Fusion Communication: February 15

Hi all,

It’s certainly been an entertaining week with regards to the weather; if it’s not one thing, it’s another. Team Fusion cruises into the final weekend before the final week before break. The coming week always has assessments in every class, so let us know if your child will be missing any time.

Career Panel: looking for Volunteers - Wednesday, February 20, 8-9am (Date Change!)
Team Fusion is looking for 2 more parents/community members (AND the perspectives of women!) willing to spend an hour discussing their career choices with our 8th grade students as part of the Career Unit/PLP kick-off week. We will provide you with questions to prepare answers for, and also keep the panel to one hour so you can meet your other commitments for the day. Team Fusion is looking for a wide range of career options, pathways and education backgrounds; the panel is a much richer experience with a greater diversity of professions and life experiences.
Please contact Mr. Pless if interested: bryant.pless@cesuvt.org

PLP/Career Unit Kick-off
Grade 7 - The 7th grade Personalized Learning Plan process began this week with an introduction to the concept of matching personal interests to career goals. Over the next several weeks, students will take a variety of surveys to strengthen their ability to “know thyself” and to inform their future goal-setting.

Grade 8 - The students are embarking on a traditional career unit, with a visit to a job site encouraged. But the unit also covers personal finance, as well as discussions about the needs and wants everyone has for careers. Please see the letter for more information about specific dates and requirements for this unit of study.

We had a great day at Bowling… and the food was quite good as well:) Thanks to our chaperones.
All laptops should remain at school over the weekend.
Calendar:

• Week of February 11: Kick-off for the 8th Grade Career Unit/7th Grade PLP Process
• February 15: 8th grade recommendation forms WERE due BACK to BRMS. If not turned in to BRMS by this time, families will need to deliver the forms to the high school. 
• (Date change!) February 20: 8-9am Career Panel (looking for two more adult volunteers to speak with students about their careers)
• February 22: Student-Faculty (Read and White) Basketball Game (1:20ish to 2:20ish) *Only 8th Grade basketball players can play*
• Last Day before Break
• February 23-March 5: Winter Break (no school)
• March 29: 7/8 Dance - Fusion Field Trip Fundraiser! We will be asking families to donate food items to sell
• April 10: Delayed Start
• April 20-28: Spring Break (no school)
• May 8: Last Delayed Start
• June 3: Tentative Move-up Day - 8th Graders to MMU

Curriculum Updates
LA
*** All students should still be reading 30 minutes each day, outside of class. ***

7- Graphic organizers for information writing are due on Monday, 2/18. This is a large portion of the writing process score on the report card. Use of class time and students ability to take and apply feedback factors in as well. We have spent an extensive amount of time working on this in class and students were also encourage to work on it at home or during study hall. There are tools and a checklist in the writing toolkit folder on Schoology to support this work. Students who need more time to work on this assignment should do so at home or during study hall.

8- Graphic organizers for the comparative essay were due on Thursday 2/14. Due to the snow day, I allowed students to work on these at home and submit Thursday evening on Schoology if needed. We spent several class periods working on this task and students were encouraged to use study halls or evenings if needed. Students also know it will impact their process score if this work was handed in late of incomplete. Use of class time and students ability to take and apply feedback factors in as well. Students had access to planning tools on Schoology as well as sample writing and notes in their journals. The post assessment will be next Wednesday and Thursday, 2/20 and 2/21.


Math: Due to changes in my personal schedule, Math extra help sessions will be changing from Thursday afternoons, to Monday afternoons. They will continue to be from 2:45 - 3:25. If your student is planning to attend, please just let me know by noon on that Monday.

7 - We have wrapped up all the investigations in our current unit and while I was hoping to have a unit test this week, our schedule got a little interrupted this week with the YRBS survey, a snow day, and the field trip. We will plan to do some more review on Monday and Tuesday and have the test next Wednesday.

8 - We have finished the first investigation in Growing, Growing, Growing looking at several different exponential growth patterns and comparing them to linear patterns. This unit has several 9th grade pieces to it, so over the next few weeks we will be differentiating by breaking up into small groups giving students who are ready the opportunity to work on these.

Science

7 - Students continue to monitor the brook trout population by measuring their sizes, making sketches of their structures, and counting the population size. Meanwhile, they researched several animal behaviors that increase the chances for successful reproduction, such as nest-building and courtship displays. They are now analyzing population graphs and making inferences related to factors that affect populations.

8 - Students are nearly finished with their engineering design projects! The atmosphere in the class this week was filled with a high level of engagement, creativity and unexpected learning opportunities! Students will do their final evaluations and presentations of their devices to the class this coming week.

SS

7 - Students practiced using the direct standards on the district assessment, using text examples from Culturegrams to defend the United States as a functioning government. The district assessment will be due next week on Wednesday.

8 - Students concluded the vaping trial of “The State vs Susan” - in both classes she was found guilty of possession but not of intention to distribute vaping materials. An introduction of the Bill of Rights and a conclusion of the Constitution Video project were also on the docket. The second installment of the district assessment will happen next Tuesday. Wednesday of next week will feature the Career Panel from 8-9am… please try to have students to school on time.

One more week to go - here’s hoping for a restful weekend.

The Fusion Team

Fusion Communication: February 8

Hi all,

With the weather being all squirrelly, it will be important for students to get enough rest. There are two weeks left and the team is looking forward to finishing strong for the trimester.

Career Panel: looking for Volunteers - Thursday, February 21, 8-9am
Team Fusion is looking for 6-8 parents/community members willing to spend an hour discussing their career choices with our 8th grade students as part of the Career Unit/PLP kick-off week. We will provide you with questions to prepare answers for, and also keep the panel to one hour so you can meet your other commitments for the day. Team Fusion is looking for a wide range of career options, pathways and education backgrounds; the panel is a much richer experience with a greater diversity of professions and life experiences.
Please contact Mr. Pless if interested: bryant.pless@cesuvt.org

Annual Bowling, Chinese, Pizza Day!Team will take February 15 to celebrate us with a field trip to Spare Time Bowling, then return to school for the annual Chinese/Pizza Buffet. $20 and permission form required - see attached form. Form was due Friday, Feb 8th.

Congratulations Penguin PlungersThe following students from Team Fusion participated in the Penguin Plunge this year - kudos to them!
Riya Sawyer
Allie Fullem
Kaia Sleeper-Spady
Celia Polli
Erin Robillard - Staff
Kevin Hamilton - Administrator
Nicole Thompson - Staff
Bryant Pless - Staff

Power Cords should NOT be coming home with students
It has come to our attention that students are taking power cords out of the computer carts and bringing them home; sometimes these cords are not assigned to that student. We ask families to keep an eye out for Chromebook cords at home and return any that your family did not purchase for themselves - no questions will be asked, we just need the cords back. Thanks.

All laptops should remain at school over the weekend.
Calendar:
Week of February 11: Kick-off for the 8th Grade Career Unit/7th Grade PLP Process
February 13: Delayed Start
February 15: The annual bowling and Chinese/Pizza buffett - Confirmed date
                      8th grade recommendation forms are due BACK to BRMS. If not turned in to BRMS 

                      by this time, families will need to deliver the forms to the high school.
February 21: 8-9am Career Panel (looking for six adult volunteers to speak with students about their 

                      careers)
February 22: Student-Faculty (Read and White) Basketball Game (1:20ish to 2:20ish)
                      *Only 8th Grade basketball players can play*

                      Last Day before Break
February 23-March 5: Winter Break (no school)
March 29: 7/8 Dance - Fusion Field Trip Fundraiser! We will be asking families to donate food items                                                                                         to sell
April 10: Delayed Start
April 20-28: Spring Break (no school)
May 8: Last Delayed Start
June 3: Tentative Move-up Day - 8th Graders to MMU

Curriculum Updates
LA
*** All students should still be reading 30 minutes each day, outside of class. ***

Math: Due to changes in my personal schedule, Math extra help sessions will be changing from Thursday afternoons, to Monday afternoons. They will continue to be from 2:45 - 3:25. If your student is planning to attend, please just let me know by noon on that Monday.

7 - This week we finished the remainder of the investigations in our current unit, Comparing and Scaling. Next week will be doing some review work to prepare for a unit assessment towards the end of the week.

8 - This week we wrapped up the Looking for Pythagoras unit with a unit assessment and have started our next unit, Growing, Growing, Growing. This is unit investigates exponential growth and decay as well as exponent rules.

Science
7 - Students completed their investigation of the effects of salt and genetics on plant germination and growth. They summarized their findings using a Claim-Evidence-Reasoning structure, which we use often for science writing. Students also examined the structures of flowers, learned about the diversity of plant structures that match specific pollinators, and reviewed the variety of animal behaviors that increase their chances for successful reproduction. We watched several entertaining videos of bird courtship displays!

8 - Students are designing their own investigations and engineering projects related to thermal energy transfer this week! They are in the midst of the final engineering challenge, working in design teams, to maximize thermal energy transfer from either a heat lamp or electric burner to a model of a cookie or a hot tub. They are in the process of selecting materials which will aid in the transfer of energy to their model. Next week, they will build, test, evaluate and present their devices, all before Friday’s field trip!

SS

7 - Students continued to develop a flow chart of their representative government. There was a deeper look at US representative democracy by watching Ted-ed videos of important concepts in American democracy:

Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances
What gives the dollar its value?
Fight for the Right to Vote
Equality, Sports and Title IX (9)

Students will be finishing their Flowcharts next week and working to create propaganda for their Sovereign State countries.

8 - Students have been working to research standards related to the Constitution - a video project about these standards is due early next week. A deeper dive into US court system was started in the middle of the week, with a mock trial of Marcus Brutus used to introduce the basic procedures, and now the students are engaged in another mock trial involving a student caught with vaping items. Some of the research Mr. Pless used to produce the trial was obtained from the Vaping Workshop held at BRMS last week - if interested, there is a link to a video of that workshop below. The video is appropriate for adult audiences, and should be used as an informational source to open discussion with your child about the growing use of vaping devices in all Vermont schools.
Link to Vaping Workshop Video

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

The Fusion Team

Fusion Communication: February 4

Hi all,

While it might not have been THE polar vortex, it sure was cold this week; frequent indoor recesses for everyone. It will be nice to see the temps rise for a few days so students can get outside during the day. The team is in the throes of planning February 15ths Bowling/Pizza/Chinese day - please get those permission forms in! Also, 8th grade transition continues with the recommendation forms due February 15th.



Annual Bowling, Chinese, Pizza Day!
Team will take February 15 to celebrate us with a field trip to Spare Time Bowling, then return to school for the annual Chinese/Pizza Buffet. $20 and permission form required - see attached form. Form is due Friday, Feb 8th.

Congratulations Penguin Plungers
The following students from Team Fusion participated in the Penguin Plunge this year - kudos to them!

Riya Sawyer

Allie Fullem

Kaia Sleeper-Spady

Erin Robillard - Staff

Kevin Hamilton - Administrator

Nicole Thompson - Staff

Bryant Pless - Staff

Power Cords should NOT be coming home with students
It has come to our attention that students are taking power cords out of the computer carts and bringing them home; sometimes these cords are not assigned to that student. We ask families to keep an eye out for Chromebook cords at home and return any that your family did not purchase for themselves - no questions will be asked, we just need the cords back. Thanks.

Calendar:
Week of February 11: Kick-off for the 8th Grade Career Unit/PLP Process for 7th Grade

February 13: Delayed Start

February 15: The annual bowling and Chinese/Pizza buffett - Confirmed date (see attached     permission slip)

8th grade recommendation forms are due BACK to BRMS

February 22: Student-Faculty Basketball Game (1:20ish to 2:20ish)

*Only 8th Grade basketball players can play*

Last Day before Break

February 23-March 5: Winter Break (no school)

March 29: 7/8 Dance - Fusion Field Trip Fundraiser!

April 10: Delayed Start

April 20-28: Spring Break (no school)

May 8: Last Delayed Start

June 3: Tentative Move-up Day - 8th Graders to MMU


Curriculum Updates
LA
*** All students should still be reading 30 minutes each day, outside of class. ***

7 Students started work on the graphic organizer for their information writing piece: companion books. Mini lessons will focus on ways to use multiple text structures to convey meaning to the reader and highlight important ideas.

8 Students have been working on some shared writing around theme in our mentor text. Next week we will dig into author's craft, followed by the start of our process piece — a comparative essay in which students will write about two short stories of their choice. The graphic organizer for this writing piece will be on schoology soon.

Math: Due to changes in my personal schedule, Math extra help sessions will be changing from Thursday afternoons, to Monday afternoons. They will continue to be from 2:45 - 3:25. If your student is planning to attend, please just let me know by noon on that Monday.

7 - We completed Investigation 2 in Comparing & Scaling. This investigation explored comparison strategies, scaling rates, and unit rates. Next week we will be investigating proportions with percents, measurement conversions, and making connections between ratios, rates, percents, and proportions.

8 - Course placement forms will be going home this coming Monday. I have had the chance to meet with students this week and discuss their placement with them. If there are any questions about this process or my recommendations, please do not hesitate to contact me.

We finished up this week by doing some review and extension work in preparation for the Looking for Pythagoras end of unit assessment. We will be having the assessment on Tuesday of next week. Our next unit of study will be Growing, Growing, Growing which focuses on exponential growth and exponent rules. 

Science

7 - We finished the unit on body systems last week, and are now busy exploring life cycles - how do organisms grow, develop, and reproduce in their suitable environments? We will introduce the idea that both genetics and the environment influence survival and reproduction or organisms. This mini-unit will lead nicely into our heredity unit after the break. Meanwhile, the trout are looking fantastic! All have hatched and are now in the “sac-fry” stage of life!



8 - As we near the end of the Properties of Matter unit, students are busy designing and conducting experiments to discover how different materials transmit, reflect, and absorb thermal energy. They will use these discoveries to design a device that either minimizes or maximizes thermal energy transfer next week! They completed an assessment this week focused on the skill of designing investigations.

SS

7 - Students have been designing a representative democracy for their Sovereign State countries, and continue to explore what it means to be “representative” and “democratic”.

8 - Students began their Constitution Videos this week, using a checklist from the Constitution pre-assessment given at the beginning of the week.


We are at the ½ way point of the trimester(and the academic year) - good time to check in with your child about their school supplies.


The Fusion Team