5/25/12 Heads Up

Hello, Gladiator Students & Parents.  Here are some of the topics we will be covering next week and a few reminders.  There may be other assignments.

 

*Have a wonderful Memorial Day!  There is no school on Monday, May 28.

 

*Wednesday May 30 – Interest Meeting for Fall Sports (Rising 7^th and 8^th graders) – 2:30-3:00.  Rides should pick you up at 3:00.

Football – Gym I, Cheerleading – E57, Boy’s Soccer – Gym II, Volleyball – C-27

 

*The Reading EOG Retest will be given on Wednesday and the Math EOG Retest will be given on Thursday and Friday.  The EOG Growth Party will be on Friday during the day.

 

*All library books are due on Friday, June!

 

LA:      * We will be reading a variety of literature and working on improving our writing.  All missing work is due by Wednesday, May 30th.  Please check to be sure students have turned in textbooks and library books.

                             

M:       *Students who received a 2 will be retaking the EOG. Please remind students to review the following topics:

-Transformations

-Intersecting Figures

-Algebra

-Area, Perimeter, and Circumference

-Scientific Notation

-Order of Operations

*Students who received a 3 or 4 will be participating in a probability enrichment project. Students will need to have an understanding of how likely an event will occur, experimental, and theoretical probabilities.

 

SC:      *6 days, 31 projects presented…4 days left, 68 to go.  All projects must be turned in by Friday, June 1.

 

SS:       *We will work on our final class projects – South America Television!  Students received a direction sheet today. 

 

**Important Dates for This Week:

                        *Monday, May 28 – Memorial Day Holiday

                        *Wednesday, May 30 – EOG Reading Retest

-Fall Sports Informational Meeting 2:30

                        *Thursday, May 31 – EOG Math Retest

                                                        -Battle of the Books Informational Meeting 2:30-3:00

                        *Friday, June 1 – EOG Math Retest

                                                -Growth Party 10:45-11:45

 

Remember we have a homework hotline (560-3916 ext. 16430) and website (link on the Carrington webpage.)

 

 

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO!!!

4/18/12 Heads Up

Hello, Gladiator Students & Parents.  Here are some of the topics we will be covering next week and a few reminders.  There may be other assignments.

 

**EOG scores went home with students this afternoon.  If your student has made a 3 or 4 in reading or math, s/he may be in different classrooms on team next week for enrichment activities.  If your student has made a 1 or 2 in reading or math, s/he will be in corrective instruction classrooms next week prior to retesting so s/he can receive extra help to improve his/her scores. Regardless of where your student is next week, school continues until June 7 and we expect students to take this time seriously, especially for those still striving to pass portions of the EOG test.  Retesting will occur on May 30, 31, and June 1^st. Students must be in school those days.

 

*Extend 2 retesting is on Tuesday through Thursday of this week. 

 

*All pictures must be returned or paid for by Friday, May 25.

 

LA:      *Students who passed the reading EOG will be doing enrichment activities in language arts class.  Students who did not pass the reading EOG will participate in remediation.  This will provide extra practice in preparation for the reading re-test.

**All language arts textbooks were due on Friday, May 18.  Please check to be sure students have returned those.  We will also be visiting the library to return library books as the end of the year approaches.

                             

M:       *Students who receive a 3 or 4 on the Math EOG will be completing enrichment activities

*Students who receive a 1 or a 2 on the Math EOG will be reviewing the 6th grade math standards, and preparing to retake the test.

 

SC:      *We will be listening to project presentations for the next two weeks. Once we are done on any given day with projects, I will continue to teach the lithosphere and tectonics. Why is Hawaii NOT part of the “ring of fire”? What causes tsunamis? Earthquakes? How can scientists determine the epicenter of an earthquake within seconds? All of this and projects too!

 

SS:       *We will continue our unit on South America, focusing on conquest and independence, a case study on Chile, and the Amazon rainforest. 

            *There will be a map quiz on South America on Friday, May 25.

            *All social studies textbooks need to be returned on Monday. 

 

**Important Dates for This Week:

            *Tuesday, May 22 – PTO meeting 5:30; Band/Strings Concert 6:00 on the lawn

            *Wednesday, May 23 – Poetry Live 6:00 Media Center

*Thursday, May 24 – Progress Reports are sent home

          

Remember we have a homework hotline (560-3916 ext. 16430) and website (link on the Carrington webpage.)

 

 

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO!!!

5/11/12 Heads Up

Hello, Gladiator Students & Parents.  Here are some of the topics we will be covering next week and a few reminders.  There may be other assignments.

 

**We will be taking the End of Grade Tests this week.  We are very confident that our Gladiators will do well if they focus and use their test-taking strategies.  Please make sure your child arrives to school on time during testing next week.  Students will not be allowed to test if they arrive after 7:50am.  Instead, they will have to take a make-up on another day.  In addition, we will not allow early sign-outs before 12 noon on testing days as there will be no interruptions.  Students may want to dress in layers so they can take off a jacket or put one on depending on the temperature of the room.

 

LA:      * Reading EOG on Wednesday! 

-Please get plenty of sleep the night before and remember to use UNRAAVEL! -We also continue reading and writing our own poetry next week.

                             

M:       *Math EOG on Wednesday and Thursday!

                        -Remember to work-out every problem

-Use a calculator to check your work

-Spend time reviewing the homework problems from the past three weeks

 

SC:      * We will be working through plate tectonics this “last” week (when we have class after testing). We will be beginning our project presentations next Friday. All classes meet that day, and I am assigning homework to be due Friday: bring a sample of how you’ll “do” your note cards. I want to be able to see if they are being done correctly (before I grade them as part of the project grade), but they don’t have to be on an actual card…paper is fine, I am interested in the style being correct.

We will be doing presentations each day if there are any ready, plate tectonics if not. There will not be in-class research time. Please remember that the last day to present is Friday, June 1, and anyone not presenting by then will not be able to. The rest of the project (power point, bibliography, note cards and artwork) is due that day, but the top grade possible will be a 70.

A copy of the project information is available http://gladiatorteam.wordpress.com/science-project-information-sheet/

 

Below is an example of how the note cards look:

Note Cards

• ·         For use during presentation
• ·         this is an example
• ·         one subject per card
• ·         use bullet points
• ·         is like an outline
• ·         7 words per-bullet-point maximum
• ·         don’t write a long sentence and try
• ·         to fool me by using two lines!

 

SS:       *We will continue our unit on South America, completing our map and taking a look at the Incas.

 

**Important Dates for This Week:

            *Tuesday, May 15 – EOG Testing – Reading

*Wednesday, May 16 – EOG Testing – Math – Calculator Active, Public Library is closed

*Thursday, May 17 – EOG Testing – Math – Calculator Inactive

 

*Spring Pictures – Pictures were sent home with every student on Wednesday, May 2.  Please look carefully at the Order Envelope.  Choose the pictures you would like to keep and send your payment, made payable to Lifetouch back to school in the sealed envelope.  Also, please return any pictures not purchased with your payment.   You will be charged by Lifetouch for any pictures not paid for and returned. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Whitt at x 16251.

 

*CALLING ALL OVERDUE BOOKS! – It is time for students to return their overdue books to the library. Please ask your child if he or she has a book owed to the library.  Feel free to call the Media Center at 919-560-3916 ext. 16221 to see if your child’s library account is clear. This is especially important for eighth graders, as their library fines will follow them to high school.  All books are due by June 1, 2012.

*Parent Assist Module – You may pick up your Parent Assistant Password in the front office, Monday through Friday from 7-3pm.  This password will allow you to access your child’s current grades and other information.  This is how we will inform parents about EOG scores after testing.

 

*Spring Physical Opportunity for the Fall Sports Season – Our Duke Spring Physicals Event date is Tuesday evening, May 22^nd from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm here at the Finch Yeager Building on campus.  As usual it will be 10 dollars, cash only.  Athletes may come without a parent/guardian, however they must have the medical history and permission portion of the physical already filled out and signed by their parent/guardian.

          

Remember we have a homework hotline (560-3916 ext. 16430) and website (link on the Carrington webpage.)

 

 

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO!!!

5/4/12 Heads Up

Hello, Gladiator Students & Parents.  Here are some of the topics we will be covering next week and a few reminders.  There may be other assignments.

 

**Please see important information below the class updates.

 

LA:      *We will continue our poetry unit focusing on figurative language and underlying themes.  Students will also continue to review for the reading EOG and will learn test taking strategies.  Students will have one EOG practice worksheet each night to be completed as homework.  Students took the final Lexile test this week and are expected to share those scores with parents/guardians.  Please continue to read at home and practice using UNRAAVEL.  These are all great ways to prepare for the EOG!

                             

M:       *We will be reviewing the standards that will be on the EOG

*There will be EOG review questions for homework each night

*Any student who is planning on using their own personal calculator on the EOG needs to bring it in by Wednesday

 

SC:      *We will continue to study soil formation and conservation, and have a quiz on weathering.

 

SS:       *We will continue our study of Eastern Europe, focusing on the cultural characteristics of Poland, the Baltic Republics, the Balkans, and Inland Eastern Europe.  We will begin our unit on South America towards the end of the week.

            *Students have their final current event due on Friday, May 11!

 

**Important Dates for This Week:

                        *Thursday, May 10 & Friday, May 11 – High School Musical 2 6:30

*Teacher Appreciation Announcement from Durham Public Schools – Please let your school community know that they may send a quick thank you note to teachers April 30-May 11.  There is a link on the DPS homepage. We have sent the attached ad and the link to school webmasters to add to your school’s homepage as well.  Please check in to see if it has been added to your school site.

*High School Musical 2 Performances and Tickets – Carrington Middle School presents High School Musical 2 on Thursday and Friday, May 10 and 11.  Performances will be in the Black Box Theatre and begin at 6:30 p.m.  Tickets can be purchased during lunch (approximately 10:30 until 1:00) in the Carrington cafeteria beginning Monday, May 7.  All tickets are $5.00.

*Attendance Reminder – This is just a reminder that students should be present at school each day and on time.  Attendance during this time of year is critical as we prepare for testing.  In addition, attendance greatly impacts a student’s eligibility to play sports in the fall.  Attendance is taken each day until the last day of school on June 7.  Thank you

*Proctors needed for EOG Testing in May – Calling on all parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and adult friends of Cougar families! It is time for us to come together and make sure we will have enough EOG proctors for three big days of testing. Please consider volunteering to proctor on May 15, 16, and/or 17 to help ensure the best possible testing environment for our students and to be in compliance with state law. We need help from 7:30-11:30 on each day. If you are willing and able, please contact our Testing Coordinator, Susan Eisenson either by phone at 560-3916 ext. 16303 or send an email to susan.eisenson@dpsnc.net

*Spring Pictures – Pictures were sent home with every student on Wednesday, May 2.  Please look carefully at the Order Envelope.  Choose the pictures you would like to keep and send your payment, made payable to Lifetouch back to school in the sealed envelope.  Also, please return any pictures not purchased with your payment.   You will be charged by Lifetouch for any pictures not paid for and returned. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Whitt at x 16251.

*Spring Physical Opportunity for the Fall Sports Season – Our Duke Spring Physicals Event date is Tuesday evening, May 22nd from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm here at the Finch Yeager Building on campus.  As usual it will be 10 dollars, cash only.  Athletes may come without a parent/guardian, however they must have the medical history and permission portion of the physical already filled out and signed by their parent/guardian.

*Remember we have a homework hotline (560-3916 ext. 16430) and website (link on the Carrington webpage.)

 

 

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO!!!

4/27/12 Heads Up

Hello, Gladiator Students & Parents.  Here are some of the topics we will be covering next week and a few reminders.  There may be other assignments.

 

*Starting on Monday the 30^th, our first hour of the day will be dedicated to “Marching towards Mastery,” an EOG focus course.  Students will still have all of their other classes but on an altered schedule.  This will allow us provide review and reinforcement before the EOGs. 

 

**Our field trip is this upcoming Friday, May 4!  We are very excited!  You will receive a reminder letter early next week.  If you have any questions, please contact Ms. French 560-3916 ext. 16335 or Alison.French@dpsnc.net.

 

***Progress reports went home on Thursday.  If you have not seen, signed, and returned them, please do so as soon as possible.

 

LA:      *We will continue our poetry unit focusing on figurative language.  We will also take our final SRI Lexile test on Thursday.  Students received an EOG homework review packet on Thursday, April 26.  They are expected to complete one review sheet each night to help them prepare for the EOG in May.  These review sheets will take the place of the May reading log and will count as a project grade.  Please continue to encourage your child to UNRAAVEL, to read on the appropriate Lexile Level, and to complete homework each night.  These are excellent ways to prepare for the 7th grade.

                             

M:       *Students will continue to study Algebra. There will be a test on Wednesday on the following topics:

                        -Simplifying algebraic expressions using the properties (Identity, Commutative, Associative, Distributive)

                        -Order of Operations (PEMDAS)

                        -Using and evaluating algebraic expressions

                        -Solve simple (one- and -two-step) equations or inequalities

*Please remember that there will be 5 EOG prep questions for homework each night. This is a great review for the upcoming test.

*If your child is going to use their personal calculator for the EOG, they need to start bringing it into class. It is important that they are familiar with the calculator they are going to actually use on the EOG.

 

 

SC:      *We will be continuing our work on weathering, erosion and soil formation next week. We will also have the rock quiz Tuesday based on our work on the three types of rock (pp. 76-94). They have a “rock rap” sheet that should help them study.

 

 

SS:       *We will continue our unit on Western Europe, focusing on the European Union.  We will then move onto Eastern Europe

            *Students have a Western Europe postcard due on Tuesday and a Western Europe Map Quiz on Wednesday.

 

**Important Dates for This Week:

                        *Friday, May 4 – Field Trip!

          

Remember we have a homework hotline (560-3916 ext. 16430) and website (link on the Carrington webpage.)

 

 

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO!!!

4/20/12 Heads Up

Hello, Gladiator Students & Parents.  Here are some of the topics we will be covering next week and a few reminders.  There may be other assignments.

 

*Permission slips, medical forms, and cash payment for the field trip are due by Wednesday, April 25.  If you have any questions, please contact Ms. French (alison.french@dpsnc.net or ext. 16335).

 

**We would love for you to join us on the field trip.  If you are interested and DPS cleared, please let Ms. French know.

 

**There will be a Language Arts SGA on Tuesday and a Math SGA on Wednesday.

 

*There was a change in the picture packet process today so we apologize for any confusion.  Students did not turn in the order money today.  Everyone who had their picture taken will receive a packet to go home.  If they do not order a packet, they need to be returned.

 

LA:      *We will continue our poetry unit focusing on figurative language, author’s attitude, and styles of poetry.  Students have an SGA on Tuesday.  Reading log #10 is due Friday, April 27.  Please continue to encourage students to read and reflect at home.  This is a great way to prepare for the EOG!

*4-We will continue our poetry unit focusing on figurative language, imagery, and author’s intent.  Students will be reading and writing many different types of poetry.  There will be an SGA on Tuesday and reading log #10 is due Friday, April 27.  Please continue to encourage students to read and reflect at home.  This is a great way to prepare for the EOG!

 

M:       *We will continue to study Algebra: 

                        -Combining like terms

                        -Distributive Property

                          -One-Step Equations

                          -Two-Step Equations

                          -Order of Operations

*Wednesday there will be an SGA on Algebra.

*Each night students will have 5 EOG prep word problems for homework. I encourage you to review these questions with your child so that they are prepared for the upcoming EOG.

 

SC:      *We will be finishing rocks, minerals and the rock cycle by Monday. We will have a quiz on minerals on Tuesday, and a quiz on rocks soon after, possibly Friday. We will begin weathering and erosion next week, the homework being the notes from pages 108-115. This will be due Thursday, as it is a large section of reading.

 

SS:       *We will be starting our study of Western Europe, focusing on the physical geography, generalizations, the Berlin Wall, and cultural characteristics.

 

**Important Dates for This Week:

            *Tuesday, April 24 – LA SGA

            *Wednesday, April 25 – Math SGA

 

Remember we have a homework hotline (560-3916 ext. 16430) and website (link on the Carrington webpage.)

 

 

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO!!!

4/5/12 Heads Up

Hello, Gladiator Students & Parents.  Here are some of the topics we will be covering next week and a few reminders.  There may be other assignments.

 

**HAVE A WONDERFUL SPRING BREAK!!  Spring break begins tomorrow and goes throughout the week of the 9^th.  We will see students when they return on April 16^th.

**Your OTIS SPUNKMEYER COOKIE DOUGH ORDER will arrive and be available for pick-up on Wednesday, April 18th from 1-6pm in Gym II (building behind the school).  Items are perishable; please make necessary arrangements to have your orders picked up as soon as possible.

**We will be holding Spring Pictures here at Carrington on Friday, April 20.  Forms went home today.  Buddy pictures will also be taken that day.  If students want a buddy picture, they need to see Coach Whitt by April 17^th for a separate form and return it with the payment by the 18^th. 

 

LA:      *We will finish our short story unit and move into our poetry unit.  Students will read and write many different types of poems.  Another reading log will begin on April 16th. 

*4-We will finish the William and Mary unit and the short story unit. We will also begin poetry by reading and writing many different types of poems.  Another reading log will begin on April 16th.

                             

M:       *We will continue studying algebra by solving one step equations.

            *There will be homework each night to review for the EOG.

 

SC:      *We will be studying different types of rocks – sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic.

 

SS:       *We will begin our study of the British Isles, focusing on the geographic features, government, economy, Irish potato famine, and the conflict in Northern Ireland. 

            *Students have a current event due on Thursday, April 19.  Students are welcome to complete them over break.  They will still be considered current.

 

**Important Dates for This Week:

            *Wednesday, April 18 – Cookie Order pick up (see top of page)

            *Friday, April 20 – Spring Picture Day

 

**Proctors needed for EOG Testing in May

Calling on all parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and adult friends of Cougar families! It is time for us to come together and make sure we will have enough EOG proctors for three big days of testing. Please consider volunteering to proctor on May 15, 16, and/or 17 to help ensure the best possible testing environment for our students and to be in compliance with state law. We need help from 7:30-11:30 on each day.  If you are willing and able, please contact our Testing Coordinator, Susan Eisenson either by phone at 560-3916 ext. 16303 or send an email to susan.eisenson@dpsnc.net

 

          

Remember we have a homework hotline (560-3916 ext. 16430) and website (link on the Carrington webpage.)

 

 

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO!!!