Hello, Eighth-Grade Parents!
Information by Course
Advisory:
This week, our eighth grade students hosted Creative Action, a group that sparks and supports the academic, social and emotional development of young people through interactive classroom performances. “Crossing the Line” is a four day interactive performance that teaches young people about bullying, cyber bullying, and sexual harassment. The group followed the stories of Cody, Mark and Jessica as they leave elementary school and enter the complicated world of middle school. Trouble at home, run-ins with the neighborhood bully, and negotiating a crush on a best friend are some of the conflicts that arose in this engaging play. Students have been engaged in different actives to help to understand this topic.
Please always remember to check the eighth grade calendar located in Mrs. P’s classroom to see tests or project due dates that have been posted from your teacher.
English — Ms. Nadine Feiler email: [email protected]
Compliments to all the eighth graders for their well-prepared oral reading of Cyrano de Bergerac. Even though our “casting” is gender-neutral, and sometimes the part of Roxane is read by a deep voice, and the part of Cyrano by a soprano voice, we all get so caught up in the performances that, when we stop for discussion, there is a chorus of “No’s.” By now, every class has reviewed a number of conventions of drama, and as they read through Act III, students are noticing them more often. The theme of Act III is “misdirection,” and we are discovering the many types of misdirection that take place; from Cyrano simply sending a character off in the wrong direction, to his hiding his true feelings through verbal irony, to his even misleading himself about his feelings. We continue discussing the different beliefs about romantic love held by each character. Students also did Lesson 5 in their vocabulary workbooks; a quiz will follow late next week.
Geometry – Mrs. Roxanne Thurman e-mail: [email protected]
Students continue to make progress on their Rube Goldberg project. In this project students are exploring different shapes and centroids and it is a lot of fun. When finished, we will make a video. We have moved from congruent triangles to similar triangles and have begun using proportions.
Algebra – Mr. Dan Imburgia Email: [email protected]
This week, our mathematicians began to explore systems. We began the week by graphing systems to discover how to find solutions. After we had a firm understanding of graphing, we moved on to solving systems of equations using the substitution method. Moreover, we worked on an ongoing assignment that pertains to each student’s Project 8 work, which will incorporate, among other things, systems of linear equations.
Algebra – Mrs. Trudy Pzynski e-mail: [email protected]
Students started their journey into systems this week, looking at various ways to solve systems and prove their solutions. They also reviewed and practiced writing linear equations and solving and graphing absolute value and linear inequalities. They will continue to see this material throughout the year on assessments and during what-the-heck’s. We practiced the graphing method and substitution method for solving systems throughout this week and will move into addition/subtraction and elimination next week. Students are starting to comprehend the various solution options: one solution, no solution, infinite. They also were too excited to work with word problems involving systems. They continued their research into real world data collection related to their Project 8 business and will be given another day next week to finalize their research before writing their functions and creating graphs.
History — Mrs. Jordan Shaughnessy e-mail: [email protected]
Student used their knowledge from Leadership 101 to discuss how leadership works. We discussed the rise of dictators in several European and Asian counties during the 1920s and 1930s. Using the rise of Hitler and the strategies of FDR as examples, students began dissecting how leaders gain power.
Science – Ms. Laura Sanders e-mail: [email protected]
This week in Environmental Science the eighth graders modeled diffusion, active transport, and transpiration as they pertain to the mechanisms through which plants take in water and nutrients from the soil and incorporate them into their cells. They began their experimental designs for their individual eutrophication labs and presented entertaining current event reports.
Spanish - Srta. Caroline Burdett and Profesora Saida Salamanca e-mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Students continue to practice their pronunciation skills by reciting El Credo (The Apostles’ Creed) and La Oración de la Mañana at the beginning of each class. Students began learning four new trabalenguas (Spanish tongue twisters) highlighting the correct pronunciation of the letter ‘C.’ Students practiced listening comprehension skills by learning and singing three songs: Gracias a la Vida (Mercedes Sosa), Te Quiero (José Luis Perales), and Andar Conmigo (Julieta Venegas). Students researched hechos importantes about Costa Rica, a Spanish-speaking country located in Centroamérica which is well-known for its rainforests, deportes acuáticos, and of course – the eighth grade trip! Students were introduced to new vocabulary to talk about taking vacations and activities they do on vacations. Students also learned a new grammar concept for using adjetivos demonstrativos (demonstrative adjectives). Students practiced using this target vocabulary and grammar in a variety of oral, written and reading activities. Students began reading their second issue of the Spanish-language magazine, Ahora, and are completing the reading comprehension activities about the articles and information they read.
Spanish II - Profesora Saida Salamanca e-mail: [email protected]
Students continue to practice their pronunciation skills by reciting a prayer called the Apostles’ Creed and La Oración de la Mañana at the beginning of each class. Students started to learn four new “trabalenguas” (Spanish tongue twisters) highlighting the correct pronunciation of the letter ‘C.’ Students practiced listening comprehension skills by learning and singing three songs: Gracias a la Vida (Mercedes Sosa), Te Quiero (José Luis Perales), and Andar Conmigo (Julieta Venegas). Students researched hechos importantes about Costa Rica, a Spanish-speaking country located in Centroamérica which is well-known for its rainforests, deportes acuáticos, and of course – the eighth grade trip! Students were introduced to new vocabulary to talk about taking vacations and activities they do on vacations. We reviewed the Direct Object Pronoun and practiced exercises from the textbook. Student completed exercises from the textbook and workbook. We began to learn the past tense of regular ‘ar’ verbs and irregular verbs. Students completed a chart by conjugating different verbs to practice their endings. Students completed reading the ¡Ahora! magazine, and then students wrote questions in Google Docs to prepare for the quiz on Friday.
Latin IB – Ms. Ramona Ward e-mail: [email protected]
This week Latin 1B is winding down Stage 14 while continuing to review noun-adjective agreement and prepositions. We had an enlightening side discussion of elements from the periodic table and that it is their Latin names, in most cases, which are abbreviated on the table. There is a terrific app for the iPad called Periodic Table+ (there is a free version) that is an excellent resource for students who wish to learn more. This discussion grew out of a couple of the stories that we have read recently which use silver (argentum) and gold (aurum). Students should continue to review vocabulary from stage 1 forward, particularly the “trouble” stages of 7-11.
Project 8: Students had to finalize their organization plan i.e. determine their product and/or service, select their land, and civic partnership(s) by the end of class last Friday. This week they will have a short guest presentation on logo design by our own Sarah Venkatesh and will spend the rest of their time deciding where their company headquarters will be located and doing some demographic research. Students will also revise their resumes to make sure they are ideal for attracting investors.
2D Art – Mrs. Linda Herron e-mail: [email protected]
The 2D art students have completed their visual research on their computers to choose a famous person for their painting project. After completing a planning sketch, the students will be painting on canvas in the style of the American artist, Julian Schnabel. They will be using mixed media on canvas with acrylics.
3D Art – Mrs. Linda Herron e-mail: [email protected]
The 3D class continues to sketch the different viewpoints of a portrait in the style of Pablo Picasso. This is a study of his Cubist style as he distorts and changes the body and facial features into unusual proportions. The drawings will then be transferred onto muslin and reinterpreted from Picasso’s work into simplified forms of Cubism. Their form will be changed into a soft sculpture, as they learn stitching and form.
Advanced Art Studio – Mrs. Linda Herron e-mail: [email protected]
The advanced art students are completing their self- portraits. They will begin a study on the style, form and function of shoes throughout history. Each student will plan an original design of a pair of shoes, as they research “shoe history” and the many shapes, styles and influences. They will be creating 3D forms of their original plan and design.
Beginning Guitar – Mr. Chris Gebhard e-mail: [email protected]
We are working on our Christmas songs, “The First Noel” and “The Little Drummer Boy,” in preparation for our December 14th Christmas performance.
Also, we are working on some rock songs – “Float On” by Modest Mouse, “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith, “Love Me Do” by the Beatles, and “Simple Song” by the Shins.
Choir - Mrs. Adamson e-mail: [email protected]
Holiday Happenings is THIS Saturday! Come on out to Hill Country Galleria, and bring your friends and family too. Great raffle items for students and adults alike!
Solo Voice Workshop We will try to get solos scheduled soon. Be watching your inbox for an e-mail from Mrs. A to let you know when your singer will be performing in MS Chapel!
Electric Guitar – Mr. Chris Gebhard e-mail: [email protected]
We are working on our Christmas songs, “The First Noel” and “The Little Drummer Boy,” in preparation for our December 14th Christmas performance.
Also, we are working on some rock songs – “Float On” by Modest Mouse, “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith, “Love Me Do” by the Beatles, and “Simple Song” by the Shins.
Directing – Ms. Deb Alexander e-mail: [email protected]
We handed out scenes this week. The directors are responsible for drawing a ground plan and creating a list of props they need for their scene.
Digital Journalism – Mrs. Sarah Venkatesh e-mail: [email protected]
Students completed written news reports on Technical Theater class, STEM class, Visual Arts class, and Guitar class. They are now creating video news reports on the same subjects, but with a different angle (pun intended). Production begins with a written script in a 2-column audio & visual format; a T-chart with “what you hear” on one side and “what you see on the other side.” The reporters are being asked to narrate both on and off camera (audio only) and to use image and video excerpts to compliment the words being spoken, not tell the whole story. Video interviews will be spliced in to enhance parts of the story but the core skeleton will always be the voice of the narrator.
Drum Line – Mrs. Hilary Adamson e-mail: [email protected]
Most students have worked on their sticking exercises over the break, and it made a HUGE difference when we started reading rhythms this week. All the information, practice music and sheet music are uploaded on the portal for lesson one. Drum sticks went home before Thanksgiving break, so remind your student to run through the sticking exercises a few more times this week!
Guitar Ensemble – Mr. Chris Gebhard e-mail: [email protected]
We are working on our Christmas songs, “The First Noel” and “The Little Drummer Boy,” in preparation for our December 14th Christmas performance.
Also, we are working on some rock songs – “Float On” by Modest Mouse, “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith, “Love Me Do” by the Beatles, and “Simple Song” by the Shins.
Physical Education – Coach Holder, Coach Schrock, Coach Robertson, and Coach Washington e-mail: [email protected]
The middle school students are beginning our basketball season and are brushing up on their basketball skills for the next two weeks. During class the students are reviewing basic ball handling skills, various passing styles, shooting form, and movements up and down the court. The students will be working on these skills both independently and then as a team before moving into smaller lead-up games and then into full games by the beginning of next week. The students are doing a great job, working well individually and as a team, and having fun!
Photoshop – Mrs. Sarah Venkatesh e-mail: [email protected]
Students stepped into their first assignment of second trimester Photoshop: designing their own CD artwork for an imaginary band starring themselves and their peers as band members. This process will include using discrete layers and exploring the effects afforded by layer properties (drop shadows, color tinting, texturizing) and transfer modes (screen, multiply, difference). Instruction will be delivered both virtually, via teacher video tutorials, and face-to-face. Class will alternately meet in the CLC under the oversight of Ms. Barenska and with Ms. Venkatesh in the computer lab. Students will reflect on their process daily via portal messages and they will be asked to regularly upload and share their PSD files with Ms. V via Google Drive, so she can see their compositions from “under the hood.”
Students specifically learned about using the pen tool to create shapes and blending layers in interesting ways with layer blending modes.
PSIA One Act Play – Ms. Deb Alexander e-mail: [email protected]
We stumbled through the entire play and now it’s time to cut the script so it fits within the PSIA guidelines. Please refer to the resource page in the PSIA portal. I will be posting rehearsal notes there after every class. Actors need to memorize their lines. We will be sending home an important costume information sheet this week to get your actor’s sizes for costume rentals from UT.
STEM Workshop – Mr. Patrick Green and Mrs. Roxanne Thurman e-mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Students continue to engineer and construct their racecars. Students can choose to design for speed, distance or acceleration. A date for the timed trials has not yet been set but we hope to run before Christmas.
Technical Theatre – Ms. Deb Alexander e-mail: [email protected]
We have finished reading the script Once on This Island and we are now starting to design the world of the play.
Video Moviemaking – Mrs. Sarah Venkatesh e-mail: [email protected]
Students storyboarded their video adaptations of “The Red Book,” a picture book by Barbara Lehman, after location scouting the southern, wooded parts of Trinity’s campus and some Building D interiors. “The Red Book” depicts two solitary characters living a great distance from each other, brought together through the pages of a single red book they both stumble upon. Students have been asked to adapt the story to their own lives.