News from PTA

From PTA -

If you have not returned money for SaveAround Coupon Books, please do so on Monday.  Any Coupon Books that weren't sold should be returned to the school. The Coupon Books are $25 apiece and support our PTA program. Don't forget, they make a great gift!   Thank you for your generosity. 

We  hope you all have a safe and wonderful Winter Break and Holiday season.  Students return to school on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4TH!  Until then, take care of yourselves and each other!

DECEMBER 19 - 20 AND NOVELS NEEDED

Happy Holidays :)

If you were not able to join us Friday for our annual sing-along, you missed a treat! And before things get really hectic, just a few notes about the last two days of our marking period.

• Your child received a letter on December 9 regarding the increase of security measures at all schools. If you would like specific information, the letter should be in your child's travel binder. If you need an additional copy or have questions, please let me know.

• REMINDERS:
• Monday, 12/19, we have a  field trip to the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum. It is great timing since we have spent the first nine weeks studying Europe in Social Studies. We will be gone from 9:30 - 1:30.
• All work is due at the end of day, Monday, December 19. 
• If your child is participating in our class book exchange, it will take place Tuesday, Dec. 20. 
• Our novel study of Hatchet (mentioned on the school supply list in August) will begin in January. Please make sure you have a copy of the book for your child when we return from the holidays. I have a few copies in the class, but not enough for everyone and it is really beneficial for a child to have their own copy that they can make notes in and put sticky notes in when needed. You can also download the book if your child has a device. 

As usual, I thank you for your time and appreciate all of your support in getting your child academically and socially prepared. Please let me know if you have any questions; I am always here to help.

Ms. Susan

Manic Monday...

It's just another manic Monday :) Sorry to keep adding notes to our week, but every time I open the inbox, something new is due.

Two things:
1) Parent Survey - it is important that our school have a 75% participation rate in order to keep a high "School Climate Star Rating"; this is part of our CCRPI (College and Career Ready Performance Index) which rates schools in our county and state (determining which schools are succeeding and which ones need improvement). With that being said, here is the link for the middle school parent survey:

Georgia Student Health Survey 2.0
Georgia Student Health Survey 2.0 - MIDDLE SCHOOL (grades 6-8)

http://apps.gadoe.org/schoolclimate/middleschool.nsf/Survey.xsp


2) The PTA is sponsoring a coupon book sale (SaveAround) to raise funds for upcoming events. Your child will bring one booklet home tomorrow with an order form to sell these coupon books. The due date is Friday, Decemeber 16, so it is a quick turn-around. Checks need to be written to Charles Ellis PTA.

If your child does not choose to participate, please return the packet containing the order form and the coupon book. Each book costs $25 and is well worth the value. Any books not returned to school will be charged to the PTA, so it extremely important that all coupon books are returned if your child is not going to participate. 

Directions are attached to the envelope, so contact PTA directly if you have any questions. 

Thanks, as always, for reading these sometimes never-ending posts...

Susan

Oops...

I forgot to mention that your child is coming  home with a "Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Survey Parent Permission Form" today. This is an online survey that will be taken anonymously to collect data that will inform our strategies for keeping our schools safe and drug-free.

If you DO NOT want your child to participate, PLEASE RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE FORM.

If you give permission for your child to participate, you do not need to do anything.

Thank you for your support :)

Additional Information for the Week of December 12 - 16:

• Winter Holidays begin Wednesday, December 21. Students return to school Wednesday, January 4.

• We have a field trip Monday, December 19. We cannot accept permission slips or $5.00 after Wednesday, 12/14. If your child is unable to attend, they will be assigned work and will sit in another classroom until we return.

• January 7: Student Success Expo at the Savannah Mall. If you are interested in learning more about the various specialty programs in the Chatham County School System, this is the place to get your questions answered. (On a side note, if you did not return your Letter of Intent form indicating whether or not your child will be at Ellis for the 2017-2018 school year, please do so ASAP.)

• We are taking mid-year assessments this week for MAP and SRI (Measurement of Academic Progress/Math and Scholastic Reading Inventory/Reading, respectively). MAP testing is Monday and Tuesday; SRI testing is Wednesday and Thursday. Our goal is see student growth from the fall testing administration - please encourage your child to do their best. Thank you for your support :)

Week of December 12-16, 2016

Greetings Parents,

This week, our work will revolve around writing :) It is a skill that needs a lot of attention in our classroom, so it will be the focus of our lessons in ELA and SS.

Here's what's happening in our neck of the woods...
ELA:
Students will work on a 5-paragraph essay about "Family". We read 4 stories last week from Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul and identified characteristics of different kinds of families. This week, we will revisit those stories and write an essay that defines our own individual families and includes evidence from the stories we read. This assignment will be graded as an assessment with a rubric.

SS:
Last week, students were assigned a specific research topic related to the end of our unit on Europe. The topics were Literacy Rates; the relationship between Human Capital Goods and GDP; the relationship between Capital Investments and the GDP; Natural Resources of Georgia and Economy; and Entrepreneurship. Students have been assigned roles within their table groups and will work on researching their specific topic. This assignment will be graded as an assessment. Presentations begin this Thursday and will end Monday, Dec. 19.

1**End of the Marking Period** The end of our 2nd marking period is Tuesday, Dec. 20. However, we have to have our grades turned in by Monday, Dec. 19. Please work with your child to turn in all late/incomplete work asap. Thank you!!

***Our traditional holiday sing-along will be this Friday beginning at 1:30 in the backyard. Please join us if you are able to do so. **

Festival of Lights Information/Update, Etc.

Bobcat families: 

We have a correction to make to our weekly blast.  The Festival of Light performances will begin at 6:00, not 6:30 in the backyard and the PTA Bake Sale and Cake Walk will follow in the Multi-Purpose Room.  Ms. Jennifer would like performers to be here by 5:45 and remember to wear your school uniform. Also, bring lawn chairs or other seating so you can be comfortable while enjoying the music performances.

FIELD TRIP, MONDAY, DECEMBER 19:

Your child will be coming home with a field trip form today for our trip to the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum. There is a $5.00 cost associated with this field trip. Please sign and return the permission trip as soon as possible, along with the fee. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Additional News for the Week of December 5

HOLIDAY BOOK EXCHANGE:

Every 6th grader is invited to participate in our 2nd annual Holiday Book Exchange. Your child will be bringing a permission slip home today for you to read and indicate whether or not your child will be participating. These forms are due back by Wednesday, Dec 7 so we can exchange names. Our Book Exchange will take place Tuesday, Dec 20.

A Note from Ms. Tiia: 

Saturday, December 10
Family Winter Art Workshop & Art Dept. Benefit
9am-12pm Ellis Lobby

Also, Saturday
"I Have Marks to Make" Exhibit
Jepson Center for the Arts
Opening Reception 1-4pm

Lila Crowder (5th Grade) will be showing her work.

Week of December 5 - 9, 2016

It's December - while the weather outside is delightful and the holiday spirit is kicking in, it is also the end of our 2nd marking period. Please work with your child to help them complete any missing assignments (as noted on their recent progress reports) as well as working on current assignments. ALL WORK MUST BE SUBMITTED BY DECEMBER 20.

If your child is participating in Book-It, December summaries are due by Dec 19 :)

The Book Fair begins this week with a late night extension on Thursday, Dec 8. We'll also have the Festival of Lights - the 6th grade focus is the Chinese New Year. Listen/look  out for the Bobcat Blast for more information.

Here's what's happening in ELA/SS this week:

*Small group lessons in writing
*Chromebooks for Learning Menu - December 5 - 16 (Google Classroom)
*SS project - Students will be working with their table groups to present a Social Studies lesson to the class Thursday, 12/15 - Monday, 12/19.
Vocabulary Test - Friday - Unit 2 words


Monday, 12/5
ELA: Introduce self-peer editing checklist (for SS current event article due Friday) and Chromebook for Learning Menu. Review the 5 elements of an argument by reading one of two essays.
SS: With a partner, or independently, complete two economics lessons online @ https://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/center/econed/

Interactive lessons:

1.     Where in the World and What in the World is Money?

2.     Trading Around the World

Students will work in pairs to complete the two lessons about money. After completing the lessons online, students will write a summary of what they learned.

HOMEWORK: Finish debate article and/or the online economics lessons.

Tuesday, 12/6

ELA: Creating a graphic organizer for family traits (what makes a family); begin reading 4 stories from Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul (1. She Didn't Give Up on Me; 2. Lessons in Baseball; 3. The Champ; and 4. I am Home). As students read each story, they should complete their family traits checklist.

SS: European Union lesson (prior to Brexit)

HOMEWORK: Check Google Classroom - Chromebooks for Learning Menu

Wednesday, 12/7 and Thursday, 12/8

ELA: Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul reading continues

SS: Rubric for class presentations; topics assigned; students choose group roles and responsibilities

HOMEWORK: Check Google Classroom - Chromebooks for Learning Menu

Friday, 12/9

ELA: Vocabulary Test - Unit 2; Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul reading continues

SS: Students begin research on their assigned topic

HOMEWORK: Any work not completed during the week. Be sure to check Google Classroom for the Chromebooks for Learning Menu work.

And in case you missed the Ellis Bobcat Blast...

Parents,
At the beginning of November, we began participating in the Pizza Hut Read-a-Thon program. Each child agreed to a goal of 3 books for the month and some children even set higher goals for themselves. As we end the month on Wednesday, please gently remind your child of his or her goal so that they can receive their coupon for a free personal pan pizza.

The PTA also began a Read-a-Thon in November and students were given pledge sheets to encourage family members and friends to donate money to the students when they met their goals. If your child participated, money is due November 30. Students that raised $100 will receive a $10 gift certificate for the Book Fair.

And speaking of the Book Fair...the fun takes place the week of December 5.

On November 28, your child will come home with a Letter of Intent regarding the 2017-2018 school year. As we begin planning for next school year, we need to know if your family will be with us. Please return these forms by Monday, December 5.

Donations to the Emmaus House continue. Please send in paper products that we can give to this wonderful organization.

We have the wonderful opportunity to mentor with Ms. Natalie's 1st grade students every Monday afternoon. Last week, we worked with our special friends to create friendship bracelets related to Thanksgiving. We are planning on working on Christmas/Holiday crafts with our little buddies the last two Mondays of December. If you have any concerns about this, please let me know and we will make other arrangements for your child. And, if you have any ideas about simple projects we could do, please let us know :)  Our 6th graders are great examples of grace and courtesy when working with our younger friends.

Lastly, The Montessori Education Society of Savannah known as MESS would like to invite all of the Ellis family to a holiday celebration and fundraiser on Friday, December 2nd at Bland Tredway’s house on Victory Drive featuring food, drink, and a raffle. The party is free and open to everyone. MESS will have child care available at the school for your children who attend Ellis. Please save the date and more details will follow soon. If you have any questions or would like to help with the fundraiser, please contact us at savannahmess@gmail.com. 

Have a great week!!

I forgot to mention...

• For the next three weeks, each child is assigned a writing assignment about a current event. You can find the directions in Google Classroom. One article will be due each Friday beginning this week, Dec 2.
• We are using www.newsela.com, www.readtheory.org, and www.digitalreadworks.org to help with reading comprehension and vocabulary development. I have assigned articles of interest on the Digital Readworks site to assist us with preparing an argument (our ELA focus this week). All three sites give great information about student progress and help inform lesson needs.
• Tutorial for ELA is on Thursdays from 3 - 4 pm. Your child should have a permission slip to attend.

Week of November 28 - December 2, 2016

Hello Families,

I hope you all had a restful and relaxing break, spending time with family and friends. I was fortunate to have two Thanksgivings; one in Tallahassee, FL, and one here in Savannah. I graduated from Florida State University in 1991 (Wow! That makes me sound O - L - D!), so it was so great to visit the campus and see the town again. It really is a beautiful place to visit. On that note, I want you all to know how greatly thankful I am for each of your children. They are funny, inspiring, witty, and encourage me to do my best each and every day.

Here is what's happening in English/Language Arts and Social Studies this week:
Monday, 11/28:
ELA: Identifying Parts of an Argument; Practicing Accountable Talk
SS: Compare and Contrast Economies (Command, Market, and Traditional)
Homework: Complete Google Classroom assignment: Identifying Parts of an Argument

Tuesday, 11/29:
ELA: Continue to work on Identifying Parts of an Argument
SS: Compare and Contrast Embargoes, Quotas, and Tariffs
Homework: Review Economic Vocabulary Terms (QUIZ: THURSDAY)

Wednesday, 11/30:
ELA: Developing and Supporting a Position
SS: Complete visual aids for Compare and Contrast assignments
Homework: Vocabulary Worksheet (Unit 2); study for Economic Vocabulary Quiz

Thursday, 12/1: (Can you believe it is already December?!?!?)
ELA: Developing and Supporting a Position
SS: Economics Vocabulary Quiz
Homework: None

Friday, 12/2:
ELA: Identify and Label Parts of an Argument (Assessment)
SS: Interactive Lessons on Economy
Homework: Any incomplete assignments

Wishing you all a wonderful week,
Ms. Susan

Evacuation Drill Tuesday

Good morning ~

Just wanted to pass along information about an evacuation drill that we are having tomorrow morning. Our plan is to leave Ellis and walk to the Presbyterian church on Washington Avenue. Please be mindful of the temperatures in the morning and have your child dressed appropriately. Also, if your child has asthma or other medical concerns that will be impacted by the walk, please let Nurse Chris know so that we be prepared to assist your child in the most helpful manner.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me. 

November 14 - 22, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving!

I apologize for not updating the blog last week - my husband and I recently moved and things got a little wonky but all is well.

Last week, we worked on:
ELA: Practicing text structure, taking our second Spelling test, and writing a persuasive essay about whether or not turkey should be Thanksgiving's main dish.
SS: Studying economic vocabulary, comparing different economic systems (traditional, command, and market), and learning more about the economy in the United States.

This week:
ELA: Review Points of View by engaging in a debate related to our Thanksgiving essay.
SS: Continue working on our understanding of economics by comparing and contrasting the three primary economic systems.

Also - PowerSchool is fully updated and students will be receiving a Missing Work report that will help them take care of any missing assignments. It is definitely better to have work turned in late than not at all, so if your child's grades are not where they need to be, please encourage them to get all assignments turned in as soon as possible.

As always, please feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns.

Wishing you and your families a wonderful and peaceful Thanksgiving,
Ms. Susan

Quick Note About Tutorial...

Happy Monday, Families :)

Just a quick note about tutorial sessions starting in 6th grade this week. Some students were given letters last week inviting them to attend math tutorial with Mr. Trent or reading/writing tutorial with me. Please ask your child if they received a letter and let us know if you have any questions.

Details:
Math tutorial - Wednesdays
3 - 4 PM

Reading/Writing tutorial - Thursdays
3 - 4 PM

If this applies to you, we ask that you be vigilant about picking up your children promptly at 4:00. If you feel your child would benefit from extra practice but did not receive a letter, please send an email to Mr. Trent or myself.

Thank you. I hope you all had a restful weekend :)

It's A Fashion Show of Cultures ...

A note from Ms. Jazmin...

Hi Friends!

I'm helping the Cultural Committee PTA person, Beverly Williams, with getting the communications together and spreading the word etc. about the different cultural events this school year. 
The first one is in January and is a cultural dress fashion show. If you feel that you could contribute in any way, please do! We have lots of different cultures represented here within our own staff! I'm going to dress Louisa and Belia in traditional Cuban and Puerto Rican costumes for the event. What can you do to show your cultural roots? It's open to children and adults. There are more details in the Sign Up Genius and also a link to ideas for cultural costumes and clothing in case you've never done it before. ANY and ALL cultures are encouraged! 

Thank you and please help spread the word with your students and families!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4faaaa23a0f58-parade

Parade of Cultural Fashion www.signupgenius.com

Week of November 7 - 11, 2016

What's Happening in ELA and SS This Week?

Monday, 11/7
ELA: Review short story, "The Great Fire", to identify the theme and supporting details.
HOMEWORK:Write an effective paragraph that summarizes the story. Ideas and a rubric are attached in Google Classroom.
SS: Relate to events that took place during WWI and/or WWII. Students may use historical magazines (in the classroom) or www.newsela.com (Class Code: 827EV7) to find an article about one or both of the wars to read and summarize in a well-written paragraph.
HOMEWORK: Complete the paragraph

Tuesday, 11/8
ELA: Introduction to text structure. Students will take notes on text structure types and identify what type(s) were used in "The Great Fire".
HOMEWORK:Study for Unit 1 Vocabulary Test 
SS: Read about how the Communist government of the Soviet Union controlled the lives of its citizens.

Wednesday, 11/9
ELA: Vocabulary TEST - Unit 1 (List is available on Google Classroom). Following the test, students will practice identifying and understanding text structures. Students will review a sample text to practice this skill. 
HOMEWORK: Identify text structure of Article 1
SS: Introduction to different kinds of economies (traditional, command, and market, etc) along with other economic terms.

Thursday, 11/10
ELA: Review capitalization (a weakness identified by recent student work). Students will work in the Language Network texts to practice and review proper capitalization.
SS: Students will continue definitions and create a visual aid that compares the traditional, command, and market economies.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Progress reports will be coming home tomorrow (Tuesday, 11/8).
• We are participating in a reading program sponsored by Pizza Hut called "Book It". Our goal for November is for every child to read at least 3 books. Once they complete the book, they should write a brief summary and turn it in so they can receive their personal pan pizza coupon. *Allowances are made for students who are reading larger books and some students have set a higher personal reading goal :)
• In addition, information will be coming home this week to describe the Read-a-thon. Students will be sponsored according to how much they read. Any student who raises $100 or more will receive a gift certificate to the book fair in December. Funds raised from the Read-a-thon will be used to buy interactive, online science and social studies books for our classrooms.
• Last, but certainly not least, Friday, November 11 is a school holiday in honor of Veteran's Day. We need to appreciate the freedoms we have because of the sacrifices made by our many military families.

Have a great week :) Be sure to check Google Classroom with your child to check on assignments, due dates, and resources.

Week of October 31 - November 4, 2016

Here's what's happening in Language Arts and Social Studies this week -

Monday, 10/31

ELA - Students will work on their Chromebooks for Learning Menu. This is due Friday, November 4.

SS - Students continue textbook work on Chapter 12 to learn more about the Soviet Union.

***SOCIAL STUDIES TEST - THURSDAY - Pages 333-347

Tuesday, 11/1

ELA - Students will review vocabulary words added from Sadlier-Oxford's text Unit 1 (3 Activities due November 8) and practice close-reading techniques with the story "The Great Fire".

SS - Students will continue to review events from WWI and WWII and study for the test.

Wednesday, 11/2

ELA - Students will continue analyzing story from Tuesday.

SS - Students will continue reviewing important events related to WWI and WWII and will complete pg. 348 (Discussion Questions #3-8). 

Thursday, 11/3

ELA - Students will continue analyzing "The Great Fire" and work on Chromebooks for Learning Menu assignments.

SS - Test: Chapter 12 (Sec 2 - 3)

Friday, 11/4

ELA - Students will conclude analysis of story and turn in a well-developed paragraph based on discussion questions.

SS - Students will select an article from a magazine or www.newsela.com that relates to WWI or WWII and write a summary of the article.

Week of October 24 - 28, 2016

Welcome to the 2nd Nine Weeks :)

We have officially completed the first nine weeks of 6th grade! That's an important milestone that celebrates nine weeks of adjusting to middle school, grades, multiple classes, and due dates. Of course, adjusting physically and mentally are very significant parts of our journey together. Did you know that children this age need at least 10 hours of sleep each night? And that this is the fastest growing period your child will experience other than from their earliest development? I say this to help us all stay focused on the development of the whole child - making sure they are eating right, sleeping enough, and participating in physical activities in and out of school. 

Here's what's happening this week....

**Please log in with your child to Google Classroom to review assignments and resources**

Monday:
ELA: Small group spelling tests continue today; reviewing types of pronouns (subjective, objective, and possessive)
SS: We are beginning our study of World War I and will be doing quite a bit of textbook work this week. Today we will be reading about how Europe got involved in the war.
Homework: Exercise 1 (Subjective pronouns  practice) - Google Classroom

Tuesday:
ELA: Reading two poems looking for pronouns and antecedents as well as imagery. 
SS: Students will work in pairs or small groups to answer questions from the textbook about Monday's reading assignment.
Homework: Exercise 2 (Objective pronouns practice) - Google Classroom

Wednesday:
ELA: More work with pronouns and antecedents using our textbook
SS: Reading about the Soviet Union
Chromebooks for Learning Menu: Students will complete one appetizer activity.
Homework: Exercise 3 (Possessive pronouns practice) - Google Classroom

Thursday:
ELA: We will begin working with vocabulary from the Sadlier-Oxford series.
SS: Students will work in pairs or small groups to answer questions from the textbook about Wednesday's reading assignment.
Chromebooks for Learning Menu: Students will complete one entree activity.
Homework: Exercise 4 (Possessive pronouns practice) - Google Classroom

Friday:
ELA: Students will learn the definitions of their new vocabulary words as well as start to write a sentence with each word.
SS: Textbook work - Chapter 12 review
Chromebooks for Learning Menu: Students will complete one dessert activity.

Week of October 17 - 21

Welcome to the Week :)

Hello Families,

I know it has been an interesting/trying week with Hurricane Matthew visiting Savannah. I hope that all of you are safe and sound and ready for our sense of normalcy to return - I know I am :)

Just a few announcements/dates for you to consider:

•        Tuesday, Oct. 18 - PTA Meeting (I have 5:30 - 8 written down but I am hoping that is a mistake - seems like a very long meeting.) I will certainly correct the times once I learn for sure what they are.
•       Our last day to input grades is October 19. Please check PowerSchool with your child to make sure all work is submitted by Wednesday. All students received their PowerSchool log-in information a few weeks ago so you may want to check their travel folders for that information if you don't already have access.
•       Report cards will be printed and ready to be sent home on October 26. Mr. Trent and I usually like to go over the first report card during parent/teacher conferences. Once he and I have had a chance to meet, we'll send home new sign-up sheets for conferences.  

Assignments this week:

I appreciate your patience as we all strive to get back to a routine. As such, the assignments this week will be forthcoming.

In ELA:

We are working with narrative writing. Monday, 10/17, we will review the characteristics of narrative writing. One of the things I plan on doing Monday is having a round-table/informal discussion with the students about their Hurricane Matthew experience. I think it is important to talk about and share our different situations so that we can really try to empathize with our classroom communities. Following that discussion, students will be asked to write about Hurricane Matthew from different points of view as a classwork assignment. If this makes your child uncomfortable in any way, please let me know and I will provide an alternative classwork assignment.

By Wednesday/Thursday, we will return to our class story "Eleven" and write a narrative essay that will count as an assessment. 

In SS:

We will review the different kinds of governments in Europe and prepare for a test Thursday.

Reminders:

European Country brochures were due September 19 and were graded on the 26th. However, there are many students that did not turn them in at all. This is counted as an assessment and will result in a grade of 0 if not completed and turned in by Wednesday, Oct. 19.

Other Assignments:

SS - Worksheet: Who Rules? Due Sept. 21

       Comparison Chart #1: Comparing Russia, Germany, and the U.K. in climate, natural resources, location, and population density.

        Comparison Chart #2: Comparing Russia, Germany, and the U.K. in imports and exports. 

ELA - 

I am working with students on their individual spelling and vocabulary needs and will putting them in groups this week. I will give them assignment choices to accompany their word lists. They should expect a test Thursday or Friday. This may change depending on how far the students get in completing their assignment choices.

And, finally, if you haven't had a chance to log in to your child's Google Classroom account, I hope that you will take an opportunity to do so soon. Explore the Chromebooks for Learning Menu and provide feedback - it is something new we are doing and I hope to get the students involved in creating their own Learning Menus in the future.

Again, I hope you are all safe and sound. Flexibility is our focus this week as we work to get back to normal. Thank you.

Announcements for the week of October 3

Parent Conferences:

Parent conferences will begin Thursday this week. If you have not signed up for a slot, one has been set aside for you. Please check your child's planner for more information about your scheduled time. If you are unable to come at your scheduled time, please let us know at your earliest convenience. Thank you.

 Swim Team:

Middle school students  who are interested in joining the district's swim team must attend a mandatory meeting Monday, October 3, at 5:30 at Savannah Arts Academy. Please see Ms. Christy if you have any questions. 

Band Concert: 

Our 6th - 8th Grade Band Students will perform their Fall Concert Thursday, October 6 at 6:30 in the Multi-Purpose Room.  All are invited to attend!

Opportunity School District Information:

Also Thursday night, local PTAs are sponsoring an informational meeting on the proposed amendment concerning the Opportunity School District which will be on the November ballot.  The meeting will be held at the JEA at 6:30.

Week of October 3 - 7, 2016

Happy Fall to All :)

Here's what's happening in class this week:

Monday, 10/3 **European Country Brochures Due**

ELA: Read aloud of "Eleven" by Cisneros
SS: Comparing location, climate, and natural resources of Germany, Russia, and the U.K.
Homework: Complete one "appetizer" from Chromebooks for Learning Menu (Google Classroom)

Tuesday, 10/4

ELA: Paired reading of "Eleven"
SS: Identify major exports of  Germany, Russia, and the U.K.
Homework: Complete one "entree" from Chromebooks for Learning Menu (Google Classroom)

Wednesday, 10/5 **END OF FIRST NINE WEEKS**

ELA: Independent reading of "Eleven" and rewriting specific scene of story
SS: Compare and contrast parliamentary and presidential democracies
Homework: Complete one "dessert" from Chromebooks for Learning Menu (Google Classroom)  AND study for European Governments Test

Thursday, 10/6

ELA: Students complete final draft of rewriting scene
SS: TEST - European Governments
Homework: Complete Chromebooks for Learning Menu (Google Classroom)

Friday, 10/7

ELA: Final draft due of Mrs. Price's Point of View in "Eleven". Students discuss how the story would be different if it were written in the 3rd person limited point of view and complete writing assignment in class.
SS: Students will compare economic systems (traditional, command, and market)
Homework: Any work not completed in class

Week of September 26-30, 2016

Greetings :)

I'm hoping you all have had a restful weekend and ready to move on to our 7th week of school - I can't believe how fast time has flown by. On this note, you should have received your child's progress report and a conference sign-up sheet. Please make sure you return these papers if you haven't done so already. 

Lessons and Assignments this week:
English/Language Arts:

• Monday/Tuesday: Authors Point of View
• Homework: Complete Narrative Perspective Worksheet
• Wednesday: Writing in 1st and 3rd person
• Homework: Pronoun Quiz on Google Classroom
• Thursday/Friday: DBQ Edits
• Homework: Completed DBQ Corrections

Social Studies:

• Monday: Review types of government
• Tuesday/Wednesday: Identify location, climate, natural resources, and population distribution of Germany, the U.K., and Russia using Google Classroom
• Thursday: Create graphic organizer comparing citizen participation in autocratic and democratic governments
• Friday: Compare and contrast the two types of democratic governments

UPCOMING DUE DATES:

Pronoun Quiz - Wednesday (Google Classroom)

Brochures Due - Monday, Oct 3

End of the 9 Weeks - Wednesday, Oct 5 (All assignments from this nine weeks are due by this date.)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Tuesday - Cross-Country Championship 5:30 @ Soccer Complex

Thursday - Health Screenings w/ Nurse Chris

Friday - Dress Down Day $1.00 to benefit Lymphoma (and student Wyatt Rath)

Week of September 19, 2016

Lessons this week:

Monday, 9/19:
ELA - Review Tone and Mood. Students will review concepts of Tone and Mood in writing.
SS - Introduction to Gross Domestic Product and Literacy Rates for Country Brochure Project
HOMEWORK: Complete Tone and Mood Worksheet

Tuesday, 9/20:
ELA - Introduction to Author's Point of View
SS - Finding the Gross Domestic Product and Literacy Rates resources
HOMEWORK: Look up the GDP and Literacy Rates for their particular country

Wednesday, 9/21:
ELA - Author's Point of View, continued
SS - Notes on the different kinds of government: Parliamentary, Federal, and Federation Systems
HOMEWORK: Look up the type of government in their country

Thursday, 9/22:
ELA - Pronoun Lesson and Review
SS - Community Involvement in Government: Autocratic, Oligarchic, Democratic, Democratic Parliamentary, and Democratic Presidential
HOMEWORK: Identify the type of government of their country.

Friday, 9/23:
ELA - Identifying author's perspective
SS - Students will compile their notes and begin planning their Country Brochure Projects
HOMEWORK: None

Other Announcements:

*Lego Club starts up this week.  They will meet Monday and Wednesday afternoons, beginning at 3:30, in the Media Center. Please see Ms. Olivia if you have any questions.

*Our community writing project, DEEP, also begins this week.  This group of 6th - 8th graders will be meeting in Room 18 on Thursdays from 3 - 4:15.  See Ms. Susan if you have any questions.

SCHOOL LUNCH INFORMATION

Students were sent home today with a note regarding school lunches. If your child receives free or reduced lunch, it will revert to a paid status unless an application for free/reduced lunch has been filed by Wednesday, 9/14.

The easiest way to apply is to do so online: www.myschoolapps.com. If you choose to complete a paper application, you may see Ms. Barbara in the Cafeteria or Ms. Carla in Room 1.

Week of August 12, 2016

Happy Tuesday :)

Here's what's going on this week in 6th grade ELA/SS:

Monday: 
ELA: Discussion of author's tone and mood when writing. Classwork assignment: describe the tone and mood of two different video clips (Mary Poppins).
SS: Work on outline for DBQ: Environmental Issues in Europe.
Homework: Complete "Thinking Sheets" and begin rough draft of 5-paragraph essay

Tuesday:
SS: Work on outline of DBQ
Homework: Begin rough draft of DBQ - minimum of 3 paragraphs required

Wednesday:
ELA: Lesson: Implicit and Explicit Details. Begin reading "Mohamadi theBedouin Weaver" and begin narrative writing about the story.
Homework: Complete narrative writing
SS: Complete rough draft of DBQ
Homework: Complete rough draft of DBQ

Thursday:
ELA: Complete implicit and explicit details based on Mohamadi story
SS: Editing of DBQ and beginning final draft

Friday: Begin reading "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros
ELA: Continue working on final draft of DBQ.
Homework: Final Draft of DBQ

**FINAL DRAFT OF DBQ IS DUE MONDAY, SEPT. 19**

DEEP STARTS NEXT WEEK:
All students who have registered to participate in the DEEP after school program will begin classes Thursday, Sept 19 from 3:00 - 4:15

Please be sure to check the school's website for information about Lego Club and sports activities.

NO SCHOOL FRIDAY, SEPT 2

Parents and Families,

You should be receiving word via a county-wide call-out or on the news tonight that school is cancelled tomorrow due to excessive rain expected from the impending storm.

We look forward to seeing your child Tuesday, September 6th.

Be safe,
Ms. Susan

Week of August 29 - September 2

Happy Last Week of August :)

It is hard to believe we have been in school for almost a full month now! We are so blessed to be serving your children and they are rising the the challenges that the 6th grade transition brings - I truly could not be happier with the progress each student is making.

Here's what is happening this week:

Monday: Setting up Planners :)
                ***PARENTS: PLEASE SIGN YOUR CHILD'S PLANNER EVERY NIGHT :)
              ELA:  Notes on Literary Elements
              SS: Environmental Issues in Europe (Air Pollution in the U.K.)
Homework: Get planner signed

Tuesday: 
          ELA: Vocabulary tests returned. Students will have the opportunity to raise their grades by completing Vocabulary Maps. They will receive an example in class.
          SS: Environmental Issues in Europe (Nuclear Disaster in Chernobyl)
Homework: 1) Get planner signed; 2) Complete Vocabulary Maps; 3) Study for Social Studies Test

Wednesday:
         ELA: Writing Prompts Lesson for "Through the Tunnel"
         SS: TEST - Chapter 15; Sections 4 and 5 (Religions)
Homework: 1) Get Planner signed; 2) Complete 4 Writing Prompts from "Through the Tunnel"

Thursday AND Friday: 
       ELA: Formulating Central Ideas/Summaries Lesson
       SS: DBQ Preparation: Environmental Issues in Europe. Students will go to Google Classroom and read either Document #1 or #2
Homework: 1) Get planner signed; 2) Answer document questions from Background Essays on Google Classroom.

Have a great week :)
Ms. Susan

More Announcements...

Reminders:

• Progress reports are coming home today. Please review them with your child, sign the half-sheet (cover sheet), and return the cover sheet only tomorrow, Wednesday, 8/24.
• Students were given a white form (Parents Right to Know) two weeks ago. These papers needed a signature from you and the white copy needed to be returned to school. Please check your child's travel folder for this document and return it at your earliest convenience.
• Please check your child's travel folder every day so you can be aware of what they are learning in their classes as well as see any paperwork that you need to sign and return. 
• Our planners will be coming in this week :) Please get in the habit of checking these with your child on a daily basis. Helping them plan their week is a skill we are all working on and any help you can contribute benefits everyone involved. 
• Picture Day: Friday, 8/26 - This is a free dress-up day for students. 
• Book orders: Students need to complete their online purchases from the Scholastic booklet by Friday, 8/26. Books will be delivered to the school. 

If you have any questions about anything, please don't hesitate to contact me or Mr. Trent.

susan.torrance@sccpss.com

trent.kissinger@sccpss.com

mrtrent.com

And, again, thank you for sharing your children with us every day. We feel so privileged to have a wonderful group of 6th graders.

August 22, 2016

Happy Monday :)

Our week is already off to a great start! Here's what's happening this week in ELA and SS.

Monday -  We are mentoring with Ms. Natalie's and Ms. Kirsten's class on Monday afternoons.
                 SRI Testing (and if time permits, we'll take notes on Narrative Literary Elements)

Tuesday - ELA: Google Classroom Assignment: Through the Tunnel Vocabulary List due (10 words)
                 SS: Map Test: European Countries and Landforms

Wednesday - ELA: Notes on Characterization (Through the Tunnel Worksheet)
                     SS - Continue to study major religions in Europe

Thursday - ELA: Notes on Characterization
                   SS - Environmental Issues in Europe (We will be discussing three major environmental
                   issues: 1) Acid rain in Germany; 2) Air pollution in the U.K., and 3) Chernobyl Nuclear
                   Disaster in Russia

Friday -  PICTURE DAY! This is a free dress-up day for our students :)
                ELA: Through the Tunnel Vocabulary Test and Narrative Close Reading assignment due (Google Classroom).
             SS: We will continue our study of Environmental Issues in Europe as preparation for our        upcoming DBQ.

And great news for our creative writers in the class - the DEEP Writing Program will be starting up on Thursday afternoons beginning September 22 from 3 - 4:15. Interested students need to complete an application that they can get from me starting Tuesday, 8/23.


             

WELCOME TO 6th GRADE!

August 8, 2016

Teacher introduction:

Hi! I am Ms. Susan and I will be working with your child in English/Language Arts and Social Studies. This is my second year working with the wonderful Mr. Trent and I have to say, I am one lucky teacher! I have been at Ellis since 2001, with one year off living in Canada (my husband is from Montreal). Although I am the ELA/SS teacher, I have 21 years of teaching experience in Savannah teaching math - it was time for a change and I could not be happier. Also, on our team, is the awesome Ms. Diane - she is incredibly dedicated to each and every child. It was a pleasure to meet many of you at Open House and, if you were unable to make it, I hope you'll take some time to visit us soon 😀

The year is off to an amazing beginning! The first three days, we learned how our classrooms function, class procedures, and expectations of quality work. In sixth grade, we also work hard to help your child develop a strong work ethic as well as taking pride in their academic achievements.

This Week:

In English/Language Arts, we are working on narrative writing. Our focus is on strategies students will use to develop their writing: dialogue, pacing, description and details, sensory language, transitions, and point of view.

In Social Studies, we are practicing map skills and learning the Five Themes of Geography: movement, region, human-environment interaction, location, and place. 

We've been working on taking notes and practicing class procedures. There will be no homework this week, with the exception of class work that is not completed in class. 

Please be sure to get in touch via email (Susan.torrance@sccpss.com) if you have any questions or concerns or just want to share information about your child.

Thank you for a great beginning to the school year!

Ms. Susan

New Information Regarding GMAS and Summer School

Happy Monday,

Today, all students received a letter from Dr. Lockamy outlining the State Board of Education's decision to waive the 2016 End of Grade test scores. While this test did not pertain to the retention or promotion of 6th grade students, it is also not a consideration for students in Grades 3, 5, or 8.

However, it is extremely important that you attend your child's conference this week to determine if they are promoted or retained. At this time, the SRI/MAP benchmark scores as well as the year-end average of the core classes (ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies) are the criteria being used to determine promotion/retention. If your child does not meet the appeals process for the SRI/MAP benchmarks, and/or did not pass a core subject class with an end of the year average of at least 70%, your child must attend summer school. 

The letter that was sent home today outlines the options for summer school and includes physical locations as well as the Virtual (Online) option. You must register for one of these options by May 23 in order to attend Summer School. 

Please feel free to contact me or Mr. Trent if you have any questions. This information will be made available to you again during your final  conferences this week.

Sincerely,
Ms. Susan

We're Almost There....

Welcome to the last week of school :)

I apologize for the lack of posts recently. As you are probably aware, the past two weeks were extremely busy with Charles Ellis Presents preparations as well as Field Day. We are also working on our last two assignments in English/Language Arts and Social Studies. In ELA, students are completing their poetry books and in Social Studies, students are concluding their presentations tomorrow. Both of these assignments will be counted as a test grade, so it is extremely important that they are completed.

I hope that many of you were able to join us for Charles Ellis Presents last week. All of the writing, singing, and props was done by the students! We have some serious creative talent in the building and it makes me proud to see what they are able to accomplish all on their own! Also, the Gallery on 49th took place Thursday as well and has some impressive works of art from our students, parents, and professional artists in our community. Take some time to peruse the Gallery if you have time this week.

Speaking of this week, we are conducting the final parent conferences for your child. If you have not received a notice (in your child's planner), need to reschedule, etc., please let us know at your earliest convenience. Thank you.

And now, a note from Nurse Chris:

Current 6th graders need to be aware that as they enter 7th grade they are required to have updated vaccines.  Be sure that you are aware of your child's needs.  AND Parents, please plan to pick up your child's medications this week.  All medications not picked up by May 20th will be destroyed.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call Nurse Chris.

Helping One of Our Own: 
* Help us help one of our own!  The Wacky Lego Challenge will be held Tuesday, May 17, to raise funds for one of our students battling Leukemia.  Students who wish to participate need to donate $5 and bring a gallon size baggie of their own Legos!  Also on Tuesday, we have a dairy cow visiting!  Legos and a cow all in one day!

Have a wonderful week :)

Yearbooks, etc.

Good afternoon,

Yearbooks are now on sale for $20. The order forms will come home next week with your child's progress report. The first people to turn in a paid order will receive a yearbook from a previous year for FREE!!! Please be on the look-out.

Also, sad news in our Ellis family. Mr. Trent, the students, and I were all informed this morning that our classmate, Robin, had her father pass away today.  As you can imagine, death is a tricky subject when students struggle with their emotions and how to process them. Please take an opportunity to discuss this with your child. If you need help, or if they feel they need to see Ms. Carla, she is readily available for them all.

Thank you for your support,
Ms. Susan

Warning: Full Month Ahead!!

We are so excited to have successfully completed the GMAS testing!!

The students performed well, maintained focus, and did their best every day - as teachers, parents, and a community, we can't ask for more than that. :)

The "Get Georgia Reading" program begins this month. Check out this link:
http://www.getgeorgiareading.org/myon2016

Progress reports will be sent home next week and will include your child's latest MAP and SRI scores. Students who have not yet met their benchmark will have the opportunity to retest the last two weeks of school. We will let you know more information as it becomes available.

The end of the year is quickly approaching and a lot of exciting things are in the air (field trips, Charles Ellis Presents, etc.) Please be aware of the following dates and events:

Friday, 4/22                               Staff Planning Day - No school for students

Monday, 4/25                            BOOK FAIR Opens!!! 

Wednesday, 4/27                       Massie Field Trip (Free)

Thursday, 4/28                          SCAD Field Trip (Mr. Trent's homeroom only)
                                                     Student Presentation of World of Words
                                                     Book Fair open late

Wednesday, 5/4                          May the Fourth Be With You (Walk to School Day)
                                                     All library books due.

Thursday, 5/5                            ChessFest - Chess tournament/field trip for selected students

Friday, 5/6                                  Dress Down Day ($1.00 for Relay for Life) AND
                                                     Field Trip: Tybee Lighthouse/Beach ($1.00)

Thursday, 5/12                           Gallery on 49th (6-7pm) AND Charles Ellis Presents
                                                     The Works of Nature (7-8)

Friday, 5/13                               FIELD DAY

Monday, 5/16                             DEEP Speaks - A celebration of our middle school students that
                                                    participated in the DEEP writing program this winter/spring.

Friday, 5/20                                FREE Dress Down Day - Last Day of School



Be on the lookout for field trip permission slips for our upcoming trip to Massie Heritage Center and River Street on April 27th. Permission slips were sent home today. This is a free field trip. 

May the 4th Be With You...

May the Fourth Be With You...

Celebrate Bike to School Day on May 4!

Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, with the assistance of Savannah Bicycle Campaign, will participate in this year’s National Bike to School Day!

Join us on May the Fourth

at Hull Park for a meet and ride.

Meet at Hull Park at 7:00 am we will leave the park at 7:20 am

Ride your bike with us, or walk!

Remember if you are on wheels you must wear a helmet…

May the Fourth be with us!

For Your Calendar :)

Upcoming Dates and Reminders:
Your child received their progress report last week for the first 2 weeks of this marking period. Please make sure that you have seen it, signed the top portion, and returned the top portion to school. Please be sure that you keep the bottom portion of the front page as it contains important dates.

Tuesday, 4/12                              GMAS Language (Sections 1 & 2)

Wednesday, 4/13                        GMAS Language (Section 3)

Thursday, 4/14                           GMAS Math

Friday, 4/15                                GMAS - Make-up Tests only

Monday, 4/18                             GMAS Science

Tuesday, 4/19                             GMAS Social Studies

Wednesday, 4/20                       GMAS Make-up Tests only

**Please be sure your child is prepared mentally and physically for GMAS testing days. Students may bring water bottles (clear water only - no Gatorade, Kool-Aid, etc), hard candy (peppermint, Jolly Ranchers, Lemonheads, etc in a ziploc baggie). No chocolate, chips or anything of that nature. 

Friday, 4/22                               Staff Planning Day - No school for students

Wednesday, 4/27                       Massie Field Trip (Free)

Thursday, 4/28                          SCAD Field Trip (Mr. Trent's homeroom only)


Friday, 5/6                                  Dress Down Day ($1.00 for Relay for Life) AND
                                                     Field Trip: Tybee Lighthouse/Beach ($1.00)

Thursday, 5/12                           Gallery on 49th (6-7pm) AND Charles Ellis Presents
                                                     The Works of Nature

Friday, 5/13                               FIELD DAY

Friday, 5/20                                FREE Dress Down Day - Last Day of School

More Information...

Friday, 4/8:

Photos will be taken at school of all athletic teams, band and chorus members, and school clubs for the yearbook. These will be taken during the school day and your child should bring their sports uniforms, band or chorus clothing, etc. If you are interested in purchasing an individual photo of your child in their sports uniform, etc., forms were sent home with interested students earlier this week.

Progress Reports:

Your child received progress reports today for the first two weeks of this quarter. Please be sure to follow the directions on the cover page as it has important dates that you will want to keep for future reference. Your child only needs to return the top portion of the cover sheet that shows your signature.

GMAS INFORMATION:

Your child received a schedule this afternoon for the standardized testing that will be taking place next week. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or our testing coordinator, Ms. Erin (Erin.bunger@sccpss.com).

Week of April 4, 2016

Happy Monday!!

I hope all of you are starting the week with happy thoughts and taking the opportunity to enjoy this great weather!!

Just a few reminders:

• Students took the MAP (Measurement of Academic Progress) today in Mr. Trent's class.
• Students will take the SRI (Scholastic Reading Inventory) test tomorrow in my class. 
• Conferences are coming to a close this week. If you have not met with your child's teacher or need to schedule/reschedule a time, please do so as soon as possible. We are already into our 3rd week of the last nine weeks of school.

TESTING:

     We will be starting GMAS testing Tuesday, Aprl 12th. A specific schedule will be posted as soon as we receive more information. We are doing review work in class and will be going over the format so that your child feels as comfortable as possible during this time.  Please encourage your child to do their best and help them know that they are not defined by a single number, but by a number of wonderful qualities that make them who they are today, next week, next month, and so on. Your children have been working and learning the entire year, so I have every confidence that they will do the very best that they can. 

Remind them to go to bed early (and you may want to monitor this :)), make sure they eat breakfast (a real one - not chips and candy), and that they are relaxed. Stress, although necessary in our lives sometimes, is not needed for this testing and, in fact, can prevent them from doing their best. 

All of that being said, there will be few homework assignments during the weeks of testing.

Mr. Trent's homeroom is assigned homework tonight - to read The Willow Tree in the Citing Evidence study guide booklet (pgs. 48-49). We did write this in our planners today.

ELA:

 Students need to be reading Chapters 5-7 in The Outsiders.

Social Studies:

TEST tomorrow - Chapter 5 (Section 3)

We will be concluding our unit on Canada Friday (3 Choice Activities are due)

And, last but not least, for our budding writers:

A writing contest sponsored by Leopold's Ice Cream and the public library. For more information, use the link below.

http://www.liveoakpl.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/writing-contest-flyer-2016.pdf

GMAS Information Letter

Today, your 6th grader received a letter about the Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS). There is an error regarding how your child will be tested - 6th grade students WILL NOT be tested online. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to email me.
Thank you for your patience :)

Thursday, 3/31/16

Happy Thursday :)

A few more events/reminders to add to our schedule -

This Friday, April 1st, is a Dress Down Day for $1.00 in honor of our veterans and their families. The money raised will go to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Tuesday, April 5th (6pm - 7:30pm): Healthy Body - Healthy Mind. Please join us to participate in Beastmode Fitness and sample fresh fruit and vegetables.

Saturday, April 2nd - Please see Ellis PTA information regarding our annual Rummage Sale

http://internet.savannah.chatham.k12.ga.us/schools/Ellis/Exp/Shared%20Documents/Healthy%20Body%20Healthy%20Mind.pdf

Academic Reminders:
Social Studies Test tomorrow - Chapter 5 (Sections 1 and 2)

Terrific Tuesday News...

Parents,
Just a gentle reminder that we have started conferences this week to discuss your child's progress during the 3rd marking period. If you have not yet signed up for a conference, please do so as soon as possible so we can coordinate the best times for you to come in. As we prepare for MAP, SRI, and GMAS assessments, we appreciate the opportunity to talk with you about getting your child ready for these tests.

Due to conferences, there will be NO TUTORIAL this week for Mr. Trent or Ms. Susan.

Please be sure you have secured a copy of The Outsiders for your child. We will be reading Chapters 2 - 4 this week.

Also, please be aware that we have a new date to add to our calendars: Saturday, April 9th. It is the 2nd annual Family Involvement Day and will take place at the School of Liberal Studies at Savannah High School from 9am - 2pm. It is a day of fun and learning where parents can learn more about helping their children academically as well as with community service projects. This event is FREE and offers child care, food, and blood pressure checks. There will be information sessions about the GMAS as well as test-taking strategies.

A few needs for our classrooms:
If you have a gently used vacuum cleaner that you could donate, the 6th grade would be eternally grateful. We LOVE our new reading area and even got more new things in today - I'll try to get some pictures posted soon!! But, we are finding that the carpet needs to be taken care of daily.

We are also in need of wipes, plastic-ware (forks, spoons, etc), hand sanitizer, pencils and erasers. If you are able to help us out, please know it is greatly appreciated Thank you in advance!! I wish I could tell you where all of these pencils and erasers go; it is almost as if they are the lost sock in the washing machine! Thank you for all of your help and support.