January’s Jingled Jottings

Welcome back!  We have started the new year with a busy week.  Students are back in class and busily working on new assignments, projects and content.

1. Grade 6’s completed a formative assessment on the upcoming Math units.  Ms. Abbot has been able to personalize their math programs to better meet their learning needs.  Students are working on a variety of learning outcomes for Percent, Fractions and Ratios.  Some students are working on more advanced concepts, after showing mastery of the required curriculum and other students are learning the concepts.  Additional resources have been posted in the edmodo group for Math 6 for challenge and review.

2. Grade 6’s have also started their first online Literature Circle.  They have three assignments due over the next month.  They were able to select a plot assignment, a character/setting assignment, and a final project from a list of choices.  Students are also required to submit a weekly written response on their novel by Monday.  The novels this month are: “Flush,” “Hoot,” and “Scat,” by Carl Haissen, “Moon Over Manifest” by Clare Vanderpool, and “Island of the Unknowns” by Benedict Carey.  Students have the choice to complete the assignments and responses on one book or multiple books.  Assignment details and due dates have been posted to edmodo.

3. ‘Tis the season … to dance!  Grade 6’s have started a dance unit in PE.  So far, we have learned: the chicken dance, the Electric Slide, the Patty Cake Polka, and the Tennesse Wig Walk.  The grade 7/8 class continues to focus on fitness and have started basketball.

4.  The grade 6/7’s are currently in Art & Dramus explorations.  In Art, students are making mitts with zen doodles that are catching snowflakes.  In Dramus, students are working on preparing speeches.  They will be presenting a story about themselves or something they are knowledgeable about.  Dramus students are also learning drums and guitar.

5. In the exploration enrichment block this term, a group of students are working with Mr. Purych and are learning computer programming using SCRATCH.

6. The grade 6’s have been working on #onelittleword in HCE this week.  This was a challenge we saw on twitter http://oneword365.com/.

“One word that you can focus on EVERYDAY, all year long! One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live for 2015 and beyond. It will take intentionality and commitment, but if you let it, your one word will shape not only your year, but also you. It will become the compass that directs your decisions and guide your steps. Discover the BIG impact one word can make”  ~ #oneword365 website

The Langley School District had a challenge out to all the teachers and classes so we thought we would join in too.  Here are some of our #onelittlewords

7. The grade 7/8’s are continuing to work together on Social Studies this year.  They are currently working on projects on World Religions.  Each of the grade 7’s are working in a group to present about a Christian denomination and the grade 8’s are currently learning about Hinduism and Buddism.

8.  Ski and Snowboard Club starts today and will run for several weeks.  Students will be leaving Hillcrest at 11:30am and will spend the afternoon in a lesson and then on the local mountain.  There will be activity afternoons happening while Ski and Snowboard Club happens for the grade 6’s.  Permission forms have gone home for swimming and skating.  And a permission form for bowling will be going home shortly.

9. It is also the time of year when our grade 8’s begin to explore the different options for secondary school.  There are many specialized programs within the school district that may meet your child’s learning needs.  Please watch for information about open houses and program information nights.  At the same time, we have also presented to students wishing to apply to attend MACC next year.  Thank you to Natalie, our student speaker this year, for such an articulate explanation of her MACC experience.  If you are applying to MACC for the 2015-16 school year, please see the SD43 Gifted site for application forms and more details.

10. There are many extra curricular happening at Hillcrest right now.  Basketball and Wrestling seasons are underway.  Dr. Who Club meets weekly.  Ski and Snowboard Club is starting.  Spirit Squad and Me to We Club continues.  What are you participating in this month?

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *