PS/IS 226 Panther Pride Press
“Together We Make Our
School a Success”
Spring is Here …. FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS- April 2017 Issue 8
Ms. Montanes- Monthly Highlights
I hope all of you enjoy the well-deserved Spring Break. Hopefully you
and your families will use the time to spend it with loved ones and to
relax. At 226 we take advantage of the breaks to catch our breath and
recharge for the final months of school. Upon return we will recommit
to making the last marking period just as engaging, productive, and
inspiring as the last three.
Ms. Issa 6th Grade ELA
During this month, we are focusing heavily on essential literacy skills
in order to enhance our critical thinking in preparation for both the
ELA state exam as well as the new unit of writing, "Coming to
America." In this unit, students will explore immigrant experiences
and how these experiences with others can teach them about
themselves. Students will be extending this into an informative writing
as they compare and contrast the authors' purposes and perspectives
through their use of strategies.
Ms. Jompulsky 7th Grade ELA
Now that the state test is over, we've got time to get back to our unit all about ways in which we can make a difference in our world. We'll
be reading "Saving the World One Click at a Time" which is about how
everyday people can simply log online to help those in need. After
we're done analyzing the point of view of our author, we'll be closely
comparing this text with our previous one, by considering how their
ideas about poverty are both similar and different. In the end, we'll be
arguing which author we believe makes a stronger claim about how to
resolve the issue of poverty in our world.
Ms. Stansici 8th Grade ELA
Eighth grade is kicking off April with grammar week. We are
reviewing parts of speech, passive voice vs. active voice,
capitalization, and punctuation. The goal is to polish the skills we
already have to ensure students are ready for high school. Aftrer the
break, we will continue with Unit 4: Designing the Future.
Ms. Trovato 6th Grade Social Studies
"All roads lead to Rome." Our 6th
graders are learning about the rise
and fall of the Roman Empire. Students
will learn how one of the greatest
civilizations rose to power and how its
legacy lived on through our modern
world.
Ms. Sapienza- 7th Grade Social Studies
The 7th graders are in the midst of
learning about one of our nation's most
respected politicians - Alexander
Hamilton. This unit of study is focused
around the hit Broadway musical
Hamilton! Our students will use the
historical narrative song lyrics and
primary sources to formulate their first
argumentative essay - Whose political
views were better for our country in
1787?
Ms. Sapienza- 8th Grade Social Studies
Last month our 8th graders wrapped
up the first part of the "Between the
Wars" unit with an exam on World War
I. In April, the students focused on
changes occurring socially,
economically, and politically within the
United States. The study of these
changes will be used in the upcoming
informational DBQ (Document-based
questions) essay about the Roaring
20s, the Great Depression, the Stock
Market Crash, and the nation's final
push towards World War II.
Panther Pride Press- March 2017- Issue 7
Ms. D’Acierno- 6th Grade Mathematics
For the month of April, our Superstar 6th graders have been finishing up their last
unit of algebra on creating tables, graphs and equations for linear functions. They
seem to really enjoy this topic and have rocked every lesson. Our amazing
students have been volunteering to make PowerPoint presentations for the class on
the topics for our upcoming NYS Mathematics test, which will take place from May
2nd through May 4th. Keep up the positive energy Superstars and Happy Spring!
Mr. Greene- 7th Grade Mathematics
April is here! It's my favorite time of the year; spring is here and we are continuing
our push towards the Math state exam, MAY 2nd! It is right around the corner. We
will be learning all about statistics and probability. Students will also begin state
exam preparations by reviewing the year and practicing for state exam questions. I
promise you all will be more prepared than you have ever been before for this
state exam. Just continue to work hard and trust in the process.
Mr. Hadzovic- 8th Grade Mathematics
April is an exciting time for 8th graders. We are having an IXL contest. The first
place winner receives an unannounced prize. The second place winner receives an
iPad courtesy of Mr. Kent. The third place winner receives a Galaxy 3DS XL. We are
rocking through April and ready to take our State Test on May 2nd, May 3rd, and
May 4th. "Life is an equation, learn to take the negatives and turn them into
positives."
Mr. Kent- Digital Literacy
I.S. 226 recently received a
generous donation from
the New York Islanders
hockey team! Eighth
graders will begin Ignition,
an online course that
stresses digital literacy and
responsibility. Set against
the backdrop of organizing
a concert, students will
apply skills that will teach
them about online privacy,
cyber etiquette, and STEM
careers.
Ms. Salcedo 6th Grade Science
Congratulations to all our 6th graders for showcasing their long term investigation projects in the Mad Science Expo 2017.
This activity help our 6th graders to think " outside the box", and have the opportunity to think critically, and address their
interests through inquiry-based learning. This month, the students will continue to explore and investigate what causes
weather conditions and how weather events affect life in specific regions.
Ms. Salcedo-7th Grade Science
Congratulations to all our 7th graders for participating actively in the Mad Science Expo 2017. The various research
projects help them to apply the science process skills and get an opportunity to enhance their presentation skills when
they prepare their display boards and discuss the results of their investigations to he judges. This month, the 7th graders
will continue to explore the structure and functions of organisms, by exporing body systems. The students will create
models, compare and contrast how these organisms regulate and maintain homeostasis, draw conclusions about the
physical needs and how they maintain dynamic equilibrium.
Ms. Toyber- 8th Grade Science
On behalf of all our middle school students, I would like to thank you all for attending the Science Expo and for
continuously supporting our students with their long-term scientific investigations. Our Mad Science Expo 2017 was a
HUGE success!! I cannot express how proud our scientists were when they were presenting their projects for our judges.
Now that the Science Expo is over, we look forward to celebrating those projects in our Science Expo Awards Ceremony,
held on April 26th. Nonetheless, the work does not stop there! Our Living Environment Regents students are continuing
their studies and reviewing all content in preparation for the Regents exam held on June 14th. Our 8th grade general
science students are working on creating predictions about possible outcomes of various genetic combinations of
inherited characteristics by completing Punnett Squares. We are also preparing for the 8th Grade State Science Exam
held on June 5th.
3
A Note from Our Guidance Counselor-Ms.
Tsekouras"
Ms. Swinton & 704 In ELA, class
As the month is coming to an end, the
students are gearing up for next
months state math exam. In ELA, the
students are up to Lesson five in the
Wordly Wise vocabulary book. The
students are adjusting to the book
very well and seem to be enjoying
learning new words and broadening
their vocabulary. In the Code-X book,
we are taking an in-depth look at
natural disasters and the effects that it
has on people and places. The
students were also introduced to
topographical maps in order to better
understand and visualize graphic
features and representations of the
earths surface; in particular, The Gulf
Coast, Asia & Indonesisa, where some
of histories worst natural disasters
have taken place. The students are
also examining cause and effect in a
writing piece. In SS, the students are
wrapping up the chapter on
citizenship and what that means in the
United States. The students will soon
be moving forward to learning about
the great Alexander Hamilton and
Mr.Pratt and Mr. Convissar- Physical
Education
After-school and Before-school athletics
are booming. On Wednesdays, from
2:30pm - 4:30pm, we are hosting our first
ever badminton program. We are already
into competitive doubles games. On
Thursdays, we are keeping our volleyball
skills sharp and on Fridays, we are
starting up our first floor hockey program.
On Thursdays and Fridays from 6:45am 7:45am students are working on their
basketball skills. Future tennis and track
programs are in the works! All classes are
into an exciting floor hockey unit.
Dear 8th Grade Families, Round 2 of the High School Admissions
process is over. Thank you for your efficiency. Results letters and
appeal applications will be available in May. Happy Spring! If you
have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact
me at: (718) 234-4940 extension 4611.
Class 604- Ms. Pizzo
Class 804- Mrs. Shammas
In ELA, we are currently
exploring the topic of
immigration in Unit 4. We will
read texts about immigrants’
experiences coming to
America. The texts include
“Life in the Tenements of New
York” and a memoir from "Of
Beetles and Angels". We will
continue our focus on
answering close reading
questions. Students will review
how to identify the key ideas
and details of a text. They will
continue analyzing text
structure and determining the
meaning of unknown words
using context clues. In Math, we
are preparing for the upcoming
state exam. We will be
reviewing skills, such as ratios,
fractions, percent, decimals,
rational numbers, area, and
volume. Students will continue
practicing how to solve multi-
Spring has sprung! We made
it through the doldrums of
winter and the countdown to
graduation (and summer) just.
got. real. With one state test
down (ELA), Math is on the
horizon. Students are
translating, rotating,
reflecting and dilating figures
through the study of
transformations. In this unit
mathematicians are
identifying, interpreting and
manipulating points, lines,
and shapes across geometric
planes. Senior memories are
becoming more abundant and
more significant as the days
fly by. "Enjoy the little things,
for one day you may look
back and realize they were
big things." - Robert Brault.
Ms. Trombetta Band
Sixth, Seventh and Eighth grade bands have been working towards
improved tone, stronger breath support and expanding the range of
their instruments. Seventh and 8th graders are learning about
mixed meter and changing meters and tempos. Everyone is hard at
work preparing for our upcoming spring concert on May 26th at
9:00am and 1:00pm.
Panther Pride Press- March 2017- Issue 7
Ms. ThomasThe month of April is dedicated to honoring those who volunteer to make their communities and the world
better places in which to live. Our Digital Educational Learners are learning all about the many different facets
of volunteering. Our students are using Achieve3000 articles to explore "volunteerism", the act of utilizing one’s
vacation time to help give back to impoverished communities around the world. They have discovered that
while we’re used to seeing celebrities and politicians such as Angelina Jolie and Bill Clinton champion
humanitarian causes, you don’t have to be famous to give back. So whether you aspire to travel the world to
volunteer, or lend a helping hand
at your local soup kitchen, get up, get
out, and give back!
ENL with Mr. Delmonte
English as a New Language (ENL) Elective continues
this March with a literary analysis and shared read
aloud of Paul Langan's novel, The Bully. We will
explore the central idea of this book, as well as the
characters, setting, and plot of the story, by utilizing
theatrical tools like tableau, improvisation,
playwrighting, and scenework. In addition, students
in teams of two will be creating a 10 question Kahoot
about a chapter in the book for review and analysis.
Spanish with Ms, Reyes
This month my bilingual learners are going to
analyze different kinds of situations in Spanish such
as: persuasion, obtaining and providing information
and socialization.
Mr. Geraci- Middle School Art
After-school and Before-school athletics are booming. On Wednesdays, from
2:30pm - 4:30pm, we are hosting our first ever badminton program. We are
already into competitive doubles games. On Thursdays we are keeping our
volleyball skills sharp and on Fridays we are starting up our first floor hockey
program. On Thursdays and Fridays from 6:45am -7:45am students are
working on their basketball skills. Future tennis and track programs are in the
works! All classes are into an exciting floor hockey unit.
Art students have been
studying the artwork of Georgia
O'Keeffe, who is well known for
painting pictures of flowers. The
students have been studying
her style and technique and
have created their own flower
drawings for the spring season.