Steve Hamilton, Principal Phone: 303-690-6570Kerstin Rowe, Assistant Principal Attendance: 303-326-1651Moran Stone, Assistant Principal Fax: 303-326-1251Michelle Daskevich-Kenison, Principal’s Secretary

Columbia Middle School • 17600 East Columbia Avenue • Aurora, Colorado 80013

Cougar News

Columbia’s website address: http://columbia.aurorak12.org/

February 2018

Principal’sMessageColumbia Community,Welcome back from the winter holiday break. Hopefully everyone had some time to “unplug” and enjoy time with family. As we enter into the spring semester I want to point out some special dates ahead that you should have on your calendar. Specific information regard-ing each item below will be sent out closer to the actual dates.

February 7, 2018 – 8th Grade Families ONLY – This is our high school transition night. Columbia hosts an evening for 8th grade families to explore high school options here at Columbia as a “one-stop-shop.” Families have really enjoyed this since they only have to come here to learn about high school options in Aurora Public Schools. February 22, 2018 – Parent Conferences – This will be the last evening conference for this school year. The evening will follow the 3rd quarter progress reports sent home February 14th.

March 24th – April 1st 2018 – Spring Break (No School)April 27, 2018 – Columbia’s 35th Anniversary Open House – Columbia will be holding an open house celebration recognizing our 35th year as a school. Students, staff, parents from past and present are welcome to stroll through the decades as we enjoy looking back!

May 3, 2018 – 5th Grade Open House – Every spring, Columbia holds an open house for our incoming 5th grade families to tour the school, look over curriculum, meet staff and enjoy a casual evening prior to the upcoming fall semester.

In addition to these important dates, I would like to tell you about some specific changes to how parents are going to be expected to access staff beginning this semester. We have had several times this past semester where a parent has shown up at the school wanting to visit a classroom, meet with an administrator, counselor or other staff member only to have to be turned away and schedule a specific time. In some instances, the classrooms have been testing, the coun-selor or administrator was either out or in a meeting or the teacher

was not available. This has caused some unwanted frustrations on everyone’s behalf that we can avoid by planning ahead.

So, beginning in January, parents who want to meet with a staff member (teacher, counselor or administrator) will need to schedule an appointment. This will also be the process for classroom visits so that the teachers can communicate with the parent what activities, testing, or projects may be currently going on that might impact the opportunity to visit the classroom. Parents arriving at the of-fice without an appointment will be given a half-sheet to complete indicating who they want to see and what the purpose of the meeting will be. The sheet will be passed onto the individual who will call within 24 hours to schedule an appointment. If a parent calls to speak with someone, the same information will be gathered and passed onto that person to return the phone call when he/she is available. This will allow parents and staff the opportunity to coordinate a time to address the needs appropriately.

Finally, please remember that when your child returns for this spring semester they should have with them their school ID card in every class every day. These are used in the lunchroom, media center to check out books, entrance to sporting events, required for students who ride a bus and so much more. This is a district mandate for all middle and high schools that everyone must follow. Addition-ally, students should keep their backpacks in their lockers and only bring the necessary materials to each class. All core classes require students to have a notebook and something to write with EVERY day. Please review with your child that he/she has the necessary school supplies and is actually taking them to each class.

Thank you for making any necessary adjustments to accommodate the above dates, changes in our communication process, and being prepared for class with their supplies and school ID card!

Steve Hamilton, Principal

MensajedelprincipalComunidad de Columbia,Bienvenido de nuevo del descanso de vacaciones de invierno. Con suerte, todos tuvieron algo de tiempo para “desconectarse” y disfrutar del tiempo con la familia. Al ingresar al semestre de primavera, quiero señalar algunas fechas especiales que debe tener en su calendario. La infor-mación específica con respecto a cada artículo a continuación se enviará más cerca de las fechas actuales.

7 de febrero de 2018 - SOLO PARA FAMILIAS DE 8º GRADO - Esta es nuestra noche de transición a la escuela secundaria. Columbia organiza una noche para las familias de octavo grado para explorar las opciones de la escuela secundaria aquí en Columbia. Las familias realmente han disfrutado esto ya que solo tienen que venir aquí para aprender sobre las opciones de escuela secundaria en las Escuelas Públicas de Aurora.22 de febrero de 2018 - Conferencias de padres: esta será la última conferencia de este año escolar. La conferencia seguirá a los informes de progreso del tercer trimestre enviados a casa el 14 de febrero.

24 de marzo - 1 de abril de 2018 - Vacaciones de primavera (No hay clases)27 de abril de 2018 - La Casa Abierta del 35 Aniversario de Columbia - Columbia celebrará una jornada de puertas abiertas reconociendo nuestro 35 ° año como escuela. Los estudiantes, el personal, los padres de años pasados y del presente son bienvenidos a pasear a través de los años mientras disfrutamos mirando hacia atrás.

3 de mayo de 2018 - Casa abierta de 5to grado - Cada primavera, Columbia ofrece una casa abierta para nuestras familias entrantes de 5to grado para recorrer la escuela, revisar el plan de estudios, conocer al personal y disfrutar de una tarde casual antes del próximo semestre de otoño.Además de estas fechas importantes, me gustaría informarle acerca de algunos cambios específicos sobre cómo se espera que los padres ac-cedan al personal a partir de este semestre. Hemos tenido varias veces este último semestre en el que un padre se presentó en la escuela para visitar un salón de clases, se reunió con un administrador, consejero u otro miembro del personal para que lo rechacen y programe un horario específico. En algunos casos, los salones de clase han estado tomando examenes, el consejero o administrador estaba fuera o en una reunión o el maestro no estaba disponible. Esto ha causado algunas frustraciones indeseadas en nombre de todos, que podemos evitar si planificamos con anticipación.

Por lo tanto, a partir de enero, los padres que deseen reunirse con un miembro del personal (maestro, consejero o administrador) deberán pro-gramar una cita. Este también será el proceso para las visitas al salón de clases, de modo que los maestros puedan comunicarse con los padres sobre qué actividades, exámenes o proyectos pueden estar en curso actualmente y que podrían afectar la oportunidad de visitar el salón de clases. Los padres que lleguen a la oficina sin una cita recibirán una hoja para completar, indicando a quién quieren ver y cuál será el propósito de la reunión. La hoja se pasará a la persona que llamará dentro de las 24 horas para programar una cita.

Si un padre llama para hablar con alguien, se reunirá la misma información y se le pasará a esa persona para que devuelva la llamada cuando esté disponible. Esto permitirá a los padres y al personal la oportunidad de coordinar un momento para abordar las necesidades de manera apropiada.

Finalmente, recuerde que cuando su hijo regrese para este semestre de primavera, debe tener consigo su tarjeta de identificación escolar en todas las clases todos los días. Estos se usan en el comedor, en la biblioteca para sacar libros, entrada a eventos deportivos, necesarios para los estudiantes que viajan en un autobús y mucho más. Este es un mandato del distrito para todas las escuelas secundarias y preparatorias que todos deben seguir. Además, los estudiantes deben guardar sus mochilas en sus casilleros y solo llevar los materiales necesarios a cada clase. Todas las clases básicas requieren que los estudiantes tengan un cuaderno y algo para escribir CADA día. Por favor revise con su hijo que él / ella tenga los útiles escolares necesarios y los está llevando a cada clase.

¡Gracias por hacer los ajustes necesarios para acomodar las fechas mencionadas, los cambios en nuestro proceso de comunicación y estar pre-parados para la clase con sus útiles escolares y la tarjeta de identificación de la escuela!

Steve Hamilton, director

ALetterfromDr.KennethC.Somers29 de enero del 2018

Estimadas familias y comunidad de Columbia Middle School, Recientemente, el Sr. Steve Hamilton anunció su decisión de retirarse al final de este año escolar, después de una carrera larga y distinguida como educador en las Escuelas Públicas de Aurora. Queremos felicitar al Sr. Hamilton por su próximo retiro, y desearle lo mejor para el futuro.

Ahora dirigimos nuestra atención al proceso de selección del Nuevo Director/a de Columbia Middle School. El proceso de selección para Di-rector en las Escuelas Públicas de Aurora permite que tanto el personal de la escuela, como los padres de familia, aporten información importante sobre las cualidades de liderazgo que deberían tener los candidatos po-tenciales, y asegura que el proceso de selección se lleve a cabo de manera confidencial. El proceso también hace posible la selección de un Equipo de Asesoría para la Selección del Director (Principal Selection Advisory Team) que recomendará los finalistas al Superintendente.

Durante nuestros trabajos de integración del personal y comunidad de padres de familia de Columbia en este proceso, por favor tengan en cuenta la siguiente información: • Las aportaciones hechas por el personal escolar de Columbia serán

reunidas durante la mañana del martes 6 de febrero, a partir de las 7:10 a.m.

• Las aportaciones hechas por los padres de familia de Columbia se reunirán el martes, 6 de febrero, de las 6:00 p. m. a las 7:30 p. m. en Columbia MS. Invitamos a todos los padres a asistir. Si Usted desea formar parte del Equipo de Asesoría, por favor háganoslo saber durante este evento en particular.

• El entrenamiento para el Equipo de Asesoría se llevará a cabo el martes 20 de febrero, de las 8:00 a. m. a las 11:00 a. m., en el (APS Educational Services Center).

• Las entrevistas con los candidatos están tentativamente programadas para el lunes 26 de febrero, en Columbia MS. Los miembros del Equipo de Asesoría deberán comprometerse a apoyar durante todo el día. Todos los miembros del Equipo de Asesoría deben estar pre-sentes en el entrenamiento, y también en el proceso de selección.

Además de la información y entrevista, el proceso de entrevista para los finalistas seleccionados se llevará a cabo durante un Foro Comunitario, que está programado para principios de marzo en Columbia MS. Próxi-mamente les haremos llegar más información.

Como el Director de Comunidad de Aprendizaje para Columbia MS, yo estaré facilitando este proceso, junto con nuestra Directora de Recursos Humanos, la Srta. Kristen Steuber. La Srta. Steuber y yo esperamos con gusto reunirnos con Ustedes y juntos llevar a cabo el proceso de selección de un/a sobresaliente futuro Director/a para Columbia MS.

Gracias. Espero con gusto colaborar con Ustedes en este proceso tan im-portante. Si tienen alguna pregunta, por favor llamen a Sylvia Eldredge, Asistente Administrativa, al 303.340.0859 Ext. 28361.

Atentamente,

Dr. K.C. Somers

January 29, 2018 Dear Columbia Middle School Families and Community, Recently, Mr. Steve Hamilton announced his decision to retire at the end of this school year after a long and distinguished career as an educator in Aurora Public Schools. We congratulate Mr. Hamilton on his impending retirement and wish him all the best into the future.

Following this announcement, our attention turns to en-gaging in a process to select a new principal for Columbia Middle School. Our principal selection process in Aurora Public Schools allows both school staff and parents to pro-vide important input into the leadership qualities potential candidates should possess and ensures a confidential selection process. The process also involves the selection of a Principal Selection Advisory Team that will recommend finalists to the Superintendent.

As we work to engage the Columbia staff and parent com-munity in this process, please take note of the following information: • Columbia staff input will be collected during the morning

of Tuesday, February 6, starting at 7:10 a.m. • Columbia parent input will take place on Tuesday, Febru-

ary 6 from 6:00-7:30PM at Columbia MS. All parents are welcome to attend. Should you wish to serve on the Advisory Team, I encourage you to express your interest at this particular event.

• Training for the Advisory Team will be Tuesday, February 20 from 8:00 - 11:00AM at the APS Educational Services Center.

• Candidate interviews are tentatively slated for Monday, February 26 at Columbia MS. This will be an all-day commitment for Advisory Team members. All Advisory Team members must be present for both the training and the selection process.

In addition to the input and interview, the interview process for selected finalists will occur during a Community Forum which is scheduled to occur in early March at Columbia MS. More information will be forthcoming. As the Learning Community Director for Columbia MS, I will be facilitating this process in partnership with our Human Resources Director, Ms. Kristen Steuber. Ms. Steuber and I look forward to meeting with you and engaging in a process to select an outstanding future principal for Columbia MS.

Thank you. I look forward to meeting with you and working together in this very important process. If you have ques-tions, please call Sylvia Eldredge, Administrative Assistant, at 303.340.0859 Ext. 28361.

Kind Regards,

Dr. K.C. Somers

FromtheAPs(Mrs. Kerstin Rowe and Mrs. Moran Stone)

Hello Parents/Guardians, This spring, your student will take the Colorado Measure of Academic Success (CMAS) tests.

You can help! Please support your student in doing their very best on these assessments! Please make sure your student:• gets to school on time, • has a healthy breakfast, • and gets a good night’s sleep.

Please make note of the dates below!

Please do your very best to ensure that all appointments are scheduled for a different day and that you do not pick students up early on these days.

March 20, 21, 22 6th, 7th, and 8th grades English Language ArtsApril 3, 4, 6 6th, 7th, and 8th grades MathApril 10, 11, 12 7th grade Social StudiesApril 10, 11, 12 8th grade Science

Please note we DO have school on Monday, April 2!

For more information, please visit this district website: http://assessment.aurorak12.org/parent-resources/

Please call or email assistant principal Kerstin Rowe if you have any questions klrowe@aps.k12.co.us 303-690-6570

Hola padres,

Eesta primavera, su estudiante tendrá los examenes de medida Colorado de éxito académico (CMAS).

¡Usted puede ayudar! Por favor apoye a su estudiante en hacer lo mejor en estas evaluaciones. Por favor, asegúrese de que su estudiante: • llegue a la escuela a tiempo,• tenga un desayuno saludable, • y duerma bien por la noche.

Por favor tome nota de las fechas de abajo!

Por favor, haga lo major para que todas las citas están programadas para un día diferente y que usted no recoja los estudiantes temprano en estos días.

Marzo 20, 21, 22 6to, 7mo, 8vo Grados Artes del idioma inglésAbril 3, 4, 6 6to, 7mo, 8vo Grados MatemáticasAbril 10, 11, 12 7mo Grado Estudios SocialesAbril 10, 11, 12 8vo Grado Ciencia

Tenga en cuenta que tenemos escuela el lunes, 2 de abril!

Para obtener más información, visite este sitio web del distrito: http://assessment.aurorak12.org/parent-resources/

Llame o mande un correo electrónico a la asistente del director Kerstin Rowe si usted tiene alguna pregunta klrowe@aps.k12.co.us 303-690-6570

FromtheMainOfficeOpen Enrollment, for the 2018-2019 school year, has now started. Forms may be obtained at Columbia Middle School’s Main Office. Open enrollment closes on May 1st at 4:00 p.m.

Students of the Month

August6th grade- A: Marco Gaytan Diaz & Hitcel Flores Gatica B: Hayley Thompson & Michael (Dung) Do

7th grade- A: Janae King & Ilias Zaher B: Stephen Vullo & Mikayla Yant

8th grade- A: Ayana Simpson & Zakkary Turpin B: Eva Vargas Byrne & Benjamin Calderon

September6th grade- A: Julian Carreon & Asia Wilhelm B: Nathan Vargas Byrne & Allyson Bohn

7th grade- A: Phillip Nguyen & Katelyn Vuong B: Arabella Coker & Luis Tinajero-Areola

8th grade- A: Jarod McDowall & Jenifer Sanchez B: Karina Espinosa De Los Monteros & Brenten Lucero

October6th grade- A: Cole Passmore & Kamila Amaya Artiga B: Adrian Pinedo Gutierrez & Katherine Martinez Castorena

7th grade- A: Ruth Martinez Ferrer & Luis Saldana Dominguez B: Domanick Stilley & Kyra Vuong

8th grade- A: Kayla Faustino & Michael Briones B: Heba Hamid &Elim Aschenberg

November6th grade- A: Leylani Gomez Nevarez & Kevin Yau B: Nataly Leon & Eduardo Orozco

7th grade- A: Caelyn Zedrick & Aydan Quiroga B: Princess Pena & Nasir Mills

8th grade- A: Michael Do & Angelia Griffith Burnett B: Lesly Ortiz Roman & Collin Lowe

December6th grade- A: Abib Abib & Nyria Delph B: Stephanie Karr Chavez & Adrian Ramirez

7th grade- A: Amber Tate & Kaden Green B: Darlene Medina & Payton Johnson

8th grade- A: Adekunle Adebayo & Emmaline Bohn B: Carlos Rodriguez & Lyric Watson Graham

ImportantNumbersAttendance Line: 303-326-1651 (24 hours) Main Office Phone: 303-690-6570Cafeteria: 303-326-1151 Main Office Fax: 303-326-1251Columbia’s Website: Columbia.aurorak12.org

Office HoursMonday through Friday: 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Student Hours: Monday through Friday 1st Bell – 8:20 A.M. 2nd Bell – 8:30 A.M. (Seated in first period classes) Last Bell – 3:57 P.M. (Students dismissed for the day) Campus Cleared – 4:07 P.M.

Breakfast is served from 8:00 – 8:20 A.M.Students must come in through the cafeteria doors, on the east side of the building.Intramurals is from 7:30 – 8:20 A.M.

ImportantDatesComingup… February 19th – President’s Day (No School) February 22nd – 3rd Quarter Parent/Teacher Conferences (5:00-8:30 p.m.)

StudentSupportCenter8th parents and students: please plan on attending our 4th annual 8th grade transition night, on Wednesday, February 7th from 5:00-7:00. You will hear about alternative high school options, concurrent enrollment, assessment, and how to earn an associate’s degree in high school. In addition, our feeder high schools will be here to talk about the high school registration process. This is a very important night you do not want to miss. We look forward to a great turnout to help families prepare for the transition to high school!

PTSOThe PTSO monthly meeting is on Wednesday, February 14th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend.

On Friday, February 16th a dance will be held for the 8th grade from 5-7, cost $8.00 including Pizza & drink. If ticket is bought at the door food is not included.

Nurse’sNotesColumbia’s hearing and vision screening was completed for all 7th grade students on January 16th. If you received a letter home that your student did NOT pass their vision or hearing screen, please make sure you follow up with a physician and return the referral form to the nurse as soon as possible. The American Dental Association’s Give Kids a Smile Program is holding an event Monday February 19th, to provide FREE dental hygiene services to local children from underserved families. The dental services will include a comprehensive exam by a dentist, x-rays, dental cleaning and fluoride treatments. Please call 720-222-2094 for more information.

Children with these symptoms or illness should be kept home (excluded) from school:

Child Must Be at Home?

Yes - if child looks or acts sick;if child has diarrhea with fever and isn’t acting normally;if child has diarrhea and is also throwing up; OR if child has diar-rhea that cannot be contained in the diaper or the toilet.

Yes - if the child also has a rash, sore throat, throwing up, diarrhea, behavior changes, stiff neck, OR difficulty breathing.

Yes - for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone.The fever needs to be gone, without using medicine that reduces the fever (acetaminophen or ibuprofen).

Yes - if the coughing is severe, Uncontrolled; OR your child has wheezing, rapid or trouble breathing and medi-cal attention is needed.

No – your child may go to school if they able to take part in school activities.Keep your child home if the symptoms are severe. This includes fever and the child is not acting normally and/or has trouble breathing.

Yes – Rash with fever. Call your doctor. Any rash that spreads quickly, has open, oozing wounds and/or is not healing should be checked by a doctor. No – Rash without fever. A body rash without a fever or behavior changes usually does not need to stay home from school. You can call your doctor for advice.

Yes - until throwing up stops or a doctor says it is not contagious. If your child has a recent head injury, watch for other signs of ill-ness and for dehydration.

Symptoms

Diarrhea frequent, loose or watery stools (poop) compared to child’s normal ones that aren’t caused by food or medicine

Fever with behavior change or other illness.Babies who are 4 months or younger needs to see a doctor right away for a fever of 100°F or higher.

“Flu-Like” SymptomsFever over 100°F with a cough or sore throat. Other flu symptoms can include tiredness, body aches, throwing up and diarrhea CoughingNote: Children with asthma may go to school with a written health care plan and the school is allowed to give them medicine and treatment

Mild Respiratory or Cold Symptoms stuffy nose with clear drainage, sneezing, mild cough

Rash

Vomiting/Throwing Up Throwing up two or more times in the past 24 hours

Since we are in the middle of cold and flu season, please take a minute to review the guidelines on when to keep your child home from school.

ColumbiaLibraryNewsThanks to student, parent and teacher support, we were able to raise $869.50 to go towards new books for the library from our Scholastic Book Fair! Look for new titles showing up soon.

Congratulations to all the Book Fair prize winners: Eva Vargas, Alejandro Matozo, Kaoutar Elouadi, Jasmine Gallegos and Vivian Mendoza.

Columbia’s Battle of the Books begins Monday January 22! Battle of the Books is a friendly reading competition where students commit to read 10 chosen books and then battle in teams against each other - answering questions about those books. Teams of 4 will be formed in students’ Literacy classes.

Students will have 3 months to read and prepare for the Battle Day in May.

The winning team will receive prizes and we will have a celebration with all participants after the battle is over.

New Books in the LibraryApprentice Witch by James NicholBaseball Genius by Green and JeterDon’t Cosplay With My Heart by Cecil CastelucciItachi’s Story by Masashi KishimotoLong Way Down by Jason ReynoldsMarvin and the Moths by Matthew HolmPlanet Middle School by Nikki GrimesPottymouth and Stupid by James PattersonRenegades by Marissa MeyerStars Beneath Our Feet by David Moore

What’sHappeninginyourChild’sClassroom?6th GradeWe are already four weeks into the 3rd quarter and as a team we are already starting to talk about how fast our 6th graders will be 7th graders! The 2nd semester goes by so fast and we want to make sure the students are thinking about what it takes to be a successful 7th grader! We just had our first Honor Roll breakfast and our second cougar lunch in last few weeks. We are so proud of these students and all the hard work they are putting in. Keep up the splendid work!!!

In science class, both teams are finishing their Air Quality unit. Stu-dents will be finishing up their project on how they can improve air quality in their community. Some of their ideas were to get teachers to go paperless in their classes, raise money to plant trees, and writing letters to officials to put solar panels on top of buildings. The next unit students will be learning is Ever-Changing Earth, a unit on earth sciences. It will be a fun and challenging unit for the 6th graders.

In literacy, we just started a Roald Dahl unit that includes an author or genre study! Throughout this study we will be working on literary analysis and writing literary essays. We will also be reading a lot in an effort to become better readers. Please encourage your students to read for at least thirty minutes a day in order to help them get ready for seventh grade.

This month the 6th grade math classes are continuing their algebra units. We finished the basics and are now moving into inequalities. Things you can practice at home are writing equations with unknown quantities. For example, if you need to figure out your change at the store if you have $20, you could ask your child to create an expression: $20 – x = $3.97 or if you need strawberries and you want to know how many pounds you can buy, your child could create the expression: 3.99(per pound) x P (number of pounds) = $20. Have fun with the math! As we move into the snowier months, please remember that the new math curriculum is all on the iPads. It is not designed to send make up work home as we don’t have copies of the lessons, therefore, do your best to be at school! Stay home if you’re sick but know that students are missing instruction time if they are gone.

So much is going on in social studies. We are finishing our first project-based unit of the year in which students put Ferdinand Magellan on trial and used historical sources to make a case for or against defending Magellan’s actions on his voyage to circumnavigate the world. Coming up we will begin to explore three ancient Mesoamerican civilization: the Maya, the Aztec and the Inca. As we dive into these civilizations we will explore the unique cultures that developed with each civilization and examine the unique cultures that each of us have.

Columbia Middle School celebrated the following 6th grade students at the Honor’s Breakfast on January 26th. These students achieved honor roll status for either Quarter 1 or 2, or both. To be eligible for Honor Roll, students need all Advanced or Proficient scores and all 3s or 4s in work habits. Congratulations, and keep up the hard work!

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6th Grade (continued)Awatif AlmusafarahKamila Amaya ArtigaOliva ArrizonAllyson BohnJoel BridgesLexi BrooksLilly BurtonJulian CarreonNatalie CisnerosAaron DaltonNyria DelphMichael DoAlissa DoughtyDaniela FossenDe’Jon FosterAiyana FragosoNicholas GableSasha GargLillian GauthierLeylani GomezLayla GoshornRylan GriggsJocelyn GuerreroRyan HarcrowAliya HendricksAndrea Hendricks

Alan Hernandez GandarillaStephanie Karr ChavezNataly LeonAndrea Luna RoblesMcKenzie LyningerKatherine MartinezNohemi Martinez FerrerAnne MeyerPethuel OforiElizabeth PadillaCole PassmoreAdrian Pinedo GutierezChristopher RamirezMackenzie RobinsonIngrid RomeroAlondra SaavedraLila StewartNicholas TapparoHayley ThompsonNathan Vargas ByrneEthan WaltonNyalah WellsKate WiegandAsia WilhelmKevin YauLydia Zeray

7th GradeBabb-LiteracyStudents worked really hard on analyzing how an author persuades his/her audience in a text. They learned about the rhetorical devices of ethos, pathos, and logos. They were able to apply this knowledge by analyzing a speech written by Malala, a young girl who was shot because she stood up for her belief that girls need an education. If you have a chance, check out your student’s essay. Many students did an excellent job writing about their thinking.

We are currently working on independent reading and analyzing character in a text. Students will continue to write but we will focus a bit more on digging deep into a text. If you want your student to do some extra work for Literacy, have them read at night. They can explain what they’re reading about. Ask them questions about the main character and how they would describe him/her by using details from the text.

Christen-ScienceCurrently, students are analyzing how pathogens invade the body. Students are learning the difference between bacteria and viruses, as well as the im-mune systems response to these pathogens. The unit will culminate with the students researching and presenting a pathogen of their choice to the rest of the class. Students will study the effect of their chosen pathogen on various systems of the body. Additionally, they will research the history of the microbe and current prevention techniques.

Savaloja-SocialStudiesIn Ancient Civilization we have been understanding the development of Ancient Rome. Students have been able to analyze how Rome became a powerful republic and one of the first societies that formed a government and separation of powers. Learning about the rise and fall of this ancient civilization allows students to compare and contrast different forms of government. Students will analyze the events that led to civil war and the rise of the Roman empire and its first emperor Augusts.

7BMath–K2SnowLeopardsHello again,It is important to keep young minds sharp and engaged. Play is often an avenue that is overlooked. I am including a list of age appropriate math games that would make great gifts to give or add to a home collection that the entire family will enjoy.

1. Mathable – there is also a junior version2. Mobi Tiles – comes with a whale shaped pouch3. Game 24 – many different challenge levels to choose from4. TenSation5. Rummikub6. Math Jenga – This is Jenga with a math twist!7. Zoom8. Math Dice Chase Game9. Math Blaster Prime Adventure for Nintendo DS – for those you who

are into video games10. 180 Days of Problem Solving – there are different grade levels.

I would recommend grades 5-8. Even though this one is not a game, it is a good way work with your child daily on critical math skills.

Sincerely,Mrs. Smith

8th GradeTeam Tiger Newsletter

TeamTiger(formerlyknownasTeam8A)This is an exciting and somewhat nerve wracking time for many 8th graders as we approach the time when students will register for high school. As you and your student get ready for this important transi-tion, it’s important to take some time and reflect on the things you should know.

Here are 10 things teens (and parents) should know about high school.1. Learn to seek and accept advice. While 8th graders fiercely demand

their independence, it is important to learn from others as well. Share your experiences with your students and students, learn from the experiences of your elders.

2. Take high school seriously. This paves the way for both your col-lege and career, so take the right classes and take them seriously. Don’t hinder your future chances by “blowing off” anything.

3. Respectfully communicate with others. Chances are, you will run across a classmate, a teacher, or another adult who you don’t agree with. Avoiding tough situations doesn’t work, but neither does blowing up in anger. The key is to respectfully share you points of view and seek to compromise or cooperate.

4. Make good use of your technology. The technology that you carry with you is a powerful tool. It can help you research, collaborate, and create incredible projects, but it can also be a distraction and potentially harmful. Be aware of your social media usage and make smart choices.

5. Develop good study habits. This goes hand in hand with number two. You will need to make school work a priority, so set aside specific time and strategies to manage your school work.

6. Set goals. Everyone needs something to aim for, so set goals for yourself, both short term and long term. And then make sure that you do what you need to do to reach those goals.

7. Get involved! Find something worthwhile to do at school besides your core classes. Join a sport, try a club, volunteer. Not only does it look good on college applications, you can discover a new passion to take with you into adulthood.

8. Be positive. Having a positive attitude can help get you through when times get difficult, and they will. Whether it’s social changes, or a tough class, keeping a positive attitude will help.

9. Be an individual. Peer pressure is real. Everybody wants to be part of a group. However, that can’t mean compromising your personal values and beliefs. So, no matter what, make sure to stay true to yourself.

10. Grow from your successes and your failures. Part of becoming an adult is learning how to celebrate your successes, and learn from your struggles. High school, just like life, is filled with ups and downs. Making mistakes is a natural process and part of the journey. Learning from them will help you throughout your life

AcademicNews:Literacy: Students are currently reading a whole class novel and work-ing on vocabulary and comprehension strategies. We will soon begin a research project.Math 8: Students are continuing through the systems of equations unit. Next up, the Pythagorean Theorem. Accelerated Math: We will be working through chapter 4 Modeling two-variable data Science: Students are building coaster cars and discussing physics as it relates to motion. Social Studies: Students are currently learning about important concepts surrounding the constitution and applying that knowledge to their own lives. Don’t forget to do the current events

Team Lynx Newsletter

TeamLynx(formerlyknownasTeam8B)This is an exciting and somewhat nerve wracking time for many 8th graders as we approach the time when students will register for high school. As you and your student get ready for this important transition, it’s important to take some time and reflect on the things you should know.

Here are 10 things teens (and parents) should know about high school.1. Learn to seek and accept advice. While 8th graders fiercely

demand their independence, it is important to learn from others as well. Share your experiences with your students and students, learn from the experiences of your elders.

2. Take high school seriously. This paves the way for both your col-lege and career, so take the right classes and take them seriously. Don’t hinder your future chances by “blowing off” anything.

3. Respectfully communicate with others. Chances are, you will run across a classmate, a teacher, or another adult who you don’t agree with. Avoiding tough situations doesn’t work, but neither does blowing up in anger. The key is to respectfully share you points of view and seek to compromise or cooperate.

4. Make good use of your technology. The technology that you carry with you is a powerful tool. It can help you research, collaborate, and create incredible projects, but it can also be a distraction and potentially harmful. Be aware of your social media usage and make smart choices.

5. Develop good study habits. This goes hand in hand with number two. You will need to make school work a priority, so set aside specific time and strategies to manage your school work.

6. Set goals. Everyone needs something to aim for, so set goals for yourself, both short term and long term. And then make sure that you do what you need to do to reach those goals.

7. Get involved! Find something worthwhile to do at school besides your core classes. Join a sport, try a club, volunteer. Not only does it look good on college applications, you can discover a new passion to take with you into adulthood.

8. Be positive. Having a positive attitude can help get you through when times get difficult, and they will. Whether it’s social changes, or a tough class, keeping a positive attitude will help.

9. Be an individual. Peer pressure is real. Everybody wants to be part of a group. However, that can’t mean compromising your personal values and beliefs. So, no matter what, make sure to stay true to yourself.

10. Grow from your successes and your failures. Part of becoming an adult is learning how to celebrate your successes, and learn from your struggles. High school, just like life, is filled with ups and downs. Making mistakes is a natural process and part of the journey. Learning from them will help you throughout your life

AcademicNews:Literacy: Students are currently reading a whole class novel and working on vocabulary and comprehension strategies. We will soon begin a research project.Math: Students are continuing through the systems of equations unit. Next up, the Pythagorean Theorem. Advanced Math: We will be working through Chapter 4 Modeling Two-Variable Data. Science: Students are building coaster cars and discussing physics as it relates to motion. Social Studies: Students are currently learning about important con-cepts surrounding the constitution and applying that knowledge to their own lives. We will be moving into Westward Expansion within the next couple of weeks.

PhysicalEducationWe want to welcome back all the students to PE for 2nd semester! PE students will participate in the following units 3rd quarter:

Fitness testingRec GamesFloor HockeyDouble DutchWiffleball

We require each PE student to dress out for class to promote good hygiene. Uniforms are for sale in the main office for $20.00. During the winter months, black sweatpants, black leggings/yoga pants are acceptable to wear in class. As always, If you have any questions about our class, please feel free to contact Mr. Fulton or Mr. Marshall.

BoysSoccerBoys’ soccer starts practice on March 3, 2018. Any boy’s interested need to have a physical prior to the first practice. Please pick up athletic packets at the front office. Listen to the upcoming an-nouncements for the after school meeting.

MessagefromtheELDDepartmentEnglish Language Development/Culturally and Linguistically Diverse students (ELD) spent the end of the first semester and the beginning of the second semester practicing to complete the ACCESS language assessment for English Language Learners. Our ACCESS assessment testing window is from January 8 to February 9, 2018. During this time all students who qualified as English language learners in the state of Colorado will be assessed over Listening, reading, speaking and writing. These assessments measure a student’s academic language—the language necessary to be successful in school. Most of the time, students are tested in their ELD block, so they do not miss much core content work. Follow-ing the close of the testing window, ELD students will continue to practice their reading and writing skills, so they are better able to understand the content presented in their core classes.

Desarrollo del idioma inglés / culturalmente y lingüísticamente Diversos estudiantes (ELD) pasaron el final del primer semestre y el comienzo del segundo semestre practicando para completar la evaluación del idioma ACCESS para los estudiantes del idioma inglés. Nuestra ventana de evaluación de ACCESS es del 8 de enero al 9 de febrero de 2018. Durante este tiempo, todos los estudiantes que calificaron como estudiantes del idioma inglés en el estado de Colorado serán evaluados en escuchar, leer, hablar y escribir. Estas evaluaciones miden el lenguaje académico de un estudiante, el idi-oma necesario para tener éxito en la escuela. La mayoría de las veces, los estudiantes son evaluados en su bloque ELD, para que no pierdan mucho trabajo de contenido básico. Después del cierre de la ventana de evaluación, los estudiantes de ELD continuarán practicando sus habilidades de lectura y escritura, para que puedan comprender mejor el contenido presentado en sus clases principales.

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