March 6, 2026 NEWSLETTER

Track and Field:

Practice: Begins Monday, March 16 3:10-4:30 PM

Google classroom code: gio3c5sf

Track T-Shirts: Due by April 2.     Jump code: COGU

MEETS:

Saturday Meet Start times:  8:00AM-High Jump, 8:30AM-Long Jump & Shot Put, 9:30AM–Running Events ***Please arrive at least 30 minutes before the event  start time for warm-ups.***

• April 11  (Saturday)-At UBT Stadium/Northwest High School

• April 18 (Saturday)-At UBT Stadium/Northwest High School

Wednesday and Thursday evening meets: Warm ups 3:45-4:00, 4:15 Field Events start, 5:15 Running Events start

• April 23  (Thursday)-At Lincoln Southeast  High School Track

• April 29  (Wednesday)-At Lincoln Northeast Track

• Order of Events: Field events first followed by running events, 1600m, Hurdles, 100m (including unified heat), 400m, 200m, 800m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay

ALL CITY LPS CHAMPIONSHIP MEET:  

• MAY 6, Wednesday-Field Events (High Jump, Long Jump & Shot Put) Start time/Place TBD

• MAY 7, Thursday-Running events-Start Time: 4:15  @ UBT Stadium/Northwest High School

As we wrap up another busy quarter, I want to take a moment to recognize all the hard work our students have put in. Middle school is a time of growth, learning, and big changes — and each student has shown resilience and effort in their own way.

Spring Break is a wonderful opportunity to rest, reflect, and recharge. I encourage students to take time away from assignments and screens to relax, spend time with family and friends, get outside, and do something that brings them joy. It’s also a great time to reflect on goals, celebrate progress, and think about what they want to accomplish in the final stretch of the school year.

When we return, we’ll be ready to finish strong together. Wishing all of our families a safe, restful, and refreshing Spring Break!

Mr. G

We are currently learning about the Mongolian empire. The focus of our learning is how environment shapes culture and lifestyle. The Mongols lived a very simple life with very few resources, yet were able to grow into a powerful empire. As we continue our learning the conversation will then shift into considering how the Mongols were able to overcome what would seem like massive disadvantages to still be able to flourish and grow in power and influence. That will involve looking at primary sources that give us insight into what kinds of strategies allowed them to be successful militarily, how they were able to unite their society given how they were traditionally more isolated tribes of people, and other tactics that played a role in their success as an empire.

The "Poetry Lab" is an 11-day, inquiry-based unit for 7th graders that explores the Essential Question: "How do poets use constraints—like rhythm, shape, or rhyme—to set their ideas free?". The unit begins with a "Forensic Lab" Gallery Walk, where students act as "Rule Hunters" to deconstruct unlabeled poem samples and hypothesize the "Golden Rules" or structural DNA of various forms. Using a hybrid approach of analog journals for "messy" brainstorming and digital submissions for milestones, students progress through a drafting workshop that includes "Poetry Clinics" for non-judgmental peer feedback. The unit culminates in the creation of a "Teaching Poster" featuring an original poem and a labeled "anatomy" diagram, which students present to their peers during a final "Poetry Expo"

Math 7: In Chapter 8, Part 1 & Chapter 9, we will build and compare shapes. Students will learn about the relationships between the diameter and circumference of a circle, as well as calculate the area of circles. They will compare how surface area and volume are related, and use a physical model to see the surfaces of a prism. The next test will take place on April 1st.

Math 7D: In Chapter 7, students will make and interpret circle graphs, learn about graphs that compare two sets of data, and use scatterplots and linear graphs to make observations and predictions based on association/correlation. The next test will take place on March 25th.

We have spent the last 2 weeks learning about what goes into and out of plants and what parts of the plant are involved in this process. We learned how to use microscopes so we could see the different plant parts that are involved in making food molecules (our current hypothesis).  When we return from spring break, we will dive into the process of photosynthesis and respiration and how these processes allow plants to make their own food.

Upcoming Assessment:  Unit DCA will be on  Tuesday, March 24th.

Students just finished Unit 2 about the Communication Model and celebrated the end of the unit by learning how to play the card game called Spoons. They read the written instructions and worked as a group to learn and teach each other the game.  You could ask them to teach you how to play at home.  You’ll need a deck of cards and some spoons. 

For Unit 3, the Essential Question is “What does performance poetry allow us to reveal about important issues?”  First, students will be memorizing and performing a 15 line poem with props, costumes, facial expressions, gestures, inflection, and eye contact.  Later, we’ll move to writing slam/performance poetry about issues students personally care about.  

Please reach out if you have questions about anything.   Now is the best time for students to be working on improving their grades if they’re low instead of waiting until the last minute.   This is a quarter long class and it ends Friday, March 6th.   

World Language students are now in their second unit of the quarter.  In the Spanish unit, we focused on the alphabet, animals, calendar, colors and numbers.  In the French unit, we are focusing on fashion, numbers, the calendar and clothing.  Students will be able to write a sentence about a piece of clothing that they are wearing and include the color.

Current Unit: We are currently working on our Radial Symmetry Unit where students looked at art around the world to find examples of radial symmetry. We also looked at contemporary artists Kristen Farr, Gabriel Schama and Shona Wilson who create modern radial designs in their work. Students then focused on shape and line to create their own radial designs which will be painted in acrylic paint this month. 

Looking Ahead:  

Up next, students will start their clay unit focusing on Pop Art! Stay tuned. :)

Students finished their unit on Google Docs earlier this week and are currently working on assignments for the Google Slides unit, where they have been doing a mini research project on a state and putting their information into a google slides presentation. Next week, they will be doing research on famous person and presenting their information to the class in a Google Slides presentation. 

Rewards Plus: We just finished Unit 9 where we used a variety of reading and writing strategies and skills along with a story and information about atoms and molecules.  When we get back from break we will be starting Unit 10 and reviewing the many reading strategies and skills that we have been focusing on to prepare for the NSCAS March 24-26. 

Rewards Secondary: We just finished Unit 7.1 learning about refugees and incorporating reading and writing.  When we get back from break we will be reviewing reading strategies and skills to prepare for the NSCAS March 24-26.

****Please encourage your child to read at home, practice fluency and practice spelling.