RAZORBACK EXPRESS
A weekly newsletter brought to you by James Hogg Middle School 
Volume 3, Issue 23
March 2, 2018
  We are an IB World School in the heart of the Heights.
Hogg Happenings
Important Dates to Remember...
  • 2nd Annual Hogg's Got Talent - TONIGHT
  • District 1 Town Hall - Monday, March 5
  • PTA Fundraiser at Chipotle - Tuesday, March 6
  • Dance Team Tryout Parent Meeting - Wednesday, March 8
  • Spring Break (No School) - March 12-16
  • The Razorback Roller Rink - Friday, March 23
  • DC/NYC 2019 Trip Parent Meeting - Wednesday, March 28
  • Spring Holiday (No School) - Friday, March 30
  • Literacy Night - Wednesday, April 18
  • Athletics Banquet - Friday, April 27
Staff Member of the Week
Ms. Danielle Chambers
Ms. Danielle Chambers, Hogg M.S. 6th Grade Science Teacher, is our Staff Member of the Week because she exhibits the IB Learner Profile Trait of THINKER.

Ms. Chambers is 29 years “young” and has a son named King. He is currently in Kindergarten. She has been a teacher at Hogg M.S. for 3 years.

She believes that she was chosen as a THINKER because she likes to think that nothing is ever too difficult. She feels like you can always think of a solution. Her grandmother inspires her to always continue to strive for the best. 

Ms. Chambers graduated from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She is currently working on her Masters degree in Education from Northwestern University.

Her goals are to continue to become more knowledgeable of her content area and build more relationships. Her hobbies include vacationing, spending time with her family, and learning new information.

Interview by Mrs. Lopez
Photograph by Sofia Benitez
Student of the Week
Maia Holloway - 6th Grader
Maia Holloway, Hogg M.S. 6th Grader, is our Student of the Week because she exhibits the IB Learner Profile Trait of INQUIRER.
      
Maia states that she likes to know about things! She enjoys reading and is a really good student. She believes she was chosen as INQUIRER because she is a curious person and likes to investigate whatever makes her wonder.

Maia is inspired by reading and hearing stories that have to do with overcoming the world of success. She is not sure about her future educational plans, but she would like to attend the Montessori High School to get ahead in Math and Microeconomics. She plans to “stay ahead” and have a comfortable well-paying job. Maia’s hobbies include reading, playing the piano, playing soccer, building with her Minecraft, and being in Chess Advo at school.
  
Interview by Raquel White
Photograph by Alexis Garza
What's happening in 6th grade?
Language & Literature:  Students will take the DLA benchmark to measure our progress so far this year. They will then begin exploring the exciting world of persuasion! Students are going to begin by analyzing advertisements to understand some of the “what” and “how” of a persuasive text.
Academic Vocabulary: claim, support, logos, pathos, ethos

Math:  Students in MYP & VG classes will continue exploring solving one-step equations.
Students in the Advanced class will apply their knowledge of solving equations to solve equations on both sides. We will also look at how writing equations can help solve real-world problems. Do you write equations and use them in excel for work? Show these to students is powerful.
Academic Vocabulary in MYP & VG:  variable, coefficient, constant, inverse operation
Academic Vocabulary in Advanced Math:  variable, coefficient, constant, inverse operation
  
Science:  Students will research the Layers of the Earth and create presentations to present to the class. 
Academic Vocabulary:  mesosphere, lithosphere, stratosphere, elements that make up the crust

Individuals & Societies:   Students will continue their focus on East Asia by learning about North and South Korea today and continuing their discussion of the Korean War.
Academic Vocabulary:  communism, containment, domino theory, isolation
What's Happening in 7th Grade?
Language & Literature:  Students will continue working in small-group reading circles, targeting specific comprehension skills. Writers continue to refine their expository writing techniques.
Academic Vocabulary:  affect, effect, were, where, we’re

Math:  Students in MYP & VG classes will analyze categorical data.
In Algebra classes, students will continue to simplify numeric and algebraic expressions using the laws of exponents, including integral and rational exponents.
Academic Vocabulary for MYP & VG: bar graph, biased/unbiased sample, box plot, center, circle graph, convenience sample, data, double box plot, dot plot, equivalency, misleading graph, numeric data, population, quartile, sample, simple random sample, statistics, skew, spread, survey, systematics random sample, variability
Academic Vocabulary for Algebra: identity, reciprocal, base, power, exponent, positive exponent, negative exponent, integral exponent, rational exponent, radical, radical expression, radicand, square root, principal square root, scientific notation, simplified form, simplify, index, radical, rationalize the denominator, hypotenuse, leg, Pythagorean Theorem, nth root
  
Science:  Students will wrap-up their plant TEKS stations activity and then begin studying for their plants test.
Academic Vocabulary: phototropism, turgor pressure, photosynthesis, root bulb

Individuals & Societies:  Students will wrap up the Civil War discussion with a review and assessment.
Academic Vocabulary: secession, confederacy, emancipation proclamation
What's Happening in 8th Grade?
Language & Literature:  Students will be reading drama such as plays and learn about various playwrights. They will also take an assessment on Tuesday/Wednesday of next week which will cover poetry and its elements.
Academic Vocabulary:  drama, protagonists, antagonists, plays, stage directions and their effects on plays, metacognitive strategies

Math:  Students will be introduced to transformations and congruences. They will also need to complete their benchmark homework on Imagine Math program located in the HUB.
In Algebra classes, students will continue to simplify numeric and algebraic expressions using the laws of exponents, including integral and rational exponents.
In Geometry, students will continue to describe and perform transformations of figures in the coordinate plane.
Academic Vocabulary:   transformation, preimage, image, translations, reflection, reflection line, rotation, center of rotation
Academic Vocabulary for Algebra:  identity, reciprocal, base, power, exponent, positive exponent, negative exponent, integral exponent, rational exponent, radical, radical expression, radicand, square root, principal square root, scientific notation, simplified form, simplify, index, radical, rationalize the denominator, hypotenuse, leg, Pythagorean Theorem, nth root
Academic Vocabulary for Geometry:  composition of transformations, image, pre-image, rigid transformation, transformation, translation, reflection, line of reflection, orientation, rotation, angle of rotation, center of rotation, symmetry, line of symmetry, point symmetry, line symmetry, reflectional symmetry, rotational symmetry
  
Science:  Students  will analyze the Law of Conservation of Mass and Chemical Reactions.
In IPC, students will continue their focus on Physics.
Academic Vocabulary:  Conservation of Mass, subscript, coefficient, distribution, yield, produces, product, react, element, chemical formula, compound, molecule, symbols, chemical reactions, precipitate, solution, physical change, chemical change, properties
Academic Vocabulary for IPC: Newton's Laws of motion, acceleration, speed, velocity, force, balanced forces, unbalanced forces, gravity, friction, inertia, vector, net force, weight

Individuals & Societies:  Students will continue learning about the Jefferson Presidency. In particular we will talk about the establishment of judicial review, the expansion of American territory, Jefferson’s trade policy, and War with the Barbary Pirates. We will also learn about the second war with England and the emergence of Andrew Jackson as a national figure. 
Academic Vocabulary:  Louisiana Purchase, Marbury V. Madison, Barbary Pirates, the Embargo Act, the Era of Good Feelings, Impressment, War of 1812
2nd Annual Hogg's Got Talent Show
TONIGHT from 6:00pm-7:30pm
District 1 Town Hall Meeting
Sam Houston High School, 9400 Irvington Boulevard
Monday, March 5 at 6:00pm
DIY Club Needs Glass Jars and Fabric
The Do-It-Yourself Club needs glass jars with lids AND fabric for their upcoming projects. They will accept any size jar and any fabric that is good for sewing. If you have these items at home, please consider donating them. You can drop them off at the front desk. Thank you!
Hogg M.S. PTA Fundraiser at Chipotle
Tuesday, March 6 from 4:00pm-8:00pm
2018-2019 Razorette Tryouts
Does your Razorback love to dance? Do they want to be part of a team that competes, performs at school events, and explores all styles of dance? If you answered 'YES!' to any of these questions, then they should try out to be a RAZORETTE or BLAZER next year! Tryouts are open to all students who will be in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade for the 2018-2019 school year.
 
Important Dates:
  • Wednesday, March 7 at 5:30pm: MANDATORY Parent Meeting in the Cafeteria
  • Wednesday, March 21 and Thursday, March 22 from 3:45pm-5:15pm: Clinic days to learn the dance and practice
  • Friday, March 23 from 3:45pm-5:15pm: Tryouts (closed to parents)
  • NOTE: For incoming 6th graders, a Parent Meeting and Tryouts will be in mid-April after the magnet notifications have been sent out. The date will be announced soon.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Breed at mbreed1@houstonisd.org or Ms. Briceno at janny.briceno@houstonisd.org.
Seeking Nominees for Hogg M.S. PTA Board
The Hogg M.S. PTA is now accepting nominations for the 2018-2019 school year.  The eight board positions are:

  • President
  • 1st Vice President of Membership
  • 2nd Vice President of Volunteers
  • 3rd Vice President of Fundraising
  • 4th Vice President of Communications
  • 5th Vice President of Programs
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer

Nominate Hogg M.S. PTA parents, grandparents, family members, friends, staff members, and/or yourself. Submit all nominations in the ballot box, located at the front desk, or by e-mail to hoggptanominations@gmail.com . The deadline for submitting nominations by ballot or e-mail is Friday, March 9 .
Hogg M.S. Kicks Off One Book, One School
Hogg Middle School is starting a One Book, One School this year! One Book, One School provides a shared reading opportunity that builds community and a collective experience. This year's book,  Space Case , is a murder mystery that takes place on the moon. We are lucky to host the author of  Space Case , Stuart Gibbs, on Literacy Night coming up on  Wednesday, April 18 !  You might know him from his  Belly Up  and  Spy School  series! Thank you to the Hogg M.S. PTA for covering half the cost for this project. The library has begun passing out copies of the book and has planned activities for Hogg Students that includes daily trivia, Asteroid Battle, Moon Pie Jeopardy and a writing contest. Ask your child for details!
 
Any family able to pay for their own book and/or sponsor another student can do so via this link:   Purchase One Book, One School Book .  The cost of the book is $8.00. 
 
If your child is enjoying their copy of Space Case and would like to purchase the 2nd or 3rd book in the series, please click on this link:   Order More Books . By doing so, you are supporting Blue Willow Bookshop, the independent bookshop responsible for bringing Stuart Gibbs to Hogg M.S.! All books purchased through Blue Willow will be autographed by the author and will be available at Literacy Night on April 18!
Order Your 2017-2018 Yearbook
There's no school year like your school year. Your yearbook celebrates a year full of friends, events and shared experiences. It's a place where your friends can jot down shared memories, too. Purchase one today, and have memories on hand for a lifetime! Click on the following link to order online: Order 2017-2018 Yearbook
The Razorback Roller Rink
Friday, March 23
On Friday March 23 , our gymnasium will be tranformed into The Razorback Roller Rink for students from 1:00pm-3:00pm . The Razorback Roller Rink will also be open on after school from 6:00pm-9:00pm for the community! Here are the details:
  • Cost: $10 to rent skates, $5 if you bring your own. Roller skates and in-line skates permitted.
  • Location: Hogg Middle School Gymnasium, aka "The Razorback Roller Rink"
  • Rentals: Skate rentals will be in the Mall Area, and skating will be in the Gymnasium
  • Requirements: For Friday’s student-only event, it will be a first come first serve on ticket sales up to 150 (depending on skate sizes) ALL students must turn in a signed waiver in order to participate.
  • Concessions: Items will be sold by the 8th grade parents and enjoyed in the Cafeteria
  • Sponsorship Opportunities: Stay tuned for details
2019 Trip for Washington, D.C. and New York City Parent Meeting
Wednesday, March 28 at 6:00pm
The 2019 Trip for Washington, D.C. and New York City with EF Explore America will have it’s first trip meeting on Wednesday, March 28 at 6:00pm in the Hogg Cafeteria. This meeting will be primarily for the 6 th  grade class to enroll a year and a half early in order to help accommodate lower monthly payments for the trip in 2019. If you’re interested please RSVP to Mr. Mark at   cmark@houstonisd.org . If you can’t make it but would like information, please also email Mr. Mark.
Hogg M.S. Athletics Banquet
Friday, April 27 at 6:00pm
The Hogg M.S. Athletics Banquet will be held Friday, April 27 at 6:00pm in the Hogg M.S. Gymnasium. Student athletes will receive their invitation before Spring Break, and tickets will be available for purchase after the invitations have been sent home. Invited student athletes will include 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who participated in Hogg M.S. Athletics, and finished the season with at least one team.
The Chiyoda Young Innovators’ Academy at University of Houston
We are excited to announce that the  teach HOUSTON  program at  UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON  in partnership with Chiyoda International Corporation and the Young Inventors’ Association of America will proudly host the  2018 Chiyoda Young Innovators’ Academy.
 
This opportunity is for students entering 8th and 9th   grade in the Fall of 2018.
The academy is scheduled for 2 weeks, June 11 through June 22
 
The goal of this academy is to support students who have an interest in engineering and programming in an effort to cultivate their skills in these critical areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics  (STEM) .
 
  • Engineering: Young Innovators will participate in hands-on engineering design projects.
  • Programming: Young Innovators will gain experience with activities involving microcontrollers (Arduinos).
  • Invent: Young Innovators will design and build their inventions for the Summer Young Inventors showcase (June 22nd) hosted by Young Inventors’ Association of America.
  • Creativity: Young Innovators will design, build, and innovate everyday as they work towards their invention projects.
 
Limited spaces and scholarship opportunities are available. The application deadline is Monday, April 30 . Apply today at www.tinyurl.com/innovatoracademy
James Hogg Middle School | ph: (713) 802-4700 | fax: (713) 802-4708 | jameshoggms@houstonisd.org