A Fresh Start to the New Year - Grade Level Assemblies and Expectations
Dear Glen Hills Families,
As we welcome the new year, we are excited to kick off another semester of growth and learning. To set a positive tone for the year ahead, our school has held grade-level assemblies for all students. These assemblies are a key part of our ongoing commitment to reinforcing our expectations and helping students stay focused on their academic and personal goals.
During these assemblies, students were reminded of the following core expectations:
Respect and Responsibility: Treating others with kindness, following school rules, and taking ownership of their actions.
Inclusion: Not excluding others and calling out bullying whether that be on social media or in school.
Active Engagement: Staying focused during lessons, participating in class discussions, and working toward personal goals.
Perseverance and Integrity: Putting forth consistent effort, demonstrating honesty, and striving to do their best in all situations.
We believe that starting the year with a clear understanding of our community’s expectations will empower students to succeed and make the most of their learning experiences. We encourage you to have conversations with your child about these expectations and how they can contribute to a positive and productive school year.
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to a successful and rewarding year for all our students.
Happy New Year,
Willie Williams Jr. and Leon Williams Jr.
Infinite Campus Notifications
Reminder: Please make sure you have Infinite Campus on your phone. Turn on notifications so that you are in the know about your child's attendance throughout the day.
Winter Gear for Recess
Reminder: As our weather gets colder and wetter, please send your child(ren) with the appropriate winter gear. Hat, gloves, boots, and scarfs will be helpful if we have outdoor recess.
Thank you!
8th Grade
Written by: Mrs. Herkowski (8th Social Studies Teacher) and the 8th Grade Team
Hello 8th Grade families!
Happy New Year! We are so excited to share a snapshot of our year so far and to look forward to the future. Graduation is only a few months from now, so students should expect more challenging work to prepare them for High School!
In Science, students will start their new unit in Astronomy. Please be mindful that Science Fair projects are due on Wednesday, January 22nd.
In Social Studies, students are beginning our Bill of Rights unit. Students will apply this knowledge to their National History Day project for the 2025 theme of “Rights and Responsibilities.”
In ELA and Math, students are preparing for our STAR tests both this week and next week.
In ELA, students are continuing their Call to Action projects where they are writing persuasively on a social issue. They are able to present their issue in a variety of ways, such as a TedTalk, Podcast, Visual Art, News Article, or Academic Essay. Please be mindful that these projects are due next week.
Go Stars!
7th Grade
Written by: Ms. Kenwood (7th Grade Math Teacher)
Happy New Year!
Our return to all things ELA began with a continuation of our Literary Nonfiction Book Club Unit. Students are reading and expanding their vocabulary, as well as learning about the subtleties that shaped significant people in complicated times. Scholars are currently working on a diary that takes on the essence of one of the main characters and have just conducted research of the people and events of a specific era. We are also preparing for our upcoming Winter Star Testing that will take place next week. Please encourage your scholar to get a good night of sleep, a healthy breakfast, and to bring a charged chromebook to class.
In 7th grade Math, this week we are reviewing what we have learned so far this year in preparation for the Star test on Thursday. We are reviewing scale drawings, percentage work and proportional relationships. This time, the star test will also be put into IC as a grade. Students will be graded on if they came to class with their chromebook charged, if they stayed quiet during testing time, if they showed some work on scratch paper, if they took their time, if their score did not drop and if their score went up.
In Accelerated Math, we started our new unit on inequalities, expressions and equations. The first part of this unit is on inequalities. So far, students have learned how to write inequalities, how to graph inequalities, how to solve inequalities and how to explain what solutions mean in context of the situation. They will have a test on this unit at the end of the month.
In 7th grade Social Studies, we are also continuing our new unit in Latin America. The 7th graders are conducting research as they learn to debunk the myths of the Age of Exploration Era with famous people such as Christopher Colombus and his voyage to the Americas. They are also analyzing various data and maps regarding the impact the Columbian Exchange had on the world in the 15th and 16th century.
The 7th-grade Science class is continuing their unit on Metabolic Reactions. This is a life science unit that allows students to examine a case study of a middle schooler struggling to keep food down. So far, scholars have examined the symptoms through a doctor's note and viewed images from an endoscopy report. Using different investigations, students will gather evidence to understand better the complex processes that keep our bodies nourished and running. We are two lessons away from wrapping up the third unit. Please be on the lookout for the unit 3 testing reminder email and study guide. Students are also working in groups to complete science fair projects. An email was sent to guardians before winter break detailing the process students will take. Students should begin buying their project materials and bringing them into the science classroom over the next two weeks.
6th Grade
Written by: Mr. Buhrandt (6th Grade ELA Teacher) & Liam W. (6th Grade Student)
ELA -
In ELA students are working on reading their social issues book club book. The goal is for students to have those finished up at the end of next week, but STAR Testing for ELA next week might throw that off a bit. Specifically students are looking at how different groups can have power in different conflicts.
Math -
In Math class students just finished up adding, subtracting and multiplying decimals. After STAR Testing this week students will be moving into dividing decimals.
Social Studies -
Students just finished up studying Ancient Egypt and are moving into researching Ancient China. Specifically, students are looking at important historical events, the different social classes and ways of life that were happening. Students will also look into agriculture and foods that were produced.
Science -
In Science class students are looking at how the weather works. How clouds form from water vapor and how hail works are just some of the things that are being learned in class.
5th Grade
Written by: Ms. O'Connor (5th Grade ELA Teacher) & Elora S-G. (5th Grade Student)
Happy New Year!!!
Reading - This week we are starting our new unit Reading Like A Fan. We are learning how to study one author and read multiple books by that one author. We are focusing on theme, summarizing, comparing, and contrasting the books.
Writing - This week in writing we are starting our Literary Essay unit. We are learning how to create a thesis statement and an introduction based on a picture book that we have learned a lesson from.
Word Study - We have our weekly spelling test coming up on Friday make sure to study for it throughout the week.
Math - STAR Testings this week.
Multiplying and dividing escape room was assigned students are looking for the missing Jewel by solving equations.
Reminders:
ELA STAR Test next week
Don’t forget to study for your weekly word study test!!!!
4th Grade
Written by: Mrs. McLean (4th Grade Math Teacher)
Dear 4th Grade Families,
Welcome back! We hope you all had a restful and enjoyable break. We are so happy to see everyone back in school and ready to dive into an exciting new year of learning.
Here is what we have planned for the coming weeks:
Math
We will begin exploring fractions and decimals. This unit will help students build a strong foundation for understanding parts of a whole, equivalencies, and their relationship to each other.
Reading
Our next unit focuses on historical fiction. This genre combines engaging stories with historical settings, offering students a glimpse into the past while enjoying rich, meaningful literature. Many students find this to be a favorite unit of the year!
Writing
Students will be learning to write 5-paragraph literary essays. This important writing skill will help them analyze texts and express their ideas in a clear, organized format.
Science
We are excited to start our unit on physical energy. Students will learn about different forms of energy, how they work, and their impact on our daily lives through hands-on experiments and activities.
We look forward to a wonderful start to the new term and are always here to answer any questions or provide support. Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s learning journey.
Warm regards!
ARC
Written by: Mrs. Turnch (ARC Teacher)
Happy New Year from ARC! All ARC classes have started the New Year resetting our goals for the week and New Year! Weekly goal setting helps all students grow self-efficacy. Goal setting encourages student academic and personal growth also. It’s empowering to set goals and to meet them!
As the New Year starts, it is exciting to continue working with Word Gen. Scholars are delving into debatable issues such as: What age should someone really be considered as adult? Should we allow animal cloning? What makes an American? Should school be responsible for students’ mental health? Learning new vocabulary, through reading, writing and discussion about relevant topics, makes ARC unique.
Families, don’t forget to check your scholars’ WAG/Assignment Notebook or Google Classroom to stay on top of weekly assignments, tests, and other important updates. Encourage your scholar to share their WAG with you, so we can all work together towards academic success and well-being!
Physical Education
Written by: Mr. Kaufmann (PE Teacher)
Dear Glen Hills families,
Before the break, we wrapped up an exciting roller-skating unit! Students learned about skate safety, mastered skills like stopping, turning, and even skating backward, and had a blast playing games like the dice game and limbo.
Currently, we’re in the middle of a free throw contest! The top free throw shooters in each grade will advance to compete against students from other schools in the next round. Best of luck to all participants!
Looking ahead to next week, we’ll kick off new units:
Miss Sanders’ Classes: Swim unit – Please remind your student to bring their swim gear.
Mr. Kaufmann’s Classes: Volleyball unit in the lower gym.
Mr. Higgins’ Classes: Cooperative games unit in the upper gym.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to another great month in PE!
Talent Development
Written by: Mrs. Murali (Talent Development Coordinator)
Airplanes are fascinating for many reasons, including their design, history, and impact on travel. 8th graders from five different schools enjoyed learning about the four forces of flight, Bernoulli’s Principle, manipulated air pressure by doing various experiments using toilet paper, paper tent, balloon, straw/cup of water, cheese balls, and ping pong/cup. As a culminating activity, they designed small paper airplanes and tested their designs. Our Glen Hills Scholars loved the Drone Academy activities before the winter break!
Space is one of the topics that creates excitement in everyone. Children as young as second graders can dream of becoming astronauts if we introduce them to space-related activities. Our district is one of the few that participated in the ExoLab-11 this year to provide that kind of opportunity to our K-8 students. Our students learned about space missions, watched their experiment go up in the rocket, monitored the growth of their plants in ISS for 4 weeks, and even interviewed the cofounder of Magnitude.io through Zoom.
How can we empower our students and help them grow as readers? Mrs.Murali’s 4th and 5th-grade students are participating in a 40-book challenge this year. 4th graders read at least five books each from October-December and read 16,165 pages as a class and 5th graders read 22,423 pages as a class. They celebrated their success with a hot chocolate and cookie party. Each student brought a box of cookies to share it with others. They ate cookies, watched Akleelah and the Bee movie, and donated 40 boxes of cookies to Hebron Homeless Shelter along with handmade holiday cards.
We took the first group of 32 students from 5th-grade for the STARBASE Program. This special program covered the entire 5th-grade science curriculum in five weeks. They learned about fluids, technology, engineering design process, data analysis, STEAM careers, space exploration, science fundamentals and much more.
Student Services Team (SST)
Written by: Mrs. Davis (District Social Worker)
Happy 2025! From the Student Services Team, we hope you found moments of rest, relaxation, and joy over the winter break. We are diving back into the school year and look forward to the growth and learning coming in 2025.
TIPS FOR CARING FOR MENTAL HEALTH DURING WINTER
The days are short and dark, the holiday excitement and disruptions are coming to an end, and the weather is frigid. This can take a toll on your own or child’s mood and health habits. Here’s a few quick tips and reminders to stick with the basics when tending to your own and your child’s mental health this winter.
Eat Right - Make it easy for you - consider a meal planning day for the family to spend some time cooking tasty recipes or filling the fridge with a healthy balance of foods to give you the energy you need!
Stay Active - It is hard to stay motivated and keep moving during the winter, which can bring down our mood! Take some time each day to do something to move your body: yoga on youtube, a family dance party, bundle up for a walk (through the park or just around the block), tug-o-war with the dog, or a friendly jumping jack competition - the list goes on!
Get Good Sleep - Unfortunately, we can’t “catch up” on sleep. We can reset our sleep routines to encourage better and more restful sleep though! Limit or eliminate screen time before bed - resist the urge to doom scroll as you lay in bed and set limits to help your child avoid the extra stimulation before bed as well. Aim to go to sleep and wake up at consistent times and stick with relaxing bedtime routines. A warm shower or bath, a shared book or chapter, and/or a brief reflection or gratitude on the day can help set the tone for good sleep routines.
Get Some Sun - Although trickier this time of year, humans need some sunlight! Allow natural light in during the day when you can or bundle up and step outside. Even when it’s chilly, the sunlight feels good on your face.
Make Time for Joy - Since the cold and darkness can impact our own moods and our children’s moods, it is helpful to be proactive and make a little extra time for fun and mood-boosters. Make a goal together to once a day do something that brings a little laughter and joy as a family.
Reminders:
Resources at school
Marian Guillen 4th-6th School Counselor
Carrie Gleba 7th & 8th School Counselor
Hailey Weaver School Psychologist
Denise Davis School Social Worker
Jazz Ensemble & 8th Grade Choir performing at Bayshore Mall
Music
Written by: Mrs. Heal (General Music Teacher)
PTO Night At the Admirals Game
Save the Date for January 10th! The Glen Hills band & orchestra will be performing the National Anthem at the Milwaukee Admirals Hockey game. The opportunity is completely free for all of our young musicians in 6th - 8th grade and they get to stay and enjoy the game following their performance. For each ticket we sell that evening using the link below, our PTO will receive a kick back of $5 that will help support the cost of the buses. Come and cheer us on!
Link for purchasing Admirals Tickets on 1/10/25: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Glenhills6
General Music Update:
Before break scholar’s learned how to play handbells to popular holiday songs, Disney songs, and other movie soundtracks.
6th, 7th, and 8th:
Upon returning from break our scholars are learning how to apply their knowledge of bandlab.edu and will record their own podcast based on the musical topic of their choice. If you have any musical knowledge or stories you’d like to share with our scholars, let us know!
Performance Dates:
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
January 30 The Prairie School Jazz Day, Jazz Ensemble 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM
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 12 Spring Concert, Band 5-8 6:30 PM @ GHMS
May 13 Spring Concert, Orchestra 5-8 6:30 PM @ GHMS
May 14 Spring Concert, Choir 5-8 6:30 PM @ GHMS
World Language
Written by: Maestra Wege (Spanish Teacher)
¡Feliz año nuevo! Happy New Year!
Before winter break, eighth-grade students completed their mock semester exams. Their performance will be used as one possible indicator for high school placement recommendations. Now that we are back from break, eighth-grade students will be working through the school unit review and completing end-of-unit assessments in the next couple of weeks.
Once again, our seventh-grade students demonstrated wonderful creativity in the description projects before winter break. Seventh-grade students will also be working through their school unit review, with end-of-unit assessments to follow in the next couple of weeks.
Upon returning from winter break, sixth-grade students completed their video acting projects. This partner project was a lot of fun to watch students work through! The current sixth-grade unit is a quick one, so end-of-unit assessments will take place before the end of the month.
