Middle School Newsletter

November 2019
www.rivertonmiddleschool.com

Math by Ms. Napolitano, Mr. Williams and Ms. Streffacio

October has come to a close and semester two have begun. We need
parents and scholars to continue to join on the journey to success. To
achieve this goal, we need the scholars to participate in class, complete
their classwork with full effort, stay on task, and be prepared for class
with their binders, a pencil, and all necessary materials. In addition,
scholars should be completing their assigned homework each night, as
well as their projects on time. Scholars need to review and study for their
weekly quizzes, and always try their best. In November, the sixth grade
will be focusing on operations with fractions.

In the seventh grade, the scholars will next be learning about expressions and equations. We will be discussing
expressions, words that are used within a text, that makeup word problems. The emphasis is on reading each word in the
word problem carefully, locating the key words that tell the scholar which numbers and variables are important, setting
up the equation, and finding a solution. It is important for scholars to use the strategies taught such as the associative
property, communitive property, and marking up the text when solving these problems to help ensure consistent correct
answers. The scholars have completed their project for the month involving a real-world scenario about buying and
selling calendars. The standards covered will be 7.EE.1, 7.EE.2, and 7.EE.4.

Hello Riverton Middle School! The holidays are around the corner, but we’ve also got a lot going on in the math classroom.
We just learned about slope and proportional relationships, a review of last year’s topics. Now we’re in the middle of our
linear equations unit. This is an important concept for students this year and will set them up for next year’s work in
Algebra I. Students are learning to write linear equations in different forms, and are learning how many things in the
world around them can be modelled with linear equations- from cell phone plans cost to the price of items in a bakery.
The next project they will be working on will involve them writing the equations of a factitious bakery they own and
writing equations to model the costs of different items in their bakery and the profits of their bakery.

In Algebra I we’ve been working on solving systems of equations and inequalities. This includes solving two equations
simultaneously. The three methods for solving are graphically, substitution, and elimination. Currently we’re solving
systems of inequalities which involves two solution sets that overlap. The project students just completed involves three
different blacksmiths selling swords to a king at different rates.

IXL, Khan Academy, and Learnzillion are all great resources where you can practice by standard.
ELA by Ms. Jackson, Ms. Giordano, Mr. Antoine, and Ms. Edouard
Kudos to our sixth-grade scholars!!!! As we embark into the change of the
seasons are scholars are growing and expanding their knowledge of skills and
thematic elements. Sixth grade scholars will be demonstrating their
understanding by taking their first English Language Arts Interim assessment
in November. We are certain that every scholar will do great!! Throughout the
month of October, scholars explored informational and argumentative texts
with a deep analysis of the genre’s structure and components. As we move
forward into the month of November, scholars will be exploring character and
point of view, through short stories and narratives. We will take an in-depth
analysis in the various ways the author reveals aspects of the character through
their personality traits as well as physical traits. At home scholars should
continue to foster their love of reading through their own independent reading
novel. Parents please continue to check Class Dojo for updates!!!!

Seventh grade scholars were immersed in analyzing and evaluating the elements of
argumentative writing. The scholars had the opportunity to study informational
texts, speeches and articles to trace and evaluate arguments and claims as well as
counterclaims. The scholars also studied what makes a text informational and how
that differs from a fiction text. The scholars had the opportunity to study various
informational texts to make meaning of the purpose, claims and evidence incorporated
into that text. The students completed also argumentative essay on the video game
Fortnite, which asked them to argue for or against the popular game. The students
had to include reasoning, evidence, and address a counterargument. Currently, the
students are learning about point of view, and character analysis through fiction.

What brings a character to life? Scholars in the eighth grade will be

beginning our unit where we will be exploring and analyzing how
writers use point of view and details to bring their characters to life.
By learning characterization and point-of-view, a reader can better
understand the rationale and motivation of the characters through
dialogue and incidents, within the story. Scholars will be reading
literature that highlights clear examples of complex characters and
the manner way incidents impact their rationale.
 Science by Ms. Grant, Ms. Shakes and Ms. Scott
Our six grade physical scientists finished up their solids, liquids and gases unit,
this month they will continue their journey learning about elements and the
periodic table. The scholars have already completed an element project which
served as a discovery driven introduction to elements and the periodic table.
During this month, the scholars will be able to see the modern model of the
atom, identify the parts that make up an element, explain the importance of
the periodic table, in regards to element information, and understanding how
elements are created. The scholars will also learn about the metals, non-metals
and metalloids in the periodic table as well as their respective locations. Next,
they will start learning about Acids, Bases and Solutions.

Our seventh grade scholars will be covering Charles Darwin’s hypothesis and his amazing discoveries aboard the HMS
Beagle. Topics included will be natural selection and different origin of species. Which will include fossil evidence of
animals that died a long time ago. Students will also be studying a little on artificial selections. Which Darwin studied
artificial selection offspring of domesticated animals. They will also be investigating what variations in genes have to do
with natural selection. Students will find out without variation all members of species would have the same traits, the
same chance of survival and reproduction rates. Student will continue to produce a varied amount of science projects, so
please be on the lookout.

This month our eight grade scientists will finish up their learning about Plate
Tectonics and complete an assessment to evaluate their understanding of this
concept. They will then start learning about how weathering, erosion and
deposition affects the Earth’s surface.

Eighth Grade Living Environment

This month our eighth-grade living environment scholars will learn about the events that take place during photosynthesis
and cellular respiration. They will be able to identify the reactants and products of photosynthesis and cellular respiration
and understand the recycling of chemicals between photosynthesis and cellular respiration. This which will finish their
unit on cell processes. The scholars will then learn about homeostasis and the human body.
 Social Studies by Mrs. Victor, Mr. Bruning, and Mr. Dayan

This month we will continue to learn about the Ancient River

Valley Civilizations in the Eastern Hemisphere. Scholars will make
connections and see the patterns of development from the
Paleolithic and Neolithic eras to the early Sumerian civilization in
Mesopotamia. With history we are always linking the past and the
present to better understand and appreciate the significant
opportunities created over time. For example, comparing the
education of children in Mesopotamia at about 3000 B.C. with
education today; Hammurabi’s Code of Laws then and our
democracy; and the use of hieroglyphs and computer icons.

Seventh grade scholars will focus on the European Age of Exploration

The seventh grade students will be continuing toand design and conduct
colonization scientific
of the experiments
“New World.” to test
Scholars whether
will be ableortonot their
describe
hypothesis is a belief or true. Exciting times are ahead for seventh
how explorers gradethe
sailed because we will
Atlantic and be investigating
then came into the plant with
contact and
animal kingdom. Investigating the diversity of living thingsNative
indigenous integrating viruses,
American bacteria
groups protistsAmerica.
of North and fungi. The plant
Scholars will
kingdom of gymnosperms and angiosperms will be touched upon with plant chemical response to growth
discuss how European powers like Spain, France, Great Britain and the and
development. Netherlands vied for land in the “New World.” Scholars will track the
development of European colonies in North America, especially Britain’s
claim on the east coast. Scholars will recognize the importance of the 13
British colonies as they will form the foundation for the ultimate
formation of the United States of America. In addition, scholars will
follow major current event stories like the United States midterm
elections. November is shaping up to be an exciting month in Social
Studies!

Our eighth grade scholars will engage in a role play called,

"Reconstructing the South." The role play will ask students tough
questions that will force them to make critical decisions regarding the
future of African Americans in the United States following
emancipation. The role play asks scholars to imagine themselves as
people who were formerly enslaved and to wrestle with a number of
issues to ensure genuine freedom. These issues will include ownership
of land, and land use.; political rights, education, employment, the fate
of Confederate leaders; voting rights; and self-defense. The role play's
premise is that the end of the war presented the people of this nation
with an opportunity to create a society with greater equality and
justice.
 November’s Moral Focus: Gratitude

Reminders:
 ECA Presentation,
 No school for scholars:
 Monday, November 11, 2019: Veterans Day
 Thursday & Friday, November 28-29, 2019: Thanksgiving
 Please make sure scholars are dressed in uniform each and every day. Scholars consistently not in
uniform will receive an infraction letter.
 All parents are invited to participate in our Moral Focus presentations. Please come out if you are
available.

November Effort Creates Ability Recipients

Sixth Grade Seventh Grade Eighth Grade

Gabbana Lewis, UCLA
Emmanie Emile, MIT
Jessona Braham, MIT
Arissa Razack, MIT
Alexander Torres, Duke
Arly Jean-Pierre, Binghamton
Daliyah McFarlane, Emory
D’ Andra Caines, Duke
Ayanna Edwards, Emory
Sanikoy Bryan, Emory
Shannon Whyte, Brandeis
Maia Nicholas, Rice
Makhyla Allen, Rice
Justin White, Johns Hopkins
Oke Okrokoto, Rice
Tye Fullerton, Johns Hopkins