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.