Friday 3/15

Grade Level News for 6th Grade

As we enter the home stretch of this academic year, we want to remind our South Forsyth Middle School (SFMS) Eagles and their families about the importance of adhering to our RISE expectations. SFMS is committed to Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), a school-wide system designed to foster a positive learning environment. This system sets clear expectations for student behavior and provides consistent consequences for inappropriate actions across all classrooms and school settings. "RISE" encapsulates the core values we expect all SFMS Eagles to embody: Responsibility, Integrity, Safety, and Empathy. These principles guide our students not only in academic pursuits but in all areas of school life, ensuring a supportive and respectful community for everyone. As we approach the end of the school year, let's all renew our commitment to these values, helping our students soar to success with responsibility, integrity, safety, and empathy.

Upcoming Dates:

3/15 - Student Holiday
4/1 - 4/5 - Student Holiday
4/22 - Milestone 6th ELA Sec. 1
4/23 - Milestone 6th ELA Sec 2 & 3
4/24 - Milestone 6th Math

English Language Arts News

This week, students will continue reading our novel, “Among the Hidden.” Throughout our reading, we have been diligently analyzing and annotating for figurative language, sensory language, characterization, and elements of plot. Students are preparing for their cold-read summative assessment, scheduled for this Friday, March 22nd.

Math News

Accelerated:

Beginning the week of March 18, Accelerated Math will begin their study of three-dimensional figures with a focus on prisms and pyramids. We will wrap up our study of Geometry before Spring Break.

It is the time of year when we begin working on math placements for next year. To qualify for Accelerated Math in grade 7, students must have a course average of 85% (first and second semesters averaged together). I have sent an email to the parents of students who are currently below this cut-off. I will begin making phone calls to parents the week of March 18. We have quite a few more summative exams and quizzes left in the semester so students still have an opportunity to improve their grade.

Please re-stock your child's supply of pencils. Many students also seem to also be running out of paper. Thank you for your support!

Here are the important dates coming up in Accelerated Math:

March 19: Geometry Performance Task (summative grade)

March 22: Expo Day

March 25: 3D Geometry Quiz

March 29: Geometry Summative Exam

April 1-5: Spring Break

April 24: 6th Grade Math Milestone Exam

Advanced:

This week, we're continuing our exploration of Unit 6 - Geometry. Throughout this unit, we've been focusing on various aspects of geometry, including areas of squares, rectangles, triangles, parallelograms, and composite figures. Additionally, we've been diving into the world of surface area, exploring calculations for prisms and pyramids, and integrating fractions into our volume calculations. We recently completed Quiz 2, which tested our understanding of surface areas. Looking ahead, our Unit 6 test is scheduled for next Tuesday, March 19th. We will begin Unit 7 - Statistics on Wednesday, March 20th.

Please remember that help sessions are available weekly during Flex Time. Students should sign up using the Student Support Time app in ClassLink. Additionally, BETA Club is offering free weekly tutoring sessions in the Media Center on Thursdays at 8:00 AM.

Important Dates:

Unit 7 Quiz 1 - Measure of Center and Dot Plot! Tuesday, 3/26!
Unit 7 Quiz 2 - Dot Plot, Box Plot, Frequency Tables and Histogram! Thursday, 4/11!
6th Grade Math GMAS - Wednesday, 4/24!

On-Level:

Important Dates:

Unit 7 Quiz 1 - Measure of Center and Dot Plot! Tuesday, 3/26!
Unit 7 Quiz 2 - Dot Plot, Box Plot, Frequency Tables and Histogram! Thursday, 4/11!
6th Grade Math GMAS - Wednesday, 4/24!

Science News

6th grade scientists have been exploring the hydrosphere on Earth. We started with learning about where all the water is on Earth and then moved on to the water cycle. Students will get to spend one day as a water molecule and move through the water cycle. It’s always interesting to see where they travel! Our summative for this unit will be on March 27th!

What runs, but never walks?
– Water!

Social Studies News

This week in Social Studies:

We began a new unit on the region of Latin America learning about its geography such as where important political and physical features are located.

Be on the lookout this week and next for formatives on maps and various geographic topics such as where people live in Latin America and environmental issues that effect Mexico and Brazil.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Enrichment

6th grade Enrichment we continue to work through Paired Texts and using specific strategies to answer multiple choice questions – including highlighting key words and text proof. Our vocabulary strategy is working with a new online program called MEMBEAN – all of our students are enrolled, ask them to show you how this works! We finished our agenda check and have a binder check coming up soon – so encourage your student to stay organized or reach out to us for help if needed!

Connections News

Healthcare Science:

6th and 7th grade will be learning about The healthcare CTSO HOSA.

8th Grade will be exploring the integumentary system and beginning a body systems amusement park.

HOSA chapter Meeting for 6th and 7th Grade Chapter meeting will be held on March 22st. If you are interested in an opportunity to become an officer, it is very important to attend this meeting. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Kauffman at f22003@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Marketing:

March DECA Meeting is 3/26/2024 @8:00AM in the New Media Center Classroom

Can you find the Leprechaun?

Art:

Year Long Advanced Art Applications for rising 8th graders are due on 3/29. Late Applications will not be considered. Use the link below to find more information about the course and view the application:

https://sites.google.com/forsythk12.org/sfms-advanced-art?usp=sharing

Band:

Symphonic Band Music for All Send-Off Concert-March 19-7:00 PM-SFMS Gym
Symphonic Band Trip to Indianapolis-March 20-24,2024 to perform at the Music for All National Festival
Lambert Band Auditions-March 23rd-Lambert HS-For Students Attending lambert and continuing in band
Lambert Auditions-March 28-Lambert HS-For Symphonic Band Students Unable to Attend Auditions on March 23rd
No Band class on March 29-All Instruments go home on March 28.

Counseling Corner

We all face different challenges throughout our lives, however middle school seems to be a time where we encounter more changes and challenges than usual. In fact, adolescence is often described as a developmental period of “storm and stress”. When we think back to our time as an 11-14 year old, our thoughts are usually: “I’m so glad I was able to make it through,” or “Wow, middle school was a weird time.” In many ways, middle school is the time where we learn a lot of important life skills that will serve us well into adulthood. Resilience is one of those key things we learn as we navigate this unusual time. “Resilience is usually defined as the capacity to handle adverse experiences constructively, to recover from them, and to integrate them in a way that allows the person to find growth and meaning as they move forward in life.” Please see this article for some helpful strategies for teaching your child to overcome adversity.

Nurse Notes

Important Update: The CDC changed the Covid-19 quarantine period from 5 days to 24-hours fever free, without the use of fever reducing medications, as well as an overall improvement in symptoms. With this announcement, FCS has updated their Guidance Related to Viruses and Infections document which can be found on the district website under Student Support – Health Services – Health Related Resources. All illnesses (including respiratory viruses/infections) will have the same guidance related to returning to school and/or work. This is consistent for both our students and staff.

Below is a link to the CDC with “Respiratory Virus Guidance Update” FAQ if you’re interested in reading more.

https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/faq.html

PTO Updates:

South Forsyth Middle School PTO Events

presents: Enchanted Forest 8th Grade Dance

Fri, Apr 19, 2024 at 7 p.m.

Purchase tickets, here: https://gofan.co/event/1358820?schoolId=GA13659_1

Early bird pricing is 2/18-3/16 ($25)

Regular pricing is 3/17-4/10 ($30)

8th Grade Signs

Order a graduation yard sign for your favorite 8th grader! Deadline to order is March 31st. Signs can be picked up at the 8th grade dance as well as a date following the dance.

https://sfmsyardsigns.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Parent Volunteer Opportunities:

Sign up HERE if you would like to volunteer throughout the school year.
We love our SFMS teachers! To our new parents, Welcome!! Each month we try to do something special to let our teachers know all of their hard work is appreciated! This second 1/2 of the year we would like to cover lunch duty on the following dates with volunteer parents:
- - April 18- International Potluck provided by parents

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080944AEAC28A4FB6-48538520-international

Volunteers stand in the cafeteria for an hour and let the kids know when to head back to class. You will be with 7 other volunteers and maybe get to embarrass your child! It is super easy! This gives the teachers a quiet time to enjoy lunch and it is a much appreciated way to give back. If you can’t come during school hours, please consider donating soft drinks for our teachers. You can send these in with your student and drop off at the main office. There is a slot for these on the sign up as well.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080944AEAC28A4FB6-47010609-sfms

2024-2025 PTO Officer Slate Communication

Please find attached here with the names of incoming SFMS PTO 2024-25 board members.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1r3mZEkHlXhQ_V766i-87tkmEIKgRHoSP/edit?usp=drive_link

Look for a code coming soon to allow parents to vote in person and online beginning Monday, March 25 to Thursday, April 11.

THANK YOU

Thank you to Sheba Naqvi, www.baldridgefamilypractice.com, for providing Wednesday's lunch for our teachers and thank you to all of the parents who volunteered during Duty Free Lunch!

Students will be familiarizing themselves with the platform used for Georgia Milestones End of Course and End of Grade Tests. Feel free to access this site with your child to get used to the testing platform.

http://www.gaexperienceonline.com/