De ce mb e r 20 15—Jan uar y 20 16
TPMS December & January Events
 December 8 —Winter Instrumental Concert (Jazz
and advanced ensembles) 7 p.m.
 January 15-21 — Semester Exams
 January 22—Last day of 2nd Quarter
 December 9 —Winter Instrumental Concert (Jazz,
Intermediate, Beginning Orchestras) 7 p.m.
 January 18 — No School, MLK Day
 December 15 — W inter Choral Concert, 7 p.m.
 January 25—No School, Teacher Professional Day
 December 24—January 3 — W inter Break, No School
 January 12— Counselor Coffee: How to help your
child Study and Have a Growth Mindset, 8:30 a.m.
 January 12— PTA Meeting, 7 p.m.
TA K O M A PA R K M I D D L E S C H O O L
Principal’s
“December, being the last month of the year, cannot help but make
us think of what is to come.” ― Fennel Hudson
Newsletter
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we approach the last part of this semester students have
been working hard in their classes! It is a busy time of the
school year as students wrap up the semester. For this edition of the newsletter, I spoke with sixth, seventh and
eighth graders to gather their ideas on how to have an academically successful end of the semester. I was very impressed by their advice!
Student Advice for Parents
Check Edline and pay attention to interim grades which
will be posted on December 4.
 Go through binders with your children to get their papers organized. It is also important that students don’t
throw away papers from the semester that might be
helpful in preparing them for their end-of-semester
tests.
 Sometimes parents need to give students a little space.

Student Advice for Students
 Find study partners—it’s more fun to study with
friends!
 Take advantage of the Power Hour offered on Tuesdays
after school in the counseling office.
 Make sure you always do your homework so that your
homework grade is always strong.
 Find out if there is work you need to redo or if there are
quizzes to retake.
 Keep your binder organized but don’t throw away important papers.
 Don’t wait until the last minute to study. Take 10
minutes each night to study over Winter Break.
 Believe in yourself!
Teachers will be working closely with students as they finish the semester. The Counseling Department will also be
sponsoring a workshop for parents on January 12 entitled
How to Help Your Child Study and Have a Growth Mindset.
International Night was a huge success in November! Many
thanks to staff, students, and parent volunteers as well as
the PTA. The event celebrated the cultural diversity of our
community and showcased the talents of many of our students.
Also in November, Mr. Brian Baker, organized the Turkey
Trot for our students. This year marked the 8th year of our
Walk for the Cure fundraiser. The winners are listed later in
this month’s newsletter. Students raised funds for Breast
Cancer Awareness. Thank you to Mr. Baker and all of the
students who participated!
Our music teachers have been preparing students for the
winter choral and instrumental performances. As noted in
the calendar above, we have three exciting concerts in midDecember that will showcase our students’ musical and
artistic talents. On December 8 and 9 our Instrumental Music Concerts will take place. On December 15 we will host
our Winter Choral Concert. We hope you are able to attend
the performances of our talented students!
Visit our website (www.tpmsweb.com) for more information on our calendar, events and to view our daily, Wake
Up Takoma television production.
Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Alicia Deeny
Principal
2015 TPMS Annual Turkey Trot
The Annual Turkey Trot was held on November 23rd. It a little chilly but it was a perfect day
for the cross country style race with clear skies and lots of sun. This year marked the eighth
year for our Walk for a Cure Fund. Over 50 students were able to find sponsors who donated funds to our Walk for a Cure fund. Students raised funds for breast cancer research. The
funds were donated to the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.
2015 Top 10 Runners
8th Grade Boys
Time
8th Grade Girls
Time
Max Worley
6:36
Leah Kannan
7:10
Ryan Carlson
6:56
Melina Wortington
7:58
Jason Caro
6:59
Rachel Dey
8:08
Massimo Cardillo
7:03
Noa Dorah
8:12
Ryan Temple
7:07
Sadie Cheston-Harris
8:18
Maximilliano Casey-Bolanos
7:11
Aidan McDougall
8:19
Eric Feng
7:17
Merete Oakes
8:21
Cedric Prentice
7:17
Mira Diamond-Berman
8:26
Patrick Wang
7:17
Olivia Hardwick
8:35
Kirubel Habtu
7:21
Elayna Davis-Mercer
8:41
7th Grade Boys
Times
7th Grade Girls
Time
Chad Yu
6:51
Audrey Haverland
8:07
Joel Simpson
7:05
Indigo Suchar
8:16
Nicholas Layke
7:05
Bridget Griffith
8:35
Paul MacNarin
7:16
Yiyi Li
8:40
Eli Qian
7:26
Annabel Gorman
8:50
Eric Chen
7:30
Lucienne Peyrebrune
8:54
Benjamin Lang
7:32
Sydney Greenberger
8:56
Liben Schmidt
7:35
Sophia Kim
9:01
Eadan Levitan-Gar
7:36
Lillian Zhou
9:04
Jesse Brandt
7:41
Harlem Moore
9:11
6th Grade Boys
Time
6th Grade Girls
Time
Nikita Bityutskiy
7:48
Samantha Rodriguez
7:49
Joshua Wolfson
7:55
Eleonora Cardillo
8:39
Luca Zeng
7:55
Lucille Kingori Clark
9:14
Michael Hu
8:13
Audrey Payne
9:22
Tabor Plunkett
8:22
Leila Faraday
9:32
Alexander Tilton
8:26
Audrey Dai
9:43
Sushil Alvarez Berger
8:32
Olivia Haisley
9:45
Spencer Hisel-McCoy
8:35
Stephanie Yang
9:48
Usim Odim
8:38
Caroline Gagnon
9:48
Victor Liu
8:38
Sumin Choi
10:04
Takoma Park Middle School
6th Grade News
December 2015
Glad Tidings From the Team!
Inside this issue:
English
1
Social Studies
1
Mathematics
2
Science
2
CONTACT US! WE CAN HELP!
Administrator
[email protected]
Team Leaders
[email protected]
[email protected]
We are now mid-way
through quarter two. There will be
so many things around to distract us
as we enter the dreamlike winter holiday season. Even though there will
be a lot of change in routine at home
and at school, we will still have tests,
projects, and homework to do.
In middle school we continue to teach and give graded assignments up until the very end. Often,
units of instruction come to an end
right before our breaks. The last
days before break begins is time to
assess what students have learned.
Thank you for being aware of this as
you prepare to take trips during the
winter break.
This break in the year is also
a great time to replenish school supplies. Please check with your student
to make sure they have everything
they need.
This is a wonderful season of
family traditions and togetherness!
May it be merry and bright!
Counselors
[email protected]
[email protected]
English
6th graders are currently deep into their adventure novels, sailing the
open seas with Charlotte and the mutinous crew in The True Adventures of Charlotte Doyle; escaping the confines of the National Institute of Mental Health research lab with Nicodemus and the other highly intelligent rats in Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH; surviving the
halls of middle school and the dangers of bullies with Penn Webb in
Crash. Students are developing and using close reading skills with the
aforementioned novels and various non-fiction articles that connect to
themes in the novels. Close reading involves students analyzing and
interacting with a text on multiple levels. Additionally, students will be
creating an advertisement for a product, giving
them the opportunity to showcase their creative
side as well as their persuasive skills.
.
Long plane,
train, bus, and
car time is also a
great opportunity to have your
child study, and
learn new information. Try
packing some
recorded books
and workbooks
to keep skills
fresh!
Social Studies
After completing our first unit, 6th grade Social Studies
will move its attention to studying the different types of
government and the origin of a democratic society.
There will be an Island Survivor simulation, in which
the students will have to decide on which type of government will work best. We will then move our focus to
the geography and different governments of ancient
Greece including both Sparta and Athens. Later in the
unit, we will study Ancient Rome's government and its
impact on the development of ancient city-states.
Page 2
6t h Grad e De ce mb er New s 2015
Mathematics
Math CC 6: we are moving its way into December and
our study of the number line. We will be extending the
number line into the negative side to define and compare
The unit assessment for this topic will be toward the middle of this month. The class will then continue the examination of number lines and we will explore order of numbers on the number line, absolute value, and writing and
graphing inequalities. The county assessment for this topic will come shortly before the Winter break. If you have
any questions regarding assignments or the curriculum,
please continue to check edline for the parent resources
or email your child’s teacher with your question.
Magnet IM: During December students will study Unit 3
(Geometry). Geometric figures will be examined in two and
three dimensions with students deriving some standard formulas
and investigating the relationship between area and volume. In
addition to the traditional topics students will also learn about
the Platonic Solids. We may look at other categories of semiregular solids if there’s time. They will practice isometric drawing as a method of representing three-dimensional figures on a
flat plane. And we may take a peek at fractals at the end. Please
visit Edline for quiz dates and topics. I can be reached at [email protected]. Have a wonderful holiday!
Science
In Mrs. Smith’s 6th grade science classes students are
investing elements. We will be conducting several small
labs involving chemical reactions. These classes will soon
be moving to the next unit investigating ecosystems and
the interaction among the living and non-living factors in
an environment. Information regarding assignments can
be found on the class website. https://sites.google.com/
a/mcpsmd.net/mrs-smith-s-science-tpms/ The website
also has a page of useful resources and website students
can use at home to review material from class.
Students in 6th Grade Magnet Science are continuing with
their study of Chemistry. We will be moving on the chemical
reactions and balancing chemical equations in the next few
weeks. Students are also still working on their STEM projects. Checkpoint 3 is due in the first week of December, and
students will then be writing their proposed Materials and Methods to prepare to start their experiments. They’ll be needing
materials for their experiments starting at Winter Break. Assignments can be found on Google Classroom if needed – be sure to
have your student show you his or her account!
GRADE 7
NEWS
Takoma Park Middle School
7611 Piney Branch Road
December 1, 20 15
Vol u me 8, Issue 3
Grade 7 December/January News
What’s Happening in Class?
World Studies
In world studies students have arrived in medieval Africa
to study cultural diffusion and the kingdoms of Mali, Kongo,
and Great Zimbabwe. We will examine factors that define
culture and discover what happens when different cultures
come together. Students will create their own holidays and
artifacts using seen and unseen aspects of culture. The main
project for this unit will require students to present evidence
of cultural diffusion in the Kingdom of Mali during the reign
of Mansa Musa. We are also preparing for the annual
National Geographic Geography Bee. The class bees
will take place the week before winter break. The school bee
between winners of all three grades will be held after winter
break.
Science
Math
In Math 7 students are building their understanding of
rational numbers operations. Students have been working
on adding and subtracting rational numbers using various
properties of the addition including additive inverse
property as well as the commutative and associative
properties of addition. The students’ work with integers,
fractions and mixed numbers will include multiplying and
dividing rational numbers, the application of mathematical
properties for efficiency, and converting factions into
decimals.
In IM students are working in Unit 2 to build their
understanding and application of rational numbers
operations. Specifically, students are adding, subtracting,
multiplying and dividing rational numbers including
integers, fractions and mixed numbers. This work involves
applying mathematical properties and strategies such as the
additive inverse property. The students are increasing their
efficiency by using the commutative property, the
associative property, the distributive property, and
decomposing mixed numbers and decimals.. Their
application of rational numbers application will expand
during December to include working with algebraic
expressions, equations and inequalities.
In science, Students are transitioning from Cellular
Processes to Matter & Energy Flow in Organisms: Students
will be able to investigate the biochemical reactions within a
living organism & the nutritional requirements that help it
to survive and function. We will be analyzing the benefits
and consequences of foodstuffs on human body systems and
how our environment plays a role in the energy that we, as
well as plants, need to function and survive.
In Algebra During December, we will continue our work
on Unit 2, Linear and Exponential Relationships.
Classes have all been assigned Checkpoint #1 for STEM Specifically, we will be focusing on identifying and analyzing
EXPO (deadline was Mon. Nov. 16). They were submit their arithmetic and geometric sequences. We will demonstrate
question, hypothesis, materials, and variables. IF the these sequences through multiple representations including
students would like to do another subject another for tables, graphs, explicit and recursive functions. Then it’s on
presentation for our STEM EXPO on Friday, April 8 (ex. to arithmetic and geometric means, classifying linear and
Math, World Studies, FACS, etc.) they may certainly do so. exponential functions based on different representations,
They, too will need to provide a written statement as to what and comparing and contrasting linear and exponential
that is. A full guidelines sheet of STEM EXPO Checkpoints functions as developed from arithmetic and geometric
will be provided prior to the holiday break. Please check sequences. Finally, we will be writing linear equations in
your child’s Agenda Book and Edline often.
slope-intercept, standard, and point-slope form and also
applying exponential growth and decay formulas to real life
situations.
In Magnet science class students are completing their
study of the structure and function of cells and will begin In Magnet Algebra 1 we will be completing Unit 3:
their study of Genetics. Students will investigate the Exponential Functions. In mid-December, we will begin
Mendelian Laws of inheritance. They will also study Unit 4, Systems of Equations and Inequalities. Topics
population genetics and the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium. include finding numeric, graphic, and algebraic solutions of
The summative “cell”ebration for our current unit will be the systems of equations, finding graphic solutions of systems
week of December 15th. Students should continue working of inequalities, and applications of systems. A review packet
on their respective STEM projects.
for the county semester exam will be available to start
working on during winter break.
Grade 7 Team Newsletter Page 2
What’s Happening in Class?
English
In English 7, some classes are wrapping up a “Sense of
Place” poetry travelogue project by collecting poems on
the theme of place as well as writing their own “place
poems” using poetic language such as alliteration,
metaphor, sensory language and many others. Students
will also be developing and improving their poetry
interpretation and analysis skills.
In other classes, students are studying Jack London’s
classic, The Call of the Wild, analyzing how a change of
place affects a character as well as studying London’s
excellent action writing and description. Students will
then be writing a creative story from the point of view of
the main character, Buck the dog, extending their
understanding of the character by writing past the ending
of the novel.
In addition to poetry and literature study, students are
reading their independent reading books and writing at
least one independent reading letter by the time Winter
Break starts. Our study of grammar continues with an
examination of the independent and dependent clauses
and correctly combining ideas in compound and complex
sentences.
Managing Your Study Time
There are only so many hours in a day, a week, and a term. You
cannot change the number of hours, but you can decide how to
best use them. To be successful in school, you must carefully
manage your study time. Here is a strategy for doing this.
At the beginning of a term, prepare a Term Calendar. Update it
as the term goes on. Here is what to do to prepare a Term
Calendar.



Each Sunday before a school week, prepare a Weekly
Schedule. Update it as the week goes on. Here is what to do to
prepare a Weekly Schedule.





Computer Science
In Magnet 7 Computer Science, coding is the word.
Students are continuing to do a lot of Python coding. The
while, for, and if structures of this unit are very important
to learn well; they are the foundation for future programs.
Strings and string methods, text files, and library
functions are soon-to-be-introduced topics. INTRO TO
COMPUTERS 7: We have starting creating websites.
Website development will consume most of this marking
period as we add related topics in image editing, layout
and design, and copyright guidelines.
Upcoming Events
Dec. 4 – Grade 7 Trip to AFI Theater
Dec. 4 – 2nd Quarter Interim Reports
Dec. 24 – Jan. 3 – Winter Break
Jan. 15 – Jan. 22 – Semester Exams
Jan. 22 – End of Quarter 2
Check EDLINE for updated grades
Record your school assignments with their due dates
and your scheduled tests.
Record your planned school activities.
Record your known out-of-school activities.
Record your daily classes.
Enter things to be done for the coming week from your
Term Calendar.
Review your class notes from the previous week to see
if you need to add any school activities.
Add any out-of-school activities in which you will be
involved during the week.
Be sure to include times for completing assignments,
working on projects, and studying for tests. These times
may be during the school day, right after school,
evenings, and weekends.
Each evening before a school day, prepare a Daily Organizer
for the next day. Place a √ next to each thing to do as you
accomplish it. Here is what to do to prepare a Daily Organizer.



Enter the things to do for the coming day from your
Weekly Schedule.
Enter the things that still need to be accomplished from
your Daily Organizer from the previous day.
Review your class notes for the day just completed to
see if you need to add any school activities.
Add any out-of-school activities in which you will be
involved the next day.
Your Weekly Schedule should have more detail than your Term
Calendar. Your Daily Organizer should have more detail than
your Weekly Schedule. Using a Term Calendar, a Weekly
Schedule, and a Daily Organizer will help you make the best use
of your time.
 Have you checked your child’s notebook or student
planner?
 Have you checked your child’s academic
performance on Edline? Go to
https://www.edline.net/Index.page
December 2015
English
Students will continue to focus on argument and informative writing. Students will research an issue to identify the arguments and evidence for and against a proposal. They
will then select a side to argue and develop a strong claim and persuasive arguments
supported by evidence. Their argument will include in text citations and an annotated
bibliography. All classes will be writing a review and a “How-To” essay to describe a
complex process. Prior to writing the review and informative process essay, classes will
analyze a variety of reviews and process essays. Students are also completing independent reading projects outside of class.
8th Grade Newsletter
TAKOMA PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL
U.S. History
Eighth grade United States History continues its examination of the Constitution. Students will have participated in the Constitutional Convention as delegates and made the
necessary compromises on representation, the Bill of Rights, and slavery. Once ratified,
students will learn about the first tests of the new Constitution and government, including the Whiskey Rebellion. We
will spend time on the structure of our government – the
three branches – and on how the precedents set by George
Washington shaped the office for all future presidents. We
will end the unit with the election of 1800, which introduced
political parties into our political system. There is no semester final exam. Unit 2 ends with a unit test. We will start our
Geography Bees!
Algebra-Prep
Students in December will continue working on Unit 3B which focuses on how patterns
and relationships can be represented graphically, numerically, symbolically, and verbally. We focus on linear relationships and why linear functions are useful in our everyday
lives. Students will be using real world data to graph scatter plots and determine the line
of best fit that will be analyzed to show if there is a relationship that exists. We will focus on quantitative relationships graphically and interpret the meaning of a specific part
of a graph when necessary. As we continue through the month it is extremely important
to make up work whenever a class is missed and if you have questions please plan on
staying for lunch help or coming in for extra support during TAP.
Algebra 2.0
During December, we will continue our work on Unit 2, Linear and Exponential Relationships. Specifically, we
will be focusing on identifying and analyzing arithmetic and geometric sequences. We will demonstrate
these sequences through multiple representations including tables,
graphs, explicit and recursive
functions. Then it’s on to arithmetic
and geometric means, classifying linear and exponential functions
based on different representations, and comparing and contrasting
linear and exponential functions as developed from arithmetic and geometric sequences. Finally, we will be writing linear equations in slope-intercept, standard, and pointslope form and also applying exponential growth and decay formulas to real life situations.
Honors Geometry
In Honors Geometry we will continue Unit 2, Similarity, Right Triangles, and Trigonometry. Students will apply their earlier experience with dilations and proportional reaContinued on next page
soning to build a formal understanding of similarity. They identify criteria for similarity of triangles, use similarity to solve problems, and apply similarity in right triangles to understand
right triangle trigonometry, with particular attention to special right triangles
and the Pythagorean theorem. We will also investigate the Laws of Sines and
Cosines in order to find missing measures of general (not necessarily right)
triangles. Keep an eye out for the semester review packet, which will be given
out to each student upon return from winter break.
Magnet Geometry
In December and early January, we will complete a unit on similarity and right triangles. Students will apply
and prove properties of similar figures and rediscover right triangles (Just how many ways are there to prove
the Pythagorean Theorem?). Combining the two topics leads us into trigonometry – right triangle trig at first,
then expanding to all triangles with Law of Sines and Law of Cosines. During this unit, we will use Geometer’s Sketchpad, a dynamic tool for constructing and analyzing geometric figures. Students will take their semester exam during the week of January 15-21.
Magnet Algebra II
Our final unit of semester one is Polynomial and Rational Functions. Students will study the graphs, properties, and applications of these important function types. The unit will include a discussion of the properties
and applications of complex numbers. Then, we will look at the strange and intriguing graphs that occur when
polynomials are divided to form rational functions. Students will take their semester exam on Friday, January
15.
Science
The students have completed their green home projects and we are continuing into the next major unit of the
year: astronomy. Students will be learning about the movements of objects in space to help them understand
the mechanics of a solar system. The ultimate goal is to understand solar systems well enough that we can
look for alien planets that may be able to sustain life. This will lead us into discussions about the Moon, the
Sun, the planets of our solar system, and even the universe as a whole.
Magnet Science
We are beginning our unit on sound and electromagnetic waves. Students will be investigating wave characteristics and technologies that utilize waves. This study of waves will lead us into the study of astronomy. In addition students are continuing their research for their Capstone project. The final draft of the Capstone background research is due in December.
Come to 8th Grade Homework Club!
After School on Thursdays
Room 306 with
Ms. Taylor
World Languages Department
December Newsletter
Spanish
Spanish 1A full year (Sra, Carroll)
Spanish 1A Full Year students have started the Getting to Know You unit. We will study how to
talk about what different people like and don't like to do. Students will learn how to use verbs to
talk about various activities they like to do also or don't like to do either. In this unit students
learn to make their writing more interesting by using words such as también, tampoco, pero,
más, ni....ni and porque. Students also learn the concept of an infinitive verb and how to
recognize one in Spanish. Throughout the month of December students will be working with the
verb SER and adjectives to talk about their own personality and the personality of friends. We
will describe ourselves and others using Subject pronouns, the verb SER and the rules of
adjectives. Our unit will conclude with a project "All About Me". There will NOT be a county
mandated exam in January but students will take a cumulative test that will cover all concepts
learned between September and January. Students and parents should monitor Edline for
homework and to check student progress. Sra. Carroll keeps her grade book current so students
and parents will have an accurate picture of progress in Spanish class.
Spanish 1B full year (Sra. Vogel)
Spanish 1B FY students are in a unit on The Family. Students have been talking about family
members and how they are related to each other as well as celebrations in Spanish Speaking
Countries and how they differ from typical celebrations in the USA. Throughout the month of
December students will learn to describe family members both physically and in
personality. Students will apply the use of the verb TENER, possessive adjectives and
"de." There will NOT be a county mandated exam in January. Students and parents should
monitor agenda books and Edline for homework and to check student progress. Parents and
students are encouraged to email Ms. Vogel with any questions at
[email protected].
Spanish 1AB (Sra Carroll y Sra. Kim):
During the month of December, Spanish 1AB students finish the school unit and start on the
food unit. In this unit, students communicate their preference regarding food choices. They
explain the health benefits of food and exercise. We will also start conjugating –ER & -IR verbs
and continue to study plurals and adjective agreement in discussing the foods that we like (using
the plural form of the verb “gustar” and “encantar”). December is the last month we have
together before taking the semester exams in January. It is imperative that students are in class,
complete assignments on time, and come in for help when necessary during TAP or afterschool.
Please encourage students to check Edline regularly for important assignments, websites, and
grades. Sra. Carroll keeps her grade book current so students and parents will have an accurate
picture of progress in Spanish class.
Spanish 2AB—Sra. Guevara y Sra. Kim
In early December, students will finish a unit about describing past shopping experiences and
shopping in a market. In this unit, students will be introduced to a new past verb tense (the
preterit tense) and demonstrative adjectives. The final unit of the quarter is on the Community.
Students will continue to practice the preterit tense as well as learn commands in order to give
directions.
Students will receive their study materials and exam review guides when they get back from
winter break. The second week after break will be spent finalizing the last unit as well as
reviewing for the semester exam. For Sra. Guevara and Sra. Vogel, Oral Exams are Wednesday,
January 13th, and Periods 2 and 8 have their exam on Friday, January 15th, Periods 4 and 6 have
their semester exam Wednesday, January 20th. For Sra. Kim, Oral Exams are January 13 & 14.
Period 3 has its exam January 21st and Period 8 has its exam January 15th. Please mark these
dates in your family calendar and avoid scheduling appointments or travel for students.
The pace of the class moves quickly and students are encouraged to establish a routine of
studying every week night for 10-15 minutes in order to help build vocabulary and ease with
structures. There are many resources on teacher's Edline page for them to practice such
conjuguemos.com or Quizlet, an online flashcard website which allows students to make
flashcards for vocabulary but also verb conjugations as well. Sra. Guevara’s students may also
complete the monthly optional formative assignment, ¿Dónde está Sra. Guevara? which students
can find on Edline or posted on the board in the classroom. Sra. Kim's students may continue to
complete enrichment activities from the Ya Terminé board.
Spanish 3— Sra. Guevara
In December, students will finish a unit about healthy living and how to give recommendations
to stay healthy. In this unit, students will continue to refine their ability of commands and begin
a new mode, the subjunctive voice. They will continue practice with the subjunctive voice in
the last unit of the quarter which deals with relationships, friends, and giving advice.
Students will receive their study materials and exam review guides after they return from winter
break. The second week after break will be spent finalizing the last unit as well as reviewing for
the semester exam. Oral Exams are Thursday, January 14th, and Periods 1 and 7 have their
semester exam on Jan 19th; Period 3 has their exam on January 21st.
The pace of the class moves quickly and students are encouraged to establish a routine of
studying every week night for 10-15 minutes in order to help build vocabulary and ease with
structures. There are many resources on Edline for them to practice such Quizlet, an online
flashcard website which allows students to make flashcards for vocabulary but also verb
conjugations as well. Students may also complete the monthly optional formative assignment,
¿Dónde está Sra. Guevara? which students can find on Edline or posted on the board in the
classroom.
French—Mme Finklea
French 1
In December, French 1 students will be learning to communicate about school (schedule and
course preferences), describe their school day, and tell time. The class is moving very quickly
now. It is very important that students not fall behind on their assignments! Parents should check
agenda books for HW and encourage students to study vocabulary at home. Parents should also
check Edline and weekly student progress reports. If your child has a C or below on a weekly
progress report, please sign it and have your child return it to me! Our county-wide semester
exam will be January 20 (period 6) and January 21 (period 3). The speaking part of the exam will
happen during the week of January 11. Students will most likely have their exam review packets
to start working on during Winter Break.
French 2
French 2 students will build on their knowledge of school from French 1 and learn to
communicate about school-related events in the past and present tenses. They will also be
learning to ask and answer questions about computers. Parents should check agenda books for
HW and encourage students to study vocabulary at home. Parents should also check Edline and
weekly student progress reports. Our county-wide semester exam will be on January 15 (period 8
and January 20 (period 4). The speaking part of the exam will happen during the week of January
11. Students will most likely have their exam review packets to start working on during Winter
Break.
French 3
In French 3, we will be finishing our unit on the Great Outdoors (animals and extreme sports!).
Parents should check agenda books for HW and encourage students to study vocabulary at home.
Parents should also check Edline and weekly student progress reports. Our county-wide semester
exam will be on January 19. The speaking part of the exam will happen during the week of
January 11. Students will most likely have their exam review packets to start working on during
Winter Break.
Arts Department December/January Newsletter
Art—Ms. Spera
FACS—Ms. Davis
Computer Applications
Ms. Galley
Dr. Taliff

Ms. Wu
Contemporary Communications and TV Studio
Mr. Wilson
World Beat Music and Chorus —Mr. Liddle
COUNSELING SERVICES
DECEMBER/JANUARY NEWSLETTER
COUNSELOR COFFEE:
Join us on January 12th at 8:30 AM, in the Media Center, for a chat on practicing a Growth
Mindset and helping your child prepare for assessments/final exams.
Carol Dwek: Growth Mindset
Students who embrace struggle while learning and solving problems develop skills that
others may not. https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/embracing-struggle-exl
Power Hour for Everyone
Ms. Martinez hosts a Power Hour from 34pm every Tuesday and Wednesday, in the
Counseling Conference Room. Students
from all grade levels are welcome! Power
Hour offers an opportunity to get homework done, or ask an adult for help with
work within a quiet space, at school.
Snacks are provided.