From Assistant Principal Rhoda Jaggernath Baksh: Below is an update of wonderful things going on in each department that impacts our sixth grade students.

ELA: Students are finishing up their essays for unit one. They are about to embark on their Geology unit. Students will pick a research topic of their choosing to become an expert for a cumulative assignment. 

Social Studies: Students are finishing up unit one and beginning to learn about the Paleolithic and Neolithic era.

Science: The 6th Grade Scientists are wrapping up their exploration of Light and Matter. By using a variety of materials, students have been investigating why light is transmitted or reflected and proving what's happening by using light meters to measure and record how much light there is in certain situations. These explorations have all come about as they are trying to fully explain why, when someone uses a one way mirror it creates a situation where certain things are seen or NOT seen. Diagrams have been drawn to show paths of light when interacting with certain materials. The final step is learning how our eye works and how that will hold the final answer as to why someone only sees themselves if they are on the shiny side of a one way mirror with a light on. But, if someone is on the other side with little to no light, they are not seen by that person.  

Math: 6th Grade is working on fractions, decimals and percent equivalence. 

Math Challenge: In Math Challenge students are working on improving their school/community projects. They have a million dollar budget in which they can buy or fund their project. They will eventually create slides and spreadsheets to show and justify their thinking.

STEM: Exploring Out of Space (Second Half of Unit)

Music: This month in 6th Grade General Music, students have been exploring the fundamental elements of music including pitch, melody, harmony, rhythm, form, and more. They have been working on Boomwhacker arrangements of popular songs, and exploring how this ties into their understanding of musical elements. For next quarter, students are gearing up for a unit on playing the ukulele. 

Art: Mr. Quiroga's 6th grade art classes have been working on wrapping up the first quarter. 6th graders learned about abstract painter Wassily Kandinsky and portrayed their emotions with oil pastels and the use of shapes, colors and lines. Students are also finishing up their mosaic pieces composed of their drawings filled in with magazine cut out pieces.

Physical Education: Students are learning the fundamentals of volleyball, getting ready for next week's staff and student volleyball tournament.