take the stage at BHS, and the following night Orchestra members from Grade 4 through 12 get their turn in the spotlight. Both concerts will begin at 7 pm. Arrival times are announced by the individual directors.

These annual vertical concerts are a way for our audiences to see the growth of our musicians over time, and are a great way to motivate younger music students to remain dedicated to participation in our music program. All are welcome to these free events. Contact any member of the music department for more information.

Annual Spring Musical "Once Upon A Mattress"

Ninety cast members and 35 stage crew students are working towards opening night for our annual spring musical. This year's play is an adaptation of the 1959 Broadway hit starring Carol Burnett, which was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical that year. (It lost to "The Sound of Music.") The show is based upon the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea." We tell the story of Prince Dauntless the Drab's quest to find a wife, despite his mother's devious attempts to keep her little boy by her side forever. And no one in the kingdom can get married until the Prince gets married!

Family members of all ages will be entertained as singing and dancing members of the court, minstrels, jesters and wizards act out the hilarious saga of the princesses in competition to win the Prince's hand. Passing the test to prove that you are a REAL princess is harder than it looks, especially when the Queen is determined to make sure that you fail! Performances will be at JGMS on Thursday, March 14th and Friday, March 15th at 7 pm, and on Saturday March 16th at 6 pm. A cast party for cast and crew will follow after the Saturday performance. Tickets are $9.00, and will be available starting on Monday, February 25th, at "Fetch It!" on Great Road, and in the main offices at JGMS Lane and Davis schools. Contact Liz Cowles for additional ticket information.

Tech Education News

How to Support Learning at School and Home

Parents play a most important role in facilitating student learning. Students benefit from parent involvement with test or quiz preparation. In order to support student learning at school and at home, parents may use effective strategies to assist their children in learning subject matter. Mr. Ruscito, Technology Education teacher, recalls his mother quizzing him in preparation for upcoming tests when he was a middle school student.

Teachers have a significant role to play in improving and maximizing student learning; therefore, a new initiative will be developed and implemented in Mr. Ruscito's Tech Ed classes during the 3rd and 4thquarters. Mr. Ruscito plans to pilot an initiative in which parents will be emailed study materials one week in advance of a quiz/test. To prepare students for a quiz or test, parents may use the emailed materials and/or other materials that students have collected during the unit of instruction.

In order to determine the impact of this study, a participation form will be sent home for parents to complete to indicate whether or not students received parent assistance relative to test/quiz preparation. Not all parents may be able to participate, as time constraints are different for each family. However, Mr. Ruscito requests that all parents complete the participation form, so data may be collected on the impact of parental assistance on student learning.

If you have any questions, please email Mr. Ruscito. Mr. Ruscito extends his gratitude for your assistance and looks forward to working with you.

Notes from the Gifted and Talented and Differentiation Instruction Program

MathCounts News

The MathCounts School Competition was on January 28th, and we had some really close scores! Out of a possible 46 points, the top 10 students scored between 31 and 38.

The Sprint Round consists of 30 problems to be completed in 40 minutes without the use of a calculator. A more challenging example question from last year's competition is:

The difference of the squares of two distinct positive numbers is equal to twice the square of their difference. What is the ratio of the smaller number to the larger?

The Target Round consists of four pairs of questions to be completed in 6 minutes per pair with the use of a calculator. An example question from last year's competition is: 

An isosceles trapezoid has bases of length 11 units and 21 units and legs of length 13 units. In units, what is the height of the trapezoid?

The Team Round consists of 10 questions that students work in teams of four to solve in 20 minutes. An example question is:

The mean and median of a set of five distinct positive integers is 5. What is the largest integer that can be in the set?

The Countdown Round takes the top 10 students from the Sprint and Target round and has them compete head to head, two at a time, to answer questions in 45 seconds or less. These questions get progressively harder throughout the round.

Twenty-seven students competed on January 28th. The top ten will move on to the chapter competition in February, where they will compete for a chance to attend the state competition. Four students compete as a team, and six compete as individuals. The team members for this year's competition are Savannah En, John Coyne, Fionna Zhang, and Rachelle Shao. The individuals are Da-Jin Chu, Vinny Dee, Annie Hyung, Michael Vaughan, Chris Wirth, and Nathaniel Kang. Savannah was also the school winner!

Also in February, eleven of our MathCounts students will compete in the AMC 10 – a competition for students grades 10 and below. Those students are competing for a chance to take the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). Only one student from JGMS have ever achieved at that level, so they are rising to a particularly difficult challenge.

Advanced Math Pull-Out Classes

The 6th grade advanced math class has moved through basic fraction concepts. We are now playing with fractions in interesting ways. Ask your student about fraction KenKens, and, soon, Egyptian fractions! The 7th grade advanced math class has been working on problems with similar and congruent polygons and will soon be proving the Pythagorean Theorem. The 8th grade advanced math class is finishing a unit on systems of equations and have learned how to solve systems with many variables.

The Nobody Ends Rigorous Division Society

The Nicely Equaling Random Dollars Society held its second meeting on February 1st. Students gathered to watch and discuss Doctor Who, sharing some of our favorite episodes. We would love suggestions for future social opportunities for the society, particularly ideas that may interest girls. Our next meeting will be a Friday towards the end of February or the beginning of March. The Nonentities Escape Righteous Derision Society is open to any student and is intended to be a relaxed social setting where students can feel safe and comfortable being themselves.

Out of School Resources
MIT's High School Studies Program (Click Here)

MIT's High School Studies Program is designed for students in grades 7 through 12 who want to learn something a little more challenging and a little different. Registration for the Spring session of HSSP opens February 6th. The program runs on Saturdays in February through April. This is a great opportunity for any student! The cost is very reasonable at $40 and there is generous financial aid available.

A Message from ACE

Students in the ACE (Alliance for Climate Education) and Science Clubs have worked hard this year to increase the amount of recycling that we are doing here at JGMS. Along with plastic and paper recycling, we are also recycling print cartridges, rechargeable batteries, and small electronics, such as cell phones and digital cameras. Through a company called Funding Factory, the school is receiving cash for each of the items shipped to them. Please consider sending any of these items from home to school with your child to aid with this fundraising program. A comprehensive list of acceptable items can be found at their website: fundingfactory.com. In addition, if you know of any companies in the area that would be willing to donate their empty print or toner cartridges, we would greatly appreciate it. Thanks for your support in our environmental and fundraising efforts.