Newsletter

Friday November 20, 2015

Math-Mrs. Vetter
alisha.vetter@indianola.k12.ia.us

Math 6
This week we began Everyday Math Unit 3: Variables, Formulas, and Graphs.
We worked on using variables to describe number patterns, algebraic expressions,
and formulas. Next week we will continue working on formulas,
tables and graphs.
Math 6/7
This week we began work in the Big Ideas book Chapter 4- Area of
Polygons. We covered finding the area of Parallelograms.
Next week we will cover area of triangles and plan to take a quiz over lessons 4.14.2 on Wednesday 11/25.
Chapter 3 scores are now in Infinite Campus. Check there or with you student to see
how they did. Many need to retake-many are still struggling with the Distributive
Property. Something else to consider, if your student is bringing a textbook home
(hopefully they are), there are answers in the back of the book for the odd problems
in the practice section for each lesson. Ex. Lesson 4-1 Exercises begin on pg. 156;
the answers to those odd problems are on pg. A20 in the back of the book.
Math 7/8
From Mr. WesterlyMath 7/8took a quiz over sections 3.1 and 3.2 today. Scores
will be in infinite campus by Monday. Next week we will finish Chapter 3 and test
before Thanksgiving break.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Phone: 961-9530 ext. 3147
Have a nice weekend!

Library News-Mrs.Wanamaker
Karma.Wanamaker@indianola.k12.ia.us

Students are encouraged to check out an extra book or two for the
Thanksgiving break.
Mrs. Wanamaker will be working with sixth grade language arts classes on
November 30 to review note taking, and citing sources. Students will be
working on a career unit which they began last week in computer class
with Ms. Cherniss.

Ms. Loneman Language Arts

This week students
took the lesson 15 vocabulary and comprehension assessments
worked with a group to compile a group newsletter/magazine in preparation for a group
presentation
practiced their fluency through a readers theater performance of The Woman in the Moon
Next week students will
present their group newsletters/magazines to the class
practice their substantive conversation skills while discussing the information learned from
the presentations
watch a documentary about Apollo 11 to analyze and compare the information that was
presented in Team Moon and the documentary
Notes:

Due to the amount of work students put into their newsletters, I want to make sure I give
constructive feedback to each student which is taking me quite a bit of time to do (about 15
minutes per newsletter). Therefore, students can expect to receive their newsletter scores
the week of November 30th.
o Redo Process:
Optional Redos (70% or above):

complete a request to retake sheet and return it on

Wednesday, Dec. 2nd

make corrections based on my feedback

notify me when the changes are made

Required Redos (below a 70%):

complete a request to retake sheet and return it on Wednesday, Dec.

2nd

make changes based on my feedback

conference with me before or after school (bring the score sheet

to the conference in order for the project to be re-graded)
Some students are running low on supplies (pencils and pens mostly). Please check with
your child to see if their supplies need to be replenished.

Important Dates:
November 26th and 27thNo School (Happy Thanksgiving!)
December 2ndNewsletter Request to Retake Sheet Due
December 2ndRequired Redo Conferences Offered at 7:30 (bring the Request to Retake
sheet and score sheet to the conference)
December 3rdRequired Redo Conferences Offered at 7:30 and 3:20 (bring the score sheet
to the conference)
December 3rd at 3:50final deadline for newsletter redos (unless a student has not yet
scored above 70%)
Email: melissa.loneman@indianola.k12.ia.us
Phone: 961-9530 ext. 3134
Twitter: @msloneman (twitter.com/msloneman)
Instagram: @msloneman

Website: msloneman.weebly.com
Enjoy your weekend!

Mrs. FischerLanguage Arts

This week we finished our Team Moon unit and tested over that. The students also created
group magazines based on the nonfiction topic they researched several weeks ago. Next
week the students will be presenting their group magazines to the class. These
presentations will lead us up to Thanksgiving break. After Thanksgiving break, we will be
starting a unit on careers that will culminating in a required speech by the students.
Lesson 15
Main selection: Team Moon
Big Idea: Sometimes you need to give it all youve got.
Essential Question: How do text and graphics show a crisis in space?
Target Skill: Text and Graphic Features
Target Strategy: Analyze/Evaluate
Fluency: Intonation
Vocabulary Strategies: Suffixes -ous, -ic, and -ure
Target Vocabulary: lunar, hovering, ascent, likelihood, impending, perilous, option,
presumably, unpredictability, random
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Email: sara.fischer@indianola.k12.ia.us
Phone: 961-9530 ext. 3146

Art-Mrs. Smith
lisa.smith@indianola.k12.ia.us

Art Class Website: www.artinspiredbylife.com

This Weeks Accomplishments:

Students watched video clips about 3 different impressionist artists: Monet,
Degas and Cassatt. They took notes each artist and we discussed
similarities and differences between their artwork and lives. Next week we
will continue that discussion and students will be having a substantive
conversation around the subject of art styles.
Learning Targets
*I can recognize the artwork of Monet, Degas, and Cassatt
*I can explain the differences and similarities of these 3 impressionist artists

Peace Poster Contest

Congratulations to Avah Grandberg who placed 3rd at the district level. There
are 7 districts in the state. The theme was Share Peace. All 3 winners will
receive a cash prize and their families will be invited to an awards banquet
sponsored by the Lions Club of Indianola.

Computers Ms. Petersen

Kathy.Petersen@indianola.k12.ia.us

In Computers, students will be having the 6 th grade guidance counselor, Mrs.

Cherniss, guide them through a careers interest inventory using the I Have A Plan
site. They will be discussing career clusters and career choices. Students will be
narrowing down their career searches to one that they will be researching in
Language Arts after break.
Students should currently be working on Lessons 8/9 as a minimum in Keyboarding
Online in order to reach our goal for completing all the letter keys by winter break
(Lesson 11). Students are encouraged to work on the lessons in the mornings,
during guided study times, and at home if they have fallen behind.

Science Mrs.Simpson
Dorisa.Simpson@indianola.k12.ia.us

This week was the beginning of a very short unit on the water cycle.
Students built on their knowledge of the water cycle through reading
handouts, discussions, and visuals. In addition, students used elaborated
communication in small groups to answer questions by analyzing the water
cycle processes. Students are in the process of completing a water cycle
poster. When complete, the poster will be a landscape with labels
designating various processes and facts relating to the water cycle.
Students should have, and should continue to, study the Water Cycle
Vocabulary words as well as the Water Cycle Study Guide as they will
be assessed on Tuesday/Wednesday next week (Nov. 24/25).

Social Studies-Mrs. Larsen

Connee.Larsen@indianola.k12.ia.us

This coming week we will be working in our Geography Alive! textbook, and
completing mapping lab activities, in class to learn about the region of Canada
and the United States. We will be analyzing six thematic maps: Political,
Physical Feature, Climate Zone, Vegetation Zone, Population Density, and
Economic Activity to learn about the physical and human characteristics of this
region. There will be a test over the information sometime during the week following
Thanksgiving. Watch for dates in next weeks newsletter.

Box Tops
Send to school anytime! Collection tubs are located
in Language Arts rooms
and main office.

Backpacks 4 Hunger
No Child Goes Hungry Over the Weekend
Sign up for Backpacks 4 Hunger- Food for over the weekend
Backpacks are filled Friday and sent home with meals and snacks for over the
weekend.
Backpacks and contents provided by donations and volunteers in the community of
Indianola.
ALL students are eligible.
TO SIGN UP: Contact 961-5755 or your School Counselor, Lacey Cherniss,
at 961-9530 X3106