February Newsletter

WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY!

Math Corner

In Geometry, we finished up our second unit on circles. Students created projects around the unit circle and the trig identities related to it.

In Enhanced Algebra, students have been studying statistics. They created a survey question, surveyed their class, and then displayed their data using dot plots, histograms, and box plots.

English Corner

February has been all about Argumentation! Students have finished writing their Argumentative Essays, writing about a topic of their own choosing. We explored the rhetorical triangle, different ways of citing our sources, and the importance of understanding the opposing viewpoint to our own in argumentation. We have also continued reading To Kill a Mockingbird. This has allowed us to see how Atticus Finch develops his own argument for the innocence of Tom Robinson in his trial. Additionally, we will be beginning our Tracking Posters this week to explore the themes, symbols, and motifs that Harper Lee develops throughout the novel.

Ga. Studies Corner

Meet Mrs. Madsen! She retired from teaching after teaching at Da Vinci Academy for 15 years. She was the Georgia Studies teacher for 6 years prior to her retirement. She is very knowledgeable and is excited to jump right in to help the 8th graders finish out the year strong in Social Studies! She is very excited for the upcoming mock trial! :-)

HS Physical Science Corner

February is now at a close. It was a short month, but a busy one! We finished up the Periodic Table and radioactivity with a half-life lab, Socratic Discussion on the pros and cons of nuclear energy as an alternative energy source and our Unit #7 test. They then either practiced some more of these concepts with a portfolio, or enriched their learning doing an element project and learning more about a specific transition metal of their choosing. We then dove right into Unit #8 on Bonding and Chemical Reactions!

How you can currently be helping your students at home - talk to them about the different types of chemical compounds in their household items (food, drink, hygiene products, cleaning products, medicine, etc.). They are currently working on an assignment where they have to take pictures of labels and then fill out a Google doc with the information and do some calculations. By helping them find the best labels and having these conversations with them, they will starts to see that chemical bonding and chemical reactions isn't just rearranging letters and numbers - they are real-life substances that effect our lives everyday!

Field Trips

February had 2 field trips: Shakespeare Tavern to see Romeo and Juliet and Brenau Career Fair.

Upcoming Field Trips

1) Savannah Field Trip is HERE!! We will be leaving on Monday March 10 at 6 am in the front of the school. Mr. Wildeboer and Mrs. Greene will be going on the trip with the 40 8th graders and 3 additional parent chaperones.

2) For students not going to Savannah, they will have 2 local field trips at the school with Mrs. Fox and Mrs. Madsen!

Updates:

Exciting things will be coming up as we wind down the school year! Some dates to have handy on your calendar:

Savannah Field Trip: March 10-12
Teacher Workday/Student holiday: March 21
Spring Break: April 5-12
Testing Dates:
- Science Final Exam: Mon April 28 (20% of your grade in HSPS)
- Algebra EOC: Wed April 30 (20% of your grade in Algebra)
- 8th Math EOG: Thurs-Fri May 1-2
- 8th ELA EOG: Mon-Wed May 5-7
- High School Physical Science EOG: Thurs May 8
- Georgia Studies EOG: Fri May 9
8th grade graduation ceremony: Monday May 12 - 6:00 pm at the SHMS gym
DVA Field Day on the last day of school: Friday May 23 in the morning - likely at Cherokee Bluffs Park.

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