Willow Weekly 11/2- - 11/21

Some important information for next week:

King Tut

Permission Slips for our trip to the King Tut Exhibit at the St. Louis Science Center went home yesterday.  Please have your student turn them into the office by December 1st.

Spirit Week

From the counselors:

Choose Kind Spirit Week

Let’s keep the momentum of Wonder going by celebrating kindness, hopefulness, and the goodness of human beings. The week of November 27-December We will have a different theme each day. Show your kind spirit by bringing our Hixson community together!

Monday-Pajama Day, put bullying to “rest” and wear school appropriate pajamas.

Tuesday-Favorite Book/Show/Movie Character, we find hopefulness and goodness in the characters we read and watch every day. Show the spirit of your favorite character!

Wednesday-Twin Day, show kindness and ask someone to be your twin for a day! 

Thursday-Outside Activity Day, take your kindness beyond the walls of Hixson!  Wear your favorite outdoor activity clothes to show your kind spirit at work in your community.

Friday-Cartoon Character or Meme Day, choose a positive character to show your child like “wonder” who has hope for the future. 

Willow Weekly 11/13 to 11/17

Welcome to the Willow Weekly.  Here you will find all of your Team Willow news and information.  Please sign up for automatic updates and you will be notified whenever an update is made.

Important Information:  

• After school activities are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 3:30 to 4:15
• There are no after school activities next week.
• After school help is available during those same times.
• Wonder field trip is November 21
• Thanksgiving break starting November 22nd

Winter is coming!  The dropping temperatures create serious health risks to folks without the necessary resources to stay warm and dry.  We are collecting items to donate across several organizations who are out helping local folks in need.  If you are able, please have your child bring in gently used or new:

·         Socks

·         Hats

·         Scarves

·         Blankets

·         Gloves/Mittens

·         Coats

Collection boxes will be in the main office and auditorium lobbies through November 21^st.

We have an app!

The Webster Groves School District now has an app. You can find it in the app store by searching for Webster Groves SD. It features news, calendars, menus and more. Download it today!

ELA –


Realistic fiction stories are due on 11/20! Our summative assessment for this unit will be after break.

Our last page goal before Thanksgiving break is due on 11/20 as well. Keep reading at home!

Don't forget to stay updated with what's going on in ELA by visiting Ms. K's blog or follow Willow ELA's Instagram page.

Social Studies –


This week students had a short introduction to the kingdom of Ancient Israel. This will be information to put in their back pockets until we talk about The Crusades later in the year. On Thursday and Friday, we began exploring the geography of India.

All tests needed to be completed by the end of the day today. I will be grading and posting this weekend.

On December 15th we will be going to the Science Center for the extremely cool King Tut exhibit. Please let me know ASAP if you are interested in chaperoning. I will be sending permission slips home on Monday.

 www.hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/pettid

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Math- 

Algebra- We continued working on chapter 6 systems of equations. They will be testing after Thanksgiving break. They will have a final coming up before winter break.

7th grade math-  Students took their formative on two step equations, LT5 we are now working on LT6 which is with rational numbers.

Students can use khan academy to do extra practice with two step equations.

Ashley Porter 

porter.ashley@wgmail.org

Science –

This week in science students explored Space spin-offs.  Space spin-offs are technologies developed for space that NASA or private companies have adapted to use by the general population.  Some spin-offs students are pursuing to learn about include 3D printing, bone scanners, camera sensors for phones, and a highway in the sky.

As we move forward towards next week and after Thanksgiving break students will be preparing for their summative assessment over our Space Systems unit.  They began working on their study guide Thursday and we will be reviewing on the Monday and Tuesday after break.  The summative assessment is currently scheduled for Wednesday November 29th.  

Matt Geringer
geringer.matt@wgmail.org

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page -http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson

Willow Weekly 11/6 to 11/10

Welcome to the Willow Weekly.  Here you will find all of your Team Willow news and information.  Please sign up for automatic updates and you will be notified whenever an update is made.

Important Information:  

• After school activities are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 3:30 to 4:15
• After school help is available during those same times.
• Wonder field trip is November 21st, forms are due the 14th! You can find the permission slip linked.
• Thanksgiving break starting November 22nd
• Holiday food basket, you can sign up here!

Winter is coming!  The dropping temperatures create serious health risks to folks without the necessary resources to stay warm and dry.  We are collecting items to donate across several organizations who are out helping local folks in need.  If you are able, please have your child bring in gently used or new:

·         Socks

·         Hats

·         Scarves

·         Blankets

·         Gloves/Mittens

·         Coats

Collection boxes will be in the main office and auditorium lobbies through November 21^st.

Hixson Middle School Has Heart - please see the information here and here 

ELA –

Final drafts of our realistic fiction stories are due on 11/20 (right before break). I'm asking for three scenes to be drafted by this Friday (11/9). Ask your student about his/her story! I'm really excited to read the final drafts.

Our last page goal before Thanksgiving break is due on 11/20 as well. Keep reading at home!

Don't forget to stay updated with what's going on in ELA by visiting Ms. K's blog or follow Willow ELA's Instagram page.

Social Studies –


We have been wrapping up the first part of The Ancient World this week. Students received their study guides for the summative test last Friday and were able to work on them with me in class. We went over the answers on Wednesday and I posted the answer key on my website. On Thursday, students who wished to present their Egypt projects to the entire class were able to do so. I've been very impressed with the projects. I have almost finished grading them and grades will be posted soon. Students finished their week with the unit summative test.

On Monday, we will have a brief detour into some other civilizations in the Mediterranean region and then we will move on to India and China.

 www.hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/pettid

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Math- 

Algebra- We took the chapter 5 test on Tuesday. We started chapter 6 this week! 

7th grade math- We worked on solving two step equations this week, LT5. If your student is struggling with the last two Learning Targets please encourage them to come see me as these are skills they will need for the rest of their math career!
Reassessment extended to next Tuesday!

Students can use mobymax and khan academy to do extra practice with two step equations mobymax logins can be found on google classroom.

Ashley Porter 

porter.ashley@wgmail.org

Science –

In science this week students wrapped up our lesson and review of eclipses which we touched on at the beginning of the year when we had the opportunity to view one in our own backyard. Students took a formative assessment on Thursday to assess their knowledge of eclipses.  

As a class we also discussed our results from the pumpkin drop last week. Students analyzed and graphed data from the drops to support or disprove their hypothesis and predictions.  They had made predictions relating mass and drop time, mass and crater depth, and diameter and crater diameter.

In the coming weeks students will begin preparing for their summative assessment over goals 2-5 of the universe unit.  This is tentatively planned for the Tuesday after Thanksgiving break.

Matt Geringer
geringer.matt@wgmail.org

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page -http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson

Willow Weekly 10/31 to 11/3

Welcome to the Willow Weekly.  Here you will find all of your Team Willow news and information.  Please sign up for automatic updates and you will be notified whenever an update is made.

Important Information:  

• After school activities are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 3:30 to 4:15
• After school help is available during those same times.
• Wonder field trip is November 21st, forms are due th 14th!
• Thanksgiving break starting November 22nd
• Holiday food basket, you can sign up here!

Winter is coming!  The dropping temperatures create serious health risks to folks without the necessary resources to stay warm and dry.  We are collecting items to donate across several organizations who are out helping local folks in need.  If you are able, please have your child bring in gently used or new:

·         Socks

·         Hats

·         Scarves

·         Blankets

·         Gloves/Mittens

·         Coats

Collection boxes will be in the main office and auditorium lobbies through November 21^st.

Hixson Middle School Has Heart - please see the information here and here 

ELA –

Page goals are due on Monday, November 6th! Do some reading this weekend.

We're still hard at work drafting our realistic fiction stories. This week, we discussed taking our writing from 2D to 3D by adding actions, thoughts and dialogue to our scenes. I also met with small groups and we discussed ways to add tension to our stories so that our readers feel more invested and excited. Our first scenes will be finished by Friday, and I'm going to spend some time this weekend reading what our writers have produced so far so that I can plan for individual writing conferences.

Don't forget to stay updated with what's going on in ELA by visiting Ms. K's blog or follow Willow ELA's Instagram page.

Social Studies –

Students have continued to work on their Egypt Projects. They were due on November 3rd. I have been so proud of their hard work and am looking forward to seeing the final products. The summative test for Prehistory, Mesopotamia, and Egypt will be November 10th. Students received their study guides today.

 www.hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/pettid

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Math- 

Algebra- test on chapter 5 on Tuesday

7th grade math- Working on LT4, solving one step equations, will be working on two step next week. Reassessments for LT1-LT3 need to be done by next Friday. 

Ashley Porter 

porter.ashley@wgmail.org

Science –

Pumpkin drop was a big success this week! Students collected data on mass, diameter, circumference, fall time, and crater size as we prepared for and executed the pumpkin drop.  Results will be analyzed starting on Monday.  Preliminary results are in - big craters, smashed up pumpkins, and lots of smiles.

Wednesday through Friday were spent visiting student presentations that were prepared to answer questions about problems that would be encountered when planning and journeying to Mars. Next week we will begin one of our final learning goals for Space Systems dealing with eclipses - something all of our students have first hand experience with!

Matt Geringer
geringer.matt@wgmail.org

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page -http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson

Willow Weekly 10/23 to 10/26

Welcome to the Willow Weekly.  Here you will find all of your Team Willow news and information.  Please sign up for automatic updates and you will be notified whenever an update is made.

Important Information:  

• After school activities are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 3:30 to 4:15
• After school help is available during those same times.
• No school October 27th
• Wonder field trip is November 21st
• Thanksgiving break starting November 22nd
• Holiday food basket, you can sign up here!

ELA –

Please check with your student about his/her independent reading goal! Our next page goal is due on 11/6.

We've moved on to the drafting stage of our realistic fiction stories. Students plotted out several potential story paths, chose one and have started drafting!

Don't forget to stay updated with what's going on in ELA by visiting Ms. K's blog or follow Willow ELA's Instagram page.

Social Studies –

We continued working on our Egypt projects this week.  Students should be wrapping up their research this week and beginning their final product.  Projects are due November 3rd. 

 www.hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/pettid

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Math- 

Algebra- We took a quiz and will be finishing up chapter five and testing probably by the end of next week

7th grade math- finished the week with their first Equations and Expressions test over LT1-LT3

Ashley Porter 

porter.ashley@wgmail.org

Science –

Students spent this week working on their Mission to Mars project.  They will be presenting the answers to their self created questions to the class next week beginning on Wednesday.  They will have limited or no additional in class time to finish working on the presentations here at school.  They should finish any additional work they need to finish at home this weekend.

Thursday we began our annual pumpkin drop activity to celebrate the Halloween Season.  We made predictions on how the mass and diameter of the pumpkins will affect the rate of fall and crater dimensions when a pumpkin impacts the ground.  If students want to drop a pumpkin they will need to bring one in by Monday.

Matt Geringer
geringer.matt@wgmail.org

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page -http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson