Welcome to the Middle School Blog! Every other week the Middle School Team will post a classroom update in this space to help parents stay connected to the ongoing learning happening in the middle school hallway.
God Bless,
The Middle School Team
General Updates
1. Remember to check the Middle School Homework Site @ https://sites.google.com/stpiusxschool.org/middleschool
Daily assignments will be update by teachers each afternoon by 4pm!
2. We continue to have great participation in the Pius Academy program so far this year! Thank you to those who have been taking advantage of this great program!
For those interested in attending Pius Academy in the future, it’s offered on Tuesday afternoons from 3:00-3:45pm. Pick up takes place outside the main doors of the school (west doors).
3. SPX Gala Service Hour Opportunity:
The SPX Gala could use help with setup and cleanup of the annual school auction!
Setup will take place Friday, Feb, 1stfrom 4:30-6pm and Cleanup will take place Sunday, Feb. 3rdfrom 9-11am.
Students interested in volunteering should contact Mrs. Howard at Christine.howard0422@yahoo.com
Thank you for your help!
4. Alter Server training will take place on Sunday, January 2oth from 1-3:00pm for interested students! Check out this link for information and sign-up!
Teacher Updates
6thgrade & 7B Language Arts with Mrs. Bartscher
6th Grade- The sixth graders are continuing to read Where the Red Fern Grows. In addition to working on comprehension, literary analysis, and vocabulary, we will continue working on “constructed response” writing as they apply these skills to writing tasks associated with our novel. In grammar, we will be studying nouns over the next couple of weeks.
Today was the halfway point of the trimester for Accelerated Reader. Next week, I will conference with students about their goal for the rest of the trimester.
7th Grade- The seventh grade students are continuing to read The Outsiders. After reading each chapter, we analyze and discuss the plot, characters, and other literary devices. Students also do work with the vocabulary words from each of the chapters. They will also continue to work on their constructed response skills when answering questions about their reading. In grammar, we are working on a quick noun unit to review that part of speech.
Today was the halfway point of the trimester for Accelerated Reader. Next week, I will conference with students about their goal for the rest of the trimester.
Mrs. Bartscher
6-8 Math with Mrs. Gipple
6th Grade Math
The chapter we are working in right now is all about fractions! We worked with 2 methods of finding least common multiples and then used those as common denominators in order to add and subtract fractions. We also worked with 2 methods of subtracting mixed numbers with unlike denominators. Then we put fractions into 1 step variable equations and solved them. Students will take a quiz on these concepts tomorrow, Fri, Jan. 11th.
Next week we will work on multiplying and dividing fractions and mixed numbers and then we will work with variable equations again with fractions in them. The 2nd quiz will tentatively be Fri, Jan 25th.
7th Grade Math
Since we've been back from break this class has started some work with percents, as well as, the relationships between fractions, decimals and percents. We have also worked on solving equations by using properties of rational numbers. The quiz over these concepts is tomorrow, Fri, Jan. 11th.
Next week we will work more with percentages. We will find the percent of change, and focus on real world situations where percents are applied. Students will even learn how to calculate simple interest, sale prices, mark ups, and sales tax. The quiz over these concepts is tentatively Wed, Jan. 23rd.
7th Grade Pre-Algebra
Yesterday this class took a quiz over signed fraction operations, those scores can be viewed on Powerschool. Now we will work with signed decimal operations and finding mean, median and mode with signed fractions and decimals. The 2nd quiz will be next Friday, Jan. 18th.
8th Grade Pre-Algebra
Since we've been back from Christmas break we have been working in our Geometry unit. So far we have worked with angle pairs and their relationships, diagrams formed by parallel lines and transversals, and properties of triangles. Next week we will work with coordinate geometry and then take a quiz over these concepts on Thurs, Jan. 17th.
8th Grade Algebra
Just before break this class took their mid-year final and overall, they did very well on it! Those scores were submitted to Dowling to be used to help place students in the correct math class for next year. You can see their scores on Powerschool.
Since we've been back from break this class has been working on writing and solving systems of linear equations. We have learned 3 methods for solving these systems: graphing, substitution and elimination. We will work on applying systems and take a quiz over these concepts next Tuesday, Jan 15th.
Please let me know if you have any concerns or questions.
God bless,
Mrs. Gipple
6-8 Religion with Mr. Tallman
Did you hear about Mr. Tallman’s Class Twitter Account?! He’s up to 61 followers! Are you one of them? Make sure to check it out at @MrTallmansClass
You’ll get lots of extra information about what’s happening in our middle school religion class!
6th grade:
Our 6thgrade classes have been busy learning about the Liturgical Year this week! We’ll continue this study next week as we begin to look at the meaning of the various colors used during the liturgical year!
7th grade:
The 7th grade class did great on their Vocation Unit! I was very pleased with their scores! This week the 7thgrade has been doing a Liturgical Calendar Scavenger Hunt in class! We’ll wrap this up next week, before we look at the importance of the feast days and Holy Days we celebrate throughout the liturgical year!
8th grade:
The 8thgrade has sent out nearly 50 letters inquiring about saint relics! And we’ve already received three replies! We’ll keep you updated as we hear back about these letters!
Have a blessed weekend!
Peace,
Mr. Tallman
6-8 Science with Mrs. Erickson
Quick science reminder: science notes, worksheets, unit overview sheets, and other resources are always available at https://sites.google.com/view/mrsericksonscience.
6th Grade: In sixth grade we just finished talking about Earth’s interior and how it has shaped the continents we know today. We are now moving onto the rock cycle and more with the surface of Earth. Today we will prepare to make two different types of crystals which are forms of sedimentary rocks. Next week we will do a lab about weathering, erosion, and deposition, another way sedimentary rocks are formed. We will also take a look at metamorphic and igneous rocks. Our test for this unit will be on January 22.
7th Grade: We just finished talking about protists with a test today. Our next unit will be a very short unit over Fungi. For our fungi unit we will discuss how fungi are grouped, how they reproduce, and how they impact our lives as humans. Our test for this short unit will be around January 22. After we finish Fungi we will move into our discussion of plants which will be broken into two parts. Our first unit on plants should wrap up around the beginning of February.
8th Grade: Eighth grade is just starting our unit on physics which will take us into March. The first portion of our physics unit will be about motion. Today we will be having a motion marathon with a few activities where we will time each other at multiple distances on a short course. We will use these measurements to discuss concepts of speed, velocity, and acceleration. This unit is also a great cross-curricular unit bringing in math with graphs and calculations to explain these concepts. Our motion unit will wrap up with a test around January 22.
Mrs. Jaci Erickson
6-8 Social Studies with Mr. Klein
6th Grade
We have been looking at the Mayan civilization, along with this, we are in the process of writing an essay on why the Mayan civilization collapsed. The essay is due on Tuesday, January 15. After that, we are going to spend the rest of January looking at the Incan civilization.
7th Grade
The students have been split into groups and given the task of researching a global issue. We will spend one day a week the next several weeks to conduct some research on their topic. Their task is to provide information for the rest of the class during a presentation. While we are not researching, we are looking at different issues that are affecting the world.
The students have been split into groups and given the task of researching a global issue. We will spend one day a week the next several weeks to conduct some research on their topic. Their task is to provide information for the rest of the class during a presentation. While we are not researching, we are looking at different issues that are affecting the world.
8th Grade
We are wrapping up our Civics unit by looking at the differences between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. After that, we will begin learning about Manifest Destiny, and how the American people began to travel around what would become the United States.
Mr. Klein
7T & 8th grade Language Arts with Mrs. Pedersen
Hello Parents,
I hope you all had a fun-filled Christmas break and enjoyed time with family and friends. We are getting back into the swing of things here at school. I'm looking forward to the second half of the school year. As always if you have any questions or concerns about anything, please don't hesitate to send me an email or give me a call.
7th Grade - Students are continuing to read The Outsiders. Students read the chapters in class and then we discuss the plot, characters, and other literary devices. Students also do work with the vocabulary words from the chapters. Students continue to work on their constructed response skills when answering questions about their reading. In grammar, we are working on a quick noun unit to review that part of speech.
Today was the halfway point of the trimester for Accelerated Reader. Next week, I will conference with students about their goal for the rest of the trimester.
8th Grade - Students finished up a verbs unit this week and took a test on Thursday. Students learned the different principal parts and tenses of verbs. They also learned how to conjugate verbs. Students have been working on pre-reading activities for To Kill A Mockingbird. Students are working on a presentation with a partner. They are researching events in history that led to equal treatment of all people under the law. Students will create a slide show and present it to the class next Tuesday, Jan. 15. We will begin reading the book at the end of next week.
Eighth graders are required to read a biography/autobiography for second trimester. They will complete a nonfiction literature response form about the book they read. The book does not have to be AR. Some students have already read their book, and some are still deciding which book to read. Please check in with your child to see how they are doing. They may need to go to the library. Please let me know if you have any questions about this.
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Pedersen
Middle School Library with Mrs. Reister
Middle School Brown Bag Book Club will be held during Unit 3 lunch on Feb. 6th. We are reading Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt. If interested, students can sign up for the Brown Bag Book Club in the library. Students will need to read Tuck Everlasting before the meeting on Feb. 6th.
Reminder for Middle School Battle of the Books Students! Continue reading and practicing author's names! The Winterset Battle of the Books competition will be held on Sat. April 6 at Winterset Middle School.
Thanks!
Mrs. Reister
Middle School Band with Ms. Walter
Happy New Year and a late welcome back to school!
This week, all band students performed at the All-City Winter Band Festival. At this festival, students had the opportunity to rehearse music in three separate bands with members all across the diocese the day of the festival. That night, all students performed in their individual ensembles (5th grade, 6th grade, and 7th/8th grade) and then played Dowling's fight song with a combined Dowling High School band. There were over 500 band students throughout the diocese present at this concert, and they all did an excellent job! It was incredible hearing all the students so committed to music throughout the diocese, and gives all students a chance to reflect on where they are in their band education and how far they can go. I was so impressed with our SPX students and their willingness to help others and be flexible throughout the day. Congratulations to all students!
Looking ahead, we will soon be performing with Drake's pep band at a men's basketball game! The game is on February 19th, and there are $5 tickets available if you buy it online using the code STPIUSX. All are welcome to come see the game! If your band student would like to play with Bulldog Brass at the game, sign them up using the following link: https://goo.gl/forms/2SeRAXAEJ4FzyTuf1
-Ms. Walter
Middle School Spanish with Mrs. Schoessler
In Spanish 1B, 8th graders are currently learning detailed vocabulary on sports; the verbs jugar, saber and conocer. The students have been noticeably applying prior knowledge to their current unit- and it is evident that they understand how important it is to have a strong foundation. Studying the vocabulary, reading sentences from their notebook, looking at and studying grammar sheets of verbs etc would be very beneficial to them. If you aren’t seeing any of this at home on a nightly or a few times a week- I would encourage it! Placement exams are just around the corner and students need the practice, more practice than what we get at school.
In Spanish 1A, students are learning the verb -ir (to go), and are creating sentences using school vocabulary and city locations. We are also learning the value of estar(to be) and students should be able to describe how they and others are feeling; and also where something is located.
In 6th grade Exploratory Spanish, students are also learning school vocabulary. They are able to tell us what is in their backpack, including the color of those items. They are getting used to putting adjectives after the nouns they are describing- something that is just the opposite in English!
-Mrs. Schoessler
Thank You for reading the SPX Middle School Blog!
Our next blog post is scheduled for Friday, January 25th, 2019
