Glen Hills Students Lead Positive Changes

Three amazing Glen Hills students took an active role in making Glen Hills a better place, by improving the Girls restroom on the main level. Their efforts truly demonstrate the Glen Hills Way and we are so proud of them. To learn more about the project read the following piece written by Violet J., 7th Grade Student.

Anna Young & Willie Williams

Hi, I'm Violet J. and I’m a 7th grader at Glen Hills Middle School. I am also a Girl Scout Cadette in Troop 10561, along with Liliana J. and Ella M. My troop earned the Silver Award, which is the highest award for Cadettes and our project was to make the bathroom that 4-8th graders use at Glen Hills Middle School a safer, cleaner and more welcoming place.

To get our Silver Award we had to find an issue that we cared about. We care about our friends and our school. We saw that the bathroom was a place where a lot of issues happen.

In 6th grade, I had a friend who wore a hijab, she asked me to go to the bathroom with her so I could help her fix her hijab, because the mirrors are in an open space and because of her culture she has to do it in private. So after talking with my Troop, we thought that it would be an awesome idea to put mirrors inside the bathroom for more privacy. And then Liliana thought it would be a great idea to put menstrual projects inside the bathroom because many young girls need period products because they get their first periods at school or they don't have access to those products from home. Then Ella said that friends were bullied and went to the bathroom to cry and she thought that positive posters would help make them feel better.

We shared our thoughts with the school board and principal. We advocated for the school board to allow us to improve the bathroom by adding mirrors, a menstrual product dispenser and positive posters. They said yes and they agreed to provide free period products for this year and for future years.

We want to say Thank you to Mr. Brandon Leslie, school custodian who helped us install everything in the bathroom and to Principal Young and the School Board , especially Ms. Pennington-Cross and Ms. Bailey for helping us achieve our goal.

-Violet J.

Troop 10561

Directions For Parent Portal Set Up For Infinite Campus

Link Here For The School Calendar

Social Emotional Learning

Written by: Marian Guillen (School Counselor

Pre-College Fair

6-8th grade scholars interested in programs that support college and career readiness should consider attending an upcoming pre-college fair at Marquette University on Saturday, February 10th. See the flier for more details.

New Mental Health Resource

Milwaukee County has a new resource for finding care, support and tools through their website Healthy MKE.

Reminders:

High School Readiness Night for 8th grade students and caregivers is Monday, February 12th.

SAVE THE DATE

8th Grade

8th Grade Written by: Laura Hopps

8th Grade students had a wonderful experience at Junior Knights Day. The 8th grade class left Glen Hills bright and early to head over to Nicolet High School. There they were greeted by the link crew, composed of students who will be ready to support them as they move into their high school career and who also acted as tour guides during our field trip.

While at Nicolet students learned about the many electives they can take such as world languages, music, theater, and innovation arts. Students also got a chance to meet their counselors, learn about class selection, and play some games.

The 8th grade students did a wonderful job of representing themselves and our school. We will miss them when they move on to high school in a few short months!

ELA

We are finishing up our essential research skills unit. Students selected a topic to research. First they gathered general knowledge on the topic and then did a deeper dive by asking a debate question. Students learned about defending a claim with credible sources and how to determine if a source is worth using. Students showcased this learning through a debate! Students will now move into their advocacy project, summarizing what they learned about their topic and creating a call to action.

Social Studies

Students are finishing up their Constitution Unit and moving on to learning about the Bill of Rights where they will learn about their rights both in and out of school.

Science

Students are finishing their unit on sound and their Science Fair Projects.

Reminders for 8th Grade Families:

Nicolet High School Online New Student Enrollment

2/12-High School Readiness Night at Glen Hills 6-7pm
2/14 - Field Trip Manfred Olson Planetarium at UWM
5/22 - 5/24 - Washington, DC Field Trip. Full payment is due by 3/8/24.

7th Grade

Written by: Anonymous, yet brave 7th grade students!

Morning Meeting

Some call it Resource. I call it Morning Meeting time. I think the name fits better for what we actually do. For me, Morning Time is the opportunity to start the day with friends. To see their smiling faces. To catch up on the latest “news”. To pick up a fallen friend whose day is off to a rough start. Despite what I call it and how I’d prefer to use it, Morning Meeting, or Resource, for that matter, is pretty cool. On Mondays, we set goals and organize our week, making sure we know what we are to accomplish, how we are to accomplish it, when it should be done, and why it is important. Tuesdays, we discuss our passions, our wildest dreams and the future we see for ourselves. Everything from opening up our own businesses to traveling the world is on the table. Wednesdays, we have Circle, sharing our thoughts, patching up conflicts, or simply choppin’ it up about movies, food, or shows. Thursdays are reserved for emailing parents and guardians about our grades. While everything is not always sunny-side up, we keep our parents in the loop. At least we’re supposed to. Finally, Fridays are used as a study hall, to complete missing assignments, stay on top of projects, or prepare for tests. Morning Meetings are hard because they start so early in the day, at 8:25. But once the ball gets rolling, it’s a pretty good time.

ELA

We have been working on our Art of Argument essays. The main issue we looked at was, “Should kids participate in competitive sports?” It was more than just answering the question, picking a side and arguing it. It was about proving it. With evidence. Citing sources. Constructing outlines, charts for gathering evidence, and drafting, revising, editing, and constantly revising. It’s not always fun. We simply like to write and be done with it, but it doesn’t work that way. In order to argue a claim effectively, we have to include evidence from reliable sources. That can be tricky. Especially when the Internet is filled with all kinds of information that is not always accurate, fair, and unbiased. We’re almost done. Thank goodness! We hope that what we have produced is worthy of a great argument.

Math

Integers is the name of the game. In math, we have been learning about how to multiply and divide integers. We learned something similar last year, but this year it seems to be more complex. We have to understand the steps and recognize that the smallest mistake can make everything else wrong. Checking your work is super important. Not doing so can cost you a grade. Negatives, positives, whole numbers–-you name it, it’s there. Our teachers do a pretty good job of explaining it. I just hope that we all pass this test coming up on Wednesday. I have faith that we will, but test days make most of us nervous. I think we’ll be fine. Our teachers got our backs!

Science

Science has been an adventure! We are working on topics that we have chosen and developing experiments to prove our hypothesis. If you were to come into our room, you’ll see students doing a variety of experiments. Some are studying the habits of the brain while others are seeking the cleanliness of our school. We have created our own questionnaires, Google Forms, data charts, and slides. We’ll soon be given a tri-board where we can present our findings in an organized, appealing, and informative way. These display boards will be showcased during an upcoming Science Fair here at Glen Hills Middle School. We’ve done it before, but I feel like our topics are different, new study groups have evolved, and most importantly, our facts and findings have made us look at our school and world differently–through scientific lenses that reveal much more than what normally meets the eye.

Social Studies

Our study of geography has landed us in South America and Central America! We’ve just started our unit, which will explore the culture, traditions, geography, cuisine, government, and leisure activities of these two beautiful areas. As we have done with past units, it is our goal to study the impact of societal, economical, governmental, and political decisions on both the land itself as well as the lives of those who reside on it.

6th Grade

Written by: Maddie Visser, 6th/7th Grade Teacher

Here is what your scholars have been working on.

ELA: Scholars have been exploring social issues through reading. They are learning why characters act the way they do, what is going on in the world around them and much more. They have been able to tie this into their own life and have had many discussions around what is important to them. We are still pushing forward with our essential standards which are citing text evidence, summarizing, and understanding themes. This unit is ending this coming week and then we enter another writing unit. Please ensure your scholar is reading at home.

Math: Decimals, decimals, and more decimals. 6th grade math students are learning how to add, multiply, subtract, and divide decimals. Their test is Thursday, February 8th.

Social Studies: Scholars are finishing up their unit on Ancient Egypt with a final project on GRAPES - Geography, Religion, Achievements, politics, economics, and society.

Science: The 6th graders are beginning a weather unit, and will study various aspects of climate, studying patterns across data, including water cycling. They are also working on contributions to the Black History Program. They are learning how to interpret and analyze data, tables, charts, and graphs. 6th grade is also working on their bacteria science projects.

5th Grade

Written by: Kermit McClendon

Hey Glen Hills Stars!!

It's that time once again to share what is going down in 5th grade. We are pressing forward to continue making great gains every day! Here is the breakdown of what going on in each subject:

MATH:

In our numerical world we are officially halfway through our fourth unit. Unit four focuses on Multiplication and Division. In class we are sharpening our skills on the Area Model, Partial Product, and Ratio Tables. Using them as stepping stones to reach mastery of the Standard Algorithm for Multiplication. In Number Corners we are working on multiplying fractions and conversions in liquid measure. So as we move forward in our lessons, please don’t be shy giving your scholar a practice problem or two. Or maybe having them help out in adjusting a recipe or two.

ELA/Reading:

ELA and Reading students have just completed their second literary essay based on a book of their choosing. Students were working hard on gaining a clear understanding about the literacy concept of theme and author’s craft. In class everyone is working hard on their Author Study Posters practicing their comparing and contrasting skills. Looking ahead, our scholars will begin their argument and Advocacy unit. Which means, classroom debates will soon be on their way.

Science:

During Science class we have been discussing Earth’s Four Systems: Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, and Geosphere. We will soon begin working on our Black History Month project during our Science periods.

Social Studies:

We are beginning work for our Black History Month project, which focuses on the wonderful addition to the arts by the Black Community. Our project will also be worked on during Science periods.

4th Grade

Written by: Matthew Nebel

Here is what we have been working on recently in 4th grade.

Math

We are learning new strategies for adding large numbers together, including the standard algorithm, number line, and “give-and-take” method. Next week, we will begin learning new strategies for subtraction.

ELA

We are finishing up our historical book clubs. Students are doing a great job writing their first literary essay.

Science

We are continuing our physical science unit, including learning about different kinds of energy, and the way they can be used and converted.

Social Studies

We are beginning work for our Black History Month project, which focuses on famous artists of various media.

With best regards,

The 4th Grade Team

Allied Arts

Written by: Melissa Cook, Art Teacher and Jen Clark, S.T.E.A.M. Teacher

ART

Second Trimester Art Students have been hard at work!

In 4th and 5th grades students just completed robot sculptures. We learned how internal and external operating systems can determine a robot’s use. Using lots of imagination, students created their own robots and learned construction techniques using a variety of materials!

In 6th, 7th and 8th grade, students have completed sculpture projects. Students learned about Black American quilters for design inspiration! The student’s original designs were then applied to the abstract sculptural forms they created!

A BIG Thank you to all Glen Hill families for supporting your students and your Allied Arts programs!

S.T.E.A.M. Class

Students in 4th & 5th grade have been learning about Earth’s History. In their exploration, they constructed a geological timeline and now are exploring how species have changed over time and are adapted to their environments. Students in 6th grade are participating in a Glen Hills Redesign Project and are working to create 3D models of what they envision for their learning spaces here at Glen Hills. Their ideas will be shared with project leads from PRA Architecture Firm and Findorff Building and Beyond. Students in 7th grade are evaluating water quality and the health of our freshwater ecosystems. Students in 8th grade are designing the future of food production to feed a growing population in a more sustainable way.

Updates From the Music Department

Written by: Liz Day, Orchestra Teacher

On January 30th, the Glen HIlls Jazz Ensemble performed at the Prairie School Jazz Day. The goal of the event was to cultivate a deeper understanding of Jazz style, foster creativity, and learn more about this truly American art form. The Jazz Ensemble attended a short clinic on improvisation, performed Satin Doll by Duke Ellington and Agua de Beber by Antonio Carlos Jobim, and worked with clinicians Mark Davis and Dave Bayles. The day culminated with a fabulous performance by the Milwaukee Jazz Institute jazz combo. Ms. Miracle could not be more proud of the musicians that participated in this event.

Reminder registrations for the WSMA Solo & Ensemble were due by Wednesday 2/7. We need your help as a volunteer at the Solo & Ensemble. Reach out to Mrs. Day (orchestra), Ms. Miracle (band) or Ms. Smrz (choir) with any questions.

Reminders:

February 29th (7th and 8th Grade Band and Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab Grades 5-8 Choir) Performance at the Black History Program at Glen Hills.
March 16th (Grades 6-8) WSMA Solo and Ensemble at Homestead High School

Miss Sanders’ 7th grade crab soccer match in the upper gym

Physical Education

Written by: Gus Kauffman, EJ Higgins, & Laura Sanders (PE Teachers)

Students started new two week units this week.

Units for Feb. 5th through Feb. 15th

Mr. Kaufmann’s classes are in the upper gym doing cooperative games.
Mr. Higgins’ classes are in the pool working on their swim skills and strokes unit.
Ms. Sanders’ classes are in the gym for their volleyball unit.

Please remind your scholars to bring PE clothes and shoes for class. It is recommended that students keep a t- shirt, hoodie, shorts, long pants, and an extra pair of socks in their PE locker to be prepared for class. Students who are in a swim unit need a towel and swimsuit. Googles, swim caps, nose plugs, and flip flops are optional for students.

Athletics & Activities

Written by: Gus Kauffman (Glen Hills Athletic Director)

Basketball:

The boys basketball season will be wrapping up with the 8th grade traveling to Bayside on Monday, February 5th while the 7th grade team travels to Shorewood on February 7th and hosts Bader Hillel on Thursday, February 8th.

Cheerleading

Your GHMS cheerleading team has been putting in the hard work! They have been cheering at boys and girls basketball games cheering them on to many victories. In addition, they have been working on their own competition routine. This routine is action packed with tumbling, stunting, and jumps. They debuted as a competition team at Greendale highschool on the 20th. They put out an almost perfect routine and came back with a vengeance the next weekend on the 27th where they competed at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High school and earned a 3rd place finish!

Boys and Girls Volleyball Season is coming up fast! Please see the below links for the season dates and permission slips.

7th Grade Girls Volleyball

8th Grade Girls Volleyball

6th-8th Grade Boys Volleyball

Forensics:

The first forensics tournament at Oak Creek East Middle School went great! The team did not place this time, but two of five students received blue ribbons and scored 1 of 3 points toward state - Amir W. (6th) and David S. (7th).

Logan M., Milena M., and Emma U. also competed among 400 students.

This year’s Summer Academy will take place between June 24-July 25, 2024.This (5) week program will take place four days a week, Monday-Thursday from 8:30AM-12:00PM. Please note, students will not be in attendance on July 4th. If you are interested in this year’s SA program, it is free for in-district students and the registration process will occur between May 1-15, 2024.

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