What's Happening in Cluster 5?

December Break begins Friday, December 22nd (11:30 dismissal) and there is no school. School returns to session on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024. Happy New Year!

END of TRIMESTER 1 was DECEMBER 4th, 2023- Report Cards will be mailed home this week. Grades can also be accessed through the powerschool portal.

Geography BEE FINALS- Competition will be Friday, December 22nd

Here is a link for our YEARLONG SCHOOL CALENDAR

Cluster 5 and 6 WISHLIST for classroom supplies

-Check google classroom for assignments- and see that assignments are completed- not just "submitted".

-Work on ways to get organized- created routines and expectations for the day.

-Make sure the chromebook is charging each evening.

-Email teachers with any concerns (you can find email addresses at bottom of this S'More).

December

We will soon be focusing on types of cell division and learning about Henrietta Lacks and her cancer cells that researchers have used to study diseases, vaccines, medications, and how cells grow and function. Her contributions to modern medicine are innumerable, and her story is important to study and share.

After break, we will be studying Gregor Mendel, the father of modern genetics. Students will complete a lab during which they will discover whether or not they are a “super-taster,” a characteristic controlled by our genes.

The learning objectives are below. We will continue our regular schedule of daily practice work and assessments listed on the master document.

2.2 Reproduction:

• I can explain the differences between asexual and sexual reproduction.

• I can classify specific reproductive methods as asexual or sexual.

• I can describe the advantages and disadvantages of each type of reproduction.

2.3 Types of Cell Division:

• I can compare and contrast the phases and products of mitosis and meiosis in eukaryotic cells.

• I can describe when organisms use mitosis and when they use meiosis .

2.4 What is Cancer?

• I can explain the scientific importance of Henrietta Lacks.

• I can describe how mutations in DNA can cause cells to turn cancerous.

DECEMBER-

In English/Language Arts we focused our Warcross work on a group activity about characters. We examined the ways that authors introduce and develop characters (physically, emotionally, relationally, and situationally) and we worked in groups to create character posters based on this information. It has been really fascinating to watch our 8th graders focused and collectively working (with a bit of encouragement) through the projects. I love discovering all the artistic talent in our classes.

Next week, we are going to try to complete our novel and take a summative assessment on their progress in CER writing. The prompt will target their character work throughout the book and use their skill of using direct evidence from the text to support their claims.

Just a reminder about the ELA policy regarding the method by which grades are tracked through the semester. All assignments are assigned through google classroom. Each student is a member of a specific (class color) ELA roster in the classroom. The assignments are all graded on a scale of 0-4 and the grades are represented as follows in GOOGLE CLASSROOM:

4.0= Mastery/Exceeds Expectations

3.0= Proficient/ Meets Expectations

2.0= Approaching Proficiency/Partially Meets Expectations

1.0= Developing/ Some Understanding (with support)

0 Not Meeting Expectation (often an assignment that hasn’t been completed).

-When the grades are transferred into the powerschool portal and calculated into an overall grade, the “Marzano” grade conversion is used to turn the 0- 4 into a percentage. This is not simply changing the fraction into a decimal (not ¾= .75), but rather assigning a percentage to each number. The conversions are as follows: 4.0= 100%, 3.5= 95%, 3.0= 90%, 2.5= 80%, 2.0= 70%, 1.5= 65%, 1.0=60%, 0= 50%.

***In this grading policy, a student will not receive a grade less than a 50% on any assignment- thus making the grade ranges more level in value.

-As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your 8th grader in ELA, please initiate a conversation by emailing me at daniel.skop@watertown.k12.ma.us

Take care.

December

Algebra: In Algebra, we are still working through chapter 3. We have discussed a wide variety of topics including absolute value equations, simplifying radicals, Pythagorean Theorem, estimating square roots and data displays. Students have been working hard to use strategies that they have learned from not only this year, but from previous years in order to help them gain additional understanding of a topic. As we continue with the second half of chapter 3 we will begin exploring different types of functions and their graphs. This will include parabolas, square root functions, cubics and linear functions. Students will be able to graph each of these functions and find intersection points in each one.

Math 8: Currently, we have been spending a great deal of time on linear relationships and slope. Students should now understand the idea that slope is a fraction and represents the relationship between height and the base of a line. Students have been taught to find the slope from a graph, table and between points. In addition, we have begun writing linear equations in class. As we continue to proceed through this unit students will start to solve equations. We will begin by solving one-step equations and then eventually get to multi-step equations. As we progress through the unit the types of equations we solve will get more difficult so please encourage your student to stick with it!

• DECEMBER

  This month in Civics, students have been studying the origins of our American democracy. We’re learned how the ancient Greeks and Romans, Enlightenment thinkers, and British documents like the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights influenced our Founding Fathers as they created our new nation. After December break, we’ll put the spotlight on indigenous influence on our government as we examine our founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and look at how the Haudenosaunee/Iroquois Confederacy inspired our democracy.

  
  

  At the end of December, students will participate in an Origins of Democracy bracket-style debate, where they’ll represent a foundational idea we’ve studied about that influenced American democracy. They’ll use their creative writing and speaking skills to persuade their class that their idea is superior to all others. We’ll crown a champion of democracy in each class!

  
  

  In addition, at this time of year, students in 8th grade participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest, sponsored by the committee that runs our annual Watertown Unity Breakfast in January. We’ll be learning about social justice and equity to help build background knowledge of the civil rights movement, and students are writing an essay that invites them to reflect on the legacy of Dr. King and how his principles of nonviolence have influenced our American community. It’s going to be a busy month!

  
  

  Current learning targets:

  • I can name Greek and Roman ideas that influenced American democracy.

  • I can name the main idea of each Enlightenment thinker.

  • I can explain the influence that British ideas found in key documents had on American colonial government.

  • I can write an essay reflecting on the impact of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the struggle for social justice.

  
  

Hello 8th grade caregivers!

My name is Amanda Skypeck and I am your child's guidance counselor.

This is my 10th year at WMS and I feel grateful to be a part of this special community. I grew up in Natick and then attended Wheaton College and Cambridge College. I live in Franklin with my husband, 11-year-old daughter, 4-year-old son, and dog Sparky (age unknown). I enjoy the beach (the Cape is my happy place) and seeing live music (Dave Matthews Band, Grateful Dead, and John Mayer are favorites).

It has been amazing to watch so many of the current 8th graders grow during their time at WMS. This is a great group of students and I really enjoy working with them! Please feel free to reach out to me at any time!

Hi WMS families!

My name is Lauren Petrillo and I am the 8th grade guidance counseling intern working with Mrs. Skypeck. I am currently pursuing my masters in School Counseling at Boston College. Working at Watertown Middle School is quite the full circle moment as both myself and my parents walked these same hallways! Before BC, I graduated from Watertown High School in 2018, went on to attend Providence College studying Elementary and Special Education, and found my way back here! This has been the most amazing learning experience and I have loved every moment of working with your students. I am looking forward to getting know you all and your students more as the year progresses.

Click this link for more information on the English Language Development classes.

Click this link for more information about the Reading Classes.

Click this link for more information on the Specials Classes.

Click this link for more information on the World Language Classes.

Edward.Cafua@watertown.k12.ma.us - MATH

Karen.Kline@watertown.k12.ma.us - CIVICS

Sheila.Gilmartin@watertown.k12.ma.us - EL

Brian.Donato@watertown.k12.ma.us - SPECIAL EDUCATION / MATH

Megan.Griffin@watertown.k12.ma.us - SPECIAL EDUCATION/ELA

Daniel.Skop@watertown.k12.ma.us - ENGLISH

Christine.Sorenson@watertown.k12.ma.us - READING

Elissa.Willoughby@watertown.k12.ma.us - SCIENCE

Amanda.Skypeck@watertown.k12.ma.us - GUIDANCE COUNSELOR

Website: https://wms.watertown.k12.ma.us/