RAZORBACK EXPRESS
A weekly newsletter brought to you by James Hogg Middle School 
Volume 3, Issue 14
December 8, 2017
  We are an IB World School in the heart of the Heights.
Hogg Happenings
Important Dates to Remember...
  • NJHS Induction Ceremony - TONIGHT
  • Heights Indoor Movie Night - TONIGHT
  • UIL Academic Tournament - Saturday, December 9
  • Pink's Pizza Spirit Night - Wednesday, December 13
  • Winter Concert: Band, Orchestra & Choir - Thursday, December 14
  • Winter Dance Performance - Friday, December 14
  • Houston Show Choir Concert - Friday, December 14
  • Winter Karate Belt Ceremony - Tuesday, December 19
  • Winter Theater Performance - Wednesday, December 20
  • Winter Holiday (No School) - December 22 - January 5
  • Friday Night Flights - Friday, January 26
  • Hogg PTA Chili Cook-Off - Saturday, February 3
Staff Member of the Week
Ms. Taryn Walley
Ms. Taryn Walley, Hogg M.S. 6th Grade Language & Literature Teacher, is our Staff Member of the Week because she exhibits the IB Learner Profile Trait of REFLECTIVE.

Mss. Walley has been a teacher at Hogg Middle School for six years. She says she is reflective because of an understanding that “once you understand, you’ll never be perfect; it makes it is easier to look at mistakes and learn from them.” She references a quote by Salvador Dali, “Don’t be afraid of perfection; you’ll never attain it”, as a principle of reflection.

Ms. Walley studied at Talison University to attain her Bachelor’s Degree and attended The University of Maryland where she earned her Master’s Degree. She enjoys reading, cooking, embroidery playing with her cat, and doing arts & crafts.
 
Ms. Walley is inspired by books, art, and, of course, her students. She would eventually like to be a college professor.

Interview and Photograph by Malia Palmer
Student of the Week
Adell Walker - 7th Grader
Adell Walker, Hogg M.S. 7th Grader, is our Student of the Week because she exhibits the IB Learner Profile Trait of COMMUNICATOR.

For Adell, being a communicator, means “expressing my thoughts to make the world better and to help others.” She’s inspired by the fact that “I’m just one person, but I can make a big change.” Adell likes animals, citing them as both an inspiration and the center of a possible future goal of working with them.

Adell enjoys singing, playing basketball and volunteering. She would like to be a language teacher one day which shows just one more way she is a communicator!

Interview and Photograph by Malia Palmer
What's happening in 6th grade?
Language & Literature:  Students will continue to write expository essays. They will use the syllogism they created last week as a thesis for their essays. They will learn revision and editing strategies as needed to help them organize and improve their expository essay. Students will be taking their MOY (middle of year) reading assessments on the Universal screener as well as taking a retest for the common assessment.
Academic Vocabulary:  introduction, hook, body, conclusion, thesis statement/syllogism, text evidence

Math:  Students in all classes will continue their unit on Proportional Reasoning. They will analyze ratios and using proportions to calculate unit rate. Where do we see rates in everyday life? Point these out as you see them outside of the classroom. (Example: miles per hour, cents per can, etc.) Students in the Advanced classes will see these scenarios in multiple representations of graphs and tables.
Academic Vocabulary:  unit rate, ratio table, proportions
  
Science:  Students will be introduced into formation of a new substance by using the evidence of a possible chemical change such as production of a gas, change in temperature, production of a precipitate, or color change.
Academic Vocabulary:  states of matter, precipitate

Individuals & Societies:  Students will continue their unit on North Africa and Southwest Asia. Students will study the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia throughout the week. They will look at the 6 characteristics of a civilization “GRAPES”. Students will have a map quiz on Southwest Asia on Friday.
Academic Vocabulary:  silt, river valley, papyrus, cuneiform, Hammurabi’s code, pyramid, pharaoh, class system
What's Happening in 7th Grade?
Language & Literature:  Students will continue working on their end of unit reading project.
Academic Vocabulary:  simple, compound, and complex sentences

Math:  Students in MYP classes will write and solving two-step inequalities.
Students in VG classes will work on volume of rectangular prisms and pyramids.
In Algebra classes, student will continue to solve systems of linear equations using substitution, elimination and graphing.
Academic Vocabulary for MYP: variable, solution, equation, integer, inequality
Academic Vocabulary for VG: net, rectangular prism, pyramid, volume triangular prism, base, height
Academic Vocabulary for Algebra:  system of linear equations, consistent dependent system, consistent independent system, inconsistent system, solution of a system of linear equations, substitution, elimination, isolate
  
Science:  Students will review for their Common Assessment #3 over the Human Body systems. Please be sure your students are studying their notes in their notebooks over the ALL body systems.
Academic Vocabulary: excretory system, digestive system, endocrine system, integumentary system, reproductive system, muscular system, skeletal system, homeostasis, & fight or flight

Individuals & Societies:  Students will cover the Texas Revolution and reviewing for the final test of the semester.
Academic Vocabulary:  revolution, constitution, Declaration of Independence, massacre
What's Happening in 8th Grade?
Language & Literature:  Students will have a cross-curricular lesson with Individuals & Societies - The History Book. They will write the essay portion of their project and work in literature circles using News ELA articles (leveled articles)
Academic Vocabulary:  essay, organization, thesis statement, paragraphs, supporting details, mechanics, introduction, body, conclusion

Math:  Students will continue to work on graphs, tables, and ordered pairs involving equations y=mx+b and y=kx. They will determine if equations are functions, proportional, or linear. They will also focus on direct variation including calculating the constant of variation and writing equations.
In Algebra classes, students will continue to solve systems of linear equations using substitution, elimination and graphing.
In Geometry, students will continue to explore relationships within triangles.
Academic Vocabulary:  functions, proportional, linear, direct variation
Academic Vocabulary for Algebra: system of linear equations, consistent dependent system, consistent independent system, inconsistent system, solution of a system of linear equations, substitution, elimination, isolate
Academic Vocabulary for Geometry: perpendicular and angle bisectors, concurrent, point of concurrency, circumcenter, incenter, centroid, orthocenter, bisectors of triangles, medians and altitudes of triangles, Triangle Mid-segment Theorem, indirect proof, inequalities in one triangle, inequalities in two triangles
  
Science:  Sensational Seismic Activity, 8th grade students will begin a new unit dealing with plate tectonics and topography. 
In IPC, students will begin their unit on solutions.
Academic Vocabulary: continental drift, collide, oceanic crust, continental crust, volcanic island, folded mountain, Pangaea, crustal features, convergent boundary, divergent boundary, fault, rift, subduction boundary, transform boundary, earthquake, converging, diverging, mid-ocean ridge, plate boundary, plate tectonic, subduction zone, contour interval, satellite image, topographic map, deposition, elevation, erosion, satellite view, weathering
Academic Vocabulary for IPC: neutral, symmetrical, asymmetrical, partial charge, polar, nonpolar, water, adhesion, cohesion, molecular geometry, surface tension, solubility, solution, solute, solvent

Individuals & Societies:  Students will continue to delve into the Constitutional Convention.
Academic Vocabulary:  ratify, quorum, preamble, George Mason
Congratulations to the following students for being accepted into the National Junior Honor Society!
The Induction Ceremony is TONIGHT at 6:00pm.
  • Avery Acquard
  • Janine Avsar
  • Lily Bard
  • Cecelia Barone
  • Kate Bennett
  • Francesca Bowne
  • Meredith Burks
  • Ruby Cullen
  • Ben Dalton
  • Samuel Fereday
  • Haggai Gonzales
  • Jackson Guyre
  • Kathleen Hill
  • Eva Hines
  • Christopher Hooper
  • Vandrick Inman-Benavente
  • Celia Johnson
  • Madeline Land
  • Eryn Levy
  • Rebeca Lopez
  • Demian Maya
  • Isabella Marines
  • Caleb McClure
  • Aryana Mosaffa
  • Aaron Mullins
  • Isabella Pehlert
  • Albert Phu
  • Madison Pipkin
  • Dallana Ramirez
  • Josephine Sanchez
  • Bailey Sepolio
  • Jonas Stockton
  • Theodore Stone
  • Tania Tibbs
  • Rebekah Tran
  • Julian Urbina
  • Madison Vitale
  • Edward Vosko
  • Adell Walker
  • Jasmine Way
Location Update - Moving INSIDE to the Hogg M.S. Cafeteria

Heights INDOOR Movie Night - Star Wars: The Force Awakens
TONIGHT at 6:30pm (field opens at 5:30pm)
Also at the event...
  • A raffle featuring items donated by "Once Upon a Comic World"
  • Paintings by KCart Houston - https://www.kcart.pictures/
  • Kylo Ren cos-player will be in attendance for pictures
Hogg Middle School UIL Academics
TOMORROW, December 9
Ms. Chance and Ms. Guyre are taking over students to the HISD UIL Academic competition on TOMORROW, December 9 at Waltrip High School.  UIL offers a place for students to showcase their academic talents and to strengthen their academic interests.

Our Razorbacks are competing in Debate, Chess, Spelling, Science, Oral Reading, Maps, Ready Writing, Calculator Applications, Impromptu Speaking, Editorial Writing, Listening, Mathematics, Social Studies, Number Sense and Dictionary Skills. Hogg M.S. is represented in each category!

The next UIL Tournaments are Saturday, April 21 and Saturday, May 5, so please encourage your child to participate. Contact Ms. Guyre for more information at emily.guyre@houstonisd.org .
DIY Club Needs Supplies!
The DIY Club is in need of supplies, and they are hoping the Razorback Community can help them out! They turn recyclables into new, useful items. Here is the list of the items they need:

  • Empty water bottles of all sizes
  • Toilet paper rolls (empty)
  • Paper towel rolls (empty)
  • Empty soda cans
  • Empty food cans
  • Old magazines and newspapers
  • Empty shoe boxes
  • Empty tissue boxes
  • Old, clean T-shirts

They would also appreciate the following craft supplies:
  • paint
  • paint brushes
  • beads
  • crayons
  • washi/duct tape
  • zippers
  • yarn
  • ribbon
  • buttons
  • fiber fill
 
Please drop these donation items off at the front desk. The picture included is the first project the students created. It is a pencil case made out of water bottles! This club is great for our students because it encourages them to be OPEN MINDED in seeing “trash” as “treasure”, THINKERS to figure out how to create something, and CARING in finding ways to cut down on waste around our beloved neighborhood! Thank you so much for your support!
NJHS and Student Council Toy Drive
'Tis the season to open our hearts and help one another! NJHS and Student Council are sponsoring a Toy Drive for local families in need of a helping hand this holiday season. Your child’s advocacy has signed up for a category of toy to collect between now and Friday, December 15 . We are collecting new items only so leftovers can be sent to Toys for Tots at the end of the toy drive. In addition to toys and other holiday items, you can give by visiting the giving tree in the foyer of the school to see what gift cards we need for the sponsored families.
Hogg M.S. PTA Spirit Night at Pink's Pizza
Wednesday, December 13 from 5-9pm
Give your kitchen the night off next Wednesday, December 13 and let Pink's Pizza on Heights Boulevard do the cooking! From 5:00pm-9:00pm , you can dine-in or take-out your order and Pink's Pizza will donate a percentage of the total proceeds back to the Hogg PTA. To place your order, please call (713) 864-7465 or order online, and let them know you're supporting Hogg M.S. Delivery orders are not included in this fundraiser. Thank you!
Parent Chaperones Needed for
6th & 7th Grade Field Trips
6th Grade:
We still need chaperones for the Exxon Mobil Field Trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Students will be grouped by their ELA teacher. We need at least 10 parents per day. If you would like to chaperone the day your child is going on the field trip, see the assigned dates below. 

Here are the details:
  • Dates: December 19-21 (approximately 100 kids will attend each day)
  • Times: 9:00am-2:00pm
  • Assigned Dates: Ms. Ryan's classes will attend on December 19, Ms. Walley's classes will attend on December 20, and Ms. Perez's classes will attend on December 21

We need at least 10 parent chaperones EACH DAY, and they must be VIPS approved .  If you are able to attend, please e-mail Ms. Mulready at mmulread@houstonisd.org. Thank you!

7th Grade:
Students are heading to JA on Wednesday, December 13 , and permission slips will go home on Monday. We need parent chaperones attend, and they must be VIPS approved . If you are able to attend, please e-mail Ms. Saldana at vsaldana@houstonisd.org. Thank you!
Lady Razorback Softball Parent Meeting and Tryouts Information
Coach Hardaway and Coach Denson will host a Softball Parent Meeting on  Wednesday, December 13 at 6:00pm. 

Softball tryouts will be the following week on  Monday, December 18 through Wednesday, December 20 from 4:00pm-5:30pm at Stude Park , 1031 Stude Street. You must attend at least 2 out of the 3 tryout days to be considered for the team.  
PTA Volunteer Request
Let's show our teachers, administration, and staff how grateful we are for their time and commitment to our kids! Wouldn't we all enjoy some fresh fruit after eating way too much during the Thanksgiving holiday! Help us by bringing in your favorite fresh fruit! It is easy to volunteer - feel free to send the fruit with your student to school and have them drop it off at the front desk. Sign-up by clicking on the following link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c49afa829a7fc1-hogg1

Thank you!
A Note from the Nurse
The Hogg Clinic, Memorial Hermann Hospital, UT Health and Hogg Middle School are partnering for an immunization clinic for the HPV vaccine. Packets will go out just after Thanksgiving and should be returned to Nurse Mack once completed. The dates of the immunization clinic will be Tuesday, December 12 and Wednesday, December 13 . 
Chick-fil-A Fundraiser Fridays
On  Fridays , the Hogg Outdoors Committee will sell Chick-fil-A sandwiches and chips for lunch.  Sandwiches are $5, and chips are $1. There will be 160 sandwiches to sell, so please encourage your Razorback to participate!

This fundraiser benefits the Hogg Outdoors initiative that involves the refurbishment of our existing community SPARK Park and revitalizing our athletic filed!
Friday Night Flights: A Hogg Outdoors Fundraiser
Friday, January 26 at Town In City Brewing Co.
To purchase tickets, click on the following link: Friday Night Flights Tickets
Save The Date - Hogg M.S. PTA Inaugural Chili Cook-Off
February 3, 2018 at Holler Brewing Company
James Hogg Middle School | ph: (713) 802-4700 | fax: (713) 802-4708 | jameshoggms@houstonisd.org