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Thursday, April 24, 2014

Building Bridges to STEM careers

Students have begun their next unit in science which focuses on integrating engineering, physics, and mathematics through bridge design and construction. Students will be asked to think about how bridges are planned and built. The scenario given to the students is to think about the need to replace the Center Avenue bridge in Emsworth which was deem deficient by the Port Authority and closed to large vehicles.

To assist the students, guest experts in the field of bridge engineering will visit Avonworth’s 8^th grade Thursday, 5/8/14. The experts will look at the ideas students have drawn and they will make suggestions about how basic design concepts can improve their plans.

Bridges will be built based on the students’ ideas and will be tested for strength and durability. Students will reflect on the performance of the bridges by making inferences about the data collected. The bridges will be tested on May 29 during the exposition with local engineers assisting the students.

Parents and students can follow the progress of the project on the science website
and on twitter, #Bridges2STEM.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Videoconference with a Holocaust Survivor

Students learned from a Holocaust survivor about the conditions Jews faced during World War II. The speaker said, "you are the last generation to hear about the Holocaust first hand." The videoconference connected with the 8^th grade reading curriculum’s Diary of Anne Frank unit.

Dates and events

Thursday, April 24

[Event] National Pay It Forward Day

Friday, April 25

Periods F & G for C & D

8:20am Advisory

11:59am Pay It Forward - Volunteer Symposium

Monday, April 28

Periods A, C, & D

9:53am - [PSSA GRADE 8] Science PSSA

Tuesday, April 29

[science] J1 Bridge Design Webquest due Tuesday

[science] J2 BCR - Bridge Design due Tuesday

9:53am - [PSSA GRADE 8] Science PSSA

Thursday, May 1

[ Reading] Read your AR book. Midterm Progress Check Thurs, May 1

[science] J3 Pittsburgh Birdges Scavenger Hunt due Thu

[science] J4 BCR - Pittsburgh Bridges

[event] Greening Up Avonworth

Friday, May 2

[Algebra] Open Ended 7 & 8 Due

Chinese language students field trip

Monday, May 5

[Algebra] Study Island Keystone Review (12 assignments) due

[science] J5 Center Avenue Bridge - Diagram due in class Monday

Wednesday, May 7

2-HOUR Delay Teacher In-service

Thursday, May 8

[Algebra] Open Ended 9 & 10 Due

[event] Bridge Engineers Visit

Friday, May 9

[Event] History Center Field Trip & Strip District Tour

Saturday, May 10

[event] ASD School Picnic Kennywood Park

Thursday, May 15

[event] BAAHA presentations

Friday, May 16

[Algebra] Open Ended 11 & 12 Due

10:30am - [event] videoconference Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame

Tuesday, May 20

[Reading] AR Due date Wed, 5/28

Kennywood Field Trip

Wednesday, May 21

8:20am [KEYSTONE EXAM GRADE 8] Algebra Students

Thursday, May 22

8:20am [KEYSTONE EXAM GRADE 8] Algebra Students

Friday, May 23

[event] MS Olympics

Monday, May 26

No School - Memorial Day Holiday

Wednesday, May 28

[Reading] AR Due date Wed, 5/28

[Reading] AR Due Date

Thursday, May 29

[event] Bridge Exposition and Testing

Friday, June 6

Last day of school for students!

Monday, April 21, 2014

This week...

This week... Tues: sci-quiz & English-Genocide Dossier Fri: Algebra-Open Ended 5 & 6 Due

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Honorable Matt Smith visits AMS Grade 8

8th grade students have been learning about the legislative branch in civics class. Senator Matt Smith visited Avonworth to discuss his role in the Pennsylvania legislature.

Senator Matt Smith presenting at Avonworth Middle School.

United Nations and Genocide Studies

In preparation for their study of The Diary of Anne Frank, the 8^th grade is researching modern examples of genocides. We began by reading the United Nation Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, and are now researching modern examples of genocide to see if these individual incidents qualify as genocide based on the Convention passed by the United Nations in 1948. Although it is a tough topic, it helps students to understand the broader impact of genocide and how the Holocaust changed how the world prosecutes and prevents genocide today.

Freshman scheduling

Mr. Pellicano is collecting the pink scheduling forms. Please return your forms to the middle school office.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

8th Grade helps to make AMS a Mix It Up Model School

8th grade students participated in the Mix It Up at Lunch this past fall. The school has been named a model for our efforts! Read more on the school website: http://www.edline.net/pages/Avonworth_Middle_School/News/Avonworth_Middle_School_Names__

Events and dates

Thursday, April 17

[Algebra] Open Ended 4 Due\
Videoconference Pro Football Hall of Fame

Senator Visit, Honorable Matt Smith

Friday, April 18

No School - Spring Vacation

Monday, April 21

School back in session

Tuesday, April 22

[event] Inventionland Field Trip (GATE)