Happy New Year! As we begin January, our 7th and 8th grade students are settling into new units and continuing their exciting learning journeys. This month, they will focus on strengthening their skills across subjects, engaging in meaningful projects, and deepening their understanding of key concepts. We look forward to a productive and inspiring month ahead.

Thank you for your continued support, and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further information.

7th Grade:

Students are focusing on analyzing texts by citing strong evidence, understanding how literary elements such as characters and settings interact within a story, and examining how specific story events or dialogue propel the plot or reveal character traits. These skills help students deepen their comprehension and interpretation of literature.

8th Grade:

Students are building on their analytical skills by citing detailed textual evidence to support their understanding, identifying central themes and their development over the course of a text, and analyzing how specific elements like dialogue and events contribute to character development and the advancement of the plot. These activities encourage critical thinking and nuanced engagement with literary texts.

7th Grade:

Students are focusing on applying their understanding of proportional relationships to solve real-world and mathematical problems. They explore concepts such as scaling, percent calculations, and ratios in various contexts, including discounts, markups, and interest rates. These lessons deepen their ability to reason quantitatively and make connections between proportions and their practical applications.

8th grade:

Students are working on understanding and applying the concepts of linear relationships. They explore how to identify, represent, and interpret linear equations in various forms, including graphs, tables, and equations. Through this work, students learn to analyze patterns, solve real-world problems, and deepen their understanding of slope and y-intercept as key components of linear models.

7th Grade:

Students are exploring the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of Islamic civilizations during the Middle Ages. They are examining how geography influenced the spread of Islam, the development of trade routes, and the cultural achievements that emerged during this period. Through this study, students gain a deeper understanding of the historical significance and lasting impact of Islamic civilizations.

8th Grade: 

Students are examining the relationship between the moral and political ideas of the Great Awakening and the development of revolutionary fervor. By exploring events like the witch trials, students analyze how shifting moral perspectives influenced societal changes and contributed to the ideas that shaped the United States during its formative years.

7th Grade:

Students are exploring Earth's systems by examining how energy cycles through the planet and drive various processes. They use models to understand the cycling of Earth’s materials, the sun's role in powering the water cycle, and its influence on weather and climate. Additionally, students analyze data on natural hazards to predict future events and explore how technology can help mitigate their impacts, deepening their understanding of Earth's dynamic systems and their connection to human activity.

8th Grade:

Students are studying the Earth-Sun-Moon system, focusing on how Earth's rotation and revolution create cyclic patterns such as lunar phases, eclipses, and seasons. By developing and using models, students gain a deeper understanding of these patterns and how the interactions between Earth, the Sun, and the Moon influence our planet's natural cycles.

In January, middle school students will explore important Leader in Me principles to foster personal growth and teamwork. Through Aligning Teams to Achieve, they will learn how to collaborate effectively by setting shared goals and working together with clarity and purpose. The concept of Emotional Bank Accounts will help students understand how positive actions, like kindness and trust, strengthen relationships. Additionally, students will focus on Practicing Self-Trust, and building confidence in their abilities through honesty, reliability, and consistent effort. These lessons encourage both individual and collective success, promoting a supportive and goal-oriented classroom community.

Social Studies: Bill of Rights Poster Project for Students. Students will learn about the Bill of Rights by creating posters that explain and illustrate each amendment, helping them understand the significance of individual freedoms and protections.

ELA Writing Assignment: Motivation. In this assignment, students will explore what motivates people to succeed. They will write a structured essay that explains the concept of motivation, the different types (intrinsic and extrinsic), and examples of how it drives individuals to overcome challenges and reach their goals. Students can include personal experiences, stories of famous individuals, or real-life examples. The essay will focus on organizing ideas clearly with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, helping students develop their writing and critical thinking skills.

• 1/4/2025 Monthly Dine-Out Rubios
• 1/8/2025 School Resumes
• 1/10/2025 Leader In Me Assemblies
• 1/16/2025 Coffee Mingle, End of Semester 1
• 1/20/2025 MLK Day No School
• 1/22/2025 Minimum Day 
• 1/24/2025 Fire and Evacuation Drill
• 1/27-1/28/2025 Schoolwide Hearing/Vision Screening
• 1/31/2025 Spirit Day: Dress like a Teacher