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!

Team Activity

Here is the link for the activity that the jellyfish class started today.  Have fun!

http://hattifant.com/empowering-endless-cards/

Weekly Update #36

Protect our Endangered Species!

Team Updates

The Badgers have spent lots of time this year working in our wonderful library.  Mrs. Sand, our incredible Librarian, has build a fantastic website for our PMS library, and works tirelessly to support our students by supporting the teachers in our building.  She's an incredible asset to our school, and we are most appreciative of all that she does to make our learning experiences more valuable. Click here to check out the Library's Stats! 

Garden Needs: Badger team is revamping the garden here at Pennichuck.  As you prepare to do your own spring 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: Summer is almost here! Next week we will wrap up our performance task on the Renaissance Man and take a look at World Religions. Take some time this weekend to review your notes on the Renaissance Man to ensure that you're ready to finish your essay Monday.

Science:   We are looking forward to the Endangered Species Campaign Presentations next week.  Please remember to do your homework this weekend for our "project" next week.  Clip, Clip, Clip!!

Endangered Species Campaign

Literacy:   Students have become great slogan writers, and have learned many fantastic technology skills!  They should practice their presentations this weekend for an audience!  They should be sure to speak in a clear voice, with great volume, and remember that they should avoid the words LIKE and UMMMMMMM!  Practice, and don't forget the Grand Finale Clipping Project for Literacy.  Ask your students about this!

English: We have officially finished reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer!  Many students have already returned their books back to Mrs. McGuire, but there are still some missing.  Please remember to bring them back to school so they may be collected!  This upcoming week is the last FULL week of school, and students will be busy!  In English, Badgers will be taking their end-of-year Cornerstone assessment, working on their e-portfolios in the computer lab, and finishing their district writing reflections. 

Math: We have finished with our instruction for the percent unit.  Reminder that a practice test and a task card review set is located on Google Class!  The final test for the year is on Wednesday June 14th come prepared.

Weekly Update #35

Team Updates

Seacoast Science Center Trip:  We could not have had a more glorious day to be at the rocky shore of the Granite State!  It was sunny, cloudless, warm and breezy.  We were all very proud of our students who behaved like great representatives of Pennichuck Middle School.  Be sure to ask your students to share the highlights of their experiences!  Many thanks to our wonderful chaperones, who were so willing to climb on the rocks, and help our students have an enjoyable day.  We are most appreciative of your time and attentiveness.  We hope that you enjoyed spending a lovely day with your children and their friends in this extended classroom!   

Garden Needs: Badger team is revamping the garden here at Pennichuck.  As you prepare to do your own spring 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!

Silver Knights Field Trip: The Badger team will be attending the Silver Knights field trip at Holman Stadium on Tuesday, June 6th from 10-2:30 PM.  

Class Updates

Social Studies: Next week we will wrap up our unit on the Renaissance. Students should study and organize their notes over the weekend as they will have a Mastery Assessment on Monday and then will start their final Performance Task on Friday. Busy times are ahead but summer is near!

Science:   Next week in science, students will be researching their endangered species and preparing a presentation.  Use the link below for resources and project directions.  This is an interdisciplinary project with Literacy.  Ask your students at the end of the week to practice presenting it to you.  We can't wait to see the presentations!

Endangered Species Campaign

Literacy: As Mrs. Tino has said, next week is all about the Save a Species Campaign project.  Every Badger student will be afforded two full class periods per day to research, using technology as well as print materials from the library!  Certainly, those who are truly committed to the project will continue their work at home!  We are expecting the projects to be of exemplary quality!  

English: It's a very busy week in English! Students will be submitting their creative writing projects tomorrow, as well as taking their last vocabulary quiz!  We're also going to read the last five chapters of the book.  Perfect timing!  Over the weekend, Badgers were assigned reading homework; they should ALL be on chapter 31 by tomorrow!  We still have much to do before the year ends!  

Math: The Markup/Markdown quiz has been changed to Monday.  Please be sure to come prepared. There are extra practice pages and instruction videos posted on my Google Class. We will be covering our last topic, simple interest at the end of the week.  The year isn't over yet!  There will be a test on our Percent unit June 14th!

Weekly Update #34

Team Updates

Happy Memorial Day!  Be sure to stop by the Memorial Day parade Monday morning and support our Pennichuck band!

Garden Needs: Badger team is revamping the garden here at Pennichuck.  As you prepare to do your own spring 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!

Reading Challenges: Reading challenges are due no later than May 31st.  So far, we've only had 40 reading challenges returned to Mrs. McGuire.  These were distributed to students back in March.  It is our hope students will complete more independent reading over the weekend and submit their paperwork!  Students, this is your way of earning a FREE ticket to the Silver Knights game!!

Silver Knights Field Trip: The Badger team will be attending the Silver Knights field trip at Holman Stadium on Tuesday, June 6th from 10-2:30 PM.  Students must submit their field trip forms, as well as lunch and ticket money no later than May 31st.  Remember, students can earn a FREE ticket to this event just by reading -- see above!!

Spirit Week: Awesome job dressing up and participating in spirit week, Badger Team!  A HUGE shout-out goes to Monet S., Kaylee M., and Audrey R. for going out last week and purchasing spirit gear for students and teachers!  We are so proud of these young ladies -- they spent their own money and helped spread school spirit.  Your thoughtfulness was incredibly appreciated, ladies!  Nice job!

Class Updates

Social Studies: Students spent most of the week learning about culture during the Renaissance. They took a look at all the different types of art throughout the time period and we spent an entire day learning about the fascinating history of Leonardo da Vinci--The Renaissance Man. Ask your child about the many talents that Leonardo da Vinci had!

Science: My Favorite Animal Slide Project is due on Tuesday.  Late projects will receive point deductions!  Thursday is our field trip.  Students and chaperones need to remember to pack a lunch and dress for the weather.  No flip flops!  Everyone needs good shoes/sneakers for navigation on the rocks.  Friday we will start our interdisciplinary project with Mrs. Simeone.  

Literacy: Remember - the final exam on the Latin root curriculum will be given on Tuesday! Students have been preparing all year for this exam.  They've been working on review units for the past two weeks, and we have been presenting the fantastic Omnictionary slide shows, too!  Lots of review.  Over the weekend, students should remember that to do well on the test, you must think. Enjoy the long weekend!

English: We're almost finished reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer!!  We have about ten chapters remaining, and a majority of this reading will be done at home.  In school, students will continue working on their Tom Sawyer creative writing projects.  Ask them about their project choice!  Over the weekend, students should be studying vocabulary words for section four, as there will be a quiz early next week! 

Math: Go Figures are due Tuesday!!  This is the last on of the year, celebrate!  Next week is crazy but, we will be quizzing on discounts, tax and markups on Friday.  Be ready, if you're not there is extra videos and practice pages on Google Classroom.  Get yourself ready!

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 #33

Team Updates

Yes, the pollen is everywhere, leaving a yellow green coating on everything, and causing our entire population to sneeze.  Our classrooms are running short of tissues for the kid's noses - so if you can spare a box or two, we'd appreciate it.  And yes, the pollen is a nuisance, but just think of what we'd lose if we didn't have pollen and bees!  

Spinner Toys:  These devices are toys.  Spinners and slime have become major distractions to the process of learning this spring, and Badger teachers will ask once for them to be put away, and confiscate them if they are seen subsequently.  Please encourage your students to leave all toys at home!  

Garden Needs: Badger team is revamping the garden here at Pennichuck.  As you prepare to do your own spring 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!

Reading Challenges: Your reading challenges are due no later than May 31st.  Don't forget to get your signatures!  This is your free ticket to the Silver Knights game in June!  Happy reading!

Silver Knights Field Trip: The Badger team will be attending the Silver Knights field trip at Holman Stadium on Tuesday, June 6th from 10-2:30 PM.  Students must submit their field trip forms, as well as lunch and ticket money no later than May 31st.  Students: remember you can earn a free ticket to this event just by reading!

Class Updates

Social Studies: Students wrapped up our unit on the Middle Ages by completing a performance task essay regarding Feudalism. Everyone did a great job! Towards the end of the week, we got just a taste of our upcoming unit: The Renaissance. This unit is one of my favorites as it is so rich with culture. We'll pick up where we left off this upcoming week.

Science:  We started our Ecology unit last week.  Students are working on a Rocky Shore Ecology Project right now.  They will learn about the organisms that are able to live and survive in the intertidal zone and about energy flow in this ecosystem as well.  Permission slips and money are due.  Please remember to bring them in!  Students are also working on their Favorite Animal Slides.  They are due on May 30th!  They need to be in ON TIME!  

Literacy: WHEW!  The giant, year long Omnictionary slide show project is officially a wrap!  Every student should have submitted their Google slide show to their Google classroom by 3:00 pm today!  (Don't worry Sturgeon students... no WiFi this morning, so you have until 9:00 pm this evening!) In other breaking news, we have begun to review for the final exam on Latin roots!  Review worksheet followed by a review quiz today, and two more next week - all in an effort to remind students of all that they have learned.  The final exam is scheduled for May 30th and May 31st.  Don't forget to get your permission slips for Silver Knights signed!  Have a fantastic weekend!

English: Badger students worked on I-Ready this week and did a great job!  We will continue Monday and conference individually once scores are available.  Can't wait to see the growth from the fall and winter assessments!  Students in English also completed iPhone and Instagram activities for Tom Sawyer.  Students focused on analyzing dialogue and visualizing specific scenes from the plot for these activities.  This weekend, students should review vocabulary words for chapters 16-22, as there will be a quiz on Monday, May 22!  

Math: We are still working on our percent unit.  We will be finishing up percent of change and moving onto markups and markdowns, known to most as discounts! We will be doing some smart shopping actives to find the best deal!

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 #32

Team Updates

Spinner Toys:  These devices are toys.  Spinners and slime have become major distractions to the process of learning this spring, and Badger teachers will ask once for them to be put away, and confiscate them if they are seen subsequently.  Please encourage your students to leave all toys at home!  

Garden Needs: Badger team is revamping the garden here at Pennichuck.  As you prepare to do your own spring 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!

Reading Challenges: Your reading challenges are due no later than May 31st.  Don't forget to get your signatures!  This is your free ticket to the Silver Knights game in June!  Happy reading!

Poetry Pages: These are due to Mrs. McGuire no later than May 15th, as she would like to display them for the Spring Celebration of Learning, which takes place on May 18th.  

Celebration of Learning/Spring BBQ: We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, at our Spring BBQ and Celebration of Learning.  We encourage everyone to come into the building to see the wonderful displays of work on the walls!  We have our Earth Day bus and the posters celebrating 7th Grade in the main hallway, as well as the magnificent Word Art displayed in the cafeteria!  

Class Updates

Social Studies: Over the weekend, please have your child review all their materials on feudalism. We will start off our week working on an essay in regards to feudalism. We will spend two days on this assignment as it is a performance task and will have a major impact on their grade. On Wednesday, we will start our unit on the Renaissance!

Science:  Next week in science we will be wrapping up the Adapt & Evolve Unit.  Students will have a review on Wednesday and Test on Thursday.

The Badgers Team is planning a field trip to the Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne State Park in Rye, NH, for June 1, 2017.  We will leave school by 8:30 and return by 2:30, so that students will be able to take their regular buses home.

This field trip will culminate several life science units, and will allow students to expand their knowledge of invertebrate animals, classification, ecology and genetics as outlined by the NH Curriculum Frameworks for Science.  With the guidance of the Science Center’s naturalists, students will have the opportunity to identify animals in their natural habitat, the tide pools of a rocky shore.

The cost of the program and transportation for the field trip is $20.00 per student.  Students for whom the field trip cost presents a hardship should inform Mrs. Simeone or Mrs. Tino as soon as possible.  If you paid for the cancelled English field trip in the fall and did not request reimbursement at that time it is indicated on the back of the permission slip and you DO NOT owe any money for this field trip.

Students have two choices for lunch on this field trip.  They can bring their own lunch or order a lunch from the cafeteria.  The sunbutter sandwich bagged lunch will be charged to the student’s account.  Please indicate your student’s choice on the back of the permission slip.

Thank you for completing and signing the permission slip and returning it to school with cash or a check made payable to Pennichuck Middle School NO LATER THAN May 25^h.  If this payment deadline presents a hardship, please don’t hesitate to contact one of us.

Literacy: Students will continue to read The Omnivore's Dilemma, while practicing taking Cornell style notes. Final versions of their Omnictionary slide shows must be attached to Google Classroom by Friday, May 19th,  and presentations will begin on Monday, May 22nd.

English: This week, students will be continuing The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.  We also begin I-Ready testing!  Students, please try your best and reflect upon your goals from the fall!  Don't forget to submit your poetry pages on Monday, May 15!  These will be displayed for our spring celebration of learning on Thursday, May 18!

Math: We are completing our i-Ready testing for the year on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We have gone over students Fall and Winter data and set goals for our Spring data.  They should know by the end of the week their growth for the year.  After testing we will resume our Percents unit.  Be sure to check in on the Google Classroom if you are struggling for extra practice and instructional videos.

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.