Team Berlin Update 5
September 20, 2024
Sandy Spring Field Trip
Next week is our field trip for Sandy Spring on Wednesday. Students should arrive at the regular time and report to the cafeteria. Students need to bring a lunch to eat at Sandy Spring and wear clothes for a day outdoors. They must wear closed toed shoes. Layers are recommended. Bring a water bottle. It is suggested that students bring a string backpack to cary their lunch, water bottle, and layers (as the day gets warm). No money is needed for this trip.
Students who have not yet turned in their permission slip and/or money to Ms. Trenkle should do so no later than Monday. Parents/guardians with concerns should reach out to our Grade Level Assistant Principal Ms. Gathers. Thank you for all who have turned in their forms and money to date! It is appreciated!
Links to the parent/guardian letter and permission slip can be found here: https://dck12-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/amy_trenkle_k12_dc_gov/Eo6xcHG__-tBgLCR-CoPP-QBXIVR0RWp0pORaZJYN7jTbQ?e=zLYj9s
Earth Science with Ms. Ballantine
Hi Scientists!
Thank you for attending Back to School Night; it was so good to meet you and put some faces to names! Slides for the back to school night presentation can be found here in English and Spanish.
Students wrapped up MAP science testing this past week. Next week, students will engage in an interesting assignment titled “Tennis Ball Toss,” which will help them apply their understanding of the scientific method and experiment design. Additionally, they will begin a plant experiment that explores how different liquids used for watering affect plant growth. Students will also complete a pretest on Friday to assess their prior knowledge.
Since Ms. Ballantine was out for part of last week, the deadline for students’ Variables Practice homework has been extended to next Tuesday, 9/24 so that we have time to go over the material as a class.
Please note that the weekly Roots Quiz 1.4 will be held on Friday, September 27th, with the vocabulary words listed below.
Roots Words 1.4
*Scope = to see (Think: telescope, microscope)
*Tele = far (Think: telephone, teleport, telegraph)
*Sol = sun (Think: solar, solarium)
Sphere = ball (Think: geosphere, biosphere)
Hemi = half (Think: hemisphere)
Keepers: uni, bi, tri, cent, graph, helio, kilo, grav, luna
Math with Mr. Brown & Mr. Gawthrop
Math 6
This week students continued working on ratios and began looking at double number lines, and unit rates as they relate to ratios. This week students will continue working on ratios using equivalent ratios and ratio tables.
Math7
This week eligible students will begin Math 7 and will work on students learn to understand and use the terms “scaled copy,” “to scale,” “scale factor,” “scale drawing,” and “scale,” and recognize when two pictures or plane figures are or are not scaled copies of each other.
Attached to this newsletter is the Math Acceleration policy as students will receive BOY Math 7 eligibility results along with possible schedule changes this week. Students will have a Formative (B) Assessment on Friday of this week. Please let students know that when completing reattempts or submitting late work students should email/message me to let me know their grade possibly needs to be adjusted.
Back to School Night Slides Here
Language Arts with Ms. Byrns & Mr. Gawthrop
It was great to meet so many of you at Back to School. Thank you for coming out! You can find the slides here.
Our department made a bit of a schedule shift and we ended up starting Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor on Thursday. On Wednesday students did a bit of background research to better understand the historical context of the novel. On Thursday and Friday we started Chapter 1, with a focus on internal vs. external characterization.
Next week we will look at theme and types of conflict as we continue to read.
Students are encouraged, but not required, to have their own personal copy of the book for use in school and at home by Monday, Sept. 9th. While we will read a majority of the book in class, please note that there will be some assigned homework reading for this novel. If students do not have a personal, physical copy of the book, a pdf is available on our ELA Canvas page for homework reading. Students can also read the novel at home using the SORA app in Clever, or listen to the audio online. Please be aware that the novel is historical fiction and set during the 1930s in the Jim Crow South. It addresses very sensitive topics and language around racism that we approach in a sensitive and respectful manner.
Finally, a round of applause for the students who delivered their first Book Talks of the year. You can see just a few of them below.
Katy Byrns
Geography with Ms. Trenkle
This week in Geography practiced, practiced, practiced our map skills in preparation for our Unit 1 Summative which we took on Friday. Next week we will begin putting our map skills to practical use by reading DC Maps and investigating our own communities. Students will be asked to make a map of their community as a homework assignment. Ultimately, students will be asked to write an action letter about an improvement to their community they would like to see addressed by a community leader.
Thank you to all the parents who came out to Back to School Night! So nice to see you again/meet you! Slides for my BTSN presentation can be found here: https://dck12-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/amy_trenkle_k12_dc_gov/ETdVW01NhgdIp5Jt_QRxEDcBcGctcYP4azxwDKonhA4BjA?e=nOFJAB
Starting today, we will have a student scribe share a bit about the class from their perspective. Our first newsletter journalist is Elyse M. in 7th period. She writes, “These past weeks in Geography we have been learning about world maps. A way we remember everything we have learned is watching these really funny and corny videos: Flocabulary. A little thing I love about Ms. Trenkle’s classes is the trivia we do at the beginning of class. They are completely random and give us some fund/random facts about the world.”
6th Grade BBQ
Mark your Calendars for Deal's Grade Level Barbecue! Presented by your Assistant Principal team with support from the Alice Deal Community Association, these events are getting-to-know-you F-U-N! Sign up to volunteer and/or bring an item to share!
- Meet 6th Grade Families and connect with each other on Saturday, September 28 (Click here for 6th grade)
Each barbecue will happen from 11 AM-1PM at Deal. Gather in the back of the school on the basketball court. It is not just a BBQ... it's a great way to connect with Deal families and build community! Deal Gear will be available for sale.
Questions: reach out to adcaevents@gmail.com .
Library Corner
The school year is off to a great start! Students are coming to the library with ELA classes this month to check out books and learn more about the exciting programs and activities that the library has planned for this year. The hours for the library are listed below in case some students missed out on this month's class visits:
When to visit:
Library Hours 8:15am-3:45pm daily.
•With permission from grade level admin – Students can come from 8:15 – 8:35am
(Mr. Reichlen must be present).
•Recess visits – You must get a pass from Mr. Reichlen or Ms. Gathers.
•No pass, no entry.
•After school – If Mr. Reichlen is here, you can come.
Please reach out to Mr. Reichlen directly with any questions or concerns at: stephen.reichlen@k12.dc.gov
Keep up to date with library news and information at library website aka. LibGuide:
Stephen Reichlen
Library Media Specialist
Deal MS – DC Public Schools
