WELCOME TO OPEN HOUSE! 8 ORANGE TEAM

2013-2014

Together We Can Make A Difference!

Meet our Team

Mr. Talbot-Social Studies

Mr. Conway-Writing

Mrs. Lowry-Science

Mrs. Bertando-Math

Mr. Cragin-Learning Specialist

Keeping in Touch

The quickest and most efficient way to communicate with us is through e-mail.Our e-mails are listed on the NFMS website:

www.newfairfieldschools.org/subsite/nfmThe format for email is: firstinitiallastname@new-

fairfield.k12.ct.us(ex. klowry@new-fairfield.k12.ct.us)

8th grade phone: 203-312-5893

Homework Posted daily on the Middle School web page on

the 8 Orange Homework sitehttp://www.teacherweb.com/CT/NewFairfield/8orangeteam

Homework will be practice of a skill learned in class or extension of concepts covered in class

Students should spend a daily maximum of 60-90 min. doing HW during school (PLC) and at home. Contact us if consistently otherwise.

Academic Communication

Check your child’s grades on Infinite Campus (IC) regularly. Download the IC App to your electronic device

for continuous updates.○ Use itunes, google play or amazon.com to

downloadLook for emails from us via IC Messenger

Mark your calendar for Parent/Teacher Conferences: Nov. 12th(AM), 13th (PM), 14th (EVE), &15th (AM).

Appointments will be made a few weeks prior.

Costs for 8th grade

Field Trips: Connecticut Science Center-Potential

Field Trip this fall (approx. $35)

Holiday Hill- This is an 8th Grade trip in June (Cheshire, CT). It costs approx. $60.00 per student. (paperwork comes home in Feb./March)

Costs For 8th Grade

YEARBOOK Yearbook is mostly made by 8th grade

students so it has a lot about their year. A pre-sale usually starts in October and then

again in February. The last sale is in June. Cost is anywhere from $26-30.

It is cheapest during the 1st sale and most expensive in June.

Yearbook Parent Ads will be for sale as well (winter)

Costs for 8th Grade8th Grade Semi-formal Dance--June Tickets generally cost around $20

Gowns for the Graduation Ceremony--June These can be purchased from the school (information

will come home with students in Feb.) or borrow one from a brother/sister or previous student.

The gowns cost approx. $16.

Grand TOTAL of costs for 8th grade is about $155

New Schedule Terminology Language Arts: Combined Reading and Writing Class

Core 21- The class combines core subject curriculum through Project Based Learning and 21st Century skills. 

EXCEL (XL):  A 40-minute intervention and extension period of a class the child already has. The aim with EXCEL period is to give extra support to students or to provide additional, advanced instruction.

Personal Learning Community (PLC): Students with the assistance of teachers schedule this time to address their personal learning needs. It is a structured, individualized time where all students have access to: grade level, core teachers special education services band lessons and grade level band practices enrichment activities such as technology workshops research lessons virtual field trips  

New Schedule Academic Classes are every other day 8th Grade Day-all blocks are 75 min except Excel and

lunch

Block 1-World Language, Phys. Ed. Or a rotating Encore class

Block 2-Academics (2A/C and 2B/D)Block 3-Excel (XL) Rotation of all classes 1 every

8 daysBlock 4-Core 21 or PLC LunchBlock 4-Core 21 or PLC Block 6-Academic Class (6A/C and 6B/D)

Science Integrated Science Curriculum

Kate Lowry: klowry@new-fairfield.k12.ct.us Physical Science— Forces and Motion. Topics

include speed, acceleration, net force, Newton’s laws.

Life Science—Heredity: how traits are passed through generations. Topics include chromosomes, DNA, dominant and recessive genes, mitosis, meiosis.

Earth Science—Earth in the Solar System. Topics include tides, seasons, moon phases eclipses.

Please plan to volunteer to help construct and launch model rockets in June!

Core 21-Science

Project Based Learning Topic: Human Impacts on the Environment

Research News Articles about an environmental issue (individual)

Research and present a multi-media project to class about an environmental issue with a group

Research, plan and present a “green solution” for the local community or schools with a group

Language Arts

Keith Conway- kconway@new-fairfield.k12.ct.us Our curriculum will center around the Common Core State

Standards The following skills will be taught in 3 new common core

units centered around the theme of social injustice: Grammar Vocabulary Reading Narrative, Expository, and Persuasive Writing Listening and Speaking

Core 21: Language Arts

Project Based Learning Students will read a classic novel and do

a multimedia marketing presentation with a group

Write and present an individual persuasive speech

Social Studies

Brendan Talbot: btalbot@new-fairfield.k12.ct.us U.S. History from colonization to Civil War (part

1 of 2). There are 4 units: Colonization, Revolution,

Sectionalism & Westward Expansion and Civil War.

Reconstruction to WWII is the 10th / 11th grade curriculum (part 2 of 2).

Livebinders.com

Core 21-Social Studies

Project Based Learning

Principles of the Constitution and civics

Students will create a multi-media project with a group

8th Grade Math

Deanna Bertando: dbertando@new-fairfield.k12.ct.us

Curriculum is based on the Common Core Standards

Some examples of units:Unit 1: Expressions and EquationsUnit 2: Linear RelationshipsUnit 3: Functions and Systems of EquationsUnit 4: GeometryUnit 5: Statistics and Probability

Algebra 1 Deanna Bertando: dbertando@new-fairfield.k12.ct.us

Curriculum is based on Common Core High School criteria

Some of the topics to be covered:Patterns Equations and InequalitiesLinear Equations and FunctionsLinear SystemsQuadratic Functions and FactoringScatter Plots and Trend LinesIntro. to Exponential Functions

Core 21-Math

Project Based Learning Students will research educational paths

after high school. Will decide a career, salary and create

annual budget based on those decisions.

Students will choose to work either in a group or individually.

Present multi-media project

Learning Specialist

Brian Cragin: bcragin@new-fairfield.k12.ct.us

Co-teach some math sectionsSupport in some science sectionsAvailable for extra help and enrichment

beginning at 7:15 AMRoom 105

Extra Help Math/Bertando: M,T,W,F after school until

4pm Language Arts/Conway: By appt. starting

at 7:30 AM Science/Lowry: Thursday AM or by appt--

both 7:30AM Social Studies/Talbot: M,T, W. after

school until 3:30 Learning Specialist/Cragin: mornings

starting at 7:15AM

Volunteers

If you plan to volunteer with us this year please pick up a form upon leaving.

Fingerprinting appointment at Police Station is required.Only applies to situations in which

volunteers will be with groups of children without staff present.

Parent Assignment In a 1,000,000 words or less…

Tell the orange team what you think we should know about your child/loved one. You know your child best!

This will help us to better understand your child/loved one and the unique and special people they are.

Please hand in to homeroom teacher

or email to Mrs. Lowry at

lowry.kate@newfairfieldschool.org

By September 30th, or as soon as you can.

THANK YOU!!

Closing We look forward to working with your child and

you this year. Please take a pamphlet home with you. We

hope that you find it a useful reference. Next: Spend last minutes of Open House in the

8th grade wing exploring our classroomsSocial Studies-room 109Science-room 102Language Arts-room 111Math-room-101Mr. Cragin-105

STAY IN TOUCH!