Stomp Out Bullying Day

On Monday, Badgers participated in the nation wide event, Stomp Out Bullying.  We wanted to devote time to discuss the issue of bullying, as so many students experience it at some point during middle school.  Students were mixed randomly, to help them mingle with those outside of their circle of friends.  Each group of ten students was guided by a professional from our building.  We were thrilled to welcome Ms. Sand, our school's Librarian, Mrs. Dichard, our 7th grade Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Bennett, our school's Social Worker, Mrs. Peasley, our team's Special Educator, Mr. Allen, one of our paraprofessionals, and Mr. Tesini, our Assistant Principal to join the five of us, allowing our groups to be small.

The day kicked off in the cafeteria with a Values Auction.  Students had the opportunity to bid on different values, using straws as currency.  At the end, the students discussed the meaning of the values, and why some kids considered some values more valuable than others!.  Learning that students have different value systems is important, as these are the characteristics which make us unique.

In the next activity, students were presented with different scenarios depicting acts of bullying. They were asked to write suggestions in three areas:  What would you do?  Why would you do that? and How could school help?. The discussions helped kids to see that there are always different ways to handle difficult situations.

Next, we went into the gym for an anti-bullying assembly and team activity before we headed out on the track for the Walk-a-Thon fundraiser.  Most kids walked 10 laps within the hour, with Carlos taking the lead at 17 laps.  Everyone had fun socializing with their peers and getting in some exercise.  The PTO received approximately $4,500 for our students!

After lunch we watched Bullied, a documentary produced for middle level students by Teaching Tolerance, an organization acclaimed for their manner of tackling difficult issues for kids.  We learned the consequences of chronic bullying and how Jamie was able to overcome his middle and high school experiences.  At the end of the day students returned to their  mix-it-up groups to debrief the video.  We talked not only about what happened to Jamie but what is happening here at Pennichuck and offered ideas to help alleviate the problems. 

If you would like to view the video, CLICK HERE, to get a free copy.

Team Update: Week of October 2nd

Open House:  Thank you to all the parents who came to Open House Thursday night! We hope that you found the time spent to have been valuable!

T-Shirts: Order forms are available from Mrs. Simeone in Literacy class. It would be wonderful for every student to have a beautiful T-Shirt to show their team spirit!  Having the orders and money turned in by October 13th would be fantastic, as our supplier usually turns around the order within a week!

Yearbook: It's not too early to start thinking about a yearbook. Each yearbook comes with two custom pages for your student to customize as they wish. The cost is $15, with an option to upgrade to a hardcover. To order and customize online CLICK HERE.  Our school's passcode is 1014746590884141

Stomp Out Bullying: Monday, all students at PMS will participate in the nation wide Stomp Out Bullying Day.  The team has planned a day of activities to go along with the PTO Walk-a-Thon! Students should wear sneakers and athletic clothes as we are going to be moving around and sitting on the floor! Additionally, students do not need to bring their full backpacks, but rather just a string bag with essentials - like a water bottle and a pencil!

Class Updates:

Social Studies: It was a very busy week in Social Studies! We discussed all things related to government. The kids explored many aspects of not only the American government but other governments used globally. We will have an assessment on government this Tuesday. On Wednesday we start our journey throughout Ancient Greece. Good times ahead!

Science:  This week in science class we made more progress towards figuring out the phenomenon: Why are bones hard?  Students investigated their questions and figured out that there are unicellular and multicellular organisms.  They figured out that different types of cells have special shapes to help them do their jobs.  Next week students will investigate the question: What is happening inside the bone cell?

Click here to see PICTURES of the students working this week!

Literacy:  Students were very busy in Literacy class this week, creating a comprehensive study guide for the Unit 2 Latin root test! We hope that students' scores will improve, and they will have learned the value of preparation and study!  

English: This week in English class we had a lot of fun with figurative language. We listened to music, we danced, and we sang along to the songs. We used the popular music to discuss how we hear figurative language every day, even if we don't always realize it. We also wrapped up our unit on plot structure and took a unit test on Friday. Next week we will start looking at Greek myths and begin our Greek god/goddess projects.

Math: This week we will be handing out our first Go Figure!  The Go Figure is the monthly real-world project linking to what we are learning in class. It will be due Tuesday, October 31st!  As for our proportionality unit, we will be starting our last topic and getting ready to test.  Worried?  There is a Study Guide/Practice Test on Google Classroom.  Make sure to be completing the nightly homework, practice for improvement.

Garden Needs: Badger team is revamping the garden here at Pennichuck.  As you prepare to do your own fall clean up work at your homes, consider making a donation to our team!  We are looking for the following items in good working condition:

• bow rakes 
• metal shovels 
• a wheel barrow
• cultivators and/or hoes (hand or standing)
• trowels

Please no: pitchforks or sickles!

Many hands make light work, so the goal is to have lots of tools to be used by lots of young, energized students!

Team Update: Week of September 25

Open House: We look forward to seeing all of you at Open House this Thursday, September 28th.  The Badger Team will meet in the cafeteria from 5:00 to 5:45.  

iReady:  Badger students will be taking the Reading iReady test on Monday this week, and the Mathematics section on Tuesday.  We hope to have perfect attendance on those days, to ensure that students complete this work in the time allotted.  Our team has agreed to not assign homework on Monday, so that kids can be sure to get to bed early.  Please encourage your children to fuel up with breakfast, too!  Thanks so much for your help!

Grade Book:   We encourage you to check your child's grades using the family portal.  We are sure that your child can log in.  If you need assistance, please don't hesitate to ask in the office for help with a password.  Additionally, Mrs. Kauffman, our Technology Integration teacher can help you to set up alerts when you visit the lab to sign up for conferences.  

Book Fair: This week Ms. Sand will be running a book fair in the library! Be sure to stop by and check it out. No time to get to the library? Don't worry, click the link for the online store. BOOK FAIR. Ms. Sand will also be in library for both Open House nights this week.

Garden Needs: Badger team is revamping the garden here at Pennichuck.  As you prepare to do your own fall clean up work at your homes, consider making a donation to our team!  We are looking for the following items in good working condition:

• bow rakes 
• metal shovels 
• a wheel barrow
• cultivators and/or hoes (hand or standing)
• trowels

Please no: pitchforks or sickles!

Many hands make light work, so the goal is to have lots of tools to be used by lots of young, energized students!

Class Updates:

Social Studies: This past week we wrapped up our mini unit on Geography. We had our very first mastery assessment on Friday and I was very impressed! Everyone has been doing such a great job so far! This week we will move into a mini unit on Government before we start Ancient Greece. Side note: Keep up with your current events! Make sure that you're watching the news and CNN10!

Science:  We kicked off our first science unit this week.  Students are investigating the phenomenon:  Why are bones hard?  They've done a great job so far!  Look at the pictures to see what they already investigated and figured out.  Next week we will continue our investigations by looking at different types of cells.

Literacy: We are off and running in Literacy class! Students have settled in to the norms of my class, are using the links on their class Google Classroom pages. We have discussed the reading process and are investigating a Junior Scholastic magazine to practice.  They have already completed the first unit of Latin roots and are preparing for the mastery test for the second unit on Friday! Be sure to check out their binders to see all the great work they are doing!

English:  This week in English we have been learning about story structure and focusing in on specific literary elements such as plot, conflict, character, setting, and theme. We read the short story 7th Grade by Gary Soto, and we spent most of the week analyzing this story and making meaning from what we read. This week was also the first week that we started our nightly independent reading. We will be doing some mini-projects with the independent reading books starting next month. Next week we will start discussing figurative language and we will read the poem Oranges by Gary Soto. We will be listening to some music in class to learn how to identify figurative language, and we will use Soto's poem to discuss how to write figurative language. On Friday we will have a unit test on story structure and both pieces by Gary Soto that we have read in class.

Math: We are learning about the constant of proportionality! Don't worry it's a big fancy word for unit rate in the equation y =kx.  If new vocabulary has you in a panic, check out the math notebook or  Google Class.  You will find videos and extra practice for every topic taught also extra copies of the packet and other handouts.  There will be a quiz on Friday 9/29 make sure to study!

Week 1 Update

Team Updates

Agendas: Please check your student's agenda every night! Academics in all classes are in full swing, so students should be doing homework and studying every night.  Some classes even had quizzes this week! It's the responsibility of all students to do the homework practice and come to class prepared. 

Grade Book:  Our rosters are not yet set in X2, so we ask that you bear with us for a few more days. It's most important that the rosters are accurate before we enter grades, as there is risk of data loss if we adjust rosters after entering data.  We will let everyone know as soon as we are all set.  Thank you for your patience with this delay.

Our First Week

What a wonderful start to the new school year! Badger students were engaged in exciting team building activities and accomplished a great deal during just three days!  We teachers were excited to meet everyone and get this year started.  Here's a quick recap of our accomplishments... 

• Agendas: every student was issued an agenda to use DAILY for assignments
• Google Classroom: students have signed into their Math Science and Social Studies classes! Literacy and English are coming this week!
• Lockers: everyone should have one, so be sure to use them!
• Passports: every student was provided with a special composition book which is used to create and track students' personal goals.  The team will refer to these throughout the year to track grades, goals, and behavior.  Students should keep them in their bags at all times. 
• Teachers: students have meet all their teachers! 
• Team Building: throughout the week teachers handed out classroom expectations, we discussed team expectations and we did some fun team building!  See below!

Tarp Flip Challenge

Inspirational Messages

Jenga!

Tarp Flip Challenge

Human Tic Tac Toe

Get ready ... This next week we hit the ground running.  All classes will start teaching  curriculum, so sharpen those pencils,  we're hittin' the books!

Welcome Badgers

Welcome to The Badger Team! 

You have just a few weeks to prepare to be a seventh grade student! The Badger Team teachers are all very excited to meet you, and hope that you’re excited to be a seventh grader! 7th grade is very different from 6th grade - are you ready for the adventure? 

SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST: Don't forget to stock up on pencils, erasers, and pens

Math - Composition notebook, two pocket folder, pencils

Literacy - 1" three-ring binder, 5 dividers, 3" x 5" index cards, and compact storage case

Science - 1" three-ring binder, loose leaf paper, ear buds

English - 1" three-ring binder, 5 dividers, loose leaf paper

Social Studies - two spiral bound notebooks

Team - composition notebook

Optional: scientific calculator, markers (or Sharpies), colored pencils, crayons, colored pens,  Post-it Tabs, and highlighters

**Reminder - you need three 1" binders, one large binder will not work! 

FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH:

For the first time this year, your parents can apply for free and reduced lunch online! Once completed applications are submitted, you will receive confirmation in ten days to three weeks. 

Online Application 

Questions about the Federal Lunch Program can be directed to Doreen Burgess, Food Services Administrative Coordinator, at (603) - 589 - 8599.

MIND REBOOT: 

Get your brains back in action! Here are some ideas to get you thinking again.

• Read a book (or ten)
• Practice your math facts, print free worksheets and try them out
• Review your notes from last year
• Work on your handwriting or color
• Type a letter to a teacher you'll miss this year
• Start waking up earlier 
• Think of three habits to improve as a student this year 
• Complete 5 random acts of kindness for your family or the community

Weekly Update #37 (last one)!

A special message to the team:

Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart for your thoughtfulness, preparation, and planning of a surprise baby shower for our newest badger, Chase.  The thoughtful gifts were hugely appreciated and will certainly get put to great use (I can't wait to dress Ava and Chase in their Wisconsin Badger gear)!  The cakes were tasty, the decorations were vibrant, and the entire event was just perfect.  I especially loved the baby advice from all of my students.  They certainly brought a smile and a laugh to my face!  There are no words to express how grateful I am!  

Thank you, thank you, thank you ALL!

With gratitude,

Mrs. McGuire     

Class Updates

Social Studies: 

Science:   Have a wonderful summer everyone.  It was a great year learning about living things!  

Literacy:  You DID it!  You learned 158 Latin roots.  You figured out the answer to the omnivore's dilemma.  You found a really obscure place to visit, saved a species, and became expert presenters. What's really important is that you learned that thinking is really hard work!  Keep thinking, keep reading, keep learning.  I hope that you all had as much fun learning as I had teaching!  Congratulations, 8th Graders!  Make us proud!  ~ Mrs. Simeone

English:  Badgers! Summer is SO close!  This week marks our last couple days together.  It has been a pleasure teaching you this year.  Your reading, writing, speaking, listening, and communication skills have blossomed over the course of the year, and I am so proud of you ALL!  I will miss you next year, but I promise to stop by and visit with our newest baby badger, Chase.  Enjoy every second of your summer - you deserve it!!!  ~Mrs. McGuire

Math: Have a great summer!