Parent Newsletter

August 27, 2011

Middle School Volunteer Opportunities

Welcome Back to School!

Please join me and the rest of the PTA on Monday August 29th for the Parent's Coffee immediately following opening circle. The purpose of this event is to welcome new parents, greet old friends, and sign up for critical parent volunteer spots.

Thanks to Monica Marcone, I have great descriptions of these positions to help you pick the best spot for you!! See the Volunteer Positions page so that you can arrive on Monday ready to ink the deal.

I look forward to seeing everyone on Monday. We are also scheduling a parent mixer for either September 14 or the 21st. Please look for emails about this in the coming week.

Thanks, Becky Johnson

Posted by CN at 10:40 PM

March 06, 2011

Middle School Update - March 6, 2011

Hillcrest Helps Out:

Hillcrest Helps Out is a great opportunity for Middle Schoolers to contribute to the outside community (and earn service hours). Our last Hillcrest Helps out work day will be on April 9th. Mark your calendars. It will be at Santa Fe School from 9-1p. Just show up! We have helped Santa Fe every year and have a great partnership with them. You can work as many as hours as you are able. If you have any questions feel free to contact Donna Somerville.

Dance Update

Date: Friday March 18, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Location: Hillcrest Multi-purpose Room
Theme: Spring Fling
Cost: $5.00 per person

Permission slips will be distributed next week. We need at least 6 more adult chaperones (preferably from each grade). We are also hoping to have either St. Theresa's and/or Corpus Christi schools included as well. We would also ask kids to bring a snack to share (bite size snacks, no nuts). Please direct any questions to Jennifer Chapman, Sandy Fox, or Laura Grady.

Posted by CN at 10:31 PM

February 06, 2011

Middle School Update February 6th, 2011

Dance Update: The next dance was scheduled for Friday, Feb 11. However, due to unforeseen conflicts in schedules, the dance will need to be rescheduled for a later date. Sit tight and we will let you know the dance date very soon.

Santa Barbara/El Capitan Trip forms due Feb. 18:

It's time to begin filing the paperwork for this year's trip to Santa Barbara/El Capitan, May 17-20.

Please use this link to view and print out the forms (and read all about the trip):
http://www.hillcrestpta.org/classroom/midschool/fieldtrip/

In all, there are 4 NAL forms and 1 OUSD form to complete/student. In addition, please review/print the NAL equipment list and procedures for food allergies (and contact NAL), if applicable. Forms are due to your child's teacher by Friday, February 18. Questions? Contact Diana Biondo

Feedback Requested on Dave Nettles:

Hi MS Parents,

I am hoping to get feedback from you and your children regarding their experience working with Dave Nettles this year. With the PTA budgeting cycle approaching, and more OUSD cuts expected, we need to understand the best way to use our PTA funds. And getting a handle on the value of this activity is important.

Specific examples of how his work with the kids has had an impact on them would be most helpful. Quotes from your kids would also be useful. Thanks for taking a moment to send me your thoughts by Wednesday, February 9th. We will be discussing this at the PTA board meeting on Thursday the 10th.

Thank you,
Monica Marcone

Posted by CN at 08:24 PM

January 23, 2011

Middle School Update January 23, 2011

Reminders:

Book reports are due on February 11th
There is NO SCHOOL on Friday, January 28

Art Curriculum Update:

Hello Hillcrest community! I am Mathilde Landberg, otherwise known as Ms. L.

This is my third year teaching Visual Arts, and I love it!

6th grade is working on finishing a name design using radial symmetry.

7th and 8th grade have finished building objects and vessels using clay, and will start glazing next week.

All middle school students will soon be working on creating block prints!

8th Grade Yearbook Request:

Dear 8th Grade parents,

I need your help with attaining images to use for the Middle School Yearbook I'm producing with the 8th graders this year. You can help if . . .

- You've attended any Hillcrest sports events and taken pictures of your child/the game
- You took pictures of any fundraiser events so far this year
- You plan to be at any Hillcrest functions soon (academic, creative or athletic), and can take a camera to snap pics
- Have any helpful information not already available on the YP that could help the students create write-ups for events that you have photos for

Please forward any such photos with notations of who is in the photos, what event it is, when it occurred, etc. It may be best to drop off such items in an envelope and put in the Technology/IT folder against the wall in the office, which I check (ask Ms. Holloway or Joan for assistance, if you can't locate the folder).

Also, I've encouraged the 8th graders to submit their work for Yearbook class before grading period is over - Album Cover art work, YB Cover Art submissions, bringing in baby pictures of them to scan. Many seem not to be taking my verbal & written yearbook assignments and deadlines seriously until they see their GBW account a few days before I hand in grades . . . please ask them about their assignments and encourage them to turn in their work.

Thank you,
Andrea Orvik,
IT Aide / computer instructor
Hillcrest IT

Posted by CN at 06:34 AM

January 17, 2011

Middle School Update January 17, 2011

Middle School Graduation

We are looking for two parents to plan the graduation ceremony in the Spring. This will be a partnership with the 8th grade students, the Middle School teachers and Mrs. Rothenberg. You will need to be available to meet with the kids during the day. Charles Pelton and Michael Allison have volunteered to interview each of the 8th graders and present during the ceremony. If you are interested please email me, Becky Johnson.

It is Carnival Time!

We need one or two parent volunteers to organize the Middle School volunteers during the Walkathon Carnival. The parent volunteer will help the kids sign up for all of the various roles and then be available the day of the carnival to keep the middle-schoolers on task. If you are interested please email Kirsten Hosemann.

Chaperones for the Spring Field Trip: Thanks to all of you who threw your name in the chaperone hat for the spring field trip! The names have finally been drawn and the chaperones for 2011 (in addition to Diana Biondo) are:

Sandy Fox
Ron Hutton
Devra Laner
John Marcone
Matthew Merzbacher

Thank you, thank you again! We couldn't do these trips without your support!

Posted by CN at 06:31 AM

January 04, 2011

2010-2011 Year

Posted by CN at 12:01 PM

March 14, 2010

MS Curriculum Update - March 11, 2010

Hillcrest MS Curriculum Update
March 11, 2010
____________________________________
Earth Science (6th & 7th)

Curriculum Notes
We are working from the California Science Standards for Earth Sciences, and are currently on Unit 4: The Shape of the Earth’s Surface, which includes the study of rock weathering, beaches, and natural hazards.

Classroom Commentary
Activities: We are working on Chapter 12, Beaches, that covers formation of beaches, waves, and sand transport.

Lab: Students completed a lab creating a beach with different kind of waves and observing the effects on the movement of sand and shape of the beach..

Text References: CPO Focus on Earth Science (CPO Science); Chapter 12: Beaches.

Upcoming tests and due dates: Science Fair Materials and Procedures due March 19.
____________________________________
Physical Science (8th)

Curriculum Notes
We are working from the California Science Standards for Physical Sciences, and are currently on Unit Five: Motion and Force, which includes speed, forces, and motion.

Classroom Commentary
Activities: We are starting Chapter 13 on Forces. Students are learning about the difference between mass and weight.

Lab: Students completed a lab measuring weight and mass as well as friction force. Students graphed the data to see the relationship between mass and weight on Earth.

Text References: CPO Focus on Physical Science (CPO Science); Chapter 13: Forces

Upcoming tests and due dates: Science Fair Materials and Procedures due March 19.
____________________________________
Information Technology

Classroom Commentary
Over the last 2 weeks the 6th and 7th graders have continued working on their web pages. In addition to learning the basic structure of a web page and some of the basic codes for controlling text and images, they have learning how to create graphics in Photoshop, which they can then add into their web pages (for example a banner along the top). After looking at examples of local restaurant web pages, each student/group is creating a web page for their own imaginary restaurant.

In addition to the web page, we have started a new project in which students become "experts" in a particular technology, product or technology-related issue. For example, students have chosen topics from the iPad to Biometrics. After doing online research (and listening for their topic on the news), students will create an online blog and write on their topic.

Other Notes
You can learn more about either topic by going to the "MS-Lectures" and "MS-Projects" links on the Hillcrest Computer Class web page.
________________________________________
Spanish (6th)

Classroom Commentary
Acerca de nuestras clases de Español
• Students have been learning about time and how to use it correctly in different phrases and situations.
• In terms of grammar, they are learning about prepositions. They have been writing funny stories using prepositions and they have been acting their own stories in classes.
• Students are also learning about the possession "DE" in Spanish writing sentences using vocabulary that they already know. They watched the first video of this chapter and wrote down general ideas about that video in Spanish.
• Next week, they will learn about the verb "to be" and how to apply it correctly in different contexts. Using the "to be" verb, they will be able to describe people using the adjectives that they already know.

Upcoming tests and due dates: On Monday the 15th, they have a test, which will include time, definite articles, adjectives, the verb "to be" and the possession "DE" in Spanish. Also, as a class, we have made a commitment about homework: it will be posted online on Tuesday, and it will be due on Thursday.

Other Notes
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email me at taniafmena@hotmail.com

Text References: Ven Conmigo! Chapter 3; Online access to text activities: http://go.hrw.com/hrw.nd/arbiter/pRedirect?project=hrwonline&siteId=400&pageId=4605
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Posted by Sarah Holliman at 10:33 PM

March 08, 2010

MS Curriculum Update - March 4, 2010

Earth Science (6th & 7th)

Classroom Commentary
Activities: We are finishing up working on Chapter 11, Water and Weathering that covers sediment and the formation of sedimentary rocks.

Lab: Students completed a lab creating layers of sediment from sand and dirt. They observed how different events create different layers. Students examined different sedimentary rocks to determine where in a river they came from.

Text References: CPO Focus on Earth Science (CPO Science); Chapter 11: Water and Weathering

Upcoming tests and due dates: Chapter 11 Test, Monday. Science Fair Materials and Procedures due March 19.
____________________________________
Physical Science (8th)

Curriculum Notes
We are working from the California Science Standards for Physical Sciences, and are currently on Unit Five: Motion and Force, which includes speed, forces, and motion.

Classroom Commentary
Activities: We are finishing up Chapter 12 on Speed and Motion. Students completed a number of activities interpreting graphs of motion.

Lab: Students completed a lab using the energy cars and tracks. They took data from a car accelerating down a ramp using the photogate timers. They then graphed the data and were able to compare results from different groups with different angle tracks.

Text References: CPO Focus on Physical Science (CPO Science); Chapter 12: Distance, Time and Speed

Upcoming tests and due dates: Chapter 12 Test, Friday. Science Fair Materials and Procedures due March 19.
____________________________________
Information Technology

Other Notes
You can learn more about either topic by going to the "MS-Lectures" and "MS-Projects" links on the Hillcrest Computer Class web page.
________________________________________
Art

Classroom Commentary/Projects
‘Good painting is like good cooking: it can be tasted but not explained.’ Vlaminck

Last week 6th and 8th graders finished their self portraits in the “Cubist” style. Most students then had plenty of time to devote to a written project for the rest of the period.

In this additional lesson students were instructed to “paint a picture with words”, using the Japanese art of Haiku. Haiku is a form of poetry in which each poem is constructed of 3 lines; with the pattern: 3 syllables - 5 syllables - 3 syllables. Haiku also requires that, rather than referring to the object or event that the poem describes, the writer use words to inspire the reader with the poet’s experience.
Students were offered a choice of several art prints as their springboards for their haiku. Following is a lovely example penned by Niamh Collins (6th grade):

“Flowers”
A calm young woman
sits on her couch with flowers
as her only guests.
(inspired by Henri Matisse’s “Purple Robe and Anemones”)

7th graders, who were all finished with their paintings, with one exception, had a different project, also using the written word. This project required each student to write 2 paragraphs each answering/discussing 2 questions: “What is art?”, and, “What is art for?”

We began this project with an open discussion of the 2 questions. I let the students know that I did not expect a “correct” answer: that these 2 questions have been discussed/argued for over 2,000 years: and that what I was looking for was thoughtful, personal opinions. Students were given 10 minutes to discuss their ideas amongst themselves, after which they were required to work in silence.
This project was intended to have the students reflect on what it is that we do when we make and view (listen to, experience) art, and what value it has for them and for others. These brief essays yielded some pretty pithy comments, as well as some very moving descriptions of what may motivate us to make art. Following is a sneak peek of the students’ writings, most, if not all of which, I hope to have on view in legible form at the upcoming art show:

Art is the way that many choose to show what happens within one’s mind. Some cannot say what they feel like to others with ease. They may feel trapped inside without anyway to escape. So they become artists...’ by Morgan Malone

‘What defines art is how other people perceive it... Art can be painfully beautiful, or painstakingly ugly...Art is art. And that is that.’ by Victoria Mariolle

Other Notes
These lovely creations will be on view at the upcoming annual Hillcrest Art Show, Thursday, March 11th at 7pm. Accompanied by LIVE music!!! I look forward to seeing you there.

Posted by Sarah Holliman at 09:36 AM