Weekly Update #11

Team Updates

Exemplary Badger: Congratulations to Andrew B.  for being selected as our Exemplary Badger for next week! To be selected as the Exemplary Badger means that the recognized student is upholding all of the high standards to which the Badger students agreed at the beginning of the year! It means that their behavior is respectful; that they are responsible for their work and their grades; that they are kind!

Grade Book:  It's your job to keep track of your grades. Be sure to check weekly!  

Field Trip Information: Badger students will be traveling to The Palace Theatre on Friday, December 16th for a live adaptation of A Christmas Carol.  Please be sure to send in permission slips and payment if you haven't already!  Thanks in advance.

Class Updates

Social Studies: Despite such a short week, we accomplished a lot in class! Not only did we learn about the Peloponnesian War but we covered quite the historic presidential election. This week we will wrap up our coverage of the Persian War and Peloponnesian War with a Mastery Assessment this Wednesday. Make sure that you're studying and reviewing your notes and materials on Google Classroom!

Science: This week in science we will have a quiz on the levels of life.  Study!  We will start learning how to use the microscope this week.  Students will need to learn the parts of the microscope and their functions.  They will practice getting prepared slides of plants and microorganisms into focus.  It should be a fun week!

Literacy:  A Numeracy note from Literacy:  we've completed 33% of the Latin root units already!  Students have learned fifty-one Latin and Greek roots!  It's amazing!  Unit 5 will be presented next week and students will build the first few slides of their Omnictionaries!   We'll also discuss some of Michael Pollan's Food Rules, and devour the first few chapters of The Omnivore's Dilemma!  

English: Students finished their first performance task this week with narrative writing.  Nice job tackling this project, Badgers!  Next week we'll begin our classic literature unit!  This unit starts with A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens -- but before we dive into the novel, we'll first gain a better understanding of the time period in which it was written.

Math: We are still working through our rational numbers chapter.  It's a rough chapter, but we're almost done! Just a reminder that November's Go Figure is due on the 30th.  We have another big project coming up so it would be nice to have it done early.

School Updates

Food Pantry: The school is collecting the following items: pasta, canned sauces, peanut butter, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables (or any other non-perishable items). Donation bins are located in the main office and guidance. Please consider making a regular donation to support our community!

Weekly Update #10

Team Updates

Exemplary Badger: Congratulations to Jona V.  for being selected as our Exemplary Badger for next week! To be selected as the Exemplary Badger means that student is upholding all of the high standards to which the Badger students agreed at the beginning of the year! It means that their behavior is respectful; that they are responsible for their work and their grades; that they are kind!

Grade Book:  It's your job to keep track of your grades. Be sure to check weekly!  

Field Trip Information: Thank you to everyone who submitted field trip permission slips and payments this past week!  Unfortunately, we are still missing MANY.  Students, please check in with your parents and get these turned in as soon as possible!!  We need to reserve our seats at the Palace Theatre and pay our deposit.  Thank you in advance!

Class Updates

Social Studies: This past week the students did a great job creating slideshows on the Greco-Persian Wars and Athenian culture along with mapping the Persian Empire. This upcoming week we will focus heavily on the election! Make sure that you're following the news! Question to think about: What is the most important thing that you've learned throughout the 2016 Presidential Election?

Science:  This week in science we used giant microbes to learn about different bacterial diseases.  We also learned how bacteria are very important to us.  Next week we will start our next major unit:
CELLS!

Literacy:  We've used chrome books in Literacy this week, to peruse online resources to build lists of words associated with the Latin and Greek roots in Unit 4.  The students have been teaching the class the fruits of their labor!  Next week we will have a couple of practice activities, and then the Mastery Test for Unit for On Thursday, November 10th.  All students should be using their resources to study for the test!

English: Students were busy typing their narrative performance tasks on the Chrome books this week!  They also submitted their Greek god and goddess projects on Google Drive - and they look fantastic so far!  Next week we will finish our performance tasks and add them to our 7th grade district writing folder.  Students, please come prepared with your rough drafts on Monday!

Math: We are continuing to work on rational numbers, make sure to study your adding and subtracting integer rules. There is a quiz on Wednesday. November's Go Figure went home last week, it's due on the 30th. Be sure to work on it throughout the month.

School Updates

No School: November 8th for Election Day or November 11th for Veteran's Day.

Food Pantry: The school is collecting the following items: pasta, canned sauces, peanut butter, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables (or any other non-perishable items). Donation bins are located in the main office and guidance. Please consider making a regular donation to support our community!

Pennichuck Sports: Tryouts are this week!

Weekly Update #9

Team Updates

Exemplary Badger: Congratulations to Ryan B. for being selected as our Exemplary Badger for next week!

Grade Book:  It's your job to keep track of your grades. Be sure to check weekly!  

T-Shirts:  It was great to see our Badger students sporting their new team shirts on Friday!  

Class Updates

Social Studies: This week in Social Studies we learned that there are many sides to every story. In this case: We learned about the Persian Empire. We learned how the Persians came into contact with the Greeks and we even graphed the population of both the Persian Empire and Ancient Greece. Next week we will start our journey through the Greco-Persian Wars!

Science:  In science next week we will be learning about bacterial diseases and ways to prevent them.  We will also learn about the importance of protists in our lives.  It will be a week full of microbes!

Literacy:  Latin root unit 3 is complete!  The test was Thursday, and thank you to all the kids who did not ask if they were all corrected on Friday!  You'll have the results on Monday!  Monday the Chrome books are back in The Mansion, where students will tackle Latin unit 4. Get ready to collaborate to define the new vocabulary, as well as to create the lists for your flash cards!  We'll also analyze some more cartoons, but this time in writing!  

English: This week students finished their Greek mythology unit!  This is always a fun unit, and students seemed to enjoy the myths and the real life lessons they teach.  Please don't forget to submit your mini projects on the Greek gods and goddesses by November 4th.  This can be done right on Google Classroom!  Coming up this week, students will have their first narrative writing performance task. Get ready, kids!  Also--don't forget about your field trip permission slips (see below)!

Math: The first Go Figure was due Friday!  Next week we will continue with rational numbers. If you are struggling with fractions head to Big Ideas and watch the examples for lesson 2.1 and 2.2. We are using the Common Core 2014 book with the red cover! The November Go Figure will be coming home this week.

School Updates

Field Trip Information: Our next field trip will be on December 16, 2016.  We will be traveling to the Palace Theatre to see a live adaptation of A Christmas Carol!  Information was sent home this week with students.  Please send in permission slips and payment to Mrs. McGuire by Friday, November 4, 2016.  Thank you in advance!

Food Pantry: The school is collecting the following items: pasta, canned sauces, peanut butter, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables (or any other non-perishable items). Donation bins are located in the main office and guidance. Please consider making a regular donation to support our community!

Support Pennichuck Sports!: Be sure to sign up for Winter Sports  

Weekly Update #8

Team Updates

Progress Reports go home TUESDAY! 

Exemplary Badger: Congratulations to Monet S. for being selected as our Exemplary Badger for next week!

Grade Book:  It's your job to keep track of your grades. Be sure to check weekly!  

Class Updates

Social Studies: "Sparta vs. Athens: Where would you rather live?" That is just one of the many questions that we tackled this week in class. This upcoming week we will take a look at Ancient Greece's greatest rival: The Persian Empire. Question to think about: Should we only study history through one point-of-view?

Science:  We have spent some time reviewing for our BIG Classification Test on Monday!  Students have study guides, quizlet and a lot of new study strategies.  Students also passed in their Favorite Animal Slides to their Google Classroom this week.  It is a year long project and this is their first check point.

Literacy:  What a busy week! Google Slide Show presentations are all presented, and everyone did a great job!  The third unit of Latin roots was launched and don't forget, the test is on Thursday!  Use Quizlet! Check Google Classroom to be sure that you are ready to submit your Aspirations paragraph!

English: This week students read the "Narcissus" myth in class, and they also began a mini project, requiring them to research roles, personalities, appearances, and symbols of the Greek Gods and Goddesses!  Students did a nice job researching on the Chromebooks and adding information to their Google Doc.  Next week, we'll read the last myth in our unit, and students will have more technology time to continue their projects.  Don't forget to study on Quizlet for the quiz on Thursday!

Math: Don't forget, the Go Figure is due Friday, October 28th.  You should be working on the final drafts in preparation for turning it in. This upcoming week we are starting Chapter 2: Rational Numbers.  Be ready to work hard this chapter is going to take some perseverance!

School Updates

R2: The first Raiders Reward (R2) event will take place Friday.  Be sure to sign up for a WIN event.

Food Pantry: The school is collecting the following items: pasta, canned sauces, peanut butter, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables (or any other non-perishable items). Donation bins are located in the main office and guidance. Please consider making a regular donation to support our community!

Support Pennichuck Sports!: The girls soccer team made it to playoffs! Be sure to wish them luck Monday! Registration for winter sports has started.  

Weekly Update #7

Team Updates

Progress Reports close Thursday! 

Exemplary Badger: Congratulations to Bryden M. for being selected as our Exemplary Badger for next week!

Grade Book:  It's your job to keep track of your grades. Be sure to check weekly!  

Class Updates

Social Studies: Despite the short week, we accomplished a lot in social studies. We completed our first in-class essay about Dark Ages and we officially started Classical Civilizations. We will go more in-depth covering the Spartans and Athenians next week. Exciting times are ahead for sure!

Science:  This week in science we were very busy.  We made scientific names for fish using Greek and Latin roots.  We read an article about how skunks were reclassified and practiced using field guides.  Our sand dollar students did an amazing job teaching the kindergarteners.  I am very proud of all of them!  Next week we will learn about the six kingdoms of living things.  The Classification Test will be on Monday, October 24th.  Students should be studying and using Quizlet.  The Favorite Animal Slides will be due next Friday.

Literacy:  Students began presenting their Google slide shows this week, and are doing very well! Because of the shortened week,  the Latin root mastery test on Unit 2 was postponed, as we hadn't completed all of the activities that provide learning opportunities.  The test will be Monday, October 17th, so I hope that everyone is studying!  In addition to doing the foundation work for Latin root Unit 3 in the week ahead, students will finish making their Google slide presentations to their classmates, and should have their Aspiration writing assignments submitted in Google classroom.  

English: This week we continued our Greek mythology unit in English.  Students read and discussed two new myths, and we learned some of the Greek gods and goddesses.  Ask your students to explain the reason we have seasons! They should be able to tell you the actual, scientific reason for seasons, but also explain the reasoning from "Demeter and Persephone." Next week we'll read the remaining two myths in this mini unit, and students will have a quiz on Thursday.  In the meantime, students can use Quizlet to study.

Math: We finished up our first chapter on integers and are moving onto rational numbers.  Before we get started, will be reviewing fractions.  If you would like me to look over your Go Figure before starting your final, please make sure they are in Monday!

School Updates

Book Orders: Mrs. McGuire wants to thank everyone for the book orders this week!  Between September and October, students on our team have ordered over $550 in books!  THIS IS AMAZING!  Every order gives us more book club points, so she went ahead and ordered 20 new titles for her classroom library! How awesome is that!?

Food Pantry: The school is collecting the following items: pasta, canned sauces, peanut butter, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables (or any other non-perishable items). Donation bins are located in the main office and guidance. Please consider making a regular donation to support our community!

Support Pennichuck Sports!: Come and support the Pennichuck teams when they play home games.

Weekly Update #6

Happy Columbus Day Weekend!

Team Updates

Exemplary Badger: Congratulations to Kira H. for being selected as our Exemplary Badger for next week!

Grade Book:   It's your job to keep track of your grades. Be sure to check weekly!  

Class Updates

Social Studies: This week we completed our mini Government unit and started Classical Civilizations! For the next few weeks, we will explore Ancient Greece. We will learn about Athens and Sparta, Greek Mythology, and Ancient Greek culture. Question to think about: How has Ancient Greece influenced our world today?

Science:  Next week some Badger students will be traveling with me to Charlotte Ave Elementary School to teach kindergarten science classes.   We have been working very hard to prepare our lessons and we can't wait to go!  All Badger students will learn about the Latin and Greek words that make up the scientific names of fish.  We will read about a misclassified skunk and practice using field guides too.

Literacy:  It was a really busy week!  Everyone checked their grades on the student portal, and wrote goals to help them improve grades that might not reflect their best effort!  The goal is for all Badger students to keep their grades above a 70% !  Next week is a short one, but will be jam packed!  The most important news for next week:  Mastery Test on Unit 2 of Latin roots is on Friday, October 14!
Students should be working on their Google slide shows!

English: Students did a great job this week setting SMART goals and exploring career paths using Naviance software with Mrs. Kauffman and Mrs. Lamere.  I loved watching everyone use Triple E writing in their responses and reflections.  Students also began reading some Greek mythology, which will continue for the next couple weeks.  Lastly, October book orders went out and are due back no later than Friday, October 14th! There are many Halloween-themed books this month! Enjoy your long weekend, Badgers!

Math: Our first Go Figure is out!  Please be working a little bit every week. I will take projects early and will make pre-corrections prior to the due date. Next week we will be wrapping up integers, and starting rational numbers. Let the fraction fun begin!  Hint: you should use your day off to study for the test! 

School Updates

Early Release on Wednesday, October 12!

Book Orders: Mrs. McGuire is collecting book orders for the month of October! They are due no later than Friday, October 14th!

Food Pantry: The school is collecting the following items: pasta, canned sauces, peanut butter, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables (or any other non-perishable items). Donation bins are located in the main office and guidance. Please consider making a regular donation to support our community!

Support Pennichuck Sports!: Come and support the Pennichuck teams when they play home games.

Weekly Update #5

Team Updates

Exemplary Badger: Congratulations to Alex H.for being selected as our Exemplary Badger for next week!

Grade Book:   It's your job to keep track of your grades. Be sure to check weekly!  Remember D's and F's will not get you into R2 events!

Class Updates

Social Studies: This week we started our mini Government unit in which we investigated the three types of government and took an in-depth look at democracy and the American government. We will wrap up this unit on Tuesday when we take our second mastery assessment. Starting Wednesday, we will start our Classical Civilizations unit as we begin in Greece! Have a great weekend! Question to think about: There are 535 Congressmen but only four of them represent New Hampshire; what percent of Congress represents New Hampshire?

Science:  This week in science we learned how to make dichotomous keys.  Next week we will use keys to identify trees, mammals, and other organisms from our ecosystem, the deciduous forest.

Literacy:  It was Chrome Book City in the Mansion!  We spent the week working on a variety of assignments from the Literacy Google Classrooms!  Students read an article about GMOs, responded in Google Docs, and began a project associated with historic fiction book they are reading.  Great week! Next week we dive into Latin Unit 2, and continue working on projects in Classroom!

English: It was a busy week in English class! Between I-Ready testing and Cornerstone writing, our Badger students stayed very busy! Next week, students will have a quiz on Tuesday, October 4th - please review the "Oranges" graphic organizer to prepare, as well as grammar and vocabulary words on Quizlet.  Towards the end of the week, we'll be in the computer lab using Naviance software to explore career paths.

Math: We are going to be focusing on perseverance this week. You will be getting your first Go Figure of the year, due October 28th. Then for the rest of  the week we will finish up with Integers and start working with fractions!  Everyone's favorite!

School Updates

Food Pantry: The school is collecting the following items: pasta, canned sauces, peanut butter, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables (or any other non-perishable items). Donation bins are located in the main office and guidance. Please consider making a regular donation to support our community!

Support Pennichuck Sports!: Come and support the Pennichuck home games.

Monday, October 3 - Boy's Soccer @ 3:30

Monday, October 3 - Volleyball @ 4:00

Thursday, October 6 - Field Hockey @ 3:30

Thursday, October 6 - Girl's Soccer @ 3:30