Weekly Update
Mr. Dziedzicki- Assistant Principal, HSP Director, 8th Grade Homeroom, Mathematics
This week all students at Saint Ambrose have been introduced to growth mindset and habits of mind. In an effort to enhance school culture and aligning with our school STEM designation as an identified best practice, Saint Ambrose School is proud to announce our school habits. “Habits of Mind” means having a disposition toward behaving intelligently when confronted with problems in our day to day lives. When people experience choices, are confused by dilemmas, or come face to face with uncertainties– our most effective actions require drawing forth certain patterns of intellectual behavior. These behaviors are rooted in two fundamental ideas:
Growth Mindset– Reflects the belief that a person’s most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. (good introductory video)
Habits of Mind– The dispositions that are skillfully and mindfully employed by characteristically successful people when confronted with problems the solutions to which are not immediately apparent.
The goal of the teacher using “Habits of Mind” is to help students behave more intelligently. If students are capable of behaving more intelligently they are more likely to be successful.
Success– Achieving a goal that requires effort.
Intelligent Behavior– Behavior that makes it possible to reach your goal.
Each week we will be unveiling a new habit that we will focus on to reach our school acronym: REACH
Week 1: At Saint Ambrose School we are…
R- Resilient– Stick to it! Persevering in task through to completion; remaining focused. Looking for ways to reach your goal when stuck. Not giving up.
On to Math classes…
Algebra I classes will continue studying properties of exponents and have extended that knowledge to scientific notation. 6th grade advanced math will continue solving equations, a foundational algebra topic.
Here are some thoughts from the rest of the HSP faculty…
Mrs. Hamzik- 8th Grade Homeroom, Science
This week in science…..
Sixth grade began the study of bacteria and viruses. Monday they will take samples throughout the school and observe the growth for one week.
Seventh grade is studying invertebrates and is preparing for dissection of worms next week.
Eighth grade is studying geologic time. They have examined fossils and learned how geologists determine relative age.
Mrs. Noga- 7th Grade Homeroom, Social Studies
The HSP social studies classes are moving along nicely! The sixth-graders read an excerpt from The Epic of Gilgamesh and wrote new endings to it, and they engaged in a fun stations activity called “Scoot” to analyze Hammurabi’s Code. This coming week, the students will finish learning about the Babylonians and Phoenicians. The seventh-graders analyzed Greek architecture and found examples of it in modern society. They also learned about Greek drama and began to make Greek masks. They will finish up their masks this week and also write their own mini Greek drama to act out in groups. They’ll also be introduced to Greek philosophers. Finally, the eighth-graders made a foldable study guide with information about European explorers and maps with routes. They also acted out a short play about Spanish colonialism, which they did with enthusiasm! This week, they’ll learn about missionaries who protected the Native Americans. They also will touch on the Columbian Exchange and the early European colonies. On Halloween, all three grades will take a break from their current units and revisit the spooky Salem witch trials. Note: I am thrilled to be attending the Ohio Middle Level Association conference on Thursday and Friday as a way to learn tons of new ideas and strategies. The students will have relevant work to complete with the subs. Have an amazing week, and I’ll see many of you at parent-teacher conferences!
Mr. LaGuardia- 7th Grade Homeroom, English/Language Arts
The past week was one filled with many different learning experiences for students.
Here are some of the most notable moments from last week–
6th graders received their scores back on both their new summaries, as well as their video presentations of Aesop’s fables.
7th grade began making a children’s book for the 1st graders and kindergartners which will display the animals that they keyed on during their trip to the zoo, among other assignments.
8th graders wrapped up their “People Need to Know This Person” presentations, as well as their book Hatchet which we have been reading since September.
Thanks for your constant attention in regard to these students’ education!
Ms. Kadlec- 6th Grade Homeroom, Religion
Please join us for Mass at 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday, November 1 as we celebrate this important holy day of obligation.
The 6th graders had a nice visit from our seminarian Josh and discussed vocations. We are also learning more about the mystery of the Trinity.
The 7th and 8th graders have wrapped up their saint projects successfully. Now we will work toward finishing the Theology of the Body Program.
Please stop by to see me at conferences if you have any questions or concerns.
Mr. Mullen- 6th Grade Homeroom, Mathematics
This week, sixth grade mathematicians will be finalizing order of operations and moving ahead with learning about how to compute with negative numbers and how to place them correctly on number line.
Seventh grade Mathematicians will be wrapping up the short unit we’ve been working on about using the skill of negative fractions and decimals. The next unit of study will be about using and writing algebraic expressions. This will begin Wednesday of this week and move into next week and the following week as well.
This week 8th graders will review for their chapter test on functions and relations, domain and range, the vertical line test, and function notation. This test will be on Tuesday and Wednesday. Towards the end of the week students will begin to learn about solving simultaneous equations.
