8/30/19
TGIF…Twin Groves it’s Friday!
It was so nice to see all of you during our Curriculum Nights. Thank you for attending!
Just a reminder...there is no school on Monday, September 2nd.
See you on Tuesday, September 3rd.
What’s Happening in the Classrooms?
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 anytime 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. Lisa Huberty, Ms. Alice Karasinski, Mrs. Jacki McMullen, Ms. Samantha Sabin, Mrs. Kristen Vileta, and Mr. Jeff Williams. We look forward to a great year partnering with you in helping your middle schooler learn and grow!
Language Arts/Language Arts Advanced:
The 6th 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. We have begun to delve into short stories and poems while discussing the literary elements authors use in their writing. A specific focus of instruction will be how to determine a theme, and using text evidence to support it.
Pre Algebra Survey and 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. Alland (maternity leave sub for 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.
SS:
In Social Studies, students will begin the school year by exploring how people are defined and impacted by where they live in the world. We’ll investigate why people migrate to different places all around the world, and how humans interact with their environments in both positive and negative ways. Students will also examine the inquiry process of investigation that will serve as a model for how we explore history and current events throughout the school year. We’ll dive into what it means to answer essential questions and create arguments from different perspectives that are research based.
Science: In science classes, students are beginning to explore the wonderful world of Science. We learned about safety in the science classroom and how scientists DO science! We’ve completed many hands-on activities involving metric measurement and new scientific equipment. A few favorite activities included “The Color Challenge” and “Mix and Match Mass.” We will soon begin the Environmental Geoscience unit which involves studying predator/prey relationships and the various components of an ecosystem.
7th Grade
7th Grade Introduction: 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, Mr. Tim Kile, Mr. Vince Masse, Mrs. Kristen Linnenburger, Mrs. Chanelle Savich, Ms. Samantha Schaefer, and Mr. John Zajac.
Language Arts:
Here it is the end of August already, and we’re deep into literature in LA! During the first weeks of school, we spent some time getting to know each other and building classroom communities. Now we are reading poetry and short stories (“After Twenty Years” and “Examination Day”), and discussing the literary elements which are artfully used in each piece. We’ve reviewed theme and how authors develop theme, and now we’re applying those rules and strategies to the literature we read. Next, we’ll look at tone in informational text and write narrative anecdotes to enhance a reader’s understanding of a topic. Students have set reading goals for themselves and should be reading at home in order to meet their goals.
Language Arts Advanced:
The 7th-grade advanced language arts classes are off to an amazing start! During the first few days of school, we spent some time getting to know each other and building classroom communities. From there we dove right into short stories using Roald Dahl’s eerie short story, “The Landlady,” and Kurt Vonnegut’s dystopian story “Harrison Bergeron” to review how authors use literary elements in their writing to hook the reader and develop a theme. Our focus moving forward will be digging into the art of poetry, examining authors' tones, and crafting narrative stories. Lastly, students have set reading goals for themselves and should be reading at home in order to meet their goals.
Bridge to Algebra 1:
Students are working hard a very crucial unit involving solving equations and inequalities including word problems. Next we will be moving onto our functions unit! What IS a function? How can you identify them? Can you compare two separate functions? Can you describe them?
Algebra 1:
Students have almost finished their unit on crucial equation solving skills, including solving literal equations, and solving inequalities and compound inequalities. Next: graphing and writing equations of lines.
Science:
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.
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. Currently, we are investigating human rights and citizenship. All year long, we dig into a variety of primary and secondary sources. In a few weeks, we will begin to analyze the early history of what will become the United States... colonization, which will eventually lead to growing colonial tensions on the road towards revolution. 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 history?
8th Grade
Language Arts and Language Arts Advanced:
At the start of 8th grade Language Arts, we have been reviewing and brushing up on Figurative Language Techniques. We not only have been reviewing what these techniques are but more importantly, how to find and examine them. We are reading short stories to practice determining the theme of a story and analyzing how different plot elements contribute to that message. In addition to analyzing fiction and nonfiction texts, we are beginning to practice our narrative writing skills with engaging classroom prompts and activities.
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. Excited for a fun year!
Algebra 2:
Algebra 2 began the year by jumping into Unit 01: Quadratic Relations and Equations. It started with great a 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. Excited for a fun year!
SS:
In social studies, students will continue their study of social justice. Students will investigate both historical and present day examples both in the United States and around the world of groups that have fought for their civil rights. Students will understand how people’s individual characteristics influence their view of the world and how the world views them. They will also explore the injustices that exist in the world and problem solve ways in which injustices can be confronted.
Science:
In science, students will be 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.
ILC:
Things are running smoothly in the ILC! The students have adjusted to being back at school after a long summer break. We are working hard to ensure that every student will learn to follow his/her classroom schedule independently. The students are doing a fantastic job opening their lockers and caring for their own materials. Students have been working hard to show the teacher what they know in the areas of reading decoding, reading comprehension, language development and math skills. There have been many assessments to appropriately place the students in learning programs that will best meet their individual needs. Don’t worry! We have sprinkled in plenty of fun activities, too! The sixth grade students even made pancakes this week during their life skills group! In Social Studies, we are learning about middle school problems. The students have been working to identify bullying as a problem many middle schoolers face and to remember the fail-proof solution . . . tell an adult! It has been an absolute pleasure to get to know your children. Our staff in the ILC looks forward to a productive and fun school year!
Curriculum Night Information
Please see the information below that was discussed or distributed at the 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Curriculum Nights.
Middle School Health Topics Letter-2019/20
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. Please visit http://www.kcsd96.org/curriculum/pacing-guides-middle-school for information on both general and specific health 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
Curriculum Night Presentation
Please click HERE to access the presentation from Curriculum Night.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Information
The Grade 6 SEL One-Pager LINK
The Grade 7 SEL One-Pager LINK
The Grade 8 SEL One-Pager LINK
To locate this info on the website:
1. Go to the "Curriculum & Instruction" link found underneath the large photo in the Quick Links 2-column list on your school homepage.
2. In Curriculum & Instruction, select "What Students Learn" (found in the light green Quick Links list on the right-hand side of the webpage).
3. In What Students Learn, Select "Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)" (found in the white portion of the Quick Links list on the right-hand side of the webpage) and see grade levels listed.
Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 ~ Thought Exchange Partnership
Now seeking parents to fill open positions on our district Thought Exchange Partnership. If you are looking for a way to get involved, be a voice for Twin Groves, and learn about the wonderful things happening in District 96, please consider joining. If you are interested in this opportunity, email me ([email protected]) to express interest by September 13th! Please know this will be a lottery for open spots. I will contact everyone to let you know if you have been selected! The first meeting is scheduled for September 26th in the evening.
Purpose:
1. To share with parents information regarding district goals and initiatives, curricular and instructional innovations, programs and other informational topics. (i.e. District Goals, MAP and PARCC Results)
2. To review school board or school code required topics (i.e. Handbook, Discipline Policy, Grants, Calendar)
3. To understand parent perceptions and solicit feedback on school district topics to assist the district in communication and planning.
Membership:
Members serve a two-year term on a rotation basis. Once any two-year term is served, new members will be identified. Unless a parent has children at WG for both years of their term, they will serve as a representative for their elementary school for the final year if they are able. If all parent review positions are not filled, members may serve additional terms to fill parent review roster. In this manner, each committee member can receive information about a greater number of topics and share feedback over the two-year period and committee composition is more stable than reforming the entire committee annually.
Committee Composition Includes:
● Two to four parent members-at-large for each school and any PTO member.
● One special education district representative.
● One ELL district representative.
● One Bilingual district representative.
● One Board of Education representative and alternate.
● One representative appointed by the Board of Education.
● Teacher Representative(s) – to be invited based on agenda topic.
● Administrative Representative(s) – to be invited based on agenda topic.
Roles of the Members:
1. Active participant sharing opinions, questions, suggestions and feedback in positive ways
2. Act as district ambassadors to promote the district in the community
3. Direct other parents to the appropriate district personnel and resources as needed
4. Invite other parents to attend district sponsored meetings and events including identified
Parent Review meetings Administrative Chairperson:
Mrs. Jeanne Spiller, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Community
Parent Liaison: Lubna Andrabi Examples of Potential Discussion
Topics:
Topics Aligned with current District goals
Discipline Procedures/Student Handbook/Bully Plan
Communication Norms Transition to Middle School and High School
PARCC/School Report Card Data District Committee Reports
MAP Testing/Growth
Data/Goal Setting
District Communication with Stakeholders
Health/Wellness/Social Emotional
D96 Learning Targets
Collaboration between Stevenson and D96
Common Core Standards and Assessments
Transition to Middle School and High School
Parent Review Committee meets at Ivy Hall in the MAT Room from 7:00 to 8:30 PM on: 9/26/19, 10/24/19, 12/05/19, 01/30/20, 2/13/20, 4/23/20
MAP Information
MAP scores will be communicated electronically on September 6th.
We made the decision this year to turn off the ability for students to see their RIT score immediately upon submitting their test. In past years, this feature has been turned on. Instead, students will receive their scores through an individual discussion with their teacher at some point following the MAP testing window. In addition, MAP score reports will be emailed to parents on Friday, September 6th beginning at 3pm.
The main reasons for this decision are as follows:
We believe it is best for students that their results are shared personally. Teachers can help put student results into context and discuss areas for further growth and areas of strength. A RIT score in isolation does not communicate this level of detail and simply becomes a number to compare themselves to others.
Some of our students have demonstrated a high level of anxiety with the level of sharing that occurs when the RIT scores are shown upon test submission. This change will allow students to simply take the assessment and not be concerned about the immediacy of the feedback.
STEM Conference for Girls
The STEM for Girls Conference for Lake County is September 14th, 2019, at Round Lake High School. This conference is for girls in grades 6-8 and will engage each participant in several sessions with a presenter who works in the field. Registration is required and will be open until September 8th. Sessions fill quickly so please register early by visiting our webpage at: EYH Lake County.
Daily Announcements
The Daily Announcements will be posted daily. 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
We hope everyone has had a wonderful start to the school year!
As a reminder, you can still order Special Lunch, Dessert Day, Spirit Wear and Fall Bash tickets through Membership Toolkit! at twingrovesmspto.membershiptoolkit.com
The deadline to order Special Lunch is September 6, 2019
The deadline to order Spirit Wear is September 6, 2019
The deadline to order Dessert Day is August 30th for the SEPTEMBER date only, and September 29th for all the remaining dessert day dates.
Fall Bash tickets are available on Membership Toolkit through October 23rd and at the door on the day of the event.
Please feel free to reach out to the Committee Co-Chairs or Carrie DeZutter at [email protected] with any questions.
Upcoming Events:
9/18- Dessert Day
9/25- Special Lunch
10/23- Dessert Day
10/25- Fall Bash 3-5PM
10/30- Special Lunch
11/13- Dessert Day
11/20- Special Lunch
11/25- Book Fair
11/26- Book Fair
12/11- Dessert Day
12/18- Special Lunch
Please click HERE to access the Membership Toolkit. All items for sale from the PTO will be available on this website.