TIGER NEWSHickory Creek Middle School

22150 S. 116th AveFrankfort, IL 60423

815-469-4474

January Issue2016-2017 School Year

HCMS Happenings

Geography Bee Finalists:Sachin Vijayaraj, (8)

Nathan LaCognata, (8)Nick Thompson, (8)Andrew Hasson, (8)Connor Morale, (7)Shane Crean, (7)Anila Moparthi, (6)

Jack Cosich (6)HCMS Geography Bee Winner:

Jack Vegter (7)

Nurse’s NotesFrom Nurse Schipiour COLD AND FLU SEASON

Please DO NOT send your child to school if he/she is ill.Following are some guidelines to help determine when to keep him/her home.

● FEVER at or above 100 degrees-child should remain home for 24 hours after being fever free without the aid of medication.

● NAUSEA/VOMITING -all body fluids are considered contagious, child should remain home at least 24 hours after last vomiting episode.

● DIARRHEA-do not send to school for at least 24 hours after last diarrhea episode.

● PINKEYE (conjunctivitis) -child should not return to school until on an antibiotic for 24 hours. Symptoms of Pinkeye include redness of the whites of the eye, drainage or crusting, itching, eye pain.

● RASH-a rash of any type is assumed contagious -the student must remain out of school if they have na undiagnosed or untreated reash. A doctor’s release should accompany the student upon return.

For runny nose and persistent cough encourage HAND WASHING, covering mouth when coughing or sneezing, ample fluid intake to keep hydrated and cough drops and lozenges to help soothe the throat.

Holiday StressFrom Guidance & Counseling Office- With the holidays upon us, we need to remember that while this can be a very exciting time, for

some this can also be extremely stressful. Holidays are supposed to be a time spent with family and

friends, but for some it may mean stress, loneliness and sadness. Some of our students may have

experienced loss or trauma during the year, and the holidays may cause them to become sad,

withdrawn or perhaps to act out in a way that is not typical for them. Our children are growing up,

but at the same time, they still turn to us for guidance and support when they have these types of

feelings. Experiencing a traumatic event, such as the sudden death of a loved one or friend, may

affect their ability to cope at home and at school. Teens who experience this do not know how to

react or how they are supposed to feel or if what their feeling is even “normal.”

Some common ways teens might respond to a death, loss or a traumatic event include:

*Sadness *Anger at the person or situation *Inability of sleep

*Difficulty concentrating at school *Irritability

*Loss of interest in activities or friends *Denial that it really happened

Remember that our children are not being defiant, disrespectful or rude, but that this may be how

they are expressing their grief. Answer questions they ask you honestly and to the point, and listen

to what they are saying to you. Acknowledge the child’s grief and reassure them that it is ok to be

sad, angry, hurt or scared. It is also important to let your teen know that they will not feel like this

forever.

From Hickory Creek Middle School, we hope that you have a wonderful holiday season!

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ilThank you to everyone who donated to our Book Drive. We’re excited to share these books with other students.

Student Council members have shown compassion for children less fortunate by filling backpacks with school supplies for students at Chavez School. We are so proud of their dedication and selflessness!

Upcoming

January Meeting Dates:January 9 and 30th.

Student Council is sponsoring a hot lunch on January 20th

Student Council in Action

Thank you to Our Parents &

HCMS Faculty Volunteers

.

January’s Theme Thursdays:Jan. 12--Winter Hat DayJan. 19--Dress like your favorite character DayJan. 26: Flannel Day

Book Notes

from the Library

Mrs. Grady’s 1st/2nd and 8th/9th hour ELA classes have

completely qualified as official judges for the 2017 Caudill celebration! Well done!

Santa packages decorated the library’s “reading room” before being transported to Chavez School!HCMS students are

college bound!

The library has tons of information about colleges all over the country for our

students to plan ahead!

Read for 20 minutes every day!

8th Grade

8th Grade

Social Studies: Mrs. Sommer and Mr. Feehan

We are excited to be back to help our learners understand how America became a world power and how that affects

our nation.

Thanks to all Mrs. Sommer’s students who put forth their best effort in the Economic Poster Contest. We are eagerly

awaiting an email updating us on the contest results!

ELA: Mrs. Haas, Mrs. Morack, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Bouck, and Ms. Wilson

In ELA, we are reading the novel, Unwind. The students are highly engaged, and many students completed the novel early. Many students have also pursued reading additional novels from Neal Shusterman’s series and well as other dystopian

novels. It is truly exciting to see students have such a love for reading while they simultaneously continue to solidify their

understandings of the 8th grade literature standards, as well as the informational standards, through the non-fiction pieces

we have incorporated while reading the novel.

Science: Mr.s Wojnarowski and Mr. Zemke

We have concluded our Plate Tectonics Unit and have started to focus on our Life Science Unit.

In this unit we will investigate “Why Do organisms Look The Way They Do?”. This unit focuses on Heredity and

Natural Selection. We are excited to make the transition into a new genre of Science as are the students!

Math: Mrs. Gaertig, Ms. Ellinghaus, Mrs. Ryan, Mrs. Rutovic, and Ms. Flynn

In math classes, 8th graders will be exploring similarity of triangles as well as investigating line and angle

relationships.Honors math classes will be finishing up congruence and similarity. We will be delving into line relationships and

volume to wrap up our second quarter.

Seventh Grade Team 7A

Laura Dyokas Cheryl DonovanJane DeHaan Michele Hardy

Dan Finan Tonia Gatsios Lauren Ruffing Mitch Stein Cari Clousing

Team 7B Diane Bunnell Vanessa Giammarco

Sue Kazmierczak Beth Klutcharch Susan Niendorf Cherie O’Brien Chris Boyle Maggie Sayles

Seventh Grade

Happy Holidays to all of our

seventh grade families…

wishing you all a very happy

and healthy New Year!

Thank you to our helpers with the annual ‘Santa

Letter’ drive AND donations… your help and

dedication to helping others is more than appreciated

by your peers and teachers.

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Social Studies: Bringing in the new year with patriotic

understanding of the battles and events that contributed to the

American Revolutionary War.

ELA: The seventh grade ELA classes will be continuing our study of works by

Edgar Allan Poe.

Also in January, we will delve into argumentative writing and will wrap up the

quarter with an injustice performance task.

Science: Students will begin 2017 with a great deal of energy! In the upcoming

unit we will explore, apply, and experiment with various materials to understand

different types of energy.

Math: All math classes will be starting Geometry units after winter break!

Please remember that we want to retain all our math skills, so continue to work

on Khan Academy over break!

6th

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Diane Jeglinski- Math

Maggie Sayles- Math

Amy Steele-Math & Co-taught

Mary Kay Bohms - ELA

Sean Bouck - ELA

Tara O’Hea-ELA Co-taught

Cari Mills - Science

Suzanne Sandowski-Social Studies

Cherie O’Brien- Math Support

Jaclyn Brendlinger-Math

Carolyn LeGrand- Math

Karissa Fletcher- ELA

Renee Grady- ELA

Pam Swierczewski - Social Studies

John Ferraro-Science

Sue Kazmierczak - ELA Co-taught & Reading Support

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21st Century Skills

Problem Solving

Investigating

HIS X

Team 6A Team 6BCol

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Discovering

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Science: Our scientists are getting better at making claims, supporting those with evidence from doing hands-on labs/activities, and reasoning through their new knowledge with scientific principles. They have been applying the consensus model to real life situations regarding light and how it interacts with matter. They were able to use the light sensors granted by the Ed Foundation to get data to support their claims.

Social Studies: Students are wrapping up their study of Egypt. The importance of the Nile Valley, the most famous Pharaohs, pyramids, mummification, and the ever-changing dynasties were all explored. Students had the opportunity to create a bookmark with a “secret message” using hieroglyphics on REAL papyrus paper! There are still so many questions waiting to be explored about this time period and region.

ELA and Honors ELA: Our essential question for second quarter was, “What makes a person memorable?”As the second quarter draws to a close,ELA students will be finishing their Book Club biography selections and collaborating on their culminating projects and presentations. Please encourage your child to read from his/her independent reading book daily. The Illinois Rebecca Caudill student choice voting celebration is in February. Students need to read 3 selections to qualify as a judge.

Math: Students are learning how to take a real life situation and write it as an algebraic expression. Continue working on Khan Academy at home so that you master the skills that you have already learned and challenge yourself with new ones!

We’ve Been Busy Learning

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6th Grade Tiger Pride

We’ve Got Spirit!

HCMS 6th Grade Girls Make the 7th Grade Volleyball Team

6th Grade Tiger Pride

HCMS 6th Grade Boys Make the Wrestling Team

6th Graders Qualify for HCMS Geography Bee

6th Grader, Has Read All 20 Rebecca Caudill Titles

Jack Greenawalt has earned a special spot on our “6th Grade Tiger Pride” page for his amazing reading skills. Jack has read all 20 of the 2017 Rebecca Caudill nominees and is our current 6th grade expert on this year’s selections. Save the date for February 23rd for our annual Rebecca Caudill voting celebration .

Congratulations to 6th graders Jack Cosich & Anila Moparthi for representing the sixth grade in the HCMS Geography Bee. Anila finished in the top three. We couldn’t be more proud!

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6th Graders Sort & Load Gifts for Needy Students at Chavez School in Chicago

Thank you HCMS students, parents, & staff, for making

2016 Letters to Santa a success!

Over 600 gifts of toys, clothing, and school supplies filled the tables and media center at HCMS. Parents, students, and staff helped to make Christmas a little brighter this year for k-4th grade students at Chavez School in Chicago. The HCMS 6th grade teams sorted and bagged the beautifully wrapped gifts, filling the truck with over 600 packages. Truly a work of “heart”.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does” -Margaret Mead

Band

Thanks for a great year!!

Jazz Band resumes on January 10 Full Band resumes on January 11

ChorusVarsity Chorus, Advanced Choir, and Show Choir all had fabulous performances at the Fall Concert, the Frankfort Tree-Lighting,

and the Holiday Tour!

Special thanks to the Chorus Boosters for a great winter bowling social!

Any HCMS student that is interested in joining chorus is invited to enroll in either Varsity Chorus (6th graders) or Advanced

Choir (7th/8th graders)! New members will be accepted starting the week we return

from winter break. If your child is interested, contact Mrs. Walton at lwalton@fsd157c.org

Instrumental Music class is finishing up the quarter with a unit that combines world drumming, mallet instruments, guitars,and ukuleles!

We have had such a great class! We have been creating and arranging many different styles of music using online music production tools!

Every student has the opportunity to play the guitar and learn how to read and write music in a variety of styles.

Instrumental Music

You just got song bombed! This quarter student in this class to play the ukuleles, world drums, and mallet instruments ina variety of styles!

General M

usic

Music Production

7th Grade Music

6th Grade Music

ArtHome for the Holidays!The 8th Grade Sculpture class just completed these amazing house models. After studying a variety of architectural styles, they chose their favorite to inspire their design. They spent a couple days sketching their ideas and the began to design templates for their cardboard structures.

Espa

ñol

6th Grade:We just finished learning the basic colors in

Spanish - after Winter Break, we will begin our last two units on Parts of the Body and Adjectives! The

goal is to have students speaking and writing in short sentences to describe different people and

objects using colors and adjectives.

7th Grade: We will continue with

our unit on “La Familia” when we return from

Winter Break! 7th Grade students have learned a lot of grammar tools this

quarter that will allow them to begin writing

short paragraphs about themselves and their families. Students will

complete a Family Tree Project before we move

into our last unit on Telling Time!

8th Grade:The 8th Grade students just took their placement

assessment for Spanish 2 at LWE. They used all the knowledge they have acquired this year to show what

they have truly learned in Spanish. After break we will finish up Chapter 3 with our

chapter assessments. We will then begin Chapter 4 where the students will learn about school classes

and materials.

Tech 6th Grade: We just learned photoshop skills to create a pyramid of success. Now we are creating a website using Google Sites and creating multiple pages for our website, inserting text, links, and pictures. When we return from break we will be kicking off our STEM unit by learning how to engineer a gravity cruiser.

7th Grade: Students applied their photoshop skills to create character counts and digital citizen posters. Students have been researching and recording information about US Weather and nutrition. Now students are creating Excel spreadsheets and graphs to convey their research. We will finish off the quarter with our STEM unit and learn how to engineer a gear operated toy car.

8th Grade:Advanced Tech- Students have finished programming a target style game in Scratch. Now, they will finish the semester in our STEM unit. Computer Design- Students have been working on a digital comic project and portraying a comical look at a historical event. Now students will finish the semester in a STEM unit designing gliders.

From, Encore Reminder: Quarter 2 ends January 23. Students will switch to their new encore class on Tuesday, January 24.

PhysicalEducation

**Mr. Connolly, Mr. Talaga, and Miss Dettman’s classes will be

going to health during 3rd quarter on JANUARY 23rd!!

Please start collecting box tops and bringing them into your

P.E. teacher!

Athletics6th Grade Boys Basketball

DPVC Tournament

January 20th and 21st

@ Hickory Creek Middle School

Times and schedules will be made available after winter break

AthleticsUpcoming Volleyball

1/11 @ Kankakee 4:30 PM1/12 @ Steger 4:00 PM

1/17 vs. James Hart 4:00 PM

Upcoming Wrestling

1/10 @ Minooka 4:30 PM1/12 @ Troy 4:00 PM

1/14 Channahon Invite @ Minooka HS - south campus

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bThe HCMS Drama Club boasted over seventy members this year, with a large majority of its members competing in the Illinois State Regional competition held November 5, 2016, at Homer Junior High. The team received many compliments from the judges regarding their preparedness and acting skills. In all, Hickory Creek Middle School brought home 56 first place rankings and 4 second place ratings. Well done, Hickory Creek Middle School!

End of Season Awards & Reflection

The Drama Club students celebrated an end to a successful season with an awards assembly, December 2, 2016. Medals and ribbons from the state contest were awarded as well as the 16 Judge’s Choice recipient medal winners. A special thank you to Domino's Pizza in Mokena, for donating pizza certificates for our special winners.

Drama Club State Contest Results Matt Lombardo & Jack Delage performing at contest

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b Duet Acting:Kara Regnier and Kayleigh HeffelmireEvan Rafol and Grant RafolMya Bremmer and Kailey WhiteJennah Kanacki and Nour KamalSmall Group Acting:Sean Dore, Nathan Scott, and Christopher SpeakmanNoah Weygandt, Spencer Hendren, and Evelyn PowersSolo Acting:Evan Rafol (winner in 2 divisions)

8th Graders- A Group to be Admired for Their Talent

We are going to miss our talented 8th graders next year. Their hard work and attention to detail will be part of their Drama Club legacy. Determined to be considered for an Illinois State Judge’s Choice Award, this group could frequently be found rehearsing through the halls of HCMS. Many also served as peer coaches to the incoming 6th graders and were excellent role models for the first year participants. The coaches are going to miss this talented group actors and actresses next year!

HCMS Drama Students Receive Illinois State Judge’s Choice Awards

Drama Club students spend hours each week rehearsing and perfecting their performances in preparation for the state contest, all secretly hoping their performances will earn them the coveted Judge’s Choice Award. State judges are allowed to select a “best performance of the day” in each judging room. This year, HCMS Drama Club students received a total of 16 Judge’s Choice Awards. What an amazing accomplishment! Well done!

2016 Illinois State Judges Choice Award Recipients

Mat

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es Sixth and seventh graders are preparing for a big competition in Momence. The competition will take place on February 15th and features some exciting events including a mathematical relay, a speed contest, and a pairs competition. Eighth graders are getting ready for the Lincoln-Way competition which will take place in mid-March. Lincoln-Way has proven to be a very challenging event so we are very excited about having ample time to prepare!

Upcoming:

February 15- 6th & 7th grade competition in Momence

Mid-March- 8th Grade Lincoln Way Competition

Mathletes

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tyThe Hickory Creek National Junior Honor Society is pleased to welcome 105 students into the organization for our inaugural school year. Our first HCMS induction ceremony will be held on January 25, 2017. Initially, all NJHS applicants were required to have a cumulative GPA of 3.8 in order to proceed with the application process. Students wrote an essay in addition to listing their leadership, service, character and citizenship references. Next. the applications were reviewed by the HCMS Faculty Council, where each area of the five NJHS pillars received a numeric value according to the rubric. Students were also rated on their leadership and character in the classroom setting by the Faculty Council. Students who received numeric totals of 85% or higher on the rubric, were granted membership to NJHS. A second opportunity to join HCMS will occur in the Spring. (3.8 GPA) 6th graders and new students to the district will have the opportunity to apply, as well as students who needed to strengthen areas on their application. We encourage students to look at the application process ahead of time and set academic goals.

NJHS Service Hours Opportunities

National Junior Honor Society

-Ms. Grady & Mrs. Rutovic are looking for concession stand help for the BB tournament Friday, January 20th & Saturday, January 21st. (2 hour shifts)-Mrs. LeGrand is looking for NJHS students to peer tutor 6th grade math students on Wednesday’s after school. -Possible after school teacher assistance with hallway displays (inquire with individual teachers)

Important Dates

January 25, 2017- NJHS Induction Ceremony for our first group of HCMS students.(NJHS students, make sure you return your acceptance portion of the letter to Mrs. Rutovic or Ms. Grady no later than January 9, 2017)

Faculty Advisers: Stacy Rutovic & Renee’ GradyAdministrative Adviser: William Z. Seidelmann

NJHS applicants assisted parents with 5 Essential Survey online process during PT conferences.

FSPUpcoming Events:

JANUARY 26TH, 2017!EXPLORATION NIGHT - TO SPACE AND BEYOND

FEBRUARY 24, 2017FAMILY FITNESS FUN NIGHT - YOUR AMAZING PACE!

Please Click Link Below for more info:FSP Newsletter Jan 2017

Parent Volunteers Needed @HCMS

Volunteers are needed at Hickory Creek! Please join the awesome team of parents who work in the copy room for our teachers! Please sign up to help out! Contact Laurie Nicholson at 815-370-5983 for more information.

Sign up here: Sign Up Genius