GPCI Gazette September 26, 2014 “We Are What’s Next!”

Chancellor’s Corner

Curriculum & Instruction Grade level course overviews by week, due dates of major grades, and course specific news will now be sent out every week in the GPCI Gazette. For specific assignment dates and grades, please access Skyward and/or your scholar’s assignment sheet (AVID notebook).

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Parents/Guardians,

We are rapidly approaching our first grading point, progress reports. Instructors uploaded their submissions on Wednesday, 9/24. GPISD does NOT mail progress reports. It is all posted to your Skyward account on-line. The only exception is if your scholar scores a 73 or lower. At that point, paper copies will be mailed.

The best way to assist your scholar is to communicate. Have your scholar tell you what they are learning, show you their planner, and discuss what is in Schoology. Now that all parents are empowered with Schoology access and some quick tips with regard to navigating the site, this task should be much easier. For 6th & 7th graders, it is extremely important that their planners are viewed and signed each and every night.

Your scholar’s safety is of utmost importance to us. We have been conducting safety drills, and I appreciate their dedication and their attention to instruction in these matters. The scholars are aware of the seriousness, and I am proud to report their actions have mirrored their understanding of the importance.

The results of your feedback regarding Parent University topics have been tallied. On the last page, you will find the topics voted upon along with the dates they are to be presented. A parent/guardian is required to attend 4 out of 5 parent universities as well as two technology sessions. Tech. session #1 has been completed (Schoology- college fair). We will follow up individually regarding tech. session #2. A big thank you to all those who gave of their time to complete the Google Docs- your voice is important to us. Sincerely,

Mrs. Ellison

p. 2 STEM Curriculum

p. 3 Humanities Curriculum

p. 4 Parent Page

p. 5 Community Page

2   [GPCI  GAZETTE]  

STEM Curriculum

STEM 6th through 8th In class: Fraction Pac man or Race car collaboration, 7th Grade: Robot Programming or Popsicle Bridge. Outside of class: What's Due? Race Car Presentations

Good News: Scholars are amazing their instructors with their creativity!

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Engineering: In class: Discovering engineering careers Outside of class: Career Essay What's Due? Career Essay decimal Good News: Team collaboration

6th PAP Science In class: Elements Outside of class: Article 2 and Super Hero Project What's Due: Article 2 Due October 6. Good News: Excellent work on labs!

6th grade Math In class: Operations with fractions Outside of class: Extra Credit due 10/12/14 What's Due? Embedded Assessment #3 Good News: 98% of scholars completed their Compass assignment!

7th PAP Science In class: Force and Motion Outside of class: Study for upcoming test What's Due? Nothing at this time Good News: Awesome creativity.

7th grade Math In class: Pre-algebra, looking for patterns Outside of class: Think Through Math What's Due? Think Through Math Good News: Shout out to Mr. Zalinski for leading small group tutoring pull outs

8th PAP Science In class: Chemical Reactions and Balancing Equations Outside of class: Study for upcoming test What's Due: Bring old Shirt to wear over uniform Monday Good News: Great Work Ethic

PAP Algebra I: In class: Solving two-step equations Outside of class: Think Through Math What's Due? PI Due 9/29 Good News: Great job with first PI. Presentations are looking great.

9th PAP Biology In class: Biomolecules Outside of class: Study for upcoming test Roots, Prefix, Suffix Tuesday What's Due: Example of Biomolecule: Tuesday Good News: You are what you eat!

PAP Geometry: In class: Linear Equations Outside of class: Think Through Math What's Due? PI Due 9/29 Good News: Great teamwork using reasoning skills.

[GPCI  GAZETTE]   3

3

Humanities Curriculum

Humanities

High School Courses: APUSH In class: Chapter  6 Outside of class: Begin  Chapter  6  LaunchPad What's Due: Chapter  6  Cornell  Notes Good News: Great  debate  on  Thursday!  

AVID 6th and 7th Focus: Schedule an hour of study time every night! We will be discussing SMART Goals and reviewing the Note Taking Process.

8th grade: Cornell notes & reflection process

6th PAP ELA In class: Analyze    and  write  responses  to  poetry Outside of class: Vocab  &  Dialectical  journals   What's Due: Vocab  &  Dialectical  journals   Good News: Great job completing homework!

6th grade Social Studies In class: Marketplace    Outside of class: Parent sign Speech Rubric What's Due: MarketPlace Volunteer Form Good News: Last  week  of  MarketPlace  in  class!  

7th PAP ELA In class: Elements of a utopian  and  dystopian  story Outside of class: Harrison  Bergeron What's Due: Prezi  Presentation  on  a  utopian  and  dystopian  story Good News: Great  job  completing  homework  on  time.  

7th grade Social Studies In class: Spanish  Colonization  and  Missions  Outside of class: DBQ Final Draft  What's Due: DBQ Rough Draft Good News: Students  really  enjoyed  learning  about  the  Conquistadores  in  Texas!  

8th PAP ELA In class: Short Answer Questions Outside of class: Revising  Persuasive  Essay What's Due: Final  Draft  of  Persuasive  Essay Good News: Great  questions  during  instruction.  

8th grade Social Studies In class: Declaration of Independence Outside of class: Study for Unit Test: American Revolution What's Due: Chapter 5, 6, & 7 Cornell Notes Wednesday Good News: Awesome  job  reading  Primary/Secondary  Sources  

PAP ELA I In class: Short Answer Questions Outside of class: Revising  Persuasive  Essay What's Due: Final Draft of Persuasive Essay Good News: Great  online  current  events  discussions.  

PAP ELA II In class: Short Answer Questions Outside of class: Revising  Persuasive  Essay What's Due: Final Draft of Persuasive Essay Good News: Great  in-­‐class  peer-­‐to-­‐peer  discussions.  

6th    Historical and Cultural settings    7th  US  Regions  Project  &  States  Quiz  

Francisco, Noah and Greyson collaborating in Humanities.

4   [GPCI  GAZETTE]   Parent Page

A Special Thanks To all the parents who have joined PTA. We will be concluding our membership drive on September 30th. We will send another round of forms next week.

Upcoming events: For a more in-depth calendar, please visit the calendar on the GPCI website Sept. 30th & Oct. 1 M.A.P Testing {Measures of Academic Progress- nothing to study}

Oct. 6 i-Invent begins

Oct. 7 Parent University #1

Oct. 10 Scholar Waiver Day #2- Scholars will not be in school

Oct. 13 Fall Break- No school

Oct. 14-24 Scheduling of Parent Data Conferences (more information forthcoming)

Oct. 24 Quarter 1 ends (Conclusion of the 1st Nine Weeks grading period)

Parent University Dates & Topics for 2014-2015

Date Session Title/Content Location Times Sibling Room

Oct. 7 Homework: How can I assist with an emphasis on math i-Invent: a more in depth look at this GPCI requirement

GPCI 6:00- 7:00

Yes

Dec. 9 High School Credits: An overview of the credit acquisition system, calculating GPA and making choices to build a better college resume

GPCI 6:00- 7:00

Yes

Jan. 6 Scholarships: When can I begin applying? GPCI 6:00- 7:00

Yes

Feb. 10

Personal Graduation plans: An understanding of the plan and how to help guide your scholar

GPCI 6:00- 7:00

Yes

Apr. 14

STEM- What exactly is this? Field trips & enrichment: An overview of the field trips and the reason (look ahead to 2016)

TBD TBD TBD