Grammar Game Victors!

Congratulations to the 2016 Grammar Game Victors!

Natalie Marshall, Anna Igims, Luke Wagner,  and Tanner Blose

The 2016 Grammar Game Finalists

Victors will be announced Monday! Stay tuned! 

Mock Trial

In English, students are gearing up for the Flowers for Algernon Mock Trial!  Students are acting as lawyers and witnesses to decide whether or not Charlie Gordon should have had the surgery to make him intelligent.  The trial will take place on Monday. 

Using Creativity in English

In English class this week, the eighth graders used their creativity in the Maker Space. The students were able to use fantastic equipment such as the 3D Printer and the Laser Engraver. Each group invented a product that is going to help improve everyday life. Next, the students will take on the challenge of using persuasive writing to sell their product. Stay tuned!

Materials Needed for the Advertising Project

Dear Parents/Guardians,

In English class next week, we are beginning our advertising unit.  For this unit, in groups, the students will be creating their very own products.  They will then develop a sales pitch using persuasive writing techniques. To build their product, it would be very helpful if the students could collect as many household items as possible.

If you could please help your child collect some of these items, it would be greatly appreciated. Items that would be very helpful include (but not limited to):

• Toilet paper rolls
• Paper towel rolls
• Buttons
• Cereal boxes
• Tissue boxes
• Yarn
• Plastic bottles
• Egg cartons
• Shoe boxes
• Popsicle sticks
• Pipe cleaners
• Rubber bands
• Duct tape
• Hot glue sticks
• Fabric swatches

We will begin to build our products no earlier than Wednesday, September 23. Thank you so much for helping make your child’s experience in middle school a great one.

Miss Raitano and Mrs. Abate

English Advertising Project

2015-2016 Back-to-School Supply List

Textbook Return

Science books are past due.

Math books are due tomorrow.

Reading & English books are due June 2. 

Civics textbooks will be collected on June 4.  Replacement cost for a lost textbook is: $70.47

Read about more end of the year information from the Grade 8 Blog.

Students Create a Pittsburgh-Themed Board Game

8th Graders Explore Game Design

On Thursday, March 12, 8th grade students met with Sabrina Culyba, a game designer at Schell Games. Schell Games is based in Station Square, and has focused on developing educational games for the last five years. Sabrina talked with the students about playtesting (or the process of playing a game to see if and how it works), how game-like thinking can benefit learning and other important gaming principles. The students showed her theirgames-in-progress, which are modified versions of Monopoly. The students' games integrate information they researched during their Pittsburgh Project, which is a research paper that they've just completed over the last six weeks. The students will take their information and apply it to the Monopoly board, pieces and rules, and will ultimately develop a working boardgame (including game pieces printed on the district's 3D printers) that they'll be able to share and play with each other.

Welcome to Grade 8, Miss Raitano!

	Dear Parents and Guardians, My name is Miss Julie Raitano and I will be your child's English teacher for the second half of their 8th grade year. I am looking forward to working with you and your child to make this second half of the school year an exciting and successful one. I am confident my educational background, experience, and passion for teaching will provide your child with a positive atmosphere for learning and growth. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Miss Raitano jraitano@avonworth.k12.pa.us

Mrs. Hickman moving to the library

Greetings! 

It is with great excitement (and a little sadness) that I am writing this message to you. As of Tuesday, January 20, I will be moving from the English classroom into the Avonworth MS/HS library as the Research and Media Specialist. I will continue to work with students as they navigate 21st century research and presentation skills, as well as helping kids to grow into literate and well-read students. 

Taking my place for the rest of the school year is Ms. Julie Raitano. Julie has been here at AMS since last year as a substitute for Mrs. Nicole Cavanaugh in the 6th grade. She is excited to make the move to 8th grade in time for all of the fun things that happen here in the second semester! 

I will continue to act as an advisor in the 8th grade advisory program, as well as student council sponsor, so I will still be in touch regarding those programs in the future. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have, and have a great day!

Mrs. Emily Hickman

Poetry Project

Over the next two weeks, students will analyze poetry through a set of critical lenses. Students will work in groups to understand self-selected poems, and will discuss with each other what each of their lenses "tells" them about the image created by the poet. They will then select one poem to present to the class, and include images and the message the poet expresses.

Students out of class / getting caught up

With the holidays and cold/flu season upon us, many students will be out of class and miss work in the next few weeks. Please note that science assignments are available on HaskinsSci8.info and that English and Reading assignments can be accessed through the Google Classroom (which is available through asdlopes.org). If you have any questions about posted assignments, feel free to contact teachers as needed. 

8th grade Homework calendar

Please remind your students that they should access the 8th grade Homework calendar to find out what assignments they missed.  We appreciate your support at home as we help our students develop the self-direction habits they need to complete their missing assignments.  Thank you!

8TH GRADE TEAM COntact InFormation

Mrs. Abate; learning support teacher

Mrs. Crothers; mathematics teacher

Mr. Haskins; science teacher

Mrs. Galecki; reading teacher

Mrs. Hickman; English teacher

Mr. Smith; social studies teacher

Mock Trial

The verdict is in! English 8 spent last week preparing for a Mock Trial. The purpose of the trial is to develop argumentative reasoning - using evidence to prove an argument in an organized and clear manner. Students acted as lawyers or witnesses and developed arguments that proved that the doctors from the short story "Flowers for Algernon" were either liable for their actions during the experiment on Charlie Gordon or that they were not liable. Students did a great job! Visiting judges included Dr. Ralston, Mrs. White, Mr. Hall, Mrs. Applegate, Mrs. Clare and Miss Spiker. Each decision was a tough one, but students had a chance to understand how strong arguments are developed and presented to an audience.

Thanks for a great year in English 8

Thank you to all of the parents and students for making this year’s English class so great! As students are completing their final reflection, they have had a chance to see all of the skills and material we worked with this year. It’s been a lot – but the kids handled it very well and have really come a long way since last August. Thank you to them for their hard work and dedication, and to the parents for all that they do to support that effort!

Summer Reading Assignment in Honors English 9

Students enrolled in Honors English 9 met with Mrs. Natalie Barkovich, the Honors English teacher next year, and received their summer reading assignment. Happy reading!

End of the School Year

End of the School Year Information

Library
Students can no longer check out books.

All books are due back to the library by May 30.

Textbook Return
Be sure you return your textbooks to your teachers before the end of the school year. Due dates are listed below:

Mathematics ......................May 30

Reading ................................TBA

Science ..............................June 2

Social Studies ………........ June 5

Important Dates

Olympics…………….…..May 23

Memorial Day .…………..May 26
No School
AR due …………………..May 28

Bump Up Night…………..May 29

Engineers Visit AMS…..…May 29

Pre-Algebra Exam …….…May 30

On Exponents
Awards Ceremony…….…..June 2
Grade 8 Commencemen.t....June 4
Civics Final.........................June 4
Last Day ............................June 6

Computer / Technology
 Files in the students' Drop Boxes will be purged this summer. 

Beowulf wrapping up in English class

Student have wrapped up reading a formative piece of English (British) literature: Beowulf. We are going to begin building body biographies using the notes we took to create a symbolic figure that describes the most important aspects of one character.