Week 2: Into the Swing of Things

 From the Class bloggers Alex and Ryan:

This was a very fun first full week of school. With a science lab on 

Wednesday, and some map labs in geography, we were chock full with

 information. Recess was great, with kickball, volleyball, and bobcat pit 

being popular. We learned about the elements of a story in literature as 

well. The class did a science lab on static electricity, and we had fun trying

 to stick our hair up with balloons. We started our first art project on 

Thursday. The topic was line art, and we had to trace school supplies.  

On Friday we started spelling, with the chaos of trying to make our own lists.

 It was a fun week, and we learned a lot!  

 

From Mrs. R:

Student now have over a full week under their belts and a sense of how classes and transitions go.  We are getting better at routines and organization with fewer reminders. Students are learning how to think first of others (pushing in chairs, social distancing in lines).  We are learning how to make live-stream chapel an important time in our week with prayer focus before and after using our prayer board and Visual Faith bookmarks.  

We are learning....

Religion - Law/Gospel

G and T Math - Double digit multiplication/long division, x 10. 100. 1000

Social Studies - Latitude and Longitude

Literature: Using annotation tools in Common Lit as we make predictions

Science: Electricity

Art: Line

English: Prepositions

I     

BOOK ORDERS are due next week Saturday 9/5 in the a.m.  I will place orders that afternoon.  (see link on the right).  Our class code is GV2FP.  Please note - Not all books promoted by Scholastic may be appropriate for your child or your family values.  Use https://www.commonsensemedia.org/  to check out the content of many books.  They also review video games, movies, etc.  (link is always in my websites tab).

 

PTL Parent Night

Note - Amy Maus is a wonderful speaker who was here last year on the topic of spoke to us last year on anxiety.  I highly recommend attending.

 

Please join us to learn some information about how trauma can affect learning and the brain and how schools and families can be informed as students return to the classroom. 

• Time:  Tuesday, September 8th at 7pm

• Topic:  Speaker Amy Maus - Parent Presentation about Kids, Trauma, and COVID

• Where: Virtual via Zoom, details below
  
  Join Zoom Meeting
  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85063512931?pwd=WDA2aVBRWHdqc1NBUE90SG1pUWtwdz09
  
  Meeting ID: 850 6351 2931
  Passcode: 103173

*There will be an opportunity for Questions after the presentation.  Please be sure that only parents are in attendance, this is not intended for student viewing.

Presented by Amy V. Maus, MSW, LCSW

 

of West County Psychological Associates

Amy specializes in providing psychological testing, school consultation and presentations on a variety of mental health and school-related issues.

 

 

Science Lab and AR book picks - Thanks to photographers, Alex and Ryan

 

Week 1: Back in the Classroom!!

I'm so excited to have your children as my students this year. Our school theme gives a wonderful focus for our year:       

Psalm 118:1:  Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His steadfast love endures forever. 

We addressed the elephant in the room and have been talking about wearing masks, being distant, washing hands A LOT, and keeping our loved ones safe.  It takes practice!  We had a chance to share our frustrations and worries, but also the excitement to be back together as a Zion family.  The kids have a good attitude!  And we know God is in control.

 

 I am eager to partner with you in both educating and nurturing your child this year. I encourage families to talk about lessons we learn, especially memory verses and Religion lessons.  I look forward to seeing you in worship at Zion (in person or virtually) or hearing about your worship experiences at your home church as our class grows together in our faith walk.

 

What's New in Grade 6?
Lots and lots of "here's how we do things" this week: how to organize a binder and a desk, and how to use a planner.  The students have been good listeners and getting right into the routine.  They have been wonderful friends to our new student, Yuan, who joined our class after moving from Winnipeg this summer.  Look for his family at pickup and introduce yourselves.

One of my big goals this year is for students to become more independent in their learning. This news blog will update you on current happenings, but in 6th grade I no longer publish spelling words, memory assignments, or tests.  These are things your child will be tracking in their assignment planner.  If an individual student needs more organizational help, I will work one-on-one with that student.  I plan to publish this blog weekly on Fridays. (In reality, it may be Saturday mornings some weeks!)

 

Here are a few units:

Religion - Discovering God and the Bible (see Religion tab above)

G and T Math - Place Value and review of basic skills 

Social Studies - Map skills

Literature: Comparing Fiction and NonFiction

 

 

Moms in Prayer 

Moms In Prayer is excited to begin this year by praying for teachers and our students.  It is our goal to add more members so we can serve you through increased prayer and provide more encouragement and positive support to our school.  It would be great to try and get at least one parent from each class to serve as your class Prayer Parent. All are welcome!

We meet on Wednesdays from 8:10-9:00am in the Zion's chapel library.  Each week we will pray together for school concerns, upcoming events, and each child individually.

If you have any questions, contact us at beccamcbroom@gmail.com or

michellermahoney@yahoo.com. 

 

Thanks also to Lisabetta's mom and Aidan's mom for helping out as room parents!

 

New School Year

 5 days! 5 days!

I hope your kids are just as excited as I am for the start of a new school year! I video chatted with many of them over the last few weeks and asked if they were excited to go back and most of them said yes! They miss their friends and deep down, I bet they miss their school too. I know I do! 

I have been getting ready for this unique year over the last weeks. I definitely feel ready for week 1 and for all of the new procedures and routines in place. I told each 6th grader that this year, we start each day with a fresh new start and to not be too nervous because we are all in the same boat! We are one big team and will work through things together. It will be a fun filled year!

Forms:
As mentioned earlier, I have some Google Forms I need parents to fill out BY MONDAY, AUGUST 17. They are in the "Forms and Documents" tab above.

• Miscellaneous :This year, we do not have working water fountains to avoid cross-contamination. Instead, we have a water bottle filler. After testing it out, the JH teachers noticed that recyclable plastic water bottles (such as Ice Mountain) aren't easily filled with this spout. We encourage each child to have a reusable water bottle instead so that messes aren't made while filling up bottles. Thanks!

• It might be best to have your child bring two masks to school each day instead of one. I predict they will get wet/sweaty/dirty/or somehow lost. Having a back up would be great!
• Start good sleeping habits for your child! If they are like me, they stayed up late at night during the summer and slept in as long as possible! I have been trying to get back into my sleeping routine and now the puppies help me get up early!
• Mrs. Donner and I made a "Parent Questions" Google doc for you to use throughout the year with any questions you might have. Personal/private questions should be sent through email to the homeroom teacher. Here is the doc. 
• Check out my pictures of my classroom.  Show your kids! Some of them have never seen the junior high before so I want them to get a sneak peak!  
• After school each day, I supervise the front of the Junior High building.  Be sure to say hello!
  

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Water refill station .....My new teacher cart.... Library waiting for you to check out some great books!... Classroom job board.... Desks ready for you!   Sorry - Mac (ears up) and Cooper (floppy ear)  won't be in our classroom.

 

Remember to ask for paper bags at the grocery store.  We will send books home for you to help cover!