Contents
High School Information
Important Dates
| December 1 – New Voices Pride day – wear NV apparel | |
| December 2 – SHSAT exam for 8th graders | |
| December 10 – End of 1st Marking Period | |
| December 24-31 – Winter Recess School Closed | |
| January 3 – Classes Resume | |
| January 17 – Martin Luther King Jr. School Closed | |
| January 31- February 4 – Spirit Week (news to follow) | |
A message from Ms. Miller & Ms. Bernstein
The New Voices guidance team is looking forward to begin gathering insightful information around students Social and Emotional well-being with the new DESSA screening tool.
We are eager to begin implementing different interventions that are geared towards ensuring students receive appropriate support socially and emotionally in order to bolster their academic achievements.
Ms. Miller and Ms. Bernstein are in Room 310 and are available to all students.
Specialized High School Admissions Test
The SHSAT will take place on December 2nd at New Voices during the school day. Students who are taking the test are to arrive to school at the regular time and proceed to homeroom. Students not taking the exam will be given live instruction. Please note that any make-ups will take place centrally on a weekend.
High School Information
All eighth grade families should have received a personalized letter from High School Enrollment that includes an overview of high school admissions, including how to use the DOE’s online school directory and application system, MySchools.nyc. If you have not received this letter, please message Ms. Miller via Pupil Path.
PLEASE NOTE:
The high school application is NOT yet open and the audition registration period for LaGuardia High School is also NOT yet open. Please check the high school website for updates.
Pupilpath
Parents: Are you registered in Pupilpath? Administration and Teachers use this to message parents. Please stay informed. If you need assistance reach out to Enid Parra, Parent Coordinator, eparra2@schools.nyc.gov. Some parents have registered but did not confirm their registration in their email. Please confirm and set a password so that you can receive emails and updates. Please note that some information is only sent to parent accounts.
Math
Help Sites:
6th Grade
Numeric and Algebraic Expressions
At the end of the unit the students will be able to:
· Understand and Represent Exponents
· Find the Greatest Common Factor and Least Common Multiple
· Write and Evaluate Numerical Expressions
· Write Algebraic Expressions
· Evaluate Algebraic Expressions
· Generate Equivalent Expressions
· Simplify Algebraic Expressions
7th Grade
Analyze and Solve Percent Problems
At the end of the unit the students will be able to:
· Analyze Percents of Numbers
· Connect Percent and Proportion
· Represent and Use the Percent Equation
· Solve Percent Change and Percent Error Problems
· Solve Markup and Markdown Problems
· Solve Simple Interest Problems
8th Grade/Algebra
Introduction to Functions (continued from November)
At the end of the unit the students will be able to:
· Find the domain and range of a function and identify restrictions in real-world situations
· Evaluate functions and interpret the results in real-life contexts
· Graph functions by making an input/output table
Linear Functions and Equations
At the end of the unit the students will be able to:
· Graph arithmetic sequences and interpret that this type of sequence is linear
· Graph the sequences from each pattern rule
· Calculate and interpret slope and intercepts from the graph, from a table,
· Write, graph, and describe a linear relationship in slope-intercept form
· Write, graph, and describe linear relationships in point-slope form
· Write linear relationships in standard forma and convert to slope-intercept form
· Predict how a graph of a linear function will be transformed when the equation is changed
· Determine if a function is linear or non-learn by analyzing a graph, table or an equation
Art Electives
Please note that beginning December 13th the sixth grade classes will begin new electives for the 2nd marking period. The 7th and 8th grade will continue their study in their respective majors.
STEM (Mr. Burnworth)
6th Grade
Students will be learning the basics of code on scratch (a high level block-based visual programming language and website) through developing games and animations.
7th/8th Grade Majors
Students are building portfolios. Each student will spend two weeks developing projects with different technology that we have in our STEM room. The technology we have available are: laser cutter, vinyl cutter, robots, and Ultimaker 3D printers and micro controllers! We are looking forward to sharing pictures of their projects.
Chorus (Ms. Kahn)
6th Grade
Two new sixth grade classes will be starting their study in chorus. The students will begin our study of The Elements of Music. Additionally. They will be learning proper techniques for warming up our voices.
7th/8th Grade Majors
Students will fine-tune their repertoire to prepare for their first concert as chorus majors. The composer of the month will be Korean-American singer James Lee. A former K-pop star and bassist, Lee built a new career as a solo artist after suffering an injury that left him unable to play the bass.
Graphic Arts (Ms. Eisenberg)
6th Grade
The sixth-grade graphics arts students are learning a combination of product design, packaging design and logo design. text
7th Grade Majors
The seventh-grade graphic arts majors are learning typography design. They are studying how letters can be viewed as a visual element. The students are designing a three-dimensional accordion style book. The book will focus on designing individual words to evoke a feeling through font styles and the elements and principles of design. The final design will be printed, folded, glued and scored to make a three-dimensional book.
8th Grade Majors
The eighth-grade graphic arts majors are learning Adobe Illustrator. The vector art program allows designers to make sophisticated style illustrations. The students are studying logo design and three-dimensional packaging design. The class will be designing a shopping bag for a retail store. They will be designing on a two-dimensional template that will be printed, cut, glued, and scored together to make a three-dimensional shopping bag.
Visual Arts (Ms. Herrity)
6th Grade
Saying farewell for now to 605 and 606 – as we wrap up by learning some color theory and how to mix paint, and hello to my new 6th grade classes! They will begin by learning about the difference between being “verbal” and being “visual” – by doing exercises like blind-contour drawings. Students will begin to trust what they see!
7th Grade Majors
Seventh grade visual art majors are learning about perspective drawing technique and how it helps to show realistic forms on a flat surface. These lessons will be woven into an ink and watercolor project where they depict their idea of the future and come up with a concept for their artwork. They will be learning watercolor techniques from wet-on-wet to drybrush.
8th Grade Majors
Eighth grade majors are becoming acrylic painting professionals as they continue to work on their still-life project – painting on 16×20″ canvases. We are using a combination of student-grade and professional grade heavy-body acrylic paint as well as mixing mediums to control the transparency of the paint.
Theater (Ms. DiRenzo)
6th Grade
Students will be completed their time in theater with a study of Greek Mythology. Classes will be divided into three groups to write a play based on one of the stories.
7th Grade Majors
Students will begin a study of improvisation skills through games and scene work. They will also look at the work of Tina Fey and Keegan Michael Key. They will also take an analytical look at Greek Tragedy with Oedipus the King by Sophocles. Students will be studying some of the themes that are touched on in the play in connection to their own lives and today’s society and ask, “Why can such an old piece of theater be important and powerful to perform today?
8th Grade Majors
Students have finished their analytical look at Greek tragedy with Oedipus the King by Sophocles and will begin to use what they learned about stage composition to put a few selected scenes on their feet for presentation. Please be reminded that students have a weekly reflection to complete and turn in every Tuesday.
Science
6th Grade
Students will use the triple beam balance to determine the mass of different objects and of water. They will also use the ruler to measure and calculate the volume of different objects. Students will use the graduated cylinders to determine the volume of different amounts of water. After finding the mass and volume of the objects, and also of water, they will begin the lab on density. Students will use the density formula to calculate the density of each object and water. Based on the densities calculated, students will compare the solid objects densities to the density of water. They will use this data to predict which objects will sink or float in water. The goal is for them to understand that an objects ability to sink or float is based on the density of water.
Their understanding of density will lead them to the next unit of study, weather patterns.
7th Grade
Organic Chemistry
Students will continue their study in organic chemistry. We will look at various biochemical processes with a focus on the anabolism (the synthesis of complex molecules in living organisms from simpler ones together with the storage of energy) and catabolism (the breakdown of complex molecules in living organisms to form simpler ones, together with the release of energy) of macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids). Students will also examine the structure and function of various enzymes, acids and bases and the role they play in the biochemical processes of living things.
8th Grade
Genetics and Biotechnology
The unit of study for December is “Genetics and Biotechnology.” In this unit, students will understand the role and structure of DNA (hereditary material in human and most other organisms) and RNA (essential in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes) and how proteins are synthesized. Students will be able to describe the basic structure of a chromosome , the DNA molecule, and the nucleotide subunits. Students will also develop an understanding of DNA codes and patterns. They will also be discussing the process of DNA replication and explain how errors in replication may cause mutations.
Humanities
The BOOK FAIR is on for December 8th, 9th, and 10th. It will be both virtual and in-person.
6th Grade
Sixth grade students will begin a new unit of study on Prehistory and Early Civilization. They will begin exploring the essential question, “How do people adapt to their environment?” They will identify and apply the five elements of geography to the lives of early people and their own community. Then they will closely read informational texts to understand why the Agricultural Revolution was a turning point in history.
7th Grade
Seventh grade students will finish reading Anderson’s historical fiction novel, Chains. Then they will begin preparing for their first Socratic seminar, which will foster engaging, student-led discussions. Students will carefully consider how history impacts American culture today. They will closely read a range of informational texts that will help support their ideas during the seminar.
8th Grade
Eighth grade students will begin reading Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men. Students will use the background information learned last month about the Great Depression to help them understand the setting in the novel. The unit explores the essential question, “How important are hopes and dreams in life?” They will analyze the obstacles the setting presents in the lives of the characters and the impact on their hopes and dreams.
French
8th Grade only
8th Grade
Students will finish their first unit of study and will be able to do the following “I can” statements:
- I can read a map.
- I can talk about what’s in my backpack.
- I can describe the items in my backpack.
- I can talk about the items in my classroom.
In addition, students will begin work on a project in which they will develop an informational brochure about one of the over 30 Francophone (French-speaking) countries in order to better understand cultural products, practices and perspectives.
NEW VOICES | MS 443 