Announcements:
 
Gradelink is the best place to check your student’s progress and performance in middle school.  Please login to Gradelink.  You can view each class to see what work is missing (noted with MIS) and the scores students received on graded assignments.  Blanks indicate that the teacher has not yet graded an assignment.  You can also see upcoming assignments.
 
Calendar Reminders:
  • Tuesday, October 15 – 8th Grade Girls Empowerment Field Trip (9:30 – 1:30)
  • Tuesday, October 15 – Make Up Pictures
  • Tuesday, October 15 – Pasta Fundraiser Due
  • Wednesday, October 16 – DC Field Trip Info night at ACA
  • Friday, October 25 – Family Network Board Hot Dog Lunch Fundraiser
  • Thursday, October 31 – Minimum Day dismissal at NOON
  • Friday, November 1 – Late Start Day, School starts at 9:15am – 2:00pm
 
EASTERN HERITAGE TRIP (D.C. TRIP) INFORMATION NIGHT
 
The information night for our Eastern Heritage Trip will be held on Wednesday, October 16th, at 6:00 pm at ACA.

You will be able to hear all about the trip that is scheduled for May of 2020.  All ACA and ACA II parents are invited to hear about the trip.
This year’s trip is open to all Intermediate and Middle School students and their families.  Elementary students will be able to attend the trip in 2023, and Primary students will be able to attend the trip in 2026.
There will be flyers with all the dates, prices, and trip itinerary available.  Also, there will be registration forms available for any student that plans on going on the trip this May.
This truly is an amazing trip and experience, and we hope to see you at ACA  to hear all about it.
 
DAR American History Essay Contest for 5th-8th Graders
 
The 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are invited to participate in the annual Daughters of the American Revolution American History Essay Contest.
 
First place in each grade receives a medal and $50.
Second and Third place in each grade receive $25.
 
The deadline for having the essay emailed to me is November 14th.
 
Below is a link to a google drive folder where I have placed all the information for the essay contest.
 
I will also be holding after school support days at ACA where I will be available to guide students with their research and writing.
 
After school support days:

Thurs, Oct 3 from 3:00-4:00
Thurs, Oct 17 from 3:00-4:00
Thurs, Oct 24 from 3:00-4:00
Thurs, Nov 7 from 3:00-4:00
Tues,  Nov 12 from 3:00-4:00
 
All questions and finished essays can be emailed to me at
 
Thanks so much,
Ms. McLean
 
HET THEME:  Our theme for first trimester is Community.  Students have picked projects to help an issue that they care about.    One group is going to have a canned food drive, one group is going to make a video to educate people about discrimination, and one group is going to make a video to raise awareness of protecting the environment as they sell products to raise money for Nature Conservatory.
 
Homework:

During the week we focus on certain assignments on certain days.  So I’m adding the focus day to the assignment list below.  This way you will know when we are concentrating on a given assignment during the  week.  I suggest completing that assignment on the day we focus on it.  The focus days will be listed (like this) next to each assignment.  If you have any questions please let me know. – Mr. Hagan 

Reading:

 
Book Talk/Review schedule:
  •  second Thursday, third 11/14.
Writing:
 
Article of the Week (A.O.W.):  (Tuesday)
 
AOW #8 Disappearing Birds
 
Each week students will receive an article of the week (AOW) to read. Students are required to:

1. Read the article
2. Discuss the article with one of their parents or guardians (whoever discusses the article should also read it)
3. Respond in writing to the questions in the google classroom assignment.

The article for this week can be found here and in the Language Arts google class.  It is also attached as a handout.
 
Due Thursday
 
Mobymax Language:  (10 minutes a day)
 
Students will login to MobyMax here. They will click on the “Language” button and practice for 30 minutes. 
 
Social Studies:  (Thursday)
 
Answer the following questions in a Google doc.  Make sure to fully explain your thinking.

1. Discuss one way that African kingdoms would have developed differently if the Sahara desert did not exist. Explain your answer in detail.

2. Respond to this quote from a West African griot, “I teach kings the history of their ancestors so that the lives of the ancients might serve them as an example.” What is the griot saying about the value of history? Explain.

3. Go to the website below (on google classroom) and research why the city of Timbuktu is considered an endangered site. Cite one piece of information from your research that describes a clear problem that Timbuktu is facing. Why do you think it is important to protect historical sites like Timbuktu? Explain.  

 
Math:
 
Please see the attached calendars for this week’s classwork, homework, and assessments.  Your student will also be given a paper version of the calendar.  Or, login to gradelink to see all math assignments.  
 
Science:
 
Research types of galaxies.  Sketch and label at least 3 in your science journal.
 
Music:
 
Practice everyday!
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***Helpful email addresses
If you need to reach Middle School or any of the teachers, please use the following email addresses:
aca2middle@antiochcharteracademy.org – absence notes, responses to the newsletter, general questions, contacting Mrs. Ave
emccutcheon@antiochcharteracademy.org – Mrs. McCutcheon, science or math questions
mhagan@antiochcharteracademy.org – Mr. Hagan, language arts or social studies questions
 
Online Resources:

School Website: www.AntiochCharterAcademy.org

https://cpm.org – resource pages, tool kits, extra practice and tech resources – Student homework help is available ALSO – Parent resource page has tutorials so you can better help your student!!

learnersdictionary.com – great website for vocabulary

www.khanacademy.org – Search ANY math topic to watch a short video tutorial, practice activities to get better at skills.