10/31 Humanities

Hello folks,

There has been much going on in the world of humanities since the last update. Students have moved on from the historical examination of the American Revolution and are now shifting their focus to the role of media in revolutions throughout history. We have been using current events, especially those having to do with the theme of revolution, to practice some reading comprehension strategies and are looking at how the newspaper 'revolutionized' (pun obviously intended) the American Revolution. Students have been using primary sources to examine bias in how history is reported. We recently took a look at two famous lithographs of the Boston Massacre as well as two textual accounts of this event and discussed the similarities and differences as we sought to discover the "truth" about this pivotal moment on the road to the Revolution. As we wrap up this skill work, students will be charged with the task of choosing one revolution to report upon and to discuss the role that the media played in that revolution. This project will culminate in either a video or newspaper product that will be shared with the team. Stay tuned.

A reminder that this is the last week of the first quarter and we will spend some time making sure students are up to date with all class expectations. Please make sure you and your child review the spelling progress chart (there is a spot for parent initials).

Tuesday - Revolutionary News packet due
Wednesday - Spelling quiz on lessons 7-8

Science 10.31

Students are learning about food webs and food chains as they study feeding relationships in ecosystems. The mini-ecosystem plan is was due today!

Maths 10.31 Happy Halloween!

7th Grade
Students continue building their expertise at comparing quantities using ratios and fractions. Students should complete both sides of the first page of the pizza tables worksheet.

8th Grade
Students are building skills in graphing and recognizing linear relationships in Problem 1.1. The following practice is assigned: 1ACE #1, 11.

Maths 10.28

7th Grade
Students continue to practice comparing quantities using ratio, fraction, percent and difference in Problem 2.1. No practice is assigned over the weekend.

8th Grade
We started a new unit today. In Thinking with Mathematical Models students will further develop their algebra skills as they model linear and non-linear relationships.

The Filling and Wrapping unit test was returned to students today. Corrections are due on Monday. There will be a meeting on Monday after school for students who wish to make a study plan and prepare for a re-do.

Maths 10.26

7th Grade
Students continue to practice their skills comparing quantities using ratio, fraction, precent and difference. For homework, students should complete Problem 1.3 question A.

8th Grade
Students took the unit test on surface area and volume of boxes, cylinders, spheres and cones. No practice is assigned.

Maths 10.25

7th Grade
This week, the 7th grade is beginning a new unit, called Comparing and Scaling. In this unit of study, students will become skilled in making mathematical comparisons using ratio, fractions, percent and difference. Students will also learn to identify and use unit rates, and use proportions to solve problems.
The following practice is due on Wednesday: Complete 1.2 question B and 1ACE #4-7.

8th Grade
This week, we are wrapping up the unit Filling and Wrapping. Students will take the unit test on Wednesday. Students should complete the study packet to prepare for the test.

Calendar Raffle

For the next couple of weeks, we will be soliciting donations for our February Calendar raffle.  Prior to February, people will buy a calendar and during each day of the month they will have a chance to win a prize.  We already have movie tickets and a couple of Vermont Teddy Bears.  We have already asked several local businesses to donate to this raffle.  We know that we have many awesome parents who work at some very cool places and we are wondering if your place of employment will would consider donating to our cause.  If you have something to offer, please contact Michelle Anemikos at 893-4547 or anemikos@comcast.net or contact Heidi Slayton at sherw05468@comcast.net or contact me at 893-3230 ext. 217 or jsmith3@mtsd-vt.org.

Middle School Dance Friday

This Friday is the Middle School Halloween Dance, from 6:45-9:00. It is $3.00 with costume, $5.00 without.  Because of the football game, students should be dropped off at the back of the school, where the buses drop off and pick up students, and enter at the back door.  Once inside the dance, students are not allowed to leave the dance until 9:00, unless they are being picked up early by an adult.  All proceeds will go towards the Milton Middle School Boston Trip.

THANK YOU! Boston Fundraising Update

The Tag Sale was a big success.   We raised $1228.50 from the tag sale itself.  We also got a $1,000 grant from the The Redducs Foundation.  The grant was a very pleasant surprise.

I would like to thank all of you who help out.  Whether it was through donating items, working at the storage unit, baking goods, setting up, or taking down, without you this event would not have been a success.

I would also like to thank ACE Storage in Milton who so kindly donated their space to hold the goods for our tag sale.  I would recommend that you would support them for your storage needs.

Schwan's raised just over $1,000.

We are now have $23,000 to fundraise.

Thanks!
Joe Smith

Portfolio Binders

To document and celebrate their learning, students will be collecting and presenting artifacts of their learning in student portfolio binders. Each student will need a 1.5" binder dedicated to his or her portfolio. Please have your binder at school by Wednesday, October 26. If this is a hardship, please let us know and we will provide a binder for you.

Help Needed for Tag Sale Saturday

Dear Parents,

The Tag Sale is this Saturday from 9:00 - 3:00.  We need help at the following times.

6:30 - 9:00 Set Up - More information to follow.
9:00 - 11:00 Collecting Money
11:00 - 1:00 Collecting Money
1:00 - 3:00 Collecting Money
3:00 - 4:00 Break Down

We also need baked goods.  You can drop them off at the Tag Sale.

Please contact me at jsmith3@mtsd-vt.org or 893-3230 ext. 217 to sign up for any of these time slots.

Thanks,
Joe

Maths 10.17

7th Grade
Students will take the Stretching and Shrinking unit test on Tuesday. Students should study and practice their skills with similarity, scale factor and adjacent ratios.

8th Grade
Students are learning the relationship between the volume of cylinders and spheres. The following practice is assigned:
3ACE #8-12, 22

Nut Allergy Update

Dear Families of Team Pyxis,

We have a student on our team with a severe nut allergy. Please continue to send healthy snacks to school with your student, but please ensure that the snacks you send do not contain nuts. It is important that we keep our classrooms nut free.

Thank you!

Schwan's Order Pickup

For folks who have not yet received their Schwan's orders: the Schwan's truck will be at the school on Tuesday October 18 from 4:30-6:30. Please pass this along to anyone you know who has not yet picked up their order.

Items Needed For Tag Sale

The Middle School is looking for donated items for the Tag Sale for Boston.

Drop off days are:

At the ACE Storage Units on Landfill Road, Unit # 32 and 47
Wednesday, October 12th from 4:00 pm. - 7:00 pm.
Saturday, October 15th from 9:00 am. - 1:00 pm.
Wednesday, October 19th from 9:00 am. - 1:00 pm.
OR
At the Milton Middle High School
Saturday, October 22nd 7:00 - 10:00

If you cannot make these times, please contact Joe Smith 893-3230 ext. 217 or jsmith3@mtsd-vt.org for alternative arrangements.

Thank you in advance for your support.

10/11 Humanities

Hello all,
I apologize for not updating you on last week's classes. This week, when not in NECAP testing, students will be continuing their work on the book units, taking a closer look at the main characters of the books those characters' motivations. When the books are completed, we will be writing an in-class response to literature about this topic, so students have started organizing their thoughts to that end. It grows even more critical that students keep apace with the nightly readings so they will be able to best show what they've learned about the characters. Thank you for your continued support around this.

In addition to the book units, students have begun delving into the first writing trait - ideas. We have taken a look at some benchmark papers and debating their merits in this trait. Students have passionately argued their positions and it's giving us all a better sense of what makes a strong written piece in terms of its ideas. We will soon revisit a piece that was written earlier this year and revise it along these lines. Ask your child what the difference is between snorkeling and scuba diving.

As always, feel free to be in touch with any questions or concerns.
Jana

Maths 10.6

7th Grade
Students continue to grow their skills in using scale factor, adjacent ratios and angles to identify similar figures and find missing measurements. The following practice is due on Friday:
4ACE #1, 3, 4

8th Grade
Students continue to build their expertise in surface area and volume of cylinders. There is no specific practice assigned, but students should be completing at least 20 minutes of work from their checklist each night.

Huge Tag Sale to Support Boston Trip

Dear Parents,

On Saturday, October 22nd, we will be holding a tag sale at the Milton Middle School from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. This will be in conjunction with Milton Elementary School's Team Expedition's tag sale being held at the Elementary School. The idea is to create a "Come to Milton" campaign to visit our two gigantic tag sales. Here is how you can help.

1) Clean out your house, garage, shed, barn, closet, attic, car, office etc. and donate any gently-used goods to the tag sale. Items can be dropped off at Ace Storage, Unit # 14 on Landfill Road in Milton. People will be there to collect goods on:

Wednesday, October 12th from 4:00 pm. - 7:00 pm.

Saturday, October 15th from 9:00 am. - 1:00 pm.

Wednesday, October 19th from 9:00 am. - 1:00 pm.

You can also drop goods off at the school on October 22nd from 7:00 am. - 10:00 pm.  

If these times do no work for you please contact me, Joe Smith, at 893-3230 ext. 217 or email jsmith3@mtsd-vt.org to make alternative arrangements.

2) Help collect donations at Ace Storage at the above times. We need someone to unlock the unit and be there while people bring their items.  

3) Help set up the day of the tag sale. Set up will take place from 6:30 am – 9:00 pm. We will be looking for a truck to help move the goods from the storage unit to the school.

4) Help break down the tag sale. Breakdown will be from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm.

5) Bake delicious food. Please drop off at the school on the 22nd between 8:30 am and 12:00 pm.

6) Spread the word. Let your family members, friends, and co-workers know about the tag sale. Post on Facebook, Tweet, or any other place where people will see it. Encourage them to donate goods and to shop on the 22nd. One person's refuse is another person's treasure.  

7) Shop at the tag sale and find all those hidden treasure.

Please remember that we are asking all 8th grade families to participate in at least three fundraisers. Here is an excellent opportunity for you to participate for those of you who are not comfortable going door-to-door selling items.  

Please contact me to let me know how you can help.  

Thanks,

Joe Smith

jsmith3@mtsd-vt.org

Follow the Mitlon Middle School Boston Trip on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Milton-Middle-School-Boston-Trip/

NECAP Testing Wednesday and Thursday

7th and 8th grade students will be taking NECAP tests on Wednesday and Thursday. To be most prepared for doing your best, please remember to:

• Eat a healthy breakfast;
• Bring a water bottle and drink lots of water;
• Bring a book to read for when you finish the test.

Come to school ready to give your best effort. We know you'll do great!

Science 10.3

Today students began researching how to write scientific procedures. Be sure to have completed the first two questions of the wiki page before class on Tuesday.

Maths 10.3

7th Grade
Students learned about using ratios to find side lengths of similar figures. For practice, students should find the "unit ratios" for the Fish worksheet.

8th Grade
Some students reviewed finding surface area of a box today. For practice, students should find the surface area of all of the boxes in Problem 2.3.
Other students are learning surface area and volume of cylinders, using a guided checklist. Those students should complete at least 20 minutes of work tonight.