The gratitude that comes with Thanksgiving is so perfectly placed before the gifting-heavy holidays that follow it. My brain and heart are so satisfied by the practice of acknowledging abundance and appreciating what one has before we ask for anything. Should we choose to resist the cultural frenzy and rush towards Chrstmas, there is a golden opportunity to sit and be mindful of the food in front of us, the people around us, the muted yet warm oranges, browns, and reds of this holiday.
This order of thanks then giving and receiving has been a concept we’ve dug into in middle school. We’ve talked about how gratitude can change the chemistry in our brain. Gratitude sets us up to tackle work with optimism, to approach a friend with empathy, to complete an assignment on time, and to understand how powerful our giving can be.
It goes without saying but there is so much power in saying it: I am so grateful for this community. I’m so grateful for the time we get in our curriculum to not only break down proofs but also to unpack the merits of a good friend, to not just construct essays but also practice gratitude. We wish everyone the most restful break!
-Maggie
Upcoming Dates:
- November 22 – November 30 – Thanksgiving Break
- December 10 – Cluster Lunch
- December 19 – Holiday Extravaganza & PJ Day (Half Day)
- December 20 – January 5 – Winter break
ELA- 7th grade readers and diarists delved deeply into Anne’s identity in their diary entries this week. They compared and contrasted the elements of Anne’s life that signaled a “normal teenage girl” experience and the pieces that were extraordinary. In keeping with that complexity, they reflected on the mixed emotions Anne was experiencing in hiding as suffering increased around her. 7th graders also tested for vocabulary this Thursday, so be sure to look for those grades after break.
After Thanksgiving break, students will return to finish the second half of Anne Frank, recording ideas about legacy and history as we finish her story. We will also begin a new grammar unit.
Science- This week in science, 7th grade got started researching their ecosystems. Working in groups, students picked a national park or preserve that represented different types of ecosystems. Students researched the type of organisms in their ecosystem and the interactions that occur between the abiotic and biotic factors found there. After break, students will focus on the feeding interactions in their ecosystem.
Social Studies- I hope you all enjoy your break! One fun thing historically to do with your child would be to look up the original foods of the first Thanksgiving and see which ones they would have liked to have eaten! When we return from break, we will be starting English colonization leading into the Revolutionary era and the creation of our federal government.
Math- This week, the 7th graders wrapped up this very short unit with graphing and solving inequalities before taking their assessment, which assessed their mastery of solving mutli-step equations before moving on to Unit 4 – where we will apply these skills to real-life scenarios. After break, we’ll dive into some more multi-step equations and develop new strategies to help us solve equations.
