Well we are off and running toward spring. It’s hard to believe that we are at the end of third quarter already. The eighth grade math students have accomplished a lot this quarter. They have been working on Fractions, Algebraic Equations, Word Problems, Graphing, and Proportions.

Each student completed a graphing project in which they selected a cartoon to trace onto graphing paper. They then "squared it off" plotting points along the way and recording the coordinates of these points. Using the coordinate list they produced, they then proceeded to graph their picture on enlarged graphing paper. Thus, they have an enlarged replica of their original picture. After a lot of hard work, coloring, and finishing touches, they produced some wonderful projects!

Reminder: Math Club meets every Tuesday after school. This is a club open to any student who wishes to join. Students work on fun hands-on projects and learn to relate math with the real world. Join us!

 Looking Ahead

Students will be using the computer lab to work on various concepts of mathematics. They will begin the fourth quarter with a unit on Statistics where they will compile data and create graphs on a spreadsheet that represent this data.

The last three units will cover several areas of Geometry. Students will explore angle relationships, parallel lines, triangles, quadrilaterals, and polygons. They will then learn to calculate the perimeters and areas of parallelograms, triangles, trapezoids, and circles. They will then move on to finding the surface areas and volumes of prisms, pyramids, cylinders, cones, and spheres.

Technology

As I mentioned before, students will be using the computer lab to work with hands on mathematics. They will use Sketchpad and GeoExplorer to design, rotate, translate, and reflect many different angles and shapes. They will produce a spreadsheet to calculate areas, perimeters, and volumes. Using different sizes of shapes they can graph their calculations and compare measurements. Also, they will be using the Tesselmania program to create yet another great project.

We will host our first quiz bowl tournament Saturday, March 11^th. Our teams will compete against surrounding schools in a round robin format. The competition begins in the morning at 9:00 a.m. and finishes with a single elimination tournament beginning at 12:30 p.m. Trophies will be awarded at 2:00 p.m. to the 1^st, 2^nd, & 3^rd place teams. Anyone willing to help with the quiz bowl competition should contact Mrs. Carson.

Monroe Music Contest Friday, March 17^th All Day (6^th Honor Band, 7^th & 8^th Bands)

7^th, 8^th, & Jazz Bands’ Spring Concert Tuesday, April 24^th 7:30 p.m.

Cambridge Band Contest Friday, April 26^th Evening TBA (8^th Grade Only)

MS & HS Jazz Band Concert May (TBA) – During School Day

Solo/Small Ensemble Contest Saturday, May 8^th All Day (7^th and 8^th Grade Only)

5^th & 6^th Spring Concert Thursday, May 14^th 7:00 p.m.

 School Calendar

March 7^th Practice for Track begins

March 8^th Hope Club meets

March 10^th 7^th and 8^th Grade Dance 6pm-9pm

March 11^th Quiz Bowl 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

March 15^th Arts and Crafts Club

March 17^th No School

Puzzle of the week winners

Shari Alister

James Bender

Kristin Carlson

Derek Carlton

Angie Dawson

Kimberly Felton

Julie Smith

Excellent Job!