“Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” – Carl Bard


As we head into the new year, this is a quote I am sharing with some of our students. Last week, all of the TCS Middle Schoolers and teachers thought of one word they wanted to carry into the new year. Some examples include “organized”, “productive”, “patience”, and “optimistic”, among many others. At the turn of the year, it’s inevitable and important that we reflect on the previous year and have things we want to change, however, we can’t completely uproot and change all of our ways overnight. But, these new words are things we can apply to small aspects of our day to day life to help us become even 1% better everyday.


-AG




Here’s a look at what is happening in each of the classes:



What’s happening in Science?
Sixth graders explored the characteristics of all living things this week. They investigated five mystery substances and used the list of characteristics of living things to decipher if the substance was non-living or not, or possibly dormant. The sixth graders also observed and investigated paramecium to identify characteristics of life in single-celled organisms. Next week, they will continue to learn more about living things and how biomimicry can be used as a solution to problems we have in our contemporary society.
What’s up in ELA?

6th grade readers enthusiastically began the main project of their unit this week – creating a miniature ‘lesson plan’ based on a sub-topic from their non-fiction novels. With their rich notes on main ideas, facts, and narratives in our novels, 6th graders are preparing a small lesson and activity for our fourth grade peers to experience in a presentation next week!

Next week, 6th graders will polish up and practice their lessons for fourth grade. In the process we will learn how to turn to outside resources to address ‘gaps’ in our knowledge and how to identify the ‘lingo’ of our topics so we can speak as experts would.

What’s going on in Math?
In our first week back, 6th graders reviewed for and took an assessment on expressions and equations. They then began to explore proportional relationships, what they are, and how to represent them. Next week, we’ll use equations to represent proportional relationships, analyze how proportional relationships are different from other relationships, and solve problems about them.

What’s happening in Social Studies?
Sixth graders have begun their studies of the Roman Empire. We began the unit by diving into some vocabulary before studying their republic era. This led the students into the fall of the republic and the start of the empire! Students competed against classmates to determine if different characteristics belonged to the Republic Era or Empire!

Next week, the students will conclude the Roman Empire and begin their studies on the Byzantine. We will challenge ourselves in trying to translate some Latin words to introduce us to the official language of the Romans. Students will end the week by mapping the Byzantine Empire.


Important Dates:
Monday, January 15 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day – NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, January 17 – Cluster Lunch
Saturday, January 27 5:30pm-9:00pm – Family Fun Outing – Carolina Stingrays Game