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!