8/30/24
Upcoming Dates:
9/2- No School
9/17- Early Release- Students dismissed at 1:30 PM
10/1- Picture Re-takes
10/3- No School
10/10- No School and Conferences 5:00 PM-8:30 PM
10/11- No School and Conferences 10:00 AM- 1:30 PM
10/14- No School
10/22- Early Release- Students dismissed at 1:30 PM
11/5- No School
11/19- Early Release- Students dismissed at 1:30 PM
11/27-12/1- No School- Thanksgiving Break
What’s Happening at Twin?
6th Grade
6th Grade: Welcome to Twin Groves...we’re so glad you’re here! If at any time you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact any one of the teachers. The sixth-grade teacher teams include 6th Grade Blue: Jen Didech, Julia Block, Jeff Williams, Samantha Sabin, and Annie Nguyen; 6th Grade Gold: Lisa Huberty, Daniel Lee, Ali Maier, and Kristen Vileta.
Core 6/7 Math: Welcome to 6th grade math! We are starting with a unit on ratios and proportions. The students will learn how to describe ratio relationships, solve problems, and work with percentages. It is normal for math to feel challenging at the beginning of the year. The transition to middle school math is challenging because this class covers 6th and 7th-grade math in one year. Mr. Lee and Mrs. Didech are here for the students and will support them every step of the way. Give the students some time, and they will adjust to the new pace. So far, the students are doing great and we are excited to get to know them this year!
Core 7 Math: Welcome to 6th grade math! We are starting with a unit on rational numbers. The students will work with all four operations using negative numbers, fractions, and decimals. It is normal for math to feel challenging at the beginning of the year. The transition to middle school math is challenging because this class covers 6th, 7th, and much of 8th-grade math in one year. Mr. Lee and Mrs. Didech are here for the students and will support them every step of the way. Give the students some time, and they will adjust to the new pace. So far, the students are doing great and we are excited to get to know them this year!
Language Arts: Welcome back to school! We are beginning the year by spending some time getting to know each other while also helping students learn the daily routines of middle school. Each class has had the opportunity to take a tour of the TG library and check out a book. They will need to have a book to read in school every day for language arts and Flex classes. We are starting off learning about plot structures. Soon we will be moving into themes in fiction by discovering the lesson the characters learn in the story and/or what lesson the author is trying to teach the reader.
Science: Welcome to 6th grade Science! Students have been diving deep into how scientists DO science. First, we learned about safety in the science lab setting and classroom as well as safety equipment. Next, we learned how scientists set up an experiment and the steps they take in order to solve a problem or answer a question. Students are off to a great start and we can’t wait to see what this year has in store!
SS: Welcome to Twin Groves! In social studies, students will be learning about the world through the lens of geography. We will challenge the students to think like a geographers in order to understand why people live in certain locations, why they move, and how people and their environments impact one another. Along with this, we will be using the inquiry model to help students develop critical thinking skills to grapple with essential questions.
7th Grade
Language Arts: In Language Arts, we have been working on establishing our expectations for behavior, reading, and writing throughout the year. We are going to focus on the connotations, denotations, and various shades of meaning for words. This will help us later in the year when we analyze mood, tone, and theme. The students will be able to analyze how the connotation of specific word choice affects the reader’s interpretation of a text. The students also received their first Article of the Week (AOW) on Monday which you should have seen them working on at home.
Language Arts Advanced: In Language Arts, we have been working on establishing our expectations for behavior, reading, and writing throughout the year. We are going to focus on the connotations, denotations, and various shades of meaning for words. This will help us later in the year when we analyze mood, tone, and theme. The students will be able to analyze how the connotation of specific word choice affects the reader’s interpretation of a text. We will begin applying these skills to myths and short stories next week. The students also received their first Article of the Week (AOW) on Monday which you should have seen them working on at home.
Science: Students are reviewing science skills as the year gets underway. We are completing our first engineering project using a model-size zipline. We will be starting our chemistry unit next by looking at chemical reactions and introducing the periodic table.
Social Studies: It’s been a great start to the school year in Social Studies! We are getting to know our classes and each other using various activities to help establish routines, relationships, and expectations. We are working on some key foundation skills that are important for students as they continue their education… how to take active notes in class and geography/map skills. Evaluating sources for reliability and credibility is now more important than ever before… another focus for our opening time in S.S. This is a year-long focus of attention that will be attended to on a regular basis. After that, we will get into our first historical content for the year… reasons and motivations for colonial settlement and establishing the 13 British colonies in America. We will always ask a lot of questions about the past and present… and encourage deep, divergent thinking to enable students to analyze and interpret history in meaningful ways.
Math Core 7: In Core 7, students are currently preparing for our first formative of the year! We have begun our Rational Numbers Unit, working on combining integers (positive and negative numbers). Everyone is working very hard! They have been working on their Daily Notes and homework submissions.
Math Core 8: Students are working hard on a very crucial unit involving solving equations and inequalities including word problems. Students have been learning how to solve one-step, two-step, and multi-step equations including equations with the distributive property. Next week we will practice the art of solving equations with variables on both sides of the equal sign.
Algebra 1: Students are in the midst of their equation-solving unit. These skills, including solving literal equations, and solving inequalities and compound inequalities are foundational to their fluency in mathematics in the future.
8th Grade
Language Arts & Language Arts Advanced: In our ELA class, we begin the year by delving into the significance of storytelling and exploring why humans continue to tell stories today. We examine this through the lens of literary elements such as theme, mood, and tone, understanding how these components shape our engagement with stories. Following this exploration, we transition into our short story unit, where students will analyze how literature can reflect and mirror real-life ideas and concepts. Through this process, students will gain a better understanding of how literature can serve as a teacher in our lives, by giving us insights or lessons about life.
In addition, we will review the fundamental elements of literature while expanding our understanding of them. We'll also focus on developing our inferencing skills to analyze texts like detectives, piecing together clues to uncover deeper meanings. This approach will lay the groundwork for writing our own literary analysis papers, allowing students to articulate their interpretations with clarity and insight. Finally, throughout the year, we will continue to practice effective reading and writing strategies, building a strong foundation for critical thinking and writing.
Science: In Science the students have been exploring through experimental design and the scientific method, creating their own prototypes and procedures. They have investigated which materials to use, gathered design input from stakeholders to refine the criteria and constraints, developed models of how their solution is working, and optimized their solution based on data from investigations. Now, we are headed into our Genetics unit, revolving around cattle that have a mutation causing their physique to be overly muscular. The unit starts out with students noticing and wondering about photos of two cattle, one of whom has significantly more muscle than the other. The students will then observe photos of other animals with similar differences in musculature: dogs, fish, rabbits, and mice. Students used videos, photos, data sets, and readings to investigate what causes an animal to get extra-big muscles. Alongside that, students will investigate the impact of how muscles typically develop as a result of environmental factors such as exercise and diet. Then, we will dive into pedigrees, including data about chromosomes and proteins, to figure out genetic factors that influence the heavily muscled phenotype and explore selective breeding in cattle.
Social Studies: In social studies, we began the year by discussing one’s identity and how it shapes the way we all see the world around us. We will have many lessons, discussions and open forums with the hope of creating a safe environment where students practice sharing their perspectives and having difficult conversations. Our first unit focuses on immigration to this country at the turn of the 20th century. Students will investigate whether or not the “American Dream” came true for these immigrants. Students will research reasons why immigrants came to the United States and the conditions that they experienced once they arrived in order to complete their inquiry. Through this investigation, students will also explore the contributions that immigrants made to the United States and the lasting impact that this time of change had on future generations.
Algebra 1: Algebra 1 began the year by jumping right into Unit 01: Solving Linear Equations and Inequalities. Students will have to create equations and inequalities to represent different relationships to then solve and interpret the solution. They will also learn about literal equations involving two or more variables. Lastly, students will master solving linear inequalities and compound inequalities and to represent the solutions graphically. Please make sure that students are completing homework assignments, utilizing IXL and bringing a pencil with them to class daily. Excited for a fun year!
Geometry: Geometry began the year by jumping right into Unit 01: Angle and Segment relationships. The transition from Algebra 1 to Geometry always proves to be a challenging one but students are persevering! Students will have to really push themselves with their thinking. If your child feels that Algebra 1 concepts are making Geometry more difficult, please encourage them to utilize IXL/Khan Academy outside of class and reach out for extra practice! In this unit, students will be learning about collinear, bisect, trisect, perpendicular, perpendicular bisectors, complementary, supplementary, and angle relationships!!
Picture Day- How to Order Photos
Students took their pictures on Thursday, August 29th.
Once pictures are available, parents will go to the VIP site to order photos. It can take up to 2 weeks for photos to be uploaded for parents to view. HERE is the link from the Virtual Backpack on the KCSD96 website.
Tardy Procedures at Twin Groves
During Flex on August 27th, staff reviewed the following Tardy Procedures with the students. All Flex teachers will be sending the following information home today through TeacherEase.
The TG Staff asks that all students adhere to the schedule and do their best to arrive on time for each of their classes. It is important that they are on time for class and have the necessary supplies (including a charged iPad and a writing utensil) to accomplish all the expected class tasks. We want to maximize instructional time and having all students ready for class is a big part of their success.
This week in Flex,Twin Groves Staff rolled out the tardy procedures with the students with a presentation on expectations and processes. The tardy procedures will be monitored and tracked in each individual class.
Procedures:
Each time a student arrives tardy to class unexcused, the student will scan the teacher’s individual QR code. The QR code prompts students to complete a form explaining why they are tardy.
If students are tardy and it is excused, the students will have a school-provided pass, and they will not need to scan the QR Code.
1st and 2nd Tardy- The student will receive a warning from the teacher, reiterating expectations for arriving to class on time.
3rd Tardy- The student will be given a formal warning from the teacher and an email will be sent home to parents.
4th Tardy- The student will have a private conversation with the teacher to identify the reason for the repeated tardies. The teacher will send a 2nd email home to parents. The administration will be notified, and the student will serve lunch detention. During the lunch detention, the student will complete a Tardy Reflection Sheet.
5th Tardy- The student will meet with the teacher to complete a Tardy Intervention Plan. After a plan is developed, the teacher will meet with the necessary stakeholders to finalize the plan. A 3rd email will also be sent home with the details of the plan.
Tardies beyond the 5th- The teacher and the student will revisit the Tardy Intervention Plan. Parents and administration will be notified, and a parent meeting may be requested. Individualized plans and next steps will be taken as necessary.
Middle School Health Letter
Please click HERE to access the 24-25 Health Education letter.
Erin’s Law
An Illinois law known as Erin’s Law requires schools to implement an age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness/prevention curriculum for Kindergarten through Grade 12.
Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 researched and observed best practices and programs for delivering this instruction, selecting Be Seen & Heard ©. For more information about this presentation please go to www.victorpacini.com/peace-of-mind-2
This developmentally appropriate and interactive program focuses on teaching children skills to keep them safe from danger or abuse. Concepts discussed will include distinguishing safe from unsafe touches, safety rules at home and school, saying NO, safe/unsafe secrets, and telling a trusted adult, as well as reinforcing that an adult’s touching him or her is not the child’s fault.
Opt-Out Procedures
The presentation to Twin Groves students will be during the school day on September 9, 2024. If you prefer that your child does not attend this prevention education session, please submit your written request or your questions to Jessica Barnes at [emailprotected].
Sports Physicals- Please Read
Any 6th, 7th, or 8th Grade student interested in Cross Country, Girl's Basketball, or Soccer must have a current Sports Physical to try out or participate. There will be no exceptions. Now is a great time for families to check and get everything in order.
If you have any questions about your child’s current Sports Physical, please contact Rebecca Zwettler at [emailprotected].
D96 Music Boosters Blog
Please click HERE to access the blog.
Daily Announcements
Please see Twin Groves' website for up-to-date school announcements. The announcements let you know what exciting activities and clubs are going on at Twin Groves. Please click HERE to access the Daily Announcements.
Twin Groves Athletics
Please click HERE to access the Twin Groves Athletics site.
This site will be updated frequently.
