Swann Lion Times
Your weekly update from your Lion Pride!
What our Lions are Learning
6th Grade ELA
Completing a What? and So What? chart for their reading
7th Grade Science
6th Grade MTSS
Reviewing place values, fractions, decimals, and equivalencies
6th Grade PE
Playing a variation of dodgeball
7th Grade ELA
Working on text annotations and theme
7th Grade Physics
Building devices that launch-catch-launch-catch a ping pong ball
7th Grade Social Studies
8th Grade ELA
Creating dog tags with their word of the year
8th Grade ELA
Students explored vocabulary and selected their personal word of the year.
Be sure to talk with your Lions each night about what standards they are working on and what activities they are doing to master those standards! Here is some general information to get the conversation started.
In Math, students use the Open Up curriculum. Click here to see the Open Up lessons for all grade levels! Click here to see the Math 1 Open Up lessons. 6th graders are working on dividing fractions, 7th graders took their interim assessments, and 8th grade is working with linear equations and reasoning.
In ELA, students are working on their second set of book studies. This unit they are reading informational texts. 6th grade is reading The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, 7th grade is reading Patient Zero, and 8th grade is reading Omnivore's Dilemma.
In Social Studies, 6th graders are learning about ancient India, 7th grade is learning about the end of colonialism in India, and 8th grade is starting their future ready project exploring high school, college, and career options.
In Science, 6th graders are working on waves, 7th graders are learning about the layers of the atmosphere, and 8th graders are learning about the hydrosphere.
Math Moments
6th Grade
In 6th grade, students are reviewing the foundations of division and how it relates to fractions. Use the diagram to answer the question: How many 1/3s are in 1 and 2/3s? The hexagon represents 1 whole. Explain or show your reasoning.
7th Grade
In 7th grade, before break, students reviewed the meaning of negative numbers. Here are weather thermometer. What temperature is shown on each thermometer? Which thermometer shows the highest temperature? Which thermometer shows the lowest temperature? Suppose the temperature outside is -4*C. Is that colder or warmer than the coldest temperature shown? How do you know?
8th Grade
In 8th grade, students are practicing showing balanced moves with hangers. In this hanger, the weight of the triangle is X and the weight of the square is Y. Write an equation using X and Y to represent the hanger. If X is 6, what is Y?
.Announcements
The Choice Programs Window Opens Jan. 19
Do you have an 8th grader who's interested in a choice program for high school? Are you a rising 7th or 8th grader interested in learning about all the middle school choices GCS offers? If so, visit the GCS Choice Program website to learn more about the offerings, application process, and timeline: https://www.gcsnc.com/Page/2113.
*If you are a 6th or 7th grader currently enrolled in the Spanish Immersion or STEM Choice programs, you DO NOT have to reapply to continue those programs at your new schools next year.*
NAEP Asessments
Swann Middle School's 8th graders will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can do in various subjects. NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. NAEP is different from our state assessments because it is a common measure of achievement across the country. The results are released as The Nation's Report Card, which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents/guardians, policymakers, and the public.
Selected 8th grade students may take a mathematics or reading assessment. In addition to subject-area questions, students voluntarily complete NAEP survey questions. These questions provide valuable information about participating students' educational experiences and opportunities to learn both in and outside of the classroom. Additionally, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students will be included in the National Indian Education Study (NIES). NIES describes the condition of education for AI/AN students in the United States. More information about NAEP survey questions is available at https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents under the section "What Questions Are on the Test?" The assessment takes about 120 minutes for most students, which includes transition time, directions, and completion of survey questions. The information collected is used for statistical purposes only. Your child's grades will not be affected.
Students may be excused for any reason, are not required to complete the assessment, and may skip any question. While the assessment is voluntary, NAEP depends on student participation to help policymakers improve education. However, if you do not want your 8th grader to participate, please notify Dr. Bocci in writing by Wednesday, January 31, 2024. There is no need to study in preparation for NAEP, but please encourage your child to do their best. Contact Melissa Bocci at boccim@gcsnc.com if you have any questions.
Family and Community Involvement Opportunities
Sharing our Lion Legacy
Our Swann Community Celebration Committee is planning many ways to bring the larger Swann Pride together throughout the year to celebrate Swann's final year as a middle school. One of those is to collect and share photos of Swann/Aycock's past. These could be historical photos or ones you've taken over the years. Use the link here to share them with us: https://forms.gle/6WLd4rboLBiZk1QH8
Precious Pearls 2016-2017
Staff Photo 2013-2014
AMS Cheerleaders 2010-2011
Parent Academy
GCS Parent Academy is a great resource to helps support families with a variety of things such as homework help, digital resources, resume assistance, homeownership, and much much more. Click on the link below to explore the many benefits of being a part of the GCS Parent Academy.
Join the PTA Today!
Swann is a proud PTA school! Click here to join our PTA as a parent, student, community, or staff member. If you are interested in serving on the Board, let us know and we will put you in touch with the current PTSA reps! School is better when we work together!
For more information, please reach out to swannpta@gmail.com.
Counseling Corner
Meet the Counselors!
Ms. Kelly is serving our 7th grade and A-M 8th grade students.
Because our counselors work with students all day, email is a good way to contact them when you need them!
Character Trait of the Month
In January, students will be talking about HONESTY in their Friday SEL lessons. Watch this video about honesty with your student: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XQIAEDaBbc. What does it mean when we say "honesty is the best policy"? How does being honest connect with trust? What do honesty and integrity have in common?
Athletics
Winter Sports
It's Winter Sports time! Check the Athletics page of the website for times and dates of games. It's a few months away, but students interested in Spring sports, go ahead and make sure you have all needed forms now! All necessary forms are also posted on the website. Remember that any athlete must have a current physical on file to participate.
1/10 Open Mic Night
1/15 MLK, Jr. Holiday
1/17 Science 8 Interim Assessment
1/19 Last Day of Quarter 2
1/22 Teacher Workday
1/23 Math 6, Math 8, and Math 1 Interim Assessment
1/29 ELA 6-8 Interim Assessment
1/31 Report Cards Go Home
2/6 NWEA Reading Test
2/7 NWEA Math Test
2/21 NAEP testing for selected 8th grade students
3/12 Math 6-8 Interim Assessment
4/9 NWEA Reading Test
4/10 NWEA Math Test
4/16 ELA 6-8 Interim Assessment
4/23 Science 8 Interim Assessment
5/24-31 EOG Testing
Keep in Touch!
Email: battlep@gcsnc.com boccim@gcsnc.com winsted@gcsnc.com
Website: https://www.gcsnc.com/site/default.aspx?DomainID=114
Location: 811 Cypress St, Greensboro, NC 27405, USA
Phone: 336-370-8100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swannlions
X: @swannmiddle
Instagram: @swannmiddleschool