September Newsletter

If you have a sixth-grade child and you have not forwarded your child’s immunization record and most recent physical, please do so ASAP to avoid exclusion from school. If you have a child that requires a rescue inhaler or epi-pen for asthma or allergies, please have your PMD fill out the appropriate medication forms that can be found on the school website and send them in with your child’s medication. As a reminder, the nurse does not supply water bottles or cough drops. If your child is suffering from seasonal allergies or a cold related sore throat, please send them with their own cough drops and water. The nurse office has already been very busy with students coming to school not feeling well. Please do not hesitate to call Nurse DeMatteo if you have any questions on if your child should come to school or stay home an extra day to rest. 

Math

Mrs. Varcadipane's and Ms. Vesper's sixth-grade Math classes are currently working on the Numerical Expressions and Factors unit. We have been studying operations in real-world settings and words and phrases to help determine those operations.  Students have also been reinforcing their multiplication and division skills with multi-digit divisors along with solving exponents.  The sixth-grade students will continue to use these skills as they write and evaluate problems with multiple operations and determine the correct order in which to solve these problems.

In Ms. Serabian’s Math class, students have started Unit 1: Numerical Expressions and Factors! So far, students have explored the power of using estimating to check their answers while using various operations, exponents, and the order of operations. Additionally, to help students explore the different operations in a real-world setting, students worked with partners to identify math terms used to represent operations in everyday life and created posters to be used as helpful resources throughout the unit.  

Earth Science

Students in Mrs. Maul's Science classes are learning about what makes a scientist and the tools scientists use to explore the world around them. Students learned the importance of clear communication and teamwork through the "Save Fred" lab. All groups successfully saved Fred. Students went to the outdoor classroom and made observations and inferences. Students used these skills, as well as their understanding of the scientific method, to figure out how many drops of liquid fit on a penny.

Students in Mrs. Presinzano's Science classes have been busy going over lab safety, the different branches of science, the scientific method, and the engineering design process. We’ve also reviewed the OPI process of scientific investigations: Observations, Predictions, and Inferences. We’ve also reviewed the importance of providing evidence to support a claim.

Reading

Mrs. Del Piano’s classes are finishing up their September read-aloud of Nine, Ten. Using the book, the students have refreshed their knowledge of the elements of fiction. They looked at genre, setting, character, conflict, and more. Also, they are beginning to strengthen their skills in writing literary analyses using text evidence. 

(6/7) In Miss Hartmann and Mrs. Krysa’s class, students have started the year by learning about the elements of fiction and the story mountain. Through games, stations, modeled work, and reading notebooks, students have been practicing how to read and analyze a story to find the different parts of the plot. As the unit moves on, we will continue to learn how to be good fiction readers as we build up our skills.

Language Arts

In Mrs. Prager’s Language Arts class, students have started their personal narrative unit focusing on a small moment in their lives. They are learning how to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings to make their stories come alive and provide a satisfying closure. Their writing will reflect a clear understanding of the plot, dialogue, transitions, and descriptive details. Students also demonstrated their knowledge of figurative language by working in groups to create posters for the classroom.

Students in Miss Hartmann’s class have started off the year reviewing parts of speech and brainstorming ideas for their own personal narrative writing. Through games, book scavenger hunts, and writing notebooks, students have been building up their writing skills, as well as reinforcing their knowledge of singular and plural nouns. As the unit progresses, we will continue to focus on what makes a strong personal narrative as students practice writing their own.

In Ms. Sisco’s Language Arts class, the students have started their personal narrative unit. Each student picked from a few small memories of their choice. From there, they narrowed down their memories to one choice. They started writing their introduction paragraphs and have slowly but surely progressed into writing their body paragraphs. We are hoping to wrap up the first draft by the end of the week. From there, we will continue to edit and rewrite through Writer’s Workshop. 

Enrichment

Students learned about the importance of being a person of honor and integrity in different areas of life, such as academic settings, with family and friends, at work, in leadership positions, or even when alone. Students examined honor codes from several universities and discussed the concept of doing the right thing, not because of the possible consequences involved, but rather because of the type of people they want to become.

Students are working on their advertising projects as part of our Truth in Advertising discussion within our Honor/Honesty unit. They are learning how advertisers attract consumers and how to be smarter consumers. Students are evaluating two print advertisements and creating an original of their own.

Global Studies

In Global Studies, students began their study of Geography by reading and noting the major geographic features of the Earth.  Classes then researched real geographic features around the world and presented their findings to their peers. Students also studied human culture and created a collage based on their cultural traits and class notes.

Spanish

Students in the Spanish cycle are learning useful phrases that they can utilize in different situations. They also finished with the Spanish alphabet knowing how to recognize each letter and its sound. We started learning how to use greetings throughout the day and the difference between greeting in a formal way versus informal way. Soon we will have a quiz on this as well.

Stage & Sound

Students are starting off the school year by learning about melody, rhythm, and harmony. We are making our own mini compositions using a music notation program called Noteflight and are even playing modern rock songs on a virtual piano! By the end of the music unit, students will write about their favorite music, giving their opinions and critiques with different musical facts.

Full STEAM Ahead

Students completed their introductory unit for STEAM. The unit began with a Lego Carbon Copy activity where students worked in groups each with a different role to create an exact replica of a Lego creation. Students investigated different careers within the STEAM field and ended the unit engineering a rescue litter to save a fallen hiker in the backcountry.

Art Appreciation

In sixth-grade Art Appreciation, we started out the marking period with Zentangle Name Tags. Students worked on making their letters the perfect size and distance apart so that they could fit their entire names on the paper. Then they created interesting patterns in each letter. We focused on the "line" element of art while we created our patterns. Once the drawings were complete, the students added color.

Pre-Algebra Apps

Mr. Kelly’s Pre-Algebra class has spent the beginning of the year working in the Integers Unit.  They have learned about absolute value, the relationships between integers, and how to compare and order them. Recently, they have been working hard to understand the rules for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers. They explored real-world scenarios that utilize integers (particularly negative ones) and how to solve problems involving those integers.

In Mrs. O’Brien’s Pre-Algebra classes this month, students have been diving deep into the fascinating world of integer operations. Through engaging lessons and hands-on activities, they've been practicing their skills in adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers. Understanding how to work with integers helps them tackle real-world situations involving finances, temperature changes, and much more with confidence and ease. Meanwhile, in our Honors Pre-Algebra class, students are taking their mastery of integer rules to the next level by applying them to rational numbers. This advanced application challenges them to think critically and problem-solve, setting the foundation for success in more complex math concepts down the road.

Life Science

Ms. Runz’s Life Science classes have been learning about the scientific method, variables, and graphing in our introductory unit. Students explored the process of the scientific method by completing an experiment to see how many drops of water fit on a penny, as well as identifying independent and dependent variables in an experiment. As our first unit comes to an end, students have been engaging in a graphing project called Graphing Great Whites. In this project, students collected real data on great white sharks, made digital graphs, and analyzed their graphs/data. Next, we look forward to moving into our unit on "Ecology and The Interdependence of Life."

Reading

Ms. Magner's Reading class started the year off with our unit on realistic fiction. As we've been reading our mentor text Freak the Mighty, students reviewed elements of plot and conflict. We have also been studying direct and indirect characterization to gain a deeper understanding of the characters in the book. Students are applying these lessons to their independent reading books. Coming up next month, students will be working outside of school on their annual Quest projects! Stay tuned!

Mr. Kelly’s Reading class has spent the beginning of the year exploring the genre of realistic fiction. Through the use of our mentor text, Freak the Mighty, the students have examined how characterization and conflict drive a story, discovered how authors use specific language to create vivid images, and learned how to make informed predictions based on what has been previously read in the text. They have taken these skills and applied them to their independent reading novels.

Beginning of the US & Civics

We have jumped headfirst into the new school year in History. Mr. Immitt has been impressed with the students as we first tackle the explorers unit. Students have since been working on a colony project which they have enjoyed. These colonies will prepare us for the history unit associated with the thirteen original colonies.

Spanish

We started the year by celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Students had the opportunity to hold a flag from a Spanish-speaking country and walk around pretending to be from that country. Students from Mrs. Manning's class visited during fourth period to help my students learn greetings in Spanish. Students also introduced themselves in Spanish. Students learned basic information such as the alphabet, colors, and greetings. Next step, students will learn how to describe themselves in Spanish using the verb "ser" (to be) and adjectives.

French

Madame Ralston’s class is settling into our routine! Every day, we have a mot du jour (word of the day) and we discuss the date and weather! Students have already completed a family project and a Flipgrid to go with it! Every few days we will have listening activities because it is so important when learning a new language to be able to decipher what is being said! Learning useful phrases is a necessity! “May I go to the bathroom?” and “How do you say...” are always first on the list!

STEAM

Students completed their first unit where they were challenged to survive an asteroid impact. Students were presented with the fictional scenario of an asteroid predicted to hit their state. Through a series of calculations, students determined the surface area needed to survive in an underground bunker. Students engineered their bunkers focusing on designing them to scale. They were then tested to see if the bunkers would withstand an asteroid impact (bowling ball). Many groups were successful!

Financial Fitness

In Financial  Fitness, we have started the new school year off with our first unit of study on Career Exploration. This involved first exploring the differences between a career and a job. Then students had to figure out what interests them to see if that would help them select their dream career. Then they brainstormed ten different types of careers that they might be interested in. Now they are researching one career path to go on. The research project will conclude the Career Exploration unit.

Art Appreciation

In seventh-grade Art Appreciation, we studied the art of the Pop Art Movement. Looking at artists such as Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, James Rosenquist, and Roy Lichtenstein, we learned how these artists created art based on POP culture and everyday items. The students created primary colored name tags in the style of Roy Lichtenstein, whose art was inspired by the pages of comic books.

Exploring Food and Nutrition

Chef Lafferty’s Exploring Food and Nutrition classes have started the new school year off hungry to learn about the wonderful world of food and nutrition. The students are currently in the safety and sanitation unit. Lessons include kitchen safety, safe food handling and storage, equipment identification and proper usage, and the importance of communication and teamwork. They also just completed their first food lab where they learned how to make french toast and rice correctly. Heading into October, the students will be focusing on learning what proper nutrition includes and how to cook healthy meals for themselves and their families. They’ve also been assigned a US State to research the foods, food traditions, and history of that state.

In Ms. Vesper’s class, the students have been busy learning and reviewing how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide integers and decimals.We then started to focus on Unit 1 which involves evaluating equations and the steps involved. We are really diving into the process of evaluating equations because this is an important step for the other concepts learned in class. 

In Ms. Serabian’s class, students have been reviewing previously learned skills including fractions, integer operations, and decimals. Since shaking off the summer rust, students have been eagerly practicing one step equations to solve for a variable. To better demonstrate their knowledge, students have completed their first quiz and have done several practice assignments on IXL. These skills will be applied to our next chapter, two-step equations! 

Algebra Honors

Mrs. DeLorenzo’s Algebra 1 Honors class has been reviewing Pre-Algebra skills including solving equations, simplifying expressions, mathematical properties, and other review skills. Students will soon begin their unit on Signed Numbers, followed by continued work with linear equations.

Physical Science

In Ms. Vacchiano’s class, the students have been busy going over lab safety, the different branches of science, the scientific method, and the engineering design process. They learned how to properly set up a controlled experiment using both independent and dependent variables.

Reading

In Ms. McCann’s Reading class, the students are participating in Memoir book clubs. They were provided a variety of options such as They Cage the Animals at Night, The Girl Who Smiled Beads, Becoming Kareem, and Every Falling Star, and were encouraged to choose the book they were interested in and wanted to read. Most of the students are halfway through their books - some even finished already! We are also reading passages from Night by Elie Wiesel as the class mentor text for understanding how authors use powerful language to express their experiences and memories in memoirs to impact the readers.

In Miss Hartmann’s class, students started off the year with a review of the "story mountain" as an introduction to our current unit: Memoirs. Students have been enjoying the graphic novel memoir When Stars Are Scattered. With this novel, students have been able to analyze characters, think about their reading, and respond to their reading. As the unit moves on, students will continue to learn about memoirs, as well as how they, as good readers, can interact with them.

Mrs. Del Vecchio’s Reading class jumped right into our first unit which is exploring memoirs and autobiographies. We have been looking at the characteristics of memoirs and began reading the novel They Cage the Animals at Night. We have also been looking at the idea of identity and what makes up our personal identities. Students are completing a slideshow in which they will present information on their country of origin.

Language Arts

In Mr. Smith’s class, students began the year with a foundations week where we reviewed concepts from last year and concepts needed to be successful in writing across all subject areas. This included breaking down and answering open-ended questions, citing evidence, explaining evidence, and creating a works cited page. Students then jumped into the first unit focusing on adding figurative language and sensory details into our narrative writing. Next, students will begin to incorporate dialogue in their writing and think about their focus for their memoirs.

Mrs. Del Vecchio’s class has been busy reviewing grammar and some of the mechanics of writing. We have spent time working on figurative language in order to enhance our writing. From there, students will be writing a short piece in the form of a memoir. We have also been working on vocabulary using the Wordly Wise 8 vocabulary book.

Early World History

Students in Mrs. Turnbull's class started off the year with some historical thinking and mapping skills and have now entered our unit on Mesopotamia. They have learned about the emergence of city-states and the advancements made by the Sumerian people such as the wheel and writing cuneiform. Students got to pretend to be ancient scribes and write cuneiform on Play-Doh “clay tablets." We will also be discussing Hammurabi’s code and later people groups from the fertile crescent before the month comes to an end.

Spanish

Students in Mrs. Wohlberg’s class are off to a great start this year. First, we worked on activities to get to know each other. Below are pictures of their “About Me” activities. We reviewed countries and capitals of the Spanish-speaking world through catchy songs and learned important information about some of the countries. We reviewed and learned useful phrases needed to speak in the classroom. We are currently starting our vacation unit and are learning vocabulary and phrases to describe the months, seasons, and weather. Next, we will learn about Hispanic Heritage Month in October. 

French

Madame Ralston’s French class picked right back up where we left off in June! Students are comfortable with the rhythm and routine of the class. This is the year where the bulk of French verbs are learned and implemented. There will be more writing and speaking! Students can fully describe themselves, their families, and their preferences! Looking forward to improving pronunciation and fluency!

Creative Coding

The students have been working hard to learn fundamental computer programming concepts, such as programming shapes, creating variables, and working with random numbers. Using the JavaScript programming language, students are debugging code and designing original programs. The students are looking forward to using what they have learned on their upcoming project: programming a Corny Joke Scene.

Example - Using Random Numbers to Create Unique Flowers

Technology/Manufacturing

In Mr. Blatt’s technology and manufacturing classes, students are being introduced to the engineering design process and the impact of technology. They are always looking at how technology and tools impact everyday lives. They are looking at real-life examples of the design process. Students built a simple support for books to keep them one inch off the table. They recently researched seven resources of technology and teams are successfully creating a Google Slides presentation explaining a technological project. Starting today, projects like the one-card-tower will be designed, documented, and built. Next month, students will work on engineering drawings and eventually design/build cardboard roller coasters to apply the design process hands-on.

Video Technology

Welcome to Season #8 of WMS TV on YouTube. Each marking period, students will learn to plan, film, produce, and edit a news story stemming from our community at Waldwick Middle School. Our YouTube channel will showcase all of our students' work throughout the year so stop by and watch our student videos at: WMS TV YouTube

Art Appreciation

The eighth-grade Art Appreciation class started off the year working on graffiti art. Their goal was to create their names in a graffiti font style, then add elements to the design that represented them. They did an awesome job!

The WMS Chorus classes have started the year off well. All students have been assigned to their class groups and have started meeting for classes. This month, sixth-grade chorus members will be learning to find their voice through vocal warm-ups and work on their music reading skills. Students in 7/8 Chorus will continue working on their warm-ups as well and will start singing through new music and choosing songs for the Winter Concert. All involved are looking forward to a great year of music-making ahead!

**FUN VOCAL FACT - It takes over a hundred different muscles for you to sing or speak. This includes the jaw, chest, neck, lips and tongue!**

Band students in all grade levels are back in action and making music again! So far this year, students have dusted off the summer cobwebs and are beginning to dive back into the Band Karate. This weekend, those eighth-grade WMS students who participate in the Warrior Marching Band will be attending their first-ever Marching Band Competition at Ramsey High School!

Mr. Laccitiello’s classes are doing a football unit.  Mrs. Royston has soccer.  Mrs. Carroll has basketball.  Students will complete pre-test fitness assessments on days when the weather prevents classes from being outdoors.

Ms. Manning’s class is exploring a unit called Natural Forces. Students are learning science vocabulary about volcanoes and earthquakes, reading to identify causes and effects, and using their speaking skills to describe processes in science. They have also collaborated with Ms. Barrios’s class to enable the students to listen to authentic Spanish from their peers and help them practice introducing themselves in Spanish.