In this short week following Martin Luther King Jr. day, there were many healthy classroom discussions around peace, protest, and standing up for what we believe in. Our community of middle schoolers was happy to practice some deep introspection and consider where they hoped to see “more peace” in their home, school, community, and world. I have to believe this body of students and teachers is one dream fulfilled for Dr. King and that we’ve more dreamers growing strong within these walls. My own words certainly fall short next to the legacy of Dr. King’s movement and words. That’s why I leave you with one of my favorite writings of his, MLK’s Letter from Birmingham Jail. Please soak up its wisdom and relevance if you have the time.
MLK closes his letter with the hope “that the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.” I can report with peace in my heart that TCS is just one place where the fog of misunderstanding is lifted each day for young minds, where love and brotherhood shine. May it be so wherever our students go next.
-Maggie
Upcoming Dates:
- February 13 – Valentine’s Day Bake Sale and Bingo (1:30pm)
- February 16-17 – February Break (No School)
- Please fill out this form for James Island County Parks. We will be doing PE there starting in February!
- February 27 – Middle School Dance
ELA: 7th grade sat in the heart of writing this week – rewriting! We shaped our stories with figurative language, realistic dialogue, and spinning plots until it was time to edit and publish. Writers enjoyed sharing spooky stories and teenage tales together on Friday. Look for those final grades in their take home folders. These brilliant genre writings will sit safely in their 7th grade writing portfolios.
Next week, 7th grade has a grammar test on Thursday 1/29. 7th grade will also begin one of my favorite units next week – film and media studies!
Science: This week in science, 7th graders took a deeper look at photosynthesis and cellular respiration, exploring how these two processes are interconnected. Students applied their understanding through a mini-project that offered choice and creativity: they could create a comic strip telling the story of how photosynthesis and cellular respiration work together, or design a futuristic proposal calculating how many plants would be needed to support the oxygen needs of 20 humans on Mars. Both options encouraged students to think critically, creatively, and collaboratively about energy and matter in living systems.
Next week, students will assess their understanding of producers on January 30th and begin investigating trophic levels. They will explore the work organisms do that requires energy, continuing to build a systems-based understanding of ecosystems.
Social Studies: Seventh grade has finished our study of the federal government and will be having our test next Friday. All materials are located in their google classroom as well has been printed off for them. During next week we will review and prepare. Once finished we will be moving into the Antebellum America period of pre Civil War America.
Math: This week in math, 7th graders continued working on solutions to equations and what the solutions mean, while connecting their equations to their graphs and tables. They took a quiz on Thursday as a check in before we dive into systems of equations and their solutions next week!
