GPCI Gazette January 10, 2014 “We Are What’s Next!”

Chancellor’s Corner

Curriculum & Instruction Grade level course overviews by week, due dates of major

grades, and course specific news will now be sent out every

week in the GPCI Gazette.

For specific assignment dates and grades, please access

Skyward and/or your scholar’s assignment sheet (AVID

notebook).

Continued on page 2

Parents/Guardians,

Welcome back! I hope you all enjoyed a restful break. We are wrapping up the first

semester and exams are next week. I sent an email on Wednesday outlining exam reviews

and an exam schedule. These exams are very important and count as 10% of your scholar’s

final semester average. Please make sure they are seizing every opportunity and they come

well rested.

The GPISD experience is this Saturday. We will be housed on the 2nd

floor if you

would like to stop by or send a friend. I cannot wait to brag about the amazing work your

scholars have done in such a short amount of time. Did you know we out-ranked our

national 8th

grade peers on the College Board’s Readistep Assessment? Did you know that

our scholars are hosting their own college fair? Did you know our leadership team of

scholars has provided over 20 hours of tutoring and mentoring to elementary students?

There are so many great things happening, and we appreciate you helping us achieve our

goals.

National History Day projects are well underway and Spelling Bee is next Friday. We

will soon begin a second semester of curriculum, college spotlights, and field trip(s). Please

watch for updates and highlights in the Gazette!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Ellison

p. 2 STEM Curriculum

p. 3 Humanities Curriculum

p. 4 Parent Page

p. 5 Community Page

2 [GPCI GAZETTE]

STEM 6th through 8th

In class: STEM Exam- Construction of Marble Machine or Rube Goldberg, Cell Model for 7th Grade Outside of class: Goldberg Projects, Cell Model and Learning Odyssey What's Due: Goldberg/Marble Machine due January 13, The Goldberg, Marble Machine, and Cell Models will be used as STEM Semester Exam Grade Good News: Students are doing

well on projects.

(Continued)

6th PAP Science In class: Forces of Motion- Semester Review Outside of class: Rube Goldberg or Marble Machine What's Due: Goldberg or Marble Machine Due Jan. 13, 2014, Semester Test- January 15 Good News: Students are improving online learning

7th PAP Science In class: Organization of Living Things Outside of class: Review for Semester Test What's Due: Semester Test- January 15 Good News: Students are improving online learning 8th PAP Science In class: Newton's Laws Applied to Plate Tectonics Outside of class: Semester Test Review

What's Due: Semester Exam Test- January 15 Good News: Happy New Year! 6th grade Math In class: Nine Week Test Review Outside of class: Study for Nine Week Test What's Due: Semester reviews Good News: All-New Year! 7th grade Math In class: Nine Week Test Review Outside of class: Study for Nine Week Test What's Due: Semester reviews Good News: All-New Year! 8th grade Math In class: Nine Week Test Review Outside of class: Study for Nine Week Test What's Due: Semester reviews Good News: All-New Year!

High School Courses: Algebra I- APEX- Functions

Algebra II- APEX- Functions

STEM

Curriculum

[GPCI GAZETTE] 3

3

Project Starts: NOW

Project is Due: January 22, 2014

[Web address]

6th PAP ELA In class: Reviewing & practicing ELA Test strategies Outside of class: Novel: The Skin I’m In, by Sharon G. Flake, starts January 21st Good News: For more information go to gpcisimmons.blogspot.com 7th PAP ELA In class: Review Informational Text, Novel test on Monday, 1-13-14 Outside of class: Complete Learning Odyssey 8th PAP ELA In class: Review Informational Text, Novel test on Monday, 1-13-14 Outside of class: Complete Learning Odyssey 9th PAP ELA In class: Review Informational Text, Novel test on Monday, 1-13-14 Outside of class: Complete Learning Odyssey 6th grade Social Studies In class: Review for Semester Exam What's Due: Russian Section in Notebook Monday, 1-13-14 Outside of class: Study take home review 7th grade Social Studies In class: Review for Exam in Schoology 8th grade Social Studies In class: Review for Semester Exam Outside of class: Odyssey US Constitution Assignment is due 1-14-2014

6th Research Skills Next week: National History Day Project & Presentation Method Decided 7th- Continue National History Day Project

Humanities

High School Courses: ELA I: Informational Texts

4 [GPCI GAZETTE]

Parent Page

GPCI Uniform Update

We will begin wearing uniforms

January 21st

All scholars will be in uniform. If you need assistance, please call Ms. Navejar as soon as possible.

W

Keep It Simple, Scholars

Bottoms:

(Black) Pants, skirt, capri, or

walking shorts or plaid skirt in

school colors (Target)

NO black jeans

Tops:

Polo shirts in white or

burgundy/maroon

[GPCI GAZETTE] 5

On a budget?

http://oldnavy.gap.com; search “uniforms”; There is a

sale on polos, pants, dresses, shorts, sweaters. They

have skinny & husky sizes available.

Other great sources:

Target.com; Walmart.com

6 [GPCI GAZETTE]

Upcoming events: For a more in-depth calendar, please visit the calendar on the GPCI website

Jan. 10 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Pasta for Pennies Kickoff Assembly (runs from 1/13- 1/24)

Jan. 11 GPISD experience (GPCI showcased at Dubiski)

Jan. 13-17 Exams (please see Skyward email with review & Exam schedule)

Jan. 16 i-Invent presentations to the board

Jan. 17 Spelling Bee

Scholar-produced college fair for Lee Elementary

Jan. 21 Second semester begins & scholars begin to wear uniforms

Jan. 22 National History Day Projects Due

A special “thank you” to our community partners Nordco Inc.

and Brundrett Heat & Air for their monetary donations to the

i-Invent contest. Through their generosity awards and prizes were

provided for the scholars.

http://www.nordcoinc.com/