9/11/20
MAP for Materials pick up TGIF…Twin Groves it’s Friday!
Just a reminder. There will be an early release on Tuesday, September 15th. School is dismissed at 1:30 PM. Please have students follow THIS schedule.
What’s Happening at TG?
PE
The school year of remote learning has started off well for the wellness team. Students are currently scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays for designated fitness days, and Mondays and Wednesdays are activity days. Fridays are student choice days. On Fridays, the students can pick any activity they are interested in based on their equipment and space available. The students have been very positive throughout remote learning. They are working hard and seem to be enjoying it. Our goal is to get them up and moving and away from the computer as much as possible. As long as the weather allows, we will try and get outside for activities.
Health
What a busy start to the school year. Sixth grade students have been learning about decision making, creating online bully free comics, and building their resiliency skills. They also are learning about basic first aid and the skills to treat someone if they become injured or ill. Such first aid topics include EDITH floor plans, hypothermia, shock, seizure, frostbite, choking, burns, fracture, and more. In seventh grade, we have been working on what the health triangle is and why it is important to keep all sides of the triangle healthy. In addition, the seventh graders have been learning about self esteem and grit. The eighth graders have started off the school year learning about nutrients and proper nutrition. They have even created a food and fitness plan for a client of their choice.
Art
Business as usual in Art!
6th grade is learning how to draw people with correct proportions. 7th grade is learning how to truly “see” in order to draw accurately from an image. 8th grade is learning how to draw a portrait. All 3 grade levels are also exploring artwork by professional artists and learning to use their voice in their own work.
Music
We are off and running in the music classroom. 6th grade is starting off by using their rhyming skills in creating a short RAP song. This RAP will introduce us to the many facets of Garageband. 7th and 8th grade have been working on their rhythms in one of the online programs “Breezin’ Thru”. We will continue with creating a rhythm composition and then start shifting to “Melody”.
All students in music were asked at the beginning of the trimester if they have access to an instrument at home. Some students did not, and if that is the case for you, we have recorders at Twin that we can set up a time for you to pick up, so they can have a live instrument to work on for their melody and composing unit. I will be in touch regarding this in the next few weeks.
The Art of Science and Living
Welcome back! We are off to a great start with remote learning! In 6th grade, we have been looking at the family functions and created a family crest to represent those functions within each individual's family. Students will start exploring different career clusters and will be creating a resume within the next week. We are currently working on the nutrition unit for 7th and 8th grade. Students have been keeping a food journal and examining their choices compared to the MyPlate recommendations. Over the next couple of weeks, students will be investigating the old and new nutrition label and how to make good choices.
Materials Pick Up - Monday, September 14th
We will have a materials pick up day on Monday, September 14th from 8:30AM to 7:00PM.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE PICKED UP?
All students will have materials that will need to be picked up at Twin Groves.
There will be a grade level specific science kit for all students.
All students will receive a PE kit.
All students will receive an art kit.
6th Grade students currently enrolled in TASOL for Trimester 1 will receive a kit.
Please do not use materials until your teacher instructs you to do so.
Pick Up Details:
To expedite this process, we will be as efficient as possible with safety being our top priority.
We will maintain social distancing and wear masks and gloves. Here’s what we need you to do:
CREATE a sheet of paper with your students full name and grade level, boldly & legibly printed; we will be collecting the sheet of paper so we know who has picked up materials
WEAR a mask to take delivery of materials
PREPARE your vehicle for delivery -- pop or open your trunk or roll down windows so items can be placed safely in your car
Students do not need to accompany their parents for pick up.
Pick up will be at the South Entrance from 8:30AM to 7:00 PM on Monday, September 14th. Follow the traffic pattern in the parking lot as indicated by the yellow arrows on the map.
Please see MAP below.
If you are unable to make the materials pick up, please call the office at (847) 821-8946, for an alternative time. We will be happy to arrange a time with you during our regular office hours from 7:00AM-3:00PM, Monday-Friday.
Picture Day
Picture Day is coming! Please mark your calendars for Picture Day on Wednesday, September 23rd. Pictures will be done outside this year in the main parking lot. An attached map is provided for you to see how this will work.
Ordering:
Twin Groves Middle School’s school portrait day is coming up! Please click HERE for a flyer.
For safety and convenience, our photo days this year will be going paperless. All images will be posted online to view and order within a week after your photo day, and all orders will be delivered straight to your door. If you’d like to be notified when upcoming photos are ready to view, click here!
To place your order after photo day, just go to vipis.com to view and order your photos.
Follow these guidelines to ensure Picture Day runs smoothly:
Arrive at the SPECIFIC time for each grade level:
6th 3:00pm - 4:15pm
7th 4:30pm - 5:45pm
8th 5:45pm - 7:00pm
-Drop students off so they may proceed to the student check-in area, waiting in a socially distanced line as necessary (students will wear masks except when being photographed & will maintain 6ft social distance when waiting in line)
-After checking in, students will move to one of the four photography tents to have their picture taken (photographers will be masked and maintaining social distance)
-Parents may park while waiting, but remain in cars to prevent crowding and ensure appropriate social distancing
-When photography is finished, students will exit the tents and find parents
-Follow the traffic pattern in the parking lot as indicated by the pink arrows on the attached map.
MAKEUP DAY: For those that could not attend picture day or would like a retake, this will be done on Saturday, October 17th, from 10am-1pm at the same location & using the same procedures.
District Reading Screening
During the week of 9/14, the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will be participating in our tri-annual reading screening. This will take place during Language Arts class over zoom. He/she will be put in an individual break out room on zoom. A staff member will join the child in the break out room at some point during the half hour window and ask him/her to read 3 timed grade level passages. They may also be asked to answer some questions. During this time, please make sure your child has a quiet place to work. As we are using this information to determine what additional support a child may need, please do not help your child to read or answer questions. The teacher will guide him or her through the process. Thank you for your support and flexibility!
Attendance
Attendance is required as we return to school this fall. This is different from remote learning in the spring. Please contact the school office if your student will be absent from class at any time throughout the school day. Parents will be required to provide a reason for the absence. If your student is ill, symptoms will need to be provided to the school office. If your child will be absent for any portion of the day for any reason, please contact the office to let us know.
Volunteer Opportunities for 7th- and 8th-Grade Students
The Vernon Area Public Library has opportunities for teens in grades 7–12.
There are no applications to complete, a library card is not needed, and no training is required.
Teens can volunteer as their time permits, with no required days or minimum hours.
Students in grades 7–12 can CHOOSE PROJECTS from the Vernon Area Public Library online list of Volunteer activities. Scroll down on the web page linked above to the heading Volunteer activities. (Because District 96 does not track volunteer hours, please skip the information related to earning hours and receiving certificates.)
Two listed volunteer projects the library is promoting are Letters of Love and #WeWereHere Project.
Any of these opportunities will benefit others, allow self-expression and creativity, and give your student a chance to give back without leaving home. Invite your students to take a look….
Daily Announcements
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
General Meeting- Wednesday, September 16th at 3PM
If you are interested in attending please use THIS zoom link to log into the meeting at 3PM on September 16th.
Meeting ID for Zoom: 895 8746 6963
Passcode for Zoom: 889380