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

Science Email to Students about Due Dates

March 24, 2015  Hi folks, The following layered curriculum assignments have due dates and must be completed by the day/dates listed below!  Wednesday, 3/25 B-13 Week #1 Question of the Week (4pts) Thursday, 3/26 C-8 Vocab TV Element Slide (4 pts) B-6 Strange Symbols Poster (8 pts) A-5 Quiz Radioactivity & Nuclear Reactions (10 pts) Also note that Spring Break will run from Friday, 3/27 through Friday 4/3. The layered curriculum will continue after school resumes on Monday, 4/6. Be mindful of upcoming due dates:           April 6 C-6 Flash Card Quiz 7 B-14 Critical Thinking Question Week Two due B-10 Atomic Scientist Presentation due 8 A-2 Periodic Table Families Presentation due B-14 Critical Thinking Question Week Two due 9 Presentations 10 A-6 Quiz: Elements and their Properties 13 PSSA Testing 14 PSSA Testing 15 PSSA Testing B-15 Critical Thinking Question Week Three due 16 PSSA Testing A-1 Structure of the Atom & A-3 Podcast Video Structure of the Atom due 17 A-7 Unit Test: Atoms and Their Properties B-15 Critical Thinking Question Week Three due    You can also access layered curriculum assignments online through the science website: LEVEL C - Basic Knowledge LEVEL B - Advanced Practice LEVEL A - Assessment See you in class. Sincerely, Mr. Haskins

8th Graders Explore Game Design

On Thursday, March 12, 8th grade students met with Sabrina Culyba, a game designer at Schell Games. Schell Games is based in Station Square, and has focused on developing educational games for the last five years. Sabrina talked with the students about playtesting (or the process of playing a game to see if and how it works), how game-like thinking can benefit learning and other important gaming principles. The students showed her theirgames-in-progress, which are modified versions of Monopoly. The students' games integrate information they researched during their Pittsburgh Project, which is a research paper that they've just completed over the last six weeks. The students will take their information and apply it to the Monopoly board, pieces and rules, and will ultimately develop a working boardgame (including game pieces printed on the district's 3D printers) that they'll be able to share and play with each other.

Reading Tasks due for Next Week

Reading Literary Terms Review

Literary Terms Packet
due Monday, 3/23

Literary Terms Test
due Wednesday, 3/25

Layered Curriculum Begins in Science

A layered curriculum is a way to allow choice and differentiation in the classroom.  Students can choose activities from a menu of assignments. Assignments can be modified to increase rigor or help a student struggling with the content. The daily “mini-lessons” teach specific topics and skills. The lessons range from ten to fifteen minutes which offers students ample time in class to conduct lab activities, complete worksheet activities, or plan a project. Students should choose assignments that interest them. They should also turn in activities on a regular basis.

Many resources for the layered curriculum are available on the internet.  Students will have a choice of assignments from a menu of activities. Students are to start with “Level C – Basic Knowledge” assignments and move to “Level B – Advanced Practice” and then on to “Level A – Assessment” assignments. Each class period starts with a mini-lesson and concludes with time to work on layered activities.

Scores for the layered curriculum will be tracked by the students in their layered curriculum activity guides (folder created in class). Copies are available from the internet.

Some assignments have specific due dates. There is a special layered curriculum calendar on the menu of assignments.  The online tutorials and assignments require a computer with internet access. All Unit G layered curriculum assignments are due by Friday, 4/17/15.

Calendar Update!

Thursday, March 19

[Event] Courthouse Field Trips

Friday, March 20

[SCI LC] Checkpoint 8 pts due

 [SCI LC] Parent signature for 2 pts {C10}

 [SCI LC] Word Wall due {C7}

Monday, March 23

[Reading] Literary Terms Packet Due

 [SCI LC] Word Wall Quiz open to all {C7}

Tuesday, March 24

 [SCI LC] Quiz- Atomic Structure in class {A4}

 [Social Studies] STUDY for Judicial Branch Test

Wednesday, March 25

 [SCI LC] Week One Question due {B13}

 [Social Studies] STUDY for Judicial Branch TEST

Thursday, March 26

 [SCI LC] Checkpoint 38 pts

 [SCI LC] Quiz: Radioactivity & Nuclear Reactions {A5}

 [SCI LC] Strange Symbols Poster due {B6}

 [SCI LC] Vocab TV due {C8}

Friday, March 27

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

 No School for Teachers

Monday, March 30

 School closed (inclement weather forgiveness)

Tuesday, March 31 - Friday, April 3

 Spring Vacation - No School

Monday, April 6

 [SCI LC] Flashcard quiz {C6}

 School in Session (Inclement weather make up day)

Tuesday, April 7

 [SCI LC] Atomic Scientist Presentation due {B10}

 School in session

Wednesday, April 8

 [SCI LC] A-2 Periodic Table Presentation due

 [SCI LC] Critical Thinking Question Week 2 due {B14}

Friday, April 10

 [SCI LC] Checkpoint 48 points

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

Monday, April 13 - Thursday, April 16

 {TESTING} ELA PSSA

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}

Tuesday, April 21 - Thursday, April 23

 {TESTING} Math PSSA

Monday, April 27 & Tuesday, April 28

 {TESTING} Science PSSA

Courthouse Field Trip Expectations

Students will be attending a courthouse field trip on March 17, 18 or 19. The following are the expectations for students while being at the courthouse:  Proper dress (Khakis and nice shirt.  Some judges will not permit visitors to their courtroom if they are wearing jeans, shorts, flip-flops, etc.)

• No gum
  
• No talking inside of the courtroom
• No cameras
• No cell phones or iPods
• The courthouse requires that students pass through metal detectors.  They will be asked to remove everything from their pockets, their jewelry, and belts prior to entering the courthouse.
• For lunch, students will be eating at the Ross Park Mall food court. Students should bring money or a packed lunch.

Grading Period to End

The third-nine weeks grading period will end on Tuesday, March 17, 2015!

Headphones for Civics Class

Students should bring headphones/earbuds to civics class on Friday.