Principal's Message 11/30/18

11/30/18

TGIF...Twin Groves it’s Friday!  This is the last Principal’s Message in November. Bring on December!

In an effort to spread positivity, Twin Groves uses our 5 Traits to recognize exemplars of the following qualities: Responsible, Accountable, Respectful, Safe, and a Community. In addition to the 5 Traits, we are also recognizing students for being an Upstander.

As part of this focus, the Twin Groves Staff would like to recognize and reward students who consistently demonstrate these qualities each month. For our first month of recognitions, we are pleased to announce that the following students have been selected for displaying these characteristics.

Alyssa Okazawa

Madison Olsen

Aidan Subacz

Rajan Sukhatme

Katie Sroka

Sam Tewari

What’s Happening at TG?

6th Grade

Advanced Language Arts

Our classes will soon begin reading a novel that relates to the importance of getting along with others: Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli.  Students will complete target aligned activities with every reading assignment, so it is very important that kids keep up with their reading. Please check Schoology with your child if it seems that he or she is not able to do this; most reading will be completed in class, but about twice a week a storyboard that covers the assigned reading will be due. These need to be submitted to the Schoology assignment before class on the day it is due. If at all possible, we encourage parents to read these novels as well - that way your child can be engaged in meaningful conversations about the books both here at school and at home.  This cycle we are again focusing on analytic writing, and this time we are writing literary analysis papers, combining our study of the novel with informational texts about considering the feelings and needs of people who are different from ourselves. Please ask what we’re doing in class; the students are engaged and have lots of strong opinions on these topics.

Language Arts

Our classes will soon begin reading a novel that relates to the importance of getting along with others: Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli.  Students will complete target aligned activities with every reading assignment, so it is very important that kids keep up with their reading. Please check Schoology with your child if it seems that he or she is not able to do this; most reading will be completed in class, but about twice a week a storyboard that covers the assigned reading will be due. These need to be submitted to the Schoology assignment before class on the day it is due. If at all possible, we encourage parents to read these novels as well - that way your child can be engaged in meaningful conversations about the books both here at school and at home.  This cycle we are again focusing on analytic writing, and this time we are writing literary analysis papers, combining our study of the novel with informational texts about considering the feelings and needs of people who are different from ourselves. Please ask what we’re doing in class; the students are engaged and have lots of strong opinions on these topics.
 

SS

In Social Studies this month, students are continuing their study of the different elements of civilizations in the ancient world.  This new road will take us through the world of Egypt and how different groups in Ancient Egypt developed. Students will then continue their journey by looking at the impact that these groups had on building such an amazing, advanced society!  The highlight of this unit will be our investigation of pharaohs, and how they ruled, were honored, and entombed to preserve their legacy.

Science

6th grade scientists are truly feeling like chemists now! We are working our way through chemistry learning about elements, compounds, and mixtures! We’ll also learn about how molecules change state through various physical and chemical changes. In fact, one of our favorite lab activities will take place “White Before Your Eyes!”

Pre Algebra

Pre-Algebra will start a unit on expressions following Thanksgiving and will continue this unit throughout December. Much of the focus on this short unit is using the mathematical properties to manipulate variable expressions and justify their reasoning. Last month we talked about encouraging the students to look for structure. This has definitely shown up in class as the students worked. This month, we’d like for you to encourage the students to be precise in their work. This includes knowing definitions, like absolute value is the distance of a number from 0, including units in answers, and converting to different units as necessary. Thank you for all the help at home!

The students have access to these apps that they should be using regularly:
Math Facts Ninja - For students who need extra practice with their math facts.
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 has expectations for completing lessons in Knowre each week, and students are welcome to work ahead and extend their learning.
 

Pre Algebra Survey

6th Grade Pre-Algebra Survey is continuing the unit on rational numbers that they started at the end of October. Rational numbers include all positive and negative integers, fractions, and decimals. This month we will be focused on multiplication and division of rational numbers and then applying all four operations while solving problems following the order of operations. Last month we talked about encouraging the students to look for structure. This has definitely shown up in class as the students worked. This month, we’d like for you to encourage the students to be precise in their work. This includes knowing definitions, like absolute value is the distance of a number from 0, including units in answers, and converting to different units as necessary. Thank you for all the help at home!

The students have access to these apps that they should be using regularly:
Math Facts Ninja - For students who need extra practice with their math facts.
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 has expectations for completing lessons in Knowre each week, and students are welcome to work ahead and extend their learning.

 

7th Grade

Advanced Language Arts

Book Clubs are underway as we begin Trimester 2! Students have previewed and selected their top three choices on the topic of overcoming challenges. During the coming weeks we will be practicing various reading strategies and making connections to real world issues. After winter break we will delve into the dark and devious mind of Edgar Allan Poe.

Language Arts

The first trimester has come to an end - how time flies! As we begin our focus on how authors craft and structure texts, we are beginning our first round of Book Clubs. Within these clubs, we will be practicing various reading strategies and making connections to real world issues. Coming up next: The Outsiders!

SS

The inquiry model of teaching and learning about history and social studies involves not only questions and questioning, but, also the very critical skills of evaluation of sources for their reliability and credibility. This includes every possible outlet of information - books, magazines, TV, radio, and the omni-present Internet and social media. This is perhaps the most vital skill to possess as students continue through their High School years and beyond. Key attributes that we discuss include: publisher/author, relevance to topic, bias, coverage/depth, accuracy, and being up to date. We are taught to drive defensively. Now, in this world of 24/7 news and information, we need to navigate news and information defensively. In regards to content, we are beginning to investigate our Government and Constiution Unit. We compare and contrast government concepts at the national level, state level, and local level.

8th Grade

Language Arts- Advanced and At Level

The beginning of Trimester Two brings many interesting activities for LA and Advanced LA. We will begin our first Book Club unit, which will be focused on the concept of "Identity." We are really excited for students to take increased accountability of their learning by experiencing their novels in small groups. Along the way we will be reading additional informational and literary texts to make connections among everything we read. We will look closely not only at WHAT authors do, but WHY they do it!

SS

In Social Studies, we just finished our introduction to World War II by investigating which dictator was most powerful.  Students practiced their DBQ writing skills and learned how and why dictators gained power in the 1930s. When we return after Thanksgiving, we will continue our study of World War II and the Holocaust.  Students will discover why the war was fought and how the United States reacted to the war before and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Students will focus on how prejudice and discrimination led to violations of civil liberties, internment of Japanese Americans, and crimes against humanity in Europe and Asia.  

Science

8th grade Science is completing the second unit studying relationships between ancient and modern organisms. In December, we will begin to investigate the effect of genetic variation on an individual organism’s probability of surviving. We will look at some classic examples of natural selection including peppered moths during the Industrial Revolution. Students will also study a modern example of natural selection, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in healthcare.  We will also discuss potential solutions to this medical dilemma.

Algebra 1

The start of Trimester 2 brings new and exciting units of study in Algebra 1. We have successfully completed Unit 4: Statistical Models of Linear Functions and will be starting Unit 5: Transformations. The learning targets from here on out will be getting more and more challenging as the year progresses. Please continue to encourage your child to ask questions and get extra help when needed.

Algebra 2

The start of Trimester 2 brings new and exciting units of study in Algebra 2. We have recently finished Unit 3: Polynomial Functions which is one of our most challenging units of the year! Students kept a positive attitude and successfully mastered the targets! We then started Unit 4: Radical Functions and Equations. Please make sure to continue to encourage your child to ask questions and get help when needed.

SLC
I hope everyone had a happy, fulfilling and relaxing Thanksgiving with your families. With Thanksgiving and conferences behind us, we are now full stream ahead into trimester 2.
This trimester we are continuing with our Social Science unit on Communities. The students have learned about their own identities and what make them unique. They also learned about similarities they have with their peers. They also learned about buildings, transportation, businesses and natural characteristics in urban, suburban and rural areas. We finally focused on Buffalo Grove and learned about the communities and characteristics that make Buffalo Grove such a great place to live. We will now venture into people of the community and that communities consist of a collection of people with unique identities.  Students will learn what makes a community, and how are communities are different? Students will learn about how rules and laws shape communities and the various jobs/roles people have in a community.

We continue to provide targeted direct instruction to students in reading, written expression, mathematics, language for learning and language for thinking as well as reading comprehension.  You can check TeacherEase to see the targets individualized to your child's learning levels in each of these areas.
As always, building independence, social skills and organizational skills are embedded throughout the school day. Please feel free to email or call with any questions, comments or concerns you may have.

T-Shirts for a CAUSE!

Twin Groves and Colt’s Council are proud to be supporting Feed My Starving Children for our yearly charity!

The Feed My Starving Children organization strives to feed EVERYONE with the support of volunteers, donors, food distribution partners, and meal recipients. No one deserves to go hungry, especially when something can be done to help. They've worked hard to create nutritious meal formulas that really meet the need of starving people, and this food makes a real impact in their lives.

To order, please visit: https://inktothepeople.com/tghasheartfmsc or scan the QR Code!

Please contact Mrs. Howard [email protected] or Ms. Schaefer [email protected] with any questions!

Thank you in advance for your support!
 

MAP Testing- Winter Window

The Winter MAP Testing window will be 12/4 and 12/5.

6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will be taking the Math MAP test on 12/4.

6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will be taking the Reading MAP test on 12/5.

Make ups will continue through December 12th.

8th grade Spanish Placement Testing dates:

The writing, listening, and reading portions of the Spanish Placement Test will be administered in class on December 7th-14th.

5 Essentials Survey Information

District 96 parents are asked to complete online the parent portion of the Illinois 5Essentials Survey by Jan. 18, 2019. Access the survey: https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/

As a parent, this is your opportunity to share your thoughts on important elements of your child’s school’s effectiveness. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or [email protected] or Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Jeanne Spiller

Please see below for a Vaping Presentation

Current Patriot Consortium Mathematics Placement Process

Over the last few years, Stevenson High School and the feeder middle schools have created a scope and sequence and aligned the curriculum to the Common Core Standards for Mathematics, as well as created common benchmarks for the end of each unit for both the Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 courses. The consortium has created criteria that defines the four strands of mathematical proficiency to highlight the attributes of a proficient mathematical thinker. The criteria are grouped into three categories (See chart on second page):

• Procedural Skills & Fluency (How well you can correctly use mathematics.)

• Conceptual Understanding (How well you utilize mathematical ideas, transfer your knowledge into new situations, and apply it to new contexts.)

• Problem Solving with Adaptive Reasoning and Strategic Competence (How well you can apply strategies and sound reasoning.)

Over the course of the year, the mathematics teachers will be discussing these criteria with the students in class to create a portrait of each student. This portrait will be used to recommend the students into the mathematics course at Stevenson High School that matches their content knowledge as well as level of mathematics proficiency at this time.

As a district and consortium, it is our vision that each student move on to the next course in the sequence providing that there are not significant gaps in content knowledge. If there are significant gaps in content knowledge and a change in recommendation occurs, we will contact you. We feel that this process allows a mathematical picture of the student to develop over time, which will provide a more informed recommendation.

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

Upcoming Events

-Dessert Day is on December 12th

-Special Lunch is on December 19th

-Dessert Day is on January 23rd

-Special Lunch is on January 30th

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.