8th Grade Weekly Newsletter

Greetings from a chilly October morning. There are only THREE WEEKS left in the marking period. This would make a fabulous time to check PowerSchool and make sure the progress is going in the desired direction. If you are having trouble accessing PowerSchool, ask your student to log in and show their grades. Most, if not all, classes have the ability to revisit work or turn in missing assignments. Your student should know the classroom procedure per class. If not, please contact the teacher in question!

• Hat Day - Students may wear hats on Friday for the cost of $1. This will be for every Friday for the foreseeable future.
• Quarterly Celebration - The 8th grade will have their quarterly celebration on Oct. 31st. STAG tags must be turned in by a 10/25 (the Friday before) to allow teachers time to organize the celebration activities.

The 8th grade class will be out tomorrow to visit Northwestern Community College (morning) and Grace McDonald Park (afternoon) tomorrow!

October 22 - Choir Concert

October 23 - Band Concert

October 31 - PBIS Quarterly Celebration and End of Quarter

November 1 - No School

Greetings All,

This week in Language Arts we have continued our analysis of an author's argument by reviewing a second article on the topic of video games. As the unit continues next week the students will be preparing to write their own written argument. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I am always available to communicate. -Mr. Gaddy

Students are doing a great job this week as we finish our rock layer labs, study guide and test. We are ready to move onto fossils both local and from around the world. We will MSTEP review talking about the main organs in the human body. Our next QUIZ will take place October 23. Click the links below for the study vocab. As always, please let me know if you have any questions. Quiz Cards: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZUTOtRCS1VjDR054kbO6rLQGLU7nJDj0qrHiVlu4w0I/edit?usp=sharing Blooket: https://play.blooket.com/play?hwId=67040195b28f20d6fc0bd50b

This upcoming week, students will explore the question "How to win an election?" through a mini unit. Each day, we will explore a different topic surrounding the election.

The goal of this is for students to make sense of all the election content they are hearing as we near November 5th. Each of these questions is meant to be provocative and get students’ attention, but the learning is tied to state standards. I hope this mini-unit sparks a curiosity and discussion at home regarding politics and political values. I have linked an outline of the unit here. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Pre-Algebra: We have been reviewing key concepts from 7th grade that are needed to move into 8th grade math skills. Quiz on Monday Oct. 14th on this material. Review study guide if need additional practice before Monday;) Algebra: Continuing with Functions, Test Friday Oct. 18th.

Fall concert is October 23. Call time 6:15pm (dressed in full uniform at that time) performance begins at 7pm MS GYM.

We had a great time starting our healthy cooking unit. This week the students made breakfast wraps. We will continue next week! Student are finishing their cross stitch and working on our decorative pumpkins. A few students are starting to work with the sewing machine. ***Pictures coming soon

8th grade has finished our unit on telling time. We are now moving on to class objects.

The Fall Choir concert is coming up on October 22 at 7 pm in the high school gym. 7th and 8th grade singers should plan to arrive at 5:45 pm for a sound check and warm up. The Middle School Concert Choir (7-8) will perform at the Senior luncheon at the Rock on November 6th at 11:45 am.

This week students will be creating characters and observing a group of players demonstrating the skills of good RPG players. They'll give feedback to the players and GM according to criteria. Then each student will begin preparing to run a short one-shot adventure for their group.

In Art 1 and Studio Art we are finishing up our units on Pop Art using collage and moving into Fall and Halloween themed activities. Look for student art coming home soon so it doesn't sit long in backpacks and get damaged. Be sure to celebrate their hard work and creativity!

For every sentence of the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence a student memorizes, Mr. Buniewicz will grant you a star. Text below of the preamble below.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,

that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to

secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving

their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any

Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right

of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,

laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in

such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and

Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long

established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and

accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed

to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by

abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long

train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object

evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their

right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new

Guards for their future security.

Thank you for reading the newsletter! Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours Stags!