8th Grade Newsletter
November 27 - December 1, 2023
Embedded Files
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
Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology Lottery
It's time to start thinking about high school plans! Are you interested in math, science or technology? The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology lottery registration process begins Monday, November 6th and runs through December 1, 2023.
An informational meeting will be held at GSMST on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 7:00 PM.
Detailed information about Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology, and the application link are available on the school’s website: http://www.gsmst.org/ 💻Click on Admissions
Georgia Parent Survey
The Georgia Parent Survey is designed to give parents an opportunity to share input with the Georgia Department of Education. It contains 24 questions. Parents may complete the survey using a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet. Parents that do not have access to the Internet can come to the Parent Center at GSMS between the hours of 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM, Monday - Friday, to complete the survey. The Parent Survey will be open to parents through December 15th.
First Semester Final Exams
The end of the semester is quickly approaching!
Final Exams will be administered December 11 - 14
Please work with your scholars to be sure they have all outstanding work submitted prior to December 11th, and that they make a STUDY PLAN at home to review for their final exams.
Remember to take advantage of Wednesday Help Days, where students can receive extra help from teachers from 8:15 AM - 8:45 AM. Students MUST secure a pass from their teacher PRIOR to Wednesday, in order to enter the building.
Reach out to your child's teacher with questions.
What's Happening in our Classrooms
What's Happening in our Classrooms
8TH GRADE MATH
In math this week, students will continue Unit 3: Investigating Data and Statistical Reasoning by constructing and interpreting scatter plots. They will expand upon their knowledge of scatter plots by finding the line of best fit and interpreting what its slope means in context.
ENHANCED MATH / ALGEBRA CONNECTIONS
In enhanced math this week, students will finish Unit 3, which covers Quadratic Functions. Students will learn to write, solve, and graph their own quadratic equations based on real-world situations. They will then learn to rewrite equations from standard form to vertex form and vice versa.
LANGUAGE ARTS
In language arts this week, students will continue with their studies in Unit 3: Places We Call Home. In this unit, students will read and analyze a variety of texts that explore how places can shape the way people are.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
In science this week, students will continue their studies through AKS 8 by analyzing distance-time graphs as well as velocity-time graphs. Students will also use evidence to make claims about Newton's Laws of Motion.
SOCIAL STUDIES
In social studies this week, students will conclude their studies of Georgia in the Civil War. We will finish studying the major battles that took place in Georgia, such as General Sherman's campaign through the state. Then, we will begin our analysis of Georgia's response to reconstruction.
CONNECTIONS
Monday: A
Tuesday: B
Wednesday: A
Thursday: B
Friday: A
important dates
important dates
December 1 - Spirit of the Season: Wear colors that represent your holiday season
December 4 - School Picture Re-take Day
December 6 - Family Math Night from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM in GSMS Gymnasium
Families will get practical tips for helping their scholars at home, engage in math fun, and participate in a drawing to be 1 of the 5 parents, who will win free tutoring sessions for their scholar from Mathnasium!
December 11 - 14 - Final Exams
December 18 - January 4 - Winter Break
your 8th grade team
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 Nation!
This week's newsletter is a bit lengthy but is packed with very important information for 8th grade parents and scholars. Please take a moment to review this week's newsletter with your scholar.
Gearing up for High School
Can you believe that we are almost at the end of 2023? This means that your 8th grade scholars are that much closer to achieving a major academic milestone ....... the commencement of their high school career!
Let's continue to encourage our scholars to show up to school each and every day, and actively participate and engage in their learning. When they do not understand, remind them that it is OK to ask their teachers for help, right there in the classroom, and of course, they can also attend Wednesday Help Days with their teachers. If your scholar currently has an average below 70% in any class, he/she is in jeopardy of failing the course, and will need to IMMEDIATELY communicate with his/her teacher to work on an academic recovery plan. Parents are also strongly encouraged to reach out to their scholar's teachers with questions or concerns.
Criteria for 9th Grade Promotion
To earn promotion to the 9th grade, students are required to pass five out of six subjects EACH semester. Language Arts and Mathematics must be two of the five subjects passed.
Should a student not earn promotion to 9th grade, he or she may have the opportunity to attend summer school to learn the AKS standards not mastered during the school year. Students may attend summer school for no more than two semester-long classes.
In Georgia, 8th grade students also are required to achieve a reading status of Grade Level or Above on the English Language Arts Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) Assessment and achieve the performance level of Developing or higher on the Mathematics Georgia Milestones EOG Assessment. Students who do not meet either of these state promotion requirements may be required to retest after summer school.
NOTE: For the 2023-24 school year, the Mathematics Georgia Milestones EOG Assessment will NOT be used to determine promotion as the state completes standards setting for the math assessment due to the introduction of new math standards.
A student’s grades in mathematics will be used to determine if students have met the mathematics promotion criteria for 8th grade.
Promotion for an English Learner (EL) or a student with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) is guided by the student’s English Learner Proficiency Plan.
Final Exams
In just 3 short weeks, scholars will begin taking Final Exams for first semester. Final Exams will be administered December 11 - 14, 2023. It is very important that scholars are present and on time at school to complete their exams. Early dismissals will not be permitted for 8th grade students during final exam week, as it significantly disrupts the testing and learning environment.
We ask parents to partner with us in this endeavor, to ensure that all of our scholars have an equitable opportunity to successfully complete their exams and continue to receive essential learning to finish out the first semester strong. These small steps will have a significant impact on our scholars as they strive to meet criteria for 9th grade promotion.
High School Credit - Carnegie Unit Credit Decision Form
Our 8th grade counselor, Ms. Davis, will be sending home Carnegie Unit Credit Decision Forms to parents of scholars, who are currently taking Physical Science, Enhanced Grade 8+ Algebra, Spanish I or II. Successful completion of these approved high school level courses in 8th grade, provides an opportunity for scholars to earn high school credit, which can be counted towards graduation!
scholars who are taking one or more of the courses referenced above, must pass the class and applicable End Of Course (EOC) Georgia Milestones, in order to receive the Carnegie unit credit.
Parents are requested to sign the Carnegie Unit Credit Decision Form and send it back to your child's teacher, with your scholar, as soon as possible. If for any reason a scholar does not qualify to earn the Carnegie high school credit, parents will be notified and their scholar's Carnegie Unit Form will not be processed. In such instances, scholars will earn begin earning high school credit in 9th grade, upon successful completion of their high school courses. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Ms. Davis.
Gwinnett School of Mathematics Science & Technology (GSMST)
GSMST is still accepting registration applications for the 2024-2025 freshman class. The registration deadline is January 19, 2024.
GSMST Informational Session
If you missed the November informational session, mark your calendar to attend the Make-up session at GSMST on Thursday, January 11, 2024
Detailed information about GSMST and the application link are available on the school’s website: http://www.gsmst.org/ Click on Admissions.
Georgia Parent Survey
The Georgia Parent Survey is designed to give parents an opportunity to share input with the Georgia Department of Education, and is accessible until December 15, 2023; The survey contains 24 questions.
Parents may complete the survey using a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet. Parents that do not have access to the Internet, should contact us here at GSMS to arrange to complete the survey at the school. The data parents provide by completing this survey will be used as part of the calculation of the School Climate Star Rating. Survey responses are anonymous and will be submitted directly to the Georgia Department of Education for analysis.
Individual data results from the Georgia Parent Survey will NOT be available to system or school personnel or the public and will NOT be posted online. Please provide your voice for Gwinnett County
Public Schools by clicking the link below to complete the survey:
Georgia Parent Survey (UPDATED LINK)
School Calendars Approved for 2024-25 and 2025-26
Parents, as you make various personal plans for your family for the next two years, we wanted to make you aware that the Gwinnett County Schools has released approved calendars for the next two academic school years. You may access the links to each calendar below.
2024-25 GCPS Approved School Calendar
2025-26 GCPS Approved School Calendar
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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