Like to Garden?

Nani would like to have a parent volunteer to help direct kids in our gardening efforts. It’s just a one-hour time commitment – any time during the day that suits you! Please contact Ms. Nani to sign up.

Orchestra (Strings) and Band (Woodwinds, Brass) in 6th Grade

6th Grade Music
This just in from the Hamilton orchestra boosters:
The award winning Hamilton Orchestra program is offering a class for Beginning Orchestra students next year and still has openings! Take this opportunity to give your child a chance to learn something that can last a lifetime. Each orchestra student will choose to play the violin, viola, cello, or bass, learn how to read music, and perform throughout the year. No experience required! If needed, Hamilton has instruments for your child to use for the year. Please contact Naomi Mandojana, HIMS orchestra director, for more information. nmmandojana@seattleschools.org.

Editor’s Note:
The same is true for band – students can sign up for beginning band and choose from a wide range of woodwind and brass instruments – also no experience required. Kids choose their instrument during the first weeks of class next year.

One thing to keep in mind about music classes at Hamilton – if your child plans to continue with Spanish immersion classes and they also want to take a music class, they will need to give up Physical Education (PE). To give up PE, your child will need a “PE Waiver” – meaning they need to be signed up for some kind of coached sport or activity (a wide range of things qualify – not just soccer and baseball!)

For more information about music at Hamilton please go to www.fomahi.org (Friends of Music at Hamilton International website).

6th Grade Math

Math Pathways and Placement Info for 5th and 8th Grade Students Supported by the Microsoft Math Partnership, SPS has developed the Seattle Math Pathway. This pathway focuses on preparing all our students for new high school graduation requirements, state exams in Algebra and Geometry, as well as college and careers. Families of 5th-grade students will receive a letter by May 15, recommending math course placement for 6th grade. Last year, there was a 6th-grade placement test; a test will not be used this year. The recommendation will be based on multiple data points, including current math placement, most recent WASL scores and Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) data. Families of 8th-grade students will receive a letter by April 20, with the student's recommended mathematics course for 9th grade. This recommendation will be based on the student's current math course, grade in that course, most recent WASL scores, and MAP data. The data above will also be used to make recommendations for students who could benefit from either additional support or a more accelerated math pathway. Click here to learn more.

Science Fair Display Boards & More Sci Mentoring

Display boards are coming home today. Each student receives a board. Partnered projects receive one board per team. Please note, we did not purchase extra boards so if the first one is misplaced, the student is responsible for providing a replacement.

We talked in class about how to set up a science project display, and the students have actual projects from a recent science fair as examples. For reference, the back of the display board has a schema. You will also find that information here:
http://jsisweb.com/sites/default/files/webfiles/science-fair/display.pdf.

We encourage the students to type their information and include pictures, charts, graphs and tables to support of their experiment. If your student does not have access to a computer, please let Ms. Nani know and we will make arrangements for a volunteer to partner with your student to do this.

We will continue to mentor through next week, and I am excited that many kids are taking advantage of it. Please remind your students to bring their data to school next week to help focus our mentoring sessions.

Thanks,
Arlene Murray

Science Fair Wrap-Up

A science mentor (NOAA fisheries biologist) and I talked with your kids on Tuesday (4/6). We were able to speak one to one with some students. We are using the attached worksheet. Please encourage your students to bring their data to school this week and next so we're able to maximize our classroom time.

It's time for your students to:

1. Wrap up the investigation part of their Science Fair projects
2. Turn their attention towards analyzing the data they've gathered, and
3. Think about how to communicate what they have done.

We will provide mentoring again this Thur, and Tues & Thur of next week. Here is what we will work on:

Some students have questions that are still so broad it will be difficult to prove a hypothesis. They will need to narrow down their questions and hypotheses into something workable that honors the data they've gathered so far.
Some students have a lot of data and are having a hard time figuring out what to do with it. They will need to think through how the data can be put together in a meaningful way to support their hypotheses and conclusions.
Other students don't have enough data. In having them walk through their projects, they may find details and observations they hadn't noted down. Pictures may help tell the story.

What to expect on April 22nd
Judging will occur during the school day. This is a non-scored, non-competitive science fair. One judge will talk with each student or team for 15 minutes and draw from them how well he/she/they have understood and applied the scientific method and what they've learned from the process. Attached is a judge's form so you understand the high-level criteria the judges will be listening for.

On the evening of April 22nd, from 6:00-8:00pm, we will hold a Family Celebration. Families are invited to school to view all the projects and talk to the budding scientists behind the projects.

I know how hard your students have been working. The kids have definitely invested time in their experiments and it shows. Please continue to support them in the way you have in the run up to the science fair. Let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Arlene Murray

Hamilton Orchestra Auditions

This message is for you if your student plans to play in one of Hamilton’s orchestras next year (string instruments) – if he or she has played before. Hamilton has both advanced and beginning classes – but “auditions” are not required for the beginning classes.

“Auditions” are a chance for your student to play for the teacher so that he or she will be placed into the right class.

Orchestra auditions will take place from April 26 through 30.

Auditions will also be held for band classes (all instruments except strings) – but the date for that has not been set

Below is the message directly from Kathy Tanaka, the Co-President of “Friends of Music at Hamilton International” (FOMAHI – the band/orchestra parent organization):

Hamilton International Middle School will be holding auditions for incoming orchestra students. Auditions will be held in the orchestra room (C-104), April 26th-30th from 3:00-4:30 p.m. Students who have experience playing a string instrument are encouraged to contact Hamilton Orchestra and Choir Director Naomi Mandojana at nmmandojana@seattleschools.org or 252-5885 to schedule an audition.

Please note that there are no auditions for students who wish to sign-up for Choir or Beginning Orchestra (which is appropriate for students with no prior training or experience playing a string instrument).

For more information about instrumental music and choir at Hamilton, please visit our web site at www.fomahi.org

JSIS to Hamilton Enrollment

Last Friday, Sam got his letter from the school district saying he is enrolled at Hamilton! But – if your child’s letter does not say Hamilton, and he or she wants to continue with language immersion at Hamilton – you can apply for a seat at Hamilton. JSIS students are guaranteed placement at Hamilton, but if your letter does not say Hamilton you must “apply”.

Open enrollment (the “application” period) is March 1 through March 31. “School choice” forms are available online at www.seattleschools.org, or call 252-0760 (enrollment services) or 252-7750 (bilingual family center).

For more information about the enrollment/”application” process see www.keepourkidstogether.org. That site has general information but nothing specific about Hamilton/JSIS.

Remember – your child is guaranteed a seat at Hamilton – but only if you apply!