October 2018 October 5 —Early Release Day (Interim of Marking Period 1) October 8 —Open House: Parent Visitation Day Period 1-8 Schedule October 9 —MAPM Testing October 9 —PTA Meeting: Panel Discussion on Student Transitions in Middle School October 10 —MAPR Testing October 10 – Walk to School Day

October 15-17 – 7th Grade Trip to Finance Park October 28—November 3 – TPMS Spirit Week November 12 – Parent Conferences

Principal’s Newsletter

TAKOMA PARK MI DDLE S CHOOL

TPMS October Events

Dear Parents and Guardians, Students and staff have had a busy and exciting start to the school year! I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet students in all grades and have been impressed by their energy and enthusiasm. In clas-ses, students are engaged in their learning and teachers are focused on making the content meaningful. In addition to their academics, students have been engaging in activities that support their health and wellness. Each morning during Wake Up Takoma, our students engage in a Mindfulness Minute in which they can sit silently or engage in an activity that helps them focus on the day or mentally relax before getting start-ed. Many of our teachers are also using mindfulness strategies as part of their instruction. This year students are also having time after they eat lunch to go outside on our blacktop in front of the building. The students have enjoyed playing basketball and other games as well as running around and just talking with friends. Hopefully, October will not be as rainy as September so that our students can enjoy some fresh air in the coming weeks! Students have also been using the Takoma Academic Period (TAP) each Wednesday to get help on homework, classwork or to retake assessments. I encourage all students to take advantage of this time each Wednesday. Teachers will submit their interims on Friday, October 5. Please review your child’s grades and contact their teacher or counselor if you have any questions or concerns. On September 25th, Ms. Sarah Manchester led a group of students from the TPMS MathCounts Team to Capitol Hill. On their trip to the Russell Senate Building, students had the opportunity to hear speeches from Michael Dell, the CEO and founder of Dell Com-puters as well as Senator Chris Coons. The students also engaged in a countdown round attended by lawmakers and other visitors. This was an amazing experience for our students and for those who had the opportunity to see our Mathletes in action! There are a number of events for parents and students in October. On October 8 parents are invited to attend our Open House: Parent Visitation Day. We will have an 8-period schedule on that day so that parents will have the opportunity to visit each of their child’s classes. The PTA will host a hospitality suite in the Counseling Conference Room throughout the day. Our counselors will be available to answer questions in the Media Center. The Media Center will also be available for parents to stop by and ask ques-tions about the MyMCPS Parent Portal.

Our first PTA Meeting of the year will be on October 9. The topic of the meeting is Middle School Transitions. We will have a dis-cussion with students, parents and our counseling department on how to support your child during transitions both into middle school and high school. The PTA is continuing to encourage new membership and participation in our school community. Member-ship this year is free of cost. However, donations are encouraged. TPMS will celebrate Walk to School Day on October 10. Parents and staff will organize activities at the start of the school day to support students walking to school. This yearly event promotes pedestrian safety and is part of our partnership with Safe Routes to School. Thank you to the Takoma Park Police Department, par-ents and students who support the event every year! For the first time, MCPS Grade 7 students will participate in the Finance Park financial literacy curriculum and culminating field trip. Finance Park is a program of Junior Achievement, an inter-national leader in financial literacy education. Grade 7 students from Takoma Park Middle School will be attending Finance Park on either October 15, 16, or 17, 2018. A different group of Grade 7 students will attend Finance Park each day until each student has had an opportunity to participate in this exciting program! As part of the Finance Park curriculum, students will learn about saving and investing, types of credit, creating a budget, wages and taxes, and the role of insurance. Looking ahead to November, parent conferences will be held on Monday, November 12. We will be having arena style confer-ences and invite all parents to visit TPMS that afternoon. I will share more detailed information about this event in the coming weeks. The Principal’s Monthly Newsletter provides parents and students with updates on upcoming classroom instruction as well as im-portant grade level events. For daily information about TPMS events, you can view the school’s television show, Wake Up Takoma, which features daily announcements and student pro-duced shows.

Alicia Deeny

Principal

Summer ends, and Autumn comes, and he who would have it otherwise would have high tide always and a full moon every night; and thus he would never know the rhythms that are at the heart of life. ~Hal Borland

©2017 Jostens, Inc. Printed in USA. 171844

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5236Graduation Cap

5011Academics

5278Seniors

5379Juniors

5480Sophomores

5581Freshman

56828th Grade

57837th Grade

57846th Grade

5001Baseball/Softball

5002Basketball

5004Football

5005Golf

5006Soccer

5008Tennis

5009Track/CC

5010Volleyball

5014Hockey

5130Wrestling

5258Swimming

5360Field Hockey

5241Lacrosse

9001Weightlifting

9007Danceline

5003Cheerleading

9006Gymnastics

5238Band

5239Choir

5019Music

5013Dance Shoes

5365Eagle

5247Wolf

9042Dragon

5255Star & Crescent

5256Star of David

5257Cross

5012Peace

5366Maple Leaf

5367American Flag

5253Butterfly

5018Hearts

5021Smile

5023Yin Yang

9036Rose

9037Palm Trees

5015Drama Masks

5240Paint Palette

5592Yearbook Staff

5022Journalism

5982Photography

9050Guitar

5980Flag/Color

Guard

9025Bowling

5981Motocross

5242Equestrian

5362Martial Arts

5025Renaissance

9051Deer/Elk

5363Bulldog

5364Pawprint

55874-H

5590Future Farmers

of America

5591National Honor

Society

5588First Robotics

5589DECA

5585World Hunger

5583Clean Water

5582Human Rights

5584Anti-Bullying

5586Cause

Awareness

CLUBS & CAUSES

4 ICONOS GRATIS CUANDO PERSONALICES TU ANUARIO

 

 

Math6:

Math6:ForthemonthofOctober,Math6willbeworkingonUnit1withthefocusonapplyingunitratestosolveproblems.Studentswillpracticerepresentingunitratesandtheirequivalentratiosusingtable,graphs,doublenumberlinesandtapediagrams.Asolidunderstandingofunitrateandequivalentratiosiscriticalinunderstandingproportions,scalefactorandslopeinfuturemathclasses.Towardstheendofthemonth,wewillbeworkingonfindingpercentandusingtheminreal‐worldapplications.Asfortesting,MAP‐MtestingwilltakeplaceduringthesecondweekofOctoberandthefirstProgressCheckwilltakeplaceduringthesecondhalfofthemonth.InvestigationsinMathematics(IM):

In October, IM students will analyze and solve problems involving scaling and percent.Studentswillbuildaccuracyinusingandcomparingpercentages,andwillsolvemulti‐stepsituations. Percent problems include tax, markups, markdowns, gratuities, commissions,fees,percentincreaseanddecrease,andpercenterror.Studentswillalsobeabletorewritepercentexpressions indifferent forms to showrelationships.Since thisunit isextremelyrelatable,weaskthatyouengagewithyourchildinanypercentproblemsyoumaycomeacross,suchasshoppingatastoreoranalyzing intoprofits!Inaddition,MAPtestingwilltakeplaceinOctober.

MagnetInvestigationsinMathematics:DuringthefirstpartofOctoberstudentswillfinishUnit1‐Part1:RealNumbersandSetTheory.Thesearenewtopicsformoststudentssoit’sbeenareallyfunwaytostarttheschoolyear!DuringthesecondpartofOctoberstudentswillstudyUnit1‐Part2:RatiosandProportionalReasoning.PleasecheckMyMCPSClassroomforquizdatesandtopics(Iamnowabletopost!Yea!).Alldatespostedforassessmentsaresubjecttochangeandisdependentonhowquicklywemovethroughthecurriculum. 

 

6thgradescienceStudentsin6thGradeMagnetSciencearereviewingthescientificmethod.WewillbetransitioningtoBasicPropertiesofMattertobeginourChemistryunit.Wewillreviewmassandweight,andlearnaboutdensity.Intheprocessofinvestigatingdensity,wewillbegintolearnabouttheuseofvariouslabtools,suchasgraduatedcylinders,triplebeambalances,andelectronicbalances.StudentsshouldexpectalabpracticumquizattheendofOctoberaboutthelabskillswe’velearned,alongwiththeinformationcoveredaboutmass,weightanddensity.

 6thGradeMagnetScience:InOctober,studentswillcontinuetoworkonplanningandresearchingfortheirSTEMprojects.Theyshouldbecompletingthebackgroundresearchfortheirproject.Studentswillbelearningaboutcitingpreviousstudiesandresearchingsciencebackgroundfortheirprojects.WewillalsobeinvestigatingtheBasicPropertiesofMattertobeginourChemistryunit.Wewillreviewmassandweight,andlearnaboutdensity.Intheprocessofinvestigatingdensity,wewillbegintolearnabouttheuseofvariouslabtools,suchasgraduatedcylinders,triplebeambalances,andelectronicbalances.  

DuringthemonthofOctober,wewillcontinueourstudyofUnit1,PatternsofSettlementinAncientandModernWorlds.Wewillfocusonthelifestylesamonghuntingandgatheringsocietiesascomparedtothelaterfarmingcommunities.ThestudentswillparticipateinasimulationhighlightingtheimportanceofirrigationandfarmingtoearlycivilizationsinMesopotamia,aregionalongtheTigrisandEuphratesRivers.ThiswillbeanexcitingstarttoanexcitingyearinSocialStudies!

6thgradestudentshadtheopportunitytovisitthemediacenterthismonthandlearnaboutthewonderfulselectionofbookstheynowhaveavailabletothemasmiddleschoolstudents.Inclass,studentsarefocusingonthevariouselementsofnarrativewriting,includingdirectandindirectcharacterization,dialogue,andsequenceofevents.Thismonth,studentswillbegintheirreadingjourneysbydivingintoManiacMagee,ZenandtheArtofFakingIt,ElDeafo,orBridgetoTerabithia.Theywillbeanalyzinghowanauthordevelopsandcreatesacharacterandthenpracticingthisworkintheirownfictionalcharacterscene.

A Note from the 7th

Grade Team Leaders

We have had a great start to the new schoolyear. As Team Leaders, we are here tocoordinate efforts within the 7th grade team ofteachers, the 7th grade administrator, counselorand other staff to support our seventh gradestudents in all aspects of the school experience.Please feel free to contact us at anytime.

Ms. Lunsford and Ms. Seyoum

Students are learning about thegeography of Latin America and howit shaped two major pre-Columbiancivilizations, the Aztecs and the Incas.7th graders will write a multi-paragraph essay on the Incas andhow they modified and adapted to

What are Students

Learning in the

Classroom?

World Studies

Students are completing the reading and analysis of thenovel The Outsiders. Teachers and students will bestressing the Elements of Fiction, characterization, andthe changes a character experiences. Through ourwriting, we will analyze character and write a personalnarrative. We will also review grammar rules andsentence structure as needed in the students'writing. All students will have an Independent Readingassignment this quarter.

English

their geography in South America. Students will also receiveinstruction in a mini-unit on financial literacy, which willculminate in a field trip to Junior Achievement Finance Park inWheaton, MD on October 15, 16, & 17.

In NGSS Science 7, students are readingnon-fiction text about “Cellular Structuresand Processes.” We have sorted cards toreview and state definitively thecharacteristics of living, non-living and deadorganisms. We also viewed how differentcells are made and their function and usingmicroscope to observe and record plant,animal (eukaryotic/multi-cellular) andamoeba, euglena (prokaryotic/single cell)organisms. They will be introduced to theunit’s project on growing basil & oreganoplants and constructing their ownHydroponics system.

In Magnet science class students arestudying the chemistry of life by beginningthe unit with a study of its characteristics.Students are now learning basic organicchemistry which will lead in to the four majorbio-molecules. We will also study severalmajor biochemical pathways to develop abetter understanding on how cells use thematerials we consume. At the end of the unitstudents will learn about the structure andfunction of cells. This unit culminates withstudents designing and constructing ahydroponics system with the premise thatstudents will be able to describe thedevelopment of life from a single cell (theseed) to a multi-cellular organism (the plant).

In Math 7 and IM, students are currentlystudying Unit 1 Topic 1 where we are usingunit rates to solve real life problems. Studentare representing proportional relationships ina variety of ways, including graphs andtables. We will transition to topic 2 where wewill continue our study of ratios and rates byexploring more real life topics such as scaledrawings, tax and interest, and percent ofchange.

In Magnet Algebra, students will complete aunit on Relations and Functions with anemphasis on problem-solving/criticalthinking. Relationships may be expressednumerically, algebraically, and/orgeometrically. Function notation andproperties learned in Unit 1 will be appliedthroughout the year as we explore manydifferent types of functions. Later this monthwe will begin looking more specifically atlinear functions and patterns. Our firstrequired county progress check will takeplace the last week of October.

Stay Connected:Please regularly checkyour child’s grades andassignments on MyMCPSclassroom, the agendabook, and binder.

Math Science

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October 2018

English In English classes, students will be wrapping up the writing of a personal narrative with a clear cli-max and message. Then, students are continuing their study of plot structure and theme as they study some dystopian short fiction and the novel, The Giver by Lois Lowry. To finish out the quarter, stu-dents will be writing their own fictional piece that conveys a strong theme. In addition to literature study, students are working on perfecting their writing struc-ture with correct punctuation to avoid run-on sentences

U.S. History In 8th grade U.S. History, we are analyzing the escalating tension between the col-onists and the British government that will culminate in the Revolutionary War. We have examined the purposes of government and possible methods of change to evaluate the relationship between Britain and the Colonies. We will use primary and secondary sources to find corroboration on such events as the Boston Massacre and the tax acts (taxation without representation!).

Math 8 During the month of October, the students will continue to study Unit 1-Topic 2 (Rational and Irra-tional Numbers) where students will work with different types of integers and using fractions and decimals to solve equations. We will take our test in the middle of the month and then move to Topic 3 (Pythagorean Theorem) where students will identify categories of numbers as well as apply what we learned in topic 2 to solve for missing sides of triangles. The students need to come to class fo-cused, willing to participate, ready to learn and ask questions with a positive attitude. We are availa-ble for extra help every lunch period. Afterschool help is available, but must be set up by his/her teacher. County progress checks are scheduled for November and will cover every topic we study. It is worth 10% of the grade.

Algebra

During September we worked on solving linear and literal equations in one variable, solving equa-tions by using mathematical properties to justify and understand the reasoning behind the solving process, and interpreted the meaning of expressions by attending to the units associated with each variable of a literal equation. In October we will delve into solving inequalities in one variable, un-derstanding the basic laws of exponents, and will work on articulating the differences and similarities in solving equations and inequalities and in solving linear equations and exponential equations.

Honors Geometry In September, we learned how to perform geometric constructions and each type of rigid transformation. We start October with an as-sessment on multiple transformations and then combine our skills by constructing shapes and then performing transformations on our con-structions. After our assessment on rigid transformations, we will start Topic 3 which involves Congruence of Triangles. In this unit students establish triangle congruence criteria, based on analyses of rigid motions and formal constructions. They begin by comparing examples of rigid and non-rigid transformations to establish that rigid transformations maintain congruency, but the congruency discussion quickly focuses to triangle congruence so that students have a familiar foundation for the development of formal proof (which we will learn later in the year). County progress checks are scheduled for No-vember and will cover every topic we study. It is worth 10% of the grade.

Magnet Geometry The current unit Lines, Planes, Angles and Transformations lays the groundwork for our study of Eu-clidean geometry – how does a mathematical system grow from a set of basic axioms? We begin writing proofs in different forms that apply algebraic and geometric properties. We will also work on sketching, combining, and writing coordinate rules to describe rigid motions – reflections, rotations, and translations.

Science In 8th grade Science we have been exploring various ways to describe mo-

tion. In October we will explore various forces and how they affect the mo-tion of an object. Students will be able to apply Newton’s three laws of mo-tion to various hands-on investigations. We will use the laws of motion to design our bottle rockets.

8th Grade Homework Club Study! Learn! Get Help!

Who? All 8th graders are invited

Where? Room 224 with Rodgers

When? Every Thursday after school

Magnet Science Magnet Science students are currently working on the Meteorology Unit. They will be investigating the properties of the atmosphere by collecting and analyzing meteorological data to forecast the weather. Stu-dents have decided their topic for their Capstone project and have begun background re-search. They are investigating recent research, technical challenges and various ideas to solve the world is-sue they are investigating.

World Languages Department October

Newsletter Spanish Spanish 1A (full year)—Sra. Carroll In Spanish 1A Full Year, students begin the year with the basics of Spanish. Throughout the

months of August and September we learn the ABCs and numbers to learn to tell time and talk

about the calendar. These fundamentals allow us to move more smoothly into new

units. Students have also studied and applied various greetings and farewells in the context of

formal and informal conversations. In the coming month we use the calendar dates to talk about

our birthdays and holidays. Days of the week and months of the year will be incorporated into

our study of dates, weather expressions and seasons. At the end of the unit students will

complete a weather project that incorporates all the basics of the Welcome to Spanish

unit. Homework completion is essential to success in this high school credit-bearing class. In

the beginning of the year most homework is Oral Practice. As we learn to read and write more,

written HW will become more consistent. Flashcards and walking around speaking out loud at

home are good ways to practice. Any method that suits your student’s learning style will work.

Parents and students should monitor MyMCPS for grade reports and homework assignments.

Students should also have HW written in agenda books. Please encourage students to talk with

Ms. Carroll if they need help with specific concepts.

Spanish 1B (full year)—Señora Vogel Students are just finishing up a review of material from Spanish 1A and are beginning a brand

new unit of study. The units this year are Pastimes, Family, Housing, Clothing/Shopping. We are

currently studying leisure time activities; where we go and what we do when we are not in

school. The verb “ir” with locations is our main grammar focus in this unit. Students will also

talk about how often, with whom and at what time they participate in certain leisure

activities. Students are encouraged to study current and previous vocabulary every night for at

least 10 minutes, in addition to their normal homework. In addition to vocabulary study and

grammar instruction, students will be practicing, and will be assessed on their ability to use the

language in real-world, meaningful ways, to prepare them for application of the Spanish

language in real life. Parents and students should check MyMCPS Classroom regularly for

important dates and grades.

Spanish 1AB— Sra. Stanton-Brand, Sra Guevara and Sra. Vogel Students are completing Unit 1 on the basics of Spanish. Students learned the ABCs, 123s, basic

greetings, telling time and how to talk about the calendar. Basic weather expressions are studied

in the context of the seasons. In October students will study ¿Quién soy yo? Who am

I? Students will learn to describe their likes and dislikes and talk about activities. They will also

describe their personalities and learn to talk about friends and family. Grammar concepts

covered in this second unit include infinitive verbs, subject pronouns, and gender/number

agreement. Students should be diligent about checking MyMCPS Classroom for homework and

missing work. Parents are encouraged to use MyMCPS Classroom to monitor student progress

and help students keep up with assignments. Students should also have HW written in their

agenda books. Students are also expected to review their vocabulary words and class notes for

10-15 minutes every day, in addition to any assigned homework, to help build vocabulary usage

and healthy study skills for this demanding high-school level class.

Spanish 2A- Señora Guevara and Señora Vogel In 2A, students began the year reviewing material from Level 1. Students will dive into a

new unit called La Vida Escolar that revolves around school life, both academic and

extracurricular. The pace of the class moves quickly and students are encouraged to establish a

routine of studying every week night for 10-15 minutes (in addition to assigned homework) in

order to help build vocabulary and ease with structures. There are many resources on MyMCPS

Classroom for them to practice such as Quizlet, an online flashcard website which allows

students to make flashcards for vocabulary but also verb conjugations as well. Students and

parents should also check MyMCPS Classroom regularly for important dates and to keep up with

grades.

Spanish 3A—Señora Stanton-Brand In 3A, students have a chance to review and expand on grammar structures (present, preterit,

imperfect tenses) from 1AB and 2AB within the first three units of the semester while

incorporating new vocabulary related to units such as recreational activities in the outdoors. They

will continue to refine their mastery of the preterite and imperfect past tenses applied in context,

as well as improving their mastery over their use of other prior grammar concepts applied in the

context of these first 3 units. In October, students will begin describing different visual and

performing art forms of the Spanish-speaking world. In addition to regular homework

assignments, Spanish 3 students need to establish a routine of studying their individual feedback

notes, and prior vocabulary, every week night for 10-15 minutes. This will help build

vocabulary and ease with structures, so that they can easily and fluidly be applied to more and

more complex topics, in both writing and speaking. Students can also use online resources, such

as Quizlet and conjuguemos.com, which allow students to make flashcards for vocabulary and

practice verb conjugations.

French—Mme Finklea

French 1 Students will learn to describe their likes and dislikes (from ice cream to playing chess). Ask

your child to tell you in French what s/he likes and doesn’t like! Parents should check agenda

books for HW and encourage students to study vocabulary at home. Parents may also check

MyMCPS Classroom for daily homework announcements and weekly student progress reports.

French 2 French 2 students will continue work in a unit on holidays and celebrations. We’ll be getting into

the meat of the passé composé and learning about direct and indirect object pronouns—a heavy

grammar unit. Ask your child to tell you about how holidays are celebrated differently in France,

and ask them to teach you about direct objects and how they work in French! Parents should

check agenda books for HW and encourage students to study vocabulary at home. Parents may

also check MyMCPS Classroom for daily homework announcements and weekly student

progress reports.

French 3 In French 3, we will be finishing our unit on professions. By the end of October, we will be

discussing friends and family and beginning our study of the subjunctive (which will continue

through most of the year). Ask your child to tell you how things are different in the French work

place. Parents should check agenda books for HW and encourage students to study vocabulary at

home. Parents may also check MyMCPS Classroom for daily homework announcements and weekly

student progress reports.

Arts and Physical Education October 2017 Newsletter

Art—Ms. Spera  

In October, the sixth graders will be creating a three dimensional mask. They will be considering the choice of colors to create a sense of an emotion. They will also be working with a variety of materials to complete the design.

The seventh graders are creating a travel poster. They will be creating two different compositions to layout the words and iconic image from the place they are advertising. They will then use sharpie markers and paint to create the image they have chosen from their plans.

The eighth graders will be creating a piece of non-objective art. (This means it does not represent or depict a person, place or thing in the natural world.) They use different tools to paint watercolors on a piece of paper, then cut it up and reconstruct it on a new piece of paper. Then add another type of paper or marker to complete the composition.

FACS — Ms. Davis

In September:

· Sixth grade students explored their values and reflected on Respect, Relationships, and Responsibilities, Decision Making, and Communication. · Seventh grade students explored financial literacy. They learned about wants and needs and discussed what one would need in case of an emergency or identity theft. Students finished the unit with a budget simulation activity. · Eighth grade students explored careers. They completed a job application for my imaginary “Davis Designs Bakery” and answered interview questions. Then completed a career research using Education Planner and O Net Online.

In October, all students will work on their sewing projects:

· Sixth grade students will create an applique that they will hand stitch onto a pillow and complete on a sewing machine. · Seventh grade students will make chef hats. · Eighth grade students will make aprons.

Introduction to Computers – Mrs. Smith

We have completed our Keyboarding, Hardware versus Software and Hardware units. Students

are feeling comfortable with differentiating between hardware and software. Students also understand the basic computer hardware components, and they should also know proper typing posturing and technique.

We are currently working on Computer networking and an introduction to the various types of networks, including LANs and WANs. In October, we will begin our Google Docs, Microsoft word and Microsoft PowerPoint units. In Google Docs, students will become familiar with their Google drives and creating/sharing documents online. Microsoft word will be used to teach students about various formatting capabilities, tables and tabs. Students will use Microsoft PowerPoint to create presentation slides, animate objects and apply various transitions. Lastly, students have been tasked with a Hardware speech that is due on October 7th. Computer Science 6th Grade — Mrs. Smith

In 6th Grade Computer Science classes, we have now finished our keyboarding and hardware unit. Students are feeling comfortable with the basic hardware components of a computer, and they should also know proper typing posturing and technique.

In October, we will begin our Internet Safety and Google Docs vs. Microsoft Word units. In Google Docs, we should have all students familiar with their Google drives and creating/sharing documents online. Students will be using their Google Drives in many of their other classes, so feeling comfortable with this system is crucial. Students will also be working in a unit that compares the Microsoft PowerPoint program to the similar Google product, Slides.

7th Grade — Dr. Taliff

We are learning to code using Python. My lectures and demonstrations explain how Python works. Individual practices give students the opportunity to practice what they have been taught. The computer work happens in class but students are permitted to work at home. Some students install Python at home but recently more students have been using www.repl.it a cloud-based Python interpreter. The class handouts can be found on Google Classroom. 8Th Grade — Ms. Wu

 8th grade Computer Science classes will continue to expand their knowledge in Python

programming. The topics will be covered are tracing program, review basics, data types, string manipulation and functions.

They will learn What Does This Program Do and Number System as a part of the fundamental computer design learning.

Students will be working on their Final Project Game Storyboard or Website Theme at home.      

Ms. Wu

Students in 8th grade Computer Application class will continue to use Turbo Typing to enhance their typing skills. Students will expand their knowledge of Google Docs functionalities by writing a mystery story in a friendly-letter format and researching information of their favorite city online. Theatre — Ms. Murphy Ms. Murphy welcomes her semester 1 students to theatre! So far students have been building interpersonal skills, learning about their classmates, and starting to investigate what exactly theatre is. Students have been learning basic vocabulary as well as basic rules of theatre. Coming up in October, students will begin organizing in groups to begin writing scenes that they will be presenting on Thursday January 17, 2019 in our Semester Theatre Scenes Night, as well as beginning our unit on improvisation.

General Music and Chorus — Mr. Liddle  

This year is off to another great start. Students are settling into classes and digging into new music and materials. This summer I was able to continue to reflect on the successes of the past four years of the program and to make plans to keep the program moving forward to better serve our young music students. More equipment and music have been ordered and I’m rolling out updated or new materials each day. The students continue to impress me with their willingness to try new things, their openness to getting to know me and their peers, and their ability to adapt quickly to a program that continues to develop. Smiles abound in the room and there is an energy in the air of creativity and experimentation. General Music Students have started on their chosen or assigned instruments and our first rounds of assessments starts this week. The next set of lessons move the students from playing individually to applying instrumental skills in bands. Students in Chorus have begun or continue to experiment and develop their growing voices. This year brings change to our chorus program with the introduction of leveled chorus 1 and chorus 2 mixed gender classes. This is a change from last year and returning students are helping to make this transition go smoothly. Chorus students are beginning to thrive in their sections and are digging into new music with energy and purpose. I am working to solidify a date for our first concert of the year in October at Montgomery Blair HS as part of a cluster concert featuring elementary, middle, and high school choirs. I will send home more info in the coming weeks.                      

Contemporary Communications and TV Studio -- Mr. Wilson

In 6th grade Contemporary Communications, students have been reading, writing, and talking

about media. Now it’s time to make some! We are moving into our “production” phase of the class, in which students will create their own short videos and learn the basics of video production.

In 7th grade Intro to TV Studio, students are in various stages of their first video production. Some groups have already finished, while others are still editing their footage. After students complete their ad or PSA (incorporating both an insert shot and over the shoulder shots) they will learn how to make a video “News Package”.

In 8th grade TV studio, students are wrapping up their first scripted production and beginning to work on their first “news piece” as well as their “Spotlight” video, which is an individual production about themselves.  Physical Education — Mr. Baker, Ms. Shiffman, Mr. Kinhart, Mr. Miller & Ms. Smoot  

The Physical Education Department wants to welcome everyone to a new school year. We have several helpful links to share with parents and students. The PE Syllabus and Guidelines contains information regarding curriculum, policies, and after school programs for students. The department continues to use the Grade-Level-Outcomes-for-K-12-Physical-Education to create a learning environment that promotes health and fitness literacy. Parents and students can view the 2018-2019 PE Unit Schedule to see the scheduled units for the year. Currently we do not have enough male lockers and we are looking for student volunteers to release their lockers so that another student can use one. Please submit TPMS Locker Release Form if your child wishes to participate. Printed copies are located in the PE hallway. Upcoming Events

Annual Turkey Trot – Our annual 1 mile event dating back 20 years. Modern Day Records since 2008.

Walk for the Cure – Our annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser that coincides with the Turkey Trot.

Orchestra & Band — Ms. Pasquale

This is going to be a superior year. This year’s instrumental music students are some of the best students TPMS has ever had! Students in the TPMS bands and orchestras are working on the first pieces that they will perform for the Winter Concerts. Many have found the music challenging and are excited about the process of perfecting the music individually and as ensembles. We are pleased to announce our new Concert Orchestra for 6th grade string players. It was a challenging start since the class is brand new but we have begun to play our first pieces and master the difficulty of tuning. 1st year students should be turning in their practice records the first class of each week. Practice sheets have been phased out for 2nd & 3rd year students. All the classes have completed their first playing tests (passoffs) and are working on developing ensemble intonation and technique. We are working to develop a full instrumentation and switching students to some of the larger instruments to fill out the ensemble sound (tuba, string bass, bass clarinet, French horn, and oboe). TPMS Jazz ensemble auditions are ongoing and have already begun rehearsing with returning students.

 

 

Takoma Park Middle School

We are very proud of our new TPMS students! Students have gotten off to a great

start and have adapted beautifully to middle school life! Students are engaging in

learning by listening to instruction, working together, and practicing daily procedures; and, demonstrating our

core values of Courtesy, Safety, and Integrity. Counselor classroom lessons will begin in October. Students will

be introduced to the role of the school counselor in addition to Naviance, a web-based tool that provides self

-discovery activities. The first set of Naviance lessons focuses on the transition to middle school and exploration

of this online tool that will help students explore careers and jobs, and plan for high school and col-

lege. Please ask your child about Naviance, and even sit with them as they show you the different tasks and

activities that help our students in the exploration of career development. The link to Naviance can be found

HERE or on the TPMS website. - Ms. Martinez & Ms. Salzman, 6th Grade Counselors

6th Grade

try.

During the first week of October, 7th graders will complete the first Naviance lesson

of the school year. They will complete the StrengthsExplorer assessment and review

results in order to consider careers that match personal interests and strengths. As students begin to identify

careers of interest, they will add them to a “career cluster” list that they can reference throughout the year. In

addition, students will create one academic SMART goal for the year. This is a good opportunity for parents to

speak with their child about Naviance. I encourage you to ask about the selected SMART goal and to see the

results of the StrengthsExplorer. If you are a parent of a new 7th grader, please contact me to request an acti-

vation code for your parent account. - Ms. Hankins, 7th Grade Counselor

7th Grade

Decisions, decisions...choice! If you live in the Downcounty Consortium (DCC) or will

be eligible to participate in the DCC process during the second round, or live in the

Northeast Consortium (NEC) area, please visit our TPMS website to access high school choice information. Stu-

dents are encouraged to visit as many high schools as possible, so mark your calendars so that they can visit

the open houses to learn more about the different academies and the choice process. Students in the DCC

and NEC area will begin receiving choice forms for high school in mid-October, and parents will be provided

with an electronic link so that they can access and complete forms. All choice forms must be submitted by

Friday, November 2nd. If your child’s home school is not in the DCC or NEC area, please register your child at

his/her home school. Your child will be able to participate during Round 2 of the choice process in Febru-

ary. Please contact the 8th grade counselor or Ms. Ponton with questions.

- Ms. Lever, 8th Grade Counselor

8th Grade

October 1: DCC/NEC HS Options Fair @ Einstein HS (6:30 - 9 pm)

October 4: DCC Open House @ Blair HS (7 pm)

October 8: Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Magnet

Information Meeting @ Blair HS (7 pm)

October 8: Poolesville HS Whole School Magnet Parent

Information Meeting

October 10: DCC Open House @ Einstein HS (7 pm)

During the first week of school, 6th graders received a letter to share with parents

about the Naviance College and Career Readiness Program. This letter included a

parent account activation code. Please contact Ms. Litten in the Counseling Department if you did not

receive it. - Ms. Litten, Resource Counselor

Naviance

October 2018

October 11: International Baccalaureate (IB) Program Parent

Information Meeting @ Richard Montgomery HS (7 pm)

October 15: CAP Parent Meeting @ Blair HS (7 pm)

October 18: DCC Open House @ Northwood HS (7 pm)

October 23: DCC Open House @ Wheaton HS (7 pm)

October 23: Biomedical & Engineering Application Only Program

Information Meeting @ Wheaton HS (6:30 pm)

October 25: DCC Open House @ Kennedy HS (7 pm)

Tons of New Books Hit the Shelves! The Media Center has many new books available to students, including this year’s

Black-Eyed Susan nominees. In addition to traditional print books, the Media Center

also offers PlayAway Audio Books, eBooks, and eAudio Books.

6th Grade Orientation

6th grade students visited

the Media Center for

orientation with their English

classes. Students learned

how to check out books and

eBooks, joined the Media

Center Google Classroom,

and located resources in the

Media Center.

Book Selection

7th & 8th grade English

classes and ESOL classes

visited the Media Center to

select books & eBooks for

independent reading.

Students learned to search

Destiny Discover to find

books.

Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week is an

annual event celebrating the

freedom to read. From

September 23—29, Banned

Books were displayed in the

library, along with

information on why books are

challenged, highlighting the

value of free and open

access to information.

Media Center Volunteers

New student volunteers

received training and will

begin earning SSL hours for

working in the Media Center

during lunch or before

school.

Join the

TPMS Media Center

Google Classroom

Class Code: xee166

All TPMS students should

join the TPMS Media

Center Google Classroom.

Here you will find

information on how to

access all of our online

resources (including

usernames and

passwords).

Current Media Center News

Borrowing eBooks Download the Sora, by

Overdrive app on your

mobile device to access

our collection of eBooks.

Many new titles are

available, including this

year’s Black-Eyed Susan

Award nominees. Be sure to

set your school to Takoma

Park Middle School!

EBooks can also be

accessed on the web using

the Chrome browser

through Destiny Discover:

https://

search.follettsoftware.com/

metasearch/ui/2604/

Login with your MCPS

student ID and

computer password.

See Ms. Phelan for questions

about eBooks.

Takoma Park Middle School Media Center News

October 2018