Tools for success

Does your child have the tools they need to succeed? 8^th grade teachers have noticed a decline in prepared students.  Please check with your child to see that they have the necessary materials to thrive in class.  Are they out of pencils? Could they use a new notebook?  A calculator?  These small items, when forgotten, cause major roadblocks to success.  A small trip to the local office supplies store may make a big difference. 

8th Grade Supply List 2013-2014

Missing calculators!

Help!  Have you noticed a TI-83 graphing calculator with a “117” carved into the back? Mrs. Costantino-Poruben is missing a few graphing calculators from the math classroom!  If you accidentally brought one home, please send it back or drop it off to the office.  Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Students to take the writing PSSA field test

Students in the 8th grade will be taking the PSSA field test for writing on February 13. Read more about PSSA testing dates on our blog website.

An important note about PSSA tests and field tests:

Testing regulations prohibit the use of all electronic devices, including Kindles, Nooks, Ipads or other electronic readers during testing times. If you are currently reading a book on an electronic reader, please make the necessary arrangements to find your novel at the library in the old fashioned book form. All cell phones, pagers, portable listening or recording devices, any devices with photographic capability must remain at home or in your locker.

Events and Dates

Many dates for events have changed due to the recent school cancellations and delays.

Thursday, January 30

 [Event] Pro Football Hall of Fame - videoconference ***postponed***

Friday, January 31

 [Science] F8 Homework: Kinetic Theory

 [Event] BAAHA/History Center / Post-Gazette Field Trip

Monday, February 3

 [Science] F9 Quiz: Kinetic Theory

Tuesday, February 4

 [Event]BAAHA/History Center / Post-Gazette Field Trip 

Friday, February 7

 [Reading] Study Island Author's Purpose

 [Science] Quiz: Behavior of Gases and Fluids 

Tuesday, February 11

 [Science] Unit Test and notebooks to be evaluated

Thursday, February 13

8:00am [Event] Advisory

10:00am  Event] Electronic Field Trip

12:00pm [PSSA TEST] Writing ELA Field 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

Thursday, April 17 - 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.

1/29/14 2-hr delay due to inclement weather

2-hr delay due to inclement weather

Inclement Weather

1/28/14 - School closed due to inclement weather. 

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

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:                       

https://Hosted321.renlearn.com/24471/HomeConnect

 

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.