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Cortland Junior High Newsletter

December 2022

Cortland JuniorHigh NewsletterDecember 2022

Junior High Musical

For any students interested in hearing more about this year’s junior high musical, there will be an interest meeting in the auditorium after school on Friday, December 2nd. Audition packets will be available at that time. Auditions will take place on Monday, December 19th at 6 pm. Rehearsals and performances take place during the month of January. Any questions can be directed to Matt Honan (mhonan@cortlandschools.org)

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Home and Career Skills

In Home and Career Skills, students have been learning about personal care. We have discussed hygiene and grooming, clothing choices, clothing design, and clothing care. Students have been working on a Clothing Catalog project where they have to be fashion designers and will participate in a hat-sewing project after Thanksgiving. After this unit, we will begin the Food and Nutrition unit.

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Team 4 English

Team 4 English students have been reading a variety of short stories. On the 23rd, a guest speaker will be answering our questions and explaining his purpose for writing! We have two more stories to read and discuss; afterwards, we will begin our unit on The Outsiders.

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Team 1 Tech

Team 1 Tech students have been hard at work learning tool and machine safety. They are building 3-Piece Tavern Puzzles! A great challenge in maintaining measured tolerances, learning safe tool and machine operation, as well as the basic properties of wood processing methods, lumber, and woodgrain.

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8th-grade Math

Students have just finished up their geometry unit and are now working on algebra and linear equations! We have been talking about unit rates, slopes, and lines. This is one of our biggest and longest units for this year so please be sure to keep an eye on SchoolTool and make sure your student(s) is staying on track with getting assignments turned in. Ask your student(s) about slope dude and our new song we learned for this unit!

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7th-grade Math

Students are right in the middle of our study of integers.


We have been talking about adding and subtracting positive and negative numbers. Soon we will begin our discussion on multiplying and dividing integers. Integers are a very important part of algebra, so please make sure your student is completing their independent practice when it is assigned.

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Team 1 ELA

Team 1 ELA students just finished their Long Walk to Water unit. On Wednesday, 11/23 we had a guest speaker come in and talk to students about what it was like being a Lost Boy of Sudan. We will be moving on to our Short Stories unit where we’ll be focusing on plot development, figurative language, and the different elements that go into making a great story!

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Library/Makerspace

Looking for a good book to read over the holiday break? Check out these new titles and many more at the library! Stop by the library, we have new books arriving all the time. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Just ask and we’ll see if we can borrow it for you from another library.

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JH Concert Band

JH Concert Band will be performing at the 7-12 Bands Concert Tuesday, Dec. 13th at 7:00 pm. Students need to report at 6:30 wearing black on the bottom and white on top. Please let Mrs. Phetteplace know if you need assistance with concert clothes. See you there!

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District Orchestra Concert

The District Orchestra Concert is Thursday, December 15th at 6:00 PM. Come out and see the Junior High String Orchestra perform! Those participating in the concert should plan to be at the school between 5:00 and 5:15 so we can tune, warm up, and have yearbook pictures taken. Students should dress nicely; black/white is not required. We hope to see everyone there!


Congratulations to the Quarter 1 Points Challenge Winners in String Orchestra: Dot Kilmer, Sophia Ramiza, Lyv Cohen, Alivia Reif, Sai Patel, and Quintin Hill. Over the course of the first quarter, these students earned the most points by attending lessons, practicing during Learning Block, and attending bonus lessons. Great work everyone!


String Lab is officially reading notes without writing them in and just in time for the holidays so we can play holiday music during December!

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JH Student Senate

JH Student Senate is putting on our first dance of the school year-our winter semi-formal Snowball! Students get to have dinner and a good time on Saturday, December 3rd to kick off the holiday season. We are also planning a holiday spirit week as well as some fun activities to keep spirits bright!

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7th Grade Art

In the art room 7th grade students are working on designs to paint on the bridge windows. All the students will get to vote on designs and together we will paint the winning 16 designs on the windows of the bridge. Art club will be starting after Christmas break, so keep your eye out for more information.

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Visiting Author

On Wednesday, November 23, 8th grade ELA students were given a rare opportunity to meet an author of a story read in class and discuss it with him. Travis Ketzak spent the day talking about his short story ,”Taught”, writing in general, and even some of his educational experiences. He has come quite a long way from his days growing up in Afton, NY.