Photo retakes will be on November 30. Order forms are available in the offices.
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
2016 Advisory Games!
On Monday, 11/21/16, students in the 8th grade participated in the 3rd annual AMS 8 Advisory Games! Students used cooperation and teamwork skills to solve problems and earn points!
Thursday, November 17, 2016
AMS 8 Maker Students take on PANTHERx Project
On Wednesday, November 16, students from the 8th
grade met with Jonathan Ogurchak of Panther Specialty Pharmacy to learn more
about a project involving Avonworth and Blackhawk Middle Schools.
Students learned about the role of a specialty
pharmacy and the requirement of a close relationship among patients, doctors
and the pharmacists. The students were introduced to a specific drug, Strensiq,
which requires strict monitoring due to temperature constraints and costs. Strensiq
is used to combat a specific genetic, enzymatic deficiency in bone production. The
students learned about the special “smart” refrigerators needed to store the expensive
supply of medication.
The project has students looking at how technology
could improve the relationship and communication between the patients and their caregivers. Students were asked if they could think of ways that the “smart”
refrigerator could be modified to better aid PANTHERx in their mission to serve patients with chronic diseases. The product to be created by the students will explain the features that could be used in the next iteration of the "smart refrigerator."
  |
| Jonathan Ogurchak describes the condition perinatal/infantile and juvenile-onset hypophosphatasia to Avonworth students. This is the disorder that Strensiq, an enzyme replacement, is prescribed to patients to form and maintain bone. The cost of the medication is extreme, which requires the pharmacy to closely track and monitor dosages. |
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| Students interact with the features currently used on the "smart" refrigerator 2.0. The students got a chance to review all of the features of this new technology. |
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| The "smart" refrigerator uses technology such as RFID tagging and wireless communication to connect the refrigerator in patient's homes to the pharmacy. |
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| Students consider options that could be added to the "smart" refrigerator 3.0 to improve the communication between patients, doctors, and PANTHERx. |
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Save the date! Middle School Engineering Day at Univ. of Pitt SWE
This event is not sponsored by Avonworth School District.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Veterans Day Field Trip
On Tuesday,
November 8, thirty-three 8th grade students spent the day with local veterans
at the Heinz History Center. The WWII,
Korean, and Vietnam War veterans shared their personal stories, brought in
artifacts, and answered students' questions.
The heroic actions of these men and women were an inspiration to
students and teachers. Thank you to all
veterans for your service to our nation.
Veterans Day 11/11/16
Let us remember all the sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed forces so that we could have a safer life.
Veterans Day
11/11/16
AMS 8 Specials Rotation Next Week
Students will be changing rotations on Tuesday, November 15. The next course can be found on the student schedule as "2" for periods B and H.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Rube Goldberg Machines
Education Trip Form and Procedure
Reminder from the Office:
If a student is
going to be out of school more than 3 days (e.g. vacation), parents are
required to complete and submit the linked form.
Also, see this and other attendance procedures from the Parent Academy Edline page.
Friday, November 4, 2016
AMS Enviromental Club
Do you
want to improve our school community environment? Want to learn more about the
living things and their place in the ecosystem? Join us!
The first
environmental club meeting a will be on Monday, November 14 after school until
5 PM. At the meeting, the environmental club will discuss the projects and
activities including field trips.
To receive more information... text
@amsenviron to phone number 81010 or see Mr. Haskins
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday!
Remember to turn your clocks back on Sunday, 11/6/16! Daylight Saving Time Ends!
Election 2016 Project
Thanks to the over 150 guests that attended our 8th Grade Election
Event on Tuesday night. Those in
attendance were able to view student-created videos, board games, artwork,
websites, children's books, presentations, and even a live debate!
If you were in attendance and did not get an opportunity to take the Exit Poll, please feel free to leave us your feedback here:
If you were in attendance and did not get an opportunity to take the Exit Poll, please feel free to leave us your feedback here:
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Tweets from the Science Lab
Students in #lab110 building a Rube Goldberg Machine. Science as a verb. pic.twitter.com/C1nSAiRMTA— AMS Science 8 (@science8haskins) November 3, 2016
Students are learning about energy and specific heat in #lab110! They were excited to finally use the gas faucets at their seats. pic.twitter.com/xpSCp9uwPS— AMS Science 8 (@science8haskins) November 2, 2016
Students in #lab110 learning about simple machines and mechanical advantage pic.twitter.com/40Laan15dk— AMS Science 8 (@science8haskins) October 24, 2016
Thursday, October 27, 2016
First Grading Period Ends October 27
First Grading Period Ends
October 27
Important Information
- ENGLISH:All late work due by Monday, October 24
- MATH: All late work due no later than Monday, October, 24
- READING: All late work due by Wednesday, October 26
- SCIENCE: Last day to turn in work for science "C2- Chapter 5 Assessments" is Thursday, October 27
- SOCIAL STUDIES: All assignments due by Wednesday, October 26
A Novel Look at Film
A Novel Look at Film
Please ask your child for the following letter that was sent home yesterday.
Dear
Parents/Guardians:
Eighth
grade students just finished reading and studying the award-winning novel The
Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Since it
was first published in 1967, it has remained a popular book among teenagers
here at Avonworth.
We will
conclude the novel unit by watching the PG-13
movie, The Outsiders: The Complete
Novel on Monday, October 31. The Francis Ford Coppola movie was rereleased
in 2005 and captures the spirit of the young adult characters and themes
prevalent in the novel. The author S.E.
Hinton helped direct the movie and even played a small part in it.
Students
will learn how to critically watch the film and reflect on key elements of the
novel as they complete their “Movie to Film Analysis” online discussion in
school. After comparing and contrasting
the movie’s character development, conflicts and themes to those within the
novel, students will write and discuss their own reviews of the movie.
If you do not want your student to watch the movie, please return the form below by Wednesday, October 26. An alternative activity will be provided for students who will not
watch the movie. No action is needed if you approve of The Outsiders movie activity.
Thank you and
stay gold!
Mrs.
Galecki
8th
Grade Reading Teacher
If you DO NOT want your student to watch
the PG-13 movie, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND RETURN this form by Wednesday, October 26. You can also email your
request to me at kgalecki@avonworth.k12.pa.us.
Thank you!
_________________________________
Student Name (please print)
My child does not have my permission to
watch the rated PG-13 movie The
Outsiders: The Complete Novel on Monday, October 31. I would prefer that my child participate in an
alternative activity.
X_______________________________ ________________
Parent/Guardian Signature Date
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
No Food or Drink in the Science Lab
Students
are reminded that no food or drink (including water bottles) is allowed in the
science lab due to safety concerns. Students are not allowed to consume food in
the lab during period I.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
AMS 8 in the News!
Just in case you missed
the article in Wednesday’s Pittsburgh Post Gazette featuring Mr. Smith and his
lessons on the 2016 Presidential Election, you
can read it here!
Presidential campaign’s hostility challenges teachers https://t.co/p9mqLfaYBj pic.twitter.com/YC0BwcaNcM— Pittsburgh PG (@PittsburghPG) October 19, 2016
Science Progress Reports on Edline
Students are currently working
through menu assessments which allows them to choose which activities to be used as a grade. Each week (ending on Wednesday), students must complete
10 points to receive a score of 100%. To track student progress, a new progress
report was added to Edline called "Unit C Week 1 end 10/19."
The grading period is to end on
October 27. The final scores will be collected and added on Wednesday, October 26
from "week 2 assessments." To see the average of all graded activities since August, review
the report labeled “Current Grade” on Edline.
 |
| There are two progress reports showing current progress on Edline. Menu assessment progress will be reported in a separate progress report. |
Thursday, October 13, 2016
AR Points due by Thursday, October 20
AR Points due by Thursday, October 20.
Remember you can check your child's AR progress on Renaissance Home Connect. Click on the button below to access the Home Connect link. Use your child's AR login information to access the site.
"Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his needs, is good for him." —Maya Angelou
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Reminder: Parent-Teacher Conferences
The 8th Grade Team is scheduling needs-based parent-teacher conferences for October and November.
Read more about AMS 8 parent-teacher conferences on our blog:
Monday, October 10, 2016
Learning about Energy in Science Class
The new learning unit
in science class is about energy. Students will
demonstrate what they have learned about the topic through a series of menu
assessments. Students get the power of choice through the menu and there are a
variety of ways for students to show what they have learned about energy. All of the assessments for the menu can be found on the science website.
 |
| The menu assessments available on the science website. |
Students can earn up
to 10 points for each week of the menu. Students can do as many assessments as they would like
to get their total points. However, there is no extra credit. Student progress for each week will be monitored using a separate progress report on Edline. Only the overall, final grade for each chapter will be posted to the grading period report.
There is also nightly homework for students to review and study the topics from class. Many of the tasks are videos developed to review the important terms and concepts regarding energy. Each assignment can be found on the science website's timeline. There is no credit or points for homework tasks, but they are essential to learning the ideas about energy.
There is also nightly homework for students to review and study the topics from class. Many of the tasks are videos developed to review the important terms and concepts regarding energy. Each assignment can be found on the science website's timeline. There is no credit or points for homework tasks, but they are essential to learning the ideas about energy.
Unit C Energy Due
Dates
Chapter 4 - Wednesday,
10/19 10 points (see special grade report on Edline)
Chapter 5 –
Wednesday, 10/26 10 points (see special grade report on Edline)
Chapter 6 – Wednesday,
11/2 10 points (see special grade report on Edline)
Thursday, October 6, 2016
8th Grade Election Project Event!
Dear Parent/Guardian:
The 2016 Presidential
Election season is upon us and voters have many questions to consider before
they enter their polling place. Who would make the best
commander-in-chief? How will each candidate’s economic policy impact me
and my family? What are the candidate’s different plans to fight
terrorism? And, most importantly, who should I vote for?
Avonworth 8th grade
students have the answers! They will spend the month of October closely
examining the policies and proposals of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in
Civics class. Then, on Tuesday, November 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.,
students will present their projects to parents, community members, and
undecided voters at their 2016 Election Night event.
Parents/Guardians: Please
plan to bring your child to the school on Tuesday, November 1 at 6:00 p.m. and
stay for the presentations that will take place in several different classrooms
in the Middle School.
Student projects and
presentations will include the following topics: Economy, Health Care,
Foreign Policy, Fight against Terrorism, Social Issues, Immigration,
Environment, and Gun Control.
Student projects and
presentations are intended to be informative in nature, meaning that students
will be instructed to report objectively on candidate’s policies and proposals
instead of negatively attacking their opponent’s ideas.
Official representatives
from both the Democrat and Republican Parties have also been invited to attend
this event. While not in attendance at the presentations, information
about Third Parties will also be introduced to students during Civics class so
they can learn more about the important role Third Parties play in U.S.
Elections. The decision to not include Third Parties in this event is
based the same criteria as the U.S. Commission on Presidential Debates who have
set a 15% polling threshold in order for a candidate to appear on the upcoming
presidential debates. If any third party candidate were to reach that
percentage and appear in the presidential debates, I would invite a
representative from that party to attend our event as well as be a part of our
student presentations.
In the meantime, I
encourage you to talk with your child about the election and inquire about the
project that they are completing in Civics class. See you on November
1st!
Please feel free to
contact me with any questions,
Jason R. Smith
jsmith@avonworth.k12.pa.us
8th Grade Civics
No School for Students Monday
 |
| Drawing from the United States Department of Defense, Wikipedia Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Columbus-day.jpg |
No School for students - Columbus Day & In-Service for teachers and staff
8th Grade Parent-Teacher Conferences
The 8th Grade Team is scheduling needs-based parent-teacher conferences for October and November.
Read more about AMS 8 parent-teacher conferences on our blog:
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Join Newspaper Club
Join the middle school
newspaper club! We will meet in room 110 after school until 4PM on Tuesday,
October 11, 2016. The Herd needs cartoonists, writers, layout and graphic
designers, and social media promoters! If you have questions, see Mrs Abate
room 201 or Mr. Haskins room 110.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Donations for Stars!
Ending next Friday!
Donations of disinfectant wipes and facial tissues will be accepted in science class! Students can bring in one item for four stars during the current unit!
All of the donations will be shared among the 8th grade team teachers to supply their rooms.
All of the donations will be shared among the 8th grade team teachers to supply their rooms.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
AMS 8 Specials Rotation Next Week
Students will be changing rotations on Tuesday, October 4. The next course can be found on the student schedule as "12" for periods B and H.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
8th Graders are Close Reading
Student groups guided their peers through a close read of a complex text this week in Mrs. Galecki's reading classes. Their presentations showcased their literary analysis of a short passage from the essay, "Too Dumb for Complex Texts?" Both the content and the complexity of the text encouraged students to develop insight about close-reading habits as well as those habits that may hinder their comprehension. The group literary analysis and presentation activity is one of many deliberate complex text reading exercises planned for eighth graders this year. 
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
BYOT Device Policy
Students are reminded to follow the BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) policy during school. Students should not have on their headphones/earbuds while walking in the hallways. Devices may only be used when a teacher allows the use of the device.
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