Upcoming Events and Activities

Dear Parents,

Happy October! We have a few events occurring this month that we want to make sure everyone is aware of.

First, we have our celebration for World Unity Day and National Stop Bullying Day on October 16th.

We invite our school community members to wear and share orange on “Unity Day,” October 16, 2024, to send a visible message to each other about building commUNITY through kindness, acceptance and inclusion to prevent bullying.

Next, we have our upcoming spirit week October 21- 25. The flyer can be seen to the left or above. Shout out to our 8th grade students, Mrs. Young and Ms. Weisman for their creativity in organizing this festive week.

We also have our first YAC for 7th - 8th graders this Friday, October 11, 2024; 7 PM - 9 PM.

Last, we have our Student Showcase and Community Fair October 15th. Please stop in from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM to learn more about what is going on in our district. Both schools will be available to fellowship, converse, and inform our community members and families at Glen Hills Middle School. Hope to see you all next Tuesday. Make sure you stop on by!

In partnership with you,

Willie Williams Jr. and Leon Williams

Phone Numbers Update

Reminder: Please update your phone numbers and contacts for the main office. You can call the main office and speak with Ms. Holloway to update.

Directions For Parent Portal Set Up For Infinite Campus

Link Here For The School Calendar

8th Grade

Written by: Mrs. Hopps (8th ELA Teacher)

ELA:

Students in English are reading Dystopian Novels. Students have been focusing on using text evidence to support their claims about characters in their novels. Students just finished creating an archetype poster to show what they learned about their characters through text evidence and creative expression. Students should be switching to a new novel this week or near to the end of their current novel. Please check in with your student to make sure that they are keeping up with their reading. Posters will be on display on October 15th.

Science Update:

We’re halfway through our first unit on Contact Forces! Students are exploring phenomena related to collisions and the effects of impact. They’re also brainstorming ideas for their hands-on Science and Engineering Projects, which they’ll work on at home with additional time in class on Wednesdays. Please ask your child about their progress, and expect an upcoming letter with more details this week.

Math:

Students are preparing for a test Friday about one variable statistics and 8th grade mathis learning about congruent shapes.

Social Studies:

Students are continuing to learn how to question primary and secondary sources, how to assess source credibility and how to plan a research project. Their work will be displayed on spotlight night.

Important Reminders:

We are seeking donations to fund snacks for 8th graders. Interested? Please get in touch with Mr. Kevin Johnikin at kevin.johnikin@gdrh.org.

7th Grade

Written by: 7th Grade Students

ELA:

Seventh graders have been working hard to finish our realistic fiction novels. We have been focusing on how characters are created and how authors use various strategies to tell stories and develop powerful characters. During this unit, we have learned to recognize the narrative techniques and goals of authors and how both are used to influence readers. We’ve even researched our authors to get a better understanding, a glimpse into their personal lives that give insight into why they write what they write. Finally, we have been creating Book Report Slideshows that highlight the main and minor characters of our novels. Our slides also educate others on the narrative point of view of the novel, its plot, as well as our personal recommendations for the book for future readers. We are headed toward the finish line with the unit and are growing with each lesson, assignment, project, and summative assessment!

Math:

The world of math has the regular math class finishing up on our unit on scale copies and scale drawings. These lessons have really opened our eyes to the usefulness and creativity of scale drawings while applying math concepts. We have even created projects that will be showcased during our upcoming District Fall Showcase.

In accelerated math, we completed our unit on transformations and are now working on angle relationship and congruences. These lessons allow us to utilize and build upon our knowledge of angles and how they can be applied to real life situations.

Science:

We are learning about the properties of a substance and what gases are created when substances are mixed together. We will be wrapping up this unit in the next week. During our last lab, we tested substances to see how they responded to heat. Parents will receive an email for upcoming test dates and study guides.

Social Studies:

Our lessons in social studies have pushed us to become experts at reading and annotating maps. It is our goal, by the end of this unit, to enhance our geography skills and become navigators of maps, recognizing how a variety of maps can offer insight into the landscape, features, resources, and environments connected to such maps. Even moreso, when combined with current technology, maps can be a powerful tool that allows us to study the world in the classroom, but also in fields of agriculture, military, community development, and tourism. We look forward to continuing our “travels” across the globe, keeping the essentials of geography and maps in mind.

Important Reminders:

Students are allowed to use their lockers:

1. During student entry.
2. Before and after lunch/recess.
3. During student dismissal.
Social Studies: Every Friday, students will complete a notebook check.
ELA: Please make sure your scholar is reading for at least 30 minutes per night.

6th Grade

Written by: Mr. Wesson's Resource Class

In sixth grade math students were working on decomposing shapes and finding the area. Students broke shapes into triangles and parallelograms before finding the area of each. At the end of the unit we made posters showing how to decompose complex shapes and find their area. If you would like to see your students poster they will be on display on October 15th at the district spotlight event.

Important Reminders:

Please remember to check students grades on infinite Campus

5th Grade

Written by: Mr. McClendon (5th Grade Math Teacher)

5th grade math we are moving right along to learn more about calculating volume. Students are working with different multiplication strategies as we work with larger numbers and multiplying (Length x Width) x Height. As we look ahead students will be working on preparing to complete their second checkpoint for unit 1.

5th grade science is completing our discussions on Matter. To complete our learning students are reviewing key vocabulary and concepts as we prepare for a final quiz/test.

In Reading our book clubs are up and running with students working diligently to finish their first book. Students are learning to find the heart of a story and how to make connections between their life and what they’re reading.

Finally, for Word Study students will have a weekly spelling test on Fridays. Each test will focus on the material taught throughout that week.

4th Grade

Written by: Ms. Nebel (4th Grade Math Teacher)

In Math, we are finishing up Bridges Unit One. We will do a short one week study of measurement and then move onto unit 2.

In Reading, we continue to read The Tiger Rising. Students are enjoying this book! We are learning to interpret characters and learning the elements of the story.

In writing, we are writing stories and how to use writing techniques like Show, Don’t Tell.

We are excited to be going on our first field trip of the year. We will be going to Riveredge Nature Center. Ms. Betka and Ms. McLean’s class will be going on October 22nd. Ms. Cefalu and Mr. Nebel will be going on October 23rd.

Important Reminders:

Please continue to pack your child with a healthy snack and water bottle.

Music

Written by: The Music Department

Last week, the 6th grade Band, Choir and Orchestra got together to play a couple of pieces that had lyrics based on water, the same theme 6th graders encountered on their field trip to Kletzsch Park. It’s not everyday that band, choir, and orchestra perform together, so scholars were very excited to have their first experience playing as one combined ensemble. This small experience has also helped 6th graders to prepare to perform together in the same capacity once they hit 7th grade with the Black History Month program.

Also, in preparation for their October 22nd concert, 8th grade Orchestra got to rehearse with Mr. Jamin Hoffman, the orchestra director at Nicolet High School. They did a great job welcoming their guest conductor and adapted well to his leadership and direction.

October is Filipino American History month! To celebrate, General Music has been learning about the official dance. The dance is called "Tinikling" and it resembles the Tickling bird that was very skillful at dodging bamboo traps. Mrs. Heal is also bringing in some of her traditional attire from the Philippines.

Performance Dates:

October 22 North Shore String Festival 7:00 PM @ GHMS

December 10 North Shore Band Festival, Grades 7-8 Band 1:00-8:30 PM @ Nicolet HS

January 10 Admirals Game Anthem Performance, Grades 7-8 Band & Orchestra 7:00 PM @ UWM Panther Arena

January 22 Winter Concert #1, Grades 7-8 Band, Choir & Orchestra 6:30 PM @ GHMS

January 23 Winter Concert #2, Grades 5-6 Band, Choir & Orchestra 6:30 PM @ GHMS

February 27 Black History Month Program, Grades 7-8 Band, Choir & Orchestra 6:00 PM @ GHMS

March 15 WSMA Solo & Ensemble 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM @ Homestead HS

April 2 North Shore Vocal Arts Festival @ Nicolet HS

May 19 Spring Concert, Choir 5-8 6:30 PM @ GHMS

May 20 Spring Concert, Orchestra 5-8 6:30 PM @ GHMS

May 21 Spring Concert, Band 5-8 6:30 PM @ GHMS

Physical Education

Written by: Mr. Kaufmann, Mr. Higgins, & Ms. Sanders (PE Teachers)

Starting Monday, Oct. 14th, we will be switching PE units! Many students will still be participating in outdoor activities, so please remember to dress appropriately for the weather and activities. It's important to stay comfortable and safe during class, especially as the season changes.

Reminder: Make sure to bring your PE clothes and athletic shoes to school each day. Being prepared helps you get the most out of our activities.

Higgins:

All grades - Tennis / Pickleball

Kaufmann:

7-8th grade - Flag Football

4th-6th grade - Swimming

Please ensure your child brings the appropriate swimwear, a towel, and any other materials they may need for swimming.

Sanders:

5th & 7th grade - speedball

4th.6th, and 8th grade - soccer

Important Reminders:

It is a requirement for students to change into the proper clothing including shoes that fit securely to the foot (crocs, flip-flops, slides and slippers are not acceptable)
Kaufmann’s 4th-6th grade will begin their first swim unit on Monday, October 14th. Please ensure your child brings the appropriate swimwear, a towel, and any other materials they may need for swimming.

Allied Arts

Written by: Raena R., Avery W., Avery B., Melanie S., Charlotte K. (6th Grade Students) and Ms. Clark (STEAM Teacher) / Mrs. Turnch and Mrs. Zunker (ARC Teachers)

STEAM October 2024 - Spotlight on Kletzsch Park Ecological Study of Milwaukee River

Hello Families!

You may know that 6th grade and 7th grade STEAM students went to Kletzsch Park last Wednesday, and did a water investigation of the Milwaukee River with Wehr Nature Center. Some of the activities we did involved putting on waders, going into the water, and looking for macroinvertebrates. Another activity we did was the Biotic Index, where we evaluated water quality by using the organisms that live in the river. We also did Chemical and Physical Testing where we tested levels of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Dissolved Oxygen, Ph of the river water, and tested the Velocity and Turbidity. The last activity we did was Data Analysis and we evaluated the data we collected that day and compared to data collected over the years. Overall, we found that the Milwaukee River water quality at Kletzsch Park was of good quality and showed little signs of pollution. This experience was meaningful because it is important to take care of our ecosystem to keep it healthy, and it's always fun to help take care of our rivers. It is also important to take care of our rivers and lakes because all living things depend on freshwater.

STEAM provides an opportunity for students to identify real world challenges/projects and work collaboratively to create solutions using Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics.

ARC Update

Goal setting, organization, reading and notetaking! Our 6th, 7th and 8th graders have been busy settling into the routine of school and Academic Resource Class. No matter the grade level, students are working hard towards building skills and mindsets for academic success at Glen Hills and beyond. Has your student shared their WAG (Week at a Glance). We start our week with a WAG so that students and families know what assignments to expect ever night in each class. Students are responsible for recording these assignments, quizzes, projects or unit tests weekly in their planner. The WAG is also posted in each Google Classroom. Ask your child to show you their WAG, in their planner!

Important Reminder:

Keep checking the Week at a Glance (found on the Google Classroom) and students’ assignment notebooks for upcoming homework and tests in each class.
Don’t forget to charge those Chromebooks each night!

Student Services Team Update

Written by: Mrs. Guillen (4th - 6th Grade Counselor)

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

Hello families! October is mental health awareness month and as educators we know that academics are important but we also recognize that kids' social emotional development is happening at the same time. Mental health is a topic that affects everyone. Just like our physical health, mental health is something we should care for, talk about and learn about. I invite you to take time this month to understand how to keep your minds healthy and support your scholars in their mental health journeys.

What is Mental Health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.

Just like our bodies, our minds need care too. Taking time to relax, doing things we enjoy, talking about our feelings, and asking for help when needed are all part of keeping our minds healthy.

Resources at school

Marian Guillen 4th-6th School Counselor

Carrie Gleba 7th & 8th School Counselor

Hailey Weaver School Psychologist

Denise Davis School Social Worker

School-Based Applied Therapies and Wellness

Talent Development

Written by: Mrs. Murali (Talent Development Teacher)

6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students are working on their Future City project. They are meeting with local architects, engineers, and parent volunteers to build a futuristic floating city.

Chess and NASA STEM Clubs are starting this week. Here are the permission slip links for the clubs.

Permission Slip

Our annual STEAM Fair will be held on

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 9 am - 1 pm.