The Michael J. Petrides School
Middle School Newsletter Grade 6
February 2017
Dear Middle School Parents,
Wow! Half of the school year is behind us already. It was my pleasure to see so many of you at our Parents as Partners events in
January. We will continue to host events to strengthen our partnership between your home and our school. The Middle School ELA
teacher has scheduled the following opportunities for you to visit and spend some time with us during the month of February. Please
note the dates here:
Grade
8
8
8
Class
822
820
822
Date
February 15, 2017
February 15, 2017
February 15, 2017
Time/Period
9:00 – 9:30 am
9:00 – 9:30 am
1:00 – 1:30 pm
Parents as Partners Workshop
Book Club Room B212
Book Club Room B212
Book Club Room B212
February marks the beginning of the third marking period and it is “Love your School Month!” Please send in BOX TOPS to show
how much you LOVE your school. Attached you will find a box top collection sheet.
We will be celebrating the 100th Day of School and Valentine’s Day in true middle school style. On Thursday, February 16, 2017
from 12:45 – 2:20 pm we will be having the Middle School “War of the Roses.” Grade level teams will compete in color wars. Your
child can volunteer to participate in an assortment of events to earn points for their grade. The grade earning the most points will be
the champions. A more detailed flyer will be distributed for this event. There will also be customized T-Shirts available for sale.
Grade 5 is wearing PINK. Grade 6 is wearing PURPLE. The 7 th grade will wear RED and 8th grade will wear WHITE to support
their team.
On Friday, February 17, 2017 “The PRIDE Band” will perform for our students from 1:15 pm until 2:20 pm. A permission slip will
be forthcoming.
Please remember ALL students are required to wear uniforms every day to school. The uniform policy consists of light blue top and
navy blue bottoms. Middle school students can wear Petrides Phys Ed uniforms on Phys Ed days. Uniforms can be ordered online at
[email protected]. The telephone number is 347 – 768 – 2049. Uniforms will be delivered to school and distributed by
Mr. Michael Duffy. You may also purchase a school uniform at any local store that carries school uniform wear. It has come to my
attention many students are wearing hooded sweatshirts over their uniforms. Only school logo sweatshirts or light blue sweatshirts
are allowed.
Our TEST PREP ACADEMY will begin in March. Please look out for the permission slip for this wonderful cost free opportunity. I
strongly encourage all students to participate in test prep sessions offered at our school.
A Note from the PTA: Our Annual Thank Heavens for Little Girls Dance will be held on Sunday, February 12th from 2-5 p.m. If
you have never joined us for this wonderful event, it is for Girls (Pre K - Eighth Grade) and a significant male role model. There
will be dancing, games, raffles, and lots and lots of fun. We can use all the help we can get with setup that morning from 10 a.m. to
2 p.m. and also help with serving and cleaning up at the event. Let us know if you can be there to lend a hand.
Please join us for our next PTA meeting on February 15 at 7pm with a recap meeting on February 16 at 8:15 am
Looking ahead: join us for our annual Night of Chances Friday March 10, 2017. Raffle bundles are on sale now!
There is NO SCHOOL for students on Monday February 20, 2017 until Friday, February 24, 2017. If you have any questions
regarding the above-mentioned information, feel free to contact me at (718) 815-0186 extension 22171 or
[email protected].
Sincerely,
BettyAnn Souffrin
Assistant Principal
What topics will the students learn this month?
ELA – During this month the students will continue to analyze text structures, themes across literature and think deeply
and critically about text. The students will analyze literary, real life and poetic examples of rules to live by and how
specific details contribute to meaning and tone. The students will then create a literary essay and establish and
substantiate their claim with text based evidence and relevant details.
Math – The students will find equivalent forms of fractions, decimals and percent during the month of February. The
sixth graders will also be able to solve an inequality by finding all the values that makes it true.
Science – This month the students in class 620 will be able to describe what happens to the energy earth receives from
the sun. They will be able to compare and contrast radiation, conduction and convection. The students will be able to
explain the water cycle and its effect on weather patterns and climate. They will also explain how land and water
surfaces affect the overlying air. The students in class 621 & 622 will segue from Earth and Physical Science into Life
Science. They will begin learning about how environment influences life. They will learn how living things depend on
each other for survival and how there are many factors that influence changes in population size. They will also learn
about different types of relationships between organisms and how organisms obtain energy for life.
Social Studies – Our social studies scholars will be exploring Ancient Egypt, including this civilization’s geography,
religion, achievements, politics, economics and social structure. We will be conducting mummification lab using the
chemical natron and learning how to sequence the steps of the mummification procedure. They will also be conducting a CSI
investigation into the death of King Tutankhamen and the many theories behind it. Finally, students will compare and contrast
our two river valley civilizations: Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.
Test/Projects Dates
Feb 3rd – ELA Complex Text assessment
Feb 6th – Math exam: Chapter 14
Feb 13th – SS: Nile River project due
Feb 14th – Math exam: Chapter 15
Feb 15th – SS exam: Ancient Egypt
Feb 16th – Science exam (Class 620)
Feb 16th – ELA Complex Text assessment
Feb 29th – ELA Literary Essay
Required Reading
ELA – IF by Rudyard Kipling; various articles,
informational complex texts, internet research for essay
Math – Textbook: Chapters 14 and 15
Science – Class 620: Scholastic articles – Burned by the
Sun and Mars the Red Planet; Class 621 & 622: Textbook
Chapter 9
Social Studies – Ancient Egypt myths; Eastern
Hemisphere Textbook Part B, Ch. 10
Social Studies Scholars
Class 620: Erica Lau
Class 621: Michael Deprisco
Class 622: Kaitlyn Vitucci
REMINDERS!
Bring sharpened pencils to Math class every day.
Complete all practice tests on-line at
www.pearsonsuccessnet.com and use the practice test at
the end of each topic in the textbook as a study guide for
topic tests.
The students will continue to use specific strategies
learned in ELA class, as well as, to self-assess, peer
critique and utilize feedback to strengthen skills
Students should be using their SS class notes and notetaking graphic organizers to study for their exams.
Check out “Prince of Egypt” (PG) or “Gods of Egypt” (PG13) to get your child motivated about our unit on
Ancient Egypt. The recently premiered “TUT”, a three
episode special on SPIKE, tells the story of King Tut. It is
available on-line and relates directly to our study of King
Tut. It should be viewed with a parent or guardian.
School Closing
February 20th – 24th
Winter Break
The Petrides School
2017
Grade 6
Sun
Mon
Tues
Wed
1
Thurs
2
Fri
3
End of First
Assistant Principal
Marking Period Learning Partner
Sat
4
ELA Complex
Text Assessment
visit
5
6
7
8
9
14
15
16
10
11
17
18
Math exam:
Chapter 14
12
13
Social Studies
Nile River
Project due
Math exam:
Chapter 15
SS exam:
Ancient Egypt
Middle School
War of the Roses
12:45-2:20pm
Pride Band
Concert
1:15-2:30pm
Science exam
(Class 620)
ELA Complex
Text Assessment
19
20
21
22
No School
No School
No School
Winter Break Winter Break Winter Break
26
27
23
24
No School
Winter Break
28
ELA Literary
Essay
Important Upcoming Dates:
March 28th – 30th: NYS ELA exam
25
No School
Winter Break