• Happy New Year!  As we approach Groundhog Day, let's hope General Beauregard doesn't see his shadow, and we have an early spring!  In 7th Grade ELA, students have begun Unit 4 on Argument Reading and Writing.  Students will be exploring "the final frontier".... SPACE!  

• Our unit will focus on space exploration and students will be reading informational texts on the topic of space exploration, its benefits and its consequences.  Then, students will write an argumentative essay (based upon conclusions from textual evidence gathered in their reading) as to whether we should continue to invest in space exploration or are there other priorities we should focus on?  This topic is always an engaging one and creates a good deal of debate in the classroom!  Student formatives include reading argumentative text and tracing a writer's argument for claim, reasons, evidence, counterclaim/rebuttal, and call to action.  

• The essay will be a summative grade and will be due February 14 Valentine's Day (because after all... what says "love" other than an argumentative essay?).  Stay warm! 

7th Grade Math is working on Geometry and the Pythagorean Theorem!

Below are our upcoming assessment dates. Please continue to check Canvas for any updates.

7th Grade Math: 2/9 - Angle Relationships Test

7th Grade Advanced Math: 2/6 – Angles and Circles Test

7th Grade Accelerated Math: 2/ - Pythagorean Theorem and Volume Test

What is a birds favorite type of math? Owl-gebra 😊

7th Grade Science has finished Unit 4: Genetics, and we are moving into Unit 5A: Classification! Students will learn about what characteristics define a living thing, and how we classify living things into groups. Here are some upcoming key dates:

• Friday, February 2nd – Unit 5A Vocabulary Quiz

• Friday, February 9th – Receive and Work on Unit 5A Test Study Guide

• Thursday, February 15th – Unit 5A Test

A Science Joke: Why was the mushroom so popular? He was a real fungi!

This week students have either been working on a summative India project or have been watching the Gandhi movie, depending on their Social Studies teacher! We will wrap up India history next week and then transition into government and economics.

Important Dates: 

• India History Quiz (1/31)

• India Summative (2/7)

7th Grade Enrichment will be working on the following:

-We will be wrapping up learning about prepositions and prepositional phrases as part of our Slaying Grammar unit.

-Students will continue working on their Creative Writing assignment and add prepositional phrases to their story.

-Next, we will be learning about the various types of pronouns (personal, possessive, interrogative, relative, demonstrative, indefinite, reflexive & intensive)

DECA

DECA State Competition is February 1-3, 2024!

Go Eagles!

Healthcare Science: 

6th and 7th grade will be learning about the Healthcare Science CTSO, HOSA.

8th Grade will be exploring the Cardiovascular and Respiratory systems.

HOSA's SLC practice times are available during Flex.  HOSA chapter Meeting for 8th grade is scheduled for February 8th.  The 6th and 7th Grade Chapter meeting will be held on February 15th. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Kauffman at f22003@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

PE

As we move into week 3 of the new year, the students have been playing games and working on their fitness components. With the temperature this time of year being chilly, we do encourage the students to bring in warmer clothes for dressing out. Please help your child to remember to bring their PE uniforms to school on Mondays and home to wash on Fridays.

 Athletics – The track and golf seasons will begin in February. If your child is interested in trying out for either sport, they will need a current physical on file before tryouts.

Art

Advanced Year Long Art as an 8th Grade Connection:

Advanced Year Long Art is an connections class that is available to 8th graders only. The space in this class is LIMITED. To be accepted into the course:

• Students must submit an online application by 11:59 PM on 3/29/24 

• Students must apply in the spring of their 7th grade year

• Students must follow all directions on the application

It is not required, but highly recommend, that interested 7th graders sign up for one of Ms. Shoemake's Advanced Art Application Help flextime session in the month of February. Ms. Shoemake will explain what the course entails, how to access the online application, how to submit the application, and how the application will be scored.

To receive a link to the application, students should pick up a flyer from the art room (525)

Band:

Band is working toward several major performances in the coming weeks.

• Sixth-Grade Band is working to finish our work in Essential Elements by March 1 and has begun working on our Technique Builder #3 as well as some supplemental materials. Students need to finish Stripe 4 by January 31, if they have not already done so. 

• Sixth-Grade Advanced Band is meeting before and after school in preparation for performances in March. Here is the schedule Sixth-Grade Advanced Band Information and Dates. This list can also be found on the Canvas Calendar and at www.tinyurl.com/sfmsbandcalendar2. 

• Seventh-Grade Band and Eighth-Grade Bands are preparing for their performances at the GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation in March. The assigned music can be found here: Spring 2024 SFMS Band Listening References and Repertoire Lists. The schedule of performances and rehearsals can be found on the Canvas Calendar and at www.tinyurl.com/sfmsbandcalendar2.