Weekly

Each year teachers on our team come up with a list of items we need for our classroom to make your child's learning experience enjoyable and more dynamic. Linked below you will find our team amazon wish list. If you decide to buy through this portal, items will be sent directly to the school and distributed within 48 hours to teachers. We collectively thank you for your support and any contributions.

Be sure to dress your best on Friday, September 27th, as that will be 8th grade picture day! Students will take their pictures during their science period.

The tradition of the 8th grade BBQ is back! This year's BBQ will take place on the Deal Field on Saturday, September 14th from 1:00 AM to 1:00 PM. This is a fun, easy event and a great way to build relationships with students and families early in the school year. All 8th grade students, families, and teachers are encouraged to join, even if it's just a quick roll-through on your way to brunch, soccer games, or however else you plan to spend the weekend. This should be fun and easy for everyone!

We need your help! If you are able to support by volunteering, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040449A8AC23A2FD0-50439912-2024. Our goal is for every 8th grade student to join, so please add this easy, fun event to your calendar. We look forward to meeting you soon!

Most of our 8th graders will have the opportunity to be in art class this upcoming year, so please help our art teachers provide our students with all of the necessary supplies to get the most creative work from our talented young people!

Ms. Hargreaves: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/MUK8QEAEHHUO?ref_=wl_share

Mr. Cunningham: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/368Y16JA3GQ30?ref_=wl_share

Mr. Lowder: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/IRPKFUJ90BY?ref_=wl_share

This week 6th grade students will be visiting the library with their ELA classes for the first time this year. They will be choosing one book to use for personal reading and for their ELA 40 book challenge. I will be asking all students to be responsible with their books this year and return them in a timely manner. We do not charge fines for lost books, but I do ask students to donate a replacement book if one is lost and if they are able. Students should always come to me to let me know when a book is lost or damaged so that I can update the system and remove it from their record. If a student leaves Deal with overdue books on their account, they will be asked to pay for them before they graduate high school so it is always a good idea to let me know so that we can prevent additional expenses to families.

I will be sending overdue notices out once a month. These notices do not include the titles of the books as we want to protect the students' privacy. Students and families can login to their account in Follett Destiny (Can be found in Clever) to see more specific information about the books that they have out. Families can also reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

Our library book orders are going to be sent out at the end of October. I am asking students to send me any book recommendations that they would like to see in our library. Students and families can make book recommendations at the link below: https://bit.ly/DealMSLibraryRecommend

In addition, families can refer to our library's website (aka LibGuide) for more information and links related to the library, reading, newsletters, research, and more at the following link: https://bit.ly/DealMSLibGuide

Last week in science (8/28-9/1), we spent most of our time getting to know each other, talking about school and classroom rules and procedures, and practicing the classroom routine that we will have for the remainder of the school year. Ask your students how playing Uno and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza relates to learning as a group in science!

Next week:

• Tuesday (9/3) students will continue to review the scientific process as well as DRYMIX: dependent variable, responding variable, y-axis, manipulated variable, independent variable, x-axis. There will be homework on Tuesday evening: practicing DRYMIX
• Wednesday (9/4) review DRYMIX homework. Then, we will begin the "Penny Drop Lab".
• Thursday (9/5) students will learn how to calculate "Best Value". There will be homework on Thursday evening: Practicing Best Value
• Friday (9/6) review best value homework, begin IB Formative on Best Value.

The homework is to bring back 2 forms:

1. Student technology agreement form. (This goes to the homeroom teacher.)

What is needed for my class:

• EVERYDAY: Pens/pencils (I have no preference of color or type of pen or pencil), composition notebook

• HAVE READY IN YOUR LOCKER: Ruler, calculator, colored pencils

It was so wonderful to meet everyone this past week. I had so much fun getting to know your kiddos and look forward to a great year! Below is an outline of what we will cover in American History next week. Please note that the beginning of the year assessment we will take on Tuesday will not count for a grade and will only be used to determine what students already know about American History. In addition, the syllabus for 8th grade history is attached.

• Tuesday: BOY Diagnostic Assessment

• Wednesday: Personal Timeline

• Students will create timelines of significant events in their lives

• Thursday: Unit 1 Launch

• Students engage with the unit 1 themes by determining what makes societies successful

• Friday: Indigenous Tribes Overview

• Students will learn about the lifestyle of indigenous cultures in America prior to European colonization

This week in ELA, students wrote mini personal narratives to begin our writing focus for unit 1. We enjoyed reading each other's stories and getting to know each other better.

Next week, we will launch "Unit 1: Dreaming in America" with an exploration of our unit's theme: The American Dream. We will also build background knowledge about the setting of "A Raisin in the Sun" through some multi-media analysis of redlining and housing discrimination. Students will end the week by taking a narrative writing diagnostic assessment.

Reminders:

• It is recommended that students purchase a copy of "A Raisin in the Sun" to use both in class and at home. See the link that follows for the correct version of the text to purchase: A Raisin in the Sun (https://tinyurl.com/3ms3nun5)

• Summer Reading assignments can be submitted in class or via email (catherine.cunha@k12.dc.gov) before September 20th, to earn credit.

This past week in math class, students in both Algebra 1 and Math 8 played logic puzzle games and laid the foundations to establish strong classroom cultures. Students also discovered the ins and out of our Team Ticket Economy. Math students also began content this week with Algebra 1 students starting our unit on linear equations by designing a pizza party with given restraints. Math 8 students started their unit on transformations using an entertaining twist provided by Super Mario Brothers.

This coming week Algebra 1 students will continue to work on unit 2 from our curriculum with a focus on modeling scenarios with equations and also testing the validity of solutions to equations. For those Algebra 1 students who want to preview material or have access to the curriculum at home, a link to our current unit can be found here. Math 8 students will continue their explorations of rigid transformations with a focus on reflections, rotations and a review of translations. Math 8 students who want to preview material or have access to the curriculum at home can use this link to our current unit.

Remind

It is very important that you and/or your student subscribe to my Remind Alerts. I will be sending out a message sometime on Monday reminding kids to bring pencil, paper and a notebook to class. Remind is how I communicate information to students about their homework. Notices go directly to their phone and are mainly received through a text message (or the app if you download it from the Google Play Store or the App Store). At times I will also attach the assignment in Remind as well. The other useful quality of Remind is that students can ask questions through the app about their homework. These questions go straight to me, so there is no need to feel embarrassed about asking a "dumb question". Most of the time students just need a quick point in the right direction to finish their homework.

If you are not currently receiving Remind notices from me (I've sent several), please make sure you join the correct class by clicking on the link below. You can sign up to receive messages through email, or as text messages through your phone.

• Algebra 1 pd 1: https://www.remind.com/join/g9b97b
• Math 8 pd 3: https://www.remind.com/join/d6gh2c4
• Math 8 pd 4: https://www.remind.com/join/3gfae3k
• Algebra 1 pd 6: https://www.remind.com/join/chcg862
• Math 8 pd 7: https://www.remind.com/join/gc6fcgb

If you would like to contact us, please feel free to do so using the links below. Expect a response from teachers, during school hours, within 1 to 2 business days, of the time your communication was received.

Teacher Email Addresses:

• Charmaine.Thompson@k12.dc.gov
• Marlena.Wikander@k12.dc.gov
• Catherine.Cunha@k12.dc.gov
• Brandi.Anderson@k12.dc.gov

Website: alicedealmiddleschool.org
Location: 3815 Fort Dr NW, Washington, DC, USA
Phone: 202-939-2010