"Science Fair Night" This Thursday April 22, 7-8pm

The 5th graders will have their science projects on display is the JSIS Library this Thursday, April 22 from 7-8 pm. This is the first JSIS science fair ever--come and take a look! Everyone is welcome.

5th Grade Play Needs Volunteers!

Would you like to help with the 5th grade play? The kids are ready to start rehearsals they are looking for parent volunteers to help with casting and direction! Please contact Ms. Nani if you are able to help.

International Education Meeting Wednesday evening at Hamilton

A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION:
International Education at Hamilton
Wed, April 21st
Hamilton library, 6:30-8:30pm

Join us for an overview of international education at Hamilton, to hear about the expansion of global perspective work, and to discuss global citizenship service projects and identify ways that we can support international education for all students at Hamilton.
6:30pm Snacks and networking
7:00pm Presentations from Christopher Carter, Hamilton Principal and
Karen Kodama, SPS International Ed Program Administrator
7:30-8:30pm Small group work sessions: projects and partnerships to support global perspective.
Hamilton International Middle School (at Lincoln)
4400 Interlake Avenue North
Seattle WA 98103
www .hamiltoninternational.org

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