6th Grade News February 11 - 15, 2019

General News
College and Career Shirt day
Students and teachers are encouraged to wear a college or career t-shirt and uniform bottoms. Please make sure the college or career is visible on the shirt as solid colors are not permitted. If you do not wish to participate, please be in regular uniform.

Progress Reports for Quarter 3
Progress reports for Quarter 3 went home this past week. These provide the 4.5 week notice of how your child is progressing in their classes for this quarter. If you have questions or concerns about your child's grades, please reach out to your child's teacher(s) - a full 6th grade faculty contact list is provided at the bottom of this blog. Please check Parent Portal frequently so that we can address any academic concerns early! If you would like your child to receive extra help, PSP meets after school on Mondays and Tuesdays, and transportation is provided! Additionally, Saturday School is now in session! Please contact Ms. Ward (wardt@clarke.k12.ga.us) if you're interested or want more information.  

Saturday School
Saturday School is in full swing! This is an excellent opportunity for ALL students to prepare for the Georgia Milestones by working with their teachers in a relaxed, small-group setting. Additionally, it is also ideal for students currently enrolled in high school classes to review for their upcoming EOCTs. Saturday School operates on a rotating schedule so that students get to see multiple teachers and review multiple subjects each time. Transportation is also provided. IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO GET YOUR CHILD SIGNED UP! If you would like your child to attend or would like more information, have them get an application from from their teacher, or contact either the front office or Ms. Ward (wardt@clarke.k12.ga.us).

Black History Month Program
The Hilsman Black History month presentation will take place on Thursday, February 21 from 6-7pm. Any students interested in performing, participating, or assisting with the presentation should contact Mr. Blake or Ms. Page in 8th grade.

Supplies

If your student is in need of a binder or school supplies, they must complete a supply form and get a parent signature. These forms need to be turned into Mrs. Fassbender. Students can get forms from Ms. Rohrbach, Mr. Holland, or Mr. Watkins. 

The Cottage Presentation

The Cottage, Sexual Assault Center & Children's Advocacy Center, will be at Hilsman on February 14th to facilitate a Media Safety presentation to all of our 6th grade students. The presentation will cover hot topics for middle school students, including social media, inappropriate texting, and cyberbullying. This will be done in small groups so that students have opportunities to interact and ask questions. If you prefer your child not participate in this event, please contact Ms. Moore, School Counselor, by February 13th via email at moorea@clarke.k12.ga.us. 

Parent Conferences

Parent, student, teacher conferences will be held on Wednesday, March 20th - Friday, March 22nd. Please be on the lookout for information from your child's 6th period teacher!

Panther Nation News Blog
Be sure to check Ms. Tolbert's Panther Nation News Blog, as it contains news, announcements, and information for the entire school!

Content News
Math

In preparation for the upcoming Georgia Milestones Assessment; sixth grade students will be given a weekly big 20 in Mathematics which will be due each Friday. This will count as a homework assignment. The expectation is for every student to be proficient (80% or higher).

The 6th grade math department also use Friday's as a Milestones prep day. Sample questions are provided and students are provided with ample think time before responding. Students are encouraged to practice their speed and math facts at home. 

Please assist your child and encourage him or her to complete and submit the assignment on time.

If there are any questions feel free to contact your child's Math teacher. Students will start a new unit on Monday: Statistics and Data. We will be working on 'what are statistical questions,' frequency tables, line plots, range, median, mean, and mode.

• Binder checks on Friday
• Tutoring with Mr. Smith will be held on Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 7:30-8:00am.

ELA

The Language Arts classes are continuing to read articles and write informational essays.  We are reading a series of ten short biographies of African-American inventors.  Lessons are all planned as a review for the Milestone test. 

• Binder checks on Wednesday 

Science

Students will wrap-up and review Unit 4 this week. Students will take their test over Unit 4 will be on Friday. Unit 4 covers water distribution; the water cycle; subsurface topography; waves, tides, and currents; and water conservation. A study guide will be given for students to study with this week. 

• Binder checks on Thursday
• Unit 4 Test on Friday, February 15th. 
• Tutoring with Ms. Rohrbach will be on WEDNESDAY of this week from 4:00-5:00pm due to a meeting on Tuesday.
• Students in science have been given a project over an African American Scientist in honor of Black History Month. All students in 6th grade have been given this project. The project is due on Thursday, February 28th, 2019. The link for the project and rubric is here.

Social Studies

Students will begin the Latin American History unit! We will begin with the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The students will write a memoir from the perspective of a slave about the journey across the Atlantic and their life in the Americas. We will then transition to the influence of the Spanish and Portuguese on Latin American language, religion, and culture. To end the week, the students will learn about the Cuban Revolution and explore the relations between the United States and Cuba today.

• Binder checks on Tuesday
• Tutoring/Make-up Day with Ms. Archer on Tuesdays from 3:50 - 5:00pm. 

Spanish

Students will continue with Unit 2--Spanish Speaking Countries this week. 

• Tutoring with Ms. Willingham on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00pm - 5:30pm. 

Advanced Spanish

Students will take their Unit 6 test over Articles on Monday, and begin Unit 7, The Classroom on Tuesday.

• Unit 6 Test on Monday, February 11.
• Tutoring with Ms. Willingham on Mondays and Tuesdays from 4:00pm - 5:30 pm.

Ag Science

Monday- Creed 3 Crossword Worksheet

Tuesday- Creed 3 Quiz-  Afterschool: SAE Workday 4-5

Wednesday- Creed 4 Worksheet and SAE Check #2 (see Google Classroom for more information)

Thursday- Wildlife Test Review

Friday- Wildlife Test

Looking ahead- Ag class test/quiz makeup day on Feburary 21 7:45-8:15 and 4:00-4:30.

FFA:

Tuesday- Agriscience/Nursery Landscape 7:15-8:00 

Thursday- Agriscience/Nursery Landscape 7:15-8:00

6th Grade Faculty:

Math:

Kyle Smith, smithk5@clarke.k12.ga.us

Natasha Thompson, thompsonn@clarke.k12.ga.us

Olabisi Oyeyemi, oyeyemio@clarke.k12.ga.us

ELA:

Brandon Brock, brockb@clarke.k12.ga.us

Dorothy Jones, jonesd@clarke.k12.ga.us

Vern Rucker, ruckerv@clarke.k12.ga.us

Edwina Holden, holdene@clarke.k12.ga.us

Science: 

Zinetta Fox, foxz@clarke.k12.ga.us

Rachel Rohrbach, rohrbachr@clarke.k12.ga.us

Randall Watkins, watkinsra@clarke.k12.ga.us

Social Studies:

Morgan Archer, archerm@clarke.k12.ga.us

Corey Holland, hollandc@clarke.k12.ga.us

Steven Engelsen, engelsens@clarke.k12.ga.us 

Spanish: 

Laura Viera, vieral@clarke.k12.ga.us

Summer Willingham, willinghams@clarke.k12.ga.us

Enjoy the weekend and go panthers!