Science 10.9

This week in science, we are starting a new unit of study: Matter! In this unit, students will build on their learning from prior grades as we look at matter at the molecular level. By the end of this unit, students will answer the following questions:

• What is matter made of?
• How does thermal energy affect matter?
• How is thermal energy transferred?
• How does molecular motion define states of matter?
• How are mass, volume, and density related?
• How is gas measured?

8 Maths 10.9

Yesterday, students took a quiz on surface area and volume of cylinders. Students will bring that quiz, and corrections,  home tonight to be signed. Students who wish to improve their performance on this quiz will have the opportunity to take a re-test on Monday October 15. Students who wish to take the re-test must attend a mandatory meeting on Thursday October 11 at 2:30.

The last day of NECAP testing in on Wednesday. Get a good night sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and drink lots of water!

7 Maths 10.9

Today, students took the Variables and Patterns Unit Test. On Thursday students will bring this test home to be signed.

The last day of NECAP testing in on Wednesday. Get a good night sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and drink lots of water!

Math Grade 6

There is no new homework this week due to NECAP testing.

Help Our Tag Sale October 20th

Dear Families,

On Saturday, October 20th, we will be holding a tag sale at the Milton High School from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.  Here are eight ways you can help:

1. Clean out your house, garage, shed, barn, closet, attic, car, office etc. and donate any gently-used goods to the tag sale.  We are looking for clothes, baby toys, toys, sports equipment, furniture that is in good condition.  We only want items that have a high probability of selling.  Please do not give items that you would not buy yourself.  Items can be dropped off at Milton Mini Storage, Unit # 32 at 11 Checkerberry Square in Milton.  People will be there to collect goods on:
   
   Wednesday, October 10th from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
   Saturday, October 13th from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
   Wednesday, October 17th from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
   
   You can also drop goods off at the school on October 20th from 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
   
   If these times do no work for you please contact me, Joe Smith, at 893-3215 ext. 1208 or email jsmith3@mtsd-vt.org to make alternative arrangements.
2. Help collect donations at Milton Mini-Storage at the above times.  We need someone to unlock the unit and be there while people bring their items.    We will split the times so that you only have to do a two hour shift.  On Wednesdays, 4:00-5:30 and 5:30-7:00 and on Saturday 9:00-11:00 and 11:00-1:00.
3. Help set up the day of the tag sale. Set up will take place from 6:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.  Last year we were fortunate to get a big truck to move goods from the storage unit to the school.  If we cannot get a big truck a few pick-up trucks would be very helpful.
4. Work at a table to during the tag sale.  Sign-up times are from 9:00-10:00, 10:00-11:00, 11:00-12:00, 12:00-1:00, and 1:00-2:00.
5. Help break down the tag sale.  Breakdown will be from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm.
6. Bake delicious food.  Please drop off at the school on the 20th between 8:30 am and 12:00 pm.
7. Spread the word.  Let your family members, friends, and co-workers know about the tag sale.  Post on Facebook, Tweet, or any other place where people will see it.  Encourage them to donate goods and to shop on the 22nd.  One person's refuse is another person's treasure.
8. Shop at the tag sale and find hidden treasures.

All 8th grade students who participate by collecting goods at the storage unit, help setting up, work the tables at the tag sale, bake goods for the tag sale, or help break down the tag sale will have the profits from the tag sale equally distributed into their student fundraising account.

Please contact me to let me know how you can help.

Thanks,
Joe Smith

Fall Conferences Update

Dear Middle School Families,

The Middle School will be hosting Student-Led Parent Conferences this year. These will be held two evenings in November between November 5th and November 16th. Each House will be setting their own dates and scheduling times directly with families. Please be on the lookout for more information on the web-site and in House Blogs and also on the web-site: http://www.mtsd-vt.org/MTSD/

Educational research demonstrates that children benefit greatly from having meaningful conversations about their own learning with the important adults in their lives. In our Student-Led Conferences, your child will present to you artifacts of their learning from the first trimester- work from each class that will be thoughtfully selected to demonstrate learning and growth.

Please note that all important adults are welcome- parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, etc. If no adult is able to attend on either evening, teachers will gladly make arrangements for you to conference with your child at another time.

Please note that these evenings will be in place of the October 18th date. There will be no conferences for grades 6-8 on October 18. We look forward to seeing you in November!

Thank you,

The Middle School Faculty & Staff

Information Request

To support effective home-school communication, we ask that you provide us with some information about yourself and your child. We apologize in advance if you have already provided this information to the district on other forms. The information you provide here goes into a spreadsheet for our house teachers to access conveniently.

Please visit http://bit.ly/housec2012 and complete the secure form. It will only take a minute!

Thank you!

Boston Trip Update

Dear Families,

I want to thank those who came to the Boston Field Trip fundraising meeting a couple of weeks ago.  It was a good brainstorming session.  Based on the feedback from this meeting, I have created a fundraising schedule.

October 20 - Tag Sale at the Milton High School 8:00 - 2:00.
November  Homemade Pie Sale - Students will pre-sell pies and then bake them.
December/January - Sell tickets for the calendar raffle.
February - Spaghetti Dinner
April 12 - Fire Truck Pull/Carnival

There will most likely be other fundraising opportunities throughout the year.  If you have any ideas or suggestions please let me know.  If your student is inspired to organize a bottle drive or Christmas tree pick up that too is also encouraged.

Help Wanted

Tag Sale
I am looking for a place to store items for the tag sale. If you have know any or have a place that we can do this, please contact me as soon as possible.  I would like to start collecting items this weekend.

Calendar Raffle
Also, I am looking for a parent or parents who could help coordinate getting donations and creating the calendar for the February Raffle.   Please contact me if interested.

Thanks,
Joe Smith
jsmith3@mtsd-vt.org

Upcoming field trip

Your child was sent home today with a permission slip for our trip to Mount Mansfield on Friday 10/12/12. This trip is designed to be a chance build our team identity as well as give individual students a chance to challenge themselves and push themselves to do something new. Please return the permission slip with the $10 fee by this Friday, 10/5. Email jfabri@mtsd-vt.org with any questions.

Literacy - 10/1

Students have been working hard on being able to read a text closely, make a claim about that text, and to support the claim with evidence from the text. This is a skill that is essential in every class and beyond. Basically, we're asking students to back up what they are saying with evidence. We will assess this skill Monday and Tuesday of this week.