September Newsletter

Math

Ms. Vesper’s and Mrs. Varcadipane’s Math classes are currently working on Unit 1: Numerical Expressions and Factors.  We have discussed all the different math phases that align with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  We have explored different ways to write repeated multiplication and what that means.  We are currently investigating the Order of Operations and why the way we evaluate expressions matters in finding our answer. 

In Mrs. Serabian-Fitzgerald’s 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 to identify math terms used to represent operations in everyday life. To demonstrate their understanding, students created posters to be used as a helpful resource throughout the unit. 

Earth Science

Students in Mrs. Maul’s and Ms. D’Amato’s Science classes are currently learning about the scientific method, the meaning of science, and what it means to be a scientist. The students also successfully completed their first lab by "saving Fred." All groups were able to get Fred safely into his life preserver. Students have also been preparing for their space unit by making nightly observations of the sky.

Students in Mrs. Presinzano’s Life Science classes have been reviewing parts of a scientific experiment, the different branches of science, the scientific method, and the engineering design process. We are also working on our C-E-R writing (claim-evidence-reasoning.)

Reading

Mrs. Del Piano’s and Ms. Gallagher's classes have all picked out fiction books for independent reading. They are developing their fiction reading skills by analyzing setting, conflict, character, and more. In class, the students are reading Nine, Ten as a read-aloud for further practice.

Language Arts

We are off to a great start in Mrs. Prager's and Ms. Gallagher's Language Arts class. The students completed a variety of activities that helped them brainstorm and prepare for their first writing assignment: a personal narrative. For their personal narratives, the students will focus on a small moment of time when they learned something significant.

In Mrs. Serabian- Fitzgerald’s Language Arts class, students have been practicing different strategies such as drawing a moment to help construct a well-written personal narrative. For this writing piece, students are working on narrowing down a small moment while still having a clear sequential order, vivid details like strong emotions and dialogue, and a reflective ending. Next, we will begin working on our realistic fiction unit!

In Ms. Sisco’s Language Arts class, we began learning and exploring personal narratives. Each student was able to pick a moment from their life that they wanted to explore deeper. We are in the process of editing and revising, but are ready to move on to our next topic of study for October: personal essays. We are also looking to continue working through our vocabulary units.

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, and 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 are 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 began the cycle with an understanding of the culture of greetings and good-byes. They learned the vocabulary related to this topic and had a quiz. Students also learned numbers up to a million by doing several activities. We are now using the numbers to learn how to tell time. They are now writing their regular daily schedule and using the time in Spanish.

French

Madame’s sixth-grade French class is full of excitement each day! In a mere three weeks, students can identify French and English cognates, count, recite the alphabet, name classroom objects and colors, AND have a short conversation with someone! Even though we only have a little over a month left, I know the students are going to learn so much more!

Stage & Sound

Students created their own compositions on Noteflight. They were very creative making their own music and they will continue to create more throughout this unit!

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 element of art LINE, while we created our patterns. Once the drawings were complete, the students added color. 

Pre-Algebra Apps

In Mrs. O'Brien's Math class, students are working on adding and subtracting integers through real-life scenarios and interactive games. They practice using number lines and visual aids to grasp the concepts effectively, ensuring they understand how to handle both positive and negative numbers. As they gain confidence in addition and subtraction, the students will jump into the next challenge: multiplying and dividing integers. Having a solid foundation of their integer rules will support their upcoming learning adventures and prepare them for real-world situations.

In Mrs. O'Brien's Honors class, students have successfully wrapped up their exploration of integer operations and are now applying those rules to rational numbers. With a strong grasp of adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers, they are eager to apply these skills to fractions and decimals. Through collaborative projects and challenging problem sets, they are learning to navigate the complexities of rational numbers, how to convert between forms, and find common denominators. This transition not only deepens their mathematical understanding but also prepares them for more advanced concepts ahead.

Mrs. Brennecke’s Math classes have been learning about operations with positive and negative integers and how this applies to real-world situations. They have practiced performing addition and subtraction using multiple methods including number lines and counting chips. They have also practiced multiplication and division. Strengthening these skills is a crucial step in preparing students for the upcoming concepts for this year and next.

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.

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, as well as practiced 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 & 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. 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 explored characterization and conflict and how authors use both to develop a story. The students enjoyed the depictions of the characters in FTM and recognized how the same traits could be applied to the characters in their independent novels. They also used their knowledge of conflict to explore the conflicts in their independent novels. The students have examined 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.

Language Arts

In Mrs. Edreos’ classes, students have started off the year with some review. Through game play and discussion, students analyzed grammar and figurative language. In addition to that students have created comics to showcase their figurative language skills. As well as reviewing, students have also shown their understanding of new vocabulary. As the month comes to an end, students will begin to write their realistic fiction stories, including key elements of a narrative.

Mrs. Krysa’s Language Arts classes are off to a great start! We enjoyed establishing a class community and sharing our interests through our visual slide presentations and writing activities. We began the month reviewing parts of speech and sensory details in order to write descriptively. We also examined effective examples of descriptive writing. Additionally, students learned new vocabulary words, and strategies to define unknown words, and completed word study activities. Applying these lessons, students completed descriptive writing tasks. As the month concludes, students are ready to begin writing and analyzing realistic fiction stories.

Beginning of the US & Civics

We have jumped headfirst into the new school year in History for Grade 7. I’ve 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

In Senora’s seventh-grade Spanish class, we started the year celebrating Hispanic heritage month. Students learned about the history of this big celebration. To celebrate, students researched a person's achievements. Students had a great start to the year by learning greetings, the alphabet, colors, the weather, the months of the year, and the days of the week. Moving forward we will start the thematic unit of personal identification.

French

Madame’s seventh-grade class is off to a great start! Since we already knew each other from last year (quite an advantage of being the only French teacher!), we dove right in. After our thorough review of cognates, numbers, the alphabet, and much more, we are working on having fairly extensive conversations with one another and forming questions. The students are defining a daily word of the day and of course, speaking and writing the date. 

STEAM

In STEAM, students learned about calculating dimensions, which prepared them for the Asteroid Impact Unit! Students studied maps and learned about rocks. They first designed a dream house blueprint…and then with the impending asteroid impact on the way, students were given the task of building and designing a structure that would survive this natural disaster!  

Financial Fitness

In Financial Fitness, the students finished the first unit, Career Exploration, where they researched their dream career and figured out how to make it a reality. They also have their first banking day where they get their paycheck and pay their rent on the desk. This helps them understand how important it is to know how much money they have in their bank accounts at all times. They are currently in Unit 2 learning about credit cards. We are discussing what it is like to have a credit card and establish credit. They are also investigating what it’s like to have good and bad credit by playing the Uber game and then analyzing their findings. 

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 7 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 about how to make popcorn and grilled cheese correctly. Heading into October, the students will be focusing on 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 regarding the foods, food traditions, and food history of that state.

Algebra

In Mr. Hascup’s Algebra Apps class, we have been diving into the deep end of equations. We have spent the week taking increasingly complex expressions and reducing them into problems that we know how to address. After building this foundation, we moved into the fun and wonderful world of word problems. We will soon be addressing what happens when there are variables on both sides.

In Ms. Vesper’s Algebra Concepts class, we are working on Chapter 1 which involves solving for one or two steps and we will be entering multistep equations. We have been practicing solving equations and remembering that what we do to one side we do to the other. We are also practicing working out our problems on a piece of paper and then answering the question. We had our first quiz on Friday, September 27, 2024, and we all survived nicely.  

In Mrs. Del Vecchio’s class, we started out the year reviewing previously learned skills such as operations with integers. After reviewing the prerequisite skills of combining like terms and using the distributive property, we jumped right into our first chapter solving one-step equations and solving multi-step equations. To better demonstrate their knowledge, students have completed their first quiz in which they all did very well!  

In Mr. Hascup’s Algebra Honors class, we have been building up a strong foundation in problem-solving skills. We have been working on strengthening our abilities in simplifying expressions, evaluating expressions, and developing our critical thinking skills. As we move into the next units, we will be applying these skills in unique ways to solve increasingly complex problems.

Physical Science

In Ms. Vacchiano’s Science 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

Mrs. Del Vecchio’s Reading class jumped right into our first unit, 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. Next, they will learn how to describe their house and chores.

Language Arts

Students in Mr. Smith’s and Ms. Gallagher's classes began the year by laying down the foundation for being a successful writer in eighth grade. Students looked at how to cite sources properly, create works cited entries, and answer open-ended questions. Next, students began Unit 1 on Information and Expository writing. Students learned the difference between objective and subjective writing and how to write objective summaries of text. Currently, students are learning about text structures and different ways writers can organize an informational text.

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/personal narrative. We have also been working on vocabulary using the Wordly Wise 8 vocabulary book.

Early World History

Students in Mrs. Turnbull’s class started the year by reviewing historical skills such as mapping, sourcing, and understanding timelines. We are now in our unit on Mesopotamia where we started off by coloring a map of the physical geography of the area and then learned about the first cities of Sumer. Students read about the story of the Epic of Gilgamesh and got to practice being a Sumerian scribe by using Play-Doh to write in cuneiform. Then, we spent some time on Hammurabi’s Code (where we get the phrase “an eye for an eye”, and students have begun to create brochures advertising their specific people group’s region and reign of Mesopotamia as if we could go back in time to visit. The quiz for this unit will be on October 4th.

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. 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. Students learned about the significance of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. They are currently finishing up their famous Hispanic research assignment.

French

Another amazing perk of being the only French teacher: this year’s eighth-grade class and I needed no introductions! We were already very well acquainted, each and every one of us. We started back with our routine: daily word of the day, dates, and weather.

This year students will become very familiar with irregular verbs, which will, of course, enable them to do much more speaking! With the advantage of a small class, we can get so much more accomplished! We are able to do mini-presentations almost every week, which means every student is practicing the very important skill of public speaking! In addition to learning French, they are also employing good posture, pronunciation, and voice projection.. All very essential skills!

Creative Coding

The students have been working hard to learn fundamental computer programming concepts, such as sequencing, commenting, plotting shapes, and declaring variables. Now that the students have learned the basics of JavaScript, they are going to start designing original programs. The students are looking forward to using what they have learned in their upcoming project: Programming a Corny Joke Scene.

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 display cases for an art project to apply the design process hands-on.

Art Appreciation

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

In Mrs. Gutierrez’s classroom, we have been learning about science tools during our Science period. We enjoyed using magnifying glasses, binoculars, beakers, scales, and magnets to explore items in and out of the classroom. Students discussed what each tool is used for and then used them in a mini lab in the classroom to demonstrate their knowledge.

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 the 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!

Band students in all grade levels are back in action and making music again! All band classes have been working on Band Karate during the first few lessons of the school year (pics below!). Also, eighth-grade Marching Warrior Band members were all smiles at their very first home football game earlier this month! (pictured left to right - Liam, Brady, Barbara, Alexandra, Noreen, Allison)

All WMS students in grades 6-8 have received their PE lockers and are adjusting well to the new school year. Each grade has begun their activity units for marking period one. There will be a two-week-long rotation per unit of soccer, football, basketball, and fitness. The focus of each unit is not only cognitive knowledge of the objectives for each team sport, but also a combination of active participation, cooperation, and teamwork. 

Students are getting to know each other for the first time. They created “Life Maps” in which they explained and found pictures to represent important moments in their lives. They are also becoming familiar with words that we use daily, such as objects in the classroom and at home. They are now working on a “My Favorite Things” assignment, where they are sharing pictures and descriptions of their favorite places, foods, movies, and much more!

Running Club

Running Club was very popular and currently has a waiting list. Students will be developing their endurance and working on increasing their distance. Just a reminder that students can also join the track team in the spring!

Book Club

Students in Ms. Magner's Book Club have started off the Fall session designing digital bookshelves on Canva and creating their own bookmarks. Lots of other book-related crafts are on the horizon!