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

AR Midterm Progress Check

Accelerated Reader

Midterm Progress Check February 3, 2015

Electric usage audit continues

Students in Grade 8 continue to work on the electric usage audit in science class. Information for the project can be found on the science website. Students have been assigned each part of the project throughout the past two weeks. The finished product is to be turned into the Google Classroom by Friday, 2/6/15. 

Calendar Update

Thursday, January 29

[Social Studies] Chapter 6 Bill of Rights TEST

Friday, January 30

Math 8-Update!!! Quiz on Friday

[Social Studies] Guest Speaker - Officer Simcoviak, Ohio Twp Police

Monday, February 2

[sci] part 3 audit - read your meter & see website for help | 4-5 readings

Tuesday, February 3

[Reading] AR Midterm Progress Check 

Friday, February 6

[sci] electric audit portfolio (Google Classroom) due Friday

Monday, February 16

No school for students - ACT 80

Wednesday, February 18

[Event] Advisory

Tuesday, March 10

[Reading] AR POINTS

Junior Achievement Day

The 8th grade team would like to thank all of the community presenters during the Avonworth Middle School Junior Achievement day. The presentations on careers, finance, and economy were presented in grades 6 through 8 on Tuesday, 1/20/15. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lamperski presenting career choice in Mr. Haskins's classroom. 

Students working on a Junior Achievement day activity. 

Electric Usage Audit

Students are beginning to put together their electric usage portfolios. A template for this project has been shared with students and the files can be located by parents and guardians on the science website. There are two parts of this project that will involve gathering information from home. 

Part One was sent home with students today, 1/22/15. Students are to find and think about the role the different parts of the electric circuits that are connected to their home. Students are being asked to find and photograph the different components that are listed on the part 1 completion guide which is available online. Students and parents/guardians can take pictures with cameras or with their phones. Students can save the photos to the Google Drive, send them to their email, or email the photos to Mr. Haskins (dhaskins@avonworth.k12.pa.us). Students are going to put the photos in their digital portfolios along with a caption explaining the purpose of the device. The electric audit portfolio is going to be assembled online using a template which can be viewed here. 

Another part of the electric audit project involves careful measurements of the electric meter (part 3). Students will be instructed in class how to read the meter. At home, students will be recording the electric meter starting Monday night. A completion guide will be sent home with students. If you would like to learn more about reading the electric meter, see the resources on the science 8 website.

If you have questions about the electric audit project, please do not hesitate to email Mr. Haskins. 

Duquesne Light Company residential electric meter. 

Calendar Update

Friday, January 23

  [Social Studies] Complete Step 1 and Step 2 of Second Amendment project

Thursday, January 29

 [Social Studies] Chapter 6 Bill of Rights TEST

Friday, January 30

 [Social Studies] Guest Speaker - Officer Simcoviak, Ohio Twp Police

Tuesday, February 3

 [Reading] AR Midterm Progress Check - February 3

Monday, February 16

  No school for students - ACT 80

No school Monday, 1/19/15

Monday, 1/19/15
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Act 80 Day 
No School for Students

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

Pancake breakfast tomorrow!

Parent Network will be sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast that includes great toppings and a drink for $3 on Friday, January 16th.

Do you get our daily text messages?

The Grade 8 team has expanded the Remind text message to include a daily reminder of homework. This is meant to supplement and not replace the assignment book. Students should use all of the resources available to track and complete classwork and homework, as well as read and study for all subjects. .

Click here to read more about the text message program here. 

Start of the 3rd Nine-Weeks

January 14, 2015 is the start of the
Third Nine-Weeks! 

Calendar Update!

Thursday, January 15

 [English] Poetry Project presentations begin

 [Reading] Due Fri: Frederick Douglass finish Ch 2 and #4-5

 [Social Studies] Adventures of Captain Bill

 [Event] BAAHA 8th Grade Civics Accelerated Topics

Friday, January 16

 [sci] Simple Circuits Lab (E1) due

 [sci] notebooks to be collected
 [Reading] Due: Frederick Douglass finish Ch 2 and #4-5

 [Social Studies] Read "One Man Lost" article and 6 questions DUE

 [Event] Pancake Breakfast

Monday, January 19

 No school for students - ACT 80

Tuesday, January 20

 [Event] Junior Achievement

Wednesday, January 21

 2nd nine-weeks report cards

 [Event] Advisory

 [Event] Assembly: Finding Galileo (period I)

Thursday, January 29

 [Social Studies] Chapter 6 Bill of Rights TEST

Friday, January 30

 [Social Studies] Guest Speaker - Officer Simcoviak, Ohio Twp Police

Tuesday, February 3

 [Reading] AR Midterm Progress Check - February 3

Science quiz moved to Wednesday

The science quiz scheduled for Tuesday, 1/13/15 has been moved to Wednesday, 1/14/15. Students can use the online study guide: Quiz: Electric Current

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.

AMS Grade 8 receives a STEM mini-grant!

AMS 8th grade students and teachers are grateful for the financial support from Bentley Systems, Inc through a $250 grant supporting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) initiatives in schools. The funds will be used to purchase supplies for the Building Bridges to STEM Careers activities during the month of May. This will be the third year mini-grants will be used to reduce the cost of building the bridges.

Students designing their bridge for the STEM project in the 8th grade during the 2013-2014 school year. 

Students begin to learn about electricity

This past Monday, students started to learn about electricity in science class. Students will work through several learning activities, projects, and assignments to help them learn about the role of energy in the production and usage of electricity. Students will be also learning about conservation and sustainability of resources through practical changes that can be done at home.

Parents can download a copy of the latest list of assignments from the science website. A daily list of class activities and homework can be seen on the classroom timeline. 

Next week students will be coming home asking for help from their parents and guardians as they complete an electric usage audit. As adults paying the bills, we know the impact of wasted electricity on the budget. This project aims to help students understand electric utilities and how some simple changes could lower the power bill! Students will be introduced to the project on Tuesday, 1/13/15. There are many resources students will need to access from the class website, www.HaskinsSci8.info. Students will be asked to research various facts about commercial electricity, collect data from their home, and analyze how to save power resources. Also, there are plenty of helpful hints and explanations on the website to assist students as they put together their digital portfolio. Students will gather materials and modify a template that has been made available through the Google Drive. It will be helpful if students can access the electric meter at their home as well as read and analyze the latest electric power bill. The choices and habits students make today could have a great impact on the environment and the pocketbook!

Parents and guardians can choose to take energy conversation further with their child by completing the Watt Choices program online. https://www.duquesnelight.com/wattChoices/ If you are a Duquesne Light Company customer, you are eligible to participate in real electric energy audit, and in return you can get free CFL light bulbs, information on rebates for new energy efficient appliances, night lights and a free phantom power killing surge protector!

Free Watt Choices energy saving kit!

• Complete the Duquesne Light online home energy audit with your science student! 
• Refrigerator and freezer recycling program 

Grade 8 article in The Herd

AMS Grade 8 student, Caitie Bellotti, had an article posted to The Herd website this week.  Read it here:

Veterans experience at the history center

Calendar Update

Thursday, January 8

 2-hr delay - Inclement Weather

Monday, January 12

 [Social Studies] Extra Credit Essay DUE

 [Event] BAAHA 8th Grade Civics Accelerated Topics

Tuesday, January 13

 [sci] Quiz: Electric Current Tuesday (study guide online)

Friday, January 16

 [Event] Pancake Breakfast

Monday, January 19

 No school for students - ACT 80

Tuesday, January 20

 [Event] Junior Achievement

Wednesday, January 21

 [Event] Advisory

Tuesday, January 27

 [Social Studies] Study for Bill of Rights TEST

Wednesday, January 28

 [Social Studies] Bill of Rights TEST

Monday, February 16

 No school for students - ACT 80

Happy New Year!

WELCOME 2015! 

School resumes on Monday, January 5, 2015! 

Don't forget to read your AR book! AR due January 6!

Winter Break!

Happy Holidays
and have a fun, safe
winter break! 

School resumes on Monday, January 5, 2015! 

AMS Children's Hospital Auction is Dec 23

AMS Children's Hospital Auction is Dec 23 - if you'd like to donate anything please contact ehickman@avonworth.k12.pa.us
or sabate@avonworth.k12.pa.us!​

Science test on waves

 There will be a science test on 

Monday, 12/22/14.

A study guide for WAVES
is available online.

Accelerated Reader DUE soon!

NOTE:
 AR will be due
Tuesday, January 6, 2015!

Wave lessons continue this week

Email sent to science 8 students on Monday, 12/15/14. 

Dear students,

We are continuing to learn about waves in science class. You can follow along with the science website. The following links may interest you:

Class Timeline 

Downloadable Assignments 

Copies of Notes from Class 

Waves YouTube playlist 

Also, below you will find a summary of the homework for this week:

If you have any questions, be sure to see me during class. 

Sincerely,

Mr. Haskins

Day	Homework (click links below to view assignment)
Monday (12/15)	Reading Activity: Chapters 12  & 13 – complete the broken outline due for Tue
Tuesday	HW: Elements of Sound & Light (due Thu)
Wednesday	HW: Elements of Sound & Light (due Thu)
Thursday	Study for the unit test – Chapters 10, 11, 12,& 13
Friday	Study for the unit test – Chapters 10, 11, 12,& 13
Saturday & Sunday	Study for the unit test – Chapters 10, 11, 12,& 13

Calendar Update

Thursday, December 18

 [sci] D3 Elements of Sound & Light due

 [Social Studies] Study for TEST
 [Math 8] Quiz today

Friday, December 19

 [English] Founders or Traitors paper due Dec 19 (end of class)

 [Social Studies] Chapter 5 TEST

Monday, December 22

  [sci] Unit Test - Waves

Tuesday, December 23

  [Event] AMS Children's Hospital Auction is Dec 23​

Wednesday, December 24 - Friday, January 2, 2015

  Winter Vacation

Monday, January 5, 2015

 School is in session

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

 [Reading] AR Points due Tues., Jan. 6

 Monday, January 19, 2015

 No school for students - ACT 80

Congratulations Mr. Smith, National Certified Teacher!

Congratulations Mr. Smith!

National Board Certified Teacher

Read more here.

Photo from the ASD website.

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

Science waves unit

The following email was sent to students on 12/09/14: 

Dear students,

We are currently learning about waves in science class. You can follow along with the class using the science website. The following links may interest you:.

Downloadable AssignmentsCopies of Notes from ClassWaves YouTube playlistQuiz Study Guide

Also, below you will find a summary of the homework for the remaining nights this week:

Day/Night	Homework
Tuesday	D1 Waves Review Worksheet (due Thursday)
Wednesday	D1 Waves Review Worksheet (due Thursday)
Thursday	Study for quiz Sound broken outline (for Friday)
Friday	Light broken outline  (for Monday)

If you have any questions, be sure to see me during class.

Sincerely,

Mr. Haskins

Calendar Updates

Friday, December 12

 [sci] D2 Quiz: Properties of Waves

 [Social Studies] Constitutional Convention Newspaper DUE

Monday, December 15

 IM 1 Quiz

Tuesday, December 16

 [English] Founders or Traitors paper due Dec 19 (end of class)

 [sci] D3 Elements of Sound & Light

Wednesday, December 17

 [Social Studies] Complete Study Guide and prepare for TEST

Thursday, December 18

 [English] Founders or Traitors paper due Dec 19

 [Social Studies] Study for TEST

Friday, December 19

 [English] Founders or Traitors paper due Dec 19 (end of class)

 [Social Studies] Chapter 5 TEST

Monday, December 22

 [Reading] AR Points due Tues., Jan. 6

 [sci] Unit Test - Waves

Tuesday, December 23

  [Event] AMS Children's Hospital Auction

Wednesday, December 24 -  Friday, January 2, 2015

 Winter Vacation

Monday, January 5, 2015

 School is in session

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

 [Reading] AR Points due Tues., Jan. 6