SNOW DAY, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020

Assalamu alikum,

We have a snow day today. A good chance to curl up on the couch and sip some chai, tea, or hot cocoa.

Time stops for no man, or so they say, so while it seems like a perfect chance for a Fortnite marathon, there is quite a lot of work our students have to do to be ready for science fair next week. Alhamdelillah, I saw a lot of students share their science fair project Google Slides with me yesterday. I will go through those today to revise and edit them.

Here's what I need from students to make sure we are done on time.
All science fair slides and docs should be completed.

• Question
• Purpose
• Hypothesis
• Materials
• Procedure
• Data
• Results
• Conclusion
• Application
• **Essay** (Separate Google Doc)

I know several students are using the class account and can't sign in at home. It is asking for a verification from me. When you try, please send me a Classdojo message right away with the number on the screen so I can verify the account. 

 Please send me an e-mail if this doesn't work. I can send the file from that account to a parent's email or a student's independent account to finish their typing.  

Jazak Allah Khayr, 

Sister Patti Picard

Week of 2-24-2020

Assalamu alikum,

This week is a busy, busy week full of project wrap ups and tests to finish up the semester.
Friday is Student-Led Conferences. More detailed information will be come later this week in a separate e-mail.

Here's what we are doing this week.

English Language Arts
We will wrap up our novels in reading this week. In writing, we are going to write the rough drafts of our books for the YAC competition.

Math
Lions and Tigers start the week with a test on factors, multiples, and prime and composite numbers. Pistons will continue to build understanding of division.

Science
It's all about science fair. Boards will arrive on Monday and students will be completing their essays and write-ups as well as putting the board together for science fair the following week.

Social Studies
After a test on the Midwest Monday, students will read about the Northeast region and learn about the landforms, landmarks, resources, products, and other region information.

***Please send in $4 for the science fair board.***

Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard

Week of 2-17-2020 - Field Trip and Sports Day Info

Assalamu alikum,

We will be getting a bit of a break this Thursday and Friday. But before then, we have a lot going on in the next 3 days.

#1) Field Trip Monday - We will be going bowling to Superbowl in Canton. Students will wear uniform. Early dismissal is at 2:30 pm.  The students will get a drink and 2 slices of pizza. We will have lunch around 12:30 pm. Please send a snack for students to have before getting on the bus. The bowling center does not allow outside food but student may bring extra money (up to $10) to purchase snacks. If your child is not going, they will stay home tomorrow. Again,
DISMISSAL AT 2:30 PM.

#2) Sports Day Wednesday - The 8th grade is running a sports day on Wednesday from 2:30 - 4:30 pm. It is $6 for an unlimited wristband for 7 different sports, game, and activity centers or $1 for one round at one station (Wristband is the best deal). Students who will be participating need to have their money with them on Wednesday. They will be dismissed from the classroom at 2:15 to go to the gym and buy they wristbands/tickets. Students are NOT participating will stay in the classroom to continue class and still need to be picked up at the regular 3:30 pm time. It is a regular uniform day.

Inside the classroom we will be taking care of business as usual. Students will be wrapping up assignments, finishing up their science fair essays, writing out the results, conclusion, and application parts for their science fair boards, creating data tables and graphs, etc. In math, Tigers and Lions will wrap up the short unit of Multiples and Factors. Lions will continue to work on division.

If you have any questions, please remember that I am available at tawpatti@gmail.com, through Orbund, or through Classdojo. Let's have a wonderful week, in sha'Allah.

Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard

Week of 2-10-2020

Assalamu alikum,

Here is what we are doing this week.

English Language Arts -
We will continue to work on our novel studies. In writing, we are writing and typing our research essays. I still need $4 for Barebooks for the YAC competition from several students. 

Math -
Tigers have a test mid-week on division. Lions have an end of the week test on division. Pistons have a beginning of the week test on multiplication.

Science - I am placing the order for science fair boards. This will be cheaper for students, more convenient for parents, and will make sure everyone has a board on time and that they are the right size. I will send an email this week to let you know the cost.

Social Studies - Students have a test on naming the Midwest states. We will also be learning more about the Midwest states. There will be a test on the Midwest states at the beginning of next week.

Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard

Week of 2-3-2020

Assalamu alikum,

Here is what we are up to this week.

English-Language Arts
We are continuing our historical fiction novels in reading. We will begin drafting our science fair 5-paragraph essays now that we are wrapping up our research. In the next week or so, we will begin story planning for YAC. Please see the letter from the YAC committee stapled into your child's planner. This Friday is the due date for the money for the Barebooks.

Math
Tigers and Lions and working steadily towards larger digit dividend division using place value charts and the standard algorithm. Pistons are now working on the partial product method for 2-digit by 2-digit multiplication.

Science
We are wrapping up gathering data and have already begun typing the information and titles for the science fair board. Some students will finish gathering their data this week while most students complete the first draft of the science fair board parts. Reminder that science fair is an in-class activity. One thing students can do at home is begin finding clip art, letters, etc. to go on the boards. I will send an e-mail later this week with information about science fair boards.

Social Studies
We are beginning our unit on the US regions. We will start with our current region, the Midwest. Students will use videos, books, informational texts, and their Studies Weekly Newspaper. Students will begin memorizing the 12 states that make up the Midwest. They will have a test next Monday to locate and label the 12 states in the region.

Please make sure to check the planners daily as I often staple notices (like Friday's YAC letter) into them for you to see.

Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard