February 2014
Volume 4, Issue 1
Bellows Falls Middle
School
15 School Street
Terrier News
Bellows Falls, Vermont
05101
802-463-4366
www.bfmiddleschool.org
Upcoming Events:
Gearing Up
with Mrs. Bizaoui
After wrapping up our first couple of
units on matter, we will be shifting
gears (pun intended) to a couple of units on
Energy.
We will be studying all of the different forms of
energy such as mechanical, sound, chemical,
thermal, electromagnetic, and nuclear. Then
the fun begins, students will apply some of these
along with the concepts of kinetic and potential
energy to a series of experiments with rubber
band powered vehicles. They will continue with a
study on how people convert energy from
potential to kinetic and learning about the laws of
thermodynamics.
**8th GRADERS**
Feb 7—Yearbook write-ups due!!
Feb 7—Baby Pictures due!!
Just Say, “NO” to Spamming
with Mrs. Graves
Feb 4-Math Night
Feb 6-Technicool
Presentation
In the 6th grade class we will be continuing
with Digital Literacy. Students will start out
with learning about strong passwords. They
will be learning how to create secure passwords
in order to protect
their private
information and
accounts online.
Students will also
learn what spam is,
and then identify
strategies for
dealing with
it. Additionally,
students will become proficient in how to cite
online sources.
Finally, the unit will be wrapped up by having
students work together to come up with a
Digital Citizenship Pledge for the class to
sign. Students will be practice their
keyboarding skills using the online software
program Typing Pal. Grade 7 classes are also
working on digital literacy. Students will be
reviewing their media habits and they array of
media they use on a weekly basis, and reflect on
the role of digital media in their lives. Students
will also learn that presenting themselves in
different ways online carries both benefits and
risks. Finally, there will also be lessons on safe
online talk and gender stereotypes online.
Skill Building with Mr. Aquadro
In seventh grade, students are working on independent studies in coordination
with social studies. On the days when students aren’t working on their
independent studies, students will be working on reading The Enemy. The
Enemy is a student favorite which provides a great opportunity to study how
characters change through the course of a novel. In addition, students will be
practicing prewriting and introductory paragraphs. In English 9, learners will
be studying the 1930’s when not working on their independent studies. When
not working on the independent studies, students will be reading No Promises
in the Wind, which follows two brothers who must leave their family. In
addition, students have a writing assignment with choice, but they will be
expected to demonstrate key skills.
Feb 7-Winter Music
Festival
Feb. 7-Winter Sports
Terrier Night
Feb 14-Valentine’s
Day
Feb 17-21-Vacation
Feb 24-Back to
School
Feb 24-Spring
Parent’s Sport
meeting
Feb 27-Okemo Trip
Inside this issue:
Fall Fitness
2
Quick Reads
3
Wax On...Wax Off
4
Art News
5
All Mixed Up
6
“I-tus” Review
7
Toy Hacking
8