The Gemini Blue Tuesday Sheet

English – Mrs. Rezendes: Welcome to seventh grade English! My goal is to help you become better readers, writers, speakers, and listeners. The most important things that you can bring to class are a pen/pencil, a three-ring binder with white lined paper, and a willingness to try. If you would like to learn more about English class, you can visit my web page at www.geocities.com/tarastano/index.html. Your first assignment is to bring in a Me Box. Put 5 items that show something about your personality into a box or bag. Be prepared to explain why you chose your items. Me Boxes are due tomorrow.

Geography – Mr. Palagi: "World Geography" combines the physical, cultural, and economic elements of geography with some of the historical outcomes of human and environmental interaction through current events and history. This will be enhanced by an arts-based approach, involving the following activities: reading, writing, organizational skills, drawing, storytelling, drama, music, movement, and integrated projects. Culture defines who we are!

Math – Ms. Burgess: Welcome to seventh grade math! A pencil, math textbook, 2 one subject notebooks, and a 3-ring binder should be brought to class daily. Homework will be assigned nightly and must be done completely, showing all work in the one subject notebook in the 3-ring binder. Homework not understood can be signed by a parent for full credit. If any student is having difficulty, please let me know and together we will make a plan to best serve the needs of the student. Please visit my web page for more information at http://www.geocities.com/allisonsburgess/index.html. A brief description for each class follows.

Pre-algebra: This course is an introduction to Algebra. Topics and areas of examination are expressions, equations, inequalities, number theory, proportions, percent, geometric properties, systems of measures, perimeter, area, volume, statistics, probability, and number systems. The number systems that we will be using are integers, rational numbers and the real numbers. We will use all operations -- addition, subtraction, multiplication and division -- in each system of numbers.

Seventh Grade Math: After we review addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers and decimals, we will continue with fractions, geometric properties, number proportions, percents, probability, statistics, graphs, measurement (both metric and English), area, volume, perimeter, and integers. In addition to the regular classwork, there will be hands-on projects and enrichment activities.

Reading – Mrs. Wheeler: Welcome!! Reading for Success is a course designed to strengthen and expand study strategies to help students become more efficient, effective independent learners. The essential question we will be working with throughout the year is "What does it mean to be an active/strategic reader/learner?" All seventh grade students are enrolled in this class. The focus of Reading for Success is on increasing reading efficiency, developing study strategies compatible with individual learning styles, and increasing a student's understanding of the learning process. Students will improve their reading power by developing strategies to enhance vocabulary, comprehension, critical thinking and reading rate. They will be introduced to and asked to practice a variety of strategies in the six basic study skills of (1) managing time and setting priorities, (2) listening and taking useful notes, (3) reading and understanding a variety of texts, (4) condensing and organizing material, (5) taking tests successfully, and (6) problem solving. Students will also be encouraged to broaden their reading spectrum and read from a variety of materials including novels, short stories, plays, magazines, and the newspaper. The overall goal of Reading for Success is to help students adopt a lifelong habit of reading and to recognize its importance in the learning process. It is NOT just learning to read; it's reading to learn! Class Guidelines and Procedures will be sent home on a pink sheet. Please review these together so we all can have a GREAT year!

Science – Mr. Fisher: 7^th Grade Science is an integrated science course that uses the scientific method to explore topics of measurement, cells and the human body, energy, optics and motion, atoms and molecules, water and oceanography. . In our Science class, we will be learning through the use of our multiple intelligences, methods in which every student can be successful through art, music, poetry, and creative movement. Students will be required to keep a notebook in a small, 3-ring binder. Students will learn about the scientific method, problem solving, cooperation and teamwork.

If you have any questions, please check our Science class web page at www.mfisher.net or feel free to email me at [email protected]. We are going to have a lot of fun this year in Science! I look forward to meeting you on Back to School Night.

Educational Support Specialist – Mrs. Baker: As the sixth teacher on the Gemini Blue Team, it is my pleasure to work with all students in various capacities. Throughout the academic day I am meeting the goals and objectives of those students on individualized educational programs in a variety of settings such as math, geography, science, English and reading. Additionally, I will provide academic support for all Gemini Blue Team students on an as needed basis. Organizational skills are a primary focus this year—it is important for all students to maintain an agenda book on a daily basis. If you would ask your son or daughter about homework on a daily basis, and review completed assignments, both of our jobs will be easier. Time management, goal setting, prioritizing work, and organization will be recurrent themes throughout this year in all areas. Communication is also a major focus in seventh grade; therefore, if you need to contact me for any reason, please feel free to call me (508) 830-4450, ext. 33, email me at [email protected], or write a note in your child’s agenda book. I am looking forward to an exciting, productive year in seventh grade on the Gemini Blue Team.

French and Spanish – Mrs. Borstel and Ms. Sequeira: Languages are an important academic subject. Please be active in your child’s approach to this new and exciting area of study. While students are in World Language, they will have nightly homework and be responsible for a vocabulary list. While they are in Health, they will be assigned a vocabulary-based project. Please check your child’s agenda and Tuesday sheets for specifics.

Tuesday Sheets: This is the first of many weekly newsletters designed to communicate with you on a regular basis. Tuesday sheets will be distributed each week on "blue" paper. They will contain information about class work and assignments in each subject area, as well as team news about upcoming events. Please ask your child for the Tuesday Sheet each week. If parents sign the agenda or assignment notebook when they have read the Tuesday Sheet. and students bring the signature to homeroom on Wednesdays; they will receive a team spirit stamp on their Success Sheets!

Team Setup: The biggest difference between the structure of grade seven and previous grades is that each subject is taught by a different teacher. The Blue Team staff is composed of six teachers who take responsibility for English, Math, Science, Reading, Special Needs, and World Geography. Those teachers are assisted by Mrs. Sheeran, the Housemaster/Vice Principal, and Mrs. Maguire, the Guidance Counselor. The school day is divided into seven academic periods, five of which will be on the team. All students will also have classes outside the team in World Language (Spanish or French), Physical Education, Health, and core subjects (Art, Tech Ed, Family Life and Consumer Science, etc.). We work on a rotating block schedule so your child will generally have only four of their five academic subjects each day.

Team Behavior Expectations: A copy of the team behavior expectations is printed at the end of this sheet so students, parents, and teachers all understand what is expected of each Blue Team member. We look forward to working together to create a great year.

Team Web page: The Gemini Blue Team Web pages can be accessed at http://www.geocities.com/kelisba/index.html. You will find information about the team, links to teacher homepages, the calendar for the year (updated as events are planned), the current Tuesday sheet, information about fieldtrips, and an homework help page with different websites to provide information you might need to complete an assignment. Check out our site, and if you have any questions or comments—please email us.

Blue Bashes: Our standards are high. Our team expects success and we will do all that we can to encourage it. Each student will be given a Blue Success Sheet to promote this goal. The sheet will be used to record successes in many different areas -- marked improvement, random acts of kindness, homework completion, outstanding performance on tests and quizzes, special projects, unique contributions to the team, or anything that we feel deserves recognition. On the Blue Team, we will have "Blue Bashes" each term to reward success. The Blue Bash is a team social/activity for students who have earned a sufficient number of stamps on their Success Sheets. If a student has failed to hand in homework or has behaved inappropriately, he or she will spend Blue Bash time making up work.

Blue Team Pizza Party: The Blue team will have its first Blue Bash on Friday, September 5. It will be a getting acquainted pizza party. Students who wish to order pizza are asked to bring in $2.00 on or before Thursday, September 4. Usually students are required to earn admission to Blue Bashes by earning success stamps, however, the first one is a freebie!! All students are invited to attend the Blue Bash whether they choose to eat pizza or not. Drinks will be given to students who have returned all their opening paperwork by Friday or may be purchased for $1.00.

Assignment Notebooks: Organization is an important element needed to insure success. Students are required to have their own agenda or assignment notebook. Assignment notebooks will be filled out by all students and stamped by a Blue Team teacher each day at 2:30. The stamp indicates that the homework for all team classes has been recorded correctly. (Please note that students in grade seven cannot complete all of their assignments in school and are expected to do homework each night.) The agenda/assignment notebook is our daily communication with you. Students are required to bring their agenda/assignment book to every class every day.

Friday, September 5—Blue Bash Pizza Party

Thursday, September 11—"Back To School Night" PARENT Open House, 7-9 p.m.

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Name of Child ____________________________________________________

1. Blue team students are kind to classmates, teachers, and other students and adults in the building.
2. Blue team students are helpful to one another and their teachers…. little things like reminding someone to bring a book to class go a long way in building good team spirit.
3. Blue team students have manners and common courtesy….please and thank you, and excuse me please.
4. Blue team students are patient with one another.
5. Blue team students are tolerant of differences among classmates, both socially and academically.
6. Blue team students show respect for everyone. This includes each other’s personal property and physical space.
7. Blue team students keep their hands to themselves…. "I was just fooling around" is not an accepted excuse for any rough play.
8. Blue team students greet the teachers, the housemaster and the guidance counselor when they see them. They say "excuse me please" before interrupting two people who are talking.
9. Blue team students help keep the hallways and locker areas clean. Just because a piece of trash isn’t yours, doesn’t mean you can’t pick it up.
10. Blue team students are responsible for their own actions…..your actions are a direct result of your choices…..other people cannot be blamed for what you choose to do.
11. Blue team students come prepared for class. If you do not, it disrupts your learning and the learning of others.
12. Blue team students get to class on time. Many important things happen in the first few minutes.
13. Blue team students follow the general team rules such as no gum chewing, tilting on your chair, or eating in class.

1. Students are welcome and encouraged to stay for extra help or special projects, but must make advance arrangements with the teacher they wish to stay for.
2. Parents must know ahead of time that their child is staying after school.
3. No phone calls to parents at 2:45 unless it’s an absolute emergency … poor planning does not constitute an emergency.
4. Students stay in the room of the teacher they are assigned to….. no wandering from room to room unless a pass is issued by the teacher.
5. The bathroom should be used at the beginning of the after school session and all students must be in the assigned room by 2:55 PM.
6. Any student wishing to buy a snack must do so by 2:55 PM.

1. Students are silent in the halls, being respectful when others are in class.
2. Students sit alphabetically by homeroom during an assembly.