This Blog is No Longer Active

We are no longer using the blogs. All parents should log into SOIN. Information was sent home with report cards. If you have misplaced your information, or need help please contact the EKA office.

Science Fair Updates

Students have completed their science fair research plans and background research papers. Students should now be moving forward with the experimentation phase of their project. Data should be collected as they conduct their experiment.

The next due dates for their science fair projects are as follows:

Monday, November 15th - Abstract
Tuesday, November 16th - Final Project Report
Wednesday, November 17th - Display Board
Thursday, November 18th - Eleanor Kolitz Academy Science Fair and Invention Convention

They will receive additional information concerning the completion of each of the remaining portions of the project.

Science Test

The sixth grade students are completing their unit of study on work, power and the mechanical advantage and efficiency of machines. Their next test is Friday, October 22nd.

Science Field Trip

The 6th, 7th and 8th grade science students will be particiating in a robotics lab sponsored by the University of Texas at San Antonio on Thursday, October 28th. They will leave at 8:20 a.m. and will return at 11:30 a.m. in time for lunch. Cost of the field trip is $10 per student.

All students need to return a signed permission slip along with their payment to Mrs. Lloyd by Wednesday, October 20th.

Drivers will be needed to help transport the students to and from UTSA. If you are able to assist with the driving, please check the appropriate box on the permission slip. Thank you!

Genealogy Project

Students will have their first Genealogy Project class today. Each Friday will be dedicated to the project and the Shalom Y'all curriculum. Today, the students family trees were due and they have received a calendar of due dates. Parents and students should review the due dates together and parents should facilitate conversations between family members. The due date for the project is the Mitzvah Fair - February 18, 2011. After that date, we will begin the Shalom Y'all program!

Have fun with this and see what you all discover together!!

Notes from the Music Room

During October and November we will be preparing for our annual Thanksgiving Program.
Save the date: November 23, 2010 @2:00

Science Fair Project Updates

Science fair topics have been selected and students are now working on their science fair research plans and background research papers. During their science class time this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, students will be given the opportunity to work on their projects in the computer lab. It would be helpful for students to bring their flash drives so they can save the information they complete at school.

The due date for both their research plan and research paper has been changed to Thursday, October 14th.

Students can find many helpful science fair project worksheets and examples at www.sciencebuddies.org. Just click on the "Science Fair Project Guide" on the left side of the screen under "Student Resources".

If students would like additional assistance they are welcome to come to the science lab during lunch or they may stay after school on any Monday, Tuesday or Thursday. If they are coming after school, they would need to bring a note from a parent granting them permission to stay. All students would need to be picked up by 4:15 p.m. from the front of the building.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Mrs. Davis- Math

The kids are all working well in the k12 program. For the most part, they have all been working at a good pace. Now that we are done with the Holidays, I expect that each of them should be able to average 4 lesson a week. Please check their assignment notebooks, becasue I am assigning homework, in different forms, most school nights. Remember that they can log on at home through the k12website at k12.com. Feel free to email me with specific questions or concerns.

Egalitarian Kriat Torah

Ms. Miller has been hard at work recording aliyot to help those who are going to read Torah during t'fillot! She has already posted recordings for the next 4 weeks, and they can be found on the "Students" drive in S:/Middle_School/Torah Reading - Egalitarian. Parents, please make sure that your child knows his or her own Hebrew name, parents' Hebrew names, and if your family is Cohen, Levi, or Yisrael.

Oratory Contest Information

Here is the information shared with students at the preliminary meetings about this year's Oratory contest:
Oratory Contest

 The Oratory Contest is on Thursday, November 4th at 2:00 P.M.

 Practice sessions will be on Mondays after school and Tuesdays during lunch EVERY WEEK between now and November 3rd.

 You MUST attend AT LEAST FIVE of these sessions TOTAL in order to participate in the Oratory Contest. If something comes up, you need to speak to Miss Planto immediately.

 Next week during the practice sessions, you will have the opportunity to work with Miss Planto on finding an appropriate speech. You may also choose one on your own, but Miss Planto needs to approve it. Please select a speech by NEXT FRIDAY, October 8th.

About Speeches:
Speeches

Theme: Global Citizenship

Sources: In the “MIDDLE SCHOOL” folder on the S: drive, you have access to a folder called “ORATORY.” In this folder, there are links to websites where you can find speeches and other famous writings.
In the Language Arts classroom, Miss Planto has a selection of books from which you may also pick a piece.

Length: Speeches should be 2 – 6 minutes long when delivered. They may be abridged with Miss Planto’s assistance.

Sixth Grade Art

Sixth grade created colorful collages for the annual fundraiser, and then worked on their symmetry skills with a special Picasso portrait challenge. They had to draw the other half of one of Picasso's famous portraits. They all rose to the challenge!

Science Fair Topic Selection Due Date Extended

The science fair topic selection form due date has been extended for all students until Wednesday, September 22nd. Thank you!

Science - Science Fair Topic Selection Reminder

This is just a reminder that the science fair topic selection form is due on Monday, September 20th. Their homework for the past week has been to research and explore topics that may be of interest to them.

Sudents need to be able to answer "Yes" to all of the project checklist questions on their form. If they are unable to answer "Yes" to any of the questions then they may need to consider a different topic. Websites that may be helpful for them are listed on their topic selection form as well as in an earlier science blog. Most of these websites also have links to other resources that may be helpful to them in narrowing down their search.

Your student will be asking you to sign their form as well. Thank you!

6th Grade Math

Hello- We are finally in the full swing of math. We have kids working on three different levels of math during our class. The kids seem to have gotten the hang of the k12 program. I am very happy, for the most part, with the work I see and the attentiveness I see as they work through the lessons. Click the following link to see the kids in action!
6th Grade Online Math Class

Reading and Vocabulary Assignments

For parents' information:

Students received a syllabus outlining their reading and vocabulary assignments for One More River. They have also received a vocabulary list for the first few chapters of the book. Please ask your student to show you this information.

We will continue with regular Wordly Wise quizzes, but there will be words mixed in from the Reading Vocabulary. Students will know ahead of time which words to focus on.

Texas History -Brochure Project

Important dates to remember for the Brochure Project:
- 1st draft of text due this Friday, Sept. 17
- Revised draft of text due next Wednesday, Sept. 22
- Pictures/captions and list of sources due Wednesday, Sept. 29
- FINAL DRAFT due: Wednesday, Oct. 6

We will be working on this in class, as well as in the Computer Lab. However, students WILL need to do some of their research and writing at home, too. The information packet is in their Texas History section of the binder, and they should have copied the above information from the board in class today.

Science - Science Fair Topic Selection

The season for science fair is upon us! Over the next few weeks, the students will be completing various aspects of the science fair process. The first step of the process, topic selection, was discussed today and students will be working on choosing just the right topics to investigate. Look for the "Science Fair Project" paper in the Science Fair section of their binder. It outlines the requirements for choosing a topic along with lists of categories, science fair dates and helpful websites to aid them in their selection process. We will be spending considerable time in the classroom working on this process as well.

Their homework for this week is simply to spend some time looking at the websites or other helpful information and choosing a topic that most interests them. Their topic selection form is due on Monday, September 20th.

The Eleanor Kolitz Academy Science Fair is scheduled for November 18, 2010. Each step of the project will be reviewed during class and due dates will be assigned for specific portions of the project. Due dates for each portion will be posted as they are given.

Some outstanding websites concerning science fair include:
www.sciencebuddies.org
www.all-science-fair-projects.com
www.sciencefairprojects.org
www.education.com/science-fair/middle-school
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral
www.arase.org

Thank you!

Book Reports

Students are expected to select books to read independently, and will complete at least one independent book report each quarter. Information on the requirements for the first quarter book report should be in your child’s Language Arts binder. This quarter, the books are “free choice,” meaning any type of book is acceptable, so long as it is age- and grade-level appropriate. All book reports include a written assignment and a creative component, similar to what was done for Summer Homework.

The due date for first quarter book reports is Monday, October 25^th.

** Stay tuned: Information on One More River reading assignments and vocabulary will be added to the blog shortly!**

English Language Arts - Welcome!

Welcome to the MS Language Arts blog!

Now that the dust has settled from the start of the year, please check here regularly for information and updates regarding class assignments, policies, and news!

In 5th-8th grade, we have established a daily routine that includes reading, writing and practice in written conventions of language. Standard homework each week includes Wordly Wise/vocabulary practice and reading of both assigned and free-choice books.

Homework assignments are checked as part of a completion grade for each week. Daily classwork and quizzes are valued as "single grades" and tests and projects are valued as "double grades" when averaged. A separate grade is determined for conduct (behavior).

Students have received instructions as to how they should organize and keep the Language Arts section of their binder. A paper regarding this has gone home to be signed and returned by Tuesday, September 14.

Copies of this organizational information, and of the course information given to all MS Language Arts families at "Back to School Night" are available from Miss Planto via e-mail.

Notes from the Music Room

In music we continued learning our Samba-style dance which contains 4 different dance steps. We also discussed the geography of Brazil, the history of the samba, and a little about the culture of Brazil. Ask your child to show you some of the dance steps.
We also practiced writing notes on the musical staff in preparation for a simple composition project which we will play on the hand chimes.

Science Updated 9/2/10

The sixth grade students will have their first test on Wednesday, September 8th over laboratory safety and metric measurement. They were given a test outline earlier this week that identifies the concepts they need to review. The outline should be in their binders behind the Vocabulary/Notes Tab. A class review will be held the day before the test during their class time. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Science

Welcome back to Middle School Science!

The first few days of school have passed and classroom procedures, safety rules and basic laboratory policies have been reviewed. The students are now diligently working on reviewing the basics of the metric (SI) system of measurement and they will be using various laboratory tools to aid them as they continue their study. This nine weeks the focus will be on:
*Measurement and Lab Tools
*The Scientific Method
*Science Fair
*Work and Power

Each day they are writing their homework assignments in their agenda on the day they are due. Look for my "green" initials in their agenda by their homework.

The students have been doing a great job bringing their science textbook, science workbook, binder and agenda to class each day. They have set up three tabs for science in their binders. Look for their vocabulary/notes, labs/assignments and science fair information in each section of their binder.

It will be a great year in Science!

Notes from the Music Room

New to the music curriculum is the addition of a middle school musical revue on April 7, 2011. The revue is a collection of songs woven together with dialogue. All middle school students will learn the songs and choreography. Students will be able to audition for spoken parts and possibly solos. We will probably need a small technical crew as well. The set will be designed and created by Miss Bella and students in art classes. We will wear costumes instead of uniforms. I will try to keep our rehearsals limited to class/school time. Special parts will probably need after school rehearsals, and possibly a couple of dress rehearsals in the evening. In preparation for the choreography, we will be learning dance steps throughout the year. I am extremely excited about our new performance!

Sixth Grade Art

Sixth grade followed in the time-honored tradition of artists such as Picasso by copying the work of Paul Klee and Henri Matisse. These two artists used distinctly different types of line. We are also exploring line as used by the artists of PreColumbian America.

Technology Class Homework Due 8/27

How terrific to see our returning 6th Graders in class today. In our first class we reviewed what makes a good password and made sure everyone could log in to our network and school email. 6th Graders got their own logins today. They will no longer all use the same login and password.
HW

All 6th Graders should bring their flash drives to class next Friday (8/27). The flash drive (or usb) will be a tool in many of the classes this year. It's a great way to carry a project to and from school. I've assigned this as homework because I will be checking to make sure everyone has a flashdrive, it's labled and all know how to use their flash drive.

I look forward to a great year!

Gail Markson

Judaic Studies-Rabbi Marrus' Class 6/19/10

Dear Parents,

Welcome to a new year. I'm very excited to teach your child and am looking forward to a successful year. As there are some students that find the Hebrew text difficult, I am including some links of where you would be able to purchase a book with English translation (books used in my class are Hebrew only).

If you child has difficulty with Hebrew reading and comprehension, please purchase the books. If however your child can read and understand the basic Hebrew I encourage you NOT to buy the English translation books as they will hinder the student's Hebrew skills.

click on links below

Navi: Prophets - Book of Yehoshua-Shoftim
Mishnah: Tractate Brachot -First Semester
Mishnah: Tractate Pesachim - Second Semester

Judaic Studies and Tefillot Tracks

Dear Families:

With all of the changes underfoot at the EKA and family responses not always being timely, we really have worked up to the minute on settling schedules and making decisions.

As we work through the schedule for the first week of school, we are seeing things that looked good on paper, not work out in the day-to-day. All of these items are being addressed, but it takes time. The students are still in their classes with the teachers that are going to teach them, but it may be that the times that they take each class may change.

After hearing from the majority of families, I have decided that for Judaic Studies, the students will take a Mishna / Navi class with Rabbi Marrus, a Chumash / Holiday class with Mr. Olitzki, and students requiring an Orthodox teacher for their studies, will take a the Chumash / Holiday class with Rabbi Levi Teldon. Tefillot classes will be tracked into Orthodox and Egalitarian with the choices made during the summer holding.

Please understand with the dual tracks and three grade levels having two classes, the schedule is complicated. We are working diligently to make right anything that appears to be off.

Thanks for your understanding and support.