The sixth grade students worked with factors, common factors, and greatest common factors this week. They also explored multiples, common multiples, and least common multiples.

The seventh graders reviewed for and took their Chapter 1 Math test this week. They will move on to Chapter 2 (Real Numbers) next week.

The eighth grade students learned how to transform numbers written in scientific notation into whole numbers or decimals. They also learned how to round numbers to a predetermined amount of significant figures.

6th Grade
History came alive this week for the sixth graders! They explored the survival capabilities of early hominins through their textbook, watched documentaries that traced the lives and first expressions of early humans, and capped off the week with an exciting trip to the Natural History Museum. There, students had the unique opportunity to study and even touch artifacts connected to early hominins. A special thanks goes to Chaperones Todd, Gary, and Eric for driving and making the trip extra fun.

7th Grade
The seventh graders dove deeper into the world of Ancient Rome, studying the many inventions and innovations that emerged during the Pax Romana. They were especially fascinated by the engineering feats of aqueducts, ancient pools, and early laboratories. To bring history to life, students are preparing for their first project—recreating a Roman invention or innovation.

8th Grade
The eighth-grade class wrapped up their presentations on Native American tribal cultures before transitioning into the era of Spanish exploration and colonization. They examined the voyages of Christopher Columbus, thoughtfully discussing their impact on Indigenous peoples. Through these conversations, students explored and defined key terms such as colonization and systems of influence and oppression, deepening their understanding of this important period in history.

6th Grade
As we move through the early weeks of the year, the sixth grade has continued their studies of weather and air movement. The movement of air masses is the cornerstone of all weather across the planet. Through heating and cooling, humidity and dryness, and differences between the Northern and Southern hemispheres, some rules remain the same: weather is caused by high- and low-pressure systems. Next week, the class will take a deeper dive into what makes these pressure systems work.

7th Grade
The life science class has been spending their time learning about the flow of energy through the environments and ecosystems of the world. As seventh graders, they were all in a hurry to reach the top of the trophic level, but they were surprised to learn that those levels only go four or five tiers high. The reason is the loss of energy as it travels from the sun through the food chain. Coming up, the class will take another look at biomes and the elements known as biotic factors.

8th Grade
Eighth grade has been all about movement, energy, and force. There are so many forces, including the strongest force in the universe - one just strong enough to flap a mosquito's wings. Gravity is a force that remains constant for all of us, and our weight is simply the force of gravity acting upon our mass. As the class found, the weight of an object has very little to do with how hard gravity pulls on it. With the introduction of force, the class is moving quickly toward a project using all of Sir Isaac Newton's laws of motion. Keep an eye out - and have a towel handy.

8th Grade
This week, the eighth graders embarked on the challenging but rewarding process of writing persuasive essays. They began with brainstorming sessions that pushed them to think critically about issues they care about, weighing multiple perspectives before deciding on their stance. While the process was mentally demanding, it set the stage for developing strong, well-supported arguments.

7th Grade
The seventh-grade class sharpened their analytical skills with a close reading activity focused on conflict in Sharon Flake’s The Skin I’m In. Students explored how different types of conflict—internal and external—shape characters and drive the narrative forward. Their discussions reflected a growing ability to cite textual evidence and think deeply about character motivations.

6th Grade
The sixth graders continued their journey into the post-apocalyptic world of Lois Lowry’s The Giver. Building their academic vocabulary, they practiced identifying and citing key terms from the text, which helped them uncover deeper layers of meaning. In addition, they began brainstorming for their very first narrative essay, learning how to transform their ideas into compelling written stories.

This week in music, middle schoolers focused on rhythmic notation and reading rhythms. They played several rhythm games to practice both their listening and reading skills. Students identified rhythms that they heard as well as clapped the rhythms as they read them. They played a game of Poison Pattern, where they had to memorize a pattern and remember not to clap that pattern among the different patterns they were presented with. Next week, they will continue their exploration of rhythm by learning to dictate the rhythms that they hear.

This week in PE, students continued their year-long focus on fitness with activities to build endurance, strength, and teamwork. Alongside their fitness work, they continued the unit on frisbee throwing as they incorporated it into the fast-paced and exciting game of Capture the Frisbee! This game combines strategy, speed, and skill, challenging the students to work together while sharpening their throwing and catching techniques. It’s been a week full of movement, fun, and growth!

6th Grade
The 6th graders were off campus this week for their field trip, so they did not have a technology session. Their coding journey will continue next week when we return to the lab.

7th Grade
Our 7th graders dove into a thoughtful discussion about algorithms — what they are, how they’re built, and the impact they have in everyday life. They also examined abstractions, learning how complex processes can be simplified into more manageable steps. This helped them connect abstract thinking in coding to real-world systems they encounter daily.

8th Grade
In 8th grade, students explored the use of parameters within functions. They saw how parameters allow a single function to adapt and handle different situations by passing in new values. This gave their code greater flexibility and efficiency, strengthening their ability to write programs that are both powerful and adaptable.

This week in Art, 6th graders added their creative contributions to the Buddy Bench, bringing personality to this special community project. Meanwhile, 7th and 8th graders created vibrant marigold paintings as part of their studies of Día de los Muertos and explored paintings inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat, an influential Latino artist known for his expressive style and powerful cultural themes.