Team Abuja Newsletter
Week of March 3, 2025
Assignments
Teacher Messages
Mr. Kirschenbaum, ELA
This week, we will begin Inside Out & Back Again by analyzing the story’s exposition – character, setting, and conflict. On Thursday, we will take RCT 5 in class. On Friday, we will take a grammar test that reviews the grammar topics we have practiced for the last 5 weeks.
We are making great strides in writing and your student is working hard at improving. Check in with them about how they are feeling about writing. I am always interested in the feedback if there is anything that you learn that could help them improve their writing process.
Mx. Gomez, Math
As we reach the middle of the term and students have been submitting late or missing work, I will be grading and updating grades over the next week. Tutoring is on Wednesday next week; if your scholar is unable to attend but would like to, please have them come speak with me or reach out to me and we will make a plan to figure out another time.
Please remind your scholar that all math assignments for iReady and Pear must be submitted on paper. The work is considered incomplete until I receive the scratch paper showing the student's work for the math problems.
In math 6 we will be focusing on using the Coordinate Plane, how to find the distance between points, and how to translate algebraic phrases into equations.
In math 7 students will continue with 2 step equations and build onto it by learning how to write equations and plot solution sets on a graph.
Ms. Wesselhoft, Geography
On Friday, students took their end of unit assessment for Unit 5 on population growth and urbanization. We will briefly discuss the SDG (UN’s Sustainable Development Goals) on Monday before starting Unit 6: Europe. Students will then spend the week investigating the countries, physical features, climate, language, religion, population density, and economic activities of the regions of Europe. This will end with a quiz on Friday. Study materials and a Nearpod will be provided for the review.
Ms. Sagan, Science
Hello scientists!
Congrats on a great full 5 day week - we made it! You did a fantastic job exploring the scale of the solar system, and we closed the week off with a lab showing the difference between direct and indirect light. Ask your students - which one is warmer and causes summer?? (Answer: direct light). What causes the seasons to change?? (Answer: Earth's axial tilt).
Next week we will learn about the phases of the moon, and we will complete our world-famous Oreo Lab!! If you are able to donate Oreos to our classroom, we would greatly appreciate it. Any extra Oreos will go towards reward snacks.
Thank you to everyone who has donated to my amazon wishlist so far! My amazon wishlist link is here https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/gkYQSIk?ref_=wl_share if you would like to contribute to our classroom. Thank you for your generosity!!
Donation Request: Oreos
We will be doing our Oreo Lab this upcoming week and need Oreos!! If you are able to donate, we would greatly appreciate it, especially if they are regular Oreos (since double stuffed Oreos are a little too messy).
Roots!!
Our final week of roots for this quarter are:
Gon = having a number of angles (think: polygon, hexagon)
Demo = common people (think: democracy, demonstrate)
Cracy, crat = government (think: bureaucrat, autocracy)
Term = end, word (think: terminal, terminology)
Macro = large (think: macrophage, macroeconomics)
Keepers: angle, deci, semi, alp, morph, sed, gram, hydro, iso, aqua, cirrus, photo, neo, mis, re/retro
World Languages
Link to World Languages Newsletter https://secure.smore.com/u/patricia.balestra4
Team Announcement
We have gone through many boxes of tissues. We have added it to it an Amazon Wish List if that is easier. Also, please check in with your student on their current pencil supply – many have no writing supplies.
As the temperature rises and PE resumes outside instruction, ask your student if s/he might be interested in keeping an extra deodarant stick at school.
Tardy Policy
Tutoring
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!
Library Corner
Learn about the great things happening this month at Deal's library. Check out great books and media, read about events at Deal and around the city, and stay connected with Deal's Library:
Clubs and Activities
Stay up to date with the complete list of clubs and activities by going to the Deal website: https://www.alicedealmiddleschool.org
International Night 2026 – Interest Meeting on March 5th
Calling all parents who loved International Night – we need you! Great events happen when families come together to support each other and our Deal Community. This is your opportunity to join an adventure that brings our families and worlds together!
International Night 2026 will be held on January 24th – Mark Your Calendars Now
Please join us for an informational and interest meeting on Wednesday, March 5th at 7pm. Link is below
We look forward so seeing you and talking more about International Night 2026!
Anastasia Khoo & Shannon Behm
Questions: shannonharrisbehm@hotmail.com
ADCA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: International Night Interest Meeting
Time: Mar 5, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 872 7269 1280
Passcode: 817101
Contacts
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
Absences
If your child will not be in school, please email DealAttendance@k12.dc.gov .
