Science Newsletter 4-7-17

A few science updates...

Today students received their report cards for the 3rd grading period.  Be sure to ask your child to see it.

It's hard to believe that we are in the final stretch of the year!  Be remember to keep checking our online grades as teachers update them frequently.  Encourage your child to ask questions and turn in assignments as well as pick up make-up work if he or she is absent.  Sometimes these are forgotten here at the end of the year!

In science this week, we've been working on an ISN assignment on phases and phase changes.  Students worked on these in class Monday through Thursday.  They are due to me by next Thursday, April 13.  

Also, they have an optional assignment on phases and phase changes.  The students who finished their ISN activity early worked on this yesterday in class while the others worked on finishing their ISNs.  I gave copies to students today and encouraged them to complete it but have made it optional.  I don't want to give students extra work but I also want everyone to have the opportunity to earn points if they'd like.  If students choose to complete it and turn it in, they will get a process completion grade.  If they do not choose to complete it, they will get an X in the gradebook which excuses them from it.

Students will be taking their state AIR test for math on Monday and Tuesday so we'll be adjusting our schedules around the test.  After Tuesday,we'll only have the state test for social studies left!

JMMS is also participating in Harvest for Hunger where we're donating food to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.  The most needed items are boxed cereal, canned soup, canned vegetables, canned tuna/chicken/ham, canned beef stew/chili, and peanut butter.  Any nonperishable food items will be appreciated!

Thank you so much for your support!  Have a wonderful weekend!

St. Baldrick's Shavees: "After" Pictures

The event on Sunday went so great!  JMMS raised over $22,000 coming in 2nd place among our Jackson district! This is pretty great considering it's the middle school's first year participating in the fundraiser!

Here are my now 17 brave students who shaved their heads on Sunday!

1st Period: Jake and Ricky

2nd Period: Draven, Drew, and Jayden

3rd Period: Aiden, Max, Kaleb, Ben, Hunter, Michael, Fletcher, Ben, and Seth

8/9th Period: Jacob, Logan, and Greg

St. Baldrick's Shavees: "Before" Pictures

The St. Baldrick's event is tomorrow at the North Canton Racquet Club!  I am lucky to have 15 brave and giving students who are getting their heads shaved to support and fundraise for childhood cancers tomorrow!

Here they are on Friday when they still have their hair!  Some decided to dye their hair to have fun before it's shaved off tomorrow :)

Look for the "after" pictures of them on Monday!

1st Period: Ricky and Jake

2nd Period: Draven, Drew, and Jayden

3rd Period: Aiden, Ben, Fletcher, Max, Seth, Ben, Michael

8/9th Period: Jacob, Greg, and Logan

Science Newsletter 3-6-17

A few science updates...

Students will be taking a test over the first 2/3 of the year this
Thursday, March 9.  This is over the main ideas within our life science and
earth science units (mostly rocks, minerals, and cells).

Students received a study guide today in class and we worked on finishing
it for a little over half of class.  We will spend tomorrow and Wednesday
reviewing topics and the study guide for the test. Some students didn't
finish their study guide today but we are going over the answers tomorrow
regardless.  It may be helpful for them to try the questions before we
discuss them if they have time but it is not officially homework to finish.

The study guide, as well as ISNs, are the best things to study for the
test.  The study guide is *very* similar to Thursday's test so if students
are doing well with it, they can expect to do well on Thursday!

Students actually took this exact same test as a pre-test within the first
couple weeks of the school year.  We will compare their pre and post-test
scores on Friday to see how much they've learned so far!

We'll then wrap up the earth science unit with a mini unit on soil and then
we'll be moving on to physical science to wrap up the year.

Thank you for all of your support!  Please let me know if you have any
questions or concerns.  Have a great day!

Science Newsletter 3-1-17

A few science updates...

Just a reminder that students have their Rock Cycle Tests tomorrow!  We checked and went over the study guides today so (hopefully) your child feels prepared!  There's a blank copy of the rock cycle diagram on my website under "My Resources" if your child would like to use that to practice filling it in.

Also, we are doing a lab on Friday that involves students having a snack.  They are able to complete the lab without a snack though.  If you are ok with them having a snack in class, they should bring something in for themselves; they are not sharing with the class.  I only ask that what they bring in is not huge in size and is not super messy; otherwise, whatever you think is ok is good with me!  I'm not able to have them bring in drinks in addition to snacks but they'll be able to get a drink from the drinking fountain during class.

We've also been working on a comic strip in class this week.  Students are creating a comic strip to show how a rock goes through the rock cycle.  Many of them have finished this in class but lots still need to finish.  These are in their ISNs so I'm doing an ISN Check at the same time as I grade the comics.  They are due to me by Tuesday, March 7.

Our school Book Fair will be during the week of March 13-17.  Students will have a chance to go during language arts and also during SA.  Information is getting passed out in homeroom tomorrow.  "It's Mardi Gras Ya'll!"

JMMS has a Girls on the Run team for 6th-8th grade girls!  They have a chance to be creative, feel confident, laugh, and try new things!  It is a 10-week program that begins the week of March 6th and will meet on Mondays & Wednesdays, 5:30 to 7:00 pm. Registration closes March 5th! Register online at GOTRStarkCty.org or call 330.244.9331. (Fees are income-based and financial assistance is available.)

Our state testing is coming up soon!  If your child doesn't know the dates of their tests, they'll be finding out soon.  We will let you and/or them know more details when the days get closer.

Please remember to check your child's grade online!  Many students are missing assignments/absent work so please help us to encourage them to turn those in!  

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!  Have a wonderful evening!

Jackson's 1:1 Initiative

We have recently received some very exciting news!

In the fall of 2017, each student in grades 5, 6, 8 and 9 will receive a Chromebook as part of Jackson’s one-to-one learning initiative, enabling students, parents and teachers to connect, share content, access homework, participate in discussions and receive class information. 

We expect this economical and well-researched initiative to increase student engagement, provide more small group/individual instruction, improve critical thinking/problem solving skills, and allow for individualized student pacing.

Watch for a letter coming home this spring with more information!

Science Newsletter 2-23-17

Good evening!

A few science updates...

We've been learning about rocks and now we've learned all 3 types!  We've also learned how all 3 go together to make the rock cycle!  We'll be having a test over the rock cycle on Thursday, March 2.  Students received a list to study and a study guide.  The study guide is due by Wednesday, March 1 but students are welcome to turn them in early if they'd like!  I also have blank copies of the rock cycle on my website under the "My Resources" tab if anyone would like to use that to help them study! 

Here is the list to study for the rock cycle test:

Sedimentary:

*Sedimentary rocks are formed by extreme pressure under large bodies of water over millions of years

*Can form from sediments, the remains of living things, or dissolved minerals.

Igneous:

*Igneous rocks are formed from melted minerals that have cooled and hardened.

*Can form above ground (from lava/volcanoes/form quickly) or below ground (magma/form over millions of years)

*Can have small, large, or no mineral pieces showing

Metamorphic:

*Metamorphic rocks are formed from extreme heat and pressure deep underground over millions of years

*Metamorphic rocks can form from any type of rock (igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic)

*Can be formed from all 3 types of rocks because all 3 types can be found underground

*Can either have bands or no bands

Rock Cycle:

*Rocks are made of minerals

*Be able to fill in a diagram of the rock cycle (will have the oval rock spaces filled in for you to start you off)

(You'll have a word bank to help you fill in the rest of the rock cycle)

**You will not need to know the names of the sub-categories for each rock

We are nearing the end of earth science in the next few weeks!  We will then spend the last part of the year on physical science topics!

We got to see the Saakumu Dance Troupe from Ghana on Monday!  Their presentation was so entertaining and impressive; it was a great experience for all of us!  Here is a link to a YouTube video about them if you're interested! 

Saakumu Dance Troupe

JMMS is participating in the St. Baldrick's fundraiser this year and we are off to a great start!  So far, the school has been selling wristbands, suckers, and shirts to help raise money for research on childhood cancer.  We are encouraging students to participate and for all of you to attend the event on Sunday, March 12 if you can!  It's a great cause!

Be sure to keep checking your child's online grades to make sure you and your child are aware of how they are doing in their classes!  As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!  Have a great evening!

Polar Bear Plunge

The 1st Annual Polar Bear Plunge took place this past Saturday and was a huge success!

Check out the Facebook page for Jackson Local Schools to see pictures from the event as well as a link to an article about it by the Canton Repository.

Thanks for all of your support with the Plunge!

Flipped Schedule

Tomorrow 6C is trying something new!

We decided to switch things up by flipping our schedule!  Students have been told about the schedule change.  The schedule for tomorrow is below:

7:45-8:10 = Homeroom
8:13-8:56 = 11th period
8:59-9:41 = 8/9th period
9:44-10:26 = 4th period
10:29-11:11 = 3rd period
11:14-11:35 = 1st SA (11th period)
11:38-12:08 = Lunch
12:11-12:32 = 2nd SA (11th period)
12:35-1:20 = 2nd period
1:23-2:05 = 10th period (specials)
2:08-2:50 = 1st period

I'm excited to try out something different!

Metamorphic Rocks Quiz

Students will have a quiz over metamorphic rocks on Wednesday, February 15.  They received a study guide as well as a list to study in class. The study guide was due today.  Here is the list to study:

*Metamorphic rocks are formed from extreme heat and pressure deep underground (deep underground, rocks in the crust/mantle are under extreme heat and pressure but do not melt into magma.  The heat and pressure change them into a different kind of rock).

*Takes thousands or millions of years to form

*foliated metamorphic rocks have bands (stripes) of minerals

*unfoliated metamorphic rocks do not have bands

*Metamorphic rocks can form from any type of rock (igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic)

*All 3 types of rocks can be found underground so they can turn into metamorphic rocks; shifting of earth (plates) cause continents to move as well as rocks that are under the surface:

-Igneous - intrusive igneous rocks are formed underground

-Sedimentary - all sedimentary rocks are formed under large bodies of water

-Metamorphic - all metamorphic rocks are formed underground

Science Newsletter 1-30-17

A few science updates...

Students will have a quiz over sedimentary rocks on Thursday, February 2.  They received a study guide as well as a list to study in class.  The study guide is due by Wednesday, February 1 but students are welcome to turn this in early!  This is the list to study:

*Sedimentary rocks are formed under large bodies of water

*Sedimentary rocks are classified into 2 groups: clastic and nonclastic

*Clastic – formed from sediments

*Sediments – small pieces of rocks

*Nonclastic – formed from the remains of plants/animals or dissolved minerals

*Weathering and Erosion – rocks are broken down into small pieces by weather events (rain, wind, snow…) and washed away

*Fossils are only found in sedimentary rocks – they are destroyed in the process of making igneous and metamorphic rocks

*Ohio has a lot of sedimentary rocks towards its surface due to it being covered by water millions of years ago

*Common examples – coal, limestone, sandstone, conglomerate, shale

*Basic steps to form a sedimentary rock:

1. Existing rocks are broken into small pieces by weathering and erosion and eventually fall into a large body of water OR animals/plants die and fall into a large body of water.

2. The sediments/animals/plants get buried by other sediments at the bottom of the water over millions of years.

3. The sediments/animals/plants are under extreme pressure for millions of years.

4. The pieces of sediments/animals/plants get “glued” together from the salt/dissolved minerals in the water.

5. A sedimentary rock is formed!

A big "congratulations" goes out to Cooper D who won the "Salvino Switch"!  He will be principal for the day this Friday and Mr. Salvino will follow Cooper's schedule to be a student in 6C!  We are excited to hear about Cooper's experience as well as having Mr. Salvino as our student!

JMMS is having a box tops competition!  The students who turn in the most box tops will win gift certificates for the spring book fair!  Be sure to put the box tops in a bag and label it with your child's name, homeroom teacher, and number of box tops in the bag!  Good luck!

We've had a lot of students absent lately and many of them are not making up their work!  Most of the 6C teachers have something made up for the students who are absent so be sure to help encourage them to pick up or ask for their work.  They are ultimately responsible for anything they missed.

The 8th grade class is having a clothing drive for some local students who do not have a lot of warm weather clothing.  They are being donated to the non-profit Turnaround Community Outreach that helps children in the Canton schools.  The school is taking for any long sleeved shirts, sweatshirts, or coats (without Jackson written on them).  Thank you for doing a little "winter cleaning"!

Conferences are coming up and you should be getting something in the mail about them (or maybe you already did!).  Conferences are on February 15 and February 23.  If you wish to see any teachers, please send back your forms as quickly as possible to ensure that you get a time that works for you.  If you do not feel the need to meet about your child, you do not need to sign up for a conference!  If you'd just like to check in, feel free to send a quick email!

Sauder and Lake Cable's Parent Teacher Groups are presenting a presentation called Internet Safety for Parents.  This will take place on Wednesday, March 8 from 6:30-8:30 at JHS in the Center for the Performing Arts.  It is free and will go over social media, media literacy, cyberbullying, inappropriate texting, online predators, and more.  This event is not for kids!  Email Laura Henson (lspcwh@gmail.com) for questions.

Thank you for all of your support!  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Have a wonderful day!

Salvino Switch

The winner of the Salvino Switch was announced this week!  Our own 6C student, Cooper D, is going to be principal for a day next Friday!  And Mr. Salvino will be a student in Cooper's place!  I can't wait to have Mr. Salvino for science and to hear all about what being principal was like!  Way to go Cooper!

Science Newsletter 1-20-17

A few science updates...

We took our Igneous Rocks Quiz yesterday in class and students are getting them back today.  They are welcome to complete Fix It Forms (corrections) on these and may turn them in through next Friday.

Our second grading period ended last week so we are officially over half way through the year!  Report cards  are coming out today so be sure to ask your child to see it!

Also, just as a heads up, I'm also changing how I enter our Bell Work assignments into the online gradebook.  Instead of making a new assignment each week, I will now enter them all into one assignment that will be updated weekly.  I'm keeping a hard copy of who doesn't turn theirs in weekly so I can tell your child what they may be missing if they are unsure.

I was also made aware of a really interesting contest called the Young Scientist Challenge.  This is a national competition where students brainstorm an idea to a real-world problem and made a 1-2 minute video about how they would solve the problem.  I passed out a page on this last week to anyone interested in submitting an idea and also have the link to the website on the My Links page on my website if anyone is interested in more details!

Finally, the Salvino Switch is on here at school!  Students can buy tickets to become principal for the day and Mr. Salvino is a student for the day!  Tickets are sold in homeroom and at lunch and will continue to be sold through this today!  Good luck to everyone who entered and hopefully I'll see Mr. Salvino in class!

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Happy New Year and Welcome Back!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year!  It went by fast but we are back at it!

We started off the new year with our School Resource Officer, Officer Sturia, coming in to speak to us in science today!

6A and 6C joined together and listened to a presentation from Officer Sturia on respect, vandalism, bullying, along with some other topics.  We watched two videos, one was a very touching story about a boy named Matt who finally found his place and good friends on his high school football and basketball teams.  The other video was about how to be accepting of others and was created by high school students.

Thank you for coming in!!