October 9th, 2015
Don’t forget to visit your encore teachers at conferences!
We love to see you and give some perspective on a completely different side of your child’s
learning. You do not need to sign up for a time, just stop by when you can - see you there!
ART
● Ms. Linskey’s 6th grade Design Studio classes
○ Beginning our final ten dollar bill. As the US Treasury is designing a new ten dollar bill
that will feature a woman, our class is designing original interpretations. We need to finish
these by the end of next week.
■ EVERYONE MUST HAVE A FINISHED BILL BY OCTOBER 12 (so we can grade
them.) You may even need to do some work at home...
○ Remember the optional Art Buck assignments
■ Drawing Challenge Sketchbook. ( I am really excited to see these drawings!)
■ One Star Dollar Bill
■ Reverse side of bill
○ Club Mud will meet again Monday 10/5. We will:
■ Look at the first wave of “the great clay experiment.”
■ Continue work on our “Look Into The Future” pot for the lobby living room.
■ Make press molds for Halloween goodies to sell.
○ Follow me on Twitter @clayladylinskey and on Instagram username: clayladylinskey
Mr. Sass’s Art studio Classes
Follow me on Twitter @sassart for news updates and Art Buck opportunities!!
REALLY BIG ART NEWS!!!!!
We at South have been invited to participate in the Artica art festival! The
festival features artists from all over the region, creating an incredible variety of
art in this disused industrial area. Artica occurs on October 10th, on the
riverfront ½ a mile north of the Arch on Lenore K Sullivan Blvd. We’ll be making
cool, simple to create art installation and we could use a many as would like to
come help and see some wonderful art! Interested students, plan to attend a
brief meeting Monday after school in Mr. Sass’ room.
●
8th graders​
Check my Twitter feed for some new examples of student’s prints! They are
really coming along.
●
In 7th grade​
Students are beginning to make the bodies of their instruments! The clay is
really flying (not literally) around this room as students learn about structure and
supports.
This unit is based on the STEAM philosophy that uses art to reach and teach Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math. So far students have learned what creates the sounds
we hear and have begun to study acoustics. The end product will be a sculptural stringed
instrument, based on instruments they researched from Asia, Africa and South America.
I’ll be providing the basic materials like clay, glaze, wood for the necks and other parts as
well as the guitar strings. If the student want to customize their instrument the website
below is a great source for pick ups (for electric instruments) tuners and the like.
●
http://www.cbgitty.com/cigar-box-guitar-parts/basic-pre-wired-piezo-jack-harness/
I’m really excited by what they can create and hearing them learn to play their creations
at the end of the unit!
●
The 6th grader​
s are getting ready to finish their last project for the quarter, abstract
animal jingle-rattlers. They worked really hard from the design stage and learning to
transition from 2D thinking to 3D thinking.
●
ART CLUBS!​
Art Squad is forming its teams and project leaders to do everything from
painting murals on the school walls to decorating teacher’s rooms to our super secret big
project! Both ​
Photography Club​
and ​
Comic​
and ​
Anime Club​
continue to have record
turnouts! We’re working on getting images for some books will be published this year. All
clubs will meet from 2:30 until 3:30 after school in Mr.Sass’ room.
BAND
6th Grade​
- Practice Records are due Monday (10-5-15), with the full 100 minutes required.
The following Monday (10-12-15), 6th graders will have 60 minutes due since they are going to
camp next week. Trombones have taken their first test - please check the grade on IC. Your
students are ALWAYS invited to re-take their tests between 7:15 and 7:30 in the morning!
7th Grade​
- The next playing test, #85, will take place on the 8th and 9th. Hopefully you’ll
hear it (and our new concert music) at home quite a bit! As always, practice records will be due
(once again) on Monday.
8th Grade​
- A new playing test based on “Kronos,” the new concert piece, will take place on
Tuesday. - listen to hear it at home! Re-take day for all playing tests is Wednesday, October
7th. Students can look on IC to see if there are any grades they’d like bring up. Practice
records are again due on Monday - 100 minutes. As always, thanks for all your support at
home!
BUSINESS
What’s going on in KIT BIT and DIT for the week of October 5
8th Grade​
--Students will continue working on the Movie Poster assignment. They are turning
out AMAZING so far. Students will be taking the photos soon for the project--you may want to
ask them if they need help finding props. All posters should be finished by October 14. If your
student has been sick or absent, please encourage them to speak to me about arranging time to
get caught up.
7th Grade​
--It’s EXCEL time! Students will finish learning cell formatting basics and begin their
first assignment by creating a Bingo Card. Students will continue practicing their formatting
skills by making a Word Search or Crossword Puzzle. And….drum roll…., we will be playing Bingo
on Friday with their bingo cards for some amazing prizes.
6th Grade​
--Students are finishing up their Glogsters. Many of them will be working on their
How to Videos as well. ​
Please ask them how things are going and encourage them to show you
their Glog (internet access required).​The end of the quarter is next Monday and all work must
be completed by then. Students will also miss two days for camp...so, it’s going to be a crazy
week! The Glogster Project can be finished at home as long as the student has access to the
internet. Please keep this in mind in the event that your child is behind.
If a student is absent or unable to complete their assignment in class, they can:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Complete it at home IF you have the software
Complete it in the morning--I am usually here by 7 am
Complete it during Falcon Time
Make arrangements with me to stay after school
ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THE ORIGINAL SUBMISSION DATE.
CHOIR October 9th, 2015
Just as a reminder the fundraising items will be given to students to take home on Tuesday,
October 13th! Prizes will be given out in class on Wednesday, October 14th.
There are still A few black, choir logo, t-shirts left they can be purchased for $5.50 on a first
come first serve basis. Cash or checks made payable to RSMS.
Thank you 8th Grade Camp Song Leaders and Parents. 6th grade camp was week and the 8th
grade students did an awesome job leading!
Monday- Yellow Team
Madeline Hefele, Maya Shastri, Shelbe Woody, Noah Diffley, Matt Garnatz, Julie James, Andrew Klump, Becca Grimm, Josie Orlando, Lauren Metzler Wednesday­ Blue Team Maya Shastri , Ally Imo, Julianna Cotter, Sabrina Gregory Thursday­ Red Team Kirsten Skarstad, Marlee Rasnic, Madisyn Eaton, Elaina Vogel, Hannah Womack, Julianna Cotter,Issy Martin *Follow us on Twitter- @RSMSChoir
*We are also on Instagram- follow- rsmschoir
All Choir students have a singing test next Thursday. The 7th and 8th grade students will be
sight-reading in small groups and the 6th grade will be singing rounds in small groups.
FACS….. What’s Cooking? Friday, October 2, 2015
*You’re invited: Parent/Teacher Conferences are just around the corner!
October 2015
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
P/T Conf.
3:30-7:00
Wednesday
Thursday
21
Friday
22
23
Saturday
24
P/T Conf.
3:30-7:00
6th Grade FACS classes ​
are continuing to enjoy snack labs, and are moving into our sewing unit. We are
practicing our sewing skills and applying what we’ve learned as we construct our tote bag projects.
FACS I classes ​
are learning about dairy and cookies! We will also be heading to the sewing machines to
brush up on our skills. We are reviewing sewing basics and sewing equipment/terminology and will be
beginning our pillow projects.
FACS II classes​
are continuing with our quick bread skills and learning about functions of baking ingredients
with pastries and yeast breads. We will be moving into fibers and working on our sewing skills as we begin
construction of our gym bags.
FRENCH
6th Grade with Madame Pippin
- Students have finished their final projects and will be presenting next week.
7th Grade with Madame Pippin and Madame Crowley
- Students are working on unit 2 “All work and no play”
- Students have been focused on conjugating ER verbs and will be
- Students should be studying for a recognition and production quiz next week
8th Grade with Madame Pippin and Madame Crowley
- Students are wrapping up their assessments on unit 4 “Education around the world”
- Introduction to Unit 5 Cafe and Shopping will be presented
*7th and 8th grade classes may also check google classroom for updates on projects, vocabulary
lists for each unit and unit expectations
*Quizlet and Conjuguemos.com are great rescoures to practice vocabualry daily! ​
10 minutes
each night of vocabulary practice is essential for language acquisition AND IS
HOMEWORK EVERY NIGHT.
GERMAN
This week the students finished their chapter 7 test. We have started chapter 8. The
vocabulary they have received so far is over sports. We also have started looking at definite and
indefinite articles in the different cases and will continue this next week.
ORCHESTRA 10/9
If your child is planning on auditioning for Alternative or Honor Orchestra, please make sure that you have signed up online on http://www.prcommunityed.org/vpa/Pages/default.aspx ! 6th Grade​
: At this point, they should be able to play all the way through our two pieces. They will be getting a new one this week! 7th Grade​
: We have started to polish up or music preparing for our November concert. They should be taking a closer look at the notes in the second half of Mozart. At this point, they should have passed five playing tests (D, G, C, F, and A Major). If not, they might need to come in for practice club or come before school. The grade book will be updated to reflect those five tests for the progress report this week. 8th Grade​
: Our second practice video is due Tuesday. Students are always welcome to come in before school to record their videos if they are having trouble with technology. Don’t forget to have your child join us for ​
Practice Club​
Wednesdays after school! If you haven’t already, check out our website ​
www.RSMSOrchestra.weebly.com​
and follow @RSMSOrchestra on twitter! SPANISH
6th Grade with SEÑOR WESTPHAL/SEÑORA MILLER
- We continue to review over colors, numbers, and greetings. We will discuss hobbies and
work with using the phrase “me gusta”.
7th Grade with SEÑOR WESTPHAL/SEÑORA MILLER
- We will review greetings and pronouns and work on more verb charts. We will be
discussing how to say you like something and learning a some vocabulary related to
hobbies.
8th Grade with SEÑOR WESTPHAL/SEÑORA MILLER
- Talking about family members, making comparisons, and reviewing noun adjective
agreement and verb conjugation will be covered in class this week.
7th Grade with SEÑORITA CHARLTON
- 10 minutes each night of vocabulary practice is essential for language
acquisition AND IS HOMEWORK EVERY NIGHT.
- Learned about weather terms and the final vocabulary terms for the chapter
- Conjugated “Tener”, which means “to have”
- Begin reviewing for the Chapter 1 Test, which will be Thursday, Oct. 15.
8th Grade with SEÑORITA CHARLTON
- 10 minutes each night of vocabulary practice is essential for language
acquisition AND IS HOMEWORK EVERY NIGHT.
- Finished learning the ins-and-outs of conjugating “gustar”, which means “I like”
- Finished culture videos which took place in Mexico and Puerto Rico
- We will finish comparing cultures in Puerto Rico with other Spanish-speaking
-
countries.
Began revising for the Chapter 3 Test, which will be Thursday, Oct. 15.
TECHNOLOGY
th​
6​
Grade - ​
We have been working on our Rube Goldberg project. Some were able to present
it on Friday. The rest will present on Monday, which just so happens to be the last day of the
Quarter! We’ve had a lot of fun learning about different aspects of engineering this Quarter!
Videos of the Rube Goldberg project will be available via shared file on Google for anyone that
asks.
th​
7​
Grade - ​
This past week we learned some of the basics of 3D computer modeling. This
week we will be expanding that knowledge into creating assemblies of several parts. Inventor
has been a little rough, but I think as we get used to the many different and new functions, it
will become a skill that many will be proud to say they have!
th​
8​
Grade - ​
This week we finished up learning about different types of mechanisms using the
VEX Kits. Students also worked on a project that allows them to create their own design that
utilizes those mechanisms. Ask about their children’s pull toy! Coming soon… The
electrical/programming parts to the VEX Robotics.
If you are interested… you can follow us on Twitter @MrClarkPLTW.
THEATER ​
-​
learn about my class & the play productions on social media!
●
Rehearsals for ​
Cactus Pass Jamboree​
are going great! Both the technical crew and the
actors are involved, engaged and helping to make this production truly special.
●
●
Shirt order form link will be on the website by Tuesday
You can also follow our classroom and the play production at any of the following:
www.D-R-A-M-A.com
RSMS Falcon Players
Falcon_Player
Falcon_Player
th​
6​
Theatre & Speech
●
●
As we finalize the quarter, we’re exploring movement with the Movement Unit
Students continue to perform silent Walk-Thrus
th​
7​
Acting/Communication Lab
●
●
Students are enjoying ​
And Then There Were None
We’re well into the Unit Packet for the play and going over Play Terminology
th​
8​
Public Speaking
●
●
We’ve begun ​
Messenger Speeches ​
(Inspired by Greek Theatre)
I’ve introduced the Performance Skills Unit, which include Shakespeare recitation
th​
8​
Theatre Arts
●
●
We’ve completed the first Act of ​
Arsenic & Old Lace
Next week we go over basic Play Reading Terminology
www.D­R­A­M­A.com Troy Schnider [email protected] www.D­R­A­M­A.com