James Sachs — Principal Lynn M. Lynch — Assistant Principal

Dear Parents and Guardians of Clark Lane Middle School Students, Clark Lane had a very successful opening this year! Despite the tropical storm, we welcomed 685 happy and eager middle school students to our fine school! Following our 6th grade orientation and a special first-day schedule for all grades, it appeared that most students felt very comfortable and happy with the start of the year. Many of the 6th grade students reported that they knew where to go and that they really enjoyed their teachers. We were happy to distribute our new handbook, created in-house and designed with the middle school student in mind. We hope students like it and use it! Mrs. Lynch, our Assistant Principal, designed a fantastic, interactive series of assemblies in which she and I worked with the students on many aspects of the Clark Lane Discipline Code: what it is to be a well-prepared and successful student, and how we all can be proactive about mean behavior and poor choices. We redesigned our Code of Discipline to focus on the themes REFLECT, RESPECT and RESPOND and reviewed what each meant and how remembering these three words can really help make Clark Lane a safe school that we are all proud to be part of. We have five new committees at Clark Lane that will focus on our new mentoring sessions, school climate, technology, communication and a professional library for teachers. All have been well attended and have already helped to improve aspects of the school. Information about the committees is on our website. Our Back to School Night was very successful, and the teachers did a fantastic job of explaining their instructional goals, expectations for students and focus on literacy. Many parents and guardians called and commented that they really felt welcomed and were happy to see the enthusiasm of our great teachers. We are grateful to our PTO for supporting our teachers and would like to remind all of you that they are sponsoring the first in a parent series called, “The Online Life of Your Middle School Child” that will meet on Thursday, November 3rd at 7:00 PM in our library. We hope this informative presentation is helpful to you! If you ever have any concerns, please feel free to contact me, Mrs. Lynch or your child’s guidance counselor, Mr. Almeida or Mr. Lynch. Our school phone number is (860) 443-2837. Additional information is available on our website: http://www.waterfordschools.org/clms We are so excited about the enthusiasm your children bring each and every day to our learning

environment! Thank you!

Sincerely,

Jim Sachs

Principal

CLARK LANE MIDDLE SCHOOL F

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You can e-mail us anytime: www.waterfordschools.org

Just use the first initial and last name of any faculty or staff member: (ie: ASmith@waterfordschools.org) You can also find the newsletter, lunch menu and other useful information on our web site.

Students who are official “bus riders” may not choose to walk off school grounds at dismissal. The only options for bus riders at dismissal time are:

Ride assigned bus home

Get picked up by parent

Bring in note from parent requesting:

Bus pass to ride different bus home with

friend

1-day walker pass to walk home with

official walker student

Safety of all students is a priority! Please help make this safety task easier by complying with our guidelines.

“Bus Riders”

All students who are on the official “walker” list will be issued a “Walker Pass”. This pass will be checked by a teacher on duty outside at dismissal time. All walkers should be sure to have their walker pass in a handy spot in their backpack every day. Failure to present the pass at dismissal will require a visit to the Assistant Principal’s office to verify walker status. Only official “walkers” are permitted to walk off school grounds at dismissal. Safety is a priority!

“ Walkers”

Any questions, please call the food service department at 860-444-5862.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Cafeteria Information

The PTO would like to welcome all new and returning students back to school. We hope that you've enjoyed your summer. Now that the new school year has started, we would like to inform all students and parents about our PTO news, meetings and fund-raising events for the upcoming school year.

Parent volunteers are needed to help out with our up and coming events. At the Back To School night, we had a table set up with information about the PTO. These forms are now available in the main office, please stop by to pick up a copy. We are encouraging everyone to take some time to volunteer for one or two events this year. Our annual Basket Bonanza requires many volunteers to make it the huge success that it has been in the past and your help is so much appreciated. PTO Meetings are the third Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM in the Media Center. Mr. Sachs will be in attendance to answer any questions that you may have. We will be discussing and needing help with the following upcoming events:

Gift Card Fundraiser in October Seminar for parents about kids and the internet, end of October

Spare Change Drive in December Staff Luncheon in December

Attention Pfizer employees, did you know that Pfizer will donate for the hours you donate to our organization. Please check it out and help us out.

Please plan on joining us on Thursday October 20, 2011

Feel free to contact the PTO at clmspto@waterfordschools.org

Co-Chair - Kim Rouisse, Krou7@sbcglobal.net

Co- Chair - Brigitte Shinault, brigitteshinault@sbcglobal.net - 860-444-8931

Co-Treasurer – Geoff Hausmann, Geoff@CallTheHouseMan.com - 860-443-4400

Co-Treasurer – Merlita Murphy, merlita.murphy@uconn.edu - 860-444-6148

PTO

Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Bayreuther welcome you to our school library. We have about 15,000 volumes in our school library. Students may borrow books for 2 weeks. The books may be renewed as long as they are not on reserve for another student. We are fortunate to have many new books in the library for students to choose from. Students may come down to the library during their study halls and before school. Come on down and say hello and see what is new to read.

LIBRARY

Welcome to the new school year in Music! We are excited for a great year

The winter concert dates are set, so please take a moment to put them on your calendars. Concerts are an important part of our music curriculum, and full participation is expected. We appreciate you making this a priority in your child’s educational calendar.

The Eastern Region Middle School Festival takes place on March 2 and 3, 2012. Students who are interested in auditioning will prepare with their teachers and attend the audition on November 5 in East Haddam/Moodus. All students who are auditioning should have let their teachers know by now. Band students who have not yet done so need to purchase lesson books. Please see Mr. Vallee for details. We will have two fund-raisers this fall for our 8

th grade trip. All music students are invited to participate

in both. The Applebee’s Pancake Breakfast will take place in October—look for information to come

home soon. Our gift sale will begin in late October or early November. Please contact any of the music

teachers with comments or questions.

Grade 7 & 8 Winter Concert: Wednesday, February 1, 2012, 7pm at WHS

Grade 6 Winter Concert: Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 7pm at WHS

Welcome Back to CLMS Physical Education! We are excited to start a new year of fitness and fun. We welcome Mr. John Luzzi to our PE teaching staff. John, as many of you know, comes to us from our elementary program and is a welcome addition to our staff.

Our goal in physical education is to engage all students in active, rigorous learning. Our Motto has always been “Hands on, Minds on!” The importance of physical activity in your child’s growth and development is more important is more important than ever. The body and mind, as research has proven, benefit from physical activity. So, stay active with your child! Encourage their involvement in CLMS athletics or our A.C.E.S. (Activity Creates Excitement in Students) after school program. Students are participating in the same of the following units this fall: Flag football: Ultimate: Speedball: Capture the flag Games. Health –related fitness activities and assessments are taught / administered during these activities. Cardio vascular endurance (1/2 mile and mile runs); muscular strength and endurance (push up and curl ups); and flexibility (sit and reach) are evaluated. Work with your child on these activities as CT fitness testing in grades 6 & 8 has begun. Please go to the Clark Lane web site and look up your child’s teacher page for more information.

Upcoming Activities include hikes to Stenger Farm. Please complete the Stenger Farm permission slip, which can be found on the Clark Lane web site, and have it returned to your child’s PE teacher.

ACES program information can be found on Mr. Slocum’s teacher page. These activities generally meet on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays until late buses. Hopefully, activities will be posted in the field house soon.

Athletic/Sport team information and schedules can be found on the Athletics/PE page. Contact Mrs. Markesich or Mr. Capasso for additional information. Girls’ and boys’ Cross-Country and Soccer Teams are preparing for their sessions. Mr. Arcarese is the new boys’ soccer coach, and Mr. McNeil co-coaches Cross-Country. XC practices are afterschool until late buses on Monday, Tues, Wednesday. Fridays will require parent pick up at 3:35. Meets will begin around 3:30 in the back of the school. Activities will run around the school twice , finishing on the lower field. Any parents interested in helping at our meets may contact Mr. McNeil or Mr. Slocum. The Girls’ and Boys’ Soccer team have begun their games. The Girls are coached by John Lehet, while the Boys are coached by Brian Arcarese.

Physical Education

Notes from the Health Room

If you would like your child to have medication in school, you must get a doctor’s order and bring that, along with the medication, into school.

If your child is sick during the school day, they should come to the health room and the nurse will call home if they need to be picked up. Please let your child know they are not to call you themselves for pick up.

If your child is going to be absent or late to school - please call the Attendance Office at 860-437-6983

A health questionnaire was sent home this summer. To better understand your child’s health needs , please complete the survey and return it to the heath room.

To play a sport at Clark Lane Middle School, an up-to-date physical, dome within one year, is required.

The cooler weather is coming. Please send tissues, hand sanitizer (non-spray), chap stick and cough drop (no mentholatum) in with your child.

Remember for 6th graders: For entry into 7th grade, you will need a physical (dated after June 22, 2011), blood work (hematocrit or hemoglobin), a second Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine, a (Tdap) vaccine, and a Meningitis (McV4) vaccine.

Please call the Heath Room with any questions at 860-437-6977

ATTENTIONS 8TH

GRADE STUDENTS AND PARENTS

During the month of October, 8th graders will attend three assemblies to learn

about their High School options from the following schools:

Marine Science Magnet High School New London Science Technical High School

Ella Grasso Technical High School Norwich Technical High School

Ledyard Agri-Science High School

Applications will be due to the Guidance Office by December 1, 2011.

Great job! Sixth graders have made a wonderful transition to the middle school. We hope that students are bringing home their agendas nightly, reviewing completed assignments and organizing binders and folders. We try to impress that organization is the key to success! Our After School Help sessions are in full swing. Please encourage your child to take advantage of this time to work on assignments, projects and to review for upcoming tests and quizzes. Late busses run Monday-Wednesday to help support participation in all after school activities. We will continue to remind the students of our individual days and post them on our homework page as well.

Please be on the lookout for materials pertaining to future 6

th grade fund raising. All proceeds help to

offset the cost of field trips, school presenters, etc. Project O permission slips have been sent home. Please be sure to note when your child’s science class will be attending. The first dance will be held after school for all CLMS students on Friday, October 28th, from 2:30-4:45 PM. Don’t forget to mark your calendars.

Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail should a question or concern arise. We like to keep the lines of communication open throughout the year.

Sixth Grade News

Aquamarine Jade Garnet

In language arts classes, students are off to a great start. We have spent time reviewing procedures and classroom expectations. Students have read a nonfiction text from our library and applied specific nonfiction reading techniques to complete a fact sheet. At this time, students are reading Lois Lowry’s The Giver. Along with this independent reading, students are expanding their knowledge of the text through discussion and writing. This book is one that you should certainly ask your child about at home. Many

adults love it as much as our middle school readers. We will happily continue our journey through literature and writing. We are looking forward to a very productive and positive school year!

Your junior scientist has just completed the Nature of Science mini unit. Ruby students participated in various labs that focused on measurement (length, volume, mass, & density) and enhanced scientific skills such as observing, inferring, and predicting. Each student wrote a formal lab report entitled “Dinosaur Capsule Lab” in which students investigated whether or not water type affected the dissolving rate of dinosaur capsules. Students used bottled, tap, salt, and carbonated water in their investigation. Next on the agenda, geology, the study of the Earth! Students will begin the unit studying theories such as land bridges, continental drift, and plate tectonics. Students will be shocked when they learn that Africa was at one time our neighbor.

Pre-Algebra students in A, C, and D classes have been working hard on using operational skills with decimals, and problem solving with Venn Diagrams. We have started our unit Expressions and Patterns, where students will learn to simplify numerical expressions, evaluate algebraic expressions, describe and extend sequences, and evaluate square roots.

Pre-Algebra students in F period class have been exploring patterns both with arithmetic and geometric sequences. Students have explored both algebraic and geometric models. We have been focusing on using calculators to evaluate powers, square roots, and to identify numerical patterns. Where do you see the Fibonacci Sequence (1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21 …) in real life?

All students have started their weekly Problem Solving Experiences. Please encourage your son/daughter to work on this daily.

World Geography students started off the year learning more about themselves, their classmates and their community. In honor of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, students were asked to spend time with family to discuss the impact that it had on the US/World. The concept of perspective was stressed and will be an underlying theme in World Geography this year. Through the study of the world's cultures, empathy will be fostered in a variety of ways. Our trip around the world will start with a review of basic map skills, an exploration of technological advances in the area of geography and a focus on how where you lives affects the life you live. Besides having a sense of adventure, students need to come prepared to class with an agenda book, a notebook & folder. Organizational skills will be stressed throughout the year. Additionally, at home the following items will enhance your child's ability to be successful: an atlas, colored pencils/markers, an erasable pen (for projects) and a flash drive. Fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the 7th grade adventure!

"Knowledge & understanding of the people & places around you,

near and far, is like having a passport to the world!"

Ruby Team

Turquoise Team

World Geography

What will you find if you travel to 41.35º N and 72.12º W? Students studying hard at Clark Lane Middle School, that’s what! Welcome to World Geography on the Turquoise Team where students are busy reviewing map skills; learning about the challenges faced by cartographers; debating the advantages and disadvantages of modern technology; and appreciating the wonders of the physical world around us. We are off to a great start on our year-long adventure around the world.

Language Arts

It has been a pleasure to get to know the Turquoise Team students! We have a team of remarkably enthusiastic readers who are happy to recommend their favorite books to classmates and equally open to hearing about new books to try. Way to go, Turquoise Team!

Students are currently working hard to create memoirs that capture a meaningful event in their lives. After reading several professional writers’ stories, students noticed what worked well and tried to model those techniques in stories of their own. Theme is a critical skill that we will build on throughout the year. In addition to weaving a theme into their memoir writing, students are working on identifying theme in shared and independent reading.

Science

Turquoise team scientists have had a great start to the new year. We have become masters of measurement in the last month and now we will be using the scientific method to write formal lab reports. We will be moving into Studying earth science in November highlighting Plate tectonics, Earthquakes and volcanoes.

Mathematics

Before diving into the curriculum, all math classes began the school year with a quick number fact project. Pre-Algebra A students have now completed a review of estimation strategies and are currently using properties of addition and multiplication to add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals. They will next use order of operations and the Distributive Property to simplify expressions. Algebra students completed a short review covering variables, exponents, order of operations, equations, and inequalities. After re-examining tables and graphs, the students will complete an

introduction to functions to wrap up Chapter 1 in their textbooks.

Emerald Team

Emerald Team Math classes have been busy from day 1 of this, their final year at Clark Lane. Problems-of-the-day, classwork, class notes, homework questions, quizzes and reading assignments ---- we’ve been doing it all. Pre-Algebra students are learning all about rational and irrational numbers and how to compute using integers, fractions, decimals and percents. Algebra students are currently reviewing some pre-algebra skills from last year before engaging in new material. Geometry students are working to understand the beginning foundations of Euclidean Geometry, including sets, set notation and the Real number line. In language arts, students have begun to show that “wisdom begins with wonder” by asking good questions, practicing active listening skills, and collaborating with classmates to deepen their understanding of shared articles and current events. At home, ask what question they’ve recently added to their “Wonder Page” or what interesting addition they’ve made to their “Cool Words” page. Students have begun reading S.E. Hinton’s classic novel The Outsiders in language arts, which is inciting much discussion about challenging stereotypes, and the effect prejudices can have. To further this theme, we will be exploring other topics that may help to challenge our own personal prejudices. Throughout the course of our reading, students will work to improve their responses to reading by supporting their ideas with the text. In the near future, we will begin independent reading and students will have time in class each day to read and respond to material of their own choosing. In Science, we got off to a good start with The Nature of Science. Students seemed to enjoy investigating how to use the Scientific Method by writing a lab report using paper airplanes. Shortly the students will have access to our on-line textbook where they use their same school log-in of 16last name and first initial as a user name and turowski as the password. The site offers an interactive textbook and making use of it is another great way to review. We are now moving onto our Forces and Motion Unit where we will study Newton’s Laws of Motion and work to calculate speed and acceleration as well as seeing how friction plays a part in a simulated shipping lab.

World Language Not Just the Verb Conjugations of Yore

Ask your parents about French or Spanish classes they had when they were in school. A lot has

changed since then. Their classes might have included countless verb charts and endless translations.

Not only has the course had a change in name from “foreign” to “World Language”, much of the

instruction has also changed. In addition to a strong focus on grammatical form, today’s world

language classrooms, are filled with dynamic, fun activities designed to encourage students to

actually use the language in the four areas of language study: speaking, listening comprehension,

reading and writing. With teachers serving as the guides, students are engaged in many different

undertakings, from assuming French identities to learning about the culture of various

Spanish - speaking countries.

Here are some ways parents can help with world language learning at home.

Ask your child what s/he learned in class that day or ask her/him to teach you the French s/he has

learned. Check your child’s Agenda or the CLMS webpage to make sure s/he has completed class

and homework assignments.

Although World Language meets every-other-day, remind your child of the important

academic nature of this subject. As such daily practice is essential.

Provide a good environment, materials and time for completing homework.

Speak the target language with your child if you can.

Help your child label things around the house in the target language.

Share the usefulness of knowing a World Language for future careers.

Encourage your child to share cultural experiences.

Point out French and Spanish influences in New England.

Watch your child’s favorite DVD selecting French or Spanish language. Watching

something they are already very familiar with makes it easy and fun to pick up the

language.

The shortened days of September and the crispness in the air reminds us that summer is just a memory. The Gold Team eighth graders have bid farewell to the relaxed ways of the past few months and have brought a welcomed maturity to their studies. In Mr. Capasso’s class the algebra students have been getting reacquainted with such concepts as order of operations, variable expressions, equations, and inequalities, problem-solving methods, and functions. Our pre-algebra pupils also have begun by reviewing some big ideas from last year. These lessons have included operations with integers, proportions, and data collection and organization, including stem-and leaf plots. It’s been an absolute pleasure revisiting some important old ideas with some interesting new friends.

Gold Team science students have completed a review of some science basics: the scientific method, graphing, metric units, and writing proper lab reports. It is particularly important that students be able to define and apply the concepts of dependent, independent, and controlled variables. Students should also be able to hypothesize, design, and perform an experiment. Additionally, students must organize and present data, draw conclusions from the data, and write a coherent analysis of it.

The first full length unit of the year will be about forces and motion. This is often the most difficult unit of the year because of the need to apply math skills to sometimes tricky concepts. Students are also beginning their first assignment on Study Island, the supportive computer program available to the Clark Lane students.

In language arts class students have made a commitment to reading. They have their independent reading book which they read nightly and log a reflection after reading. In class we are incorporating reading skills when we read the ever-favorite book, The Outsiders. Prior to reading fiction, students have read a variety of nonfiction text and have applied their new skill of annotation directly on the article. This skill will be continued throughout the school year as a way of having the students highlight their thinking about reading . We are at the beginning stages of this skill. As they take their new steps into this skill of annotation, mention how you use annotation in your life as a reader!

United States History students are learning about the principles which helped form our government and how the government is organized. Feel free to review your child’s Unit One Outline to generate a discussion at home of the essential questions and enduring understandings of this unit. Also, please encourage your child to check out the websites on the outline to supplement and extend classroom learning. So that you are informed, please know that homework assignments for the entire week should be written in the student agenda on Monday. Time for this activity is given at the beginning of class every Monday, and the assignments are posted weekly on the website.

On September 21st, the Gold Team students celebrated Peace Day by viewing the documentary

video, The Day After Peace, about an individual, Jeremy Gilley, who tried to create a day of non-violence that would be recognized annually across the globe. Students reflected on what they can do to make a difference in making a more peaceful world. Many noted that peace begins with their decisions and actions. Many thought a good place to start bringing peace into their lives is by about being nicer at home, more cooperative at school, and compromising with friends. Please encourage their efforts in promoting peace. As a final step of celebrating the special day, students made Peace Day bookmarks while listening to peace songs.

GOLD TEAM