The Michael J. Petrides School
Middle School Newsletter Grade 8
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 the month of February the students will be partaking in book clubs in which they will analyze
nonfiction texts to discover what happened to people during the Holocaust. They will analyze how a text makes
connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas and events by having collaborative discussions based
on their texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly. Some of the book club choices
will be “Hiding to Survive,” “Night,” and “We are Witnesses.”
Math – We just finished quadratic functions and will begin to explore how to graph and evaluate exponential and
absolute value functions.
Science – The students will continue their study of genetics in Chapters 14 & 15. They will identify the major types
of mutations and explain how they can alter a proteins shape and function. They will also be able to describe how
scientists can use restriction enzymes and plasmids to modify an organism’s DNA. Finally they will be able to
describe how DNA is used in forensics.
Social Studies – This month the students will understand the post World War II world. They will learn all about
suburbanization due to the baby boom and the Interstate Highway Act. They will also study the Civil Rights
Movement and the start of the Cold War between the United States and the USSR.
Test/Projects Dates
Feb 2nd – US history exam: Depression and WW II
Feb 3rd – US history exam: Depression and WW II
Feb 10th – ELA Wordly Wise Vocabulary test #9
Feb 15th – Science exam: Ch. 12 & 13 (Tentative)
Feb 16th – Math exam: Exponential/Absolute Value
Function
Feb 17th – Math exam: Exponential/Absolute Value
Function
Feb 27th – ELA Book Packets due
Please check Pupilpath for Science quiz/exam dates,
(towards the end of the month Feb 27th into March)
REMINDERS!
Remember to bring in a Graphing calculator.
Graphing calculators are required for the Algebra
I (Common Core) regents exam.
Please check Pupilpath.com for weekly updates
on grades, exams, projects, etc.
Please join us for an ELA Book Club Parents as
Partners workshop on Wednesday February 15th
Class 822 from 9:00-9:30am; Class 821 from
9:45-10:15am; Class 820 from 10:30-11:00am.
Required Reading
ELA – The Boy in The Striped Pajamas by John
Boyne; Hiding to Survive by Maxine B. Rosenberg;
Night by Elie Wiesel; We Are Witnesses by Jacob
Boas
Math – Textbook: Topics 8 and 9
Science – Textbook Chapters 12-15 (January –
February); Trade books; Science World Magazine
School Closing
February 20th – 24th
Winter Break
The Petrides School
2017
Grade 8
Sun
Mon
Tues
Wed
1
2
End of First
Marking Period
5
6
7
Thurs
8
Fri
3
Sat
4
Assistant Principal
Learning Partner
US History
visit
Exam: Depression
& WWII
US History
Exam: Depression
& WWII
9
10
11
ELA Wordly
Wise exam #9
12
19
26
13
20
14
15
16
Science exam:
Chapter 12 & 13
(Tentative)
Middle School
War of the Roses
12:45-2:20pm
ELA
Parents as Partners
Class 822-9:00-9:30
Class 821-9:45-10:15
Class 820-10:30-11:00
Math exam:
Exponential/
Absolute Value
Function
21
22
No School
No School
No School
Winter Break Winter Break Winter Break
27
28
ELA Book Club
Packets due
23
No School
Winter Break
Important Upcoming Dates:
March 28th – 30th – NYS ELA exam
June 6th – 8th Grade Prom
June 16th – 8th Grade Final Assembly
17
18
Math exam:
Exponential/
Absolute Value
Function
Pride Band
Concert
1:15-2:30pm
24
No School
Winter Break
25