Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:38:51 -0800WeeblySat, 18 Feb 2012 12:17:57 -0800http://normanf.weebly.com/1/post/2012/02/we-begin-the-5th-six-weeks.htmlHello all.....I hope you were able to enjoy the slow and steady rain.  It was a wonderful sound and sight for me. 

This week begins the 5th six weeks.  We are about 2/3rds through this year and we still have lots to cover.  Although it's a short week, it will be packed with lots to do.  Don't forget, students are off on Monday.  Teachers will be in planning meetings for most of the day.

In 8th grade we started our unit on Light years and understanding measurement and distances in space.  We will be working on researching various theories about our universe. We will have a quiz at the end of the week as well.  Students should make sure to take good notes and complete assignments on time.

In 7th grade, we started on the Circulatory System.  We took some notes on Friday and watched a short video.  We will continue with a few more notes as well as drawing and labeling parts of the circulatory system to include the heart and the 3 types of blood vessels.  We also have our heart rate lab coming up as well.

Happenings this week...

Monday - NO School for Students

Tuesday - Pre-UIL Band Concert & Sight reading at the PAC - 6pm

Wednesday - Turn in your Career Planning sheets for High school 8th graders

Thursday - Tennis Parent Meeting in the cafeteria at 6pm with Coach Lance Kaminsky.  Practices will begin on Monday 2-27 for girls and 2-28 for boys.  Tennis is open to 7th and 8th graders only.

Friday - Career plan sheets for 8th graders are due...students who do not turn them in may not be able to register for their high school classes next week.  We will be going to Hays HS on Monday morning to tour the campus.  Registration for next year will happen on Wednesday 2-29 for Mrs Norman's classes and 3-1 for Mrs Foster's classes.

Friday - Band Social - 3:30 - 5:30pm...cost is $5...make sure you are not on the NFL (no fun list).
  
Have a  fabuloys week!
Mrs Norman '91
Gig 'Em Aggies! ]]>Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:35:57 -0800http://normanf.weebly.com/1/post/2012/02/end-of-the-six-weeks-is-this-friday.htmlHello all.  Hope you had a restful weekend.  We are finishing up the 4th six weeks this week. 

In 8th grade - we are finishing up Unit 9 on Earth Cycles.  We will be covering tides on Monday and then students will have Tuesday to work on their review for their upcoming test on Wednesday.  This will end our unit on Earth Cycles.  At the end of the week we will begin our next unit on Space.

In 7th grade we are continuing with the Human Body.  We have a quiz over the skeletal system.  We will continue to work on the muscular system and finish it off on Thursday with a Test over bones and muscles.  Friday we will begin the next system which is the Integumentary (skin) system.  We will be doing some drawings to help fully understand the parts and their functions.

Happenings this week....
Monday - Flower sales for Valentines day will be happening. This is an 8th grade fundraiser for the end of year 8th grade celebration...If you are interested in helping, please contact Jennifer Perry.
Monday - PARENT MEETING AT HAYS HS - for incoming freshmen and their parents. I recommend you attend especially if this is your fist child going into High school.
Tuesday - Valentines Day - per the administration - NO stuffed animals or large flower/balloon arrangments should be brought to school.  Flowers that were purchased at school will be delivered on Tuesday.
Wednesday - Student Council Relay for Life Fundraiser - Buy a wristband for a $5 donation and students will be able to wear long pajamas to school on Thursday.  Students will have to wear the wristband in order to wear the pajamas on Thursday.
Thursday - PTA sponsored Teacher luncheon
Thusday - Pajama day if you purchased a Relay for Life Wristband
Friday - End of the Six Weeks

NEXT MONDAY is a Student Holiday - teachers will be in meetings ]]>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:55:32 -0800http://normanf.weebly.com/1/post/2012/02/in-the-thick-of-things.htmlThis week we are continuing with our Earth & Space Unit in 8th grade science...
We finished off our lesson on seasons and are starting this week with moon phases and eclipses and tides.  There is lots of information headed our way.  Some of it is review from 5th grade.  Most everyone remembers a little here and there, but we really need everyone to review notes as we go through this.  Historically, 8th graders have not done so well on previous Taks tests on this subject.  We hope that this year will different mainly because it is being taught much later in the year and the students will have it fresh on their minds as we approach the new Starr tests coming up in April.  Thus far we have had good class discussions and most everyone is recalling some good information from 5th grade.

In 7th grade we are starting my favorite topic....the HUMAN BODY!
Today we began with the skeletal system.  We covered the basic vocabulary as students defined terms and we got a general understanding of structure and function.  As the week progresses will go more in depth on structure and function and make connections between systems.

Happenings this week...

Monday - Track tryouts
Tuesday - HOT AIR BALLOON is coming! (Sponsored by DMS parent Gayla Goertz, REMAX Agent)
 
Thursday - District Science Fair at the PAC (parents welcome at 4pm - Awards ceremony begins at 5ish
]]>Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:03:55 -0800http://normanf.weebly.com/1/post/2012/01/progress-reports-headed-home-on-tuesday.htmlProgress reports will be sent home on Tuesday with students.  Please check the parent portal regulary for the most up to date postings of grades.  If your student turned in an assignment after grades were posted, it will not be reflected on the paper copy on the progress report.  I urge you to check the portal, under the report card tab.  Hope this helps to avoid any confusion or frustration.

8th grade will be beginning a new unit this week...Earth Cycles.  We will be looking at seasons and the tilt of the Earth and understanding how one affects the other.  The key is to make the connection between the two.  We have a great lab associated with this topic. 

7th grade is continuing with the Cell, but now we will be going a little more in depth referring back to the historical misconception of spontaneous generation and comparing it to the current science of Mitosis.  We will map out the phases of Mitosis before we begin our next unit on the Human Body...I can't wait!  This is my favorite topic! 

Happenings this week...

Monday - AM - STARR Science Tutoring for assigned students
Monday - LAST Basketball games of the season at Hays HS versus BMS
Monday - 5th graders come to visit DMS

Tuesday - Progress Reports Go home
Tuesday - Incoming 6th grade Parent Meeting

Wednesday - Staff meeting - No tutoring/retesting afterschool

Thursday - Last day to turn in District Science Fair entry form to Mrs Norman 

Have a great week!
Mrs Norman '91
Gig 'Em Aggies ]]>Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:15:50 -0800http://normanf.weebly.com/1/post/2012/01/last-week-of-januarywhere-did-it-go.htmlWow, time is certainly flying by and we are finishing the 3rd six weeks and progress reports will be coming home next week.

In 8th grade science we are finishing up our unit on Weather.  We have a special treat this week.  Andrew Chung from KVUE Weather will be visiting our campus to speak with our 8th grade students just before the Unit 8 Climate test.  Students will have an opportunity to listen to Andrew's presentation and ask questions on our weather.

In 7th grade we are still working on our Cell Unit and will be presenting our Cell City Analogy projects.  We also have a quiz over structure and function with our Unit test at the end of the week.

Happenings this week:

Monday - Board Appreciation Month presentation by MS Student Council Presidents
Tuesday - Andrew Chung from KVUE visits DMS
Thursday - Academic Pep Rally (UIL and Science Fair winners will be acknowledged)
Thursday - Basketball game vs Simon
]]>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:15:40 -0800http://normanf.weebly.com/1/post/2012/01/short-week.htmlThis is a short week for us but none the less, it will be busy.

8th grade is finishing up our weather unit as we learn about hurricanes and the affects of El Nino and La Nina.  We have a quiz at the end of the week and a TEST the following Monday.

7th grade is continuing with Cells and we get to have a lab with MICROSCOPES!!!  We are also in the computer lab creating cells and then we will be having a quiz over structure and function of cells.  We also have a quick project where students will create a cell city (drawing).
 
We're keeping it short and sweet.  Should be a breather of a week in Science.

Have a great one!

Mrs Norman

]]>Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:37:30 -0800http://normanf.weebly.com/1/post/2012/01/a-new-semester-is-upon-us.htmlWe are up and running with a new unit for both 7th and 8th grade. 

We have started new journals for this new, longer semester.  It is important that students have their new Composition journals as soon as possible.  Prolonging getting one, will put students behind and more difficult to study for upcoming quizzes and tests.

Upcoming events:
Tuesday - Science Fair judging
Friday - Spirit Day
Saturday - UIL Academic Meet at Wallace MS ]]>Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:49:32 -0800http://normanf.weebly.com/1/post/2011/12/the-new-year-is-upon-us1.htmlSat, 17 Dec 2011 17:49:28 -0800http://normanf.weebly.com/1/post/2011/12/the-new-year-is-upon-us.htmlNEW JOURNALS will be needed our first day back.  Please make sure you have purchased a new Composition book.  We are starting the second semester and we will be starting a new journal.  Old journals should be kept and not thrown out.  The information that students have accumulated will be beneficial as we prepare for the upcoming STARR test.  Their journals will serve as a great tool to help in that preparation. 

I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday with family and friends.  We have a long semester ahead of us and we need all the rest and relaxation we can get.  See you on January 4th!

Mrs Norman '91

Gig 'Em Aggies

]]>Sat, 03 Dec 2011 14:38:00 -0800http://normanf.weebly.com/1/post/2011/12/two-weeks-until-end-of-the-six-weeks.htmlProgress reports were mailed home this past week.  Please make sure to check the parent portal for updates and upcoming assignments. 

8th grade will have their Unit 7 assessment on Dec 14th.  It will be our six weeks test.   There will not be a Retake on this assessment, so students should begin preparing now.  We have already had some vocabulary and notes on Theories and Scientists who have studied plate tectonics.  We will be looking at topographic maps and understanding cause and effects of landforms in the coming week.

7th grade just completed the Components of the Solar System and will begin Organisms in the Environment this week.  This will be a quick unit with a Unit assessment coming on Thursday, Dec 15th.  

SCIENCE FAIR - This is the last week to complete projects and get tri-fold boards organized.  Check the DMS Science Fair webpage to see a sample display.  Also, if you still need to purchase your board, Hobby Lobby has them in various colors.  You can download a 40% coupon to get an even a better price.

DEADLINE for Science Fair Boards is Tuesday, Dec 13th.  This is a major grade for the 3rd Six Weeks.


WASHINGTON DC Trip deadline is fast approaching.  Follow the link on my website to register and see our Itinerary.  We are starting to fundraise and will have some great opportunities to lighten the burden of the cost of our trip.  If you have any questions, please just let me know.

Hope you have a great week.  Be prepared for the upcoming cold weather.

Mrs Norman '91
Gig' Em Aggies! 

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