Fusion Communication: January 26

Hi all,

A full week of school - amazing!  This week marks the middle of the trimester, so it’s a good time to check in with your child about school.  There are some changes coming in the next few weeks - see below for more detail.

Fusion “Fun” Field Trip Day - NOW February 8

Team decided to move the date of the trip to accommodate the multitudes of students who participate in the music program; they would have missed the field trip otherwise. So make the change on the calendar - it’s a Thursday.  Copy of the permission form is attached.

Time to Check Supplies!

It’s almost the halfway point in the year - and some student supplies are running low.  Please check in with your child to make sure they have pencils, pens, paper, etc; teaching team is getting asked for A LOT of pencils right now.

8th Grade families only: Recommendation forms

Next stage in high school transition. Specific comments should be directed towards the individual teacher or Ms. Wisniowski.

All Laptops are at school over the Weekend

There should be no school laptops / electronic devices at home over the break.  If one does make its way home, please secure it in a spot where it will remain unused for the break.

Calendar

February 8 -  Field trip to Spare Time Bowling (see attached permission slip)

February 14 - Delayed Start

February 16 (8th Grade only) - MMU Recommendation forms due to Ms. Wisniowski

February 23 - Student Faculty Basketball Game (8th graders and staff compete on Red and White teams). Time is end of the day - 1:40ish.

February 24-March 6: Winter Break (no school)

April 11 - Delayed Start

May 9 - Last Delayed Start

June 1 - 8th Grade: Move up Day at MMU

Curriculum Updates

LA

Ms. Ginny Bobbitt here! I’m so happy to be a new member to this school community! I’ve had a wonderful two weeks getting to know all my learners.  

7: Our 7th grade readers are finishing a nonfiction reading unit. We’ve been working hard on identifying central ideas in nonfiction texts. The tail end of the unit included finding themselves on a learning continuum that spanned standard goals from 2nd to 9th grade- we used this to set personal reading goals to continue to push our learning forward. Most are finding their next steps include finding what an author implies rather than states explicitly. Exciting abstract thinking practice for adolescents! We’ll be starting a writing unit next week that is focused on argument. (I’m sincerely sorry if teaching your child effective argument skill makes your home life more difficult).

8: Our 8th grade readers are also finishing a nonfiction reading unit. We’ve taken some serious steps in creating well-supported summaries of complex nonfiction texts. Succinct articulations of comprehension will be used again and again in future academic writing! We’ll start our post-assessment next week. Shortly after, we’ll begin a writing unit focused on crafting position papers. One such lesson is titled, “Unleashing the Inner Dramatist to Give Speeches More Impact.” I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how our middle school seniors will undoubtedly shine during this unit.

Math

7: We are nearing the end of the Accentuate the Negative unit. Students have been exploring order of operations with the added layer of operations with negative numbers.  We are looking to have an end of unit assessment towards the end of next week.  

8: We wrapped up the last investigation of our current unit on Exponential Functions.  We will plan to have an end of unit assessment either Wednesday or Thursday of next week.  Also, I have spent to past two days reviewing with each individual student with their math course recommendation for next year.  These forms will go home in the middle of next week once all necessary teachers have made their recommendations.  Bryant will also be emailing today a separate letter about course recommendations.  If you have any questions about your student’s math recommendation, please do not hesitate to call or email.

SS

7 - It was a heady week in social studies.  The beginning saw the end of the film “Inside North Korea”, which always provokes some thoughts from students.  Students then spent the rest of the week comparing the population of the United States to North Korea, and the use of propaganda techniques by North Korean government (and anyone) to create a certain type of thinking. Friday saw the introduction of “cult of personality”.

8 - The beginning of the week was a continuation of the Constitution simulation, where students worked in states and as the federal government to confront problems of the new republic.  Students then continued to build their VT Bill Project, identifying a bill before the 2018 legislature.  Part of the project requires students to reach out to a legislature - or an “expert” - on a particular bill.  Severa students have already heard back from legislators.

Science

7: We officially launched our heredity unit by examining the physical traits of 2 twins who look very different from each other.  Our goal will be to build a detailed explanation for how this is possible over the next few weeks.  Students were introduced to measuring the diversity of traits represented in the classroom, and are now in the midst of producing stop-motion films modeling the process of mitosis - cell division for most body cells.  Next week, we build models of DNA!

8:  Students continue to explore a variety of chemical reactions and factors that limit those reactions, such as concentration levels of reactants.  They set up an investigation to produce rust over the weekend and will calculate the amount of oxygen in the air that is used up by this reaction on Monday.  Soon, they will research their own chemical reaction and demonstrate this to the class!  

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Fusion Communication: January 19

Hi all,

One of these weeks, we’ll have five days of school:) This communication will be short - longer one next week once all staff are settled, back and / or in good health.

Fusion “Fun” Field Trip Day - February 2

Team Fusion will be bowling, and then returning to school for the annual “Pizza Pie/Chinese Buffet” lunch.  Please see the attached permission form (or the bright orange one in the backpack).

Time to Check Supplies!

It’s almost the halfway point in the year - and some student supplies are running low.  Please check in with your child to make sure they have pencils, pens, paper, etc; teaching team is getting asked for A LOT of pencils right now.

All Laptops are at school over the Weekend

There should be no school laptops / electronic devices at home over the break.  If one does make its way home, please secure it in a spot where it will remain unused for the break.

Calendar

January 25 - 8th Grade families: MMU Transition Meeting at high school starting at 6:30pm (students are welcome to attend)

February 2 -  Field trip to Spare Time Bowling

February 14 - Delayed Start

February 24-March 6: Winter Break (no school)

April 11 - Delayed Start

May 9 - Last Delayed Start

June 1 - 8th Grade: Move up Day at MMU

Thanks and have a great weekend.

Fusion Communication: January 12

Hi all,

Another crazy weather week - does break the monotony of winter; who doesn’t like negative temps to start the week, rain and slush to big winter storm at the end? The team is seeing an increase to winter clothing during recess; thank you fighting those battles.  There are some largish things going on in the coming weeks, so keep on reading.

“So Longs” to Fusion Staff (NOT “goodbye”)

Team Fusion will be saying “so long” to two staff members this Friday: Missy Barnier and Robyn Bessette.  Missy is moving over to CHMS for the remainder of the year.  She is already missed, and we look forward to having her back at BRMS (and on Team Fusion!) next year.

Robyn will begin her maternity leave this Friday, expecting to be back in late April.  We wish her well and look forward to seeing some baby pics soon.  Virginia Bobbitt will officially start on Monday - Welcome Ms. Bobbitt!

Career Panel - want to participate?

As part of the annual career / PLP unit, Team Fusion holds a Career Panel for the 8th graders - usually the panel is during the last week before February Break. We are looking for a wide range of careers, and more importantly, paths to those careers. Please contact Mr. Pless if you are interested.

All Laptops are at school over the Weekend

There should be no school laptops / electronic devices at home over the break.  If one does make its way home, please secure it in a spot where it will remain unused for the break.

Calendar

January 15 - Martin Luther King Day; No school for students

January 18 - MMU guidance counselors visit 8th graders at BRMS (yep - it’s really here… high school transition!)

January 25 - 8th Grade families: MMU Transition Meeting at high school starting at 6:30pm (students are welcome to attend - see attached letter)

February 2 -  Tentative field trip to Spare Time Bowling

February 14 - Delayed Start

February 24-March 6: Winter Break (no school)

April 11 - Delayed Start

May 9 - Last Delayed Start

June 1 - 8th Grade: Move up Day at MMU

Curriculum Updates

LA

Starting on Tuesday, our long term sub, Ms. Bobbitt will be taking over LA classes.

See you at the end of April! :)

7 - This week we began our nonfiction unit “Tapping the Power of Nonfiction.” Students have had access to bins of high-interest, nonfiction books in class. Mini lessons have focused on how to approach nonfiction text (looking at the cover, table of contents and introduction to determine what the text aims to teach). We have been using a class mentor text, Fast Food Nation during mini lessons and students have been practicing new skills with their choice books. We have also begun to talk about what skills and strategies go into quality club conversation. Next week students will begin identifying central ideas in nonfiction text. Students will continue to work in their reading/writing notebooks to build up a collection of reading work to be assessed as “reading process” on the next report card.

8 -  This week we also began the nonfiction reading unit Tapping the Power of Nonfiction. In 8th grade, students have been placed in book clubs. Together with 1 or more peers, students are reading and discussing nonfiction chapter books. Mini lessons thus far have focused on how to approach nonfiction text and how best to prepare for book club discussion. Fast Food Nation has been our anchor/mentor text for mini lessons, and students have applied skills from lessons to their own club books. Next week students will start tracking central ideas across the text. Students will continue to work in their reading/writing notebooks to build up a collection of reading work to be assessed as “reading process” on the next report card.

Science

7 - We began our week with formal observations of the brook trout eggs.  We determined their starting population size (99), measured their growth (~3 mm), and made detailed drawings of the structures we could see under the microscope.  We continued our investigation of the effects of salinity on 4 common crop seeds.  Lastly, we explored the process of sexual reproduction in flowering plants and ended the week beginning to match flower structures with specific pollinators.

8 - We continued our exploration of solutions, exploring the difference in saturation levels for two common solutes, sodium chloride and magnesium sulfate.  Students reviewed main concepts of solutions before taking a short quiz on Friday.  Students also turned in their element brochures and their atom models.  The classroom is looking very festive with all the creative ways they chose to represent atoms!  Next week, we look briefly at how atoms bond together in various ways to form molecules and experiment with a few chemical reactions.

SS

7 - It was all feudal this week in social studies; students should have some great stories about their experiences being serfs, knights, lords and queens.  They tried valiantly to avoid the plague; alas, it struck with a vengeance.  Students will use their learning from that activity to compare our current form of government - representative democracy - to monarchy during the first part of next week.  By the end of the week, it’s on to an indepth look at North Korea and authoritarian regimes.

8 - The week began with a final look at the Declaration of Independence; then on to Articles of Confederation! Ask about the simulation at the end of the week - lots of food for thought!

Math -

7 - This week, we focussed on developing rules for adding and subtracting for negative numbers.  Next week we will be exploring multiplying and dividing with negative numbers as well as order of operations. Also, today I began meeting with students about their progress so far this year and checking in to see how I can better support them through the next half of the year.  I will continue this into next week. If you have any helpful feedback for me base on your own conversations about math class with your child, please feel free to share it with me.

8 - This week, we continued our exploration of exponential growth by looking at variations in the initial quantity as well as growth factor and examining the impact this has the on relationship.  We also compared these relationships to linear relationships, determining that linear relationships increase through repeated addition and exponential relationships increase through repeated multiplication.  Next week, we will continue to analyze the parts of an exponential equation and also begin to explore exponential decay.  

Again, stay warm and sane this weekend.

The Fusion Team

Fusion Communication: January 7

Hi all,

Well, we're baaaack. Students have, again,  re-engaged with school, and we are all learning to cope with the colder temps.  Please do all you can to make sure your child is prepared for the cold, as students will be outside for brief periods of time while at school.

Career Panel - want to participate?

As part of the annual career / PLP unit, Team Fusion holds a Career Panel for the 8th graders - usually the panel is during the last week before February Break. We are looking for a wide range of careers, and more importantly, paths to those careers. Please contact Mr. Pless if you are interested (thank you to those who have volunteered already - Mr. Pless will be in touch this week.

All Laptops are at school over the Weekend

There should be no school laptops / electronic devices at home over the break.  If one does make its way home, please secure it in a spot where it will remain unused for the break.

Calendar

January 10 - Delayed Start

January 15 - Martin Luther King Day; No school for students

January 18 - MMU guidance counselors visit 8th graders at BRMS (yep - it’s really here… high school transition!)

February 14 - Delayed Start

February 24-March 6: Winter Break (no school)

April 11 - Delayed Start

May 9 - Last Delayed Start

Curriculum Updates

LA

Students were able to meet our long term sub, Ms. Bobbitt this week. Once she is settled, families will be able to contact her via email as she will be subbing from mid-January to late April.

7 - This week we finished our class novel, Tuck Everlasting. Students have been working on an informal poster project to summarize their thinking about this book. We also took some time to watch the film in class at the end of the week.

Next week students will take a reading pre assessment prior to the beginning of a unit studying nonfiction text. *** Please see the explanation below in 8th grade overview to better understand how this assessment is used and reported. *** Mini lessons during the 3-4 week nonfiction unit will focus on skills for tackling and interpreting informational text. Students will read from book bins in the classroom on a variety of topics and perform tasks in their journals to apply and practice strategies presented in mini lessons.

8 - This week students took a reading pre assessment. Please know that this assessment will go on the report card. It is used primarily by teachers to inform unit and lesson planning. Students should not be alarmed if their scores on the pre assessment are low as this assessment measures students’ abilities before any lessons have been taught. It is strictly informative and meant to help assess growth over the course of the trimester.

This week students also had the opportunity to browse reading choices for a nonfiction club unit. Students were placed in small groups of 3-5, taking their reading preferences into consideration. Over the next few weeks they will set goals for reading together and discuss what they have been reading. Mini lessons will focus on skills for tackling nonfiction text. Students will complete group and individual tasks in their journals during class. Tasks not completed during class should be done for homework.  

Science

7 - The big news this week is that our Brook Trout eggs arrived!  This image shows our ~100 eggs after they were poured into the breeding basket in out tank.  Look closely to see the dark circles - which are the fish eyes!  Students have been engaged in learning about the “suitable environment” for brook trout and about how we can replicate those conditions in our tank.  They are also examining life cycle diagrams to better anticipate the changes in growth and development we’ll observe over the next few months!  At the same time, students dissected bean seeds in order to identify the structures and functions of plant seeds.  We set up an experiment to explore the effects of the environment (i.e., salt) and genetics (within 4 common crop species) on germination and growth of plants. Lastly, we discussed comparisons between our trout eggs and plant seeds.

8 - Students conducted research this week on one element of the periodic table.  They are producing an informational brochure, as well as a 3-D model of one atom of their element.  They may ask you for materials to help build their model.  We critiqued many examples of models, and discussed ideas for what materials they could use to represent the parts of an atom.  Please email me if you have any questions as your child works on this at home.  We also completed some of our final investigations of physical processes of matter by testing different methods for separating substances from mixtures and solutions.  Next week, we explore saturation and concentration of mixtures before launching our chemistry unit the following wek.

SS

7 - The 7th grade started the government and institutions unit with a look at rules for sports and how those show values of the participants.  In addition, there is a deeper dive into the role of geography, with additional quizzes for world features, major rivers and peninsulas.  This coming week will be a multi-day simulation of feudalism which is usually a student favorite every year.

8 - The 8th grade took a deeper dive into the Declaration of Independence, which will culminate in a look at the successes (and failures) of the goals of the American Revolution. In addition, 8th graders are beginning a deeper look at American geography, which starts with a 50 states quiz.  This coming week will feature a role play of the “first” form of American national governance, the Articles of Confederation, and a quiz about the Declaration of Independence.

Math - will return next week

Stay warm and sane this weekend.

The Fusion Team