Pacific Intermediate
February 2024
A Word From Our Principal
Mr. Agee
Dear Pacific Intermediate Parents,
As we transition into the month of February, I hope this newsletter finds you well as we head into the exciting end of our year! It's time for some important updates and reminders.
1. **Trimester End:**
- The last day of the trimester is approaching on February 23rd.
- Please note that it will be an early release day, with dismissal at noon.
2. **Academic Monitoring:**
We kindly request parents to continue monitoring their student's academic progress.
Tips for Talking to Your Children About Their Grades:
- Create an open and non-judgmental environment.
- Start by asking about their favorite subjects and why.
- Discuss specific strengths and areas for improvement.
- Set realistic and achievable academic goals together.
- Offer support and encouragement rather than focusing solely on grades.
- Collaborate on strategies for improvement, such as effective study habits.
- A reminder that having 3 or more F's could necessitate summer school for your student.
- Additionally, if a student accumulates 5 or more F's, it may lead to the consideration of retaining them in their current grade.
3. **Staff Professional Development:**
- There will be no school on February 26th due to staff professional development.
4. Presidentβs Day:
-There will be no school February 19th in observance of Presidentβs Day
5. **Incentive for Students:**
- We are excited to announce a second-trimester incentive for students.
- Students with no detentions, ISS, OSS, or F's will have the chance to go see a movie on March 1st.
- The movie is yet to be determined, but will be a current release to be viewed at the Union Movie Theater.
6. **Club Days:**
- As of now, students have switched clubs for club days.
- We encourage parents to have a conversation with their students about the new clubs they have joined.
We appreciate your ongoing support and involvement in your child's education. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us. Thank you for being valued members of the Pacific Intermediate community.
Best Regards,
Matt Agee
Pacific Intermediate Principal
Shawnee Tribe
Mrs. Jackson~ Math & Science
Mrs. Menley~Language Arts, Reading & History
Ioway Tribe
Mrs. Alcorn~Math
Ms. DiBlasi~History & Science
Ms. Shearin~Language Arts & Reading
Illini Tribe
Mrs. Aubuchon~Math
Mr. Gilcrease~Language Arts & Reading
Mr. Wengler~History & Science
Math
With all of our inclement weather days we are still working on adding/subtracting fractions and mixed numbers with unlike denominators. It is very important for students to complete their homework as this is the practice to prepare them for their test. Students also need to be practicing their basic multiplication facts. This skill is used when changing improper fractions to mixed numbers and making sure the answers are in simplest form. We will be moving on to multiplying fractions next. If you have any questions or concerns, please email. Thank you for all your support!
Language Arts and Reading
We will be finishing up Point of View and analogies and moving on to author's purpose and opinion writing, hoping to finish opinion writing before the end of the trimester.
Science and Social Studies
Science: Students will wrap up the Watery Planet unit and begin our Earth and Space Science unit titled "Spaceship Earth". Students will understand that:
The sun is a star that appears larger and brighter than other stars because it is closer. Stars range greatly in their distance from Earth.
Patterns of seasons can be observed, described, and predicted.
The orbits of Earth around the sun and of the moon around Earth, together with the rotation of Earth about an axis between its North and South Poles, cause observable patterns. These include day and night; daily changes in the length and direction of shadows; and different positions of the sun, moon, and stars at different times of the day, month, and year.
Social Studies: Students continue to learn about the Civil War. Students will analyze the following information:
The Southβs main reason for fighting in the Civil War was to protect their way of life and their economy.
The Northβs main reason for fighting in the Civil War was to end slavery and keep the country united.
The Confederacy was created mainly to protect statesβ rights.
The Civil War resulted in the Reconstruction of the South which led to economic changes and migration.
πππππBreakfast and Lunch Menusπππππ
Otoe Tribe
Mrs. Boling~English
Mr. Effan~Social Studies
Mrs. Vondera~Science
Mrs. Voss~Math
Quapaw Tribe
Mrs. Stumborg~English
Mr. Slaughter~Social Studies
Mrs. Todahl~Science
Mrs. Weil~ Math
6th Grade Reading Teachers
Mrs. Carrico
Mr. McMahon
We are glad to be back and settled back in from Winter Break. Please make sure your child's hoodies, jackets, and coats are being washed regularly. Please continue to check your emails to keep up with what is going on in class. This is a great time of year to make sure your child has pencils!
Math:
Math students have started off strong. Regular math students will be learning how to solve one-step equations. Advanced students will be learning mean, median, mode, and Interquartile range.
Please continue to monitor your child's homework and Infinite Campus.
Reading:
We are currently working on an argumentative reading unit. The students are reading various articles with opposing viewpoints and then forming their own opinions. The first topic was "Should people be allowed to own exotic animals as pets?" The one we a currently working on is, "Should zoos exist?" They will be making a claim, and then backing it up with evidence from the articles.
English:
We will be focusing on argumentative writing. This type of writing focuses on facts and research. For their argumentative essay, students will choose a side on a controversial topic. Then they will have to defend their opinion on that topic with reasons and text evidence from credible sources.
Social Studies:
We are finishing up China. Everyone's calligraphy project turned out great. Next up, we will be learning about the classical civilizations of Greece.
Science:
We dove right into Matter. We are talking about solids, liquids, gases, plasma, phase changes, and physical and chemical changes. We will be doing several hands-on activities in this unit. Make sure you quiz your student on what we did in class.
Missouri Student Survey Grades 6-12
School districts throughout Missouri have been asked to participate in the Missouri Student Survey (also known as the drug-free survey) every other year since 1991. The survey is available to be administered to students in grades 6-12. The results of the survey are used to assist the school districts in the evaluation and planning of its comprehensive school health program. Specifically, the results of the survey indicate the extent of alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use as well as incidences of violence experienced by students and their overall social and emotional well-being. You can view the full set of questions using this link: Missouri Student Survey Questions
Students are not asked to identify themselves on the survey form. No individual student responses are reported or maintained. Student participation in the survey assists our school district and community in gathering local data regarding the extent of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and violence. This will then also assist in determining statewide levels of such use, safety issues, and violence.
The survey is voluntary and students can feel free to skip any question or choose not to complete the survey. If you do not want your child to complete the survey, please notify the school counseling office. By notifying the school office, your child will not receive an email containing the link to the survey.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why are we participating in this survey?
School districts are being asked to complete this survey by DESE for the Missouri Department of Mental Health. The results of the survey are used to assist the school district in the evaluation and planning of its comprehensive school health program.
Will answers or students be tracked?
All responses are anonymous.
Do students have to participate in this survey?
The survey is voluntary and students can feel free to skip any questions or choose not to complete the survey. Families wishing to opt out of the survey may contact the school counseling office.
How does MVR-III use the results of this survey?
MVR-III uses results to assist with prevention programs. Prevention programs may qualify for program-related grants based upon survey results.
Counselor's Corner
Ms. Diamond Ms. Speicher
The 5th grade character education lesson last month was "Goals: Plans and Personal Responsibility." This lesson plan focused on teaching students about short-term and long-term goals along with the diverse types of goals such as academic, home, and personal goals. Students created their own goals and five-step plans to be able to reach them. The purpose of the lesson is to help students understand they achieve more with goals in place. Goals must be followed up with plans which can be adjusted as needed. When obstacles occur, we do not just give up, we adjust the plan.
This month fifth graders will receive a lesson plan on transitioning to sixth grade, and register for classes. We will discuss expectations for sixth grade, and highlight similarities and differences between grade levels. Students will learn about next year's class offerings and select which elective path they are interested in having next year.
Last month, sixth graders received a lesson plan from Mrs. Hohe, the Riverbend School Counselor and Ms. Speicher, the 6th grade School Counselor. Students learned about Riverbend and what to expect as they transition to 7th grade along with classes and elective options. Students then registered and ranked the electives he or she wanted for next year. Students were requested to take home their registration sheets to share with parents and discuss options. Parents and guardians were asked to sign with approval or change as needed and sign. Students should have returned these forms to school by 1/29/24. Sixth grade students will be given the opportunity to visit Riverbend during the month of April so that they feel more comfortable as they transition grades.
This month sixth graders will receive a lesson plan on perseverance and goal setting. Sixth graders will use time management and personal responsibility to maximize their time and reduce "time wasters". Additionally, students will be given time to review their grades for Trimester 1 and 2 to reflect on personal performance and make changes, if necessary. By reducing time wasters, changing plans, and applying personal perseverance, students should be equipped to overcome obstacles to reach improvement or success.
Have a great month and enjoy Valentine's Day with your family. Please call or email if we can be of any help.
Sincerely,
Ms. Jeanne Diamond
5th Grade Counselor
636-271-1425 x 3504
Ms. Ally Speicher
6th Grade Counselor
636-271-1425 x3509
Pacific Intermediate
195 N Indian Pride Dr.
Pacific, MO 63069
Phone: 636-271-1425
Fax: 636-271-1465