The Petrides School
Middle School Newsletter
Grade 8
May 2015
“ And Spring arose on the garden fair, Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere; And each flower and herb on Earth’s dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.” Percy Bysshe Shelley
May 3, 2015
Dear Parents,
Spring is in the air! We will be outdoors for recess and making use of our majestic athletic fields and play courts on a daily basis.
Students should dress in layers and wear appropriate shoes.
Spring also brings our Saturday Regents Prep Academy. We will be offering classes to eighth graders in preparation for their
upcoming Regents exams in The Living Environment, US History and Government, Integrated Algebra, Algebra I (Common Core)
and the Foreign Language Proficiency. Classes are from 8:00 am through 11:00am in one hour sessions. The dates of Saturday
Regents Prep Academy are:
May 2, 2015
May 9, 2015
May 16, 2015
May 30, 2015
June 6, 2015
June 13, 2015
Please note there is no class on May 23, 2015
Preparations for end of year ceremonies and celebrations are well underway. Fifth and eighth grade parents should have received
end of year letters outlining dates and costs. These are also posted on our school's website for your easy reference. It is important
that permission slips for trips and events are signed and returned to school as soon as possible.
This is the last opportunity for fifth grade parents to submit yearbook ads. Yearbook ads will not be accepted after Friday,
May 8, 2015.
I am excited about our “Back to School Night” event for parents on May 13, 2015. Come and meet your child’s teachers for the
2015-2016 school year and gain an understanding of the course offerings. I hope to see you then!
We will be having a May PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System) special incentive. Students earning 60 points during the
month of May will participate in an afternoon field day and ice cream party on May 22, 2015.
Is your child falling behind on homework assignments and projects? Would you like a licensed teacher to tutor your child for one
hour per day for free? If so, I want to remind all families that our FREE after school program is offering homework help and
tutoring daily. There are still seats available. If you would like to take advantage of this program, please call my office at
718.815.0186 extension 22171. I will send home the application with your child.
PAL is also offering a free summer camp for middle school students in grades 6 – 8. Please take advantage of this wonderful
opportunity. You can contact Ivette LaSalle at our PAL office extension 31382 for an application.
There is no school for students on May 25, 2015. I hope you enjoy Memorial Day weekend. If you have any questions, feel free to
contact me at 718.815.0186 extension 22171 or BSouffrin@schools.nyc.gov.
Sincerely,
BettyAnn Souffrin
Assistant Principal
What topics will the students learn this month?
ELA –This month the students will read and analyze informational texts on the topic of forensic
anthropology. They will then write an explanatory text to examine a topic and convey ideas.
Math – The students have just completed the NYS exam and will be preparing for the Algebra
Regents exam in June. They will finish the last topic of radicals and then begin to review all
previous topics and go over most of the old Regents exams.
Science – Human anatomy and physiology will be our focus for the month of May. The students
will identify parts, describe functions and identify how disease is a failure to maintain
homeostasis.
Social Studies – This month the students will understand why the post war world is considered a
boom time; why African Americans demanded equal rights; should civil rights activists be
remembered as heroes; and why did tensions between the United States and USSR lead to a cold
war? They will also learn about the United States policy of containment in Korea and Vietnam, the
counterculture movement and Modern Presidential decisions.
Test/Projects Dates
REMINDERS!
May 1st – Spring ELA Assessment
May 1st – Science Genetic Brochure Project due
May 4th – ELA Performance Task 1
May 14th – ELA Performance Task 2
May 18th-22nd – U.S. History Regents Writing Portfolio
(Thematic Essay Project)
May 26th – 28th – U.S. History Supreme Court Case Inclass project
May 29th – U.S. History Supreme Court Case Project
presentations
Bring graphing calculators to Math class daily. It is
important to learn to use these calculators in class prior
to the exam.
Practice Algebra Regents exams will be given weekly.
See www.pupilpath.com for specific dates of exams and
which ones will count towards the 4th marking period
grade.
Regents exams dates are:
US History - June 16th at 9:15am
Science - June 16th at 1:15pm
Algebra I (Common Core) – June 17th at 1:15pm
Integrated Algebra – June 18th at 9:15am
See www.pupilpath.com for upcoming Science exam
dates.
We are offering Saturday review sessions for the
Algebra, US History and Living Environment Regents
exams. Dates for the review sessions are May 2nd, 9th,
16th, 30th, June 6th, and 13th from 8:00am to
11:00am.
ELA Mystery Writing piece will be due June 12th.
Required Reading
ELA – Excerpts from: Giving Faces To The Lost by
Angela Libal; What Is Forensic Anthropology? by R.U.
Steinberg; Lamb To The Slaughter by Roald Dahl; A
Poison That Leaves No Trace by Sue Grafton
Math – Integrated Algebra green textbook: Chapter 12
Science – Textbook: Chapters 20-23; In-class nonfiction
books; Science World Magazine articles.
School Closing
May 25th
Memorial Day
2015
Grade 8
Sun
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thurs
Fri
1
Sat
2
Spring ELA
Assessment
Regents Review
Academy
Science Genetic
8:00am-11:00am
Brochure
3
4
5
ELA
Performance
Task 1
6
Washington Trip
Washington
Trip
13
18
19
U.S. History
Regents Writing
Portfolio due this
week
24
/31 25
/
/
/
/
No School
20
Spring Concert
7:00pm
26
/
9
U.S. History:
Supreme Court Case
In-class Projects
begin this week
Regents Review
Academy
8:00am-11:00am
Dancing With
The Teachers
7:00pm
14
“Back To School
Night” event for
Parents
17
8
Spring Fair
Algebra Regents
review begin
11
12
10
7
15
ELA
Performance
Task 2
16
Regents Review
Academy
8:00am-11:00am
21
22
23
28
29
30
School-wide
Art Show
27
U.S. History:
Regents Review
Supreme Court
Academy
Case Presentations 8:00am-11:00am