Math Study Island

	IM 1 & Math 8 classes have Study Island assignments due by 3/13/15: Solving Systems of Equations. For Math 8, this assignment will count as a quiz score.

REMINDER: Cell Phone and Device Policy

AMS Semi-Formal Friday!

Needs-based parent-teacher conferences

Since we've planned to meet with each parent and their student during the student-led conferences in May, our March conferences have a very limited number of spots. If you need to speak with the 8th grade team as a whole group before the May conference dates, we can send you a conference invitation.  If you do not have any pressing concerns, we are looking forward to seeing you at student-led conferences in May!   To receive a March conference invitation, please email Doug Haskins, dhaskins@avonworth.k12.pa.us.

Field Trip Forms and Payment due Thursday

There are several field trips in March and May. Please return the permission form and payment to Mr. Smith by Thursday, March 5, 2015. 

Read more from the 8th grade blog. 

Download a copy of the information packet and the permission form

Calendar Update & Important Events

Thursday, March 5
No School (Inclement Weather)
[IM 1] Page 347 #1-7 & Study Island
[Math 8] worksheet angle relationships & Study Island
[Reading] Read AR book! Only 5 more days!

Friday, March 6

[IMPORTANT!] Field TripPermission Forms due to Mr. Smith
[Reading] Finish your AR books! Only 4 days left!
[Event] Semi-formal

Saturday, March 7

[Reading] Read AR

Sunday, March 8 

[Reading] Read AR
Daylight Savings Begins

Monday, March 9 

[Reading] Read AR
[SCI] F6 HW: Kinetic Theory worksheet due
[SCI] Study! Quiz: KineticTheory (Tuesday)

Tuesday, March 10
[Reading] AR POINTS DUE
[SCI] Quiz: Kinetic Theory (Tuesday)

Wednesday, March 11

2 Hr Delay Teacher In-Service

Friday, March 13 
IM 1 - Study Island due
Math 8 - Study Island due

Tuesday, March 17
[Event] Courthouse Field Trip
[Lunch] If on field trip, lunch to be eaten at Ross Park Mall
[End of the 3rd Nine-weeks]

Wednesday, March 18

[Event] Courthouse Field Trip
[Lunch] If on field trip, lunch to be eaten at Ross Park Mall

Thursday, March 19 

[Event] Courthouse Field Trip
[Lunch] If on field trip, lunch to be eaten at Ross Park Mall

Friday, March 27 

No School for Students

Schools closed due to previously schedule parent conferences

Monday, March 30

School in Session (Inclement weather make up day)

Tuesday, March 31 - Friday, April 3
Spring Vacation - No School

Monday, April 6 

School in Session (Inclement weather make up day)

Tuesday, April 7 

School in session

Monday, April 13 - Thursday, April 16

{TESTING} ELA PSSA

Tuesday, April 21 - Thursday, April 23

{TESTING} Math PSSA

Monday, April 27 - Tuesday, April 28

{TESTING} Science PSSA

Spring Conferences

Student-Led Conferences

In order to close our 8th grade advisory program and to have time to reflect on middle school academically, each 8th grade student will be preparing to lead a parent-student-teacher conference. Our 8th grade advisory program has been reflecting on student work, progress, and goal setting while meeting bi-monthly throughout the school year. Each parent and student will have a student-led conference in May before or after school. Each parent or guardian will be offered an opportunity to meet with a faculty member before the end of the school year.  The students are doing a great job of preparing for their conferences and we can't wait to meet with everyone later this spring!  Your student's advisor should contact you at the end of April, so please be on the lookout for that message.

Needs-Based March Parent Conferences

Since we've planned to meet with each parent and their student during the student-led conferences in May, our March conferences have a very limited number of spots. 

If you need to speak with the 8th grade team as a whole group before the May conference dates, we can send you a conference invitation.  If you do not have any pressing concerns, we are looking forward to seeing you at student-led conferences in May!   To receive a conference invitation, please email Doug Haskins, dhaskins@avonworth.k12.pa.us.

Baseball Try Outs

Try-outs for the Middle School Baseball team will take place on:

Tuesday, March 3

Wednesday, March 4

Thursday, March 5

All try-outs will be from 4:30 to 6:00 in the Gym.

In order to try out, you must have turned in a completed Physical form or Re-certification form to the school.  Both forms are available on AvonworthAthletics.com

If you have any questions, please email the coaches:  Duke Johncour (djohncour@avonworth.k12.pa.us) or Jason Smith (jsmith@avonworth.k12.pa.us)  

Math 8 quiz Friday

There is a quiz in Math 8 on Friday. 

Civics test Friday

There will be a test in civics on Friday, 2/27/15 on chapter 7.        

AMS Semi-Formal

Science quiz Monday

There will be a science quiz on Monday, 3/2/15. A study guide is available on the science website.

Field Trips in March & May

Students should have brought home information and permission forms for several field trips to be held in March and May. Click here to read more information from the AMS 8 blog. 

FIELD TRIPS AT-A-GLANCE

March 17, 18 or 19 - Allegheny County Courthouse

May 8 - Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center

May 12 - Nicky’s Family – JFilms Presentation & Strip District

May 19 - 8th Grade Celebration – Kennywood Education Day

Please send the permission form and payment to school in an envelope labeled with your child’s name by Thursday, March 5: 

•         Enclose signed, original permission slip (no hand-written notes please).
•         Total field trip money of $32.  Students may pay the $32 total with exact cash or by check payable to Avonworth Middle School Student Council.  

Download a copy of the permission form by clicking here.

Calendar Events and Dates

Friday, February 27

 [sci] F3 HW: Classification of Matter due Friday

 [sci] HW: watch properties of matter video (http://youtu.be/sIjuC4t9K_8 YouTube) & take notes

 [Math 8] Quiz

 [Social Studies] Chapter 7 TEST

Monday, March 2

 [sci] Quiz: Properties of Matter

Thursday, March 5

 [IMPORTANT!] Field TripPermission Forms due to Mr. Smith

Friday, March 6

 [Event] Semi-formal

Tuesday, March 10

 [Reading] AR POINTS DUE

Wednesday, March 11

  2 Hr Delay Teacher In-Service

Monday, March 16 through Thursday, March 26

 [PTC] Parent-teacher conferences(invite required)

Tuesday, March 17

 [Event] Courthouse Field Trips

 [Lunch] If on field trip, lunch to be eaten at Ross Park Mall

 [End of the 3rd Nine-weeks]

Wednesday, March 18

[Event] Courthouse Field Trips

[Lunch] If on field trip, lunch to be eaten at Ross Park Mall

Thursday, March 19

  [Event] Courthouse Field Trips

 [Lunch] If on field trip, lunch to be eaten at Ross Park Mall

Friday, March 27

 No School for Students - Schools closed due to previously schedule parent conferences

 No School for Teachers

Monday, March 30  - Friday, April 3

 Spring Vacation - No School

Monday, April 6

 School in Session (Inclement weather make up day)

Tuesday, April 7

 School in session

Monday, April 13 - Thursday, April 16

 {TESTING} ELA PSSA

Tuesday, April 21- Thursday, April 23

{TESTING} Math PSSA

Monday, April 27 & Tuesday, April 28

 {TESTING} Science PSSA

PSSA Tests in April

PSSA TESTING:

April 13 - 16   -  ELA (Mon., Tues., Wed., Thurs.)

April  21  -23   - Math (Tues., Wed. ,Thurs.)

April  27 & 28  - Science (8th grade) (Mon., Tues.)

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.

Read more about the PSSA tests on our blog. 

Middle School Baseball to Begin

Attention:

Any 7th or 8th grader planning on trying out for baseball, there will be an open gym on Tuesday evening at 7 pm. Tryouts for the team will start Monday March 2nd.  All students must have a physical form turned in.  If the student has already participated in an Avonworth sport this school year, they only will need a re certification form signed.  The forms are available on the Avonworth website:  avonworthathletics.com

The Great Plankton Race

	A new unit has started in science class with The Great Plankton Race as our opening activity. Competition brackets, pictures and information can be found on the science class website. Students will be competing during the next class period.  Last year's elimination bracket during The Great Plankton Race. The new unit is on the  properties of matter and begins our study of chemistry. Assignments, notes, and videos can be found on the science class website. Students are always encouraged to check the classroom timeline when they are absent to review missed science class content.

AMS Semi-Formal

Heads-up! Student-Led Conferences in May

In order to close our 8th grade advisory program and to have time to reflect on middle school academically, each 8th grade student will be preparing to lead a parent-student-teacher conference.  Our 8th grade advisory program has been reflecting on student work, progress, and goal setting while meeting bi-monthly throughout the school year.  Each parent and student will have a student led conference in May after school.

Events and Dates

Friday, February 27
 [Civics] Test

Friday, March 6

 [Event] Semi-formal

Tuesday, March 10

 [Reading] AR POINTS DUE - March 10

Wednesday, March 11  

 2 Hr Delay Teacher In-Service

Tuesday, March 17

 [Event] Courthouse Field Trips

 [End of the 3rd Nine-weeks]

Wednesday, March 18

 [Event] Courthouse Field Trips

Thursday, March 19

 [Event] Courthouse Field Trips

Friday, March 27

 No School for Students - Parent-Teacher Conference Day

Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 3

 Spring Vacation - No School

Monday, April 6

 No School - Spring Vacation

Tuesday, April 7

 School in session

Monday, April 13 - Thursday, April 16

 {TESTING} ELA PSSA (Click here to read more information)

Tuesday, April 21 - Thursday, April 23

 {TESTING} Math PSSA (Click here to read more information)

Monday, April 27 - Tuesday, April 28

 {TESTING} Science PSSA (Click here to read more information)

No school Monday, February 16, 2015

Act 80 Day / Teacher In-Service

No school for students

Monday, February 16, 2015

Presidents Day

Students in science class will begin their new unit on Monday. Each student needs a portfolio folder with three fasteners for this unit. Many students purchased these folders at the beginning of the school year and stored them in the lab.

Electricity unit ends in science

Students have completed their electric audits. The projects are currently being graded and should be updated on Edline in the next few days. The last set of lessons on electricity reviewed the role of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. Students explored generators and designed turbines that could be used to generate electricity. To wrap up the unit on electricity, students will be taking a quiz on Friday.

Study Guide Online:

Quiz: Energy Resources

Click here to view the turbine challenge results! 

New science notebook to start soon

Students in the eighth grade will be learning about chemistry and engineering in the remaining science topics this school year. This is the point where all students will start a new science notebook. Some students purchased a second book to be stored in the science lab. All students need their new science notebooks by the start of class on Tuesday! You can read more about the science notebook from the science website.

Events and Important Dates

Thursday, February 12

 [Social Studies] Complete Steps 1,2,3,4,5 of Slavery  project

Friday, February 13

 [sci] New notebook needed for Tuesday 2/17

 [sci] Quiz: Energy Resources (Friday)

Monday, February 16

  No school for students - ACT 80

Tuesday, February 17

 [Reading] AR POINTS DUE - March 10

 [sci] New notebook needed for Tuesday 2/17

 [Social Studies] Slavery Historical Fiction Story DUE

Wednesday, February 18

 [Event] Advisory

Tuesday, March 10

 [Reading] AR POINTS DUE - March 10

Wednesday, March 11

 2 Hr Delay Teacher In-Service

Tuesday, March 17 - Thursday, March 19

 [Event] Courthouse Field Trips

Friday, March 27

 No School for Students - Parent-Teacher Conference Day

Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 3

 Spring Vacation - No School

Monday, April 6

 No School - Spring Vacation

Tuesday, April 7

 School in session

Upcoming Events and Dates

Friday, February 6

 [sci] electric audit portfolio (upload to Google Classroom) due

 [Social Studies] Notes from Section 7-1

Monday, February 16

 No school for students - ACT 80

Tuesday, February 17

 [Social Studies] Slavery Historical Fiction Story DUE

Wednesday, February 18

[Event] Advisory

Thursday, February 19

Tuesday, March 10

 [Reading] AR POINTS DUE - March 10

Wednesday, March 11

 2 Hr Delay Teacher In-Service

Friday, March 27

 No School for Students - Parent-Teacher Conference Day

Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 3

 Spring Vacation - No School

Monday, April 6

 No School - Spring Vacation

Tuesday, April 7

 School in session

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.