Magnificent Middle School

Exploding in Science
 
By Izzy Christiansen
Features Editor
           
            The sixth grade science classes have been working vigorously. They have been concentrating on volcanoes and lava flows, but will move on to geologic time. Recently, they completed a lab on volcanic activity where they made volcanoes and tested them. After the lab, the sixth graders presented their volcanoes to the class. They paid close attention to the lab and reviewed the information they learned about volcanoes. The sixth grade science class has been enjoying their recent topics and labs.
            In eighth grade, the IPC classes have been finishing up the study of electricity and moved on to magnetism. A normal day for the students is working on projects, reading from the textbook, taking notes, reviewing their journals, and performing labs. Not long ago, the scholars did a project on static electricity where they touched a Van de Graaff machine which caused their hair to become static. This was one of their favorite labs. After this, they worked on an electro-magnetic spectrum brochure. The eighth graders are learning a lot in Mrs. Cueva’s science class.

Super Science Skills
 
By Beatriz Eade
Features Editor
           
          This quarter has been very busy for the seventh grade students in Mrs. Palmer’s life science classes! The students completed many experiments using the Scientific Method including an edible cell lab, a cookie mitosis lab, and an osmosis cellular gummy bear lab. In the edible cell lab, the students brought food and created a plant and animal model cell, which they got to eat after the experiment. The experiments that the students completed taught them about the structure, function, cell cycle, and the movement of cells. The seventh grade students learned about what the inside of a cell looks like, as well as how DNA makes copies of itself, and how it instructs RNA to make proteins The students also learned about chromosomes and how they have different sections containing genes which control one or more traits.
            To organize all of the information about DNA and cells, the students made different types of graphic organizers. Content maps, flow charts, and diagrams are just some of the organizers the students use. The students also used their Chromebooks to complete a question every week, which strengthened their skills and got them ready for IOWA and COGAT testing. These super science skills that the students learned will help them succeed and move into the final fourth quarter.  
 
The Old Testament
 
By Jacob Lim
News Editor
           
             Have you ever wondered when humans were made and what is our Original Sin? Well, the sixth graders in theology were learning about Adam and Eve and the creation of humans. They also learned that sin breaks us away from God and other people. This quarter they have done many other projects. The project the sixth graders have done this quarter most recently is “Who Is Guilty?” In this project there were four groups: Adam, Eve, Satan, and the Prosecutors. The groups set out to prove their innocence and to direct the blame to others who committed the crime, which is Original Sin. The students in theology do not get homework often but focus learning prayers and get tested on later. The students found the subject matter challenging but were getting better at projects and prayers. Mrs. McBee helped them by leaving the door open for questions and was willing to have discussions with the students.
             In social studies class, they focused on Central America and South America, learning about the countries of each area. They started learning about the maps charts of the areas and answered questions about maps. These sixth graders have absorbed a lot of knowledge on many different topics this quarter.
 
Stellar Sixth Graders
 
By Thomas Whitson
Sports Editor
 
            The sixth grade students in language arts and literature have been hard at work this quarter. In language, Ms. Festa has been teaching the students about subjects and predicates and how to identify them in a sentence. She is also teaching them the difference between linking and action verbs and having them apply their knowledge in class. They have written letters to different businesses for Catholic Schools Week to thank them for their support of our school.
            In literature, the sixth graders continued to build their lexicon or vocabulary knowledge. Ms. Festa’s main goal for her literature classes is to teach her students how to apply their vocabulary words by using them in sentences instead of just learning the words for her class. She also taught them reading comprehension, so the students knew what they were reading about. They also continued to keep track of their reading using Book It! every month.
            In language, the sixth graders were challenged with staying focused on grammar, reviewing worksheets, tests, and using “not” as an adverb. “Even though my students have it written down in their notes, one of their main problems is when they say not is a verb instead of an adverb,” Ms. Festa said. In literature, the students are struggled with keeping up with their reading log and learning their vocabulary words.
            With the end of the year coming, the students are thinking about seventh grade. The sixth graders are excited for the upcoming challenge, growing, and moving on to seventh grade. Ms. Festa is trying to give them a good foundation of truthfulness and kindness for seventh grade. The sixth graders have grown this year in many ways. They have learned that although middle school is tough, they have many more freedoms and privileges that go along with their responsibilities. The sixth graders hope to finish off the year strong!
 
The Games We Play
 
By Alexa Halim
Editor in Chief of Halo News
 
            In Mrs. Kinchen’s seventh and eighth grade math classes, the students started the new year with hard work! They used Nearpod for practice problems and IXL for extra preparation. Students also had Simple Solutions, IXL, and warmups to complete every week. These are the best ways to learn math because students don’t forget the concepts. The more they practice, the more they understand the topics.
            In algebra, the eighth graders learned systems of equations, systems of equalities, direct and inverse variations, and exponential functions. They used their notes, online resources, warmups, and review videos to enhance learning. Mrs. Kinchen also experimented with creative ways for the students to learn new concepts. They participated in relay races and played a game similar to Family Feud. The eighth graders prepared for high school math as they practiced algebra concepts and word problems. They also prepared for the high school placement test with IXL skills and warmups.
            In pre-algebra, the seventh graders learned linear relationships, one and two step equations, one and two step inequalities, angle relationships, area, perimeter, volume, and the Pythagorean Theorem. Throughout the quarter, they used their textbook, IXL, Nearpod, and videos on Google Classroom. Mrs. Kinchen also created unique ways for the students to learn. The seventh graders did scavenger hunts, colored, and completed math-themed Mad Libs. They also completed a geometry project by building a shape and finding the area, volume, and perimeter. The seventh graders prepared for eighth grade algebra next year by practicing the basics of working backwards through the Order of Operations. They also worked on harder warmups with slope and one- and two-step equations.
            The seventh and eighth graders were hard at work this quarter learning different concepts with fun games!
 
 
Counting Up
 
By Thomas Jewett
Technology Editor
           
            The sixth grade math students have been hard at work this past quarter in Mrs. Harvey’s class. They have been working on rations and proportions and have been really enjoying it. The students loved doing multiplicative relationships by using a graph table and describing the relationships. The students have been using websites to help with their math, for example IXL. They have been tested every two weeks and have homework two to three times a week. The students have had no projects this past quarter but they will be completing many in the next quarter.
            All of the tests have been open-ended tests and have been really challenging this quarter. The students have been working hard, and we can expect them to work even harder the next quarter!
 



















The seventh grade theology class present some examples of their Stations of the Cross projects.

Sacraments, Sacraments, Sacraments
 
By Dylan Michaels
Photo Editor
 
            This third quarter has gone by in a blur for the seventh and eighth graders in Mrs. Hartfiel’s theology classes. The eighth graders began the quarter learning about the sacraments. To learn more about their Baptisms, they completed a Baptism project, and they acted out a pretend Baptism. The students continued by learning about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how they could use them.
            The seventh graders have been getting to know about the Passion of Christ and his Resurrection. There is still time before finals, but the students have been preparing by reviewing their tests and going over key concepts that they have learned. Mrs. Hartfiel has been encouraging the students to participate in Mass by teaching them that the more they put into the Mass the more they will get out of it.
            The students in Mrs. Hartfiel’s class have had a great quarter and hope to have an even better fourth quarter. They are continuing to learn and grow in their faith. We can’t wait to see how they do!
 
History’s Mysteries
 
By Isabel Suschitz
News Editor
 
            The seventh graders have been busy at work in Texas History this quarter. They learned about the Texas Revolution, the Republic of Texas, and the Texas government. They focused on how to take proper notes about the Texas government, how it was formed, and the aftermath of the Texas Revolution. The seventh graders worked on a project where they had to make a magazine covers of the Republic of Texas.
            The eighth graders have been searching for U.S. History’s mysteries. They learned about the early presidents of the Unites States, like George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson, as well as the Manifest Destiny, and worked on an Andrew Jackson project. The eighth graders have learned the proper way to make outline notes, a needed skill for high school.
            Eighth grader Caroline Kunkel said that she enjoyed learning about the War of 1812 and is excited for the Dead American project coming up. Emma Welsh, a seventh grader, liked learning about the war against Mexico and what caused it, and she can’t wait to learn about when Texas joins the United States. Looks like Mrs. Fama’s classes have been extremely productive this quarter!
 
Feuding Families in Eight Grade
 
By Taylor Schababerle
Editor in Chief, The Spirit
           
             The eighth graders in language have been busy building up their grammar knowledge this past quarter. They have worked on common writing errors such as double negatives and misplaced modifiers, as well as phrases and drafted their entries for clauses and types of sentences. They also worked on advertising, research projects, and the Board of Directors Essay Contest. The hardest concept for the students to grasp was researching a topic and putting the information in their own words. The eighth graders are preparing for high school language by reviewing lots of grammar rules, practicing writing, and reading.
            The students prepare for their vocabulary projects by breaking up into teams and playing Jeopardy and Family Feud. They created book projects on the many SQUIRT books they have read this quarter as well as their class reading book, The Pearl. They also analyzed poetry by many different authors. The students prepared for the amount of reading in high school by reading at least 85 pages a week. Then they were graded on how many pages they managed to read and logged their pages with Mrs. Drewes. They also improved their reading comprehension by completing worksheets, and discussing them as a class. The language and literature eighth grade classes sure were busy this past quarter!
 
Focus, Then Fun
 
By Hannah Yohr
Technology Editor
           
            Mrs. Bowring’s class is on a roll this third quarter. Their big big project was  the A Christmas Carol comparative analysis project in literature. The main focuses in language were principal parts of verbs, troublesome verbs, and linking verbs. The editing prompt that she taught in language was the DOL, or daily oral language. During this activity, the students used editing marks to improve their language skills. The test this quarter was a verb test to asess the students’ skills of using and recognizing verbs.One activity for language was where two groups of students acted out the verbs sit/set; lay/lie; rise/raise.
            The primary topics in literature were symbolism, character analysis, and vocabulary. To learn vocabulary, the students played fun games like Pictionary, stand-sit games, and used flashcards. The test for this quarter was a unit test over units 7, 8, and 9 in Vocabulary Workshop. The main activity for this quarter for literature was step one of their A Christmas Carol project, which was drawing and writing about characters from their book A Christmas Carol. This way they are prepared for step two of their project which is a Venn Diagram. The seventh graders were very focused students this quarter!