Cluster 6 Newsletter

Students have 1 more MCAS test next week, the STE (Science, Technology, Engineering) MCAS on May 21 and 22. Please remind your students to take their time on the test, to get a good night’s sleep, and to bring a book for when they are finished.

8th graders will be able to enjoy some end of the year celebrations in June. The 8th Grade Party is the night of Thursday, June 13 and our graduation ceremony and awards are on Friday, June 14 in the morning.

Thank you to the PTO for the kind and thoughtful Teacher Appreciation Week goodies!

It’s hard to believe that we are approaching the end of the year! In English class, we are working on a few final culminating projects. Students are working in their dystopian book clubs; please remind them to keep up to date with their notes. Most students seem engaged in their books; ask them about what they are reading!

A major part of 8th grade ELA is a final portfolio filled with all of the writing students have done this year. Students have a list of work that should go into this portfolio, and have been hard at work in class editing, revising, and polishing their writing. Each student will end the year with a bound version of all of their work; be sure to look at these portfolios, they are a great keepsake of their 8th grade year. We are also working on a graduation poem that should be submitted by May 31. Three poems will be chosen to be read at the ceremony on June 14. It is a great honor to have your poem selected, so please encourage your student to submit their poem on time.

A few weeks ago we had a wonderful trip to the Kennedy Institute for the Senate! Students were sworn in as Senators for the day, and got to wrestle with climate and energy policy. They debated, compromised, and voted to pass a bill they had crafted with their fellow Senators. Please enjoy the pics below! We also took the field test/trial of the Civics MCAS on May 7th and 8th, and although scores do not count this year, it was a great chance to review our Civics knowledge and to see how much we’ve learned this year.

Our Civics students are continuing their work on their Civic Action Projects. 8th graders are writing emails to people who have the power to make the change they want to see. We will start creating slideshows highlighting our background research, email results and action plans for the future. Your student has the chance to inform and empower their classmates to take action to make our communities strong! Students will make their CAP presentations May 28th - May 31st.

CAP learning targets:

• I can write a professional email to request action.
• I can create an informative and inspirational presentation.

We are winding down the school year, and have covered all of our necessary standards for 8th Grade Math! The Algebra class has one or two small pieces to cover, that will also be covered in Algebra II when they are sophomores. Students have experienced everything they need to get out of 8th Grade Math, and should be ready for high school if they’ve accomplished their tasks.

As we wrap up Math MCAS this week (Thursday), we will move on to our Personal Finance Project. Students will think about and explore where their paths could take them. Will they go to college or pick up a trade? Will they make a lot of money or need to pick up a second job? Will they change their minds about a job they chose? Will they need roommates, a new car vs. used car, apartment or house, etc. Can they afford the lifestyle that they’ve chosen? These are all decisions that will be made as they use real data to analyze their options and choices.

We have completed all of our topics of study and have moved on to preparing for the STE MCAS which assesses learning in science and technology/engineering classes for all of middle school. Students are working on completing a review book that summarizes and illustrates all of the standards on which they will be assessed on the STE MCAS. The review book is due on Tuesday, May 21, the first day of the STE MCAS.

Specialist Smore

Use this link to see updates from your students' specialist teachers on their classes!

Reading Smore

Use this link to see updates from the reading teachers on their classes!

Wilson Reading Smore

Here is the link for the Wilson Reading Smore with Ms. Sorenson

Multilingual Learners Smore

Check here for updates from our English Language Development teachers Ms. Rix, Ms. Gilmartin, Ms. Campos, and Ms. Schoenbeck.

Ms Conceison, ELA: kara.conceison@watertown.k12.ma.us

Ms Kiernan, Special Education: kathleen.kiernan@watertown.k12.ma.us

Mr Manoukian, Math: aram.manoukian@watertown.k12.ma.us

Ms P-K, Science: katherine.poulinkerstien@watertown.k12.ma.us

Ms Rix, English Language Development: zara.rix@watertown.k12.ma.us

Ms Shock, Civics: laura.shock@watertown.k12.ma.us

Ms Skypeck, Guidance: amanda.skypeck@watertown.k12.ma.us