Room 17 Crew News
Monday, August 5th, 2013
-Welcome to the 8th Grade! -
-Visitations-
Summer is sadly waning. I hope yours was
relaxing and filled with fun, as well. Time in
general certainly flies by and students are at a
pivotal time in their education. I absolutely enjoy
the adolescent child and helping guide them
academically, emotionally, and socially. It is a
lovely partnership with parent, student, and teacher
all playing a critical role. I look forward to a
wonderful year together.
We have set aside time on Tuesday, August 13th
from 2:00-3:00pm, if you would like to stop in for a
sneak peak of the room and a quick “Hello.” We
are all working hard to put the finishing touches on
our rooms and curriculum. If you can’t make it, we
will definitely see you on the first day of school,
Wednesday, August 14th at 8:30am! Remember
first day supplies, please.
Cynthia
-Beginning of the Year Needs- Parent Leadership Group: We need two (2) parents from our class to work together, interfacing
between the PLG, classroom parents, and me. The work of the PLG is critical to our program’s success.
Let me know if you are interested.
- Auto Insurance and District Sanctioned Fieldtrip Form: Please make sure you turn in your paper work
ASAP, as we will need drivers the second full week for our trip to Synergia Ropes Course. This is a
student-only event where we participate in team-building activities and “Challenge By Choice” low and
high ropes elements.
- Classroom help is always appreciated. The more consistent the better.
-8th Grade Team: Cynthia Grapel and Todd AndersonI am so happy to have Todd Anderson as a partner teacher again this year. We are a great
complement to each other and have a good time while working very hard at creating a rich experience for
each student. We are thrilled to be able to share teaching responsibilities for our expedition content this
year. I will focus on Social Studies, while Mr. Anderson will tackle the Science content. We will be
switching classes Monday through Thursday, so students will get to know both of us. This allows
students to become accustomed to different teaching styles and personalities. This will definitely help
them in their academic career.
-Weekly ScheduleThe weekly schedule is included for your reference. This schedule is specific for the 8th grade.
Although it is similar to the schedule for all middle school students, we modified it to fit needs
specific to our grade level. For those of you returning to GVCS it will look a little different from
last year. Each day will include time with Core (Homeroom), math, science, social studies, and
rotations. Due to fieldwork impacting math classes, math will be taught in the core classrooms
instead of switching classes. There will be some 7th and 8th graders who will push out into a
Geometry/Algebra II class. We will be using a new math text, Course 3 Mathematics, by
Prentice Hall. This text is based on Common Core standards. These content standards have
been adopted by most states nationally, rather than having standards that do not match from
state to state. New science textbooks have also been ordered and will be used throughout the
year. Rotation will also follow a bit of a different format; students will have each class for a 5week block once throughout the year. Each class will continue to be 6th -8th grade mixed. Your
rotation teachers are: Drama with Arinn, P.E. with Emily, Movement with Sarah, Creative Writing
with Mr. Maddock, Art with Marni, and Technology with Tina.
-Beginnings-
We will spend the first three days together establishing routines and expectations. As is our model,
we try to make it collaborative and sometimes playful. It is also a time of assessments so we can begin
purposefully on Monday the 19th. Students will be assessed in math, word study, reading, and writing.
These are generally quick assessments that give us a snapshot of where each child is at the beginning
of the year. Rotations and swapping classes with Mr. Anderson will begin on Monday the 19th.
-Supply List AttachedYou will find a supply list attached. There is a section specifically for needs for the first day. Please
bring those items. Other materials can wait until Monday, August 19th. The school will provide a
planner.
-Other Important Details Saved for LaterThe student handbook will come home soon. Items to pay particular attention to are dress code
(keep yourself covered and modest), cell phones/iPods (off and put away), consistent daily attendance (a
requirement for graduation, which includes fieldwork), and service (another requirement for graduation
and very much supported at school).
-Email CommunicationPlease send me a quick note with your most current email address. This is the most frequent line of
communication I utilize, so if you don’t have consistent Internet we can come up with a different plan.
teachercynzg@gmail.com
-Coming EventsSunday
More information to follow
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Monday
11
12
13
August 14
15
First day of our
adventure
together!
Friday
Saturday
16
17
All School
Picnic
18
19
Service
Term #1
begins
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
RopesDrivers
needed!
27
Mr.
Anderson
Ropes
28
Katie Ropes
29
Mrs. Parks
Ropes
30
Rachel
Ropes
31
Sept. 1
2
Labor Day
No School
3
4
5
Back to
School Night
6
7