MAP Test Dates from CPS

Thank you all for your patience with all the communication about the CPS test process for the fall. Remember that applications to test are due by September 10th. Mrs. Johnson is currently compiling the grades from 7th grade to submit to CPS. This will be 1/3 or 300 points of the total rubric.
According to OAE, any student that has registered to take MAP in October will be sent a letter at the beginning of October. This letter will contain your pin for the overall application process and your exact dates for MAP testing.

The 8th graders will take a math MAP test on 9/28/15 and a reading MAP test on 9/29/15 at NPES. If your child will be participating in the boot camp and you would like their MAP scores shared with BEC, please send Mrs. Smith an email with permission for that to be done. Information (a flier) from BEC regarding pricing and scheduling for the MAP boot camp will be forthcoming this week. We are confirmed for the weekend of 10/10 and 10/11 from 9:00-12:30. Carlos Becerra, owner and founder of BEC, will be teaching the boot camp classes, at my request.

Registration for the Selective Prep test prep session for the Selective Enrollment exam is ongoing. This session will begin at NPES on October 19, 2015. The session consists of 8 classes to be held on Mondays at NPES from 3:30 to 4:30. If you have not registered yet and would like to, you can do so here.

Ms. Rosenberg is working on a timeline reference with important dates in the high school application process. This will be forthcoming. Remember that it is best to begin visiting schools as soon as possible so you can cast a wide net in the application process. Open Houses for high schools will likely begin in October, but you can begin to visit high school events (sporting events, performances, etc.) at any time, once the school year begins. Talking to students and parents of students at the high schools of interest can be a resource that is more valuable than an Open House.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Ms. Rosenberg or Mrs. Smith.

8th Grade Math

Hello 8th Grade Families,

It was great to see all the 8th graders even if for just a short time on Monday.  We spent our class period on Monday getting iPads distributed and setting up Google Drive and Schoology accounts.

For the rest of the week we will be doing some introductory problem solving activities and playing games.  We will begin working in the text book and quickly going over review material from last year.  Lastly, we will begin our study of Pascals triangle this week in preparation for project fair in December.

8th Grade Language Arts Week 1: Adjective Fashion Show

This week students will be given the following creative writing task:
“To practice knowledge of adjectives and descriptive language, we will be having an adjective “fashion show.”  Each student will bring outrageous clothes to model and they will write a description which they will read as they model their ensemble.”

Students must follow these rules:
The description must include 35 highlighted adjectives
It must be written in third person point of view
No adjectives can be used more than once
No “dead” (overused) adjectives can be used.

The Adjective Fashion Show will take place on Friday, September 11th, 2015.
Check back to see pictures from the outrageous event!

-Mrs. Payne

NPES Art 2015-2016 The Year of the Human and "Humans of Chicago"

This year I am excited to focus on all aspects of humans and the human body as it pertains to art. We will be looking at art that explores the human form and learning what it means to be a human, especially a "human of Chicago". Along with a wide variety of new lessons and old favorites, we will take time this year to do more figure drawing and portraiture, in an effort to learn how to draw human proportions and faces.

One or more elements and principles of art are addressed with each project. They include:

Balance, emphasis, contrast, unity/harmony, movement,/rhythm, proportion, line, shape, form, value, texture, space, and color. 

Students practice:

Looking at and talking about art

Following directions and sequential steps in a process

Creative problem solving

Craftsmanship and technique with new and familiar mediums

Philosophy and Objectives

Art students learn how to be engaged fully in the artistic process and gain skill and confidence by learning to work in the following two and three dimensional mediums: drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, print-making, collage, fiber, and computer arts. Drawing receives the greatest emphasis because it provides the basis for all other creative activities. Drawing is the single most accessible form of art available and provides a direct link between reading, writing, and math.

  The art program is integrated with the core curriculum in order to establish historic relevance and offer students the opportunity to create and do in all subject areas. The program nurtures inventiveness as it engages students in a process that aids in the development of self-esteem, self-discipline, cooperation, and self-motivation. The program is spiraled to allow for building on and practicing prior knowledge and skills at every grade level, while adding more complex techniques, critical thinking opportunities and higher expectations of craft as the student matures.

The goals of the visual art program at NPES are to provide students with the tools to understand human experience; to learn to adapt to and respect others way of thinking; to learn creative methods of problem solving; understand the historical and cultural influences of art; to make decisions in situations where there are no standard answers; to analyze non-verbal communication; and to communicate thoughts and feelings using a practiced and highly developed visual vocabulary.

Student Assessment

Effort 

Participation (including clean-up) 

Creativity and meeting project criteria 

Following directions 

Office Hours

Tuesdays 3:30 - 4:30

Week 1: Hello!

North Park Elementary School

Dear Eighth Grade Parents,

I hope you all had a great summer and yes, the school year has begun.  In science this year we will explore four branches of science: physical, anatomy, earth and life.  Our studies will take us through the world of physics, carbon chemistry, digestion, geological time and paleontology, genetics, and evolution.  We will use an integrated approach into the discovery of how this world works. 

I will be coaching the Science Olympiad team this year, if your child is interested I feel it will be a fun enrichment and also a good addition on their high school applications.  I will furnish you with more details as the time approaches.

If you are interested in volunteering in the classroom please let me know.  I encourage this because it provides opportunity for more children to receive one-on-one attention.  This can be on a weekly, bi-weekly, or occasional basis.  The more specialized help the students receive in class, the more they will learn.

Finally, please support your student’s success by stressing the importance of good or appropriate class behavior and completing homework assignments.  Credit can only be given if the assignments are neatly completed and turned in on time.  Please also ensure that your child has the required supplies for this year’s activities.

I am looking forward to an exciting and challenging year.  Thank you for your help and support.  I look forward to seeing you at Parent Orientation.

Sincerely,

Mr. Tortorici

8th Grade Social Studies

Welcome back!  This year in 8th grade social studies, students will be learning about 20th century American history.  They will ask and answer essential questions about how the 20th century shaped the United States that we live in today.  They will debate and discuss important issues and they will learn how to analyze primary source documents, propaganda, and political cartoons.  They will also create their own projects about a variety of historical topics with a whole lot of student choice.  I am looking forward to another great year in social studies with your students!

Topics that will be covered this year include:

• American Imperialism
• World War I
• The Roaring Twenties
• World War II
• The Great Depression and New Deal
• World War II 
• The Cold War

Welcome Back Class of 2016

Welcome to Eighth Grade!
This is the blog that you will be able to follow now that your child is in 8th grade at NPES. The blog is set up (as you can tell) to email you when any updates are made. The office hours for middle school are still a work in progress until school starts, but the blog is a great place to look for that information. The co-curricular classes will continue to rotate in their blog posts so as to reach different grades each week.
We are looking forward to the return of students next week. A special welcome to Sean Collier as he joins the class of 2018 at North Park from Singapore.
I am awaiting a flier from BEC with information about the MAP Boot Camp to be held on October 10th and 11th. I will send it as soon as I have it. I can share that Carlos Becerra (owner and tutor at BEC) will be serving our kids that weekend. He knows our school and our students, and I trust that he will be just what our kids need to have a good experience during what could be a stressful weekend. The classes will be held from 8:30-12:30 on Saturday and Sunday at NPES. You will register directly with BEC once the flier has been distributed.
Selective Prep will provide test prep for the Selective Enrollment test beginning October 19th. If you would like to register for those 8 sessions to be held at North Park on Mondays from 3:30-5:30, please register directly with Selective Prep.
See you soon!