September 2024 Part 1
September 2024 Part 1
Mrs. Maldonado
The ELA Learning Lab has had a busy and productive second half of the quarter! We've been diving into a variety of reading and discussion activties. Students read and summarized a powerful article about the heroic boat rescue on 9/11. We also explored an interesting article about TikTok, which sparked great discussion and writing! Our students are really developing their reading and critical thinking skills !
Mr. Otaka
In the second half of the quarter, students learned about how machine learning works. They looked at a couple of platforms for Generative AI, and took an ethical stance on the use of Generative AI to produce Art. Then, 6th and 7th graders started to learn Swift, a programming language used to develop Apple apps, while 8th graders worked with a Microbit (a microprocessor). Students also worked on the Class Innovation Project, to design and build a prosthetic leg for a tripawd dog named Whisper.
Mr. Falzarano
This quarter has just flown by! The students are doing a great job with their various activities and labs. In the first set of pics period 1 6th graders are tasked with the challenge of layering watering of different temperatures and not having them mix. The next set of pics is period 3 8th graders determining why objects closer to the sun spin around it faster. In the last set of pics period 5 7th graders are analyzing what could be in the mystery mixture.
Mr. Ikehara
-Students in our Concert Band have been meeting after school for rehearsals. We use this time to combine the grade levels to form one band and learn how to play as a cohesive unit.
-Beginning Band members will be starting on their noise makers very soon! Percussionists started!
-Beginning Band members also had to research their instrument and do a brief presentation.
-Since there is no class during 7th grade lunch, a few band members like to come in and eat or even practice.
Mr. Morimoto
6th grade - Students are currently working on class presentations combining their understanding of themselves and the goals of a leader!
7th grade - After learning about different world leaders, students are working on their class action project.
8th grade - 8th graders have been busy attending/ planning/running StuCo meetings, recycling, and helping out with various school events.
Student Council - This month we met with HR representatives to explain their job and gave them their first task - to get and bring back input from their homeroom about school issues/challenges and input for future spirit days and activities/events. They could also sign up to help fundraise at Food Fest and Movie on the Lawn!
Ms. S. Baker
6th Grade: Students created their final quilt blocks out of paper and started working with the pattern tiles to plan their hand sewing English Paper Piecing projects!
7th Grade: Students got their patterns planned, cut out and basted (temporary holding stitches.) Many are starting to work on the needle turn appliqué!
8th Grade: Students are finishing up their pet portraits! They have enjoyed using the light boxes to transfer their photo onto paper!
Mrs. Parrish
The students finished their monologues, not just memorization and reciting them, but eventually acting them out for the class. They ended their quarter in Drama writing their own play. They began with coming up with a concept their entire group voted on. They brainstormed and created dialogue between the characters. Once they finished their 5 minute play, the students memorized their own lines (or had to improv any forgotten lines!) and act out their play using costumes and props. It was a great quarter!