September 12, 2025

Math 8

Next week we are completing chapter 6 which has been on transformations. Next week specifically, we are looking at proving similarity and calculating scale factor. Chapter 6 test is on 9/12. The following week we are looking at proportional relationships and having our FIRST mathematician project presentations on 9/24.

syllabus- includes grading weights etc.

Trimester 1 focuses on geometric standards.

*Homework is posted on Monday and due on Friday in homework notebooks.
*My office hours are Wednesdays at lunch. I will have a sign in sheet.
*Many resources are on google classroom. Here are the codes.
*New this year: Mathematician Projects! Check it out.

Algebra

We just finished Chapter 1, quickly moving to chapter 2. This chapter is on linear relationships. We will start by exploring slope, slope triangles, unit rates and y=mx+b. Chapter 2 test is on 10/10. I will be collecting homework notebooks on 10/10. Our first mathematician project presentation day is 9/24.

Syllabus - includes grading weights etc.

SPANISH-2

Did you know that most American think that "Cinco de Mayo" is the celebration of the Mexican Independence?

September is known as the "Heritage or Independence month". It is the month when most Latin American Countries got their independence between 1818 - 1826, including México.

This week and next we are spending a lot of our time learning some basics facts about the different Latin American countries: their history, climate, location etc. This is a great opportunity for us to include some of our "Depth of Knowledge" concepts such as: Ethics, Origins, Contribution, Parallel & Paradox.

Note: because this is a cultural aspect of the language, we learn and share the information in English.

Language Arts

This week we prepared to read 'The Veldt' by Ray Bradbury, by getting acclimated with important vocabulary that appears in the story (ask your students what it means to emanate? What subsided or abstractedly means?). Students took a vocabulary quiz to show their understanding of the terminology. Retakes will be offered next week to anyone wanting a second attempt.

Now we are reading the story as a class, and diving into big questions about technology's impact on youth, parents, and the family unit. Students are practicing key reading skills such as identifying author's purpose, Analyzing how differences in the points of view of the characters creates effects like suspense or humor, and showing reading comprehension of a grade level text.

Reminder -- your student(s) should be reading their independent book EACH night for at least 20+ minutes.

Science

As academics and science really get rolling, students did a great job with their first lab which was to find the speed and forces acting on an object... PAPER AIRPLANES! To show what they know, students graphed data after gathering data (time and distance) from flying paper airplanes. Students wrote compelling REASONS (reasoning) why a particular plane performed "better" based upon the data and then made diagrams/models of the physics of flight including Bernoulli's Law.

The next two weeks we will continue looking at flight and ratchet it up by making and launching rockets to learn about acceleration and more about the forces acting upon a flying object to get the background needed for our big project, THE PHYSICS OF SPORT.

STEM and Design

In STEM, students have been working hard on their first design which is making an orthotic boot for clients that have cerebral palsy. Students are learning the steps involved in design, how to plan and sketch, use materials, what constraints are and how to access strengths in team collaborating. We will be using these strategies for the next 14 weeks whenever we design and build.

Students will be doing a gallery walk on Friday, 9/12 as a culmination of our 1st project!

Physical Education

Kathy Taylor - It has been a lot of fun watching and helping the studetns enjoy playing Aussie Rules Football! Now that they are able to drop kick, hand pass, mark and bounce we are moving into the larger format games where they will play on the full field.

Corbolotti: In PE, students are getting back into the rhythm of class and starting to feel comfortable with the routines, rules, and expectations. It’s been great gettig familiar with all the students ans hearing the positive energey out on the blacktop. We’ve recently moved onto our hockey unit, and the kids are having a great time learning new skills, competing, and encouraging one another.

Advanced Band

We are currently starting our third piece of the year ("I want you back") on thursday. I'm trying to mix in fun big band tunes well known tunes, with standard band repertoire. Hoping to have a nice mix of the two, so kids can feel inspired to play all types of music. We'll be finishing recording of, "Don't you worry bout a thing," on thursday as well. Loving working with these kids....one constructive critique I have: I'd like to hear the kids incorporating more dynamics, articulation and blend into their playing. The focus as beginning players is always melody and rhythm and I'm hoping we can get to a place where our melody and rhythm is so tight, that the other fundamentals start to shine as well.

The jazz band will be playing music for the SPARK in the Park fundraiser on Oct 5, more info coming soon...stay tuned!

Art

As we wrap up our intro to drawing unit, students are working on a final drawing that reflects their creativity and the techniques they've learned. Each student will create a full-page artwork on a subject of their choice—this could be a still life, self-portrait, landscape, perspective drawing, or even an abstract piece.

Their final piece will incorporate at least three key techniques from our lessons, such as layering, blending, burnishing, perspective, value contrast, or proportion. We’re excited to see how students combine these skills to create unique and expressive works of art!

Social Studies

In U.S. History we have begun the Road to Revolution! This week, students are creating advertising slogans for each British Colony as well as a travel poster advertising one colony of their choice. Next week, we will be looking at the various British policies (Stamp Act, Tea Act, Intolerable Acts, etc.) that caused the rise of Colonial Unrest, ultimately resulting in the American Revolution!

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