Swann Lion Times

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! 6th graders are working with ratios, 7th graders are working with proportional relationships and ratios, and 8th grade is working with rigid transformations and congruency.

In ELA, students are mid-way through their first units. 6th grade is reading Percy Jackson, 7th grade is reading A Long Walk to Water, and 8th grade is reading Summer of the Mariposas.

In Social Studies, 6th graders are working on Mesopotamia, 7th grade is learning about the Age of Exploration, and 8th grade is working on the American colonialism.

In Science, 6th graders are working on states of matter and atoms, 7th graders are learning about weather systems, and 8th graders are in their evolution and earth science unit.

6th graders are working with ratios. Look at the pictures. Write two different sentences that use ratios to describe the number of eyes and legs in this picture.

7th graders are working on constant ratios this week. See if they can apply their knowledge to this scenario. A map of Colorado says that the scale is 1 inch to 20 miles or 1 to 1,267,200. Are these two ways of reporting the scale the same? Explain your reasoning.

8th graders are practicing rigid transformations and congruency with tessellations. A tessellation is a repeating pattern that goes on forever to fill up the entire plane. Look at this tessellation. Describe a transformation that takes the pattern to itself. How many different transformations can you find that take the pattern to itself? Consider translations, reflections, and rotations.

This week, students continued coding and controlling their Sphero Bots, creating an obstacle course on the classroom floor to practice running their bots through. You can learn more about the robots and how they are used in the classroom here: https://sphero.com/

Social Emotional Learning is an important part of our culture. We are intentional about equipping our students with the skills and knowledge to handle themselves in pleasant and challenging situations.

Classcraft supports the SEL framework that promotes social emotional learning within our school. Here's an article that provides an insight on why social-emotional learning is so important.

Classcraft Article: Why is Social-Emotional Learning Important?

Video: What is Social Emotional Learning?

Please visit our district SEL Department page to get more info about how we are "Better Together" in making sure we take a holistic approach to supporting our students using the CASEL model as a guide. GCS District SEL Department

Thank you to everyone who attended the State of the School event last week. If you would like to view the data presentation, you can do so here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/11SabsUWo-MWp1UIc8O8q1z0aQvlK5lEn1wKy4BmpFGk/edit?usp=sharing

We are excited to welcome Swann's family and friends into the school this year! Our focus is on increasing parent engagement. We have a list of teams we are looking for folks to serve on throughout the year. Click on the interest form below and let us know how you want to be a part of our Lion Pride this year!

1. Fill out the interest form for volunteers, and we will call you or email you when opportunities arise.

2. Register as an official GCS volunteer here.

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 or if you are interested in serving on the PTA Board, please reach out to swannpta@gmail.com.

Want to support our teachers this giving season? Click here to donate to Swann's teachers' Donors Choose campaigns! We are all we need! Go Lions!

Ms. Dorsey is serving our 6th grade and N-Z 8th grade students.

dorseyc2@gcsnc.com

Ms. Kelly is serving our 7th grade and A-M 8th grade students.

kellyc2@gcsnc.com

Because our counselors work with students all day, email is a good way to contact them when you need them!

In October, our social and emotional learning focus is on self control. Every other Friday of the month of October our students will participate in lessons that focus on the meaning of self control and how to establish self control in challenging situations. It is our goal to take a holistic approach to student development to ensure our students are progressing in all areas. Character trait recognition will take place at the end of each month to recognize our students that are exhibiting our monthly character trait.

It's time to cheer on our Lion Pride! The Fall game schedule is on the website!

The second round of fall sports begins in October, students interested in joining a fall sports team should check the Athletics page of the website for times and dates of conditioning and try outs. All necessary forms are also posted on the website. Remember that any athlete must have a current physical on file to participate.

Canvas Family Access

Parent Portal Access

Swann Calendar

Swann Athletics

10/24 8th Grade Science Interim Test

11/2-3 Teacher Workdays

11/8 Math Interim Test

11/10 Veteran's Day--No School

11/14 ELA Interim Test

11/20 Math 1 Interim Test

11/22-24 Thanksgiving Break

12/22-1/2 Winter Break

5/24-31 EOG Testing

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