Here are the latest Eagle’s Feathers…(Don’t forget the general “From around Moran” section below!
From around the Team…
1) In Science class, we have begun our Environmental Science unit. Students have been discussing the organization of the environment and have gone on a science walk to identify organisms, populations and communities and to tell how these factors can become an ecosystem. Furthermore, they have been categorizing parts of the environment as either biotic (living) or abiotic (non-living). We have had some tricky factors come up such as are factors such as: ashes, wood chips and seeds biotic or abiotic? Can you decide?
2) In Spanish students are learning about Family and Festivites native to Spanish-speaking countries.http://phschool.com/atschool/realidades/pdfs/repaso/L1_Capitulo_5A.pdf
3) In math class, students have learned how to find the area of parallelograms, triangles, trapezoids, and composite shapes. There was a quiz on Monday to assess students’ skills of finding area of these shapes. Next we will look at finding area of shapes on the coordinate plane and surface area of prisms and pyramids. Chapter 4 in the Big Ideas book can support you at home.
4) In ELA class, students will be organizing Island of the Blue Dolphins journal questions by themes based on previous lessons. As a class, students will write an essay (Pre- Performance Task) based on the journal questions. Students will then have a district Performance Task on argumentative writing based on the last unit, Courageous Characters.
5) In Social Studies students will present their work on a project on China. Students have been scheduled all next week to “take over” the class and teach the class what they learned about China and how life in China is similar and different to the U.S. All students received a shared google file with the details of the project (and it can also be found on the Social Studies page of my website and it is called “Wang is Coming!”) The Communication Section of my website has a video of me explaining some keys parts of the project as well and is found in the link called “Watch Mr. Schweighoffer.”
From around Moran…
1) SBAC testing started for 6th grade students this week! All students need a book to read after they have finished their test. It is a great time to visit the library to get a reading book! (Also, a great time to read many books for their reading log for Mrs. Bohlman’s class!)
2) Permission slips are due for our last field trip to Quassy Amusement Park. Please make checks out to “James Moran Middle School” and all money and permission slips have to be returned by Friday, May 15th. **If any parent would like to chaperone the trip, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher!**
3) With warm weather (hopefully) upon us soon, all students should make sure they are adhering to the Moran Dress code. Also, only water bottles are allowed (and recommended) for students to keep in the classroom to stay cool; students will not be allowed to make continuous trips to the water fountain.
4) Ms. Foss wanted to inform the Moran community about the upcoming Parent Orientation for parents of fifth graders who will be coming to Moran next year. A copy of the invitation is attached here: 5th grade parent orientation night letter
5) Parents who have specific concerns about their child’s placement for next year should contact the main office immediately and send in a letter explaining their concerns to Mr. Piacentini, Ms. Foss and Ms. Funaro. The team has no input on student placement for next year.