The March parent-teacher conferences are needs-based. If you need to speak with the 8th grade team, we can send you a conference invitation by emailing Doug Haskins, dhaskins@avonworth.k12.pa.us.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Come to Maker Night!
On March 9 from 5 - 7 PM, the library will host
a Maker Night. All parents and students are welcome to attend! We will have a
chance for people to use the Maker Space equipment (an Epilog laser engraver
and a Mojo 3D printer) as well as other equipment and supplies for projects and
activities.
There will be a chance to participate in an activity if you are new
to making (or just want to check out a fun project) or if you already have a
great idea and just need time, space and materials we will be happy to provide
that as well!
Drop ins are welcome!
If you'd like to RSVP to confirm your spot
or you have a question about Maker Night, please contact
ehickman@avonworth.k12.pa.us.
Science Homework This Week (2/16-2/19)
Email sent to students 2/16/16:
Dear Students,
Below you will find the links to the homework for the rest of the week (2/16-2/19). Be sure to prepare for the last quiz which will be on Monday, 2/22/16.
DAY
|
Assignments
|
Tuesday Night
|
Reading activity pages 485-495 due Wednesday
 |
Wednesday Night
|
|
Thursday
Night |
Worksheet: F11 Properties of Fluids due Friday |
Friday – Sunday
|
Video: Charles’s Law Principle
Worksheet: F11 Properties of Fluids due Friday |
See you in class.
Sincerely,
Mr. Haskins
Monday, February 15, 2016
Important Dates
Thursday, March 3 - Spring Field Trip Form Due
Friday, March 4 - AMS Semi-formal
Wednesday, March 10 - Court House Field Trip 1
Friday, March 11 - No School/Previously Held Parent-Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, March 16 - Court House Field Trip 2
Wednesday, March 16 - End of Third Grading Period
Thursday, March 17 - Court House Field Trip 3
Monday, March 21 - Monday, March 28 - No School/Spring Vacation
Tuesday, March 22 - Report Cards
Tuesday, March 29 - Schools in session
Tuesday, March 29 - Schools in session
SPRING GRADE 8 CONFERENCES
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Hoops for Heart - Tomorrow
Tomorrow is the big day!
Hoops for Hearts is back!
Hoops for Hearts is back!
Students are reminded to return their packets and donations by the
end of homeroom tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Help AMS win the "Explore the New Manufacturing" Contest
From the AMS website:
Support
Avonworth Middle School with the "2016 Explore the New Manufacturing"
student video contest, produced by the Catalyst Connection in Pittsburgh, PA!
This is the first year of the student video contest in southwestern
Pennsylvania with 10 schools and 10 companies participating in the program.
Monday, February 8, 2016
Spring Conferences
Eighth graders are in the process of preparing for
parent-student-teacher conferences that they will lead this May. Our 8th grade advisory program guides
students to reflect on student work, progress, and goal setting throughout the
school year. Students will lead a
conference with their parents/guardians as well as their advisor in May before or after
school. Therefore, parents or guardians 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 will
contact you at the end of April. Please be on the lookout for that message.
Needs-Based March Parent Conferences
The March parent-teacher conferences are needs-based. 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.
Important Dates
Monday, February 18 -
No School/Teacher In-Service
Thursday, March 3 -
Spring Field Trip Form Due
Friday, March 4 - AMS
Semi-formal
Wednesday, March 10 - Court House Field Trip 1
Friday, March 11 - No
School/Previously Held Parent-Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, March 16 - Court House Field Trip 2
Wednesday, March 16 -
End of Third Grading Period
Thursday, March 17 - Court House Field Trip 3
Monday, March 21 -
Monday, March 28 - No School/Spring
Vacation
Tuesday, March 22 -
Report Cards
Tuesday, March 29 - Schools in session
Tuesday, March 29 - Schools in session
Thursday, February 4, 2016
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.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Reminder: Student BYOT Device Policy
AR Midterm Progress Check
AR Midterm Progress
Check is Wednesday, February 3.
Parents can check
their students' AR goals and reading progress by clicking on the Home Connect
button below.
Use your child's AR login information.
Spring Sports Sign-Ups
Spring sports sign-ups are now available in the
office for: boys baseball, girls softball, and boys & girls
swimming. A sports physical is required to play. Physical forms are
available in the office or on Edline.
AMS 8 Receives a STEM Mini-Grant!
 |
| Students designing their bridge for the STEM project in the 8th grade during the 2013-2014 school year. |
Monday, January 25, 2016
Unit on Matter starts with 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.
Game Downloads:  | ||||
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Grade 8 Students to take PSSA Tests
Students in Grade 8 will take PSSA tests in April and Keystone Algebra Exams May. The 8th Grade Team will post more information to the AMS 8 Blog in early 2016.
Below are the testing windows published by the PA Dept of Education. During these time periods, students will be completing each of the required 8th grade PSSA subject tests.
ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL ON TEST DAYS
Avoid scheduling doctor appointments, vacations or other out-of-school activities during testing times. Participation in PSSA/Keystone 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.
Algebra Students to take the Keystone Exam in May
Mark your calendars! The 8th graders who are enrolled in Integrated Math I (Algebra), will take the Keystone Exams the week of May 16. For more information on the keystone exams, please go to www.pde.state.pa.us or see the page on the AMS Grade 8 Blog.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School
Monday, 1/18/16Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Act 80 Day
No School for Students
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Conserving Electricity for Science Class
Students
have been learning about electricity and electric circuitry in science class. Students observed and identified where wasted electricity
could be eliminated through simple behavior changes at home. As demonstrated in class, even a small change could have
an impact on the electricity used as well as the cost in monthly utilities. Students will be
implementing and monitoring their simple changes in an Action Plan over the next few days.
 |
| Student Action Plans include educating the people at home to help in the effort. |
 |
| In science class, a light bulb demonstration was set up to compare different types of replacement bulbs. The electric meters show the estimated costs of lighting the different types of bulbs for four school days. The newer light bulbs produce similar amounts of light but with less heat, thus they are more energy efficient. |
League of Innovative Schools & Digital Promise Video includes AMS students & teachers!
On a day in late October, the League of Innovative
Schools visited Pittsburgh for their annual conference. As part of the itinerary,
school officials from across the United States visited Avonworth Middle School.
Some highlights of the activities that day were made into a video. Check it out
here: https://t.co/OrWQWXlGfe
Monday, January 11, 2016
Reminder! Pancake Breakfast Friday!
Parent Network will be sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast this Friday, 1/15/16, that includes great toppings and a drink for $3.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
8th Graders Declare Their Independence
To supplement their
study of the American Revolution in civics class, eighth graders tackled the
complex text The Declaration of Independence in reading class. Students focused on identifying the texts'
main ideas and translating it into modern day English.
Because scholars
believe that Thomas Jefferson meant for the Declaration to be dramatically
performed , students revealed their understanding of the document by completing
their own dramatic reading in our makeshift Independence Hall.
Eighth graders were
assigned a short passage from the Declaration to practice reading with proper
phrasing, pronunciation, emphasis, pause and tone. As “experts” of the text, students
completed an impressive dramatic reading of this important document! Many students even memorized their passages
for extra credit.
Reminder! Second Nine-Weeks Grading Period Ends Soon!
Reminder!
Second nine-weeks grading period to end
January 12, 2016
Second nine-weeks grading period to end
January 12, 2016
Report Cards to be published to Edline January 19.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Students Studying Electrical Energy in Science
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 electrical energy usage.
Starting Thursday,
1/7/16, students will be coming home asking for help from their parents
and guardians as they start a project called Action Plan. 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 one simple
change in behavior could lower the power bill!
One of the most
important parts of the project is to read and collect data from the electric
meter. Students are to check their meters nightly to collect data as a baseline
for usage as well as monitor changes after implementing a plan to conserve
electricity. There are two helpful pages on the website to assist families with
reading the electric meter:
- analog electric meters (dials)
- digital electric meters (lcd display)
Students have been
taught in class how to read the electric meters as well as conduct the
calculations to determine the amount of energy used and the cost associated
with using the electricity.
The outline of tasks for
the project can be found on the science website.
Some other important
resources from the electricity unit:
Timeline (updated daily with important class
information)
Monday, January 4, 2016
Pancake Breakfast Next Week
Parent Network will be sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast 1/15/16 that includes great toppings and a drink for $3.
Friday, January 1, 2016
Happy New Year!
WELCOME 2016!
School resumes on Monday, January 4, 2016!
Don't forget to read your AR book! AR due January 5!
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