5/12/23
Thank you, TG PTO!
Thank you so much for a wonderful week of sweets, treats, eats, and goodies!
It was a fun week of Staff Appreciation!
Thank you, D96 Board of Education!
Thank you so much for the Bagel Breakfast! Thank you for your support!
Upcoming Dates:
There is an early release on Tuesday, May 23rd. Students will be dismissed at 1:30 PM.
There is a half day of school on Friday, May 26th. Students will be dismissed at 11:10 AM.
The last day of school for 8th graders will be Friday, May 26th.
There is no school on Monday, May 29th.
8th Grade Graduation will be at 8 PM on Tuesday, May 30th.
The last day of school for the 6th and 7th graders will be Friday, June 2nd. This is a half day and students will be dismissed at 11:10 AM.
What’s Happening at TG?
6th Grade:
Pre-Algebra Survey: In 6PAS, we will be working on geometry this month. Students will be solving problems involving finding the surface area and volume of three-dimensional shapes. Last month, we asked you to focus on attending to precision, which means labeling units and working carefully. This month, we’d like to ask you to emphasize choosing appropriate mathematical tools. The students have learned so many different ways to apply their knowledge to solve new problems, so they should have numerous tools in their mathematical “toolbox.” For example, when solving a statistics problem, students should know whether a histogram or box-and-whiskers plot is more useful to their task. It has been such a pleasure to get to know your children, and they have impressed us with their perseverance, despite the very challenging targets we’ve had all year. The next month is going to fly by! Thank you so much for your support 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.
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: In 6PA, students will be completing the last of their three geometry units, which is focused on transformations on the coordinate plane. Last month, we asked you to focus on attending to precision, which means labeling units and working carefully. This month, we’d like to ask you to emphasize choosing appropriate mathematical tools. The students have learned so many different ways to apply their knowledge to solve new problems, so they should have numerous tools in their mathematical “toolbox.” For example, when solving a statistics problem, students should know whether a histogram or box-and-whiskers plot is more useful to their task. It has been such a pleasure to get to know your children, and they have impressed us with their perseverance, despite the very challenging targets we’ve had all year. The next month is going to fly by! Thank you so much for your support 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.
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.
Language Arts: Both levels of LA are finishing up their class novels: In Advanced, we are coming to the devastating conclusion of the classic The Outsiders. In LA, we have read the story Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. For our final project, students are writing fictional stories based on those books.
As in the past, there is a District 96 Summer Reading Assignment that will be explained to all students in the next few weeks. Please make sure your child completes the assignment by the first day of school. We hope everyone has a wonderful summer and that kids will break away from the video games and read!
Science: And, just like that our school year is coming to an end! We’ll finish unit 6 and a few more STEM activities. Looking back, we’ve learned lots of new things and made many new friends. The mini-activities and hands-on experiments helped guide our discovery. Keep on noticing changes in our world- both big and small. And, may you continue to think, act, and do SCIENCE each and every day!
SS: To wrap up our year in social studies, students will be putting together all that we have learned about in a final project about taking informed action. They will get the opportunity to see how others have helped to change the world, research a topic they are passionate about, and share their findings with the class. We are looking forward to seeing all of the amazing things that our students will come up with!
7th Grade
Pre-Algebra: We are just wrapping up our second part of the geometry unit that focused on Angle Relationships. Students learned about parallel lines cut by transversals as well as the Pythagorean theorem and the distance formula. The focus for the third and final unit of geometry is on transformations. Students will be reflecting, translating, rotating, and dilating shapes around the coordinate plane.
Bridge to Algebra 1: The students just started their unit that involves learning about the radius and diameter of a circle as well as the area and circumference of circles. We will also take some time to learn about how to find the volume of different solids in this unit.
Algebra 1: Students are just beginning our very last unit on statistics. In this unit, they will be learning about how to create histograms and box and whisker plots. They will also be learning how to analyze and interpret the data. They will learn how to interpret data distribution and how to compare data by analyzing the shape, center, and spread of the data.
Language Arts: Since we’re nearing the end of the year, we’re offering “Last Chance” assignments in the coming weeks that students may choose to complete if they aren’t satisfied with their current grades. Taking a look at the grade book now may be a wise family activity so that no one is surprised or disappointed by the final grades of the year when it is too late to take advantage of this opportunity. In addition to these writing assignments in class, we’re also working through the final book club books. Hopefully, parents, you’re seeing your students reading their books at home in the evenings. Most book club groups are having animated meetings about the characters and their actions, so if your student isn’t prepared, it is difficult for them to join in on the discussion. Especially interesting to everyone is collecting ideas that they’ll use to create a board game based on their book’s characters, setting, and plot. Every week by Friday, students are scheduled to have finished another quarter of the book. All of the books should be finished by Monday, May 21. Every Friday they also need to finish the related assignment, located in Classkick, and there’s a reminder of the assignment on Schoology.
Science: Students are working on our last unit where we are studying the ways climate affects ecosystems and resource distribution. We are focusing on how the frequency of droughts and floods is linked to changes in weather patterns and attempting to find ways to solve that problem. We are looking at how human action (and inaction) impact natural resources and the effect it can have on the world around us. After our final unit, students will be using the knowledge they have gained throughout the year to code robots for the final STEM project of the year!
SS: Can you believe it… there are mere weeks remaining in this school year? All along, we’ve kept the discussions, arguments, claims, questions/questioning, and literacy skills, with curiosity and inquiry going strong. We’re closing 7th grade S.S. with the growth and expansion of the United States (“Manifest Destiny”) coming out of the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 (our “second struggle for Independence”). Our nation is being divided between the industrial North and the agricultural/plantation South. The industrial revolution is bringing tremendous innovations, but at what “costs”? Slavery, states’ rights, and popular sovereignty all leads to anger, frustration, and other tensions gradually boiling over to the point of no return, leading to the American Civil War. Which cause was most consequential, influential, noteworthy, or critical? Being the Land of Lincoln, we appreciate the historical significance of Abraham Lincoln and his Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Address. We’ll investigate the history of our American Flag -- it's meaning -- and proper flag etiquette. In addition, we explore the development of the Medal of Honor and the significance of that designation and other military decorations to highlight sacrifice, dedication, commitment, and determination. In 7th grade S.S., we analyzed the early growth and development of our nation from 13 fledgling British Colonies to becoming the United States of America, with all the challenges along the way. 8th grade S.S. will pick up from there, around 1900. Thanks for a great year! As the great Albert Einstein once said, “The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”
8th Grade
Algebra 1: We just started our last unit of the school year, Unit 10: Descriptive Statistics! Students will learn about histograms, dot plots, box and whisker graphs, and analyzing/interpreting data. Please remind your student that they still need to be completing all homework assignments and getting help when needed! This has been a fun and challenging year for Algebra 1 students!
Geometry: We have just started our last unit of the school year, Unit 15: Volume. Students will learn how to calculate the volume of prisms, cylinders, cones, pyramids, spheres and composite solids! Please remind your student that they still need to be completing all homework
Language Arts: We have just ended our Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet Unit. Students were introduced to Shakespeare and we worked on strategies on how to interpret Shakespearean language. Then, of course, we read, performed, and found new ways to modernize the text. We are ending the school year by studying the Art of Language. We are doing this by studying poetry. Students are watching, reading, and evaluating spoken word poetry performances, as well as writing some of their own poetry as well. Through our own poetry, we will reflect on our time here at Twin as well as get ready for high school.
Science: Students started our last unit of the year learning about a surprising fossil of an ancient penguin nicknamed “Pedro”. We analyzed data about modern penguins and Pedro to develop an explanation for how these penguins could be related. We have been exploring variations in body structures and behaviors of organisms and analyzing data to try and identify similar patterns in the anatomy and embryology of ancient and modern species. In order to try and figure out the cause of the changes students are developing models for natural selection to explain some of the body structure variations in different species of modern penguins and how they could descend from a common ancient ancestor penguin population.
SS: Students are wrapping up the year by increasing their understanding of various major events that occurred between the 1970s through the early 2000s in the United States and around the world. We have focused on each President during this time period, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of their administration and leadership. Students have been learning about the events that led up to the September 11th attacks on America and the subsequent War on Terror carried out by military and intelligence agencies. Students will continue to fine-tune their writing skills in preparation for high school expectations with one last DBQ.
MAP Reports
Spring MAP Reports will be sent home on Monday, May 15th.
End-of-Year Technology Information
Aside from a few exceptions (defined below) all students will KEEP their District 96 technology (iPad, iPad Case, Charging Cable, Charging Brick, and Logitech Crayon) over the summer and will be expected to return with it at the beginning of the 23-24 school year. It will be the student’s responsibility to come to school next year with all of their technology items. Should parents have technology-related questions over the summer, they can get a hold of us at [email protected].
Exceptions:
-All EC student iPads at Willow Grove will be collected at the end of the school year. We will redeploy class sets at the start of the 23-24 school year.
-All 8th-grade student iPads will be collected on the morning of Wednesday, May 24th at both middle schools.
-Any student who is confirmed not returning to District 96 for the 23-24 school year will need to turn in their technology items on the last day of school.
-Any student who unenrolls from District 96 (during the school year or during the summer) is required to turn in their technology items as soon as possible after they confirm unenrollment, even if families indicate they are planning to return at a later date, District 96 technology items should be collected.
End-of-Year Staff Gifts
We are bringing back GiftCrowd for end-of-year gifts, a gifting site that allows families to contribute to group gifts. Use the link and select the teachers and staff you would like to join a gift for. You only need to fill one cart and check out once.
Teachers and staff will get an email at the end of the last school day advising that they received a group gift. They will only be advised of the total gift amount and who contributed, not the individual contribution amounts. They will then have a large selection of gift cards they can choose from. Neither the staff nor the families pay a fee for the use of this service.
Sign Up for 2023-24 PTO Committee Chair Volunteer Opportunities
In preparation for the 2023-2024 school year, we invite you to contribute your talents and time as a PTO Executive Board member or as a Committee Member. Do you enjoy planning and working with a team of parent volunteers to organize school events and fundraisers? This opportunity is for you!
OPEN BOARD POSITIONS -
-Vice President
-1 of 2 Treasurer Roles
-Recording Secretary
Sign-up is available on Membership Toolkit . If you have questions, please contact [email protected] . Thank you for considering volunteering your time and talents to the Twin Groves PTO for this upcoming 2023-24 school year. We could not offer programs for our students and the school without your support!
8th Grade Mixer
8th graders - We want to celebrate you! On Wednesday, May 24th Twin Groves PTO is hosting the 8th Grade Mixer. Tickets are on sale on Membership Toolkit.
New Parent Coffee May 23
For all incoming 6th Grade parents and anyone new to Twin Groves for the 2023-2024 upcoming school year: Join us at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Enjoy coffee with fellow parents to learn more about the fun programs supported and funded by the PTO.
This is a chance to connect with other parents and learn more about opportunities to be involved in your child’s school experience. Please let any friends with incoming 6th graders know about this program. We look forward to meeting you.
PTO General Meeting: May 25
Our Spring General Meeting is at 8 PM Thursday, May 25. Please join the PTO board and Principal Barnes to learn more about what your PTO has planned for the remainder of this academic year and for next year. The General Meeting will be held on Zoom. A link will be published a week before.
Volunteers Needed for Fun Run
We need volunteers for the Twin Groves Fun Run on May 26 from 7:45am-11:00am. Sign up on Membership Toolkit.
School Supply Kits
It’s time to place your School Supply Kit orders for the 2023-24 school year! School Supply Kits can be purchased now through July 9, 2023, at http://www.educationalproducts.com/.
Orders are placed directly with our vendor, EPI. ALL supply kits will be delivered directly to your home.
Please click HERE to access the PTO Blog.
Twin Groves Athletics
Please click HERE to access the Twin Groves Athletics site.
This site will be updated frequently.
Daily Announcements
Please see the 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.