Saturday, April 17, 2021

8th Grade News: April 19-23, 2021

General News

Milestones This Week!
Georgia Milestone Testing will take place this week. Remember that 8th graders are tested in all four subjects. Please be advised of the following dates scheduled for testing:

Milestones EOG
4/19- ELA Day 1
4/20- ELA Day 2
4/21- Math
4/22- Science
4/23- Social Studies

Milestones EOC
4/27- High School Physical Science EOC
4/29- High School Algebra I EOC

Remember, only students whose families OPTED OUT of Milestones are excused from testing. All other students will be required to take their tests.

What If My Student Opted Out of the Milestones?
As Georgia Milestones testing will take place for several hours each morning, in-person students who have opted out of testing have a few options:
  • Come to school as usual. Students on the opt-out list will be sent to an alternative location during testing and will be expected to work on academic assignments for the duration of testing. When testing is over, students will return to their classrooms and then attend their in-person classes for the rest of the day.
  • Stay at home. Students may stay home and work asynchronously during testing, and then attend their classes via Zoom in the afternoon. (These students will still be marked absent because we need an accurate record of physical attendance in the building for safety reasons, contact tracing, etc.)
  • Stay at home during testing in the morning, and then check-in to school to attend their in-person classes in the afternoon. Students may stay home and work asynchronously during testing, and then come to school late so that they can still attend their normal in-person classes.
Virtual students who have opted out will remain virtual as usual -- they will be asynchronous during testing, and then will log into their Zoom classes in the afternoons.

Milestone Testing Bell Schedule
The bell schedule this week will be different due to testing, so read it carefully! CLICK HERE to see the class schedule for 8th graders for each day this week. Some notes:
  • Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will follow the same adjusted testing schedule.
  • Thursday will follow our normal schedule!
  • Friday will follow an adjusted testing schedule, but a slightly different one than Monday-Wednesday.

F2F Reminders
We have had a great first transition back for in-person learning! Virtual learning will continue to be an an option offered for all all students. Please note that F2F students can switch to Virtual at any time, however, such a switch would be for the remainder of the school year. Students who have chosen to remain Virtual cannot switch to F2F -- this is to preserve current class sizes and to allow us to run school operations as consistently and as safely as possible. See below for more details about our reopening:
  • Click here for Hilsman's School Website
  • Click here to view the slideshow from Hilsman's Mid-Year Open House with info on safety precautions, dress code, schedules, etc.
  • Click here to read details about the schedule for returning students to in-person learning

Important Upcoming Dates
Please be aware of the following upcoming dates and events. Note that this list will continue to be added to each week as more events are planned and scheduled, and also that some of these dates are subject to change:
  • 4/19-4/29: Milestone Testing
    • Monday 4/19: ELA Day 1
    • Tuesday 4/20: ELA Day 2
    • Wednesday 4/21: Math
    • Thursday 4/22: 8th Grade Science
    • Friday 4/23: Social Studies
    • Tuesday 4/27: High School Science EOC
    • Thursday 4/29: High School Algebra I EOC
  • 5/20: Last Day of School

21st Century Learning Program
The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center will resume face-to-face after school on Monday, April 19th. The morning mentor program will continue virtually from 7-8am. If parents are interested in their child/children participating, they should contact Mrs. Maxine Dalton at daltonm@clarke.k12.ga.us or Mrs. Brandi Holcomb at holcombb@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Inspire UGA "Day As A Dawg" Event
Please see the information below for signing your 8th Grader up for this amazing experience!

Technology Repair Request Form
If students are having technology issues, please fill out this form. Mrs. Neace and Mrs. Gonzalez are working around the clock to address each request and help make sure everyone's devices are working properly!

How Can I Stay Updated?
  1. Check your email. Hilsman will use Campus Messenger to email parents/guardians all school-wide announcements. Follow these directions to sign up: 
  2. Sign up for the Hilsman PTO page for more frequent updates. Search Facebook for "Hilsman Middle School PTO, Athens GA"
  3. Check Google Classroom for class announcements.
Subscribe to this blog!
You can subscribe to this blog so that you receive an email each time we make a new post! To do this, simply type your email address in the "Follow by Email" bar in the upper right side of this site.

Content News
Math News:
8th Grade
Monday: Milestone Review
Tuesday: Milestone Review
Wednesday: Post-Milestone Celebration!
Thursday: Converse of the Pythagorean Theorem
Friday: Pythagorean Theorem Practice Day

High School Math
Monday: No class
Tuesday: Representing Exponential Growth
Wednesday: No class
Thursday: Exponential Growth & Decay
Friday: Graphing Exponential Functions

**More specific information on assignments, upcoming dates, etc. will be specified via group email.

ELA News:
Monday: Reading assignment
Tuesday: Reading assignment
Wednesday: Reading assignment
Thursday: Quote Activity & Grammar Activity
Friday: Credit Recovery, Make-Up and Enrichment

Science News:
8th Grade
Monday: Newton's 2nd Law of Motion
Tuesday: Newton's 2nd Law of Motion
Wednesday: Newton's 2nd Law of Motion
Thursday: Newton's 2nd Law of Motion
Friday: Newton's 1st and 2nd Law of Motion Review

High School Science
Monday: Newton's 1st Law of Motion
Tuesday: Newton's 1st Law of Motion
Wednesday: Newton's 2nd Law of Motion
Thursday: Newton's 2nd Law of Motion
Friday: Newton's 1st and 2nd Law of Motion Review

**SCIENCE STUDENTS REMINDER: Bring identical 2-liter bottles for our Bottle Rocket Competition! Bottles should be empty and rinsed out. Feel free to bring in any extras for donations!

Social Studies News:
Monday: Georgia Milestone Review (Sketch to Stretch Activity)
Tuesday: Georgia Milestone Review
Wednesday: Georgia Milestone Review
Thursday: Georgia Milestone Review
Friday: Civil Rights Projects

Connections News
Orchestra:
Monday: Music Monday with May Song - Red Belt!
Tuesday: No Orchestra (testing)
Wednesday: Work It Wednesday with May Song and Dotted Quarter Notes
Thursday: Theory Thursday with Dotted Quarter Notes
Friday: No Orchestra (Testing)


8th Grade Faculty
Math:
Tonya Ward, wardt@clarke.k12.ga.us
Conor Naughton, naughtonc@clarke.k12.ga.us
Te'tiana Williams, williamst2@clarke.k12.ga.us
Jason Pratt, prattj@clarke.k12.ga.us

ELA:
Kasey Solis, solisk2@clarke.k12.ga.us
Carol Bennett, bennettc3@clarke.k12.ga.us
Jordan Kayea, smallj2@clarke.k12.ga.us
Rhonda McKittrick, mckittrickr@clarke.12.ga.us
April Chester, chestera2@clarke.12.ga.us

Science:
Diarra Mosley, mosleyd@clarke.k12.ga.us
Lara Zwald, zwaldl@clarke.k12.ga.us
Brandie Holcomb, holcombb@clarke.k12.ga.us
Karen Myers, myersk@clarke.k12.ga.us

Social Studies:
Betty Chaney-Robinson, chaneyrobinsonb@clarke.k12.ga.us
Stanley Stewart, stewarts2@clarke.k12.ga.us
Daniel Tawzer, tawzerd@clarke.k12.ga.us
Angela Bright, brighta@clarke.k12.ga.us

ESOL:
Melanie Marty, maxeym@clarke.k12.ga.us


                                                      Enjoy the weekend, and go Panthers!


Sunday, April 11, 2021

8th Grade News: April 12-16, 2021

General News

In-Person Learning 5 Days a Week
Beginning this week, students who are signed up for in-person learning will be in school for the full 5 days each week. This means that there will be no more Virtual Wednesdays. Students who have elected to remain Virtual will still remain Virtual. Please click here to read the full memo from the district.

Virtual Town Hall -- End of Year Updates -- Wednesday April 14
This Wednesday at 5:30pm, Principal Douglass and the Hilsman administration will hold a Virtual Town Hall to give updates regarding Georgia Milestones and end-of-the-year information. The Zoom link can be found here.

Milestones Next Week!
Georgia Milestone Testing will begin next week. Remember that 8th graders are tested in all four subjects. Please be advised of the following dates scheduled for testing:

Milestones EOG
4/19- ELA Day 1
4/20- ELA Day 2
4/21- Math
4/22- Science
4/23- Social Studies

Milestones EOC
4/27- High School Physical Science EOC
4/29- High School Algebra I EOC

Remember, only students whose families OPTED OUT of Milestones are excused from testing. All other students will be required to take their tests. The Testing Bell Schedule will be shared in next week's blog. If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher.

F2F Reminders
We have had a great first transition back for in-person learning! Virtual learning will continue to be an an option offered for all all students. Please note that F2F students can switch to Virtual at any time, however, such a switch would be for the remainder of the school year. Students who have chosen to remain Virtual cannot switch to F2F -- this is to preserve current class sizes and to allow us to run school operations as consistently and as safely as possible. See below for more details about our reopening:
  • Click here for Hilsman's School Website
  • Click here to view the slideshow from Hilsman's Mid-Year Open House with info on safety precautions, dress code, schedules, etc.
  • Click here to read details about the schedule for returning students to in-person learning

Important Upcoming Dates
Please be aware of the following upcoming dates and events. Note that this list will continue to be added to each week as more events are planned and scheduled, and also that some of these dates are subject to change:
  • 4/14: End of Year Updates Virtual Town Hall meeting
  • 4/19-4/29: Milestone Testing
    • Monday 4/19: ELA Day 1
    • Tuesday 4/20: ELA Day 2
    • Wednesday 4/21: Math
    • Thursday 4/22: 8th Grade Science
    • Friday 4/23: Social Studies
    • Tuesday 4/27: High School Science EOC
    • Thursday 4/29: High School Algebra I EOC
  • 5/20: Last Day of School

Spring Sports
8th Graders interested in Soccer or Track & Field, check out the flier below for more information!

Inspire UGA "Day As A Dawg" Event
Please see the information below for signing your 8th Grader up for this amazing experience!

Technology Repair Request Form
If students are having technology issues, please fill out this form. Mrs. Neace and Mrs. Gonzalez are working around the clock to address each request and help make sure everyone's devices are working properly!

How to Check Out Hilsman eBooks
Panther families, we have a great selection of eBooks with many more on the way. Click here for super easy instructions on how to access them quickly from any device!

How Can I Stay Updated?
  1. Check your email. Hilsman will use Campus Messenger to email parents/guardians all school-wide announcements. Follow these directions to sign up: 
  2. Sign up for the Hilsman PTO page for more frequent updates. Search Facebook for "Hilsman Middle School PTO, Athens GA"
  3. Check Google Classroom for class announcements.
Subscribe to this blog!
You can subscribe to this blog so that you receive an email each time we make a new post! To do this, simply type your email address in the "Follow by Email" bar in the upper right side of this site.

Content News
Math News:
8th Grade
Monday: Milestones Review
Tuesday: Pythagorean Theorem
Wednesday: Pythagorean Theorem
Thursday: Pythagorean Theorem
Friday: Milestones Review

High School Math
Monday: Comparing arithmetic and geometric sequences
Tuesday: Writing recursive & explicit formulas from tables
Wednesday: Finding missing terms in sequences
Thursday: Sequences review
Friday: Sequences Group Quiz

**More specific information on assignments, upcoming dates, etc. will be specified via group email.

ELA News:
Monday: GMAs Extended Response Rubric Review & Reflection
Tuesday: GMAs Extended Response Practice
Wednesday: GMAs Practice Test Review
Thursday: GMAs Practice Test Review
Friday: GMAs Practice Test Review

Science News:
8th Grade
Monday: Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
Tuesday: Newton's 1st Law: Inertia/Gravity
Wednesday: Newton's 1st Law: Inertia/Gravity
Thursday: Newton's 1st Law Assessment
Friday: Introduction Interactive to: Speed, acceleration, and graphs

High School Science
Monday: Light Behavior
Tuesday: Interference and Doppler Effect
Wednesday: Sound and Light in Media
Thursday: Wave Behavior, Sound and Light in Media Assessment
Friday: Balanced and Unbalanced Forces/Newton's 1st Law

Social Studies News:
Monday: Civil Rights Project Due!
Tuesday: Transportation Systems
Wednesday: GA Businesses
Thursday: Money Management
Friday: Money Management


8th Grade Faculty
Math:
Tonya Ward, wardt@clarke.k12.ga.us
Conor Naughton, naughtonc@clarke.k12.ga.us
Te'tiana Williams, williamst2@clarke.k12.ga.us
Jason Pratt, prattj@clarke.k12.ga.us

ELA:
Kasey Solis, solisk2@clarke.k12.ga.us
Carol Bennett, bennettc3@clarke.k12.ga.us
Jordan Kayea, smallj2@clarke.k12.ga.us
Rhonda McKittrick, mckittrickr@clarke.12.ga.us
April Chester, chestera2@clarke.12.ga.us

Science:
Diarra Mosley, mosleyd@clarke.k12.ga.us
Lara Zwald, zwaldl@clarke.k12.ga.us
Brandie Holcomb, holcombb@clarke.k12.ga.us
Karen Myers, myersk@clarke.k12.ga.us

Social Studies:
Betty Chaney-Robinson, chaneyrobinsonb@clarke.k12.ga.us
Stanley Stewart, stewarts2@clarke.k12.ga.us
Daniel Tawzer, tawzerd@clarke.k12.ga.us
Angela Bright, brighta@clarke.k12.ga.us

ESOL:
Melanie Marty, maxeym@clarke.k12.ga.us


                                                      Enjoy the weekend, and go Panthers!

Saturday, March 27, 2021

8th Grade News: March 29-April 2, 2021

 

General News

Schedule for This Week
As we prepare to head into Spring Break and as teachers are due to receive their second shot of the Covid-19 vaccine, please note the schedule for this week:

Monday: Regular day
Tuesday: Regular day
Wednesday: Virtual learning for all students, periods 6-7 asynchronous
Thursday: Asynchronous for all students
Friday: No school for students (teacher workday)

F2F Reminders
We had a great first week back for in-person learning this past week! Virtual learning will continue to be an an option offered for all all students. Please see below for more details about our reopening:
  • Click here for Hilsman's School Website
  • Click here to view the slideshow from Hilsman's Mid-Year Open House with info on safety precautions, dress code, schedules, etc.
  • Click here to read details about the schedule for returning students to in-person learning

CCSD Announces Return to In-Person Learning 5 Days a Week
Earlier this week, CCSD announced that beginning the week of April 12th, students who are signed up for in-person learning will be in school for the full 5 days each week. This means that after Spring Break, there will be no more Virtual Wednesdays. Students who have elected to remain Virtual will still remain Virtual. Please click here to read the full memo from the district.

Important Upcoming Dates
Please be aware of the following upcoming dates and events. Note that this list will continue to be added to each week as more events are planned and scheduled, and also that some of these dates are subject to change:
  • 3/26-5/7: Q3 Credit Recovery
  • 4/1: Asynchronous Day for all HMS students
  • 4/2-4/9: Spring Break (No School)
  • 4/19-4/29: Milestone Testing
    • Monday 4/19: ELA Section 1
    • Tuesday 4/20: ELA Section 2
    • Wednesday 4/21: Math
    • Thursday 4/22: 8th Grade Science
    • Friday 4/23: Social Studies
    • Tuesday 4/27: High School Science EOC
    • Thursday 4/29: High School Algebra I EOC
  • 5/20: Last Day of School

Milestones Testing
Per the state board of education, we will be taking the 2021 Georgia Milestones this spring. This means that all students must take the Milestones tests UNLESS their parent/guardian OPTS THEM OUT OF TESTING. Families may choose to opt their child out of testing with no penalty.

So that we can create a safety plan for students who will be taking the tests in-person at Hilsman, we need to know the exact number of students who will be participating. We are asking all families to fill out the following Google Form in order to help us create our testing plan:

2021 Milestones Preference Decision


Families are also welcome to contact their child's teacher(s) or administrators with their decision to opt out of Milestone testing.

Spring Sports
8th Graders interested in Soccer or Track & Field, check out the flier below for more information!

Inspire UGA "Day As A Dawg" Event
Please see the information below for signing your 8th Grader up for this amazing experience!

Technology Repair Request Form
If students are having technology issues, please fill out this form. Mrs. Neace and Mrs. Gonzalez are working around the clock to address each request and help make sure everyone's devices are working properly!

How to Check Out Hilsman eBooks
Panther families, we have a great selection of eBooks with many more on the way. Click here for super easy instructions on how to access them quickly from any device!

CCSD Weekly Update - 3/26/21
Click here to read the district's Weekly Update newsletter.

How Can I Stay Updated?
  1. Check your email. Hilsman will use Campus Messenger to email parents/guardians all school-wide announcements. Follow these directions to sign up: 
  2. Sign up for the Hilsman PTO page for more frequent updates. Search Facebook for "Hilsman Middle School PTO, Athens GA"
  3. Check Google Classroom for class announcements.
Subscribe to this blog!
You can subscribe to this blog so that you receive an email each time we make a new post! To do this, simply type your email address in the "Follow by Email" bar in the upper right side of this site.

Content News
Math News:
8th Grade
Monday: Rational vs. Irrational Numbers
Tuesday: Rational vs. Irrational Numbers
Wednesday: Pythagorean Theorem
Thursday: Asynchronous Work Day (Pictionary Assignment)
Friday: NO SCHOOL!

**Students will have Pictionary Assignment to work on for their asynchronous day on Thursday 4/1. This assignment will count as a major grade!

High School Math
Monday: Writing recursive and explicit formulas for sequences
Tuesday: Arithmetic sequences
Wednesday: Geometric sequences
Thursday: Asynchronous Work Day (Sequences practice)
Friday: NO SCHOOL!

**More specific information on assignments, upcoming dates, etc. will be specified via group email.

ELA News:
Monday: GA Milestones Review (Argumentative and Informative Essay Creation)
Tuesday: GA Milestones Review (Essay Creation cont'd)
Wednesday: GA Milestones Review (See your ELA Google Classroom for assignment)
Thursday: GA Milestones Review (See your ELA Google Classroom for assignment)
Friday: NO SCHOOL!

Science News:
8th Grade
Monday: Waves- Density of Media
Tuesday: Waves- Density of Media
Wednesday: Waves- Density of Media Assessment
Thursday: Unit 5 Assessment
Friday: NO SCHOOL!

High School Science
Monday: Circuits/Electromagnets/Faraday's Law and Summative
Tuesday: Wave Types/Parts
Wednesday: Wave Types/Parts
Thursday: Wave Types/Parts Assessment
Friday: NO SCHOOL!

Social Studies News:
Monday: Juveniles & the Courts (SS8CG5)
Tuesday: Local Government (SS8CG6)
Wednesday: Local Government (SS8CG6)
Thursday: Summative Assessment - Open-Book
Friday: NO SCHOOL!

**Civil Rights Project due April 12th

Connections News
Orchestra:
Monday: Final Fine Musician Group Rehearsal and Orchestra Karate Rubric Review
Tuesday: Fine Musician Playing Test
Wednesday: Music Wednesday (The New Music Monday)
Thursday: Asynchronous Work Day (Make Up Assignments and Playing Tests)
Friday: NO SCHOOL!

Art:
Developing and drawing our own characters!

8th Grade Faculty
Math:
Tonya Ward, wardt@clarke.k12.ga.us
Conor Naughton, naughtonc@clarke.k12.ga.us
Te'tiana Williams, williamst2@clarke.k12.ga.us
Jason Pratt, prattj@clarke.k12.ga.us

ELA:
Kasey Solis, solisk2@clarke.k12.ga.us
Carol Bennett, bennettc3@clarke.k12.ga.us
Jordan Kayea, smallj2@clarke.k12.ga.us
Rhonda McKittrick, mckittrickr@clarke.12.ga.us
April Chester, chestera2@clarke.12.ga.us

Science:
Diarra Mosley, mosleyd@clarke.k12.ga.us
Lara Zwald, zwaldl@clarke.k12.ga.us
Brandie Holcomb, holcombb@clarke.k12.ga.us
Karen Myers, myersk@clarke.k12.ga.us

Social Studies:
Betty Chaney-Robinson, chaneyrobinsonb@clarke.k12.ga.us
Stanley Stewart, stewarts2@clarke.k12.ga.us
Daniel Tawzer, tawzerd@clarke.k12.ga.us
Angela Bright, brighta@clarke.k12.ga.us

ESOL:
Melanie Marty, maxeym@clarke.k12.ga.us


                                                      Enjoy the weekend, and go Panthers!