Winter Newsletter Almira School District January 2016 In this issue Pg 2-4th 5th grade news Pg 3 - K-1 and Drama Pg 4 - K-8 math program Pg. 4-7 & 8 US History Pg 5-6th gr highlights Pg 6 - Hunger Banquet Pg 7 - Mrs. Douglas Elementary math Varsity basketball team: Grayden Murray, Dane Isaak, Carson O Neil, Brayton Schafer, Thomas McWalter, Reece Isaak, Chase Gerard and Cooper Correia REMEMBER EVERY 1ST, 3RD AND 5TH WED. OF THE MONTH IS ONE HOUR EARLY RELEASE Feb 2 Festival of Bands all bands play at half time of HS BB game. Feb 3 1 hr. early release Feb 3 Past, Present, Future Day for MS students Feb 12 - half day In Service, release at 12:15PM JV basketball team: Casen Murray, Cody Kagele, Kaleb Dunlap, Cooper Harris, Will Hahn, Carson Fox, Josh Bresee and Parker Roberts Feb 15- NO SCHOOL, Presidents Day Feb 17-1 hr. early release Mar 2-1 hr. early release Mar 4 - NO SCHOOL, Late winter break Mar16-1 hr. early release Mar 30 - Half day End of 3rd qtr. Release at 12:15 April 4th thru 8th Spring Break
Page 2 January 2016 4 th /5 th Grade Genius Hour This year the 4 th /5 th grade class was introduced to what is called Genius Hour. Genius hour is an idea that steams from the people at Google they give their employees 20% time to work on their own projects that the company can use. In the school setting the students are allowed to spend one hour a week to study and learn about what they want. Then at the end of the semester they were to present their new learning to the class. They were able to choose how they wanted to present this information also. This semester some of the students chose to learn how to sew, how to decorate cupcakes, how to make a game, and how to make layer cakes. There were even presentations on things like engines, bareback riding, Andromeda, the Red Fox, computers and computer parts, and the history of Ireland. Kayleigh Elder, Prairie Parrish, April McGuire Shannon McMillan Jordan Mitchell The student s enjoyed exploring things they wanted to learn about. It was also a great practice in public speaking and presenting. The group will be gearing up for next semesters Genius Hour to start so that they can discover new ideas and learning. The History of Ireland by Fiona McMillan Red Fox by Christine Keeley and Taylor Hoke Amazing Computers by John Pierce How to sew a pillow by Kenzie McCall
January 2016 Page 3 Mrs. Sieg s K - 1 class Lindi did a great job making her bear look quite realistic. Levi Oliver, Wyatt Ogle, Katie Poe, Dylan Peterson, Lindi Robertson, Chloe Westfall, Faith Parrish, Donnie Dormire, Wyatt Land, Liam Dahlenberg and Savannah Monson. (not shown is Darren Hoke) K-1 combined their social studies and their science curriculums to create an art project. Since they have been studying about the polar regions in social studies and about wood and paper in science, it worked out well for them to design and make their own polar bear masks. From left to right are: Levi Oliver, Wyatt Ogle, Katie Poe, Dylan Peterson, Lindi Robertson with Chloe Westfall in front of her, Faith Parrish, Donny Dormire, Wyatt Land, Liam Dahlenburg, and Savannah Monson. (Not pictured is Darren Hoke who was absent the day the picture was taken.) ACH Middle School Drama Approximately thirty 7th and 8th grade students have started rehearsals for the upcoming musical comedy "Gone with the Breeze". Director Sean Matthewson noted that this is a new show that has not been produced at ACH before. The action is set in Hollywood where two producers are working on a new movie based on the novel "Gone with the Breeze" and are looking for a leading lady...can you say Scarlett O'Hara? Mr. Matthewson also is pleased to report that Mr. Rosman will once again be working with the students as vocal director. "The improvement of the vocals in recent years is a direct result of Mr. Rosman s time and effort," commented Matthewson, "The students actually sing notes!" Performances will be scheduled for late May or early June, keep a look out for the exact dates!
Page 4 Winter Newsletter Math Students Focus on 8 Mathematical Practices as Part of Learning. Sometimes we think math is all about the right answer. While that is our end goal, it is but one of the important aspects of becoming mathematicians. In our K-8 math program, we know that students become successful learners when they exhibit specific behaviors that help them approach any math problem. Teaching these intentionally is part of our process. Having rich mathematical discussions with each other and the class help build student confidence and understanding. The recognized behaviors or Standards are listed below with a brief interpretation. 1. Make sense of complex problems and persevere in solving them. Solving problems without giving up, breaking it down, being a math detective. 2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively. Thinking about numbers in many ways, understanding what the number represents. 3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others. Explaining your thinking in discussion, in writing, and listening to others. 4. Model with mathematics. Number sentences, equations, applying to real world situations. 5. Use appropriate tools strategically.showing your ideas in many ways, manipulatives, tables, pictures. 6. Attend to precision. Identifying the unit (meters, equal groups, etc), checking for accuracy. 7. Look for and make use of structure. Using what you already know (adding relates to multiplication, etc.) What do you know about the situation? 8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning. Will this strategy work in other situations? Is there another more efficient way to solve this problem? How does the pattern help you understand this strategy? Just as businessmen and women gather to discuss new ideas and solve problems, students who engage in regular discussion about math concepts, especially to their peers, naturally build a vocabulary and conceptual understanding that develops a strong framework for new learning. The right answer is certainly important, but practicing these standards means a student will carry the tools for the right answers to come, not just the ones they need in today s lesson. Battles of the American Revolution The ACH 7th and 8th Grade U.S. History Class recently completed a unit on the American Revolution. The final project was to research, create and design a trading card of one of the major battles of the Revolution. The artwork on the front of the cards included an appropriate illustration, title of the battle, as well as a slogan of the campaign. The back of the card included detailed information and important highlights of the battle as well as the battle s significance to the Revolution. Students made a timeline in the hallway and attached their trading cards in chronological order. Students did an incredible job on this project and I invite you to view our Battles of the American Revolution Timeline whenever you re in the school. Mrs. Pat Elder Maren Beardsley Oshun Parrish Madelynn Syth
January 2016 Page 5 Ruth Bresee The ACH 6 th Grade is busy. Eryn McCleary We continue to study ancient civilizations using our TCI curriculum online. As an addition to our TCI, we have started our first DBQ. DBQ stands for document-based questions. Students read and evaluate primary and secondary source documents to help formulate a position to the question being posed in the DBQ. Eventually students use evidence gathered from the documents to support their Thesis and write a final essay. The DBQ topic is also the topic we are currently studying in Social Studies. The DBQ will be tied into both the social studies and writing curriculum. We have continued with our science study of Earth and Space. Students were split into groups and given a new "planet" to discover. Their task was to evaluate the properties of the new planet and invent a vehicle that could safely land on the new planet. Most recently, we have been learning more about Earth's atmosphere and the three main methods of heat transfer. Our second semester will continue with Earth Sciences. We are into our Module 2 of our math curriculum. We have broken into two groups for the second semester with Mrs. Douglas taking one of the groups. Christmas time crafts included snowmen made from old white socks and paper poinsettias made from copies of old sheet music. Students have also started individual crochet projects that they will continue to work on at least one period a week. We have started a new novel study with Holes by Louis Sachar.
Page 6 January 2016 Service Learning Concludes with Hunger Banquet January 22, ACH 8th graders held a Hunger Banquet for the middle school students in Almira. This presentation is meant to increase awareness of global issues and allows participants to experience first hand the reality of food distribution in our world. Using Oxfam statistics, students are divided into three groups. Students are randomly handed a ticket when entering that designates their position in life. Each card had a real life scenario written on it. During the introduction, students are reminded that no child chooses to be born into hunger. Students seated at the head table represented 15% of the world s population, and were served lasagna, garlic bread, salad, fresh fruit, a wide array of desserts, and choice of different beverages. Students seated on the floor were divided into two groups; those (about 60%)with just enough, and those (about 25%) who never get enough. They served themselves beans, rice, corn tortillas, and water. The latter section was served last with what was left over, and had dirty water representing the clean water issues faced by many third world communities. As participants ate, 8th grade students shared facts about hunger. The class spent three weeks in December investigating local, regional, state, national, and international hunger issues, as well as organizations and solutions that alleviate this condition. Learning of groups that respond to both crisis humanitarian needs as well as long term conditions, students came to understand the health and societal implications of hunger. One of the 7th grade participants wrote in reflection, I have had an experience before this during a 30 hour famine project. I m not happy with the world and what we aren t doing to help people in need. It upsets me. Even at the end of my long life, hunger will not be gone.
Winter Newsletter Page 7 Mrs. Douglas elementary math Mr. Hein s 2nd and 3rd graders work on Dancing Birds in Lego class. Students use gears, pulleys and motors to rotate birds two different directions, building on their knowledge of simple machines. The Lego WeDo software allows students to create commands for robotic to follow. Gabe Alig, Mia Westfall, Hunter Mings, and Alyvia Land analyzing computer image to build the weekly project. Harvest Parrish, Jeremy Pinar & Adyn Peha 4th grade students Abby Dormire and John Pierce critiquing the reasoning and modeling of math problems in their assessment notebooks. 3rd grade students Tian Robertson and Gabe Alig construct viable arguments about multiplication and measurement.
Almira/Hartline Elementary ACH Middle School We re on the Web! achsd.org Almira School District P O Box 217 310 S. 3rd Street Almira, WA 99103 Phone: 509-639-2414 Fax: 509-639-2620 E-mail: sschmerer@achsd.org Look for sports schedules, lunch and breakfast menus, school calendar, daily bulletin etc. Parents check out the Family Access! Keep track of your students lunch money, attendance, and grades too if you have a middle school student. Call for your user name and password. Almira School District No. 17 P O Box 217 Almira, WA 99103 Almira School District No. 17 U.S. Postage PAID Almira, WA 99103 Permit #5 POSTAL PATRON