Newsletter
La Cima News
1st Quarter 2011-2012
A message from our Principal, Mrs. Sullivan
I welcome you to the 2011-12 school year, and I look forward to an exciting new year! We are about to start our fourth week of school and I can’t believe that it is already September. Many of you know that on Thursday, August 25, we had our Cardinal Cookout and Parent Information Night. I was so happy to see so many familiar and new faces at our first family event of the school year. Over 200 meal tickets were sold and we were very fortunate to have Mr. Patrick Nelson, Associate Superintendent, and many teachers helping out at the grill and the food tables. Thank you to all of our staff members and families for making this event a huge success!
There are several things that I would like to make you aware of that I have asked of your students this year. First, I ask that they make attendance a priority. When they miss school, they miss out. In the Amphitheater School District “Every Day Matters”. Secondly, I ask that they advocate for themselves. If there is something that they don’t understand or supplies that they need, that they ask someone for help. Last, I ask that they follow our Cardinal Code: Be Positive, Be Ready to Learn, Be Respectful, Be Safe and Be a Problem-solver. These behaviors will make a difference in your child’s success as well as the overall quality of their experience at La Cima.
Finally, you know as parents and caring adults how important your role plays in the success of your student. The 2011-12 School Compact points out some of the parent responsibilities: instilling the importance of education to your child, making school attendance a priority, ensuring a quiet place and time for homework, staying informed of your child’s academic progress by signing grade print outs or agendas, having good communication with the school, and attending parent conferences. We, parents, teachers, and administrators, will work together to help your student accomplish his/her goals.
Please be aware of the Homework Hotline that was created to keep students and parents informed of every class assignment. You may access the Homework Hotline by dialing 696-6730 and choosing option 4. Remember, the student planner is another great tool to help your student record homework assignments, tests, or when projects are due. Please take advantage of these tools to help your student stay on track and check the planner every night at home. Make staying informed of your student’s progress a priority and keep in frequent contact with your student’s teachers if you have questions or concerns.
Know that I am also a resource for you, so please feel free to contact me at 696-6742 if I can be of assistance. I look forward to meeting you and working with you this year.
6h Grade News
Science – Mrs. Wackerly Smith
We are off and running in Science! Students used the scientific method parts of observation, data collection, analysis and interpretation for a fingerprint activity in the first few days of school. We will be using the scientific method all year in a variety of activities. Next, students have started their reports on famous scientists. They spent time in the computer lab and are in the process of completing their projects. They are also required to do a presentation. This year we will be studying cells, body systems, natural disasters, just to name a few. I am looking forward to and exciting year and working with your children!
Science – Mrs. Merritt
My name is Stacy Merritt and I am very excited to join the La Cima family this year. I believe that the best way to study science is by doing it, therefore, I am planning several awesome hands-on investigative labs this year that will be both challenging and rewarding for you. The topics for 6th grade science will include, but are not limited to scientific processes, weather and climate, the structure of the Earth, Earth’s waters, the human body, energy, and scientific investigations. I am excited for the science fair and science night so please look for information about this great science showcase. Feel free to contact me with any questions throughout the year.
Social Studies – Mrs. Ruiz
I am looking forward to a great year. In 6th grade we will be studying ancient cultures. This quarter we will be covering the six traits of a culture as well as ancient Egypt. We may be doing an Egypt project. If we do, it will be in class with a group. Students will be required to bring in needed materials to help the group complete a project and give a presentation. I will send home grade print outs (GPOs) starting next week. Please look for those, sign them and have your child return them. Use your child’s planner daily. It is a great communication tool about what is happening during their day. If you have any concerns please feel free to contact me at 696-6748 or jruiz@amphi.com.
All language arts students will also be reading each night for 30 minutes and turning in a weekly reading log which must be a minimum of 2 ½ hours. Book projects and parent book interviews will be done every three weeks, with the first one due September 1st for Mrs. Schlieder’s classes, and September 14th for Mrs. Andricopoulos’s classes. The three writing traits which will be focused on for the 1st quarter are ideas, voice, and conventions. DOL (Daily Oral Language) is tested every Friday, and the worksheet used for the week is due completed at that time.
In Ms. Schlieder’s and Mrs. Shole’s language arts classes, students will be studying elements of fiction through the reading, writing, presenting, and viewing of short stories. In Mrs. Andricopoulos’s classes, studens will study elements of fiction while reading a class novel, and breaking into smaller book club groups. Students have already written two poems about themselves, and a letter to their teachers! It’s going to be a creative and exciting year for 6th grade Cardinals!
Read on! “I cannot live without books.” -Thomas Jefferson
7th Grade News
Writing - Ms. Fredeen
7th Grade Writing classes are working on narrative and autobiographical content, while beginning a study of the most common parts of speech and punctuation. This quarter will also be interspersed with sections on short stories as well as AVID article reading and dissection.
Reading - Ms. Gonsalves
This quarter we are working hard to change our ideas of reading from being a boring task to a FUN exciting adventure. To do that we are starting the year with short fiction stories that will help us practice our reading and comprehension skills. Also this quarter we will focus on vocabulary that may be new to us.
Math - Ms. Gonzalez
During 1st quarter students will evaluate expressions using the order of operations. They will use mathematical properties to assist them in computation. Students will discover, explain and apply the rules of the operations with integers and their real world applications. In addition, they will be solving problems involving the operations with rational numbers.
Science - Ms. Hemdani
This semester, we are working on the Scientific Method and Science Skills. The skills the students will be learning are: observing, hypothesizing, inferring, measuring, classifying, analyzing, and communicating verbally and in writing. They will also be learning about the five steps of the Scientific Method.
Social Studies Mr. Jones
In 7th grade Social Studies this quarter we will start the year by reviewing historical events in the United States up until the early 1800’s.After that is finished we will jump right into the events which led up to and caused the Civil War. There will be a project coming due in a few weeks so please keep your eyes peeled for more information. It’s going to be a great year Cardinals.
8th Grade News
8th grade Social Studies – Mr. Panneck
In the first quarter in social studies your young person will be studying the primary causes of the Revolutionary War and key events and key people of the Revolutionary War. Also, students will begin looking at famous documents that influenced the creation of the U.S. Constitution. If you have any concerns, comments or suggestions please contact me at 696-6773 or jpanneck@amphi.com
8th Grade Science - Mrs. Schleicher and Mrs. Merritt
Wow! Summer is over and we are all ready to study hard. Mrs. Merritt and I are very excited to announce that this quarter is packed with exciting labs based around the Seven Steps of the Scientific Method followed by the Nature of Matter and the Periodic Table of Elements! If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call or write in the agenda, we both check it daily. Thanks for your support.
8th Grade Writing – Mr. Ritchie
Writing students are getting used to a lot of writing, in and out of class. Students should be writing at least one paragraph daily in a homework journal that needs to be signed by a parent/guardian and turned in each Friday.
Pre-Algebra – Ms. Gonzalezngonzalez@amphi.com (520) 696-6752
During 1st quarter students will explore the real numbers, their operations and their properties, as well as their real-world applications. In addition, students will set the foundation for algebra by learning about the language of algebra, its properties, and methods of solving equations.
Reading – Mrs. Blum
In 8th grade Reading, we are reading short stories from the literature book and focusing on Cornell Notes with a guided summary. Students should be reading each day and tracking their reading on a reading log. Parents and guardians can help by asking your student to tell about the book they are reading and signing the reading log.
La Cima Math Interventions
Welcome and congratulations on being selected to participate in one of the two Math Intervention Programs offered at La Cima. Math intervention courses are designed to provide small group, targeted instruction to students struggling to meet grade level expectations in mathematics. Students are selected based on their AIMS and MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) scores. Instruction is based on the Arizona Standards in Mathematics.
Math Lab (Grades 7 and 8) with Ms. Gould – Math Lab is for students who need to strengthen their math skills. Students are here to get a better understanding of the foundation of mathematics to help support the more complex concepts they are learning in their grade level math classes. This quarter we will be working with real numbers. We will be covering the basic operations with negative numbers, ordering rational numbers and problem solving strategies. Students are asked to remain respectful, appropriate and on-task at all times in class.
Math Intervention (Grades 6 and 7) with Mrs. Mansouri – My goal is to help every student be successful here at La Cima and as they continue on into high school and college. We will use a variety of materials and methods to help your child understand and feel comfortable as mathematicians. This quarter we will spend a tremendous amount time discussing number systems and operations, geometry, discovering new strategies for solving problems, and solving the dreaded word problems. Students are expected to remain respectful, appropriate, and on-task at all times in class. Let’s begin the journey; 2011-2012 is going to be a fabulous learning year.
Math with Mr. Kischer – Off to a great start Quarter 1: We will be studying how to organize problems so that we can solve them in the simplest way possible. J Most of math is more organization than numbers. This includes Order of Operations.We will study Properties (kids know these as cheat cods for video games- they make learning easier and faster).Variables will show us how to understand things that are always changing.Powers will help us understand giant ideas, like the distance from Earth to the Sun.Integers will help us understand negative and positive numbers, like credit card balances, deficits and how it all works.Thank you for being involved in your student’s education. All students perform better when they have real and meaningful support from home in addition to support at school.
Art Department News
Welcome to a new year. Get ready for an action filled adventure. Students will learn about new techniques that help them create wonderful works of art. We will discover why certain cultures from the past created art through researching and experimentation. Students can expect to have fun, and be challenged regardless of artistic abilities. Together we will discover, create, and explore the wonderful world of art. This semester Mr. Holaday is joined by Ms. Chelsey a University of Arizona Art Education student making this a wonderful opportunity for students to have different perspectives and many new projects.
Technology Department News
Sixth grade students have a semester of Technology this year. We work toward meeting the Arizona Technology Standards as well as supporting what students are doing in their core classes. We are constantly working on reading, math and writing skills as we complete our technology projects. The technology skills we focus on are typing, internet safety and use, research, multi media presentations, editing and design, copyright laws, and publications. The Advanced Tech class focuses on using technology to research, understand, and find solutions to Global Issues.
Music News
La Cima Middle School is offering guitar, orchestra, band and chorus courses for the 2011-2012 school year. All enrolled students have received a Musician Handbook and should return their signed contracts (by student and parent) to the appropriate teacher. Please review this Handbook with your student. Details include concert calendar, grading policies and student expectations and Concert dress. Questions? Call Mr. Koster at 696.6787 or e-mail: kkoster@amphi.com. La Cima Music Boosters, made up of music student parents, meet monthly to support music programs and raise funds. Check them out at www.lacimamusicboosters.com. Our teachers and students need your support!
Band – Mrs. CowanBand is looking forward to presenting an online concert in l ate October. The Music Boosters Club is recruiting parents of students in band, choir, and orchestra. Those interested in joining should contact a music teacher. We will also have a party for all the music families sometime before October. If anyone would like to donate their used instrument to the band or orchestra program, your family will receive a tax credit return. Please contact Mrs. Cowan if interested in donating.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Ms. Malina’s PE Class will actively engage in a fitness test comprised of the five different fitness components (cardiovascular endurance, agility, muscular endurance, muscular strength, and flexibility). This pre-test will be conducted in the first week of school so that Ms. Malina can see where each student stands in terms of fitness. The same test will be given at the end of the semester in hopes of seeing a significant increase in each student’s fitness level. This quarter will also consist of learning how to play sports such as: basketball, soccer, football, hockey, kickball, and many more. In addition, Ms. Malina will also make sure to cover important health topics such as eating healthy and the benefits of exercise.
COUNSELOR’S CORNER
Mrs. Graun, Counselor – 696-6738 sgraun@amphi.com
Here we are, “back at school” and after a few bumps in the road, we are settling in nicely, and looking forward to the rest of the year. Yes, we had quite a bit of trouble with locker combinations (and even our new 6th graders came through it with flying colors); we had lots of schedule changes; and the I.D. picture machine broke down (the new one is up and all students will have I.D.’s shortly). But we are all students of the 21st Century, so using our adaptability and problem-solving skills we passed the tests!
I want to spotlight a couple of new things at La Cima this year. The first is ZAP. This is an acronym for Zeroes Aren’t Permitted. This is a failure prevention strategy that has been tried and been successful in other schools. It holds students accountable for doing assigned homework, rather than getting a zero in the teachers grade book. ZAP can be assigned every day, except Thursday, and when zapped, the student calls home to let parents know they will be staying after school that day to complete homework.
The other new element, will be the online gradebook that parents will be able to access shortly. It is called the “Parent Portal”. It is connected to the teachers’ online gradebooks, so it will be ‘live’ in the sense that you will be able to see your students’ assignments and grades as frequently as the teachers updates their gradebook. This is very exciting for us, and hopefully for you, as parents, as well. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that it comes online smoothly, and will aid in our partnership with you and your students’ success.
Now, let me share a website with you that has all kinds of resources and information about education in general, with help for how parents can be involved in schools, and how you can help your student be successful. Check it out: http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/partnership.htmlParents and families, I welcome your calls with information about issues/events at home that may be impacting your son or daughter’s performance at school, or to discuss academic and behavioral concerns you have about them here. Early identification and intervention is the key to addressing issues before they grow into bigger problems. Working as a team, we can assure your student a successful educational experience this year.