Smith Board Report

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February’s Scholar of the Month

Hayden Riffert Chosen by the Unified Arts Team

Dear Smith Families, It is an understatement to say that we are excited to see

our learners back in the building five days per week, even though we have struggled to have a full week with all of the snow days! We know that this school year has been trying for everyone- learners, families, teachers, and the community. We appreciate all of your communication, patience, flexibility, and kindness as we all navigate through the unique challenges we have been faced with since last March. As we approach a year since our initial closure last spring, we wanted to focus on some of the positives that have come out of a negative situation:

Our learners, your children, have been faced with an

opportunity to learn to be resilient through new challenges.

We have been given opportunities to personalize learning in

new ways because of the access to technology. Having

each learner with a device in hand, at all times, opens new

opportunities.

We have been challenged to look at small things that we

took for granted before in a new light.

Our efforts to connect to your learners and your families

have increased as a result of the unfortunate disconnection

that occurred as a result of the closure.

Our empathy for unique circumstances has continued to

grow as each family has had their own challenges over this

year.

Of course, there have been challenges, but focusing on the opportunities and positives that have come from this year allows us to move forward. I’d encourage each of you to have similar conversations with your families at home. “If you are positive, you’ll see opportunities instead of obstacles.” – Confucius Thank you for trusting us with your kids each day and for partnering with us through this time.

Paul Gladfelter Lindsay Capoferri

Principal Dean of Students

G.A. Smith Middle School 645 Kirkwood Pike Quarryville, PA 17566 717-786-2244 www.solanco.org

G.A. SMITH PARENT NEWS

March 2021 Volume 8, I ssue 7

Principal, Paul Gladfelter Dean of Students, Lindsay Capoferri

Smith Middle School Enrollment Report 6th Grade = 130 7th Grade = 155

8th Grade = 108 Total = 393

Scholar Recognitions

Smith Parent News

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Health Update

On Tue. March 30, Smile PA, a mobile dentist, will

be coming to Smith. Forms will be sent home

soon, so please return if interested!

If you have any questions, please contact the

health room at

717-786-2244 (ext 4)

6th Grade Team News

Counselor’s Corner

In the month of March, Scholars will be participating in Attendance March Madness in their homerooms. For the first three weeks, the homerooms with the highest percentage of positive attendance will continue to the next round. Parents, encourage your scholar to attend school and help their team:

Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day; make attending the expectation.

Help your child maintain daily routines…getting a good night’s sleep, going to bed at a consistent time and completing homework nightly.

Schedule medical appointments after school hours when possible.

Reference the symptoms monitoring tool if they are experiencing symptoms. We do not want learners in the building who are experiencing illnesses.

Stay tuned to see which homerooms come out on top and earn some prizes! Please feel free to contact me at any time. I can be reached by email: Caitlin_desimone@solancosd.org, or by phone: (717) 786-2244.

Language Arts – Students will be working with various forms and structures of Poetry. They will also get to create their poems during this time as well! LEAD – During the month of March LEAD students will be working on test taking and study strategies. Then we will move on to Public speaking. Math – In math, students will begin to investigate different aspects of geometry while calculating area, surface area and volume. Science – Students in sixth grade science will be exploring cells and how they demonstrate life. They will understand what organelles are and their main functions.

Social Studies – Students will be concluding Ancient China in just a few weeks and will begin analyzing Ancient Greece!

Left to right: Mr. Himmelberger, Mr. McDowell, Ms. Fagan, Ms.

Weikert, Mrs. Long, Mr. Tercha, Mrs. Lee

Smith Parent News

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7th Grade Team News

Mr. Cairns, Mrs. Plechner, Mr. Freas (FreasBOT), Mrs. McDowell,

Mr. Koenig, Mrs. Stump, Mrs. Groff and Mrs. Alexander

Back: Mr. Kump, Mrs. Mankin, Mrs. Mangan,

Miss Sangrey, Mr. Nova

Front: Mrs. Riehl, Mrs. Dienner

Math/Math Extensions: During the month of March, 7th grade math scholars will complete a unit on statistics including frequency graphs, central tendency and predictions. LEAD: Scholars will continue to brush up on during/after reading strategies as they prepare for the upcoming PSSA testing. Scholars will continue to maintain organized binders and effective use of the agenda book. Social Studies: Scholars will discover how England ventured across the Atlantic to plant the seeds of a New England. The Virginia Company’s goals will change North America forever. Language Arts: Scholars will continue to work on their non-fiction exploration through literary non-fiction with works written by Roald Dahl. Eventually we are segueing into a personal narrative writing unit stemming from information garnered throughout the non-fiction unit.

Science: Scholars will begin their Units on Cell Processes. This will cover such topics as diffusion, osmosis, and cell metabolism.

8th Grade Team News Language Arts: In March, students will read the Civil

War novel Across Five Aprils and then begin their unit on narrative writing.

LEAD III: Students will continue with during reading strategies and conclude the unit with after reading strategies. If time allows, we will complete another TDA essay. Algebra: Algebra students will be finishing a chapter on solving systems of equations and inequalities. Then, the Algebra students will be solving ideas based on exponents and powers. Pre-Algebra students will be finishing a chapter on solving inequalities. Then, those students will be also solving ideas based on exponents and powers Innovations: Students will continue working through their innovations coursework. Science: In March in Science the students will be learning about Genetics and Cellular Reproduction, with a heavy emphasis on the process of Meiosis and Cellular Transport.

Social Studies: In March we will continue to study the Civil War. The war will conclude with a mini unit on the Lincoln Assassination.

Smith Parent News

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MUSIC – In 6th grade, students will be focusing on the Elements of

Music, things like melody, harmony, rhythm, and other expressive

controls. This unit focuses on answering the what and why of music.

We will then begin to touch on Notation. In 7th grade, students will

focus on Rhythm. We will look at reading, writing, and performing

in a variety of different ways. We will then begin Melody. For 8th

grade students, we will be learning about the history of Rock&Roll

by decade. This focuses on the evolution of the music through time,

as well as significant historical events and people that influenced it.

After this, Music History will begin. CHORUS- Chorus students will be working to improve their

knowledge of musical expression, as well as be deeper introduced to

the songs that they have already started learning notes and rhythms

for.

HEALTH – Seventh grade students are in the process of wrapping

up our unit on Substance Abuse with lessons related to Alcohol and

Illegal Drugs. Once this unit is complete, students will begin our

Human Growth and Development unit. An informational letter will

be distributed via email to all seventh grade parents that will outline

the main topics of this unit. If you have any questions regarding this

unit, please contact your child’s wellness teacher.

FITNESS – We have currently been participating in a modified

version of our team games unit. As the weather begins to warm up

and the snow begins to melt, we will soon transition back to outdoor

activities in Physical Education beginning with our Spring Mile Run

for Fitness Testing and then leading into our Track and Field Unit

where students will participate in running, jumping, and throwing

events related to Track and Field.

COMPUTER TECH – The 8th graders will be discussing required

and elective courses. The 7th grades will complete their tables unit

and begin a unit on letters. The 6th graders will complete their Word

unit with a final project.

ART – 8th grade artists are taking on the role of graphic designers,

creating their very own company. Then, using the digital art program

Canva 8th grade artists are branding their company with logos and

creating hand-drawn sample products and/or storefront sketches

depending on their choice. In 7th grade, artists are creating self

portraits inspired by artist Hattie Stewart and her signature style of

“doodle bombing”. Based on selfies, 7th grades’ self portraits are

experimenting with collage and various materials, like magazines

and newspapers or even fabric. 6th grade artists are creating unique

works of art using a combination of value and zentangle drawing

techniques. No two 6th graders’ art looks alike in these mesmerizing

2-D masterpieces!

Unified Arts Team News

Upcoming Dates: *March 1, 2021-Board Meeting

*March 3, 2021-Spring Picture day *March 10, 2021-PTO meeting (zoom)

Front: Mrs. Almoney, Mrs. Linde, Miss Phillips, Miss Sellers, Mr. Silimperi

Middle: Mr. McCardell, Mr. Childs, Ms. Wasilius, Mrs. Plaisted, Mrs.

Wommer

Back: Mrs. Falduts, Mr. Jansen, Mr. Greene

FACS – 6th graders complete a sewing/upcycle project, and then

learn about kitchen safety, processed and nutrient dense foods,

and make smoothies and pizzas. 7th graders will learn about

nutrition and MyPlate/balanced meals, and make puppy chow

and breakfast foods. 8th grade will learn about microwave

cooking and meal planning and make mug cake and a full meal.

STEM – See you in April! TECH ED – Sixth Grade will continue working on their

Mousetrap Car Project. “Races” will be held the final week of

Marking Period 3. Seventh Grade will continue working on their

CD Holder Projects, which will be finished around the end of

MP3. Eighth Grade will continue learning about Electronics.

This is not a “make and take” unit, so they won’t be bringing a

project home this marking period.

MEDIA CENTER – Even though students can’t come to the

library, you can still check out books. Go to the Library Media

Center schoology page and click on Destiny Discover. After you

login, using your Solanco login, you can place a book on

HOLD. Books will then be delivered to LEAD or Language

Arts classes. If you feel like trying an e-book (electronic book),

click on SORA on the Library Media Center schoology page.

There are short videos on how to place a hold or check out an e-

book on the schoology page.