PS/MS 498 Van Nest Academy

PS/MS 498X 704 letter2017-2018.doc  100 BC Reading Log 20 Lines.pdf  Incoming 7th and 8th grade Summer Reading Letter 2017 1.doc  Music Class Supply List 2017.docx  Thinking Map.docx 

Sciences & Technology

1640 Bronxdale Avenue

Bronx, NY 10462

Ph.(718) 409-3001  Fax (718)409-3002

           

Carol Ann Gilligan, Principal                                                                           Megan Gundogdu, Assistant Principal

Melanie Marino, Assistant Principal                                                         Ann Reynolds, Assistant Principal

 

June 2017

Dear Future 7^th and 8^th Grade Students and Parents,                                                 

            Welcome to the seventh and eighth grade! A very exciting, challenging, and inspiring school year awaits us. Summer is an excellent opportunity to maintain and gain academic strength to prepare yourself for the 7^th and 8^th grade and beyond. You do not want to lose any of the progress you have made in the previous school year. It is devastating when students lose all they have gained by not exercising their minds in the summer. Therefore, it is very important that you complete the following reading and writing assignments over the summer. These assignments will be collected within the first week of school. You are required to read one book over the course of the summer. You will read Wonder by R.J. Palacio and  complete the corresponding Character Development Graphic Organizers and short response writing activity attached to this document. Wonder may be a challenging text for some; please use a dictionary for unfamiliar words. Reading out loud with a parent to guide you is also a great way to conquer this complicated text.

In addition to reading Wonder, you will also complete a close reading of the Informational article, “” and answer the corresponding questions on loose-leaf. Please be sure to provide evidence from the text to support your responses. Follow the directions closely to ensure that you get the maximum points.

             As you are only required to read one text, you should be reading throughout the summer. Please make sure to be reading other books, articles, and poems of your choice. You should be reading for a minimum of 45-60 minutes each day to prepare you for your upcoming sixth grade year. I have provided some suggestions in the packet for you to read and enjoy. If the title seems interesting use the internet to look up a quick summary or go to your local library and see if it may be something you’ll enjoy.

Required Summer Reading

Fiction: Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Informational Article: “Women of NASA to be Immortalized—in Lego Form” by M. Kennedy

 

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to my email: rrivadeneira@schools.nyc.gov or refer to our website . I’m looking forward to our year together. See you in September.

Kindest wishes always,

Mr. Rivadeneira

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Reading: Response to Literature: Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Directions: Please record your answers to R. J. Palacio’s Wonder on the graphic organizers provided and on separate sheets of loose leaf paper. You may type or neatly write your answers in blue or black ink. Make sure you answer all parts of the questions and tasks.

Part I.

Wonder: Character Development Graphic Organizers: Julian, Summer, Jack Will, & Auggie

As you read from each of the characters’ perspectives in the book, complete the corresponding graphic organizer that illustrates the development of that character throughout the text. You need to complete all four graphic organizers for full credit. Please write neatly and be creative, coloring in the graphic organizers. You will find the graphic organizers attached to the packet.

 

Part II.

Wonder: Written Response:

Choose one of the three characters studied in the novel Wonder and write a letter to them illustrating their impact on Auggie in the text. Did the character have a positive or negative affect on Auggie? How did that character grow and change throughout the text? Describe how the character helped develop Auggie’s character throughout the plot. When answering the response, be sure to highlight different events and reactions the characters had that affected Auggie’s character and the way he reacted in the text. Provide three details from the text to support your answers. (Your response should be a minimum of 3 paragraphs = 15 to 20 sentences).

 

Summer Reading: Response to Non-Fiction Artcile: “Women of NASA…” by M. Kennedy

Directions: Please record your answers to the informational article on the packet provided (close reading) and loose-leaf for sections I, II, and III. Follow the directions closely on the document for each section, turning in both the close read article and the questions for full credit. The article can be found at the back of this packet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Resources and Recommended Summer Reading

Your local library:  You are not required to purchase your summer reading! Use your local library. Don’t forget your local library and NYPL locations all over the 5 boroughs of New York City for summer activities either. NYPL has amazing free programs and reading clubs that I strongly encourage you to investigate.                       www.nypl.org

 

Stories and Novels to read ONLINE! (You don’t even have to leave your room!) There are some amazing stories by classic authors that you can print or read directly on your computer screen. This is a great option if you are going to travel – print some stories to take to the beach or on vacation!

https://www.myon.com/ (VNA students can access site using your provided username and password)

http://www.literature.org/

http://www.cleavebooks.co.uk/grol/index.htm

http://www.classicshorts.com/bib.html

http://www.americanliterature.com/ARCHIVES/ARCHIVES.html

 

Non-fiction Developing your non-fiction and research skills over the summer will make 6^th grade a breeze. Here are a few sites to help you start.

https://student.societyforscience.org/sciencenews-students

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/

 

Get ahead Even if you aren’t in the mood for reading on some days this summer (although I cannot IMAGINE such a feeling J), you can practice and perfect other skills that will give you a head start in 6^th  grade. Use the following resources to get started.

https://login.i-ready.com/ (Must use Google Chrome and remember your username and password)

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/lang_mid.htm

http://www.vocabtest.com/

http://www.learnersdictionary.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Rivadeneira’s Summer Reading Recommendations

 

Fiction:

 

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Esperanza Rising by Pam Ryan

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer

Holes by Louis Sachar

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Because of Winn Dixie by Katie DiCamillo

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

 

Mystery:

 

Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper

Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff

Ten Great Mysterious by Edgar Allan Poe

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

 

Science Fiction/Fantasy:

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

 

Historical Fiction:

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Hiroshima: A Novella by Laurence Yep

Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry

The Yellow Star by Carmen Agra Deedy

The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman

 

 

 

 

 

PS/MS 498X

                The Van Nest Academy for Environmental

Health Sciences & Technology

1640 Bronxdale Avenue

Bronx, NY 10462

Ph.(718) 409-3001  Fax (718)409-3002

           

Carol Ann Gilligan, Principal                                                                           Megan Gundogdu, Assistant Principal

Melanie Marino, Assistant Principal                                                         Ann Reynolds, Assistant Principal

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are so very excited, elated, ecstatic…Words simply cannot capture our feelings!! As this school year is coming to a close, we look forward to the next academic school year..

We recognize how difficult change can be, especially the transition from 6^th and 7^th grade to 7^th and 8^th grade. However, we are working as a collaborative team of educators to help all of our students embrace this transition and take advantage of the rich opportunities they will have in middle school at Van Nest Academy. Our staff has created a common grading policy, as well as similar rules and procedures to which all the 7^th and 8^th grade classrooms will adhere. We believe consistency across classes will aid the students’ transition and avoid repeated discussions of rules and procedures so that we may dive directly into the rich content awaiting us! To simplify, we have created one letter so that you are not flooded with paperwork to keep track of, and we can get to the most important matter – your students.

Class 704:

Science	English	Math	Social Studies
Mr. Rivadeneira	Mr. Rivadeneira	Mr. Rivadeneira	Mr. Rivadeneira

  Additional Services:

• Ms. Roth (Speech and Language Therapist)                                                                                                    
• Ms. Petraglia and Ms. Gjidija (Guidance Counselors/Deans)                                                              
• Mr. Galasso (Physical Education)                                                                                        
• Ms. Miruku (Librarian)
• Mr. Bennett (Music)
• Ms. Crosby (Art)          

                                                                        

 

Communication Options

We are accessible and believe in communication, especially in the form of technology. We have a school website: www.498vannestacademy.org

On our website we post school events and individual teachers post major assignments to help students and parents stay organized and up to date. You can also call the main office at (718) 409-3001 to leave a message during school hours for the teachers/staff.

 

Grading Policy

The following point value system will be implanted in all the sixth grade subject areas to determine the student’s final grade each marking period: 70% Tests, Quizzes, and Projects, 20% Classwork, Journals, and Notebook, and 10% Homework.

 

 

Please keep this letter for your records, so that you have a common list of all our names, subjects, grading policies, and contact information. You will find an attached supply list. Thank you! We look forward to meeting and communicating with each of you to ensure your child’s education is above expectation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supply List 2017-2018

In the interest of keeping your lives simple, the sixth grade team designed ONE master supply list that will carry your students for a great deal of the academic year in ALL subjects – English, Science, Math, and Social Studies. If additional supplies are required, we will notify you. Please label all supplies with student’s first and last names. The students can bring the supplies to their homeroom classes, and we will help them sort the supplies they will specifically be responsible for bringing to each class. Thank you for your support!

Homeroom:                                                              Remain with Student:

-3 boxes of tissues                                                   - 1 mini stapler with staples

-2 rolls of paper towels                                            -4 packs of index cards (100ct. each)

-1 pack of large dry erase marker                          -10 two-pocket folders

-3 reams of copy paper (500 sheet ream each)    -11 composition notebooks          

                                                                                    -1 box of black ink pens

-36 No. 2 pencils (sharpened please)

-1 covered pencil sharpener                      

-2 packs of Post-its

-Earbuds or headphones

- 1 index card box or ring

- 1 pack of loose-leaf (100 sheets)

 

In lieu of a flash drive, we ask that students create/have a Google Account (with parental access) to complete projects. Students need access to Word Processing, Presentation Slides, etc.

 

 

Art Supplies:                                                                                    Music Class Supply List

-Pack of 12 (or more) Ticonderoga pencils                       Pack of 12 (or more) Ticonderoga pencils

-1 box of tissues                                                        1 pocket and brad folder (any color)

                                                                                    1 set of erasers