8/31/18
TGIF...Twin Groves it’s Friday! It was great to see you all at Curriculum Night. If you were not able to attend, I have included the Middle School Health letter below.
Dear Parent/Guardian,
District 96 provides a comprehensive health curriculum that addresses an individual’s physical, mental, and social-emotional well-being. Within these broad categories, health teachers cover the topics of body systems, fitness and nutrition, illness prevention, first aid, personal safety, consumer health, bullying prevention, and decision-making.
Illinois state law also requires all school districts with a comprehensive health curriculum to provide instruction on specific health topics including cancer education, AIDS education and prevention, human growth and development, sexual abstinence until marriage, contraception, dating violence, sexual abuse prevention, Erin’s Law, and the Abandoned Newborn Protection Act. In compliance with these state mandates, your child’s health teachers will address these specific topics by the end of eighth grade. The health curriculum is designed to introduce topics at the most age appropriate time. THIS LINK information on both general and specific topics by grade level.
District 96 recognizes that parents hold the primary responsibility for their child’s education. As parents, you may elect to excuse your child from instruction on any health topic. If you choose this option, please submit a request, in writing, to the building principal, asking that your child be excused from class during the specific period of instruction.
Please note that parents may also arrange to preview instructional materials by contacting their school office. If you have any questions, you may contact Andrea Penepacker, Health teacher at Woodlawn Middle School, at (847) 353-8500; or Ben Leven, Health teacher at Twin Groves Middle School at (847) 821-8946.
We hope you will find this information helpful as we begin a new school year.
Sincerely,
Julie A. Schmidt
Superintendent of Schools
What’s Happening at TG?
6th Grade
Welcome to Twin Groves...we’re so glad you’re here! Thank you to all of the parents who came out to curriculum night. If at any time you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact any one of the teachers. The sixth-grade teacher teams include Mrs. Jen Didech, Mrs. Kristyn Everett, Mr. Adam Greenberg, Mrs. Kristen Linnenburger, Mrs. Jacki McMullen, Ms. Samantha Sabin, Mrs. Chanelle Savich, Mrs. Kristen Vileta, and Mr. Jeff Williams.
Language Arts
Students have been working on making inferences for the past two weeks, and now we are heading into a unit examining literature and finding a theme. The books and other resources we are concentrating on address the essential questions “What are our responsibilities toward others?” and “How should we treat other people?” We find these are always good topics to consider as students begin their middle school careers. Students have chosen a novel to read for Book Clubs, and the reading homework begins now: they will need to read another 1/4 of their novel by Thursday every week, approximately 55-90 pages, depending on their LA level and the particular book they have chosen. They have figured out a schedule with their group mates. Although there will be some time allotted to reading during LA and during FLEX, students should also be reading about 20 minutes per night (or a total of 100 minutes per week) in order to improve their stamina as readers. Students who read regularly tend to do better in academic subjects and on tests, no matter what they choose to read. If your student finishes the 1/4 of the book club novel early in the week, independent reading at home can continue using another book of your student's choosing.
As they start to come in, grades will be entered into TeacherEase, and homework assignments are always posted on Schoology. Please make it a habit to check on your student’s progress using both of these systems. Getting started with good study skills will be a valuable life skill for your student.
*Please be advised that appropriate text-complexity, not the targets, differentiates 6th grade Language Arts from Advanced Language Arts. The targets are the same regardless of level.
Social Studies
In social studies classes, students are starting their journey by “digging” up the past through the world of archaeology and anthropology. We’ll learn how to analyze artifacts and fossils and better understand how these incredible primary sources can help us uncover history during prehistoric times. Students will also begin to understand the inquiry process that we’ll use throughout the entire school year in social studies, which will challenge them to ask and answer essential questions through research and exploration.
Science
In science classes, students are beginning to explore the wonderful world of science. We discussed safety in the science classroom. We’ve also done some activities measuring length, volume, and mass. Students worked on activities including “Color Challenge” and “Mix and Match Mass.” Students will be introduced to scientific bar and line graphs. We will then begin the Environmental Geoscience unit which include studying predator/prey relationships and the various components of an ecosystem.
Pre Algebra Survey
Welcome to 6th-grade math! We are starting with a unit on ratios and proportions. The students will learn how to describe ratio relationships, solve problems, and work with percents. Mrs. Everett and Mrs. Didech are more than willing to work with students if they are not confident that they understand any of the lessons studied in class. So far, the students are doing great and we are excited to get to know them this year!
All students have access to Knowre. This app covers topics in line with the Common Core Curriculum which the students are covering this year. This program is designed to develop critical thinking skills. Each class will have expectations for completing lessons in Knowre each week, and students are welcome to work ahead and extend their learning.
Pre Algebra
Welcome to 6th-grade math! We are starting with a unit on ratios and proportions. The students will learn how to describe ratio relationships, solve problems, and work with percents. Mrs. Everett and Mrs. Didech are more than willing to work with students if they are not confident that they understand any of the lessons studied in class. So far, the students are doing great and we are excited to get to know them this year!
All students have access to Knowre. This app covers topics in line with the Common Core Curriculum which the students are covering this year. This program is designed to develop critical thinking skills. Each class will have expectations for completing lessons in Knowre each week, and students are welcome to work ahead and extend their learning.
7th Grade
Welcome to 7th grade! Thank you to all the parents who attended Curriculum Night. Communication is KEY, so please feel free to communicate any questions or concerns about your child's learning or well-being. The seventh-grade teaching teams include Ms. Erica Brand, Mrs. Barb Coleman, Mr. Brandon Dahlstrom, Ms. Lisa Huberty, Mr. Tim Kile, Mr. Vince Masse, Mrs. Katie O'Neill, Ms. Samantha Schaefer, Mr. Neeraj Suri, and Mrs. Melanie Tomer.
Language Arts
The 7th-grade language arts classes are off to a wonderful start! During the first weeks of school, we spent some time getting to know each other and building classroom communities. Next we will delve into short stories and poems, while discussing the literary elements author's use in their writing. Our focus will be crafting thematic statements and using these statements to develop a narrative story.
Social Studies
As we begin a new school year, it's important to note that Social Studies follows an inquiry-based format of teaching and learning. We dig into a variety of primary and secondary sources to analyze the early history of what will become the United States. We look at Essential Questions and Focusing Questions. These questions help guide our learning and work from week to week. How fun is it to be encouraged to be curious about the people, places, and events of our great history? To kick off the year, we are exploring the challenges and struggles of colonization leading to growing colonial tensions on the road to revolution.
Science
In 7th-grade science, we started out the year reviewing the scientific method while trying to distinguish the stickiness of tape. Students are learning about how cells help the body function as a whole. We will look at what organelles make up animal and plant cells and how these organelles function. By learning about cells, we will apply that to differentiated cells in the various body systems.
Bridge to Algebra 1
Welcome to Bridge to Algebra 1! We have begun our unit on solving linear equations. This unit is foundational and therefore extremely important! We will be spending the next month and a half perfecting our skills in this unit. It includes solving equations/inequalities as well as creating equations/inequalities from word problems and interpreting their solutions.
Algebra 1
Welcome to Algebra 1! We are finishing up a short unit on solving equations, inequalities, and compound inequalities. Students will also be asked to create equations/inequalities from word problems, solve them, and interpret their solutions. We will include instruction and practice on solving literal equations as well. After that, they will be exploring functions with a focus on linear functions and rate of change.
8th Grade
Welcome to 8th grade! This is such an exciting year, and it really does fly by. We want to take a moment and thank everyone who was able to come out to Curriculum Night. It was wonderful to meet each of you. Please never hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you might have. This is going to be a fantastic year, and we look forward to watching your students grow during their last year here at Twin. The 8th-grade team consists of the following teachers; Mr. Ratliff, Mrs. Bildstein, Ms. Skale, Ms. Leone, Mrs. Hammer, Mrs. Howard, Mrs. Tooley, Mr. Friziellie, and Ms. Dupree.
Language Arts
We are off to a strong start in 8th grade Language Arts! We are enjoying getting to know our students and are looking forward to a great year! In both Language Arts and Advanced Language Arts we have been reading articles to determine the central idea, and are digging into some short stories to discuss theme. Students are showing their creativity through narrative writing, and are also beginning to craft analytical responses to support text evidence.
Social Studies
It has been great getting to know our new 8th graders! We began the year by helping students better understand our country, specifically our economic and political systems. We discussed broad differences between republicans and democrats, as well as gave students an opportunity to explore their own political beliefs. Students will be encouraged all year to find their voice, learn how to fully support their ideas and respectively differ from others. Our first unit, Immigration, focuses on what life was like for newcomers coming to America at the turn of the 20th century. We will scrutinize whether or not the "American Dream" came true for people and start to paint the picture of the division that lies within the United States.
Science
In science, students are going to start with investigating causes of local and global weather patterns. Highlights from the unit will include watching convection currents in action under different temperature and humidity conditions and reminiscing on beach vacations as we observe sand and water heating at different rates.
Algebra 1
Algebra 1 began the year by jumping right into Unit 01: Solving Linear Equations and Inequalities. Students will have to create equations and inequalities to represent different relationships to then solve and interpret the solution. They will also learn about literal equations and finding inverse functions. Lastly, students will master solving two linear inequalities and represent the solutions graphically. Please make sure that students have a TI-84 Plus graphing calculator they are bringing with them to class daily.
Algebra 2
Algebra 2 began the year by jumping into Unit 01: Quadratic Relations and Equations. It started with great review and will begin getting more and more challenging as the unit progresses. Students will need to apply and describe transformations from one function to another, graph quadratic functions, and apply graphical, tabular, and algebraic relationships between a function and its inverse. Please make sure that students have a TI-84 Plus graphing calculator they are bringing with them to class daily.
ILC
It's been a busy start to the school year! The students have been working hard to demonstrate their knowledge as we assess current levels.
MATH: Students are already immersed in their math studies, with instruction varying from number families, mental math and functional math skills. One student's coffee cart is scheduled to open next week!
LANGUAGE ARTS: The students are working towards their individual goals in decoding, sight words (for some) and written expression.
GUIDED READING: Assessing current reading comprehension levels is a time-consuming process, and we are in the thick of it! Students have been working towards demonstrating their knowledge both through oral retells and independent multiple-choice questions. Testing measures reading comprehension levels in both fiction and nonfiction.
RESOURCE: Students in Resource spend time working on organization, at-level homework and additional skill-building.
SOCIAL STUDIES/SCIENCE: The students have been studying the 13 colonies. We've learned that there are many reasons that settlers came to the New World. As we learn about this topic, we are building our skills in vocabulary, comparing/contrasting, stating claims and supporting the claims with text evidence. Please encourage your child to study his/her vocabulary words regularly.
SLC
WELCOME to our new SLC families and WELCOME BACK to our returning families! I hope everyone had a great, relaxing summer vacation!
We are finishing our second week of school and getting to know our schedules, locker combinations and routines of the day. So far, we are all off to a great start!
Since we follow a very detailed and structured schedule all day, please send a healthy snack daily. This will help keep their bodies energized throughout the day. Please send a snack from the Safe Snack only. They will have the opportunity to enjoy snacks either in the morning before lunch, or later in the afternoon. Homework has started coming home this week as well. Please check your sons assignment notebook to see how his schedule of the day and any homework assignments. I look forward to a very successful year in the SLC!
ATTENTION DISTRICT 96 ATHLETES:
The patriot middle school conference has made some changes to the format.
For basketball and volleyball, there will be two teams per grade. There will be an "A" team and a "B" team. No longer will there be two equal teams.
Soccer will have a girl team and a boy team. 6th, 7th and 8th graders will be allowed to try out for soccer.
Information from Catalyst and Stand Strong
Dr. Michael Bradley talks to parents about crazy, stressed teens!
September 13th at 10:30 am and 7:00 PM
Dr. Bradley, licensed clinical psychologist, renowned author, and speaker on teen behavior will present two times on Thursday, September 13th. He will talk about "When Things Go Crazy with Your Adolescent, The Why, the How, The What to Do Now" at 10:30 AM at Vernon Township Library, the Annex at 10:30 AM. THANK YOU VERNON AREA LIBRARY FOR SPONSORING! To register for this event, visit, https://goo.gl/Lbsdyt (morning event)
He will speak again about his new book, "Crazy-Stressed",. (Saving today's overwhelmed teen with love, laughter and the science of resilience) from 7:00-9:00 PM at Performing Arts Center at SHS, Parking lot E. Register at https://goo.gl/xdw2bz
Dr. Cortesi's Parenting Class, How to Raise Alcohol & Drug Free Teenagers.
October 3rd, 10th, and 17th. 7:00-8:30 PM
Dr. Cortesi will follow up on Dr. Bradley's parenting talks with her own class on raising teens today, with a focus on keeping them alcohol and drug free. This class, taught through PREP, will focus on practical tips on how to effectively parent through these tough teenage years. Dr. Cortesi, the Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator at Stevenson, will explain to parents about the growing teen brain, how teenagers sometimes act they way they do and how and why parents can be consistent through these years on messaging and talking about alcohol and drug use. Spaces will fill up fast so book your spot now through PREP at https://stevensonhighschool.perfectmind.com/24232/Classes/BookMe4LandingPages/CoursesLandingPage?courseId=05382c14-cbb1-4d11-bc92-3205df1ec345
Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator Dr. Cristina Cortesi will share regular reflections during the school year in the Daily Digest. For more information on Dr. Cortesi and the substance abuse prevention program, visit her web page.
The beginning of any school year can be a difficult time for students and their families. A new school year, though sometimes overwhelming, can also be a great opportunity to change the way we communicate. Consider taking advantage of existing opportunities (car rides, dinner, commercial breaks, etc) for conversation. Show your teen that you are available to tune everything else out and listen only to what they have to say. Try a few of these strategies:
- Listen rather than talk. This should be completely about them.
- Refrain from advice giving; instead, ask non-judgmental questions that prompt them to think through the situation aloud with you. (i.e., “That sounds like a tough situation. Were you happy with how things turned out?”)
- Show interest in what they are saying and affirm/agree with the parts of the conversation that you can. (i.e., “That's cool” or “I love the way you did that.”)
- If they are not open to conversation, don't push. Rethink how you approached the situation and try a different strategy next time.
For more tips, check out the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Adolescent Health.
Daily Announcements
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PTO
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Band & Orchestra Boosters
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