11/2/18
TGIF...Twin Groves it’s Friday!
Check out the amazing pumpkins created by the staff! All the money collected from voting will be donated to Feed My Starving Children.
Safety Reminders for Review with Families
Because our students’ safety is our top priority, we share the following information with District 96 families to reinforce the importance of diligence and of communicating concerns to the authorities.
District administrators were advised that a student was approached by a black sedan, driven by someone the student did not know, and asked to get into the car. The student did not comply and immediately informed a parent. Law enforcement is following up on and investigating the report.
Incidents such as this are a reminder of the need to review with children of all ages the importance of being aware while walking to/from or waiting at the bus stop and while walking to/from school.
Please emphasize that your children should not enter the vehicle of someone they do not know. Also, they should report to a trusted adult any attempt by a stranger to engage them in conversation or offer them candy or other enticements.
Likewise, children and adults being vigilant in their neighborhoods and reporting activity that seems unusual or out of place helps keep families in our community safe. “If you see something, say something.”
These are safety reminders that all of us benefit from reviewing as families.
–Julie Schmidt, District 96 Superintendent of Schools
Veteran’s Day Assembly- Friday, November 9th
On Friday, November 9th, Twin Groves Middle School will honor Veteran's Day by having two special assemblies for our students. At 8am we will have the 6th and 7th grade assembly. At 9:15am we will have the 8th grade assembly. The assemblies will feature Dale Kriesel (a Navy veteran of the Vietnam war), and the Twin Groves Orchestra and Band. Each assembly will be hosted by students from our Youth Leadership Program.
We would like to invite any veteran, person that has served or is serving, and family members of Twin Groves who would like to come to celebrate with us as we honor those who have fought for our nation. If you would like to celebrate with us please fill out this brief questionnaire so we may prepare for your attendance.
What’s happening at TG?
SLC
It’s hard to believe we are nearing the end of the first trimester! Our students have been working hard each and every day. Locker combinations are memorized, schedules are being followed, social skills and organizational skills are practiced daily, and their independence is growing.
Academically, we have finished our first science unit on Weather The students really enjoyed learning all about weather and how storms are formed. Through weekly experiments, videos and Brain Pop, they have learned all about hurricanes, blizzards, thunderstorms and tornadoes! Each student also selected their favorite storm to research, take notes and complete a Keynote presentation. We turned the classroom into a mini theater (no lounge chairs though) and presented, “Ridin the Storm Out” to a peer class, teachers and administrators. It was a huge success!
We are beginning a Social Science unit on Communities. This unit will include Who Am I? as well as Who Are We? Geography and map skills of our community, local government/laws, and careers in the community will also be explored. This unit also aligns with our Life Skills lessons are we prepare for CBIs (Community Based Instruction) trips into the community.
Along with Science and Social Science curriculum, the students are working daily on individualized math and reading lessons.
This year, we have begun to implement the TEACCH methodology in the SLC.
TEACCH is an evidence-based service, training, and research program for individuals of all ages and skill levels with various disabilities. This provides structure, i.e., set up the classroom so that students understand where to be, what to do, how to do it, and when is it done, all as independently as possible. To best meet the needs of all our students, this included rearranging the classroom environment, using various individual schedules from object schedules, visual, and words only schedules. Our curriculum stays the same, but the delivery of it is what changed. Tasks boxes are also used to foster independence. Skills and tasks mastered are moved to the independent area and becomes an extension of their lesson. We also have a “Chill Corner” and “Leisure Land” used for break times. In the “Chill Corner”, sensory tools are used to aide in self-regulation or to explore various fidgets, tools they may not be familiar with. In “Leisure Land” students can relax and spend a few minutes doing what they enjoy best! This includes reading comic books, making works with magnetic alphabet or using a calculator and dice to add a variety of numbers. This has been a positive change in the SLC, not only for our students, but for everyone who works in our classroom!
PE
We decided to switch October and November. In the second half of October we began our basketball unit. This ties into the start of the boys season were kids can get some extra work in before tryouts. This unit will run through the first week of November. Then the rest of November the students will participate in an elective unit. This is were there will be three choices and the students pick what they are most interested in. This style will increase participation and allow students to participate in an activity they have an interest in. During this time we will still continue our fitness routine. Now that we are inside our focus will be more on muscular strength and muscular endurence. We will continue to have two fitness days a week. We will continue with the pacer inside to help maintain their cardiovascular endurence level. The basketball unit will three levels. Pro division for more experience students. College for those not as experienced or as high of a skill level. Scooter basketball for those who want something a little different. The students picked their own level based on what they were most comfortable with.
Health
This rotation the 6th graders have learning about decision making skills. Students have learned about how their decisions have consequences and how to make good decisions. During this unit, students have also learned about bullying, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse. Near the end of the rotation the students created a bully free comic to show their understanding of the material. The seventh graders, this year, started to learn about mental/emotional health. We have focused on goal setting and the ability to overcome obstacles in order to achieve our goals. The students really enjoyed the Marshmallow Tower activity that worked on team building. In eighth grade we have worked on the human sexuality unit. Students created contraceptive commercials to showcase their knowledge about the material. We discussed abstinence and how choosing to be abstinent has many positive outcomes without any negative consequences. During this unit students discussed abortion, the Safe Haven Law, homosexuality, and had a great court case on sexual harassment.
Music
We have be working the keyboards. Playing different pieces to learn or relearn the notes on the staff and where they are on the keyboards. Several classes are composing short pieces, and 7th Graders have been trying their hand at Blues Improvisation. As with all our performance pieces, students analyze and discuss with each other how to improve their pieces for their final performances. As we wind down the music trimester, students will be headed to TASOL in their Trimester 2 on November 12th.
TASOL
We have been cooking in TASOL! Students in 7th and 8th grade have been very busy in the kitchens. We have made some great recipes including cinnamon swirls, baking powder biscuits, stir fry vegetable ramen, sweet potato fries and many more. As the trimester comes to an end, students will be creating a digital recipe book with all of their main entree recipes from the Cooking at Home assignment. Sixth grade finished their sewing projects. They explored the MyPlate recommended guidelines. They have also been in the kitchens making smoothies, french toast, pizzas and cookies. Take a some time this fall and cook in the kitchen with your students. They love to try new recipes, and it is the perfect way to spend quality time with your student. Trimester 2 will start on November 12. All TASOL students will rotate to Art.
Conferences
Conferences are Monday, November 19th from 5-7PM & Tuesday, November 20th from 2-7PM.
HERE is the link to sign up.
What Parents Need to Know About Fortnite
Please click the links to learn more information about Fortnite.
Daily Announcements
The Daily Announcements will be posted each morning. Please see Twin Groves website for up to date school announcements. The announcements let you know what exciting activities and clubs are going on at Twin Groves. Please click HERE to access the Daily Announcements.
PTO Happenings
The PTO is looking for volunteers to set up the book fair (in the morning of 11/15) and to help take down the book fair (11/20 at 7PM). Please email Kari Siegall at [email protected] if you are interested.
-Dessert Day is on November 14th
-Book Fair is on November 19th and 20th (during conferences)
-Special Lunch is on November 28th
Please click HERE to access the Membership Toolkit. All items for sale from the PTO will be available on this website.
Band & Orchestra Boosters
Please click the BLOG to access the latest news from the Band & Orchestra Boosters.