8th Grade Newsletter
October 2 - 6, 2023
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Our Mission
Grace Snell Middle School provides a culture of excellence that prepares all students to reach their maximum potential today, tomorrow and beyond.
Our Week at a Glance
Important Notes from your 8th Grade Team
Please be sure students are prepared for their midterm exams this week!
There is no school on Thursday or Friday. Enjoy your fall break!
What's Happening in our Classrooms
What's Happening in our Classrooms
8TH GRADE MATH
In math this week, students will complete Unit 2: Linear Relationships and Functions and be assessed on what they have learned throughout the past several weeks. Then, they will take the 8th Grade Math Interim Assessment.
ENHANCED MATH / ALGEBRA CONNECTIONS
In enhanced math this week, students will continue our work from last week on examining graphical representations of linear inequalities, expanding this understanding to begin writing and graphing their own linear inequalities. Then, they will take the Enhanced 8th Grade Math and Algebra Concepts and Connections Interim Assessment.
LANGUAGE ARTS
In language arts this week, students will continue Unit 2: The Thrill of Horror. Students will be analyzing suspense and point of view in short stories. They will also be reviewing for the upcoming Interim Assessment.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
In science this week, students will analyze and interpret data to explain how different media affect the speed of sound and light waves. Students will continue examining the changes in sound waves caused by the Doppler Effect as we prepare for the Interim Assessment.
SOCIAL STUDIES
In social studies this week, students will continue studying how Georgia was impacted by the Revolutionary War. Then, they will complete the Interim Assessment for 8th Grade Georgia Studies.
CONNECTIONS
Monday: A
Tuesday: B
Wednesday: A
Thursday: No School
Friday: No School
important dates
important dates
October 5 - 9 - Fall Break for Students & Teachers
October 16 - School Picture Day
October 17 & 18 - Early Release
October 25 - PSAT for all 8th Grade Students
meet your 8th grade team
meet your 8th grade team
Dr. Brown
Dr. Brown
From the desk of our assistant principal
From the desk of our assistant principal
Dr. Brown
Dr. Brown
Greetings, Comet Family!
Scholars will take their Interim Assessments on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Interim Assessments are distributed to our local schools from the district office, and provide teachers, students and stakeholders with a snapshot of the progress students are making towards mastering the Gwinnett County Public Schools Academic Knowledge & Skills.
Interim assessments will be administered in all core classes: Math, English, Science and Social Studies. Academics 1 and 3 will be assessed on Tuesday, and Academics 2 and 4 will be assessed on Wednesday.
All students are expected to be in attendance to complete their interims on Tuesday and Wednesday. We know that we can count on our parents' support to help Grace Snell Middle School meet our 100% assessment participation rate for BOTH days.
Our long anticipated Fall Break is finally here! Teachers and staff will be on Fall Break from Thursday, October 5th - Monday, October 9th. Students and staff will return to school on Tuesday, October 10th.
As our scholars prepare their minds for success on their Interim Assessments, we would like for them to reflect on the following poem by Abdalla Juma Shenga.
Believe in Yourself
Pursue your goals
Awake your dreams
Conquer the beast of self doubt
Restraining you
Unearth the foundations
Of despair
Concede to your might
Let confidence flood your consciousness
That it flushes out pessimistic elements
Dig deep into your soul
Tap into the power and potential
Like a bird spread your ambitious wings
Aim for the sky
Let the wind of determination
Carry you and sing with you
The song of success
Stay focussed, fight
There is no free falling to fortune
Life favors the diligent
Believe in yourself
Hispanic Heritage Month is observed September 15th - October 15th, to recognize and honor the many contributions that Latinas and Latinos have made to American history and culture for centuries, since the Revolutionary War. The dates of celebration are important, because they span the timeframe in which many Central American countries celebrate their Independence Day; some of those countries include, but are not limited to: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize.
According to the US 2020 Census, 1 in every 4 children in the United States is Hispanic/Latino. Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the history, voices, achievements and experiences of the Hispanic/Latino community, which have significantly contributed to American culture through business, activism, politics, government, military, entertainment, sports and more.
We honor the sacrifices and the contributions of our Hispanic/Latino community, here at GSMS and all around the world!
Hispanic American Spotlight
Dr. Miguel Cardona
United States
Secretary of Education
Dr. Miguel Cardona is a Hispanic-American educator, who was born in July 1975, to Puerto Rican parents, who had migrated to the United States for better opportunities. As a child, young Miguel grew up in the projects with his siblings, and attended elementary school in Meriden, Connecticut, where English was his first language. Dr. Cardona began learning English in kindergarten.
Dr. Cardona took full advantage of his educational opportunities, finishing high school and college in Connecticut. Dr. Cardona began his career as a fourth-grade teacher at Israel Putnam Elementary School in Meriden, the same school he had attended as a child. In 2003, at the age of 27, Dr. Cardona was named principal of Meriden's Hanover School, making history as the youngest principal in the state of Connecticut.
Dr. Cardona was sworn in as the United States Secretary of Education on March 2, 2021, under President Joe Biden’s Administration.
Teaching Hispanic heritage in schools has been an important priority for Dr. Cardona, who worked to expand cultural diversity in Connecticut’s public school curriculum in 2020. Dr. Cardona has expressed concerns about the lack of information in schools, related to the contributions of Latinos and African Americans to the fabric of the history of the United States of America.
Educational equity continues to be a focus for Dr. Cardona, as he works to promote academic excellence and accelerate learning for all students; deliver comprehensive and rigorous education for every student; eliminate educator shortages in schools; invest in students’ mental health; provide students a pathway to multilingualism; and ensure students have pathways to college and a career.
portrait of a graduate
portrait of a graduate
Gearing up for
Gearing up for
Class of 2028
Class of 2028
Watch this video to get a snapshot of the competencies our scholars are developing at Grace Snell Middle School now, to prepare them to reach their maximum potential today, tomorrow and beyond!
Our 8th Grade Teams
Team G.O.A.T.
Team Blaze
Team Phoenix
Team I'So Elite
Team Trailblazers
State law requires that children between the ages of 7 - 16 attend school DAILY.
Students will be excused from school for the following legal absences:
Personal illness
Death in the immediate family
Recognized religious holidays observed by your faith
Absences mandated by governmental agencies
Service as Page in the Georgia General Assembly
Visit with parent or legal guardian prior to deployment or while parent is on leave (up to 5 days)
Instances where attendance would be hazardous
Students absent from school for legal reasons stated above, will be excused IF they bring a written excuse from a parent, guardian, or medical provider, stating the reason for the absence.
The written excuse must be given to the desk clerk in the front lobby on the day the student returns to school.
8th Grade Office
Dr. A. Brown, Assistant Principal
Ms. E. Davis, Counselor
School Hours
8:55 AM - 4:00 PM
No drop-offs before 8:50 AM
Early Dismissal
Early Dismissal
Missed instructional time is detrimental to a student’s performance.
Parents are urged to make dental, medical, and other appointments before or after school hours.
If it becomes necessary for a student to check out during the day, parents must report to the desk in the front lobby to sign out the student.
Parents will be required to show picture identification in order to check out their children.
No check-outs or transportation changes shall be made after 3:30 PM.
It is the expectation that students make up missed assignments whenever they are absent from school, or check-out early.
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