Marsh Junior High School
September 2023
What's Happening This Month at Marsh
Sept. 8 - PTSO Fun Friday
Sept. 13 - PTSO Meeting 6:00, MJHS Library
Sept. 11 - 15 Spirit Week
Sept. 15 - Welcome Back Dance, 6 - 8
Sept. 21 - Welcome Back BBQ/Club Day on the Green 6 - 8
Spirit Week
Tuesday; Anything but a backpack
Wednesday: Twins Day
Thursday: PJ Day
Friday: Tropical Day
Classroom Connection
History Mr. Gray:
During the month of September, students will be learning about early humans from Hominids to Hunter Gatherers. We will also be covering the Neolithic period, which will cover early farming and the development of more permanent settlements and societies. Each day in class we start off with a quick write assignment called starters. Students will also receive a weekly vocab assignment with dedicated time set aside to work on in class. We will use maps to learn about geography and utilize a variety of other assignments to help learn about the content. I rarely assign "homework" but assignments not completed during class time, will need to finished outside of school. Each Friday we will have an assessment to evaluate student's understanding of the topic.
Math: Mrs. Hodges
Students have started the Ratios and Proportions Unit. Students will be able to identify an equivalent ratio, use ratio tables, and find a unit rate using ratios.
Math: Mrs. Larrance
We started the year by completing the IXL diagnostic screeners. Students gave strong efforts on this assignment. We are completing our foundational lessons. In addition we are learning some new math card games with Nertz (a form of group solitaire) and Rat-it-tat-tat (a strategy game). Ask your card shark if they can teach you.
English: Ms. Rosander
In 6th grade English, we are currently working on our poetry unit. Students are learning about figurative language and how writing is in everyday works such as the music they listen to. The students are currently writing a free verse poem about the things they cannot imagine living without. The hope is that students learn why it's important to add details and descriptions to their writing through this specific poem. Next week, we will transition into four different types of poetry such as humorous, lyrical, narrative, and a haiku. Students will then write two out of the four for their final poetry project. We will be wrapping this unit up at the end of September.
English Honors: Mrs. Blaschke
English 6 honors is focusing on our summer reading novel, The Watsons Go To Birmingham, 1963 through a variety of activities to analyze character development, plot events, the writer's use of humor and the effect of the historical setting. Students will explore themes in a gallery walk and conclude with an essay exploring the main character's "coming of age" development.
7th Grade
Science: Mrs. King
In 7th grade science we are using microscopes to learn about the qualities of life. Then we dive into cells and cell organelles. Afterwards, we will move onto investigating the human microbiome to answer the question, "How can having 100 trillion microorganisms on and in the human body keep us healthy?
English: Mr. Stephens
We'll be starting our first novel, Touching Spirit Bear. Academically, we're focusing on using textual evidence to support deeper-level thinking, character development, and reading comprehension.
English: Mrs. Blaschke
In English 7, students are writing BioPoems with descriptive word choice and imagery as they review the writing process. They will be practice "Signposts" when responding to literature - a combination of opinion statements with textual evidence. This will lead into our novel study of Touching Spirit Bear.
Math: Mrs. Larrance
We started the year by completing the IXL diagnostic screeners. Students gave strong efforts on this assignment. We are completing our foundational lessons. In addition we are learning some new math card games with Nertz (a form of group solitaire) and Rat-it-tat-tat (a strategy game). Ask your card shark if they can teach you.
PE: Mrs. McGarr
The first part of this month in PE, students will complete a Fitness Pre-Test so that we can see where students are at and how we can improve. The second half of the month we will be starting our new PE units in the Gym, on the field, and on the blacktop.
PE: Mrs. Schaeffer
For this month, students will start using the locker rooms and dressing down for PE on a daily basis. 9/6 - 9/14 will be "baseline fitness testing" where students will find their initial scores for: mile run, pacer test, push ups, curl ups, and flexibility tests. On 9/15, ALL students will be able to participate in the first (of many) school-wide run: "Have a MARVELous School Year" where students will be encouraged to dress up in Marvel / Avengers / Superhero attire and run a course through campus! Students will then get into their first 2-week unit on Monday 9/18. My fitness-based PE class (2nd period) will be learning all about fitness terminology and begin working out. All other classes will start out on the field with an "Intro to Diamond Games" Unit. Students will be able to play: kickball, TRB, and whiffle ball.
8th Grade:
Science: Ms. Metzger
We just finished up a Science in the News project, where students got to select a recent global or local science news story of interest to them, and learned about how to identify credible sources.
Currently we're in the midst of a science skills week, during which students are learning about things like lab safety, measurement techniques, and familiarizing themselves with various science equipment that they will be using during the school year.
Math: Mrs. Larrance
We started the year by completing the IXL diagnostic screeners. Students gave strong efforts on this assignment. We are completing our foundational lessons. In addition we are learning some new math card games with Nertz (a form of group solitaire) and Rat-it-tat-tat (a strategy game). Ask your card shark if they can teach you.
PE: Mrs. McGarr
The first part of this month in PE, students will complete a Fitness Pre-Test so that we can see where students are at and how we can improve. The second half of the month we will be starting our new PE units in the Gym, on the field, and on the blacktop.
PE: Mrs. Schaeffer
For this month, students will start using the locker rooms and dressing down for PE on a daily basis. 9/6 - 9/14 will be "baseline fitness testing" where students will find their initial scores for: mile run, pacer test, push ups, curl ups, and flexibility tests. On 9/15, ALL students will be able to participate in the first (of many) school-wide run: "Have a MARVELous School Year" where students will be encouraged to dress up in Marvel / Avengers / Superhero attire and run a course through campus! Students will then get into their first 2-week unit on Monday 9/18. My fitness-based PE class (2nd period) will be learning all about fitness terminology and begin working out. All other classes will start out on the field with an "Intro to Diamond Games" Unit. Students will be able to play: kickball, TRB, and whiffle ball.
Google Classroom Support for Parents/Guardians
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Marsh Junior High Earns Gold Status in PBIS
On behalf of California PBIS, we are pleased to recognize Marsh Junior High School of the
Chico Unified School District for successful PBIS implementation at the GOLD level. Your
school is a recipient within the California PBIS Recognition System, reflecting excellence in the
implementation of the core features of PBIS.
Marsh Dance
Drop in Homework Support
Attendance Information
Chico Unified College Fair
8th Garde Washington DC Trip
Stay Connected
Jessica Kamph, Principal: jkamph@chicousd.org
Gary Story, Assistant Principal: Gary.Story@chicousd.org
Check out additional information on the Marsh Website: mjhs.chicousd.org