Sixth Grade Newsletter Your Monthly Update from the CCP Middle School Team
October Edition
Theology & Technology Mrs. Schmidt
mschmidt@chaminade-stl.org Theology: We are preparing to read the Sacred Scriptures. Most young people who leave the faith cannot see how science and religion can live side by side in their lives. We have been talking about reading the Bible to learn religious truths, not scientific or historical truths. What kinds of literature are found in the Bible? Why is there evil in the world? Why do we call him Adam? All of these questions and more will be addressed in Theology class. Also, ask to see your son’s Theology notebook to check for organization and completion. Technology: The College Counselors spoke to the students via a screencast about the fact that they are on the road to college now. The boys are working on a Photo Story in which they will show their knowledge of important college admission terms. Ask to see the finished product. Later in the month Dr. Guidry and Ms. Dunlap will speak to the students about good practices/study skills. They will then create an Adobe Spark slide show. Also, continue to encourage them to practice keyboarding every day. The goal is 30 wpm with 90% accuracy by the end of the semester.
Social Studies
Mr. Mug
kmug@chaminade-stl.org This month in Social Studies we will be studying Ancient Egypt. We will continue to take notes using our scaffolded double column notes and have quizzes over each section. In addition, we will work on several small projects and continue to build our informational writing skills. Please note that I will be unavailable to from Thursday afternoon from 3:15-6:15 during Parent Teacher Conferences. If this presents a scheduling issue for you, please email me and we cant set up another time to meet.
Science
Mr. Kelly
jkelly@chaminade-stl.org This past week in science we got outside for our first (of many) outdoor lab activities. Your sons did a great job locating leaves and identifying the tree species the leaves came from using a field guide. They correctly identified many tree species and put into practice some of the concepts of classification we have been talking about in class. On Monday and Tuesday we will be wrapping up Lesson 2 and our discussion of Classification and Evolution. We will have our second larger
test over this Lesson on Wednesday and Thursday of next week (10-7 and 10-8). As a reminder, if your son needs help with science – either to catch up on a missing assignment or talk through a question – I will be in my classroom most mornings between 7:35-8:00am. I am also more than willing to set up a time to meet to discuss anything he might need to go over. As we move into the next unit, please encourage your son to bring a jacket on days where he has science class. While we won’t be going outside every day, as the weather gets cooler he will appreciate having something warm to put on for the days that we do go outside. As we continue to look at new (and sometimes complex) topics in science, I have been talking through various study techniques with the boys for reviewing for tests and quizzes, but most importantly to begin to develop a ‘toolset’ for better understanding and retaining information we discuss. Please let me know if your son could use additional help in this area and I am more than willing to talk through some of these ideas we discuss in class in a smaller setting. The year has been off to a great start and I have really been enjoying getting to know them this first month and a half of classes.
Math
Mr. Winebright
awinebright@chaminade-stl.org MAT 630 – The students have begun their study of Algebra, learning about variables and how to evaluate an translate words into math. After our quiz next week, we will start what the mathematicians of ancient Egypt first displayed on the Rhind Papyrus in 1550 BC: solving equations (they did it a little differently than we will)! They boys got back their Chapter 1 Assessments this week and, like on their quizzes, are able to earn points back by correcting any questions they may have missed. MAT 650 – These last few weeks we have introduced the concept of the integers, adding negative numbers to our arsenal. First “discovered” in ancient India by the scholar Brahmagupta, we discussed the uses of negative numbers in our world and eventually started solving equations that included the integers. We have our Chapter 2 Assessment lined up for next weeks, so please start studying for it this weekend!
English
Mr. Gauvain
tgauvain@chaminade-stl.org We are finishing our reading and writing assignments related to Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. I believe the boys enjoyed the novel, our discussions, and our writing topics. I have class set copies of the next four Hatchet companion novels, but you are welcome to purchase your own copies of The River, Brian’s Winter, Brian’s Return, and Brian’s Hunt, if your son would like his own books for future reading and writing assignments. Vocabulary units 2 & 3 will be completed early in October; watch Canvas for assignment and test announcements.
Stem
Ms. Schaaf
cschaaf@chaminade-stl.org Everything is going well! We just started with our snap circuits, and I am amazed at the hard work and success thus far! Keep it up! Our circuit quiz will be next week.
PE & Technology Mr. McCoy
dmccoy@chamiande-stl.org Physical Education: The boys are finishing up the disc golf unit and will be movie to kickball. We continue the health/ nutrition quizzes every other week. The next one will be on seafood. The weather has changed. Please have the boys bring outer layers to class we will be going outside until it is 40 or below. The boys are working up to running the mile in gym class later this month. We are running three laps currently. Please encourage the boys to push themselves on the track. Technology: The boys are finishing their second project, The Road to College, using the Photo Story program. Take a look at the boys' work. The next project the boys will be using Adobe Spark to create a resentation about their Chaminade academic journey. They are in the middle of the second set of typing lessons. They are working on words and sentences while using the correct fingers for each of the keys. It is very important for the boys to be working on this a few minutes every evening.
Art
Mr. Anthony
manthony@chaminade-stl.org 6th Grade Visual Art students are continuing to learn how to think and make like artists. We are building our creative experience using Color, Line, and Shape to create beautiful artworks that hold meaning and connections for us. Our class collaborated with each of the middle school visual arts classes to create a large installation outside our classroom studio in the Skip. Keep up the good work gentlemen!
Band
Mr. Jones
hjones@chaminade-stl.org MS Middle School Band: Jingle Bells 1 Due Wednesday 10/7 at 10pm https://chaminade-stl.instructure.com/courses/2055/assignments/247656
Theater
Mrs. Lawrence
slawrence@chaminade-stl.org Students are busy creating their Sketch Comedy Show project After we wrap our filming, students will have a watch party in class. We will then begin reading our first play of the semester. Students are also encouraged to watch the All School Play, William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors,” which we will be livestreaming for you to enjoy at home! This unique and groundbreaking production will be performed entirely online in a Minecraft world built by Chaminade students! Tickets are free for CCP students, but must be reserved online so you receive the viewing link. Information can be found on the Chaminade home page and our class Canvas page. The show runs October 8-10.
Congratulations to the 6th grade Student of the Month! STUDENT OF THE MONTH
IS AWARDED TO
MASON WEDDING for Consistent Effort in the Classroom and Gentlemanly Conduct. Chaminade College Preparatory School Presented on October 2, 2020
Dr. Todd Guidry, Ed.D Middle School Principal
Messgaes from your Middle School Team:
Principal Dr. Guidry
tguidry@chaminade-stl.org
Counselor
Mrs. Griese
lgriese@chaminade-stl.org
Learning Consultant Mr. Hale
jhale@chaminade-stl.org
Attached is our October Monthly Planner if this is something you and your son have found helpful or would like to start using. If you have any follow up questions, please feel free to reach out! We understand that a very difficult part of this school year is the lack of social interactions your boys are getting at school. Because of this, we have gone into your son's Theology classes to do a Building Connections activity. The idea behind this was to give them time outside of classroom, connect with new kids in their class and have fun. Our goal is to continue to provide these types of experiences so the boys can safely connect with their classmates!
DATES TO REMEMBER: 10/8: Early Dismissal @ 12:30 Parent Teacher Conferences on Zoom 1:30-7:00pm 10/8-10/10: All School Show- Comedy of Errors @7:00pm online 10/9: No School! Parent Teacher Conferences 8:00am-12:00pm 10/12: No School!
10/30: House Polo Day
ATTENDANCE REMINDER: Will your son be absent? Does he have an appointment and need to leave early or arrive late? Call the Middle School Office at 314.692.6687.