Friendly Reminder!

Dear Students,

I pray you are all enjoying your break! 

Merry Christmas!  Happy New Year!  And CONGRATULATIONS to Kalevi, who became a big brother over break! :) 

I just wanted to remind you all that your ten-day devotions are due the day you return to school. There are seven days of break left to complete your devotional chart, and you were given seventeen days to complete this task, so some of you may have already finished!

Also, 8th graders, you were given over a month to complete your Shakespeare project!  I hope you didn't procrastinate!

Love yas,
Mrs. A

Overwhelming Blessings!

Dear Eighth Grade Familes,

Last Friday I was overwhelmed with blessings from your class.  Thank you so very much to all who contributed to the special time we had over lunch and 5th period.  I felt the love!  You encouraged me by displaying your appreciation in such a thoughtful and generous way.  The food was delicious, and the gifts were an amazing surprise.  My heart almost burst with abounding gratitude! 

I cherish each of you.

Thank you,
Mrs. Agate

Field Trip!

I am excited to take the students to see the new Hobbit movie since the 7th graders recently read the novel in class, and the 8th graders who were here last year read it AND went to see the movie together. 

This Friday, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug comes out in theaters.  We had planned on seeing the movie next week... however, with all the Christmas practices of choir, band, and other seasonal events that are taking place, there is not a convenient time for us to go in this last week before Christmas break.

GOOD NEWS: We WILL be going to see The Hobbit when the students return from break.  The students will be receiving that permission slip soon. 

Stay tuned for details, and I apologize that we cannot see it sooner!

Thanks!
Mrs. A





 

So, What's the Deal?...

Here's what's happening in middle school English and Bible classes....

7th English: GRAMMAR!  We are learning infinitives, participles, gerunds, and all sorts of brand new grammar concepts.  We are also currently in a unit on non-fiction literature.  Additionally, we are writing business letters and personal essays this quarter on top of our weekly writing prompts and literature responses.

8th English: SHAKESPEARE! We have been reading and acting out A Midsummer Night's Dream. We will be reading more Shakespeare, writing literary responses, and paraphrasing the Bard's poetry and prose.  The unit will culminate with a wonderful project.  Additionally, we will be continuing with vocabulary and grammar.  We are cruising along at a wonderful pace, and the kiddos should be very proud!

7th Bible: We're on Unit 5: Prophets.  As God's nation grew, so did the need for leadership.  We are still in desperate need of spiritual leadership today.  We have enjoyed talking about the leaders we look up to and what God's word says in this regard. 

8th Bible: Our study of church history continues as we strive to hear our own, personal calling as God's children and our place in His church.  We have enjoyed discussing the essentials of faith and works, prayer, worship, and leadership in the body.  We are in Unit 4: Church History.

Service Project...

Dear 8th Grade Parents,

In the spirit of our current Bible unit, which includes the awesome theme of serving others, the 8th graders are doing a food drive for Wilkinsburg Community Ministries.  If you would like to participate, please send in any dry/canned goods by Wednesday the 27th (the day before Thanksgiving).

In His Service,
:)
Mrs. A

8th Grade: Turn It In...

For over a month, the 8th graders have been working on formal research papers. They have learned the MLA style of writing, and they have thoroughly researched their chosen topic in light of the Holocaust unit.  It is now time to turn the FINAL draft in to www.turnitin.com.  This website will verify that no plagiarism has taken place, and it enables the teacher (me) to grade the papers electronically.

For our class, the website ID is: 7286350, and the password is in all lowercase.  Hint: uncalled-for swimwear during the DC trip, and the conversation that Mrs. Agate asked you to "drop." ;)
The papers are due to TurnItIn by 11:59 PM on Friday (tomorrow).

Want more info on the paper?  Read on!  ...
The students have completed MLA source cards, outlines, first, and second drafts!  They also have (hopefully) mastered creating a "Works Cited" page.  (You may have noticed that the teachers have been giving light homework to accommodate this paper.  Josh Cole mentioned today, "Why don't we have any homework anymore?"  This was not well-received by his fellow students.)  More information on MLA format can be found by checking out www.owlpurdue.com.  MLA writing will carry the students through high school and college, and they will continue to receive a good foundation in 8th grade to master this format. 

For this particular paper, the students were given several rubrics throughout the course of their writing to hold them accountable to the requirements.  They also received summary sheets of MLA format to guide them.  I suggested that they keep these forms as the papers will be of great assistance in the future. 

Also, we will be writing another, longer research paper during the second half of the year.  Some of the students are actually looking forward to it!  No kidding! :)  I love these crazy kids!

Detention Policy...

Just a reminder...

We are keeping with the detention policy that we have been doing for at least three years in the middle school.  A detention (missing one lunch period) is given when five infractions are received.  Infractions are administered if a student is tardy, comes to class without his/her materials, or is disobeying a school rule.  We do this to help the students stay accountable to their responsibilities and be successful in the classroom.  At the end of the week, teachers turn in any infractions to the office; the infraction details the date, class period, and reason received.  Brenda Kirkland has been amazing in keeping up with the infractions.  She has a spread sheet which keeps track of all infractions and detentions assigned and served.  Mrs. Kirkland lets us know when a student has earned a detention, and you (the parent) will receive paperwork from the office if your student needs to serve a detention.  Detentions are on Wednesdays and are administered by Mr. McLane, Mr. Miller, or one of the middle school teachers. 

I hope this clarifies any misunderstanding.  I apologize if this was not explained thoroughly at orientation in the beginning of the year.

*If you feel that your student has received an infraction unfairly, please do not hesitate to contact any of us in the middle school.  We issue infractions without discrimination, and we do our best to be as consistent as possible to ensure fairness.  If you feel a mistake has been made however, or if we need to give an extra extension of grace for any reason, we are more than willing to discuss it with you.

Thank you.

Turn It In....

Students must turn papers into www.turnitin.com . All students have done this at least once before.  For English, our class ID is: 7198070 . Our class password is:  iliketurtles  .
The seventh graders have their Persuasive Essays due TONIGHT.
For eighth grade, please see the schedule for the MLA Research Papers on this webpage.  Their final draft is due to turnitin.com on November 12th.

Hooray for writing!
Mrs. A

www.turnitin.com
  

A Few Things...

1. Congrats to my 8th grade homeroom!  We had 100% participation for the Bags for Bucks fundraiser, and we enjoyed our reward this morning!  The students were VERY excited to have donuts, coffee, and juice for breakfast.  Thanks to all who participated.

2. Over the long weekend, every middle school student should be reading!  The 8th graders have to finish The Hiding Place by Tuesday, and the 7th graders need to read chapters 10-12 in The Hobbit by Monday.

3. Aside from reading, both classes are currently writing papers.  The 7th graders have a structured five-paragraph persuasive essay due Tuesday.  We have already edited our rough drafts, and now everyone should be on to the final copy.  The 8th graders should be starting their research on their five-page Holocaust research paper.  If you can get your 8th grader to the library over the long weekend, that would be awesome!  Mrs. Scott also pulled books from our school library's shelves which has been very helpful to the students.
(Specific hand-outs and rubrics were given for these writing assignments.  Check them out! :) )

4. On October 30th we are celebrating our first "Decade Day."  The students are allowed to come dressed in 1950's garb!  Get your poodle skirts and saddle shoes ready!

5. Thank you to the strong parental involvement in the Jewish feasts projects in the 7th grade!  They were fabulous! 

6. Enjoy your mini-break!

We're in FIRST Place!

I am proud to announce that our 8th grade homeroom is in first place for our Bags for Bucks fundraiser!  We have sold more than any class in the entire school!

However, we still have work to do!

If we have 100% participation by THIS WEEK (that means each student just has to sell ONE roll), then we are rewarded with a donut-breakfast!  Yummy!

Please consider participating in this fundraiser!

Thanks!

 

 

What's Goin' On?

We have been very busy in the classroom!  Here is a BRIEF update for you.

7th ENGLISH:  *We just finished a unit on short stories where we read eight works from different cultures and eras.  We learned literary elements of a short story as well such as plot, point of view, climax, etc.  We are about to begin reading The Hobbit.
                      *We have been working on writing, and we are about to conquer the structured five paragraph essay.  We will also be writing riddles in light of JRR Tolkein works.  The students have been enjoying the Friday writing prompts as well.
                      *We have completed four units in vocabulary, and we are about to start applying our knowledge of roots and derivatives to analogies.
                      *In grammar, we continue weekly lessons in understanding parts of speech and the various roles of words in a sentence.

7th BIBLE:   *We just finished Unit 1: An Overview of The Old Testament.  The students did very well on their test as the class average was a B+.  Nice work!
                      *Unit 2 is underway, and the students will enjoy learning about the Jewish feasts and festivals.

8th ENGLISH: *We just finished a unit on short stories where we read ten works from different cultures and eras.  We learned literary elements of a short story as well such as theme, tone, irony, etc.  We are about to begin reading The Hiding Place and starting a literary unit on The Holocaust.
                      *We have been working on writing, and we are about to conquer the personal narrative and article writing/journalism. 
                      *We have completed four units in vocabulary, and we are about to start applying our knowledge of roots and derivatives to analogies.
                      *In grammar, we are practicing sentence structure and mechanics.  Note: There will be a lot more grammar in this half of the quarter. :)

8th BIBLE:   *We just finished Unit 1: An Overview of The New Testament. 
                       *Unit 2 is underway, and the students will enjoy learning about the birth of the early church and Paul's missionary journeys. 

Can I Get a Witness?!

I was so encouraged last night while grading a homework assignment from the 8th graders.  Students were to write a brief testimony of the evidence of Christ in their lives as we have been studying the Gospels with a focus on Jesus' directive to GO and make disciples of all nations ("The Great Commission"). 

An hour into grading, I was over their papers in tears reading how beautifully these students expressed their faith in Jesus and how they came to know their Maker.  Some students wrote pages on the love they have for their Savior when the assignment was to write a mere paragraph.  I feel so honored that I get to witness their spiritual growth, and I can say for certain that I see the Holy Spirit shining in these students on a daily basis. 

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude to God for creating these special young people.  I am grateful that I see fruit as they strengthen their personal walks with Jesus, and I am also thankful for amazing parents who are truly "training up their children in the way they should go." (Proverbs 22:6)

Blessings, indeed!
Mrs. A

Nearing the end...

Please note that we are near the end of the first of our English and Bible units.  If you look on the left column of the website, you will see the upcoming test dates.  Throughout the units, the students have had various quizzes on individual lessons, but they have yet to partake in a unit test.  The students are to use their notes, study guides, previous assignments, etc. to study for the tests, and we will review together a day or two before the test takes place.

Just wanted to give everyone a heads-up!

I pray everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Mrs. A

 

PowerSchool!...

Dear Parents,

Please try and check PowerSchool frequently.  Your son or daughter may be missing several assignments for any number of classes.  I accept late work for half credit, so please encourage your student to change his or her ZERO and earn some points back!  You will also notice that most of my assignments on PowerSchool have a general description of the assessment.

Once again, assignments are given both orally and written on the homework board in my classroom.  Students are encouraged to copy the information daily in their planners.  Please help me hold them accountable, and check those planners as well.

In prayer for a successful school year,
Mrs. Agate

A Few Reminders....

 School is in full swing!  We are already starting lessons, and the students have been adapting wonderfully.

I am sure you all have been inundated with information, but here are just a few more things to remember in regards to supplies for my class.

You may have noticed that I requested a 2-inch binder with five dividers for English --for Writing, Grammar, Literature,Vocabulary, Analogies. Notebook paper should be placed in front and will serve as journal.  This is not to bog anyone down, but to help each student succeed in being structured and to allow easy accessibility for the various areas of English class. (All the language arts notes, hand-outs, essays, rubrics, homework, tests, etc. will stay in this organized, sectioned binder as I will hole-punch all the papers I give. Please check these binders regularly.) To keep students accountable in their organization, I do random binder checks and give them a preparation grade.

In addition to an organized binder, the students are accountable to keep track of their specific assignments and write them down daily. I give out homework orally, write all the assignments on the board, and oftentimes give the students an additional explanatory hand-out for papers and projects.
Tests, quizzes, projects, and papers are posted to my website as well. I want each student to be set up for success!

For Bible, the students need to have a notebook, notebook paper, and a folder.  In place of the notebook, a student may use a folder with clips to hold paper in the center. 

Students are to use black or blue ink or pencil for my classes.

Students should have an ESV Bible for class.  However, if this is a burden or an inconvenience, an NIV Bible will suffice for in-class use.  (We do memorize in the ESV, however.)

All hardback textbooks must be covered.

I think that covers the administrative details for both of my classes.

If you have any questions, please contact me at your convenience.

Thank you,
Mrs. Agate

Welcome!

Hello, wonderful middle school parents and students!

            We have an exciting year ahead of us, and I look forward to working together to make this year successful.

            I will be teaching English (literature, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and analogies) as well as Bible to the junior high students.  This is my 6^th year in a full-time teaching position in these areas and my third year at Trinity.  My teaching style is very hands-on, conversational, and interactive.  I expect the best from my students, and I promise to also put forth my best effort.  With God’s grace and guidance, we can achieve great things in the classroom!

            I feel that communication is key when it comes to middle schoolers.  I communicate my assignments orally to the students, I write them on the board daily, and I also post important assignments (tests, quizzes, papers, and projects) to my website.  I communicate my grades consistently through PowerSchool and update them at least twice a week.  I encourage parents to never hesitate to contact me for any reason.  You can reach me at my email: kagate@trinitychristian.net, or you can reach me at school 412-242-8886.

            Please follow my website for updates and more!  Please insert your email address at the bottom of this website for automatic updates. 

            On the first day of school, each student will receive a syllabus for each of my classes showing the materials we go over within the course of the year.  Please review these syllabi as well as my policies and procedures.

           

            I am thrilled to be a part of each student’s learning process as well as his or her walk with our Lord as we set and achieve our academic and spiritual goals for the amazing year ahead.

                                                                        Love, In Christ,

                                 

                                               

                                                                        Katie Agate

What a Wonderful Year! :)

Thank you for entrusting me with these wonderful students!

We had an excellent year.  We conquered every objective, finished all the curriculum for each grade and THEN some, and I believe we had some fun times together!

I love my amazing students a ton, and I pray everyone has a splendid summer!

KIDS-- Read novels!!!!  Write in a journal!!!!  And, even more importantly, read God's Word and talk to Him every single day this summer!

 

Thank you, seventh grade parents!

1. THANKS to all those who contributed to our fiesta! The seventh graders had a blast and ate delicious food, thanks to you!

2. Thanks for raising such great students who recently participated in a very sweet book writing project with the kindergarteners.

3. Enjoy these fun photos is both recent events. Sorry I didn't get everyone! I just took some random shots.

Bible Bowl!

Today was our First Annual Bible Bowl!

We held The Bowl in the auditorium in last period today, complete with microphones and projected points on display.

The middle school students have been doing Bible trivia once a month throughout the school year, and I have been keeping track of their individual points.  There were many students neck and neck up until our semifinals.  We needed to come up with the top three students from each grade to formulate Bible Bowl teams.  Our contestants from 8th grade were Ruth Holloway, Joy Kirkland, and Sam Worsham.  Our 7th grade competitors were Lizzie Handley, Clarke Merritt, and Waverly VerHill.  Mrs. Miller chose three top Biblical scholars from 6th grade to compete this afternoon: Johnny Danley, Stephen Salah, and Ari Theophilis. 

A grand time was had by all, and everyone did very well and impressed the audience with their Scriptural knowledge!  There could only be one winner, however.  So congratulations to the 8th grade who came out on top as the Bible Bowl Champions!  Great job!

Certificate awards and ribbons will be handed out to each contestant in Bible class on Thursday.

I will remind the students that while Bible trivia is tons of fun, and we should thirst for a full knowledge of God's Word, the most important aspect our our walks with Christ is our heart's relationship with our Savior.  In this way, I pray all of our students are champions! :)

Love,
Mrs. A

How well do you know your Bible facts? Check out this link for 1001 Bible trivia questions!

7th Grade Fiesta! :)

Dear 7th Grade Parents,

In celebration of finishing the non-fiction novel Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez, we will be having una fiesta (a party) in our English class on Thursday, May 30th. 

We will be taking an American Citizenship Exam (for fun), playing cultural games, listening to Mexican music, and eating Mexican cuisine.

I will provide all the paper products, decorations, and a piñata for the party.  I am sending a sign-up sheet around for the kiddos to choose an item that they wish to contribute to our party, per your approval.

Thank you for any help you can give to this fun event!

Viva Mexico!
~Mrs. A

Reading!...

A few things regarding summer reading....

1. DO IT!!  Three novels is a great goal for a middle schooler's summer reading.

2. I have updated the reading list link on the left side of this page.  There are wonderful novel suggestions and brief description of each.  Feel free to contact me for additional information on appropriate books for junior high students.

3. This is the last chance to order Scholastic Books! Use the information on the left side of the website page, and you can easily order online.  Orders must be in by next Friday, May 17th.  Thank you for ordering; our class library has grown because of your book orders! :)

 

Brief Update....

We are in crunch time!

I just wanted to clue everyone in on what is happening in our classroom.  We only have five weeks left!  (My heart just dropped to my stomach.)

7th Grade English: Between analogies, vocabulary, and grammar, we also are finishing a unit on short stories, writing our own short stories, reading a new novel (Breaking Through), writing an interview paper, and more!

8th Grade English: Between analogies, vocabulary, and grammar, we are also finishing a unit on poetry, writing our own poems, writing a formal research paper (in perfect MLA format), reading a new classic novel, and more!

7th Grade Bible: Our current unit is on prayer; then we will be completing a unit on spiritual gifts.  We will end the year by covering the years inbetween the Old and New Testaments...AND MORE! :)

8th Grade Bible: Our current unit is on cults; then we will be completing a unit on evangelism and our call to be witnesses.  We will end the year by introducing topics in Revelation...AND MORE! :)

Note: Always look on the left side of the site page to see due dates for Bible memory quiz work, tests, papers, etc.

Thanks!
Mrs. Agate

Spring Break! :)

I pray that everyone has a blessed spring break!

If your student is ever bored, check out the upcoming assignments that are due after break! 
(See the right side of the web page under "Assignment Due Dates.")

Enjoy your time away from school, everyone! :)

Love,
Mrs. A

Bible Memory Work

There seems to be some confusion regarding the Bible memory work. 
Again...
The 8th grade is responsible for knowing Romans 8:12-14. 
The 7th grade is memorizing Joel 2: 12-13.
The quiz is tomorrow, and you have had two weeks to commit these words to memory.
Thank you,
Mrs. A

What's Happening in Junior High?

We have had a wonderful start to the third quarter!  Here is a general overview of what has been going on in the classroom! :)

7th Grade Bible: We have been discussing WISDOM and are finishing up with the wonderful books of wisdom: Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes.  Our current memory verses for this unit are Proverbs 3: 5-8.  We previously memorized scripture from Ecclesiastes.  My prayer is that the students store God's word up in their hearts and that He would speak His truth into them.  I am so blessed to have the privilege of witnessing the spiritual fruit in their lives!  Our next unit is on the prophets and focuses on bringing God's message to others and the call to repentance.  Heavy stuff for seventh graders, but I am assured that they can handle it! 

7th Grade English: Poetry is fun, but we're just about done!  Along with daily writing and grammar, we are in the midst of an extensive poetry unit.  The students have learned various forms (rhyme scheme, meter, literary devices, etc.) of a large variety of poetry!  I can't wait to see the final outcome of their creativity in the form of their "poetry portfolios."  The seventh graders have blown me away with their ability to interpret even the most difficult of Shakespearean Sonnets, Frost's Odes, and Hughes's Limericks.  Next, we move on to writing speeches and reading a new novel, Tuck Everlasting, which I will be giving to the students next week.

8th Grade Bible: Who's ready for Church History?!  (Hopefully my twenty-three eighth graders are!)  The students are currently completing mini-research papers on topics that cover the Early New Testament Era in the church, spanning from 100-600 AD.  They will be discussing their research this Friday, and then we will pick up on Monday with a lecture explaining Constantine's influence on the church.  I am hoping to get from Constantine to Billy Graham by the end of the year!  (Prayers appreciated!)  Their current memory passage refers to the church as being a pillar of truth representing the living God (1 Tim. 3:15-16).  We're praying this can be true for all our churches today as we dig into how it all began.

8th Grade English:  We are in the midst of a wonderful Short Story unit.  We have read numerous short stories from various genres, and we have learned all the elements of a short story.  The students are currently writing short stories as well!  In addition to literature, we have been learning new grammar rules and terminology.  The students will display their knowledge (of coordinating conjunctions, subordinating ones, various clauses, etc.) this Friday on a combined grammar and vocabulary test.  Next up is a new novel, The Hiding Place, along with a unit on Holocaust literature including Anne Frank and various poetry. 

Thank you for sharing your wonderful kiddos with me!  This is just a hint of the hard work they are succeeding in acheiving in my classes!  They are the greatest students ever!

Bible Over Break...

The break went by so incredibly fast!  We are back to school tomorrow!  Who's ready?!

Just a reminder to all students that the Bible journal is due tomorrow: Monday, January 7th.  I hope that the students enjoyed spending time in their personal devotions.  I didn't want this to be a burden over the break, rather an encouragment to the students that reading God's Word daily, recording prayer requests and praises, and journaling about their quiet time will grow them in their walks with Jesus and can also bring glory to the Lord.  I pray that this assigment created a habit that will not end tomorrow...or ever!  I look forward to discussing the results in Bible class tomorrow.  (And pray that I can resist the temptation to rip the grammar portion of their journaling to shreds!  Haha.  We will focus only on the content for this one time!)  :)