Standard and Advanced

Students in standard and advanced ELA are approaching the end of Unit 1: “The Consequences of Human Choices.” After completing our cold read summative test on Thursday, we will be wrapping up our novel studies and starting our summative multimodal project comparing two of the texts we read this unit. For this project, students will be tasked with explaining how characters’ choices create ripple effects that shape their own lives and the lives of others. Our students have shown great merit during this narrative unit, and we can’t wait to see how their critical thinking skills continue to grow during our informational unit after fall break. 

Enhanced

Students in Enhanced ELA are wrapping up Unit 1: The Art of Suspense.  We took a deep dive into four different classic pieces of literature, analyzing the narrative techniques used by authors to create suspense. Currently, students are busy crafting their own stories of suspense, implementing the literary techniques they've learned to engage readers and build tension.  

We will begin Unit 2 next week, right before fall break!

In Unit 2: The Making of a Hero, students will explore how cultural values and beliefs shape the concept of heroism through the study of mythology and ancient literature.

In this unit, we will be:

Reading & Analyzing Literature: Students will read selections from Homer's classical epic poem, The Odyssey.

Exploring Big Questions: They will investigate the thematic question: "How do cultural values and beliefs impact portrayals of heroism?"

Examining Ancient Greek Culture: Students will identify specific Ancient Greek values (such as xenia / hospitality, loyalty, hubris, and fate) and analyze how these values define what it meant to be a hero in that era.

Writing a Literary Analysis Essay: As a final writing product, students will craft a formal essay demonstrating how the Greek Hero's Journey reflects broader cultural beliefs and societal expectations.

Queridos parents and guardians,

Spanish 1 students are moving into the end of Unit 1. They are learning how to communicate about school, including what supplies they need, what classes they like and don’t like, and their schedules. They have also been assessed in reading, listening, and speaking. In the coming weeks, we will continue to develop all of our communication skills with project based learning. 

All Spanish students will also be learning about the positive contributions of Hispanic people during Hispanic Heritage Month, which is from September 15th – October 15th.

Every day counts as your student becomes more proficient in Spanish, so studying a little bit each day will add up to major progress over time. Thank you for your support of our Spanish classes!

Please take note of the following upcoming assessments:

Summative Project will be due the week of October 12th; see individual teacher’s Canvas pages for more details.

*Other quiz dates may vary by teacher. Please be sure to check our Canvas pages.

8th Grade Standard Math

Here is a quick look at what’s coming up in 8th-grade math as we finish out Unit 1:

• Current Focus: Solving literal equations and real-world inequalities

• Unit 1, Part 2 Test: Thursday, September 24th

• Please continue to check our Canvas course page for resources, calendar updates, and daily lesson links. The U1P2 Test Study Guide and answer key will both be posted later this week.

• Looking Ahead: We will begin Unit 2: Linear Relationships and Functions right after Fall Break.

Algebra 1

In Algebra, we are working on everything linear in our new unit!  Students are solving mulit-step linear equations and inequalities.  They are also graphing and learning all the key features of graphs that we will be reenforcing through the year.  The quizzes for this unit are scheduled for the 16th and the 25th and the test is scheduled for after break on October 7th.  Students will have their study guide prior to the break to prepare.  As always, check Canvas for details. 

Accelerated Algebra 1 & Geometry A

Here is a quick look at what’s coming up in Accelerated Math as we begin Unit 2B:

• Current Focus: Systems of Equations/Inequalities

• Upcoming Quiz: Systems of Equations Quiz - Friday, September 25th

• Unit 2B Test: Wednesday, October 7th

• Please continue to check our Canvas course page for resources, calendar updates, and daily lesson links. The Unit 2B Study Guide and answer key will both be part of their packet, which they will receive on Monday.

• Looking Ahead: We will begin Unit 3: Key Features of Functions right at the beginning of October, after finishing our current unit.

We are officially in the third unit of the 8th grade year.

Current Standard

SPS1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information from the Periodic Table to explain the relative properties of elements based on patterns of atomic structure. 

a. Develop and use models to compare and contrast the structure of atoms, ions and isotopes. (Clarification statement: Properties include atomic number, atomic mass and the location and charge of subatomic particles.) 

SPS2. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to explain how atoms bond to form stable compounds. 

a. Analyze and interpret data to predict properties of ionic and covalent compounds. (Clarification statement: Properties are limited to types of bonds formed, elemental composition, melting point, boiling point, and conductivity.) 

b. Develop and use models to predict formulas for stable, binary ionic compounds based on balance of charges. 

c. Use the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature for translating between chemical names and chemical formulas. (Clarification statement: Limited to binary covalent and binary ionic, containing main group elements, compounds but excludes polyatomic ions.)

Unit 3 Is all about ions, isotopes, and bonding. Students will learn how to differentiate between ions and isotopes. They will learn how to bond elements together to make new substances, and they will learn how to name chemical  compounds based on the IUPAC Nomenclature rules.

Upcoming Standards

Unit 4: Balancing Chemical equations and Radioactivity

SPS3. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to support the Law of Conservation of Matter. 

a. Plan and carry out investigations to generate evidence supporting the claim that mass is conserved during a chemical reaction. (Clarification statement: Limited to synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, and double replacement reactions.) 

b. Develop and use a model of a chemical equation to illustrate how the total number of atoms is conserved during a chemical reaction. (Clarification statement: Limited to chemical equations that include binary ionic and covalent compounds and will not include equations containing polyatomic ions.)

SPS4. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to explain the changes in nuclear structure as a result of fission, fusion and radioactive decay. 

a. Develop a model that illustrates how the nucleus changes as a result of fission and fusion.

b. Use mathematics and computational thinking to explain the process of half-life as it relates to radioactive decay. (Clarification statement: Limited to calculations that include whole half-lives.) 

c. Construct arguments based on evidence about the applications, benefits, and problems of nuclear energy as an alternative energy source.

Throughout Unit 4, students will learn about the conservation of mass through balancing chemical reactions. They will learn to differentiate between the four main types of reactions: synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, and double replacement. Students will also learn about the pros and cons of nuclear energy and the difference between fission and fusion. Finally, students will learn how to calculate for the half-life of radioactive materials.

Upcoming Dates

September 23: Unit 3 Quiz #2

September 25: Unit 3 test

September 28- Oct 2: Fall Break

October 7: Informational text #3 ( graded) 

October 15: Unit 4 Quiz #1

October 21: Unit 4 formative assessment

October 23: Unit 4 Test

Please note that this class moves extremely fast. Please remind your child to sign up for help sessions if he or she gets overwhelmed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child’s teacher.

For the next 3 ½ weeks, Georgia Studies classes will analyze Georgia's role in the American Revolutionary era. Students will learn why Georgia played a relatively minor role (compared to other colonies) during the American Revolutionary War. We will explore how Georgia's role expanded once it joined the Patriot cause. As we study the effects of the American Revolution in Georgia, students will learn a history that includes men and women who challenged British authority at a potential cost to themselves, their families, and their businesses.  Students will gain a greater understanding of the fight for independence and how the war ultimately changed the course of Georgia as a state and as part of a new nation. Throughout the unit, students will be assessed formatively on their notes and vocabulary before an end-of-unit test. The unit will conclude on October 21st with the end-of-unit assessment. For specific quiz dates, please refer to Canvas.

Physical Education:

Just a reminder, quarter 1 has started! For any student that has PE for 1st quarter, PE Uniform attire is grey shirt and black bottoms. If you have purchased a shirt, shorts, etc. on School Pay; your child will pick this up in class on one of the first days of the quarter. If your child needs a uniform, it can be purchased on School Pay. Please make sure your child has a grey shirt and black bottoms for the uniform as well as athletic tennis shoes for class every day. 

**If you purchased a PE uniform on School Pay this year, but your child is not in PE this quarter, they will received their PE uniform on the first days of the quarter when they have PE.

Please remind your child to lock up all their valuables in the locker room. Lockers and Locks are available for students to use. 

Marketing

Students are working on creating new products and launching an advertising campaign to coordinate. 

6th grade - Oreos

7th grade - Pop Tarts

8th grades - Lay's Chips 

At the end of this unit, we will celebrate with food (because who doesn't love food!) Please help us out by sending in packs of Oreos, Pop Tarts and Chips. We will take any flavors, but the idea is to have an assortment of new limited edition and interesting flavors. Please send in items by next Wednesday, September 23rd. 

DECA

Membership for DECA has closed. Both a parent permission slip and payment were due on September 5th. If your child submitted both of these by the deadline, then they will be invited to the DECA course on Canvas. How wonderful it is that we have over 140 students interested in being a part of this club! So, we truly are at capacity, and we are not accepting any more new members. 

Meetings will be held during a student's flex time. There will be a meeting posted on Student Support Time for students to sign up for. They will not be automatically pulled for the meetings. I will explain this process to the students through their Canvas course. Our first meeting will be next week. 

DECA Cookie Sales -

Cookies will be sold next Friday during Connections. Cookies cost $2.00. We have Chocolate Chip, Carnival (M&M) and Sugar. 

Engineering

In Engineering, the students will be completing three different projects during these nine weeks.  The first individual project is designing a website around a given theme.   The second individual project is creating a specific themed world in Minecraft education.  The third project is working with teams to build a mousetrap car (8th), a paper roller coaster (7th), and a robot (6th).

Chorus

The Lakeside Middle School Chorus will present their Fall Concert on Tuesday, October 6 at 7:00pm at The FoCAL Center.

Do you have questions about your 8th grader starting high school?

Our counselors will be visiting Georgia Studies classrooms at the end of October to share important information about the transition to high school, including what students and families can expect as they prepare for this exciting next step.  We will be going into James and Whitfill's classes on 10/22 and Winkie and Poisson's classes on 10/23. 

We will also be hosting a Coffee with the Counselors information meeting for parents and families!

More information and meeting details will be coming soon. We look forward to helping make the transition to high school a smooth one!