The Michael J. Petrides School
Middle School News
Grade 6
January 2016
“Write it on your heart that everyday is the best day in the year.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dear Middle School Parents,
Welcome back and best wishes for a wonderful new year. I hope 2016 brings you nothing but good things. We have some exciting
things planned for January!
As per our new school uniform policy, ALL students are required to wear uniforms every day to school. The uniform policy
consists of a light blue top and navy blue bottoms. Middle school students can wear Petrides Phys Ed uniforms on Phys Ed days.
Uniforms can be ordered online at josephsportny@yahoo.com. The telephone number is 347 – 768 – 2049. Uniforms will be
delivered to school and distributed by Mr. Michael Duffy. You may also purchase a school uniform at any local store who carries
school uniform wear. It has come to my attention many students are wearing hooded sweatshirts over their uniforms. Only school
logo sweatshirts or light blue sweatshirts are allowed. We will be having INCENTIVES throughout the month of January to
encourage our school uniform policy. The classes with 100% compliance of our school uniform policy will receive a themed
party at the end of each week in January. Classes with 100% compliance will have a donut party on January 8. There will be ice
cream on January 15, a taco party on January 22 and a pizza party on January 29th.
Our fifth graders have been studying the scientific method in class. All students have received information about our first fifth grade
Science Fair. (I have attached a rubric for your convenience.) Students have been diligently working to complete their Science Fair
projects. The annual fifth grade Science Fair will be held on Thursday, January 14, 2016. Parents are invited to view science fair
projects on Thursday, January 14, 2016 according to the following schedule:
Class 520 – 9:00am
Class 521 – 9:45 am
Class 522 – 11:15 am
Teacher Judging – Throughout the morning
Our fifth grade Spanish classes will also be hosting a Parents as Partners Workshop on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 12:45 pm.
You will assist your children in a Spanish cooking lesson. I can’t wait to sample the goodies!
Our sixth grade students will begin their study of ancient Egypt. Mr. Giordano has planned for them to visit “The Discovery of King
Tut” in New York City on January 28, 2016. They will be returning to school for a pizza lunch. The permission slip is attached.
National Junior Honor Society applications are available in my office. The application deadline is Friday, February 5, 2016.
Students in grades 6,7 and 8 are encouraged to apply.
Students can earn community service hours during our PAL after school program. National Junior Honor Society will be running as
a club after school twice per week. Their next community service project will be coordinating our schools’ box top for education
program and submission for this school year. PAL applications are available in my office. There are still seats available to students
in grades 6 – 8 for our PAL after school program. We offer at least one hour per day of tutoring in Math and ELA by our licensed
middle school teachers and one hour of homework help each day by our licensed middle school teachers. We also offer middle
school basketball (girls, boys and JV teams), step, cooking, track, martial arts and much more! I strongly encourage all families to
join PAL after school and take advantage of this free service provided. Please contact me directly to arrange the tutoring or
homework help to meet your child’s needs.
The end of the second marking period is February 1, 2016. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at anytime
at (718) 815-0186 extension 22171 or BSouffrin@schools.nyc.gov.
Sincerely,
Ms. BettyAnn Souffrin
Assistant Principal
What topics will the students learn today?
ELA – In January, students launch their study of Bud, Not Buddy, establishing a set of routines for thinking, writing and talking
about Bud’s rules to live by. We will read the novel closely for it’s figurative language and word choice, analyzing how these affect
the tone and meaning of the text. Additionally, through close reading of Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If” students will analyze how
poem structure contributes to its meaning and theme, as they examine theme across multiple texts. Students will learn how to
substantiate their writing claim using specific text based and direct quotes from the novel and various readings.
Math – During the month of January the students will learn the formulas for the area and the circumference of a circle and use them
to solve problems. The students will also be working on ratios and proportional relationships.
Science – The students will analyze how an idea is introduced and elaborated in an informational text (Burned by the Sun). The
students will analyze the author’s purpose in providing an explanation and cite text evidence to support analysis of science text. The
students will also explain how solar heating and water vapor in the atmosphere affect weather and discuss how clouds form and how
they are classified. In addition the students will be able to describe how rain, snow, hail and sleet develop and discuss the dangers of
severe weather. They will also learn how hurricanes and tornados form and how to best prepare for extreme weather.
Social Studies – Our Social Studies Scholars will be finishing their historical argumentative essay about King Hammurabi’s
controversial laws in Mesopotamia. Students traveled through the writing process for the first piece, including completing a graphic
organizer, drafting, and peer editing, revising and publishing. We will also begin our study on Ancient Egypt. We will be
exploring the Nile River, the achievements of the Egyptians, the social classes in society and even their religious rituals including
mummification. We will be completing a mummification lab in class where we will preserve potatoes using a chemical the
Egyptians used called natron.
Test/Projects Dates
Jan 6th – SS “Gift of the Nile” project
Jan 8th – SS essay: Hammurabi’s Code
Jan 15th – ELA quiz: Parts of a speech
Jan 20th – Math exam: Ch 12
Jan 22nd – ELA Complex Text Assessment
Jan 26th – Science exam: Weather
Jan 27th – Math exam: Ch 13
Jan 28th – Science exam: Weather (Class 621 & 622)
Jan 29th – ELA Mid-unit Assessment
Jan 29th – SS exam: Ancient Egypt
Daily Math quiz on Chapter 11 vocabulary.
Required Reading
ELA – Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis; Rudyard
Kipling poetry If; President Barack Obama – Back to School
speech 1/8/09; various informational articles
Math – Textbook or eBook: Chapters 11, 12 & 13
Science – Textbook Ch 7; Scholastic article Burned by the Sun
Social Studies – Eastern Hemisphere textbook Part B: Ch 10;
Classwork activities and readings
REMINDERS!
Remember to use your RACE strategy in your short and
extended ELA responses: Restate the question; Answer
the question; Cite evidence/examples; Explain to
support your idea.
Please use www.pearsonsuccessnet.com to review for
tests and daily lessons and practice the skills on the
Math review sheets.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has an exhibit,
“Ancient Egypt transformed: The Middle Kingdom” on
display until Jan 24th, 2016. Check it out and snap a
picture for extra credit!!
To spark your child’s interest in our next Social Studies
unit, Ancient Egypt, check out the animated movie “The
Prince of Egypt” (Rated PG). Visit the library and check
out books on this topic too!
Students seeking extra credit for Social Studies can
continue to complete their own student-led research
projects on topics o personal interest to them. They
may also read current events articles from any news
source and complete a report detailing the 5 W’s and
How about that topic.
We will be having a Uniform Incentive this month –
Classes with 100% compliance will have a Themed Party at
the end of each week!
Social Studies Scholars of the Month
School Closings
Class 620 – Haley Madden
Class 621 – Joseph Cusamano
Class 622 – Alison Holst
January 18th
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The Petrides School
2016
Grade 6
Sun
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thurs
Fri
1
Sat
2
Winter
Recess
3
4
5
6
7
SS project
Gift of the Nile
10
11
12
13
14
17
18
19
20
21
Schools Closed
Martin Luther
King Jr. Day
24
/
/31
/
/
/
/
25
Math exam:
Chapter 12
26
Science exam:
Weather
27
Math exam:
Chapter 13
8
9
SS Essay:
Hammurabi’s
Code
16
15
ELA quiz:
Parts of Speech
22
23
ELA
Complex Text
Assessment
28
29
30
ELA Mid-unit
Assessment
King Tut
Exhibit trip to
SS exam:
NYC
Ancient Egypt