Inflight News: Middle School Newsletter. Sept, 2023

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It’s been wonderful welcoming back our middle schoolers to campus. Seeing them run to hug their friends across grade levels, laugh in advisories, and start forging new connections with others on a deeper level has warmed our hearts.

Buddies

PAGES 5

Family Groups

PAGE 6

Pen Ceremony

PAGES 7

Upcoming Dates and Announcements from Ms. Rod

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While the first few days were focused on reviewing expectations, receiving devices, and discovering upgrades to our campus, students also had the chance to meet their teachers and start their classes

Students reviewed their summer math packets, discussed their summer reading, and began learning about the essential questions and units they would explore throughout the year.

CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS

Sixth grade: Sixth graders started year two of the program Managing Me in Advisory Managing Me was developed by a team of educators, including a psychologist, a doctor, expert teachers, and a PhD-level researcher, to directly teach TEMPO skills: Training the brain (self-control, study habits, etc ), Executive functioning skills (planning, prioritizing, time management, etc ), Mindset, Preparation, and Organization In classes, students are critically examining sources and determining which sources are reliable. They are continuing to look at stories from multiple perspectives and looking to primary and secondary source material.

Seventh grade: Seventh graders are delving into Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in Theatre Arts, exploring The Giver in English class, and investigating ancient civilizations in social studies. They are building their ability to think like mathematicians, scientists, writers, and artists. They are finding evidence to support their claims and distinguishing between fact and fiction.

Eighth grade: Inspired by John Lewis’s call to action to this next generation, students are writing their eighth-grade show about how we can move from injustice to actionable love On September 12, Paris Crayton III, a professional playwright, actor, and director, led a workshop on how to write powerful scenes on social justice (pictured below) On September 18, eighth graders went to the Grammy Museum to learn about music from the civil rights movement and began writing lyrics to their own protest songs They are connecting their learning from their summer reading, theatre arts, social studies, English, and music classes to inspire powerful scenes

Eighth graders went to Fulcrum in Culver City in the morning to bon class and venture on the ropes course. They had the opportunity to one another and take on various challenges in their advisory group as spend time together as a whole grade

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Middle School Retreat: Sept 8 INFLIGHT

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One of the highlights for students was the dunk tank When they hit the target from a distance with a ball, they were able to dunk Mr Shipley, Nate, Mrs Rod, Ms Zeinab, and Ms Reimann

Students rotated through a myriad of stations testing their ability to reason, collaborate, think outside of the box, and use their intellectual and physical prowess The campus was filled with happy busy middle schoolers playing laser tag, solving puzzles, scoring trivia points, and rocking indoor/outdoor games At the end of the day, winning teams were announced They earned a delicious pizza lunch but in truth, everyone got to enjoy the pizza

Buddies: Sept, 14

During the first days of school, students brainstormed different kinds of activities they could do with their buddies As middle schoolers, they take the lead in planning activities and finding ways to ensure their younger buddies feel happy, safe, seen, and heard. Middle school students created cards as a gift for their buddies and read the cards to their buddies in their first meeting together on September 14.

Sixth graders read stories with their buddies and drew pictures together.

Seventh graders created paper airplanes and tested them outside. They had fun together and learned about aerodynamics

Eighth graders wrote a story their kindergarten buddy told them Then the kindergarten buddy illustrated their story This story and illustration will go into a buddy book the eighth graders will give to their buddies at the end of the year

Family Groups: Sep

Middle school students look forward to leading their family groups. Each middle school student has a role to play in leading the group while eighth graders teach the mini-lesson. Students pick up their younger students and bring them to their family group meeting place Then, middle school students lead the K-8 mixed group of students and faculty/staff through a greeting, share, activity, and closing

Pen Ceremony: Sept, 27

The Pen Ceremony has been a tradition at WNS for 16 years. Eighth graders each receive an engraved pen to mark the beginning of their eighth-grade year, demonstrating the importance of the words and actions they choose to take and how those can have a tremendous impact on their peers, their school, and the community at large Mr Zacuto highlighted a few important social activists who used the power of their words to make change Eighth graders are our future changemakers, world movers, and shakers

Upcoming Dates

WEDNESDAY IS SPIRIT DAY! Beginning Wednesday, October 4th, and every Wednesday after (unless otherwise specified), the entire community is encouraged to wear WNS gear to celebrate community and belonging. Feel free to wear any kind of WNS gear every Wednesday!

Monday, October 9 - No School; Professional Development Day

Friday, October 13 - RAINBOW Day! Come to school in your finest rainbows to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month.

Thursday, October 19, and Friday, October 20

5th and 6th Grades: Parent-Teacher Conferences

7th and 8th Grades: Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences

- You choose whether they are in-person or on Zoom.

Announcements

Don’t forget to make your home technology agreement. We highly recommend using Common Sense Media’s website for example agreements and guidelines on apps, games, and movies.

Please remove devices from your child’s bedrooms at night.

Help us support students in meeting our “no-gum chewing” expectation.

October is LGBTQ+ History Month and we are seeking volunteers. Please check in with Dr. Starnes.

Coming up in our next issue

Grade Level Retreats

Curriculum Snapshots

Buddies

Executive Board

Speeches & Elections

Second through eighth grade students and faculty listened to 16 speeches from eighth graders all committing to make change and be great school representatives. Six of the 16 were elected to be executive board members: Dylan Ahn, Goldie Ames, Rishi Bhatt, Cyrus Kasravi, Aubrey Penny, and Maggie Williamson.

These students will help to lead community gathering and will meet regularly to ensure all at WNS are seen, heard, and supported