Enjoy this edition of the Friday Notes as we highlight the start of a new year and semester!
Welcome back from break and Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a relaxing and refreshing vacation.
The first week back has been met with excitement for the new semester, introduction of classes, and the anticipation of our first graduation in a few short months! Teachers used this week to lay out the foundation for their courses and announce exciting projects. We are excited for this semester and everything that it promises and look forward to sharing information with you about your students year so far at parent-teacher conferences next week.
Announcement: Lifetouch Class Pictures are are here! Students can see their class advisors for order forms for purchase.
EXCELLENCE
We are excited to debut three new classes that are being offered: Pathology, Personal Finance, and Screen Printing. Pathology will study the scientific processes of disease in each system of the body, from mental illnesses to AIDS to different types of cancer. Personal Finance will be focusing on basic personal financial needs of most individuals and emphasize the basics of budgeting, saving, checking, investments, credit, and the wise use of insurance. In Screen Printing, students will learn the basics of screen printing, stencil printing, as well as professional printing using an exposure unit. Throughout the class, students will have the opportunity to print their designs on art paper and fabric.
COMMUNITY
In advisory this week, we introduced the concept of a growth versus fixed mindset. The goal of this idea was to teach students that they can continually grow socially, emotionally, and mentally as long as they are open to putting in the proper amount of work required. This was a great way to kick off the New Year and second semester of continued student growth.
Costume Technology students will be making "joey pouches" to send to Australia. These pouches will be used to rehabilitate hundreds of thousands of marsupials who have been forced from their homes and separated from their mothers. Ms. Sam has also invited the rest of The New School community to help in the cause. All levels are welcome and there are more tasks than just sewing. Stay tuned for more information or talk to Ms. Sam if you are interested in helping.
Drama I students have begun table work on their spring semester show "ths phne 2.0: the next generation," which is all about how technology influences relationships. Together we are analyzing the script and making discoveries and decisions about characters this week.
CURIOSITY & INNOVATION
Parent Child Arduino Master Class with Keith Cameron
- Saturday, January 18th
- 1-4pm, TNS Innovation Center
- $30 per family, 1 parent/1 child
- For more Info or to RSVP contact - keith.cameron@thenewschool.org
Important Dates
January 13 - 17: Parent Teacher Conferences
January 14: Mentor groups 8:30 - 9:00
January 14: Jr. High Boys and Varsity Boys Basketball at Deer, 5:30 & 7:00
January 15: Mathcounts / Nerd Day for 6th - 8th grade, countdown round 1:00 - 3:00
January 17: Jr. High Boys & Varsity Boys Basketball at Kingston, 5:30 & 7:00
Note from the School Counselor
Happy New Year! Over the next two weeks, I want to sit down with your children and get to know them even better and strengthen my connection with them. In order to help with this, I will be conducting Minute Meetings with all 5-12th graders, which will be casual and conversational about their thoughts and interests. Meetings will be minimally invasive to the classroom time and last 2-3 minutes. Please contact me (cailey.gray@thenewschool.org) if you have any questions.
Class Upcoming Assignments:
7th Math: 7th grade math students will begin the semester with their next unit, covering rational number arithmetic. The New School's MATHCOUNTS competition is next Wednesday for all 6th-8th graders! There will be a homework check on Tuesday, January 14th for lessons 1 through 5, but there will not be a homework quiz that week.
Algebra 1: We began a unit on functions this week. Homework will be due Wednesday along with a quiz over lessons 1-5. The New School's MATHCOUNTS competition is Wednesday for 6-8th grade students. Make sure you dress like a nerd!!!!!
Geometry: We began a unit on right angle trigonometry this week. Homework will be due Wednesday along with a quiz over lessons 1-5. The New School's MATHCOUNTS competition is Wednesday for 6-8th grade. Make sure you dress like a nerd!!!!
7th grade History: 7th grade students began their new unit over ancient China this week. We examined the geography surrounding China and the influence it had on the early civilizations. Next week, we will look at the life and teachings of Confucius and understand the influence Confucianism had on Chinese society. We will end our week with a special guest, Ms. Aaron Giles, who will share about her experiences while living in India. (This a conclusion of our time spent on ancient India in December, but due to scheduling purposes, had to incorporate Ms. Aaron in January.)
7th grade English: This week we started our 6-week poetry unit by reading the verse novella Love That Dog. We will now study some poetry basics (terminology and such), then go on to analyze a few of the poems alluded to in the book. There is a poetry basics quiz scheduled for Jan. 28.
7th grade Science: This week we continued our dive into the periodic table and elements. Students created a "Wanted" poster for their specific element (due Monday). Next week we will continue chapter 11 and have a quiz Friday.
8th grade History: 8th grade students examined how the ideas of the Enlightenment influenced the events of the French Revolution. We examined the differences between the American and French Revolutions. Next week, we look at the independence movements of Latin America.
8th grade English: We are starting out the semester by finishing our study of A Midsummer Night's Dream. On Thursday, students participated in a Literature Circle with their classmates to further their understanding of the text. In the next week, they will be completing a creative interview assignment about the final scenes of the play.
8th grade Science: This week we continued our exploration of chemistry and the atom and will do so next week. This chapter (ch. 7) and next will be combined into one unit test. Next week we will have a quiz covering chapter 7 on Friday.
Pre-Algebra: Pre-algebra students will continue their current unit, moving into solving systems of linear equations. There will be a homework check on Tuesday, January 14th for lessons 1 through 5, but there will not be a homework quiz that week. The New School's MATHCOUNTS competition is next Wednesday for all 6th-8th graders!
Drama I: Next week we will begin blocking the show. Students should be working on memorization.
Drama II: Next week students will continue working on the joey pouches for Australia. They will jump on to the sewing machines and begin learning basic machine stitches as well.
Spanish I & 2: Back to the grind! New vocab, with quizzes late next week! Reminder: Students should be studying vocabulary at home a minimum of 10 minutes per day, including weekends. Expect homework 1-2 nights per week, and feel free to engage your students is discussions about their language learning. Email me (adrienne.schlake@thenewschool.org) with any questions, and I am looking forward to seeing you at conferences next week! - Adrienne
Media Production: Media students are storyboarding for their feature film "Jurassic Derp". Students are working together to create the opening scenes through collaborative work to plan locations, camera shots, script, props, and special effects. Beginning next week, students will begin learning how to overlay animations and video they.
Screen Printing: The new screen printing class will be designing their first stencil print. We have been looking at the Surrealist art movement as well as contemporary stencil artists. Students will create a three color object combining realism and surrealism.
Graphic Design II: The graphic design II class have been looking at the iconic design work of Paula Scher. Students are creating an album cover based off of her lesser known jazz music album covers. These projects will contain one major image and light typography.
Visual Arts: The visual arts class will be finishing their Matisse projects. The next project we will begin will be based on the portraiture of Cindy Sherman.