Team Abuja Newsletter

January 28 | All Term 2 Second-Half Late Work Due by 3:30 pm

ELA - This week, students will take the Middle of Year MAP test on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. This will provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their growth so far this year. We will also meet for our 2nd Book Club meeting on Thursday. Please make sure that your student is prepared for that meeting.

Battle of the Book Interest Meeting. Are you into adventure and mystery? Do you like graphic novels? Do you want a chance to talk about books with friends? OR are you looking to meet some new friends in 2025? Join us for the Battle of the Books interest meeting on Tuesday, January 21st in W105 from 3:30-4:00. Battle of the Books is a competition with other DC schools about newly-released books. Students of all grade levels are welcome! I hope to see you there. If you have any questions or are unable to attend the meeting, please see Mr. Kirschenbaum..

All late or missing work (from after December 6th), or retakes for Term 2 is due by Tuesday, January 28, at 3:30 PM.

ALL students will be taking their Middle of Year iReady assessment next week. I encourage reviewing test taking strategies at home to help students do their best.

This past week Math 6 students wrapped up our unit over arithmetic with decimals and took their RCT. Math 7 began Unit 5 over Rational Numbers and had 3 Zearn lessons to complete while I was out. Encourage your scholar to complete Lessons 3-5 if they have not yet.

For students NOT involved in AMP tutoring:

Interested in math tutoring from advanced 8th graders? Please fill out the form below if you are interested. This form will gauge interest but is not binding or a guaranteed spot. There will be 18 kids allowed in tutoring in room C205 every Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30 starting in January.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/DesignPageV2.aspx?subpage=design&FormId=7kagKk6zM0qSt5md8rwKMgjPIEFLEPJCtieCnRYxVkNUOU1XUzI4UDNGTDkyNkJIMzhNSUQzTlFMUC4u&Token=ef5ac499579c424faca44225eda64869

This week we took notes identifying four barriers to education for children around the world: physical geography, poverty & labor, gender inequality, and conflict. We began looking at physical geography as a barrier by assessing photos of different children on their way to school. We then learned about Jefferson and Neeraj and identified their respective categories.

Next week, we will (hopefully) be able to fit in three more case studies before we begin our United Nations Simulation to address the issue of access to education.

Hi Scientists!

This week, students were busy investigating the origins of our universe by organizing its timeline of events from the Big Bang to current time as well as understanding the spatial properties of celestial bodies such as how big the moon is compared to an artificial satellite like the Hubble telescope. Students also completed their Distance vs Dimness lab which gave them further understanding as to the importance of studying stars. Finally, students explored the life cycle of a star and how matter cycles through our universe.

Next week, students will explore constellations and why we view stars differently depending on which hemisphere we live in. They will have a fun opportunity to “discover” a new constellation by participating in a narrative writing exercise describing their constellation. Also, students will be taking their middle of year MAP testing.

As a reminder, we will not have new Root words until the end of January.

That’s all for now. Enjoy your long weekend!

Link to World Languages Newsletter https://secure.smore.com/u/patricia.balestra4

International Night 2025 Is Coming!

January 25th 6pm – 8pm

Families of Deal –

You are invited to join International Night 2025, it is an evening of travelling around the world as you taste incredible savory and sweet samplings of foods made by our own Deal Families! Buy your tickets here: Deal International Night 2025

This event is a great community event, but more importantly – this event raises critical funds to support our Foreign Language Trip Scholar Fund. All money raised during International Night is turned into scholarships for our 8th grade students. Please help us reach our goal of $30,000. We can do this together! If you cannot join the event, please consider a donation here: Deal International Night 2025_Donation

We look forward to seeing you on January 25th and appreciate your support!

Questions: shannonharrisbehm@hotmail.com

As the year goes on, we want to ensure that students are able to access help when they need it! Team Abuja teachers are available by appointment, and there is a dedicated Tutoring Time in either Mx. Gomez's room or Ms. Sagan's room on Wednesdays from 3:30 - 4:20. Here We Grow!

Happy New Year! Let's make 2025 a great year for reading and inquiry! Check out these great resources that the library is offering in January. Check out this month's Library Newsletter below:

https://secure.smore.com/n/veq7k

Library overdue emails were sent out in December and I have heard from several families about books overdue that are owed to different schools. Please disregard titles owed to other sites. At the end of the year, I will send another notice email. Notices will only include Deal items moving forward. Sorry about any confusion!

Stay up to date with the complete list of clubs and activities by going to the Deal website: https://www.alicedealmiddleschool.org

Adam Kirschenbaum, ELA adam.kirschenbaum@k12.dc.gov

Lauren-Ashley Gomez, Math lauren-ashley.gomez@k12.dc.gov

Naeemah Wesselhoft, Geography naeemah.wesselhoft@k12.dc.gov

Ellie Sagan, Science ellie.sagan@k12.dc.gov

Connie Patsalos, MLL Geography - constance.patsalos@k12.dc.gov

Ameera Daboh, MLL ELA - ameera.daboh@k12.dc.gov

Devin Watson, ISS Coordinator devin.watson@k12.dc.gov

Ellen Barr, Social Worker ellen.barr@k12.dc.gov

Tysha Morris, School Counselor tysha.morris@k12.dc.gov

If your child will not be in school, please email DealAttendance@k12.dc.gov .