Shark Talk
Quarter 3, 2010
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Dear Sutherland families,
SHARK TALK is a publication of
Albemarle County Public Schools. It is
published quarterly and distributed to
all Sutherland Middle School families.
Dave
Rogers,
Albemarle County
Public
SchoolsPrincipal
does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color,
religion, age, sex, disability, national origin,
pregnancy, or marital status.
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of
1972, 20 U.S.C. §§1691 et seq., prohibits
discrimination on the basis of sex in educational
programs or activities receiving federal funds,
including discrimination in employment and
student admissions. All Albemarle County
Public Schools students, applicants and
employees are covered by this law.
Questions or concerns regarding compliance
with the School Division’s nondiscrimination
policies may be directed to: Director of Human
Resources, 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville,
VA 22901, 434-296-5827)
Our Vision:
All learners believe in their power to
embrace learning, to excel, and to own
their future.
Our Mission:
The core purpose of Albemarle County
Public Schools is to establish a community
of learners and learning, through rigor,
relevance, and relationships, one student at
a time.
As we bring the third marking period to a close, I’m struck
by the many things our students have been doing: the writing SOL
test for 8th graders, field trips, participation in a number of special
projects, such as the science fair, National History Day, District
festivals for band, chorus, and orchestra, the student talent show,
volleyball, contributing to the art show at Fashion Square…. On top
of this and all those snow days, they have really had to concentrate
to keep their focus on academics! It’s quite a balancing act and the
arrival of spring won’t make it any easier in the final marking
period. You can help by checking in regularly to see that your
children maintain their focus on study. If you have any concerns
when you get the new report card, make sure you contact us right
away so you can talk with teachers.
Parents of current 6th and 7th graders should receive a letter
with report cards indicating course recommendations and selections
for next year. Please make sure you contact your child’s teacher(s)
if you have any questions about the recommendation for an
academic level. If you have concerns about exploratory courses or
World Language, please write your desired changes on the letter,
sign it and return it to school. You should also expect to receive
notice of our annual parent survey soon. Please take the time to
fill one out and return it to us. We review all of the surveys and
use your responses to help us plan to improve our school program
and practice for the coming year.
We are getting a number of questions about the end of
school. The School Board has announced that Friday, June 11 will
be the least day of school. The graduation ceremony for 8th graders
will be held at 10:00 that day in the gym. I’m very proud of this
class and I’m sure they will be quite successful in high school.
Thanks to each of you for your support and contributions through
the year. We always do a better job when working together. For
those families that will be leaving us, best wishes for a great
summer and success in high school. The year isn’t over yet though,
and, as always, your ideas, questions, and concerns are welcome.
Sincerely,
www.k12albemarle.org
Excellence. Young People.
Community. Respect.
Dave Rogers, Principal
MR. ARTHUR’S DESIGN, WRITE, AND PUBLISH CLASS
Mr. Arthur's Design, Write, and Publish Class have been using Microsoft Power
Point for the past several weeks. The class recently completed instructional slide shows
displaying the research teams had completed on the U.S. Presidents. We had some
impressive examples, and were able to contemplate which Presidents were "good," which
were "bad," and what criteria went into determining those designations. Now we are
creating interactive power points through which the user can navigate in a non-linear
manner. This makes them more user-friendly for research, and in many ways is similar
to creating a website. The focus for this project is the 50 U.S. States. During our
research, we'll learn a little about the government, industry, geography, history, and
educational institutions of each state researched. The projects are already off to a great
start.
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GIFTED AND TALENTED NEWS
The hard work of many Sutherland students has paid off in various competitions
that were held in the 3rd quarter. At the regional National History Day competition at
JMU, Abby Wild won first place in the division of Individual Performance as she told
about photography’s role in US involvement in World War II.
At the Piedmont Regional Science Fair, two Sutherland students came away with
awards. Laura Ungar won second place for her experiment on the effect of gravity on
plant growth. Julie Shaw won third place for her experiment about the placebo effect for
those with asthma.
Sutherland Middle School did an outstanding job at the regional MathCounts
competition this year in the individual competition. Winners were Wesley Daugherty 8th,
Willa Lin 6th, Sammi Rocker 5th, Laura Ungar 3rd, and Sam Kim 1st place. The
Sutherland team won first place earning them a spot at the state MathCounts competition
where they won 6th place overall.
The Sutherland’s Destination Imagination Team, Wesley Daugherty, Cherry
Wang, Annette Berkin, Nick DeFrank, Gwen Pattison, Ben Patterson, and Ping Yi Zhu,
won first place at the regional competition. They’ve built a structure out of newspaper
and glue that holds over 400 pounds! We wish them luck at the state competition on the
27th of March. We are very proud of each and every student that has chosen to
participate in these events for their hard work and dedication. They all deserve to be
congratulated on their outstanding achievements.
ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL
At the District XIII Orchestra Festival on March 13, the Jouett-Sutherland
Combined Orchestra earned a rating of 1 from each judge. This is a "superior" on a
rating of 1 - 5, 1 being superior and 5 being poor. One judge even gave the ensemble a
1+, which isn’t allowed to be an actual rating, but it's still nice to see on paper. This is the
5th straight year this ensemble has earned these ratings.
CLINIC NEWS
How quickly time flies--the end of the year will be here before you know it. If
your child has medicine in the clinic, just a reminder to pick it up at the end of the school
year. Medicine is not stored at school over the summer and the medicine remaining after
June 18th will be discarded.
THE ACE PROGRAM
The ACE Program is a program of the University of Virginia “Athletes
Committed to Community and Education.” ACE is a service program that promotes
academic success, supports character education, and strengthens and develops leadership
qualities. We are fortunate enough to have the student-athletes visit with us at Sutherland
Middle School throughout the year. Teachers volunteer to have the students assist in
their classrooms once a week or once every two weeks.
This semester, we have twelve student-athletes who work with our students in
math, language arts, history and physical education classes. They help support students
by working with them on their academic subjects, as well as acting as role models who
are capable of balancing both academics and sports.
The following athletes are working with our teachers and students:
Student/Athlete
Sydney Hill
Tara Hester
Chase Minnifield
Mike Ahunamba
Cole Wilcox
Kyle McCartin
Monica Wright
Ken Clausen
Ainsley Baker
Brian Pomper
Sport
Volleyball
Volleyball
Football
Football
Golf
Football
Basketball
Lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse
Matt Kulger
Jerome Meyinsse
Lacrosse
Basketball
Teacher
Ms. Kennedy
Ms. Harris
Mr. Fox
Ms. Benham
Ms. Patterson
Ms. Lee
Ms. Blount
Ms. Desimini
Mr. Torkornoo
Ms. Davis/Ms.
Shifflett/Mr.
Taylor
Ms. Haan
Ms. Blount
Class
Lang. Arts 8
Lang. Arts 7
Lang. Arts 8
Math 7
History 6
Lang. Arts 6
Math 6
Lang. Arts 6
Math 7
PE 7
Block/Day
1st/Monday
3rd/Monday
1st/Tuesday
1st/Tuesday
1st/Tuesday
2nd/Tuesday
2nd/Tuesday
1st/Wednesday
1st/Wednesday
2nd/Wednesday
Lang. Arts 6
Math 6
3rd/Thursday
1st/Friday
We are ABSOLUTELY thrilled that these student/athletes travel across town to
work with our students and teachers. They add a tremendous amount of enthusiasm to
our school day.
CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION CLUB
MRS. SINGEL AND MRS. HARRIS
Members of the Campus Beautification Club meet monthly. We have been extra
busy, lately. We have cleaned the area around the school of trash and debris, trimming
shrubs and trees. We also have designed, created, and decorated stepping-stones out of
cement, marbles, and tiles. This will be placed on a pathway to the front left corner of the
school for a quiet place to sit and talk, study, or read. We also have made ceramic
chimes, where each student made a leaf or part of the chime. Please enjoy the chimes and
walkway when entering the school.
CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION CLUB ROCKS!
PE NEWS
PE classes have begun a running/walking program called "Couch Potato to 5K".
Student have been calculating their distances over a 20 minute period of a combination
of walking/jogging/and running. Many have passed personal goals for the class period
and many have made improvements in the first couple weeks. A culminating event is
being planned for the 2nd week in May with a 5K run along with other distances that the
student's can pick to participate in for a friendly competition.
GUIDANCE UPDATE
Mr. Guy and Ms. East have finished the rising 9th grade registrations for all of our
current 8th graders that will be attending Albemarle High School. Any changes to the
previously chosen courses should be given to the Guidance Office no later than June 10 th,
2010. All requests must be accompanied by a parent note.
All 8th graders will visit Albemarle High School on Wednesday, April 14th.
We will leave Sutherland at 9:10 and return at 1:00. While we are at Albemarle High
School, the students will meet the administrators, take tours of the building and have
lunch in the cafeteria. Students may either buy lunch at AHS or bring their own lunch. It
will be a morning full of information!
6TH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES
This quarter the 6th grade Social Studies has enjoyed a unique and thrilling
learning expedition to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. This trip was sponsored by the 6th
grade learning Expedition, Journey Through Hallowed Ground. Our students will be
working on a video reflecting their experiences at Monticello as part of this learning
expedition. This video will be a permanent part of Monticello and will become part of
the institution’s marketing plan to draw middle school visitors.
In addition to the field trip, our students have covered U.S. history from our
geographic origins through the American Revolution. Presently our students are
completing a study of the Constitution and Mrs. Patterson’s class experienced a hands-on
role-play of the Constitutional Convention.
6H GRADE SCIENCE
Sixth grade science is studying water now. We are studying river systems,
drainage basins and buffer zones. We are also studying the environmental impact of point
source and non-point source pollution on the ecosystem. We will have our outdoor
educational field trip with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation after spring break.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s environmental education program introduces students to
the wonders of the watershed and works to heighten sensitivity, increase knowledge, and
empower citizens to take positive action toward the Bay's restoration. To care for the
environment, you must love it. To love it, you must know it. To know it, you must
experience it. While on the trip children will be participating in a variety of outdoor
activities including canoeing, macro invertebrate sampling, map reading and water
sampling.
JOURNEY THROUGH HALLOWED GROUND PROJECT
Of the Student, By the Student, For the Student
6TH GRADE
MS. DESIMINI, MRS. HAAN, MS. LEE
Sutherland Middle School is excited to announce that our sixth graders are taking
part in the Journey Through Hallowed Ground (JTHG) project. JTHG is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to raising awareness of the history in our region, specifically from
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, through Maryland, and onto Monticello located here in
Charlottesville. This year they are partnering with Monticello in a service-based learning
project called Of the Student, By the Student, For the Student.
Sixth grade students are becoming historians over the course of this spring
semester, delving into a topic of interest related to the life and times of Thomas Jefferson.
They began with a special presentation by Calvin Earl, a professional storyteller and
recording artist, on the morning of February 24th. Following this kick-off event, the
students traveled to Monticello where they were led in activities to promote their
curiosity and interest. The next step is for these students to become screenwriters,
editors, photographers, choreographers, set designers, videographers, and even public
relations specialists as they create mini-documentaries to tell the Thomas Jefferson story
they think the world should know. These student created documentaries will be used as
permanent interpretive tools at Monticello.
Please visit the website below to check out the blog for this amazing project. We
feel very lucky here at Sutherland to be able to participate in such an outstanding
program. http://ofthestudentmonticello.wordpress.com/
MS. DESIMINI’S STUDENTS WITH THEIR “KEN CLAUSEN FACE STICKS”
AT THE UVA LACROSSE GAME
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6TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS
MS. HAAN AND MS. DESIMINI
The third quarter in 6th grade Language Arts has flown by! Both Ms. Haan’s
classes as well as Ms. Desimini’s students have most recently been working on poetry
and figurative language. Besides analyzing poetry for meaning and form, the children
have been working on mastering identification of alliteration, metaphors, similes,
onomatopoeia, sensory imagery and hyperbole. Lastly, some individual poetic creations
have spawned with a final assessment on the unit occurring some time after Spring
Break.
In addition to our Poetry Unit, the students continue to work on morphology,
grammar, and writing skills. We look forward to the final nine weeks of school
emphasizing Science Fiction and Fantasy novels.
6TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS
MRS. PARMITER
We have had a busy spring. We are enjoying our read a loud book, Following
Fake Man. Each time we read, we journal down our thoughts and feelings about what is
happening in the story. The novel is beginning to get so exciting it is hard to put down.
We are also working on figurative language and poetry. We are currently reading poems
and writing our own poems. Additionally, we took the MAP test for reading and writing
and will be working on the areas that need to be strengthened in regards to that testing.
Happy SPRING!!!
6TH GRADE MATH
Our focus at the start of the 3rd Quarter was with completing our work with
fractions, decimals, and percents. We then moved into the area of geometry. Students
have been busy cutting and piecing together various polygons to gain a hands-on
understanding of how we derive particular geometric formulas. The procedural steps of
“plugging-in” have also been an integral part of our work with formulas. We’ve studied
why one-dimensional figures require a singular unit, while 2-dimensional figures have
squared units
MRS. BENHAM’S 6TH GRADE MATH
In 6th grade, Ms. Benham's students have been working hard on their MAP
testing and 3rd Quarter benchmark assessments, which they should be completing by the
end of this week (ending 4/2/10).
Students have been diligently studying circumference and area of circles and
problem-solving involving circumference and area. Students have been working on
deriving formulas for circumference and area, as well as exploring where pi comes from!
Students will continue studying geometry after Spring Break, exploring angles,
angle measurements; sorting quadrilaterals and exploring their properties; sorting 3dimensional objects and their properties; as well as problem-solving throughout this
strand.
THE EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNITED STATES
In 7th grade social studies, students have learned the reasons for westward
expansion and how settlers used new technologies to adapt to living in the West. They
also explored the relationships among natural resources, transportation, and industrial
development after 1877, as well as the reasons for the increase in immigration and the
growth of cities. Key issues during the Progressive Movement, both positive and
negative, were studied including child labor, the need for safety laws, the formation of
labor unions, the fight for women’s suffrage, and the temperance movement.
Students have analyzed the causes of World War I, what led to U.S. involvement
in the war, and the role the U.S. played at the conclusion of the war. We are currently
examining the culture of the roaring ‘20s!
7TH SCIENCE
MS. GUM MR. SCHWALM
Have any question about cells? Cell theory? If so, just go to any 7 th grader from Ms.
Gum’s or Mr. Schwalm’s class and you get that information you want!
If cell theory is an issue, just check out Emily’s Cell Theory Rap:
The cell theory is very cool,
I’ll tell you all about it, now here are the rules.
All living things have one or more
Of the cells that function smoothly to the core.
The basic unit of life is a cell,
You couldn’t live without it, I can tell.
Every cell has clearly come
From pre-existing cells; they once were one.
The first compound microscope was made by those
Who knew what they were doing: the Janssen bros.
There once was a man named Robert Hooke
He saw cells when, through a microscope he looked.
Matthias Schleiden stated that all
Plants are made up of cells, big plants and small.
Also, a guy named Schwann did find
That cells make up animals and all of their kind.
Finally, a man named Virchow said
That cells divide into new ones, you see where that led.
All of this is the Cell Theory
I hope you enjoyed hearin’ info. from me.
Thank you for listenin’ to my rap.
Now, my friends, it’s time to clap!
And who’s not a Harry Potter fan??? Next time you watch a Harry Potter movie,
you will no longer be thinking about Dumbledore or Voldemort, but cell parts instead,
thanks to Nancy, Christina, and Taylor:
The Plant Cell as Hogwarts
Here is a fun activity listing a few examples of parts of a plant cell as Hogwarts.
Chloroplasts - The chloroplasts are similar to the greenhouse at Hogwarts
because both the chloroplasts and the plants are sites of photosynthesis,
and where carbohydrates are produced.
Golgi Bodies - The Golgi bodies are similar to the classrooms at Hogwarts
because it is where the protein (magic) is packaged and distributed to other
parts of the cell (Hogwarts).
Ribosomes - The ribosomes are similar to the witches/wizards at
Hogwarts because they are both small structures (in the sense) that make
proteins (magic). When a cell is in need of sizable amount of proteins,
they must first need more ribosomes, which release and hold the energy
for the cell.
Nucleolus - The nucleolus is similar to Dumbledore because Dumbledore
helps synthesize the witches/wizards, as does the nucleolus does
ribosomes. Dumbledore does this by controlling and selecting the
witches/wizards that attend at Hogwarts.
Last, but not least, we have been studying the animal kingdom. To help the
students learn about each phylum we’ve been researching parasitic worms and enjoying
the deliciousness of our “edible dissectibles”. Please don’t get mad at your child when
they start taking apart their seafood and telling you what’s in the inside!
7TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS
MRS. KOWALSKY, MS. VANNOY, AND MRS. HARRIS
Language arts classes in the 7th grade have been busy with their class novels, The
Devil’s Arithmetic and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. We have studied and conducted
activities in characterization, the three types of irony, Mark Twain’s purpose for writing,
humor in context, and much, much more. Classes have acted out, illustrated, written
about, and made into a comic book form scenes from the novel. Tests were administered
and each class novel was compared and contrasted to the movie. We will continue with
grammar, writing, and Word Build as the year continues.
We are currently beginning a unit in poetry where students will utilize terms and
analyze a variety of poems through projects.
We have completed the third quarter assessments and are continuing to prepare
for the online multiple-choice reading SOL assessment given on May 19th. Keep up the
great work 7th graders! We are proud of you and your accomplishments!
MRS. BENHAM AND MR. COLLIER’S 7TH GRADE MATH
In Mrs. Benham's and Mr. Collier's 7th grade, students have worked hard on their
MAP testing and 3rd Quarter Benchmark Assessments, which they should be completing
by this week (ending 4/2/10).
In class, students are looking at relationships btn. A figure's preimage and its
images after translations along the x- and y- axes on a coordinate plane, and using the
patterns from these relationships to write a rule for any translation for that figure.
Students will also be exploring the relationships btn. A figure's preimage and images
after rotations about a fixed point on a coordinate plane, and using patterns from these
relationships to write a rule for any rotation for that figure.
Students recently completed a tessellation project as part of the geometry strand
on transformations. Many completed beautiful tessellations that will be displayed along
the 7th grade hallway. Great job students!
ALGEBRA I
Students are working on multiplying polynomials and factoring. We will take the
third quarter assessment on Friday, April 2. This assessment will identify strengths and
weaknesses that need to be addressed before the actual SOL. We will cover Quadratic
Equations and Functions and Radical Expressions and Equations in the fourth quarter.
Algebra I students will take the SOL on Wednesday, May 26th.
Students are working at a much higher level. Determined students who want to
understand and retain the material are meeting the more difficult material. I am very
proud of these students.
8TH GRADE MATH
This quarter in 8th grade mathematics, we completed our work on the geometry
and measurement strands of the curriculum. Students demonstrated their understanding
of the material using paper and pencil methods, arts and crafts activities, and various
technology resources. Through the nine weeks, you should have seen various SOL
review packets coming home with your child. These packets review material already
taught in class and help identify areas we need practice on prior to the SOL test. Our
SOL test is schedule for Friday, May 28th. Please be on the look out for more SOL
review material coming home throughout the 4th nine weeks grading period. If you have
any questions, please contact your child’s math teacher.
GEOMETRY
The Geometry students did a wonderful job with the Public Service
Announcements (PSAs) on voting. I was very proud of how well the students adapted
scripts written by other eighth graders and produced and acted in these PSAs. The PSAs
were an excellent representation of the quality of work the eighth grade has produced this
year. Thanks also to those of you who made Pi Day a super success!
Geometry students have been working on Area and the Pythagorean Theorem. We
will take the third quarter assessment on Friday, April 2. This assessment will identify
strengths and weaknesses that need to be addressed before the actual SOL. We are
currently working on Volume. Then we will move onto Similarity and Trigonometry.
When we finish these chapters, we will take some time to prepare for the SOL that will
be administered on Monday, May 24. Following the SOL, we will work on strengthening
the Algebra I skills needed for Algebra II at the high school.
Wow! What a year! The students are doing a fantastic job. They are stepping up
and focusing on details. It has been a wonderful year! Thank you for the opportunity to
work with your children.
8TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS
MS. LEE
Because of their passion for storytelling, the students in my 1st Block will bring to
life the scripts they have written for class and create short films that will be shown during
the 2010 SMS Film Festival. The students have drawn from their own experiences and
current pop culture in order to create representations of their creativity and the world
around them. Not only are they gaining academic learning, but they also are learning to
work together in small groups.
Students in my 4th Block have been researching the rights of minorities in
American history. We began looking at the nonviolent practices of Martin Luther King,
Jr., the children, and others who participated the Civil Rights Movement during the
1960s. We also examined the lives of Cesar Chavez and other migrant farm workers who
have fought for their freedoms in the U.S. The students have been divided into two
groups to consider the debate concerning illegal immigrants.
8TH GRADE TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
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"The 8th grade just returned from their annual Washington, DC trip, where the
cherry blossoms were in full bloom. The trip was a wonderful success! Our students
expanded their horizons by visiting the National Zoo, discovering the secrets of the
Capitol, and visiting several of the Smithsonian Museums, together with other historical,
scientific, and significant cultural experiences. The highlight of the trip was, of course,
the dinner cruise along the Potomac River. The weather was wonderful for the first day
and we weathered the second day. Students who did not attend the DC trip had a
wonderful time exploring various science and language arts activities.
Back at school, students are wrapping up their writing focus by completing their
Writing SOL test. Now the focus will turn to novels and poetry. Science students are
finishing up with chemistry and will start physics after Spring Break. In Civics, students
are finishing up learning about the branches of government and will begin economics
after Spring Break."