8th Grade Weekly Newsletter

Happy Spring (at least on paper)! The final days of middle school are upon us. This quarter gets extremely busy with field trips, state testing, district testing, state festivals for band/choir, spring sports, dances, drama productions, and more! In the midst of all this wild schedule, we encourage students and families to make sure that as the temperature goes up, student achievement also goes up.

If there is any way we can support students and families through the final months of the year, please reach out and let us know.

All 8th grade students will be taking the PSAT on April 9th. Although we always encourage students to come in with a well rounded breakfast, full night of sleep, and a mind ready to learn, that is especially important on PSAT day. Some pointers ----->

Before the Test:

• Get Plenty of Rest – Aim for at least 8-10 hours of sleep the night before. A well-rested brain performs better!

• Eat a Healthy Breakfast – Fuel your body with a nutritious meal, including protein and whole grains, to stay energized and focused.

• Be Prepared – Gather all necessary materials (pencils, calculator, etc.) the night before to avoid last-minute stress.

• Practice & Review – Go over notes, study guides, or key concepts ahead of time. Try practice questions to build confidence.

• Stay Positive – Encourage a growth mindset by focusing on effort and improvement rather than perfection.

We wanted to let families know that the 8th grade is not hosting a formal large graduation at the end of the year. In lieu of that, the 8th grade will have a celebration with their peers on the last day of school. The 8th grade team is busy planning this memorable experience for the 8th graders, but wanted to let families know they don't need to plan to come in at the end of the year for a formal ceremony.

In order to keep the event student-centric, we ask that families celebrate their students individually. We invite families to come on the Canoe/Kayak field trip to enjoy the last days of having a middle schooler! More info on the trip will come as we get closer to the trip.

Our Quarterly Celebration, originally scheduled for the day before Spring Break, has been rescheduled for the afternoon after the PSAT. We think an afternoon of leisure with classmates will be needed after the morning's testing.

The 8th Grade is going on a field trip to the Coast Guard Station and the Kaliseum on April 10th. Permission slips should already be turned in, however Mrs. Wilkins will accept them if they are turned in ASAP.

Career Day will take place on April 25th during 6th and 7th Hour. Students will undergo a personal finance simulation.

We will also have festivities with Dress Up days the week of April 21st. See the attached flyer.

This Spring, Kingsley Area Schools will ask voters to decide on a district Bond Proposal. If approved, the bond would allow the district to make critical facility upgrades and additions.

One of the highlights of the proposal is building a brand new middle school addition to the

high school campus. The new wing would include a Kingsley Events Center, new

classrooms for 6th-8th graders, dedicated storage for the arts, a new choir room, and a large

multi-use commons area.

The proposal could alleviate currently identified issues such as lack of space for band students

and instrument storage and would add more spaces for academics and athletics.

The proposal includes the addition of a Kingsley Fitness Center that would be open to the

public as well.

Check out the district website here to see more information, renderings, bond information

events, and to use our tax calculator to see what this bond may cost you.

Stay tuned to our district Facebook and Instagram for more updates.

Please remember to vote on or before May 6, 2025.

April 9th - PSAT

April 10th - Field Trip to Coast Guard Station and Kaliseum

April 18th - No School - Good Friday

April 25th - Career Day - Personal Finance Simulation during 6th and 7th Hour

May 6th - Election Day

May 26th - No School - Memorial Day

May 31st - Step Up Dance

June 11th - End of Year 8th Grade Trip - Kayak and Canoe on the Platte River

June 12th - Half Day - Quarterly Celebration

June 13th - Half Day - 8th Grade Celebration - Last Day of School

Greetings, all. The students have been working this week on preparing for our PSAT assessment which is occurring next Wednesday. We are focusing on mini-lessons to build confidence on both content skills and test taking strategies. As always, I encourage all students to spend fifteen to twenty minutes a day reading outside of the school day. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. - Mr. Gaddy

Students did a great job this week starting their new UNIT on Weather and Water. If students would like to retake their test from this week, they are welcome to. I will let them know the dates this will be available. Next week we will be learning about our atmosphere, weather vs. climate and we will start tackling weather maps. Students should also be finishing and turning in in their planet brochure assignment. As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

This week, students have learned about why the South seceded from the Union. They completed a graded written assignment that serves as the first grade of the marking period. Late submissions and revisions are accepted.

Next week, we'll finish up our current lesson about the advantages/disadvantages of each side ending with a written assignment that will be graded about this learning target. Then, we are moving on to learning about Abraham Lincoln.

All math classes reviewing for the PSAT :)

The Dessert concert is in the high school commons on April 17 at 7 pm featuring several soloists and Choral Fusion. The Middle School Concert Choir (7/8) will perform for State Choir Festival in Saginaw on May 5 or 6, exact day and time TBA. The Spring Concert is May 20 in the high school gym at 7 pm

This week students will finish running their one-shot adventures with their party's.

Students will continue working on their sewing projects and a few basic cooking skills. We will next be working on our LAST week of healthy cooking by preparing for our big cooking competition. We will also start a few Easter related cooking projects, by bringing the week in coloring Easter eggs. :)

Thank you for reading the newsletter! Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours!