3/12/21
TGIF…Twin Groves it’s Friday!
Just a reminder…
March 16th is an early release for students. Here is the schedule.
What’s Happening at TG?
6th Grade:
Language Arts and Language Arts Advanced: Spring Book Clubs have started! All 6th grade students have a book to read, a calendar of assignments, and a discussion group which meets once or twice a week. Discussion topics range from noticing the author’s craft in a scene or description, debating the wisdom of a character’s choices, to pointing out unfamiliar words to the group. Students must keep up with their assignments so that everyone’s voice can be heard and discussion can be rich and purposeful. Books will be completed the week after Spring Break.
Science: Scientists have been busy learning about the different cycles of matter. From the water cycle to the carbon and nitrogen cycles, students became a part of the cycle! Students were excited to link their knowledge of matter and elements into this new target. There were also a few really cool labs too! Be sure to ask your child about their Nitrogen Cycle Passport and their Water Cycle Adventure!
SS: In social studies, we will be looking at the formation of the Roman Republic and how it compares to both the Greek democracy and our own government. From there, we will see how the republic transformed into the Roman Empire. We will focus on both the positives and negatives of how Rome was ruled, with the students eventually deciding what was the most important factor that led to their downfall.
Pre Algebra Survey: 6PAS is beginning a new unit on Algebraic Equations. We will be solving one-step equations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The students will be learning about isolating the variable and keeping the equation balanced. 6PAS will then extend this knowledge into solving two-step equations. It will be very important for students to check their answers by substituting the solutions back into the original equation, so please encourage that at home. The unit will end with a brief study on independent and dependent variables and solving inequalities. Last month we talked about encouraging the students to understand others’ reasoning and provide critique. This has allowed the students to have rich discussions in class and led to a great sharing of viewpoints. This month, students should recognize that they are modeling with mathematics, whether by representing the problem with an equation, table, or graph. Also, we’d like to focus on reasoning abstractly and quantitatively, as these skills are necessary when modeling with mathematics. Feel free to ask your children about their work!
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.
IXL - 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.
Pre Algebra: 6PA will be finishing their first unit on geometry soon, focused on circles, surface area and volume. They will then move on to the second geometry unit, which includes angle relationships. Many of the problems the students have been working on include rigorous, deep-thinking problems, and the students have been rising up to the challenge! Last month we talked about encouraging the students to understand others’ reasoning and provide critique. This has allowed the students to have rich discussions in class and led to a great sharing of viewpoints. This month, students should recognize that they are modeling with mathematics, whether by representing the problem with an equation, table, or graph. Also, we’d like to focus on reasoning abstractly and quantitatively, as these skills are necessary when modeling with mathematics. Feel free to ask your children about their work!
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.
IXL - 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.
7th Grade
Language Arts: In Language Arts, we have just finished another short unit on informational texts and will start shifting our focus to literature. The Language Arts students will develop an understanding of the time period The Outsiders takes place in and then we will begin reading the novel. As we read the book, our discussions will focus on discovering the theme, tracking character development, and applying our understanding of the time period to the characters and events.
Language Arts Advanced: In Advanced Language Arts, we are making a very similar transition. These students will start by developing background knowledge of the Holocaust before reading The Book Thief. While reading this novel we will also focus on discovering themes, exploring several motifs and taking a close look at the figurative language found throughout the novel.
Historical context will play an important role in both novels. We will supplement the books with articles and information that will provide necessary context to understand the time period and the fictional text.
Science: We are wrapping up our SEM unit with learning why the earth experiences seasons. We will then bridge our SEM with our forces unit focusing on how mass and distance affect gravity on Earth and space. We will continue our year learning about Newton’s 3 laws of motion. Students are going to be investigating how an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object. Students will be asked to develop their own procedure and experimental design to explain Newton’s laws.
SS: As we begin Trimester 3, we recently completed an analysis of federalism – what government is at the federal/national level, state level, and local level. We then researched officials at each level to determine a best contact for a letter-writing assignment. Students selected a topic of interest and then composed a letter to address the concern. Some students might even choose to actually send their letters! From there, we will dig into the new nation coming out of the Revolutionary War and Constitutional Convention. We will analyze several historically significant documents and texts during Trimester 3, one of which will be George Washington’s farewell address which is just as relevant today as it was back in 1796! We will then examine our nation’s growth and westward expansion to include outstanding achievements and unfortunate setbacks. We continue to examine a variety of primary and secondary sources using inquiry, argumentation, implementing questioning and questions, and source evaluation for reliability and credibility.
Bridge to Algebra 1: We have been practicing applying the properties of exponents to simplify expressions as well as evaluate them while following PEMDAS (the order of operations). We are also using these properties we have learned to solve problems with all operations written in scientific notation.
Algebra 1:We are in the middle of our unit on Quadratic Equations. This unit strengthens our concepts from the previous unit. This unit digs deeper into quadratic functions and includes how to solve quadratic equations using different methods (graphing, factoring, taking the square root, and the quadratic formula). We will also be using our previous knowledge to solve systems of nonlinear equations as well as use our graphing calculator to solve systems of nonlinear equations.
8th Grade
Language Arts and Language Arts Advanced:
Science: Students are beginning to investigate the impact humans have on the environment, known as the human footprint. We will begin the unit looking at emissions of greenhouse gases and continue into studying water pollution. Students will design their own water filters using common materials like sand, gravel, cotton balls, and carbon. Students will then test their own filtration systems to determine how effectively their designs filter water.
SS: In Social Studies, students are learning about the Vietnam War. They are critiquing the government's decisions, and the impact those decisions had on the future of the country. Students will explore the war from both the Hawks and Doves’ perspectives, explore the music of the decade, and the impact it had on the protest movement. Students will continue to work on their analysis skills and historical writing to express their beliefs on the war using historical evidence to defend their claims.
Algebra 1: In Algebra 1, we are in the middle of our Quadratic Equations unit. This unit continues to be essential for the students to understand in order to be successful in Algebra 2. Students have been learning how to solve quadratic equations by graphing, factoring, square root method, and quadratic formula. If your child is struggling with this unit, please encourage them to seek help and use outside resources!
Algebra 2: In Algebra 2, we are finishing up our Sequences and Series unit. Students have been responsible for learning explicit and recursive formulas for arithmetic and geometric sequences, and finding the sum of arithmetic and geometric series . It has been a successful unit so far! Please remind your student that they should be completing all homework assignments and getting help when needed! Our next unit of study is Statistics.
2021–22 REGISTRATION EMAILS WERE SENT THURSDAY, MARCH 4
Please check for registration email(s) for the 2021–22 school year, sent Thursday, March 4th.
Each registration email includes a link and a unique “snapcode” needed for access to register your returning student for 2021–22.
EVERY student returning to District 96 for the school year ahead must be registered.
Information you provided previously will appear in your student’s online registration record. Please check that info carefully and update if it is not accurate.
Completing and submitting online registration and making payment no later than April 15, 2021, will save families $20 in registration cost per student. Fees increase after April 15. Registration questions? Please send email to [email protected] or call 847.459.4260, ext. 8022.
PTO Spirit Wear and Yard Signs for 8th Graders
Attention parents of 8th grade students…
Please head over to twingrovespto.membershiptoolkit.com to choose your child’s size for the 8th grade class sweatshirt and to secure your yard sign. If you do not go into Membership ToolKit to choose your size, your child will be given a size large. In addition to the complimentary sweatshirt, there is a t-shirt available for purchase.
All orders will be due by 3/18. Go check it out!
PTO Positions for the 2021-2022 School Year
The Twin Groves PTO Executive Board would love to have you as part of our team! We need to fill the Co-President and Co-Treasurer positions for the 2021 - 2022 school year and we hope you'll check out these amazing opportunities.
Please head over to Membership Toolkit to learn more and sign up at twingroves pto.membership toolkit.com.
Notice of 5Essentials Student Survey Administration
We are writing to inform you about a student survey for 4th–8th graders that will be administered at your child’s school.
Students will take the survey during the day on March 19th.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey is based on 20 years of research at the University of Chicago. The survey asks students about their experiences in school, giving school leaders critical student input to help develop school improvement plans.
Students will be required to log in using their student ID and birth date in order to complete the survey. Students’ identities will be completely confidential. Teachers or administrators will never see individual responses to survey questions. Instead, they will receive only aggregated information, such as the total percentage of students who agree homework assignments help them learn the course material, for example.
Please be aware that under the Protection of Pupil Rights Act. 20 U.S.C. Section 1232(c) (1) (A), you have the right to review a copy of the questions your student(s) are asked.
LINK HERE
If you do not want your son or daughter to participate, please contact your child’s principal.
Country Meadows Elementary School: Meghan Bird, [email protected]
Ivy Hall Elementary School: Robert Hanrahan, [email protected]
Kildeer Elementary School: Vail Kieser, [email protected]
Prairie Elementary School: Christine Pfaff, [email protected]
Woodlawn Middle School: Greg Grana, [email protected]
Twin Groves Middle School: Jessica Barnes, [email protected]
6th Grade Dental Forms
Attention parents of 6th Graders. Proof of dental exams for all 6th graders are due by May 15th. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Borzych at 847-821-8946.
Illinois 5Essentials Survey
Share your thoughts about how your child’s school is doing on the 5Essentials for school success. On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. District 96 will participate in the statewide 2020–21 5Essentials Survey to meet state legislation and the Board’s mandate. District 96 parents may voluntarily participate to complete the survey. (https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/) Please select the Parent Survey and begin.
Beginning in February and through April 2, students and teachers will complete their surveys to help identify strengths and weaknesses in their school’s learning environment. In District 96, students in grades 4–8 will complete their surveys on March 19.
This survey is designed to help school and district leaders better understand the parent/school relationship. All responses are anonymous. Parents are asked to complete a survey for each student attending a Kildeer Countryside District 96 school. The survey will be open through April 2, 2021. Questions? See Frequently Asked Questions (https://impactsurveyshelp.force.com/s/) and/or contact 5Essentials Client Services 866.440.1874.
Opportunity for 6-8th Graders
Stevenson High School Write Club student members are offering 6–8th graders the opportunity to participate in the third annual Marginalia–an online workshop of creative fun and writing activities (rap battles, one-poem-a-day challenges, and more). SHS Club members will lead small groups of 3-4 middle school students. Each participant will have original writing shared in a digital magazine at the end of the workshop. Marginalia runs Monday, March 29–Sunday, April 18. SIGN UP NOW (no later than March 21) and select weekday and weekend session time availability and literary genre areas of interest. Questions? Send to [email protected]
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.