Mrs. Hoover’s ELA classes are enjoying reading Pay It Forward", Young Readers Edition, by Catherine Ryan Hyde.  It is a heartwarming and thought-provoking novel that tells the story of a young boy named Trevor McKinney who embarks on a mission to change the world through simple acts of kindness.

The story is set in a small town in California, where Trevor's social studies teacher, Mr. Reuben St. Clair, challenges his students to come up with an idea that will make a difference in the world. Inspired by this assignment and the concept of paying forward favors, Trevor devises a plan: he will do a good deed for three people and instead of asking for something in return, he will ask them to "pay it forward" by doing favors for three other people.

Trevor's acts of kindness set off a chain reaction that touches the lives of strangers in unexpected ways. From helping a homeless man to repairing relationships between family members, Trevor's simple yet profound idea spreads throughout the community, bringing hope and healing to those in need.

However, as Trevor's project gains momentum, it also faces challenges and setbacks. Not everyone is receptive to the idea of selflessly helping others, and Trevor's own life is touched by tragedy and adversity. Yet, through it all, Trevor remains determined to continue his mission, believing that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a difference in the world.

Through its engaging narrative and compelling characters, "Pay It Forward" explores themes of compassion, empathy, and the interconnectedness of humanity. It challenges readers to reflect on the power of kindness and the impact that each individual can have on the world around them.

Overall, "Pay It Forward" is a poignant and uplifting story that inspires readers to look beyond themselves and find ways to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Calling all parents of future geologists! Buckle up, because our sixth-grade scientists are officially done riding the tectonic plates – literally! We've learned much of what there is to know about continents crashing, mountains rising, and the occasional earthquake (don't worry, they were all simulated!). But fear not, earth enthusiasts, our journey through the Earth's secrets isn't over! For the next few weeks, we're taking a deep dive (figuratively, of course) into the fascinating world of rock transformations. Get ready for some serious "meta"morphosis (pun intended!), as we explore how these seemingly ordinary rocks can morph into sparkly gems, or even the very building blocks of your house! We can't wait to see the look on their faces when they discover their favorite skipping stone could hold the key to unlocking Earth's history! Just a heads-up, you might find some interesting "specimens" popping up in your backyards soon – after all, every rock has a story to tell! 

 I am thrilled to share the exciting news that our students just completed a fascinating journey to explore the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia! Mesopotamia, often referred to as the "cradle of civilization," is a region located in present-day Iraq and parts of Syria and Turkey. This unit of study gave students a unique opportunity to delve into the rich history, culture, and achievements of this ancient civilization. They learned the ancient writing system of cuneiform and actually made their own cuneiform tablets! They also created storyboards to illustrate main accomplishments of the Mesopotamian empires! 

We just finished our geometry unit, and we are ready to begin our algebra unit. The students seem super excited to finally get to this point. Every unit that we have done so far this school year will help us solve inequalities and equations. The students will be able to see how solving math logic puzzles and figuring out the value of objects is related to solving inequalities and equations for unknown variables.  Below is an example of a math logic puzzle that we have solved this year.  Ask your student to show you how to solve it!