Report Card Conferences

Report Card Conferences are this week on Wednesday, December 5th and Thursday, December 6th. Conferences for Grades 7 and 8 will be on those two days from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM in the Bache Science Lab (3rd Floor, Room 22).  We will also have evening Conference times on Thursday, December 6th, from 5:00-7:00 PM.  Conference slips were sent home with students last week.

*** Grading Guidelines for Reading: Parents please note, students cannot earn an "A" or "B" in Reading if they are NOT reading at or above grade level.  We work every day in class on reading skills.  However, the best, research-proven way for students to improve their reading skills and level is for each student to read AT HOME (a book of their choice) for 30 minutes a day. This is their reading homework EVERY night.  Of course, students must also complete all work to earn an "A" or a "B". These are School District guidelines.

Letter Grade	Numerical Score	Instructional Reading Level
A	100-90	At or above grade level
B	89-80	At or above grade level
C	79-70	At grade level/no more than 1 year below
D	69-65	11⁄2 to 2 years below grade level
F	64-00	More than 2 years below grade level

Hurricane Sandy-stay safe!

Students: You can summarize an article, photograph, or news report on Hurricane Sandy and its effects to use as a makeup assignment.  No "extra credit" will be given after this point (see below).  Use your day off wisely!

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/hurricane-sandy-vs-the-east-coast/

****“EXTRA CREDIT”—as the marking period comes to a close, it might be useful to explain what ‘extra credit’ means: It is for the VERY RARE times when a student has tried his/her best every day, but still needs a little EXTRA work to pass a class, OR it is awarded when a student has done something BEYOND what is expected. IT IS NOT for a student who has neglected to do homework, or work in class, or projects, and is therefore failing the class.  Extra credit WILL NOT be given to students who are missing regular assignments. Please discuss with your child the importance of giving his/her effort every day in school.  Thank you.

Interim Reports Coming Out!

Dear Parents: 
Ms. Allen, Mr. Rupertus, and Mrs. Luebbert will be giving out interim reports to the seventh and eighth grade students this week.  Please ask your child to show you his/her interim report. The interim reports will notify you of your child's average SO FAR in the first marking period.  If your child is failing, or has a grade lower than you believe they are capable of earning, please discuss with them what they can do do bring up their grades before the marking period ends.  Many students with poor grades have simply not been handing in work.  We are available to discuss your child's progress with you if you would like.  Our email addresses are:

Ms. Allen:  tdallen@philasd.org
Mr. Rupertus:  jrupertus@philasd.org
Mrs. Luebbert:  krluebbert@philasd.org

Current Events Assignment Requirements

SOCIAL STUDIES CURRENT EVENTS ASSIGNMENT

PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS

GRADES 7 & 8    2012-2013

Each week you will be required to find a current events article (it is happening now) HARD NEWS article from a LEGITIMATE news source.  I will assign you a news topic each week. The article you submit MUST be on the assigned topic.

****What is a legitimate news source? A newspaper (print or online) such as The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Tribune, The Daily News, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, etc…. OR you can use an internet NEWS (not entertainment) source such as ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, PBS, etc….

****What is “HARD NEWS”?  It is important, national, local, or international news.  In other words, no sports, entertainment, sensational crime reports, or gossip-type articles may be used.

PROCEDURES:

·      Find an article that is at least three paragraphs long on the assigned topic

·      Neatly clip or print the article and affix it to a page in your Current Events Notebook (this notebook should be used ONLY for Current Events)

·      Write a one-paragraph summary of the article on the facing page of your notebook.

·      Use your question template as a guide to writing the summary.

You must read and summarize an article a week and keep them all together in your notebook. Your book will be collected and graded weekly or bi-weekly.

The first article and summary is due Thursday, September 27, 2012.  A new article and summary are due every week thereafter.

Grading Guidelines

GRADING GUIDELINES FOR GRADES SEVEN & EIGHT

READING (ELA) AND SOCIAL STUDIES

READING, ENGLISH, LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA):

Classwork: 40%--All classwork should be done in the appropriate notebook and handed in when required.

Tests and Essays: (Constructed Responses): 30%

Projects: 20%

Daily Journal: 10%

SOCIAL STUDIES:

Classwork: 40%--All classwork should be done in the appropriate notebook and handed in when required.

Current Events: 20%

Tests and Essays: (Constructed Responses): 20%

Projects: 20%

POLICY ON ABSENCES AND LATENESSES:

When a student is absent or late and misses classes it is the obligation of the student to speak to each teacher and gather and complete ALL work missed—this includes work done in class the day or days he/she was absent. Any work not made up will be counted as an “F” (0 points).

Supply List-Grades 7 & 8 ELA and Social Studies

GRADE SEVEN AND EIGHT ELA & SOCIAL STUDIES SUPPLY LIST

Mrs. Luebbert

·      FOUR (4) individual copybooks or notebooks

·      FOUR (4) individual folders

·      Loose-leaf paper

·      Blue or black pens

·      Pencils

·      A 12-24 pack of colored pencils

·      Highlighters (1-2)

*****Please send in $5.00 for your child’s class magazine subscription

It is important that you have separate notebooks, not one big notebook.  Sometimes notebooks are collected for grading.  If you have more than one subject’s worth of notes in a notebook that will not work.  Get and stay organized! 

Please send in the following for use by the entire class:

·      2 boxes of tissues

·      1 roll paper towels

·      1 bottle of hand sanitizer

·      2 containers of wet ones hand wipes

·      1 box of quart size zip-lock bags

·      1 container of Clorox or Lysol wipes

Thank you very much,

Closing Exercises and Spirit Week Update

Parents, please see below for Closing Exercises and Spirit Week Activities/

****Updates:  8th grade Field Day will be on June 7th.  This event is for Bache-Martin 8th graders ONLY--no guests. There is no cost unless students want to buy lunch from the stand in the park.  They may bring lunch if they want to.  A list of Spirit Week activities will be sent home after Memorial Day.  Those activities will consist of crazy hat day, T-shirt day, jersey day, etc.... There is no cost for these. Please see your child's trip slip for the Zoo trip on June 1st.  The trip is $15.00.  Please ask your child to give you the letter that was sent home last week.  Please see a copy of the letter below.

 May 17, 2012,

Dear Parents and Guardians of Grade Eight Students,

We are all looking forward to our closing exercises on Wednesday June 13, 2012.  In order to ensure a safe, enjoyable program for all of our graduates and their families, please adhere to the following procedures:

·      Each student will receive up to four (4) invitations to the closing exercises.  Attached to this letter is a form for you to fill out the names of your guests.  Please list the given name of each guest (no nicknames).  You will be given invitations with each name written on them.

·      You will be issued the number of invitations (up to 4) equal to the number of names you provide.

·      Everyone over the age of 5 must have an invitation with their name on it to enter the closing exercises. Children without invitations MUST sit on their parents’ laps.

·      Due to space restrictions and fire regulations, NO strollers or baby coaches will be allowed in the auditorium.

·      NO blank invitations will be issued or accepted at the door.

·      NO Balloons are allowed in the auditorium.

·      No school-age child may attend closing exercises without his/her own parent or legal guardian.

·      Invitations are not transferable.

·      All names for invitations are due to the principal by Friday June 1, 2012

·      Students who do not provide a list of name will not receive tickets.

The day of closing ceremony

-       Students should arrive at school by 9:00am

-       Guest will be allowed to enter (Parrish Street Auditorium entrance only) by 9:15 am

-       Invitations will be collected at the door

 The cost of the closing ceremony is $20 per students.   This will cover the cost of the gowns and refreshments.

           

DRESS CODE FOR CLOSING EXERCISES AND LUNCHEON

STUDENT DRESS CODE:

Students are wearing gowns but NOT caps.  Caps are reserved for graduation from high school and college.  Please do not send your children with a cap—they will not be allowed to wear it at closing exercises.

**Under the gown, boys should wear dress pants, a dress (collared) shirt and dress shoes (NO sneakers).  Girls should wear a nice dress or pants outfit.  Girls’ shoes should NOT be flip-flops, if they wear sandals, they must have straps on the back.  If they wear heels, PLEASE make sure they can walk comfortably without falling!

++++The 8^th grade luncheon (students only) will be held on Friday, May 25^th during school hours.  Students may wear appropriate nice clothes instead of uniforms: Boys may wear nice shorts or pants (no jeans) and a button down or collared shirt (NO t-shirts), no low pants or underwear visible.

Girls may wear a nice dress or pants outfit (no jeans). NO visible cleavage, bare shoulders, bare midriffs, mini-skirts, or short shorts. Sandals should have straps around the heel.

**Students not adhering to the dress code will not be allowed to attend the luncheon.

Calendar of Events

May 25, 2012            Eighth Grade Luncheon (Hosted by the Home and School)           

June 1, 2012                        Zoo Trip

June 4 -8, 2012            Spirit Week

June 8, 2012                        Eighth grade field day

June 12, 2012            T-Shirt Day

June 13, 2012            Closing Ceremony

Newsletter 12

CLOSING EXERCISES UPDATE:

CLOSING EXERCISES: Closing Exercises for Grade Eight will be held on June 13th, 2012 at 10:00AM sharp. Right now, we are scheduled to have the closing exercises in the Martin Auditorium. The auditorium is freshly painted, and having the ceremony there will be a nice tribute to tradition.  Many classes have had closing exercises in the Martin building.  We will be sending information home about gowns (no caps--those are for high school) soon.  The students have voted on a class song (You Gotta Be, by Des'ree) and also on class superlatives (best smile, etc....).

PLEASE NOTE:  We have high hopes that all 8th graders who are currently passing all classes will be able to attend closing exercises.  However, we must remind you that students MUST have a signed behavior letter on file to attend closing exercises and the 8th grade student luncheon (all but two students have this). Closing exercises are a privilege, not a right--and as we hold practice in the coming weeks it is crucial that we have the cooperation of all students.  It is also important that students continue their good behavior in class and other areas of the school.  Any student that disrupts the school environment can be EXCLUDED from closing exercises. We sincerely hope we do not have to exclude anyone.

In Order to PASS 8th Grade:  In order to "graduate" 8th grade, students must pass ALL four major classes--Math, Reading, Social Studies, and Science. Math, Science, and Social Studies grades are averaged across all 4 quarters, so students who have an F or D in one or more quarters must be very careful to keep their grades up this marking period. Ms. Allen and I can tell students who are worried what grade they need to ensure they pass their subjects.





URGENT: Phones and Music Players: Too many students are playing with phones and other electronics in class. They are texting, watching videos, and otherwise being disruptive and off-task. Please refer to the Code of Student Conduct--PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN SCHOOL. We realize that students need them for safety on the way to and from school, but using them during the school day is strictly forbidden. Parents, if you have an urgent message for your child, please call the school office at 215-684-5450. Phones will be confiscated and students will receive a discipline report (pink slip) for illegal use of electronics if this continues. Not surprisingly, most of the students using their phones during class time also happen to be failing 8th grade!

Newsletter 11

PSSA-Writing:

Our students did well through a difficult 6 days of reading and math PSSA testing and now have writing and science to get through!

Writing will start on Monday April 16th. As usual, please make sure your students are on time, well rested, and have had breakfast. Breakfast will also be served at school. The writing PSSA consists of several multiple choice sections in which students must correct grammar and sentence structure etc..., and several writing prompts in which students are given a topic on which to write a short essay. These may be persuasive or narrative assignments.

CLOSING EXERCISES: Closing Exercises for Grade Eight will be held on June 13th, 2012 at 10:00AM sharp. We are still exploring different places to have the ceremony. Right now, we are scheduled to have the closing exercises in the Martin Auditorium, but if any parent has any connections that could get us a free or inexpensive hall or meeting room in Fairmount/Francisville we would be open to suggestions.

URGENT: Phones and Music Players: Too many students are playing with phones and other electronics in class. They are texting, watching videos, and otherwise being disruptive and off-task. Please refer to the Code of Student Conduct--PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN SCHOOL. We realize that students need them for safety on the way to and from school, but using them during the school day is strictly forbidden. Parents, if you have an urgent message for your child, please call the school office at 215-684-5450. Phones will be confiscated and students will receive a discipline report (pink slip) for illegal use of electronics if this continues. Not surprisingly, most of the students using their phones during class time also happen to be failing 8th grade!

NEWSLETTER 10 PSSA time is here!

Spring is here, and with it comes time for the PSSA (the state mandated test). We are ready, and we feel that our students are ready too! You may have heard that there are some new rules in place due to cheating in some parts of the city and state.

****Bache-Martin is NOT one of the schools accused of cheating, but we must abide by the new rules anyway.
****The biggest change your child will notice is that they may no longer be given the test by their homeroom or main subject area teacher. The 8th grade will be tested by the seventh grade teachers. We feel confident that the students will do well no matter who is in the room with them.

****The 8th grade is the most heavily tested grade. They take Reading & Math, and after Spring Break they will move on to Writing and Science. It seems to them and us that they test forever!!
On the bright side, once they are done this year, they do not take PSSAs again until 11th grade.

****Please make sure your children get a good night's sleep, a good breakfast, and come to school on time. We also serve breakfast in the lunchroom in the mornings.


CLOSING EXERCISES: We are still working out a date, place, and time for our closing exercises. We will keep you posted with new information.

Social Studies Project: Remember the Social Studies project is due at the end of March. The marking period ends around the same time, so NO late projects will be accepted. A failing grade on the project will most likely result in in an 'F' for the quarter.

NO Summer School: The School District has announced that there will be NO summer school this summer!!! Therefore, if your child does not meet the requirements to be promoted (to be promoted to 9th grade, a student must pass ALL four major subjects), that child will be repeating grade 8 next year. Most of our 8th graders are on track, but a few seem to think no work is required to move on to high school--please speak to them about this. Thank you!

Newsletter #9

February 13, 2012 Newsletter #9

Remember Parents: Report Card Conferences this Week: Wed. 2/15, Thurs. 2/16, and Fri. 2/17 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Students will be dismissed at 12:09 on conference days.

***Appointment letters were sent home last week.

7^th & 8^th Grade Dance: The dance was a great success! Many thanks to Ms. Stephens, Mrs. Gaillard, Ms. MacNeill, The Home and School Association ,Mr. Rupertus, Mr. Golson, and all parents who helped and chaperoned!

Social Studies Project: All 8^th Grade students have an important Social Studies project due on March 30, 2012.

Students brought home the requirements on a bright green paper last week. If you would like me to email you a copy, contact me at krluebbert@philasd.org

School Reform Commission announces that due to budget crisis there will be no summer school!

*****Parents, we are well into the third marking period. If your child has failed one or more subjects so far this year, he/she is in grave danger of returning to bache for 8^th grade again next fall!

#####THERE WILL BE NO SUMMER SCHOOL—please discuss this with your child and make sure they improve their work.

“EXTRA CREDIT”— the third marking period is underway, and it might be useful to explain what ‘extra credit’ means: It is for the VERY RARE times when a student has tried his/her best every day, but still needs a little EXTRA work to pass a class, OR it is awarded when a student has done something BEYOND what is expected. IT IS NOT for a student who has neglected to do homework, or work in class, or projects, and is therefore failing the class. Extra credit WILL NOT be given to students who are missing regular assignments. Please discuss with your child the importance of giving his/her effort every day in school. Thank you.

READING AND WRITING—All students should be reading a book or magazine of their choice for twenty minutes each night. Students also have several ongoing writing project that they should be working on at least several times a week.

Newsletter #8

January 25, 2012

School Reform Commission announces that due to budget crisis there will be no summer school!

*****Parents, we have just entered the third marking period. If your child has failed one or more subjects so far this year, he/she is in grave danger of returning to bache for 8^th grade again next fall!

#####THERE WILL BE NO SUMMER SCHOOL—please discuss this with your child and make sure they improve their work.

School Supplies: Parents, many students are now coming to school without pens, pencils, paper, notebooks…..Please make sure your child has all needed supplies to be successful in school.

Parents and Guardians: We care for our students here at Bache, and know Middle Schoolers need guidance to make good decisions. Please talk with your child about appropriate actions and behavior. Please, please, make sure they do not bring anything unsafe to school---poor decisions can have dire consequences for them and others!

DATE for Closing Exercises: Our Closing Exercises Date is awaiting approval by the AD-8 offices

****Please ask your child about the new Interactive Notebook they are using in Math class. It will be a great organizational and study tool for them.

READING AND WRITING—All students should be reading a book or magazine of their choice for twenty minutes each night. Students also have several ongoing writing project that they should be working on at least several times a week.

Kristin Luebbert: krluebbert@philasd.org

Trina Allen: tdallen@philasd.org