Secondary Newsletter August 30, 2016

Secondary Newsletter

AASCA Events Up Coming Events – Middle School and High School College Fair Events FIRST AID Class, all about it!!

COPA BICULTURA 2016-2017 th 6 Grade – Where the mountain meets the moon…

7th Grade Science Project Arts Trip to Barcelona – April 2017

AASCA Events

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HS Leadership – September 7th-11th at Village School (Antigua Guatemala)

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MS Leadership – September 29th - October 1st at Country Day (CR)

August:  Turtle Fundraising Kickoff, ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE, Whole School – Monday, August 29th – PAFA at 14:15PM.  AASCA HS Leadership Sendoff – Wednesday, August 31st at 14:15PM

September:  Professional Development Day– Summit II – Friday, September 2nd  Tribes Community Building 1, School-wide event (Jamie Day) Assembly Schedule – Tuesday, September 13th, 14:10PM  NHS and NJHS Induction – Tuesday, September 13th, 18:00-19:00 PM – PAFA.  Guatemala Independence Day - Holiday - No School – 15th and 16th of September.  MAP Testing, Middle School – September 20th – 30th  Peace Day Celebration – Wednesday, September 21st – 14:15PM  MS Warrior Night – Friday, September 23rd – 16:00PM – 23:00PM.

October:  End of First Quarter – Friday, October 7th  MS Arts Cafe (LA Dept.) – Wednesday, October 12th, 15:00PM  MS STUCO Dance (Maria McKlem) – Thursday, October 13th, 18:0020:00PM  Middle School / High School Parent-Teacher Conferences – Friday, October 14th, 7:30AM -15:00PM.

European College Fair – Monday, September 12th – 11:00AM – 12:00PM. CIS College Fair – Wednesday, September 28th – 9:00AM – 11:00AM.

6th Grade Newsletter August 29, 2016

Maya Mia Last week in review Students have started the Maya Mia unit with the ‘what is the Maya spirit’ map. They collected data and compiled it in a comprehensive map.

What are we doing this week Students in math are continuing to work on their infographs. This is a great place to talk to your student about how they spend all of their time.

Students in English are starting to write their all about me narrative. Is there anything you could talk to your child with to add to their narrative?

Students in science are starting to research about genetics and heredity. Why do they look the way they look? Are their phenotypes more dominant or recessive?

Students in adventure are continuing to work on collaborative skills. They are experientially examining the concept of cooperation in step #1 of a creating community model.

Students in academic writing are working on writing proper emails: subjects, greetings, body and a signature, as well as being introduced to research skills.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Join your child on their new adventure into Literature Circles! This is your child’s first literature circle of middle school. They will rotate through the roles that accompany different readings in WTMMTM. Make sure to ask them about their reading and their current role in their literature circle and join your child and Minli on their adventure.

Discussion Director: Develops at least three questions about big ideas for the group to discuss. These should be of compelling interest to all. Guides the discussion. If you find the group drifting off topic, revisiting the same ideas, excluding a member, or being dominated by a member, it is your job to redirect the conversation.

Word Wizard: Identifies at least five unfamiliar or particularly interesting words. Prepares to discuss these words with the group.

Write the following: page number from the book, sentence from the book with the word, write the definition, and write a sample sentence that uses the word. Writes adjectives and verbs on a notecard to be added to our Word Wall.

Literary Luminary: Locates at least three special sections or quotations—particularly interesting, powerful, puzzling, or important parts of the reading—in the text for your group to discuss and examine for figurative language. Tell us why you chose that passage. Develop at least two questions per section to help your group members think about them more carefully. Remember, the purpose is to suggest material for discussion. So, just as with the Discussion Director role, avoid question such as, “What happens in this passage?”

Summarizer: Make a chapter by chapter summary. Summarize the chapters read in your own words. Make sure to include characters, conflict, important events, etc.

Notebooks Students are being asked to bring their notebooks home on Friday so that you can see the work. Please ask your child to see there notebook and talk with them about it. Also, don’t forget students do not have school on Friday September 2, 2016.

Google Classrooms All parents should have received an invitation to become a guardian under their child’s google classroom account. If you did not receive this invitation please e-mail Ms. Naimey.

If you could go on a quest, where would you want to go and why?

Science 7 Straw Bridge Activity, by Ms. Burgess Science 7 students were given this project to practice the steps of scientific method. They were each given 20 straws and only one meter of tape with the expectation that their bridges could support at least 20 pennies or 510 grams each. Almost everyone succeeded in bearing this load, with the winner supporting 6,065 grams! Students could also use a hole puncher to create holes in straws so another straw could be inserted at a 90 degree angle or cut a straw to insert it into another straw. Fun was had by all!

Please check out our website to read more about Students life at Maya. http://www.cm.edu.gt/

First AID Class, what is it about it?

First aid is a necessary skill for students of all ages. This course is designed to introduce students to first aid in both theory and practice. In the classroom, students will learn basic anatomy and physiology, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, AED use, wound care and treatment, and stabilization of fractures, among other topics. The goal of this course is to leave students with a sense of confidence of their abilities as first aid providers.

Ms. Kessel’s Arts Trip to Barcelona April 2017!!

Having had the wonderful opportunity to get to know and teach the Colegio Maya High Schoolers last year, I am so excited to introduce an annual High School Arts Trip to Europe for Colegio Maya. I have been taking High School students to Europe on an annual Arts Trip for the past 5 years, having visited England, France, Italy, Austria and Greece. This year my dream is to take interested students to Barcelona, Spain for one week during the April Break.

Students will be immersed in the art, history and culture of this phenomenal city for one week with an educationally tailored all-inclusive tour through World Strides Travel, filled with visits to art museums and theatres, historical sites, and cultural exchanges. The opportunity to learn experientially allows students to make authentic connections to their world in a way that supports them in retaining information, while growing deeply as individuals. Learning itself comes alive and becomes real.

These trips provide students a chance to broaden their world view and enrich their education. Educational travel provides a chance to embrace our world, and deepen our understanding of the ultimate interconnected nature of society and what is learned in the classroom.

Next week I will be hosting lunch time information sessions where a slideshow of my past trips, the itinerary for The Barcelona Art Trip, and list of costs for the trip will be shared.

Please feel free to stop in, Monday through Thursday 11:05 – 11:45. I hope to see you there!

“The only source of knowledge is experience.” Albert Einstein

Catch the Spirit!!