Academics

Welcome back! I am looking forward to a successful school year. I would like to welcome all returning students as well as all of our new students.

Just a few friendly reminders:

• Girls must have knee high socks
• Boys must have belts and no ankle socks
• Girls are not allowed to wear nail polish
• Highlighted hair is not allowed
• Lunch orders are due on a monthly basis.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

8th Grade

Social Studies: We have begun our study of the United States Constitution. Students have already completed timelines depicting the events that led to the American Revolution.

All eighth graders are required to bring in news articles once a week. They will be given credit for these articles. These articles can be found in newspapers, magazines, or on the internet. They must pertain to Social Studies (government, politics, foreign affairs, or social issues).

English/Grammar: We have begun studying the five steps of the writing process:
• Prewriting
• Drafting
• Revising
• Proofreading/Editing
• Publishing

We have also been studying appositives and the different types of sentences. Students have completed medieval poems using appositives.

Reading: We have begun a short unit on Greek Mythology. Students will be reading myths and writing their own myths.

7th Grade

Social Studies: We have begun reviewing the Five Themes of Geography:
• Location
• Place
• Interaction
• Movement
• Region

Students have already completed posters representing the Five Themes and have created concept webs relating the Five Themes to the Joliet area.

Our first unit of study will focus on the early heritage of Americans. We will study map making skills as well as American lands and climates.

6th Grade

Social Studies: Our first unit of study will focus on Europe/Russia. Students will be completing maps identifying all of the countries in Europe. We will also focus on:
• Land and Water
• Climate and Vegetation
• Natural Resources

5th Grade

Social Studies: Students have been introduced to the Five Themes of Geography:
• Location
• Place
• Interaction
• Movement
• Region

We have also been working on map and globe skills. Students have been introduced to the following terms:
• Longitude
• Prime Meridian
• Latitude
• Equator
• Northern, Southern, Western, and Eastern Hemispheres

Students have been working on completing drawings of the four hemispheres.

Our next Unit will focus on using primary sources, American people and land, government by the people, free enterprise, and resources and the environment.