Pacific Intermediate Newsletter

Happy December, Pacific Intermediate families!

As we approach the end of the start of the winter break, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your continued support and partnership.

Winter Break: Please note that winter break will begin on Friday, December 20th after school dismissal. School will resume on Monday, January 6th, 2025. All school offices will be closed during this time.

Upcoming Events

• If you ordered a Pacific blanket and have not received them yet. Please contact the office to arrange pickup.

• 5th Grade Choir Performance: December 14th at Christmas on the Plaza

• 6th Grade Band Concert: December 15th at 1:00 PM

• Pacific Intermediate Annual Dodgeball Tournament: Date TBD during the school day

A Friendly Reminder: As the holiday season approaches, many of our students may receive new electronic devices as gifts. While we understand the excitement of these gifts, we kindly ask that these devices be kept at home and not brought to school. If you send your student to school with a cell phone, it needs to be put away during the day.

Stay Connected: If you have any questions or concerns about your child's progress, please don't hesitate to reach out to their teacher. They are always happy to answer questions about grades, missing assignments, or any other academic matters.

COVID: We have some tests that are available to send home with students if you are in need. Please contact the school nurse, Heather Vazquez, if you are in need of a test for your child. We are not authorized to test on site for COVID, so the tests will need to go home.

Reminder: Any parent or guardian who is entering the building, for any reason, should make sure they have their driver's license or state id with them. We are required to scan identification cards before anyone enters the building. Thank you in advance.

We hope you all have a safe and relaxing winter break.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!

Sincerely,

Matt Agee

Pacific Intermediate Principal

Mrs. Jackson~ Math & Science

Mrs. Menley~Language Arts, Reading & History

Mrs. Alcorn~Math

Ms. DiBlasi~History & Science

Mrs. Tandy~Language Arts & Reading

Mr. Crabtree~Math

Mr. Gilcrease~Language Arts & Reading

Mr. Wengler~History & Science

Math started their geometry unit last week. We started with polygons the week before Thanksgiving break. Students learned about what makes a shape and a polygon, and be able to classify 3-sided polygons up to 12-sided polygons. This week we are learning about triangles and how to identify the different triangles by their side lengths and angle measures. We will finish up the chapter right before winter break with our last section which is over quadrilaterals. Students will learn the different types of quadrilaterals, and how to tell them apart by the quadrilaterals attributes.

Students are working their way through Unit 2 in ELA. The focus of this unit is Early American Civilizations. Occasionally, students will be bringing home a "Take-Home" assignment, that will need to be done at home and returned to school. We have reviewed subjects and predicates, learning prefixes ir- and il-, created a vocabulary folder, and we will have spelling assigned when we get to Chapter 6. Our writing focus will include paraphrasing and developing a paragraph about Maya geographical features. This will lead to a larger writing project for the unit. Please encourage your students to read at home. Ask them to explain what they are reading about and share details with you.

Students will be learning about Earth's four systems (spheres) and the water cycle. Students will understand how Earth's freshwater resources are limited, how the water cycle works, how groundwater collects, and ways to minimize damage from a hurricane.

In Social Studies, students will continue to learn about the Civil War. They will be starting a choice project about various Civil War topics. They will be creating one of the following: comic strip, alphabet booklet, Google Slides presentation, WeVideo presentation, or trading cards about important figures from the Civil War.

Mrs. Boling~English

Mr. Effan~Social Studies

Ms. Griffin~Science

Mrs. Voss~Math

Mrs. Stumborg~English

Mr. Slaughter~Social Studies

Mrs. Todahl~Science

Mrs. Weil~ Math

Mr. McMahon

Ms. Shearin

Social Studies

Social Studies will conclude 2024 by exploring the history of ancient India. This civilization contributed significantly to the world with the emergence of Hinduism and the philosophical principles of Buddhism, both of which have had enduring impacts, ranging from contemporary yoga practices to the foundations of modern psychology

Math

Math students are working with fractions, decimals, and percentages. Students in advanced classes will focus on calculating the volume and surface area of both 2D and 3D figures. It's important to ensure that your child completes their homework every night, as this practice contributes significantly to their success in the classroom.

Science

In our science class, we are exploring the topics of weather and climate. Our goal is to finish this unit before the upcoming break, although this may vary based on the weather conditions. Please stay updated through our weekly emails and regularly check to ensure your student is keeping up with their assignments.

English

Students in 6th grade are currently engaged in a narrative writing project, where they recount a memorable story from their own lives. We aim to complete this project before the winter break. Upon returning from the break, our focus will shift to argumentative writing.

Reading

We will begin our first novel of the year, Freak the Mighty! This unit will extend throughout the month. Additionally, students have been assigned a Trimester 2 book report. They are required to read a fiction book and complete a slideshow presentation by the end of the 2nd Trimester.

Odyssey

We will be moving from our Art unit where we created game miniatures with clay and painted them, to our Space and Aerodynamics unit. Students will work on designing their own Rockets and coming up with a plan to get their rocket to have the ultimate trajectory. They will need to understand the terms mass, lift, drag, thrust, center of gravity, and center of pressure to effectively launch their rockets.

Hello Families!

Trimester 1 ended on November 12th and parents/guardians were notified of their student’s report cards in the parent portal on November 18th. Our time together is flying by. We hope you were pleased with your child's performance. If not, Trimester 2 is a brand new opportunity to build on what they are doing right and improve where needed for success. Reaching out to teachers for suggestions and areas of improvement can help them focus on needs to achieve higher grades. Working as a team will help us and you!

The Children’s Advocacy Center, a division of Compass Health, will be presenting the Body Safety program to 5th and 6th grade students this month. The program will take the place of one of their normal daily classes. If you do not want your child to participate in the Body Safety program, parents can opt their child out of the program by returning the non-permission slip which will be coming home soon. Additionally, Mrs. Vitale, one of Riverbend’s School Counselors, will be at Pacific Intermediate to register our 6th graders for 7th grade on December 10th and December 12th.

During the holiday season, while spending time with family reflecting on 2024 and hopes for the next year, we hope your family is able to re-emphasize your family values and goals. If we are able to emphasize the importance of education and setting goals, your children will notice! When children are able to set short-term goals such as good grades, making and keeping friendships, as well as engaging in activities that make themselves proud, they will be more inclined to continue reaching their goals. When they set long-term goals, such as graduating high school and a future career, they will learn to overcome obstacles. Having these types of discussions regularly about values, dreams, and hopes emphasizes goal-setting and prioritizing their future success.

Families, we hope you enjoy your break and are able to spend quality time together while celebrating the past year and looking to the future!

Happy Holidays from us to you.

Best,

Ms. Speicher 5th Grade Counselor

Ms. Diamond 6th Grade Counselor

Attention, readers! This winter break, warm up with a Reading Challenge to keep your mind sharp and your imagination thriving! Your mission? Complete 10 activities over the break and earn a special prize when you return to school!

Here's how it works:

1. Students will receive a Winter Break Reading Challenge sheet during library before break.

2. Choose 10 activities to complete — from reading with a family member to exploring a new genre, there's something for everyone!

3. Track your progress on your activity sheet.

4. Return your completed challenge sheet when school starts to claim your prize!

Get cozy with a good book, have fun, and discover new adventures this winter. We can't wait to see what you'll accomplish!

Pacific Intermediate

195 N Indian Pride Dr.

Pacific, MO 63069

www.mvr3.k12.mo.us

Phone: 636-271-1425

Fax: 636-271-1465