New Unit in Science Class

The following email was sent to students in science class today (4/21/15). 

Dear Students,

This week starts our final unit of the school year where we investigate bridge design and construction. You can find the assignments that must be completed on the science website (www.HaskinsSci8.info). 

Below are the links and due dates for the first several assignments of the new unit:

H1	Bridge Design Webquest (link) Complete the tasks as described on the science 8 website. This assignment requires you to use your science notebook. Due Friday, 4/24/15	/6 (weight 12 pts)  Add to your notebook
H2	BCR - Bridge Design (link) After completing the webquest, submit a response to the prompt on the website. Due Friday, 4/24/15	/4  (weight 10 pts) Form Submit Online
H3	Pittsburgh Bridges (link) Found on Google Classroom Conduct the internet-based scavenger hunt as described on the science 8 website.Due Wednesday, 4/29/15	/10 (weight  20 pts) Upload to Google Classroom
H4	BCR - Pittsburgh Bridges(link)  After completing the scavenger hunt, submit a response to the prompt on the website.Due Wednesday, 4/29/15	/4 (weight 10 pts) Form Submit Online

Be sure to check out the science website for more details. See you in class!

Sincerely,

Mr. Haskins

Calendar Update

Thursday, April 23

 [PSSA] ELA Make ups

 [PSSA] Math Make Ups

 [Normal Schedule]

Friday, April 24

 [SCI] Bridge Design Webquest notebook & BCR due

 [PSSA] ELA Make ups

 [PSSA] Math Make Ups

 [Event] Pancake Breakfast

 [Normal Schedule]

Monday, April 27

 {TESTING} Science PSSA

 Period A-F-G only

Tuesday, April 28

  {TESTING} Science PSSA

 [Event] Advisory

 Periods C & D

Wednesday, April 29

 H3 Pittsburgh Brbidge Scavenger Hunt (Google Classroom) due Wed

 H4 BCR Pittsburgh Bridges (online form)

 [Event] Advisory

Thursday, April 30

 [Normal Schedule]

Friday, May 1

 [Normal Schedule]

Saturday, May 2

 [Normal Schedule]

Wednesday, May 6

 2 Hr Delay Teacher In-Service

12:00pm  [Event] Engineers Visit AMS 8

Friday, May 8

 [Event] Heinz History Center

 [Event] Schools to Watch celebration

 [Lunch] Lunch to be eaten at school

Saturday, May 9

 [Event] Kennywood School Picnic

Tuesday, May 12

 [Event] Nicky's Family Field Trip & Strip District Tour

 [Lunch] Lunch to be eaten in the Strip District

Wednesday, May 13

 [Event] Holocaust Guest Speaker

Thursday, May 14

 [Event] BAAHA Presentation

Tuesday, May 19

 [Event] Kennywood Field Trip

 [Lunch] Lunch to be eaten at Kennywood Park

Wednesday, May 20

 [MATH KEYSTONES] IM1 students

Thursday, May 21

 [MATH KEYSTONES] IM1 students

Friday, May 22

 AMS Olympics - Memorial Day

Monday, May 25

 No School - Memorial Day

Thursday, May 28

6:00pm  [Event] Bump-up Night

Friday, May 29

9:45am [EVENT] Bridge Expo / Engineers Visit

Monday, June 1

 MS Awards Assembly

Wednesday, June 3

 7:00 PM AMS Commencement

Friday, June 5

 Last Day of School

High School Guidance Counselor to Visit AMS 8 tomorrow

Mr. Como, high school guidance counselor, will spend a day in the 8^th grade tomorrow to continue the transition to high school discussion. He will present topics that will include credits required for graduation, elective courses, and the overall scheduling process. 

REMINDER: Math PSSA Test

Read more about Grade 8 PSSA testing here.

PSSA TESTING:

April  20  -22   - Math (Mon., Tues., & Wed.)

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

ELECTRONIC DEVICE NOTICE:

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, or any device with photographic capability must remain at home or in your locker.

The school will not assume any responsibility for electronics stored in lockers, so it best for students to leave them at home. 

Calculators Needed for Math PSSA

   

Students will be responsible for bringing their own calculator to the testing sessions.  Available calculators are limited!  Please speak to your student about what they will use during our 3 days of math testing.  Students are not permitted to use the calculator feature of their phones. Calculators will be collected by PSSA proctors for their use on April 20-22.  

World War II AR Book

Be sure you are reading your WWII AR book. You must complete the AR Quiz and submit 10 historical facts no later than 4/23.

Layered Curriculum Ends Friday

The science layered curriculum ends tomorrow,  4/17/15! The score students earn on the layered curriculum will be out of 100 points. 

 Assignments Click on a level below to explore the different assignments.

LEVEL C - Basic Knowledge - MAX 25 points
LEVEL B - Advanced Practice - MAX 35 points
LEVEL A - Assessment - MAX 40 points (all students must take the unit test!)

Pancake Breakfast

Parent Network will be sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast that includes great toppings and a drink for $3 on Friday, April 24.

Changes to the PSSA Schedule

Please note the following changes to the PSSA schedule for Next Week

Tomorrow, Wed.  4/15/15 8th grade will NOT attend their period B specials. (This is the longest test day. The current routine would not allow enough time to finish before lunch.)  

Next week:

Because of "Take Your Child to Work Day" scheduled for Thurs., 4/23, AMS is shifting next week's testing to be Mon., 4/20, Tues. 4/21, and Wed, 4/22. 

Musical Assembly: The musical assembly will take place next Mon. 4/20/15 during Period I. 

Pancake Breakfast: We have rescheduled the pancake breakfast for Friday, 4/24/15

Warmer Weather Prompts Dress Code Reminder

As the weather gets warmer, students need to be mindful of the school dress code. Click here to read more.

Bump-Up Night Scheduled

Bump Up Night 

for Avonworth High School 

Thursday, May 28, 2015 

6-7:30pm

Schools to Watch Celebration

Congratulations to AMS! Re-designated, again, as a school to watch! Read more from the school's website. Celebration to be May 9.

AMS Grade 8 PSSA Schedule

Click here if you have trouble viewing the PSSA Schedule.

Calendar Updates

Thursday, April 16

 {TESTING} ELA PSSA

 [EVENT] Advisory

 Periods F-G only

Friday, April 17

[SCI LC] Last day to turn in LC - all assignments due

[SCI LC] Unit Test (ALL STUDENTS) {A7}
[Event] High School Guidance Visits AMS 8 for Freshman Scheduling

[Normal Schedule]

Monday, April 20

 {TESTING} Math PSSA

 Period A-C-D only

 2:20pm Musical Assembly

Tuesday, April 21

{TESTING} Math PSSA

 [Event] Video Conference

 Period F & G only

Wednesday, April 22

{TESTING} Math PSSA

 [Event] Video Conference

 Periods A-C-D only

Thursday, April 23

 [Reading] Read your WW II AR book. AR Quiz and 10 historical facts no later than 4/23.

 [Normal Schedule]

Friday, April 24

 [Event] Pancake Breakfast

 [Normal Schedule]

Monday, April 27

 {TESTING} Science PSSA

 Period A-F-G only

Tuesday, April 28

 {TESTING} Science PSSA

 [Event] Advisory

 Periods C & D

Wednesday, April 29

 [Normal Schedule]

 [Event] Advisory

Thursday, April 30

 [Normal Schedule]

Friday, May 1

 [Normal Schedule]

Wednesday, May 6

 2 Hr Delay Teacher In-Service

12:00pm [Event] Engineers Visit AMS 8

Friday, May 8

 [Event] Heinz History Center

 [Event] Schools to Watch celebration

 [Lunch] Lunch to be eaten at school

Saturday, May 9

 [Event] Kennywood School Picnic

Tuesday, May 12

 [Event] Nicky's Family Field Trip & Strip District Tour

 [Lunch] Lunch to be eaten in the Strip District

Tuesday, May 19

 [Event] Kennywood Field Trip

 [Lunch] Lunch to be eaten at Kennywood Park

Wednesday, May 20

[MATH KEYSTONES] IM1 students

Thursday, May 21

[MATH KEYSTONES] IM1 students

Monday, May 25

 No School - Memorial Day

Thursday, May 28

6:00pm [Event] Bump-up Night

Friday, May 29

9:45am [EVENT] Bridge Expo / Engineers Visit

Friday, June 5

Last Day of School

PSSA 8th Grade Morning Transitions

8th Grade PSSA Transitions to Morning Classes

• No locker visits until after testing. Get your AR book and whatever else what you may need from your lockers before homeroom.

• Remember, take your AR book to your first period class.

• If  you have your phone today, please turn it off and leave it in your locker.

• Sixth and seventh grade will be testing when we transition from period A to period B.

• We will walk silently in the hallways from our period A to B specials.

TRANSITION FROM A TO B
Special Class	Where you will quietly report.
Phys Ed Music Comp Tech	Report to library entrance. Mrs. Galecki and Mr. Haskins will escort you.
Foods Tech Ed Art	Report to end of eighth grade hallway. In front of Foods and Art. Mrs. Crothers and Mr. Smith will escort you.
Computers/Mr. Shirey	Report to library classroom as you normally do.

Transition from B to Testing

Specials teachers will escort you through the high school hallways to the middle school cafeteria.   Middle school teachers will meet you in the cafeteria.  You will have time to use the restrooms and then your teachers will escort you to your testing rooms for a snack! ☺ Because sixth and seventh grade is testing, we must be silent as we travel.

Calculators may be Used on the Math PSSA

PSSA Math Test:

Students will be responsible for bringing their own calculator to the testing sessions.  Available calculators are limited!  Please speak to your student about what they will use during our 3 days of math testing.  Students are not permitted to use the calculator feature of their phones. Calculators will be collected by PSSA proctors for their use on April 21-23.  

PSSA Testing to Begin on Monday

Students in the 8^th grade will begin PSSA testing on Monday, April 13. Here is some important information:

- Students should read and review the Code of Conduct for Test Takers  prior to starting the PSSA tests.

- Parents should read  the notification posted to the AMS website. 

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.)

ELECTRONIC DEVICE NOTICE:

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, or any device with photographic capability must remain at home or in your locker.

The school will not assume any responsibility for electronics stored in lockers, so it best for students to leave them at home. 

Bridge Design Day & Exposition

Engineers needed for the
BRIDGE DESIGN DAY & EXPOSITION DAY

May 6 and May 29

As students in the 8th grade proceed through our bridge design and building project, we are seeking help from experts in the fields of engineering and design of bridges. This is the fourth year for the bridge building and design exposition at Avonworth Middle School! Interested experts can RSVP for our events by emailing Doug Haskins, Grade 8 science teacher.

Read more from the Science 8 website!

Layered Curriculum Continues in Science

Students continue to work on the science layered curriculum. The next checkpoint (48 pts) will be on Friday, 4/10. The final assignment turn-in date is April 17.

 Assignments Click on a level below to explore the different assignments.

LEVEL C - Basic Knowledge - MAX 25 points

LEVEL B - Advanced Practice - MAX 35 pointsLEVEL A - Assessment - MAX 40 points (all students must take the unit test!)

Reusable Water Bottles for PSSA Testing

During PSSA testing, students may bring a water bottle to the testing room. The 8th grade team is suggesting that students come to school with a reusable water bottle. 

Students will have very limited hallway use during testing sessions periods A through D). PSSA protocols require that students be escorted while traveling the hallways if classrooms are conducting testing. 

Calendar Update

Friday, April 10

[Reading] Study Island Mood and Tone due Fri, 4/10

[SCI LC] Checkpoint 48 points

 [SCI LC] Quiz: Elements & their properties {A6}

Monday, April 13

TESTING} ELA PSSA

 Periods A-C-D only

Tuesday, April 14

{TESTING} ELA PSSA

 [Event] Video Conference

Period F & G

Wednesday, April 15

 {TESTING} ELA PSSA

[Event] Video Conference

 Periods A-C-D only

Thursday, April 16

{TESTING} ELA PSSA

 [SCI LC] Structure of the Atom due {A1}

 [SCI LC] Video Podcast Structure of the Atom due {A3}

[EVENT] Advisory

 Periods F-G only

Friday, April 17

 [SCI LC] Critical Thinking Question Week 3 due {B15}

 [SCI LC] Last day to turn in LC - all assignments due

 [SCI LC] Unit Test (ALL STUDENTS) {A7}

 [Normal Schedule]

Monday, April 20

 [Event] Pancake Breakfast

 [Normal Schedule]

Tuesday, April 21

 {TESTING} Math PSSA

 [Event] Video Conference

 Period A-C-D only

 Period F & G only

Wednesday, April 22

 {TESTING} Math PSSA

 [Event] Video Conference

 Periods F & G only

Thursday, April 23

 {TESTING} Math PSSA

 Periods A-C-D only

Friday, April 24

 [Normal Schedule]

Monday, April 27

 {TESTING} Science PSSA

 Period A-F-G only

Tuesday, April 28

 {TESTING} Science PSSA

 [Event] Advisory

Periods C & D

Wednesday, April 29

 [Normal Schedule]

 [Event] Advisory

Thursday, April 30

 [Normal Schedule]

Friday, May 1

 [Normal Schedule]

Wednesday, May 6

2 Hr Delay Teacher In-Service

12:00pm [Event] Engineers Visit AMS 8

Friday, May 8

 [Event] Heinz History Center

 [Event] Schools to Watch celebration

[Lunch] Lunch to be eaten at school

Tuesday, May 12

[Event] Nicky's Family Field Trip & Strip District Tour

 [Lunch] Lunch to be eaten in the Strip District

Tuesday, May 19

 [Event] Kennywood Field Trip

 [Lunch] Lunch to be eaten at Kennywood Park

Wednesday, May 20

[MATH KEYSTONES] IM1 students

Thursday, May 21

 [MATH KEYSTONES] IM1 students

Monday, May 25

 No School - Memorial Day

Friday, May 29

9:45am [EVENT] Bridge Exposition / Engineer's Visit

Friday, June 5

 Last Day of School

Spring Break!

Monday, March 30

 School closed (inclement weather forgiveness)

Tuesday, March 31 - Friday, April 3

 Spring Vacation - No School

Monday, April 6

 School in Session (Inclement weather make up day)

See more dates on the AMS Grade 8 Calendar.

PSSA Testing to Begin April 13

Students in the 8th grade are to take three PSSA tests this year. Read more about PSSA testing in April from the AMS Grade 8 Blog.

Homework over Spring Break

Reading
Read your WW II AR book - AR Quiz no later than 4/20
Study for Literary Terms Test Retakes on 74% and below: Monday, 4/6

IM 1
Exponents review worksheet - shade by numbers due 4/6

Math 8
Surface area and volume of cones/spheres worksheet due 4/6

Homework can be found on the AMS Grade 8 Calendar.

Spring Vacation!

Friday, March 27

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

Monday, March 30

 School closed (inclement weather forgiveness)

Tuesday, March 31 - Friday, April 3

 Spring Vacation - No School

Monday, April 6

 School in Session (Inclement weather make up day)

PSSA Testing to Begin April 13

Students in the 8th grade will be taking state PSSA tests this school year.

PSSA TESTING:

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

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

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

Read more about PSSA test from the AMS Grade 8 Blog. 

ELECTRONIC DEVICE NOTICE:

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, or any device with photographic capability must remain at home or in your locker.

Take your AR book to each testing period. If you have extra time after you complete a test, you may read silently at your desk.

Students Create a Pittsburgh-Themed Board Game