Thursday, January 23, 2014

2-hr delay 1/24/14

There will be a 2-hour delay Friday, January 24 for the Avonworth School District.

Calendar error - courthouse field trips 3/4 and 3/6

Tuesday, March 4
 [Field Trip] Courthouse field trip
Thursday, March 6
 [Field Trip] Courthouse field trip

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Events and dates

Friday, January 24
 [Math] Study Island Due 
 [English] Poetry Project Presentations and Independent Work
 [Science] Quiz - Classification of Matter


 
Tuesday, February 4
 [Science] F12 Unit Test: Properties of Matter

Thursday, February 6
 [Science] Quiz: Behavior of Gasses and Fluids

Monday, February 10
 [Science] Unit Test

Monday, February 17
 No School - Teacher In-service ACT 80

Thursday, February 27
 [Event] Women’s Portrayal on Television - Videoconference

Tuesday, March 4
 [Field Trip] Courthouse field trip
Thursday, March 6
 [Field Trip] Courthouse field trip
 
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.

Accelerated Reader – Renaissance Home Connect Reminder



A letter was sent home at the beginning of the year regarding the Accelerated Reader online parent resource called Renaissance Home Connect.   It’s a great online resource that allows parents to monitor their children’s Accelerated Reader goals and reading progress each term.  You can even sign up for emails showing your students’ quiz or test results.  Just click on the “Email Setup” link in Renaissance Home Connect and follow the directions.  To be sure these emails reach your inbox, add homeconnectautodelivery@renlearnrp.com to your address book. 

Students’ new third term goals are now in the system and can be viewed by you.  We already have students who have completed books and taken quizzes for the third term. Please take a moment to log in to Renaissance Home Connect to view all the great books your students are reading!  Parents can log in using their children’s AR login.  The login information was on the letter sent home at the beginning of the year.  Please either ask your children or contact Mrs. Galecki at kgalecki@avonworth.k12.pa.us for login information. 


Log in to Renaissance Home Connect at the website:                       
 

Students investigate the mysterious powders

Students in science have been using what they've learned about chemical and physical changes to determine the identities of several mystery powders. Students have carefully observed changes of certain white powders when they are mixed with other chemicals or altered physically. Students have developed a protocol to help determine which white substance can be identified based on recorded observed changes. Students are required to determine the identity of three unknown powders by the end of the week. You can read more about this project from the science website.

Students conducting an iodine test with the known white powders. Iodine will react with starches and create a new black substance. 

White powders can be identified under the microscope by reviewing the crystalline structure. Students can use a stereo microscope to see the crystals in the laboratory.

Adding heat to the different substances will reveal which of the known white powders are flammable. Students can use this chemical property to help identify the unknown substances.

Semiformal Date Set!



The annual Student Council Semiformal will be held on Friday, March 14.  Stay tuned for announcements regarding theme and which charities will receive the proceeds from our dance!  All seventh and eighth graders are invited to attend!

Math News

Would you rather earn $25,000 for an entire month or earn $1 the first day of a month, doubling it each day for a 30 day month?  Many students would take the first offer, but in our next unit in Integrated Math I, we are learning about exponential relationships, where a quantity grows larger or smaller at an increasing rate rather than a constant rate.  Exponential relationships are often encountered in such fields as business and biology. 

In Math 8 we are focusing on one of the oldest and most important relationships in all of mathematics, the Pythagorean Theorem.  Students will use this relationship to compute distances between points on maps and coordinate grids.  After this unit, we will continue our work with triangles and other shapes, extending our geometric thinking. 

In order to help your child, ask for an explanation of the ideas presented in the text.  Discuss how what they are learning in math is applied by people in some careers, such as carpenters, architects, and pilots.  Finally, encourage your child’s efforts in completing all homework assignments.  Look over homework, making sure that all questions are answered and explanations are clear.  Thank you for your assistance in making this a successful year.


Tuesday, January 21, 2014

2 hr delay for tomorrow


 2 hr delay for 1/22/14

JA presentations teach important lessons on economics

Tuesday was JA Day in the middle school. Students in the 8th grade were engaged in lessons focused on ‘Economics for Success.’  The 8th grade team would like to thank all of the presenters, many of whom were parents and relatives of Avonworth students. 

Students in Mr. Haskins's classes learned about risk and the role insurance plays in personal finance. Thanks to Mr. Ronk, Mr. Colenbrander, and all of the parent volunteers!

AMS grade 8 student receives recognition on airwaves

WESA reported on AMS Grade 8 student, Ethan Woodfill, president of the Do-Something Club. Read and listen to the radio report on the radio station's website.

Junior Achievement

AMS Grade 8 welcomes
parent presenters
for JA Day! 

 

Monday, January 20, 2014

Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Engineering Day for Middle School Students

Read more...  Engineering Day for Middle School Students

Note: The Avonworth School District does not sponsor or sanction this program.