Hot Lunch Update
Theresa Zangel asked me to pass along to you that there will be no hot lunch served the last week of school. (June 2-5).

Science Fair Survey
I just wanted to thank all those that have turned in the survey – thanks for taking the time to give us your feedback. Everything we receive will be used to improve the Science Fair next year. If you haven’t filled out a survey – it’s not too late! I’ve attached a copy to the end of the newsletter.

We began the week with Cumulative Test 21. Students will continue moving ahead this week with lessons 111-114. Our lessons this week will include practical applications utilizing division; multiplying and dividing integers; multiplying by measures of 10; adding/subtracting mixed measures (ie. inches/feet, minutes/hours); unit multipliers (a fraction that equals 1 and that is written with two different units of measure), and writing percents as fractions. I am anticipating a test over this material sometime early next week.

We continue to move along in our study of human body systems. This week we are learning about the intergumentary system (aka hair, nails, and skin), the cardiovascular and circulatory system, and the lymphatic system. In addition, I have given students a brief, simple introduction to medical terminology. I am showing them how many complex medical terms are a combination of root, suffix, and prefix and learning the meaning of some of those word parts can help decipher the meaning of the word. I have given students a study guide of simple medical terminology they can work on at their leisure and hand in by June 2 for extra credit. We will finish our study of human body systems next week when we cover the respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, nervous system, and endocrine system. We have had wonderful discussions as we have learned more about how the human body works. At this time, my plan is to have students keep up with the daily Directed Reading. Once we have completed learning all the systems, I will assess the students’ learning in a manner yet to be determined – quiz, simple project, or other method. More details will be provided next week.

This week we are moving through Chapter 23 “Light and Our World”. In this chapter we are learning about mirrors and lenses and did some fun discovering with plane, concave, and convex mirrors. (Hint – take a look at your reflection in a spoon, then flip it over – what’s changed? Why?). We’ve also been talking a lot about common vision problems and how this relates to how eyes detect and interpret light. We will also spend time learning about the workings of cameras, telescopes, and microscopes. We will learn how lasers produce light and uses of lasers, as well as how light technology is used in cordless phones, cell phones, satellite TV, and GPS systems. A quiz on Chapter 23 is planned for this Friday, May 23.

• Monday, May 19 – Course I Math Test
• Wednesday, May 21 – Missionary from Kenya to visit HFA
• Wednesday, May 21 – State of the School Report 7PM
• Friday, May 23 – Physical Science Quiz
• Monday, May 26 – No School – Memorial Day
• Wednesday, May 28 – Father Dufner’s 25th Anniversary of Ordination
• Friday, May 30 – HFA Track and Field Day (rain date – Tuesday, June 3)
• Tuesday, June 3 – all assignments, late work, make-up work due
• Wednesday, June 4 – 8th Grade graduation and last day of school for 8th graders
• Friday, June 6 – Last day of school – dismissal at 11:30AM