Howards Grove Middle School

At Howards Grove Middle School We Believe In:

Respect

Responsibility

Integrity

Appreciation

2/21 - Student Council Game Night 3:00 pm

2/24 - Boy Scouts 6:00 pm

2/24 - Girls Volleyball vs Elkhart (home) 4:00 pm

2/26 - Student Council 3:00 pm

2/27 - Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30 pm

2/28 - Alice in Wonderland Jr. 7:00 pm

3/1 - Alice in Wonderland Jr. 7:00 pm

3/2 - Alice in Wonderland Jr. 2:00 pm

3/3 - Girls Volleyball vs Cedar Grove (home) 4:00 pm

3/3 - 4H Cheerios 6:30 pm

3/4 - FFA Meeting 3:00 pm

3/5 - Student Council 3:00 pm

3/6 - Girls Volleyball at Oostburg Christian 4:00 pm

3/10 - Girls Volleyball at Random Lake 4:00 pm

3/10 - Girl Scouts 5:00 pm

3/10 - PTO Meeting 5:00 pm

3/10 - Boy Scouts 6:00 pm

3/11 - Girls Volleyball vs Oostburg (home) 4:00 pm

3/12 - Student Council 3:00 pm

3/14 - End of Term 3

3/17 - Girls Volleyball at Kohler 4:00 pm

3/17 - School Board Meeting 6:00 pm

3/18 - Girls Volleyball at Ozaukee 4:00 pm

3/19 - Student Council 3:00 pm

3/24~3/28 - Spring Break! No School

Hello Middle School Families-

This past week you should have received a message from the office regarding the upcoming State of Wisconsin Forward Exam. Grade level teams will be following up with specific grade level testing schedules. Please have a conversation with your student about the importance of this exam. It truly helps us to get an accurate assessment on students to drive our data based learning decisions. Thank you for your support.

This coming week is our middle school musical: Alice in Wonderful Jr. Our students have been working very hard on this show and would love for you to be in attendance. Show times and dates are listed above in our Important Events. You can purchase tickets at the door or online in advance by visiting the school district website under the Howards Grove Center for the Arts. Hope to see you there!

As third quarter is wrapping up on March 14th, please take moment to review your students progress and reach out to staff if there are any questions. We hope you enjoy our newsletter and enjoy your day,

Angie Houston

Our 8th grade students had an educational visit to Lakeshore College last week where they were able to learn a bit about the programs offered there. Students toured the new Healthcare center, learned about dual credit opportunities, and had hands-on experiences with various departments in their Expo Hall.

Students will be working through and wrapping up their final social emotional learning unit through Second Step. This last unit focuses on the topics of problem solving and managing relationships and social conflict. Students will learn and practice conflict resolution skills through perspective-taking and empathetic thinking.

Hello Tiger Families!

The Student Council would like to invite all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to a Game Night, February 21st from 3:00 - 4:45! Admission is 3 dollars.

At the Game Night there will be:

• Student council run games and activities in the gym

• Board games in the cafeteria

• Snack concessions for sale

Students will need to remain in the game areas throughout the event; walking around school hallways is not permitted. Once a student leaves the building, they will not be allowed to return. Students will need to make arrangements for pick up on their own.

We hope that this will be a fun opportunity for students to get together and play games during this snowy season.

Please reach out to Jess Luecke or Izzy Johnston if you have any questions.

ELA

Students in 8th grade Reading and Writing have just finished up their argumentative writing unit. They wrote an essay on if teens should be in control of their own technology and social media. Students researched using a documentary The Social Dilemma as well as various articles to come up with a well-formed argument, counterclaim, and rebuttal. Students then presented their positions in a short speech in front of the class. Ask your students what side they argued for as well as some of their evidence!

We are moving onto our 3rd reading unit of the year, Literary Nonfiction. Students will pick and read a book on various topics, such as WWII, the Titanic, the Civil War, athletes and more. Students will be paired with a partner to have book discussions on this text throughout the unit. Throughout this unit we will also be reviewing grammar and reading strategies to prepare students to take the Forward exam.

Algebra

Eighth grade algebra students, while conscientiously preparing for the state Forward Exam, have been studying quadratic functions and equations. Students have learned how to graph quadratic functions and compare them to the parent graph. They have discovered how to solve quadratic equations by graphing, completing the square, and using the quadratic formula. They’ve also dabbled a little in special functions, such as greatest integer, step, and absolute value functions. Next up for these math rock stars is a study of radicals. They’ll be graphing square root functions, simplifying radical expressions, conducting operations that involve radical expressions, and even solving radical equations.

Math

Eighth grade math students have been studying systems of equations. These students are now able to solve systems of equations using graphing, substitution, and elimination methods. Recently, these students identified special circumstances where there may be no solution or even infinitely many. They’ve also taken a closer look at why learning this math is so important as well as how it will apply to their lives. Continue bringing your best every day, eighth graders!

Science

We are learning about the parts of an Atom and also the Periodic table. With that students are working very hard on their "Element Superhero/Villain" project where students pick an element off of the periodic table and using five physical and two chemical characteristics of their elements form a backstory and design of that their superhero/villain would look like. Stay tuned for some examples of student projects on the next newsletter.

Social Studies

To wrap up our Great Depression unit, students worked and presented their "Great Depression and New Deal" Research Projects. Students enjoyed treats that their classmates made that were either from the Great Depression family or found recipes for. Stay tuned for projects and events as we head into our next unit World War II.

ELA

Students have finished writing their argument paper about a topic that was important to them. Now we are gearing up for our Essential Research unit. Students explored different issues, and then picked one to issue to be their research focus. We are using research groups to talk and collaborate with their research. We will create their own vocabulary lists that focus on their topics. Students will design an infographic to showcase their research. We will end our unit by students presenting a TedTalk about their research topic.

Math📏

In 7th Grade Math and Accelerated Math, we are focusing on Geometry. Students will work with angles, shapes, and the properties of two- and three-dimensional figures to develop their spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Encourage your child to ask questions, stay engaged, and apply their learning to the world around them. As always, thank you for your continued support!

Science🔬

Students are exploring the Diversity of Living Things, learning about how organisms adapt, evolve, and interact within ecosystems. We’re investigating classification systems and the incredible variety of life on Earth!

Social Studies

In our 7th Grade Social Studies curriculum, students have been engaged in an in-depth exploration of key battles of the Civil War. Through the analysis of various primary source documents, they have examined significant moments that shaped the course of the war. As we progress in our studies, our focus now shifts to understanding the conclusion of the conflict and its lasting impact on the United States. By delving into the events that led to the war’s end, students will gain a deeper appreciation of the challenges faced during Reconstruction and the broader implications for the nation’s future.

ELA

✏️ 6th Grade Writing Adventure: From Readers to Researchers to Writers!

As we wrap up our exciting nonfiction reading unit, our students are ready to take the next big step—becoming nonfiction writers themselves! 🎉

In the coming weeks, students will choose their own research topics and craft informative writing pieces, sharing factual information in clear and engaging ways. They’ll explore different organizational structures—sequence of events, comparison and contrast, problem and solution, and cause and effect—or even design their own unique structure!

🔍 Research & Reliability
Beyond just gathering facts, students will learn the art of research, discovering what makes a source reliable and how to properly attribute evidence. They’ll see firsthand that information alone isn’t enough—it takes a great writer to connect ideas, add insights, and tell a compelling story!

💻 Writing with Purpose
Students will draft their pieces both by hand and with technology, preparing them for the many ways writing is done in today’s world. This unit will challenge them to think critically, organize their ideas effectively, and share knowledge with confidence.

📢 Coming Soon: Published Pieces!
At the end of the unit, students will showcase their hard work, allowing classmates to learn from one another’s research. Sixth graders can’t wait to see what incredible topics they will dive into! The students are looking forward to sharing these fantastic writing pieces soon enough with their classmates!

✍️ Happy Writing!

Accelerated Math

Block 3: Geometry and Data Analysis

Students in Block 3 have been focusing on geometry. They began by learning formulas to calculate the area of various polygons, including triangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, and composite figures. From there, they transitioned to calculating the surface area and volume of three-dimensional shapes.

As they wrap up their geometry unit, they will be moving into data analysis. This upcoming unit will introduce statistical questions and different methods of displaying data, such as dot plots, histograms, frequency tables, and box plots. Additionally, students will learn to determine measures of center, interpret data displays, and draw conclusions from data sets.

We are so proud of our students' hard work and dedication to learning these challenging concepts! Thank you for your continued support.

Social Studies

The class is currently presenting African American individuals that we are learning about for Black History Month. We are learning about the barriers these men and women broke in the face of discrimination. Next, the class will study the Presidents and do a report on a chosen President. We will learn about our nation's history through our leaders of the past.

ELA

We are approaching the end of the third quarter! I can’t believe the fourth quarter is almost here! We are wrapping up our nonfiction unit. Students are working collaboratively on inquiry projects and learning about the Titanic, Artificial Intelligence, Service Animals, Ancient Civilizations, and the Solar System. Please ask your child which topic they are researching. We will be moving on to our next Writers Workshop Unit of Study: Research-Based Argument. Information regarding the state Forward Exam will be coming soon! Important emails will be sent over the next two weeks.

Math

Happy Valentine's Day. The 5th graders are so excited about this day. It is surely different than 7th Grade. I am enjoying everyday with your son/daughter!!

The bulk of 5th grade Math is learning to use all four operations with fractions. The grade is working hard, even though fractions can cause some frustration. The class found out that they love to multiply fractions because they don't have to get a common denominator!

Next up.......decimals. We will be adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals as well.

I truly appreciate all that you are doing at home to help your child with Math. I know sometimes that too can be frustrating, but I am always here to work with your child.

Science

In 5th grade, students are concluding their unit on energy and matter in organisms. They explored how plants and animals obtain and use energy through engaging activities such as photosynthesis skits, building energy pyramids, and acting as different organisms in a food web. These activities helped bring complex ecological concepts to life and deepened their understanding of the connections between living things.

Social Studies

The class just finished up a project on explorers from the Age of Exploration. Each student created a recruitment poster for that explorer and then presented it by entering the 'Shark Tank' pretending to be the explorer and making a case to secure a patron to fund their next expedition. Their 'shark' classmates were able to bid on their services. They will next study the Age of Colonization.

Howards Grove Middle School

506 Kennedy Avenue

Howards Grove, WI 53083

(920) 565-4452

The School District of Howards Grove does not discriminate in the employment of staff on the basis of any characteristic protected under State or Federal law including, but not limited to, race, color, age, sex, creed or religion, handicap or disability, marital status, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran status, military service (as defined in 111.32, Wis. Stats.), sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, arrest record, conviction record, use or non-use of lawful products off the District’s premises during non-working hours, or any other characteristic protected by law in its employment practices. (Board Policy 4122)