Cortland Junior High School 
April 30, 2019
Junior High May Newsletter
Upcoming Events
5/03 Cortland Free Library and K-12 Selected Art Show
5/16 Junior High Tiger Camp Parent Meeting and Title I Information Night, 6:00 p.m.
5/24 No School for Staff and Students
5/27 Memorial Day, No School for Staff and Students
Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Hosts Day of Silence
The GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance) planned for their participation in the National Day of Silence on April 12th. Nearly every member of the club plus an impressive number of other 7th and 8th grade students took a vow of silence for all or part of the day to protest against the bullying, harassment and silencing of LGBTQ people everywhere. Some people wore dust masks decorated with rainbows and other LGBTQ flags, some dressed in rainbow colors, painted their faces, and much more to show their support for the rights of everyone to be their authentic selves. Our students learned that to stand up for their beliefs is an empowering and incredible experience. Thank you to all the staff for supporting our students’ right to protest in respectful ways.
Science Students Take a "Ride" on the Physics Bus
The Physics Bus is about doing science for fun! It is a mobile exhibition of upcycled appliances reimagined by kids that showcases unfamiliar physics phenomena. The mission of the physics bus is to awaken interest and creativity in physics for all ages and walks of life -- especially those underserved by science enrichment. It allows for the audience to have self-directed, empowering, positive experiences with physics. Read more...
Home and Careers & FACS News
In Home and Career Skills students are working on the Too Good For Drugs curriculum. We have learned about stress and emotions, peer pressure, tobacco, marijuana and street drugs and prescription drugs. Family will be the next topic. Our 4th unit will be Food, Nutrition and Wellness.

In FACS students are learning about careers. We have talked about our values, skills and personalities, how to be a responsible employee, how to fill out a job application and how to prepare for a job interview. Students will be completing a career google slide project using the Hats and Ladders program.
Title I Information Night
Title I (pronounced “Title One”) is the largest federal aid program for elementary, middle, and high schools. We are having an information night on Title I on May 16th at 6 p.m.

Through Title I, the Federal government provides funding to school districts around the country based on the number of low-income families in each district. Each district uses its Title I money for extra educational services for children who are behind in school. Schools where more than half of all students are low-income can operate a school-wide Title I project. This includes all Cortland schools.

Local districts, schools, and parents know best what their students need to succeed. Title I allows them to decide how to use Title I money to help students who are behind. In Cortland, Title I funds are being spent in these ways:
  • Reading specialists who help students to read and write;
  • Math specialists who help students with their numeracy;
  • A teacher who works with students for whom English is a new language;
  • Professional development and training for teachers; and
  • Literacy supplies and materials.

Title I money can also be used for different types of parent involvement activities, such as:
  • Family literacy activities;
  • Parent meeting, training activities, and; resource centers
  • Transportation and child care so parents can come to school activities or volunteer; and
  • Materials that parents can use to work with their children at home.
May is Kindergarten
Meet and Greet Month
We will host two meet and greets this month for parents  and  students to meet our staff and do some fun activities. You can choose to attend one of the following dates:

Dates:    May 13th  or  May 22nd
Location:  Barry Primary School
Time:      6:00 - 7:00 PM 

Please call 607-758-4130 to sign up for your evening of choice if you have not already done so. Ask to speak with Cheryl Loope.
Nurse's Corner
Students in grades 7, 9, 11, and those planning to participate in sports are required to have a current physical (within 12 mos) on file with the school nurse. If you are unable to schedule a physical exam with your child’s primary provider, school/sports physicals are offered over the summer and throughout the school year. Please see the Athletic Website for the summer physical schedule.
News from School Counselors
7th Graders will complete their course selections for grade 8 during the week of April 8-12th. Students will be encouraged to share curriculum guide, elective information and course selection sheet with parents. Parents/Guardians should contact aligned school counselors with any questions or concerns.
Health Class Update
All students in health class have been learning about sexuality and reproduction. This past Friday, we recognized the Day of Silence. Students learned about Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity this week and will wrap up the unit with lessons on healthy relationships, dating, sexual harassment and consent.
Topics Covered in 7th and 8th Grade Math
In Math 7, after the state exam, we will be exploring 3D Geometry. We will be looking at 3D shapes and the formulas that go with the shapes. We will also begin a math project.

In Math 8, we are currently talking about three-dimensional geometry. We are finding the volume of pyramids, prisms, and spheres.

Following the state test, we will be studying the Pythagorean Theorem. We will be doing a couple of projects - one is to figure out the optimal size flat screen television for your students favorite place to watch TV. Math can be very convincing - watch out...you may find your family buying a new TV!
Foreign Language News
Enriched Spanish is working on the Health unit, the verb doler, and indirect object pronouns. We will then move into our Car unit and start reviewing for the final exams.

Spanish 1B is working on the reflexives unit to say what we do for our daily routine. We will then move into review for the final exam.

Foreign Language Exploratory is starting off with articles about learning languages and will then learn about Spanish and French culture, history, and a little bit of each language!

French students finished learning new vocabulary and expressions related to home- la maison. It included types of housing, furniture, chores, and reviewing regular present tense verbs. During the first half of the month, we will explore health related vocabulary (parts of the body, injuries, illness, remedies, advice, describing symptoms) and new verbs. We will get ready to travel and go on vacations by learning how to ask for directions in the city, navigate transportation arrangements, and review culture and geography of many French speaking countries. Along the way, we will learn the verbs “voir” (to see), “dire” (to say), and “demander” (to ask). French club will meet in room 134 (date TBD). We are excited to hear all about the trip to Canada and Costa Rica!
Social Studies Classes Explore WWI
Students in 8th grade social studies have been busy working on a collaborative WWI group project. Each group will be presenting their research later in the week. Next up, the Roaring Twenties, with a Harlem Renaissance-Cortland Renaissance Project and the 1929 stock crash!
Character Education Trait of the Month
Our Character Education trait of the month is Trustworthiness, the ability to be relied on as honest or truthful. Students and staff who display trustworthiness will be honored at the end of the month.

 Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6-10! Don’t forget to thank our teachers!
Art Update
The Imagination Celebration opened on April 10th at the Homer High School old music building. Nearly 20 of our 7th graders were selected to participate in this county-wide juried art show. Three of them won awards in the Mixed Media category, so we are very proud of them. Ella Starinsky won first place, Genevieve Femino won second, and Campbell Bush won third place in the category.

Art classes are working with printmaking techniques. They have learned monoprinting, linoleum, styrofoam and collagraph printing. They are using their choice of printmaking techniques along with some other media to complete an artwork. It’s great fun to watch them exercise their creative muscles to find unique solutions to the problems.

Our final junior high art show will take place on June 12th. More information will come home as we get closer to that date.
Music Update
General music classes will start to practice in bands. Students have learned to play bass, guitar, drums and piano so we are ready to start learning tunes to play in a class band.

Congratulations to all of the band, chorus and orchestra students who performed their NYSSMA solos. Everyone did a fantastic job. The band had the all-county clinic on April 22 that had previously been rescheduled with Dr. Schaff. Students had the opportunity to rehearse with an accomplished Director from Crane School of music and got feedback and pointers.

Students have the opportunity to participate in the parade band that will take place in our Cortland Dairy Parade. Please refer to the junior high band website to check for these dates.
Student Senate News
Our trip to Hershey Park is coming up soon! The last payment of $40 is due on Wednesday, May 29th. There will be a parent/guardian/student meeting on Thursday, June 20th to discuss the specifics of the trip and pass out the trip t-shirts. If you know that you are unable to attend this meeting, please let Amy Sundheim (asundheim@cortlandschools.org) know as soon as possible. The specific time and location for the meeting will be announced near the end of May.

Want up-to-the-minute updates during our trip? Consider signing up for the Parent/Guardian Remind Account. To join, text @wemade2023 to the number 81010. If your student will have a phone with them on the field trip, they are asked to join the Student Remind Account, so they can get updates on the trip. To join, text @weare2023 to the number 81010.

Congratulations to Team 2 for winning Battle of the Team for the first time in over 10 years!

School lunch is a nutritious &
delicious option!
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