Sixth Grade Newsletter Your Monthly Update from the CCP Middle School Team
February Edition
Theology & Leadership Mrs. Schmidt mschmidt@chaminade-stl.org
Theology: We are viewing the completed Exodus power points and they are, indeed, quite impressive. After Spring break, we will be moving on to the period of Judges and Kings: Samson, Kings David and Solomon, and the Temple of Jerusalem! Lent is here and the sixth graders have chosen to donate to Our Little Haven. Our own personal GoFundMe page will be open until Easter: https://p2p.onecause.com/chaminade. Please encourage your sons to earn the money that is given. Leadership: Students are improving keyboarding skills, hoping to attain 30 wpm with 90% accuracy by the end of the school year. Encourage your sons to practice every day. Fr. Oscar Vasquez S.M. has talked to the boys about vocations. Their vocation newsletters are due before Spring break. Next, the college counselors will speak on the importance of laying the groundwork for college even in sixth grade. A Photo Story will showcase their understanding and creativity.
Math
Mr. Winebright awinebright@chaminade-stl.org
The boys are all about that data! In our unit on statistics, we are looking not just to calculate measures of center but to learn different ways to organize and display our data through a variety of graphs and charts, including the dreaded box plot. The unit culminates with a project in which the boys will survey and suggest a change they would like to make to Chaminade now that they have become experts of all things CCP. A short assessment will happen before the break followed by the data project afterward. Keep up the great work!
Math Science
Mr. Kelly jkelly@chaminade-stl.org
We recently wrapped up Unit 4 where we examined the Carbon Cycle, Earth’s atmosphere, various energy sources, and climate change. These topics are all interwoven and influence living things on a planetary scale. All of this laid the groundwork for our new unit where we examine the incredible diversity of plants on Earth. Wednesday and Thursday of this week, students will each have the opportunity to re-take the photosynthesis quiz from last week to replace their previous score on the quiz. I rarely offer re-takes for quizzes, but this is such an important concept that I really encouraged the boys to spend some extra time to make sure they know (and understand) the various steps of photosynthesis. Starting this Friday, students will begin to construct their own personal terrarium using a 2-liter soda bottle. One request you should hear in the next day or two is that they need to bring in a 2-liter soda bottle for science. They are not trying to pull your leg, I promise! The bottle should be empty, clean, and should be brought to my classroom (MS 3) by Friday morning to receive full credit (more information can be found on Canvas as well if you have additional questions). The terrarium will be observed in class after it is constructed and then will be brought home for observations over spring break. We will discuss options for completing observations over spring break in case families are leaving town, but please have your son reach out if he has any additional questions after our discussion. Thank you in advance for your participation in and support for this project!
English
Mr. Gauvain tgauvain@chaminade-stl.org
English class … Hello, sixth grade families: Vocab unit 10 test coming up in the first week of March; Unit 11 soon after that … , more reading, more writing, and more vocab coming up during March, April, and May. Upcoming novels will include PEAK, by Roland Smith … MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, by Jean Craighead George, and BRIAN’S HUNT, by Gary Paulsen. I have plenty of class-set copies for the boys to use at school, but you are encouraged to buy your own novel(s) if you like to have your own book for reading and writing assignments. Thank you for being such awesome young men; I am thoroughly enjoying being your teacher … Mr. Tim Gauvain
Social Studies Mr. Mug kmug@chaminade-stl.org
We are wrapping up Ancient Greece prior to spring break. We have covered chapters 4 & 5 in our textbook and investigated various aspects of Greek city-states. Students worked in small groups and will be presenting their Greek Newscasts in class. When we return to school after break we will be studying Ancient Rome beginning with the legend of Romulus and Remus all the way through the founding of the Byzantine Empire.
Stem
Ms. Schaaf cschaaf@chaminade-stl.org
STEM is busy building circuits! Make sure to pay attention to due dates...late work is half credit! Please turn in your assignments on time! Keep up the hard work!
P,E, & Technology
Mr. McCoy dmccoy@chaminade-stl.org
PE: The boys have been working hard to get ready for the pacer test next week. This is part of the Presidential Fitness program. This will give then a bench maker for there endurance ability and let them know how they compare with boys their age nation wide. The weather is getting better so we will start taking our workouts outside. The boys may wear outer wear over the PE cloths. The next health quiz will be after spring break. Technology: The boys are working up to the first typing test of the semester next week. They should be practicing a little each day. We are working on the third project of the semester, the Vocations Newsletter. The boys are writing five articles for the newsletter. Our guest speaker was Fr. Oscar Vasquez S.M., Provincial of the Marianist US Providence. Our next project will start after spring break.
Theatre
Mrs. Lawrence slawrence@chaminade-stl.org
In 6th grade, students have finished creating and sharing their Silent Films. Great work! Next, we will begin reading the play The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe aloud in class.
Art
Mr. Anthony manthony@chaminade-stl.org
6th grade artists are continuing to develop their making skills. We continue to learn how to use color and shape to hold meaning. Recently we completed our abstract drawings and are currently critiquing each other’s work. For our next project, we will be working with tissue paper and glue to create colorful “paintings” inspired by the artwork of Marianist artist Brother Mel Meyer. Keep up the good work gentlemen!
DATES TO REMEMBER: 3/11: Parent Teacher Conferences on Zoom 1:30-4:30pm and 5:15-7:30pm 3/12: No School! Happy Spring Break! 3/15-3/19: SPRING BREAK 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 or email Susie at sclark@chaminade-stl.org
Messages 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
Congrats to our 6th Grade February Student of the Month: John Fendya Parent Teacher conferences are on March 11th. Mr. Hale and I will have our Zoom Room's open during that time if anyone would like to check in. Use the links below to join the waiting room and be patient as we may be with another parent. Have a safe and wonderful Spring Break! Laura Griese Zoom Room: https://zoom.us/j/4812798392? pwd=Zkx3T3QxbFdzaGtiQU14U2lZTE5mQT09 John Hale Zoom Room: https://zoom.us/j/8399088180? pwd=dlltQStLK0FHWnc0VWd1N2YwV25jUT09