Piqua City Schools



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PIQUA JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER TO PARENTS

Mr. Jeff Clark, Principal

Mr. Chad Albers, Asst. Principal

SENECA & MIAMI TEAMS:

Mrs. Butt’s students are completing a review of common and proper nouns, possessives, and plurals. In September, we will review verbs, use strong verbs in writing, and identify RIP (putting overused verbs…to rest). During this first quarter, our focus will be on varying sentences in order to improve writing fluency (using simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences). This will include using proper punctuation and capitalization.

We have been looking at different reading strategies that help improve comprehension. Students have been identifying the main idea and supporting details in order to summarize informational text. This skill will provide the foundation for critical thinking. We will soon begin our study of mythology and complete a project that connects with Mr. Johnson’s social studies focus on Ancient Greece.

Students should be reading their AR book 15-20 minutes every night. AR is worth 200 points each quarter. Please check Progress Book for current grades, missing assignments, and upcoming projects/homework.

Mrs. Honeycutt’s Reading and Language Arts classes are off to a wonderful start. We are reading the novel The Acorn People as a class; ask your child to tell you about it. Students are working on characterization, plot, point-of-view, and theme. Last week the students took the first Reading NWEA of the year. They will take another one halfway through the school year and then again at the end of the year.

In Language Arts, students completed a “5 Facts” project. One of the facts had to be a lie. After the student read the 5 facts aloud, the class had to guess which “fact” was the lie. It was a fun activity to learn about each other. Students have also started DOL (Daily Oral Language). DOL reviews and reinforces grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation skills.

The Miami Social Studies classes are currently exploring ancient Greece. We have learned about the gods and goddesses, the differences between Athens and Sparta, and we even had our own class Olympics. The students will soon be working on an online assignment using Glogster. If the students need another copy of their assignments or need to catch up on their notes, they can go to mrjohnsonhistory..

Team Miami and Team Seneca Math 7 and Pre-Algebra students have begun the school year working on the Numbers, Number Sense, and Operation standards. We are linking this information to the new Common Core State Standards. We have covered all four operations with integers as well as absolute value and the coordinate plane. Next, we will be addressing the following concepts: exponents, order of operations, squares and square roots, scientific notation, and rational/irrational numbers. The Algebra 7 students are focusing on the same standard, covering the 8th and 9th grade indicators at a faster pace and from an algebraic perspective. Next, they will be covering the data analysis indicators, which include measures of central tendency and measures of spread.

During the first half of the nine week period, Miami and Seneca Science students worked to develop an understanding of what science is and what science is not. Students have discussed and studied vocabulary to describe how the work of science requires a variety of human abilities (skills) and qualities (attitudes) that are helpful in daily life. Students are discovering that skepticism as well as open mindedness can be good in lab situations but a bias cannot.

• Your student should be able to give examples of how thinking scientifically is helpful in daily life.

• Your child should be able to express how science studies are limited to the natural world.

• Your child should be able to collect data both quantitatively as well as qualitatively and will make inferences, observations, and predictions.

• Your child should be familiar with appropriate tools for lab work (by name and function).

• Your child should understand and use relevant safety procedures and proper units of measure in order to complete scientific investigations.

Classes are now beginning lab work. Labs are fun but their purpose is to foster in depth critical thinking. Students will need to analyze and interpret their data and be able to share their ideas with others.

Mrs. Huebner's Seneca Language Arts students have been busy writing monster stories and competing for a "best in class" story. Congratulations to Zach Childre, Mara Manson, and Ryan Katz whose stories provided just the right characters, setting, problem and resolution to capture the prize! Students have been using their journals to respond to writing prompts, learn new vocabulary, and practice parts of speech. So far, we have focused on the study of nouns...many kinds of nouns.

Students are learning about many kinds of disabilities as we read The Acorn People. We have discussed multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, polio, and others. We have seen the struggles children with disabilities have with things we take for granted and consider as simple everyday tasks. Camp life is a whole lot different for a child in a wheelchair or a child with no arms.

Students should be checking Progress book for assignments, grades, and missing assignments. Also, each student should be reading 20 minutes every night. AR goals need to be reached by the end of the quarter and reading at school may not be enough to make that happen.

Language is power. Those who can use language effectively have an advantage over those who can’t or don’t. Your child will find him/herself looking for employment in five short years. Those students who do not have a facility for speaking and writing well will be left behind in this frightening job market.

How can you help?

• Send ‘em to bed! Research suggests 9-10 hours of sleep each night for this age group.

• Supervise schoolwork. Expect its completion. Log on to Progress Book to check on your child’s progress. Email teachers as soon as you see problems.

• Have consequences for failing grades...especially failure to do assignments. I often hear students brag that they play video games all weekend, but fail to do simple class work.

Mrs. Fulks’ Reading classes have been reading The Acorn People and studying the parts of a story. In Language Arts we are reviewing basic nouns and learning to identify and use them to enhance our writing.

MOHICAN & SHAWNEE TEAMS:

Mr. Askins’ Science classes have been working extremely hard on experiments dealing with many “common beliefs” in our society. Students have been creating, performing, analyzing and presenting their experiments in class to help determine if these beliefs are true or false. These experiments have helped students understand how the scientific method is used in our everyday lives.

Shawnee Reading and Language Arts classes are getting back into the swing of school! Your student has completed several activities in his or her text and is ready to start or has started the first quarter novel, The Mighty. Remember to check Progress Book to keep up with your child’s grades. Feel free to email Mrs. Hewitt or Mrs. Klosterman with any questions. Your student has received his/her reading goal and the AR requirement is due October 23.

Miss Deiters’ Algebra class just finished up Chapter 1 on Variables, Function Patterns and Graphs. The students then took their first test. When tests were passed back, attached was a copy of my retake policy, so if your child chooses to retake a test, he/she must meet the requirements given. We have now moved through Chapter 2, which is over Rational Numbers. To finish Chapter 2 we will do a project on Probability. If you or your child have any questions or concerns, please feel free to e-mail me and we can set up a time to meet, if needed.

In Pre-Algebra we just finished up Chapter 1 over Integers and Algebraic Expressions. Students will have the option to retake their test and I will pass out the requirements when I pass their test back. Next, we are moving on to Chapter 2 which is about Rational Numbers. If you or your child have any questions or concerns, please feel free to e-mail me and we can set up a time to meet, if needed.

Mrs. Grove's 8th grade Pre-Algebra classes started off the year learning scientific notation. The students not only converted numbers back and forth from standard notation to scientific notation, but they also learned to add, subtract, multiply, divide and compare numbers that were written in scientific notation. Now, they have started to classify numbers in the real number system. The students have had many homework grades and a quiz already this year. Please make sure that you are keeping track of your student's progess through the online progam, ProgressBook. Every student has a username and password to access his/her grades online. They have also undergone the first round of NWEA testing. Please ask your student how he/she did on this test. They will take this online test again in the middle of the year and at the end of the year and their scores will be tracked to determine mastery of the 8th grade concepts and to help predict how each will do on the OAA in the spring.

Mrs. Grove's 8th grade Geometry classes have started off the year where they left off last year in 7th grade Algebra. We have several important Algebra concepts that the students must learn before beginning the Geometry course. We just finished Chapter 7 in the Algebra book which covers systems of linear equations and inequalities. Their chapter tests are worth 200 points and have a large impact on their grades in this class. Please make sure your student is taking the appropriate steps necessary to study for these tests. I am always available after school for additional help. Every student also has the option of retaking up to 4 chapter tests throughout the year if needed. Please make sure that you are keeping track of your student's progess through the online progam, ProgressBook. Every student has a username and password to access his/her grades online. They have also undergone the first round of NWEA testing. Please ask your student how he/she did on this test. They will take this online test again in the middle of the year and at the end of the year and their scores will be tracked to determine mastery of the 8th grade concepts and to help predict how each will do on the OAA in the spring.

Shawnee Social Studies classes have been learning about the colonization of America. We’ve used primary and secondary sources and looked at early democratic establishments in the colonies. Students will begin a group project researching the differences why people settled in the colonies. They will make a travel pamphlet and present it to the class.

During the month of September, Mrs. Gray’s eighth grade Science students will review correct laboratory safety practice and the scientific method. Students will be able to explain that there are differing sets of procedures for guiding scientific investigations, and procedures are determined by the nature of the investigation, safety considerations, and appropriate tools. Students will analyze and interrupt data from scientific investigations using appropriate mathematical skills in order to draw valid conclusions.

In Mrs. Clark's Reading and Language Arts class we have been taking a closer look at short stories and the literary elements that make a story interesting. We have focused on characterization and the elements of plot. After reading and analyzing five short stories, students will then take what they have learned and write their own short story that has a protagonist, an antagonist, a well developed conflict, and an interesting plot. In Mrs. Clark's advanced reading and language arts class, students have begun the year with the question "What defines a hero?" We have read many pieces of text and analyzed movie clips with this focus on the challenge of heroism. We will continue studying the hero's archetypal journey, and they will end the unit with an embedded assessment where they will write a definition essay answering that question "What defines a hero?"

Ms. Hastings’ Springboard students are studying "The Challenge of Heroism" with the essential question “What defines a hero?” Look for regular weekly homework in vocabulary, grammar, and writing. Please check the Progress book often with your child so that you are informed as to his/her progress and any problems that might be arising. Please encourage your student to be prompt and complete on any homework assignments.

Ms. Hastings’ regular reading students are working on plot development and how to make inferences. They are also studying what a sentence fragment is and how to correct it. Look for daily vocabulary homework with a quiz on each Friday. We are reading the novel Freak the Mighty together for AR. Once we complete this novel, students will be reading independently on individual novels.

The Mohican students have gotten off to a great start in social studies. They have taken a look at the Columbian Exchange and even came up with items that they would exchange with someone from Mars if there was ever to be life found out there. Many students were hoping to receive in the exchange a cure for cancer. Wouldn't that be nice? We are continuing to look at the colonization of North America by the European nations of England, France, and Spain. We hope your student is learning and enjoying their school year thus far.

Mrs. Duer’s Language Arts classes are discovering how to write friendly and business letters. They just finished writing to their favorite, famous person and students are hoping to get return letters from many celebrities. They will be writing to a family member next and to a business person in our community asking them to come speak to our class. Along with writing letters, students are working on using topic sentences and details to communicate what they want to say.

Mrs. Duer’s reading classes have started their AR reading. Students are required to read 3 books this quarter. They should have their first books done by next week. There are 3 assignments to aid in comprehension skills that are to be done for each book. In class we have been reading and writing about the Olympics using magazine articles, internet, and newspaper clippings. Students are using summarization skills along with skimming and scanning to discover facts about the Olympics held this summer. They will be reading non-fiction magazine articles about various topics this month and sharing what they read with the class. Students practice comprehension and word attack skills through the work in their word study and weekly spelling words.

In Mrs. Keller's 7th grade Science class, students are working on Scientific Inquiry. New this year, Mrs. Keller and Mrs. Gray will be team teaching 8th grade science. In Math, students are learning about Integers, number lines, positives and negatives. We are working on place value, leading to rounding as well as taking NWEA and YPP. In Social Studies we are learning about Greece.

MRS. SHANNON’S CLASSROOM:

Our room is off to a great start! In August we learned all about the Olympics from the opening ceremonies, events, closing ceremonies, and the Paralymics. We watched the opening ceremonies of both Olympic games in London as well as many events. At the end of the month we held our own Special Olympics with the High School MD class, with 4 events: bowling, ladder ball, running, and corn hole. All the students participating received a certificate and performed very well! In September our focus has shifted to the US Government. The unit focuses on Abe Lincoln's life, our rights and freedoms, and famous speeches. We will be writing speeches and book reports, making Hoosier Cream Pie, and performing a science experiment with pennies and acid. It should be a great month!

ENCORE TEAM:

The seventh grade Art students are learning about the "Elements and Principles of Design". After readings, videos, and worksheets, the students will create artworks that display an understanding of the content. This knowledge and understanding of design will enlighten and help the students develop an awareness of the importance of its use in all societies, both past and present.

The eighth grade Art students are currently learning about the use of grids in artwork. Also, the students are learning about the artists Diego Rivera and Chuck Close. Following the artistic techniques of Chuck Close, the students will create portraits that incorporate the use of grids in their drawing procedures.

CBIP:

The Career Based Intervention Program’s Language Arts classes are currently reading Freak the Mighty, by Rodman Philbrick. It is the first novel we are reading this school year. It is a story about friendship and overcoming weaknesses. It is well liked by most of the eighth graders who read it. As we are reading this novel we are learning and expanding on different literary concepts such as plot, setting, point of view, theme, mood, and author’s style. We are also practicing answering questions that are modeled after the short answer questions on the Ohio Achievement Assessment. These are questions that are either 2 point or 4 point multiple part questions. The students are getting very good at answering these types of questions. We continue to write in our journals on a weekly basis. In our journals we also have a gratitude statement that we add to each journal entry, thus helping us to remember that all of us have things to be thankful for in our lives. As part of our Work Related curriculum we learned about résumés and then each student typed one of his/her own. We also studied and listened to speakers who discussed interviewing skills, appropriate dress for an interview, and getting along with others at work, along with various other work related topics.

The CBIP math classes have started the year working in the Number Sense standard. We have been working with very large and small numbers and simplifying them using scientific notation. Our calculators are used frequently in this area. A set is provided for in-class use, but students can purchase an identical calculator for use on homework. Cost is $12. This is a valuable tool they can leave at home to assist them in work not completed in class. This is the same calculator they are permitted to use on the Ohio Achievement Assessment.

Each month the CBI program has Market Day. Market Day is a fundraising food program. This fundraising food co-op has been in operation since 1975 and has grown to include thousands of schools. As a participating Market Day school, restaurant-quality food products, from the same vendors that supply many upscale restaurants, will be available for purchase. Market Day products are competitively priced and CBIP will earn profit on your purchases. You may order on online at or your student can bring home an order form for you to fill out and return to school. Pick up day for your ordered product will be printed on the form or listed on the Market Day website. If you do order online be sure to set your pick-up site as PJHS, account number 18583. The money earned from this fundraiser goes directly to the students through field trips or to support their end of year activities with employers. If you would like to receive an order form call either CBIP Coordinator, Connie Black or Sondra Schneider, at PJHS, 778-2997.

WASHINGTON D.C.

Piqua Junior High is proud to be able to offer our 8th grade students the opportunity to again this year visit our nation’s capital. On Monday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m., a parent meeting will be held at Piqua Junior High School with Mr. Kraig MacWhinney from K & K Tours, who is coordinating the trip again this year. Students will leave from PJHS on May 7 and return on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

While the actual cost of the trip has yet to be determined, students will have three fundraising opportunities to help defray that final cost. Many 8th graders already participated in fundraisers as 7th graders. Money earned as 7th graders will, of course, be added to any money they earn this year through the fundrasiers which will consist of Market Day Pies in October and $7 Snack Bags in February. A new fundraiser this year will be the Dining Advantage Card in December.

For more information on what has now become a yearly tradition at PJHS, please plan to attend the meeting on September 17.

PICTURE RETAKES:

For students who did not have their pictures taken during Indian Days and students who would still like to order school pictures, your last chance will be Monday, September 17. Photographers from LifeTouch will be here bright and early that day for picture re-takes. If you need a picture packet, please have your child stop by the main office.

YEARBOOKS:

The 2011-2012 Piqua Junior High School Yearbooks have finally arrived.

All students who pre-ordered a yearbook last spring are now enjoying the 104 page

full color yearbook filled with wonderful memories of the past year. If your child

missed purchasing one of these great keepsakes, it’s not too late. Extra copies are

now available in the main office for only $18.00 Copies are limited, so don’t miss

out on your chance to have a great time looking back on a “A Razzle-Dazzle Year”.

PROGRESS BOOK PASSWORDS:

Most parents are already familiar with the Progress Book program. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, Progress Book is a great tool for keeping up to date with your child’s progress here at school. All parents should have already received your user name and password for your child’s Progress Book account. Hopefully, by now you have logged in and begun checking your child’s nightly homework, grades, attendance. There are also links to contact your child’s teachers.

If you have any questions about accessing your Progress Book account, please feel free to contact the school at 778-2997.

UVMC Center for Sports Medicine Offering Walk-In Clinics

The UVMC Center for Sports Medicine began holding walk-in clinics for athletic injuries on Saturdays beginning Aug. 18.

The clinic will be held at Suite 304 in the Hyatt Center, 450 N. Hyatt St., Tipp City. Clinic hours are 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with the last athlete accepted at 10:30 a.m.

Dr. Mark Zunkiewicz, orthopedic surgeon fellowship trained in sports medicine, or Dr. Jeff Rayborn, board certified primary care sports medicine physician, will be available for consultation, evaluation, and treatment.

The clinics will be held each Saturday through Oct. 27 with the exception of Sept. 29.

For more information, visit or call the Center for Sports Medicine at (937) 667-2614. On Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., call (937) 440-7325.

MUSE MACHINE:

Piqua Junior High is fortunate to partner with the Dayton Area Muse Machine again this year.

Our Muse Machine KICK-OFF Artist was Michael Kelsey. Michael cannot be limited to a simple description. When students listened to his music and saw him perform, they were witnessing more than a just another singer songwriter. They were watching a rhythmic, inspired guitarist and performance artist who brews soul, funk and even a little bit of the blues into a guitar festival of organic sound. As a multi-instrumentalist, Kelsey has been known to blend many musical genres with fervor and grace. Once he hit the stage to perform, he played every inch of his guitar and made it sing, soar, pop and ping... by strumming it, pounding it and pulling every part of it or anything else an arm's length or foot kic away. Kelsey has performed with the likes of Blind Melon, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Santana, and BB King. Michael Kelsey certainly energized our student body.

Our next Muse Machine assembly will be October 17 with a performance by the Human Race.

NEW FACES:

PJHS was fortunate this summer to be able to add a few new faces to our staff. Mr. Jared Askins will be with us full-time teaching all the Core-Physical classes and some 8th grade science. He previously taught science at PHS. We will be sharing with PHS this year the services of Mrs. Barb Lavey. She will be teaching a new class this year at PJHS, Keyboarding. We are also welcoming back Mr. Tom Westfall, who will be with us one period a day working with the 8th grade choir. Coming to us from Washington Intermediate is Mrs. Roberta Skaggs, who is a student aide. New to the district this year is Mrs. Marti Stalhood, who will be working in our World Language lab.

Our students will all benefit from the addition of our new staff members.

SPORTS UPDATE:

The fall sports programs are well underway. The remaining schedules for girls volleyball and boys football are listed below.

Girls Volleyball

Sept. 18 vs Greenville

Sept. 20 @ Wayne

Sept. 24 @ Morton

Sept. 25 vs Trotwood

Sept. 27 vs Sidney

Oct. 2 @ Northmont

Oct. 4 @ Smith

Oct. 9 vs Troy

Oct. 11 vs Springfield

All matches begin at 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 13 – 15 – GWOC Tournament

7th Grade Boys Football

Sept. 19 @ Greenville

Sept. 26 vs Trotwood

Oct. 3 @ Sidney

Oct. 10 @ Butler

Oct. 17 vs Troy

All games begin at 5:30 p.m.

8th Grade Boys Football

Sept. 19 vs Greenville

Sept. 26 @ Trotwood

Oct. 3 vs Sidney

Oct. 10 vs Butler

Oct. 17 @ Troy

All games bing at 5:30 p.m.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:

September 21, 2012 – Interim Progress Reports come home

October 10, 2012 – Great Western Reserve Fundraiser pick-up from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

October 19, 2012 – No school for students – Teacher Professional Development Day

October 24, 2012 – End of 1st grading period

November 7, 2012 – Parent/Teacher Conferences from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

November 8, 2012 – Parent/Teacher Conferences from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.

November 9, 2012 – No school for students

November 21-23, 2012 – Thanksgiving Break – No school

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