Art

6^th grade classes are exploring mixing and blending oil pastels. They will be using this knowledge to create their oil pastel plant compositions. Their use of color will demonstrate their understanding of positive and negative space in a composition and warm and cool colors.

7^th grade classes finished watercolor paintings on manila paper. These paintings demonstrated an ability to mix colors. They are now working on tempera resist paintings of the same still life.

8^th grade students produced very nice dry point prints on display in the first floor hall. Now, they are creating abstract drawings of musical instruments for oil pastels. Their finished work will be on

permanent display in the band and orchestra room and in the entrance

Library Corner

Nov 21 is the release of a new movie Twilight. There’s so much ‘buzz’ currently around this book series that I thought I’d share this website with you if you are considering whether or not this movie/book is appropriate for your students. As with everything, this is an opinion and what matters is your family’s opinion and your particular students. This website was shared with us by the district’s Library Media Services. http://www.reelzchannel.com/article/754/10-things-parents-should-know-

School Librarians’ Advocacy Group (SLAG) is hosting an In-Store Book Fair at Watermark Books & Café on Saturday, December 6 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. When you purchase an item(s) and you mention SLAG at the register, 20% of your purchase price will go to SLAG. If you order book(s) and pick them up during this event and mention SLAG at the register, 20% of the purchase price will go to SLAG. SLAG is a local group whose mission is to support Wichita public school libraries. In the past, this group has funded mini-grants that Allison has received for special projects.

Mary Hollowell

WELCOME TO THE FACS

6^th Grade---Students have been busy learning sewing machine parts and demonstrating how to thread the sewing machine. They are practicing their sewing skills on paper stitching charts and fabric squares.

7^th Grade---Students are learning the proper use of equipment in the foods lab, measurements, and cooking terms. They are learning how microwave ovens operate and experimenting with recipes using the microwave ovens.

8^th Grade---Foods and Consumer Skills---Students are finishing up their review over measurements, cooking terms and kitchen equipment. We will be making “Review Games” using this information and preparing recipes in the foods lab.

8^th Grade---Fabrics and Child Care---Students are learning how infants, toddlers, and preschoolers develop and learn through play; and understand the skills needed to help interact positively with children.

Technology Education

6th Grade: Microsoft PowerPoint

Vocabulary:

7th Grade: Lego Robotics

Vocabulary:

8th Grade: Applied Science Bridge Construction

Vocabulary:

Vocal Music

Vocal Music Calendar for first semester.

Winter Concert – December 16^th in the Allison Middle School Auditorium at 7:00

All grade levels for both Choir and Orchestra.

Several Allison Middle School music students will be selected to represent Allison Middle School at the South Central Kansas Music Educators Association (SCKMEA) middle level honor choir/band/orchestra concert to be held the first Saturday of November.

Kevin Moler

Vocal Music Director

Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School

(316) 973-4800

Band

The Band Handbook can be found on the Announcements page of this web site.

6^th Grade:

Beginning band students are learning new notes to expand playing ranges. We are also learning ties, slurs, dotted notes, 2/4 and 3/4 time signatures, and will soon work on key signatures. The beginning band will perform on the Winter Band Concert on Thursday, December 11, 2008 in the Allison Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Students need to wear the following.

· Gentlemen: black slacks, black shoes and socks, white dress shirt

· Ladies: black skirts (at least calf length) or black pants, black shoes and socks or hose, white blouse

Note: The intended concept is a dress occasion. Jeans, shorts, and tennis shoes are not considered appropriate dress. If these requirements present a serious problem, please contact the director well before the concert date.

7^th and 8^th Grade Bands:

Intermediate and advanced band students are working to improve and expand both individual and group musical skills. We are working on warm-ups, chorales, technique (Essential Elements), and concert music. These bands will perform on the Winter Band Concert on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Students will need to wear their band uniforms for this concert. The 8^th Grade Band will also perform on Friday, December 12 during the school day for visiting 5^th grade students. This should be a fun concert.

CONGRATULATIONS to 1^st Quarter Pass-off Champions!

7^th Grade: Kira Crafton, Eric Spackman, Jack Wilborn

8^th Grade: Samantha Dameron, Aaron George, Destiny Simms, Emily Weaver, Leah Wipf

Band Calendar

2008-2009

December 11, 2008 Winter Band Concert

6^th, 7^th, & 8^th Grade Band Students, 7:00 p.m.

December 12, 2008 Recruiting Concert for 5^th Grade Students

8^th Grade Band Students

During the school day

January 8, 12, 15, 22, All-City Band Rehearsals

26, & 29 Selected 7^th & 8^th grade students

Location TBA

February 2, 2009 All-City Band Concert (selected students)

Century II, 7:00 p.m.

March 7, 2009 Middle School Solo & Ensemble Festival

West High School, time TBA

6^th, 7^th, & 8^th Grade Students

April 17, 2009 Middle School Band Festival

8^th Grade Band Students

Curtis Middle School, during the school day

May 2, 2009 Worlds of Fun Music Festival

(tentative) 7^th & 8^th Grade Students

May 13, 2009 Spring Band Concert

6^th, 7^th, & 8^th Grade Band Students, 7:00 p.m.

Note: All performances will be held in the Allison Traditional Magnet Middle

School Auditorium unless otherwise noted.

Board Policy states that all students enrolled in elective performance groups must attend performances except in the event of death in the faily, illness, or an emergency request by the parent. Requests should be submitted one to two weeks prior to the performance.

ESPAÑOL www.phschool.com Link to textbook online

Ms. Witmer

Spanish

ON-LINE TEXTBOOK

www.phschool.com

Click on world languages

User name: first name last name (no spaces, all lower case)

Password: Allison (no spaces, all lower case)

Click on world languages and select “Realidades” level 1

6^th grade:

The Spanish alphabet and perfecting pronunciation

Practice spelling using Spanish sound system and letters

Coming up: Family album PowerPoint & oral presentation

Conversational activities

Grammar

Describing family members

Adjective agreement

Paragraph writing in Spanish: a brief biography on family members, including what they look like and what they like to do and what they dislike.

7^th grade: Chapter 1B and beyond

Self portrait and essay project

Students will write an essay in Spanish describing themselves in detail. Information will include what they look like, their personality and activities they enjoy participating in. They will also draw a self portrait to include with the essay.

Describing oneself

Using adjectives

Conversational activities

Writing

Grammar

Coming up: PowerPoint presentation about Christmas in Latin America. Students will research how Christmas is celebrated in Spanish speaking countries and present their findings in the form of a Power Point to the class.

Also coming up: Singing Christmas carols in Spanish. Students will stroll through the hallways singing carols.

8^th grade: Chapter 2b and beyond

Conjugating verbs- grammar

Using direct object pronouns

Using pronouns and verbs

The Spanish verb game project. Students will work with a partner or individually to create a game in Spanish. The goal is to come up with an original game that will require players to conjugate verbs in Spanish.

Also coming up: Singing Christmas carols in Spanish. Students will stroll through the hallways singing carols.

Spanish all grades:

Spanish homework

Expect your child to spend 10-15 minutes each night studying vocabulary for weekly quizzes. There is a vocabulary quiz at the end of each week. Students usually receive a new set of vocabulary words/phrases on Monday to study for the week. Vocabulary is reinforced through various activities throughout the week. Most vocabulary quizzes require students to demonstrate spelling, word recognition and translating skills.

Grading

Your child’s grade is based on in class participation, conversational activities, assignments, worksheets, projects, keeping a daily agenda in the Allison planner and weekly vocabulary quizzes. Progress reports will be issued biweekly and are usually sent home with students on Fridays.

Students may retake all quizzes in order to improve their grade. Quizzes may be retaken as often as desired. There is a quiz retake cutoff 2 weeks before the end of each grading period.

Materials for class

Students are expects to bring paper, pencil/pen, a Spanish folder, the Allison student planner and their Realidades textbook to class with them each day. 6^th grade will not have a textbook.

Spanish textbook on-line

Visit the Spanish textbook Realidades online for extra practice, interactive games and activities. The entire content of the book is available on-line so students will not need to bring it home with them if they have access to the internet. Parents/Guardians will be able to practice with their child. The site will include flashcards and oral/listening exercises to help improve pronunciation, comprehension and reinforcement of vocabulary.

WHY TAKE SPANISH?

1. Communicate with 350 million native Spanish speakers worldwide.

2. Communicate with Spanish-speaking people at home.

3. Learn Spanish to enhance your travel experiences.

4. Use Spanish to improve your employment potential.

5. Learn Spanish to improve your knowledge of your own language.

6. Learn Spanish to prepare for study abroad opportunities.

7. Better appreciate Spanish-speaking cultures.

8. Learn Spanish to make lifelong friends.

9. Learning Spanish makes acquiring the next foreign language easier.

10. Gain access to Spanish art, music, literature and film.

–

WHY TAKE SPANISH?

Send mail to cwofford@usd259.net with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: November 21, 2008

Send mail to cwofford@usd259.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: November 21, 2008