Last day of school!

Tomorrow, 6/23, is the last day of school for all students at HW Smith. Enjoy your summer and we'll see you in September!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the following seventh graders that earned the distinction of Excellence in ELA or AVID and those students earning the award of Most Improved in ELA or AVID:

Excellence in ELA - Richie L. and Sarah B.

Excellence in AVID - Fahira M. and Bonke R.

Most Improved in ELA - Tre'Zure J. and Kapri D.

Most Improved in AVID - John R. and Beatriz R.

Earn Extra Credit

How would you like a 100% to replace your lowest homework grade even if that homework grade is a 0?

All you need to do evaluate your efforts in ELA over the last year. Give yourself an A, B, C, D, or F and in at least TWO complete sentences justify your grade.

All responses must be submitted by Friday, June 17th, at midnight.

Middle School Talent Show

Enjoy pictures from today's Middle School Talent show! We have a very talented bunch of students at HW Smith!

Students of the Week

Congrats to those students earning the distinction of Student of the Week for June 6th to June 10th:

Period One - Leeban S.
Period Two - Kamara F.
Period Three - Yasin K.
Period Five - Bonke R.

Literature Circle Final Projects

Instead of taking a final exam, students will complete a self-selected Literature Circle project. Students can choose one of the following projects:

Literature Circle Book Mobile

Each student will choose important elements of fiction found in the book to

bring them to life through the use of words and pictures. The student will include

characters, setting, plot, conflict, and theme in a creative mobile that will teach

the viewer about the assigned Literature Circle book.

Cartoon Version for Younger Readers

Each student will analyze the important elements of literature found in their

literature circle book and use this information to create a cartoon version of their

book appropriate for younger readers. The cartoon version must be creative

and keep the essential elements of the story including the main characters,

setting, plot, conflict and theme.

Main Character’s Scrapbook or Electronic Scrapbook

Each student will create a paper or electronic scrapbook that could belong to

the main character. The scrapbook will be comprised of both words and pictures

and reflect the other characters in the story, the setting, plot, conflict, and

theme of the assigned Literature Circle book.

Students will get more specific instructions and a project rubric in class on Monday, June 13th.

All projects are due to Ms. Short no later than 3 PM on Monday, June 20th.

Summer Reading Assignment

All seventh grade students received the Summer Reading Assignment today in ELA class. The Summer Reading Assignment is comprised of two non-fiction texts that relates to Social Studies. The first is a pamphlet from 1847 published by the Anti-Slavery League. The pamphlet was geared towards younger children and is titled "The Anti-Slavery Alphabet." The second part of the Summer Reading Assignment is "My Escape from Slavery" by Frederick Douglass. Students will have questions to answer from each reading and then will create a poem, original short story, or illustrated children's novel based on what they learned.

All assignments must be in blue or black ink or can be typed.

Summer Reading Assignments are due no later than 3 PM on Friday, September 16th, 2011.

The Final Editorial of Seventh Grade

The following is topic for the final editorial of seventh grade:

Use specific details from your five senses chart to describe your perfect summer. Be sure to include details covering all five senses. As usual, your response should be in a complete paragraph with a clear topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding sentence.

Belated Congratulations

Congratulations to last week's Students of the Week:

- Mu Ter K. from Period One
- Nyla R. from Period Two
- December A. from Period Three
- Munirah H. from Period Five

End of the Year

The seventh grade year is quickly coming to a close. Please be aware of these important dates:

• June 8th- 1/2 day
• June 10th - distribution of Summer Reading Assignment
  
• June 17th - 7th grade Awards Assembly in the large cafeteria at 9 AM
• June 20th - last full day of classes
• June 21st, 22nd, and 23rd - 1/2 days
• June 23rd - last day of classes
  

Last Installment of the 25-Book Assignment

The last installment of the 25-book assignment is due by 3 PM on Friday, June 17th. Students will get credit for the Literature Circle books they are currently reading, but still need to complete six books total for the fourth marking period.