News from 8-I

8-I Blog - April/May 2014

Mr. Conover's Math classes have been working on exponents.  We have been working on multiplying and dividing simple monomials.  We are going to be getting into more difficult monomials including those with negative exponents, tougher coefficients, and even powers of powers.  It's going to be an interesting couple of weeks to finish off the school year!  Stay tuned!

Mr. McIntyre's English class is currently reading The Lighting Thief.  The is looking at how events and character types can help us to identify the theme.  The class is also using the novel to review concepts covered earlier in the year.  For example, the class has looked at sections of text to identify tone and mood, as well as literary elements such as foreshadowing.  Students have also written summaries of selected chapters.  In the future, the students will be analyzing the differences between the novel and the film.

Mrs. Quinones’ Social Studies classes are quickly passing the time, not only outside of class, but inside as well.  We completed the Westward Expansion project, completing the map of the United States to fulfill our Manifest Destiny of having all land from sea to sea.  Now we are laying the foundation for the Civil War.  It didn't just happen overnight!

Students are counting down the days until we visit Washington, DC.  We are excited to travel to the nations capital, hoping to tour the monuments as well as visit a few of the museums.  Who knows?  With any luck we will see the president!

Student Council and PSO are hosting the 8th grade evening dance this week.  It's funny how the students call it "formal" yet we have always said it's just an evening dance.  Regardless, the teachers love chaperoning this dance to see our students dressed up.  It's sure to be a nice evening full of dancing, snacks and photo ops.

Student Council will be having Penny Wars the week of May 12th.  This year the money raised will go to the Make a Wish Foundation.  So start cleaning out those sofa cushions!  Pennies are positive while all other money is negative points.  The team with the highest points will earn a reward from Student Council.  Good luck to all of our Junior High teams but my money is on 8I.

Ms. Eckert’s English classes are experiencing the culture and times of the 1960’s as they read S.E. Hinton’s novel The Outsiders. This coming of age story is always a memorable way to end the year with our 8th graders, as they truly can identify with the peer pressures of social groups, who just happen to be called Greasers and Socs.  Look for your child to mention that we had a classroom rumble and that he/she needs to find 1960’s clothing in order to dress up for Soc Day, meaning dress like a “prep” (Tuesday, May 20th) and Greaser Day, meaning dress like a “hoodlum” (Wednesday, May 21st). Both dress up days will be fun and even earn students extra credit, should they go to the trouble to bring our book alive in the halls of the JRHS. We will end the year comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences between the novel and the movie!

Mr. Stambaugh’s Health classes

are researching and preparing a powerpoint presentation on a specific organ of the body. As we begin learning about individual systems, the students that have organs in those systems will present their findings to their classmates. This will continue until all the systems of the body are covered!

Mrs. Kelly’s Science classes have finished up their chapters on earthquakes and volcanoes and are starting the geologic history unit.  So far, they have learned about half life and radioactive decay using licorice and M & M's.  They will also be making personal timelines to compare to geologic history and will need help identifying some key points in our lives as 8th graders.  After this chapter, students will learn about astronomy and oceanography for the remaining time in the school year.

Mrs. Morgan’s Math Classes…

In Algebra AB, we are working through the rest of the material in our curriculum to get ready for our Keystone Exams which will take place on May 15th and 16th.  Only students in the Algebra AB class will be taking the Keystones.  In Algebra 1A, we are busy learning how to write linear equations given any information about a line.  In Pre-Algebra 2, we just finished a unit on graphing and we are now working on an Exponent Unit.  Most students are keeping up with the work, but some are starting to think summer is already here.  Have you seen a homework record for math class lately?  If you have any doubts as to whether or not your child is keeping up in math class, please check your child's record.  This is an example of a homework record that we like to see.

In Mrs. Strayer’s Academic Literacy class students are writing posts on our new class blog site as a forum to share their opinions, to practice and improve argumentative writing skills and to give and receive feedback to and from their peers.   Ask your child about his or her class blog to learn more about class discussions and reading assignments!  Students are also analyzing forms of media for its effectiveness in delivering information. We will be considering print media, the Internet, and listening to audio of notable speeches for their effectiveness in delivery and influential qualities and techniques.  Of course, not to be left unscrutinized is the blog itself - A modern day vehicle of expression for every man and woman.