The sixth-grade students learned about base numbers and exponents this past week. In addition to learning the difference between standard and expanded form, they learned how to evaluate expressions with exponents while avoiding the common error of thinking that base numbers and exponents should be multiplied together. The seventh-grade students learned how to construct factor trees to find the prime factorization of a number and also reviewed how to find the greatest common factor (GCF) and least common multiple (LCM) of a number. The eighth-grade students continued their work on learning how to simplify expressions that included numbers, all four operation signs, parentheses, exponents, and square root symbols.

6th Grade
The sixth-grade students traveled back over 2 million years, exploring the early hominins who first walked the earth. They also learned about the roles of social scientists, such as paleoanthropologists and archaeologists, who uncover evidence of life long ago.

7th Grade
The seventh-grade students brought history to life by dramatizing the assassination of Julius Caesar, marking the fall of the Egyptian Empire and the rise of Rome. Next week, they will explore the many achievements of the Pax Romana.

8th Grade
This week, the eighth-grade students explored their place of origin as part of a Native American Tribe project. They are researching and presenting on a tribe connected to their parents’ birthplace, making history both personal and meaningful.

Science at all levels is about building on the information that students have already learned. All grades took part in a review of the scientific process and scientific measurement. The more students learn, the more they understand that there is always more to discover.

6th Grade
This week, the sixth-grade Earth science students began learning about the weather and the atmosphere. There was some surprise in the class when they discovered that oxygen is only a small portion of the air that we breathe. It is within the lowest layer of the atmosphere where all the world’s weather takes place.

7th Grade
The seventh-grade life science students spent the week learning how living things are classified in a process called taxonomy. In their first lab, they learned how the scientific name of each organism allows science to identify a single species and all the things to which it is related. Next week, the students will begin their first project.

8th Grade
The eighth-grade physical science students began exploring the terms and formulas that define movement and measurement. They learned that although the words speed and velocity are often used interchangeably, they are scientifically different.

6th Grade
This week, the sixth-grade students continued working on their TILE assessments and previewed their first book of the trimester. To kick things off, they completed an anticipatory set for Lois Lowry’s The Giver.

7th Grade
The seventh-grade students wrapped up their TILE assessments and began unpacking this unit’s vocabulary and spelling words. They also read the opening chapter of Sharon Flake’s The Skin I’m In, their first novel of the trimester.

8th Grade
The eighth-grade students completed their TILE assessments and launched into a language unit on complex sentences. They also created mind maps to organize ideas for their Capstone Project and began exploring the world of Arnold Spirit in Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

This week, the sixth- and seventh-grade students began studying a new Spanish curriculum that will allow them to build a strong foundation for mastering the language next year. Lesson 1 focused on ¿Cómo te llamas? (“What’s your name?”). The students became familiar with singular personal pronouns (Yo, Tú, Él, and Ella) and the conjugation of the verbs llamarse and ser. During class, they practiced the grammatical structures with each other through questions and answers.

This week, the eighth-grade students continued learning about how Spanish speakers greet each other, with a focus on developing speaking skills. They created conversations using previously learned vocabulary while incorporating new phrases, which enriched their spoken expression.

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students learned about Antoni Gaudí, one of the most famous architects in the Hispanic world. They studied his three most important architectural works: La Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, and Park Güell. The students also watched educational videos that provided additional details about Gaudí’s work. One video demonstrated how he achieved balance in the columns of Park Güell through a design inspired by natural elements, a technique the students tested in an experiment conducted at the end of class (as shown in the attached photos).

This week in Middle School Music, students reviewed music theory concepts and continued their exploration of the the ukulele. They tested their music reading and writing skills in teams during a game of jeopardy. On ukulele, students reviewed their first chord (C) and learned two new chords (Amin & F). Students practiced alternating between chords and using different strumming patterns while doing so. Middle schoolers then put the three chords together, and with a basic strumming pattern were able to play along to a couple simple popular songs!

This week in Middle School PE, the students continued to focus on fitness with a mix of indoor and outdoor activities that kept them moving and engaged. In the gym, they worked through a variety of fitness stations. Outdoors, they completed sprint workouts, including a game of Sharks and Minnows that challenged speed and reaction time. A major highlight of the week was the first round of the FitnessGram PACER test, where the students pushed themselves to set a baseline and made goals to improve their scores. It was a great week in PE, and the effort the students are putting in is awesome!

6th Grade
The sixth-grade students made an exciting connection between music and coding this week. Using Code.org’s Music Lab, they explored how loops in code are similar to how music producers loop samples to create beats and rhythms. Just as a song can repeat a catchy hook, a loop in code can repeat instructions to build structure and flow. The students experimented with layering sounds and rhythms, giving them a hands-on way to see how programming and musical creativity can go hand in hand.

7th Grade
The seventh-grade students continued to develop their Digital Time Capsule projects. These projects serve as both a personal reflection and a creative showcase, capturing who they are at this point in their lives. The students refined their digital artifacts, whether through writing, images, or design choices, while also learning how to present their work with clarity and impact. Each step of this process is helping them build not only technical skills but also an appreciation for preserving their stories in a meaningful, lasting way.

8th Grade
The eighth-grade students applied functions to their Turtle Bot coding explorations. By grouping repeated sets of instructions into reusable functions, they learned how to make their code more efficient and easier to understand. This approach mirrors how professional programmers structure complex projects. The students experimented with giving their Turtle Bots new capabilities, from drawing intricate designs to performing creative movements, all while strengthening their understanding of abstraction and problem-solving in coding.

This week in Art, middle school students dove into two exciting projects that combined color theory, abstraction, and self-expression. First, they studied the work of Sonia Delaunay, known for her bold use of color and geometric forms, and created vibrant collages inspired by her signature style. They then shifted to exploring Cubism by examining the life and work of Pablo Picasso. Using what they learned, students designed self-portraits that embraced Cubist principles, fragmented forms, multiple perspectives, and expressive shapes, to reflect different sides of their identity. Both projects invited students to think critically about artistic influence while experimenting with composition and personal voice.