AMS to host Junior Achievement

JA Day is on Tues., Jan. 21, 2014. There as an error in the last newsletter for the date of the event.

AMS Grade 8 PSSA Testing Dates and Times

The 8th grade team has begun to post the dates and times for PSSA testing this spring! To read more about PSSA testing in the 8th grade, please click here.

PSSA Reminder:

Avoid scheduling doctor appointments, vacations or other out-of-school activities during testing times. Participation in PSSA exams is a state requirement. Making up tests pulls students from their regular classes. As a result, they will miss valuable class time. It will be students' responsibility to make up any classwork you miss. Of course, if students are genuinely ill, please stay at home and take the necessary time off to get well. Students will perform better on a test if they are healthy.

Events and Dates

Tuesday, January 14

  [Science] F3 Quiz - Density

Wednesday, January 15

 [Algebra & Pre-algebra] Math Tests

Thursday, January 16

 [Event] Advisory

Friday, January 17

 2nd Nine-weeks ends
 Pancake Breakfast

Monday, January 20

 No School - Teacher In-service ACT 80

Tuesday, January 21

 3rd Nine-weeks begins

  [Event] Junior Achievement Day

Friday, January 24

 [Math] Study Island Due

 

Tuesday, January 28

 [Science] F9 Quiz: Kinetic Theory

Thursday, January 30

  [Event] Pro Football Hall of Fame - videoconference

Friday, January 31

 [Science] F11 Quiz: Behavior of Gasses and Fluid

 

Tuesday, February 4

 [Field Trip] Courthouse field trip

 [Science] F12 Unit Test: Properties of Matter

Thursday, February 6

 [Field Trip] Courthouse field trip

Monday, February 17

 No School - Teacher In-service ACT 80

Thursday, February 27

 [Event] Women’s Portrayal on Television - Videoconference

Wednesday, March 12

 2-Hour Delay Teacher In-service

Tuesday, March 18

9:50am [PSSA GRADE 8] MATH & READING

11:56am [PSSA GRADE 8] MATH & READING

Wednesday, March 19

9:50am [PSSA GRADE 8] MATH & READING

11:56am [PSSA GRADE 8] MATH & READING

Thursday, March 20 

9:50am [PSSA GRADE 8] MATH & READING

11:56am [PSSA GRADE 8] MATH & READING

Friday, March 21

 No School

Monday, March 24

 [AMS GRADE 8] Reading/Math PSSA Tests make-up

 Holocaust Videoconference

Tuesday, April 1

 [PSSA GRADE 8] Writing PSSA Test

Wednesday, April 2

 [PSSA GRADE 8] Writing PSSA Test

Thursday, April 3

 [PSSA GRADE 8] Writing PSSA Test

Friday, April 4

 [PSSA GRADE 8] Writing PSSA Test

Wednesday, April 16 - Friday, April 18

 No School - Spring Vacation

Monday, April 21

 School back in session

Thursday, April 24

 [Event] National Pay It Forward Day

Tuesday, April 29

9:53am  [PSSA GRADE 8] Science PSSA

Wednesday, April 30

9:53am [PSSA GRADE 8] Science PSSA

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

 2-HOUR Delay Teacher In-service

Friday, May 9, 2014

 [Event] History Center Field Trip & Strip District Tour

Monday, May 12, 2014 & Tuesday, May 13, 2014

 [KEYSTONE EXAM GRADE 8] Algebra Students

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

 Kennywood Field Trip

Monday, May 26, 2014

 No School - Memorial Day Holiday

The 8th grade homework calendar is available on our Edline page.  

Next science unit is now available online

The next science unit, properties of matter, is now available on the class website. Notes, assignments, and information are being added to the site daily.

 

 The Great Plankton Race was held today! Read more about race here. 

 

Changes to grading period calendar

As of Monday, 1/6/14 from the middle school office:

Because of the delays and Tues. cancellation, the marking period will now end January 17, as opposed to January 15.  The marking period calendar for this quarter will be adjusted as below:

January 17           Last day of 2^nd marking period

January 20           Act 80 Day
January 24           Grades posted to Edline

Midterm Information for 8^th Grade:  

High School midterms will be administered January 13-15.

Core subject midterms will be administered January 13-14.  Makeups will be held on January 15 (if needed January 16-17).

Elective midterms, including languages, to be administered between January 15-17 during their regularly scheduled classes.

School cancellation and delay due to inclement weather

From the Avonworth School District:

The Avonworth School District will be closed Tuesday, January 7. 
There will also be a 2-hour delay Wednesday, January 8.
The Avonworth School District will be closed Wed., Jan. 8.

AR deadline is Wednesday!

Reminder: Last day to earn AR points for this term is Wednesday, January 8. 

Winter Weather

 Winter Weather Guidelines from Avonworth School District

Science quiz Friday

There will be a science quiz on Friday. Review density at the following webpage:

https://sites.google.com/site/sci8haskins/unit-d---properties-of-matter/quiz-density-review

Happy Holidays

 

No school December 23 - January 1, 2014

School resumes January 2, 2014

American Revolution Unit

During the month of December, eighth grade teachers collaborated on an interdisciplinary unit on the American Revolution.  In civics class, students researched the life of a real or fictional person from the Revolutionary era and the perspective that individual might have had in the debate over independence.  Students then played the role of this character in a “Revolutionary Town Hall” that allowed students to experience the difficult task of forming a consensus for or against declaring our independence. 

In reading class, students continued to practice their close reading skills by grappling with two complex texts, The Declaration of Independence and “A Loyalist’s Rebuttal to the Declaration” by Thomas Hutchinson.   In addition, eighth grade Book Clubs read a historical fiction text that took place during the Revolutionary Era.  Some students portrayed characters from these books during the Town Hall in civics.  In English, eighth graders wrote an argumentative paper that asked them to analyze whether the Founding Fathers should be considered patriots or traitors.  Using evidence from primary source documents, students were asked to build an argument that would depict their own interpretation of historical events.  Finally, Book Clubs generated a background information resource for their historical fiction novel.  Each student researched an American Revolution topic referenced in their Book Club novel.  Then, they collaboratively developed a multi-media presentation using web-based Prezi as a tool to teach their topics to their classmates.  

 

American Revolution Historical Fiction Book Clubs

Civics Extra Credit opportunity

Students are invited to write a 500-1000 word essay on the current debate over the role of the federal government in food regulation.  An informational letter was sent home with students last month.  Students' essays must be emailed to me at jsmith@avonworth.k12.pa.us by Monday, January 6 in order to earn the fifteen bonus points.   More information on the essay contest can be found at:  http://stosselintheclassroom.org/essay_contest/

 

8th Grade Pays it forward

8th grade started to "pay it forward" this week by baking cookies for Avonworth Meals on Wheels.  Math and English classes worked together to convert a recipe for sugar cookies, then bake and decorate.  Students also wrote notes to accompany the cookies that will be delivered to seniors in our neighborhood over the holiday season. We were inspired by the movie Nicky's Family to do something positive and cookie baking is just the beginning!  Stay tuned for future pay it forward events!

Permission form for English class

Dear parents,

Happy holidays!  I hope this message finds you well. I am currently working towards my National Board Certification.  Part of that process requires that I submit student work and video entries of classroom activities to evaluate my impact on student learning.  To this end, I have sent home with your student a permission form that will allow me to use your student’s work (with all names withheld) and your student’s image and voice (again, anonymously) in these portfolio entries.  Please know, however, that the primary focus of these submissions is my instruction, and not your student.

The permission slip I sent home on Wednesday outlines all of the legal details of this information so please review the letter first.  The permission slips are on the back of that letter.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have and thank you in advance for your consideration.

Best regards,

Emily Hickman