6th - Middle School 

Thanks for visiting the 6th Grade Homeroom and Middle School Social Studies page. 

September 2017
Welcome back to school! I'm pleased to have my returning students and families, and even more pleased to welcome all the incoming 6th graders to the middle school program here at Holy Family. We are jumping right in to things and getting the new middle schoolers acclimated to their new schedules and teachers. The middle school team of teachers coordinates their routines and instruction to make the transition as smooth as possible. 

Please come to Back to School Night on Thursday, September 14th, for information regarding the middle school program, as well as homeroom-specific news and updates. Social hour begins at 6:30, followed by the State of the School Address at 7:00. Afterward, the classrooms will be open for parents to meet their new teachers. 

As the history teacher, I'm excited to start new units in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. Here are the year's opening topics at each level:

6th grade: As an introduction to middle school, I open the year with training on how to be an effective note-taker, and also, how to be a good writer at the middle school level. These are skill essential to middle school success. 

7th grade: I am introducing the Middle Ages to this group by looking at the changes in Western Europe that occured after the fall of Rome. We start by learning the geography and political boundaries that took shape as well as the development of fuedalism. 

8th grade: We begin by analyzing the Declaration of Independence. What did it say? What did it mean? Why is this document so historically significant? 


Spring 2017
Outdoor school has been scheduled for the week of May 21st-26th. Mark your calendars! We'll be leaving from Sellwood Middle School on Sunday, the 21st, at 2:00! More information coming soon. 

As promised, I finally have specifics about our week at Outdoor School. Please read carefully and add these details to your calendars and family plans. 

Outdoor School is the week of May 21st through the 26th. We are attending Camp Howard with Oregon Episcopal School, Scott Middle School, and St. Paul. 

We will be leaving via bus from Sellwood Middle School on Sunday, May 21st at 2:00. Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in, load the bus, and take pictures. 

If your child(ren) require medication, please have it in a plastic baggie, labeled with their name. Mrs. Dickinson or myself will turn all medication directly over to the ODS nurse. Please note that there is no need to pack "just in case" medicine, as the nurse has many forms of over the counter medication including Benedryl, Advil, Tylenol, etc...

There is a fee for attending outdoor school, and the price varies depending on which county tax pool you pay into. If the cost of ODS poses a hardship, please notify Ms. Wiltgen to request financial assistance. Prices are as follows. Please make checks to Holy Family, as MESD bills the school. 

Residents of Multnomah County = $85

Residents outside of Multnomah County = $322.20

We will be returning via bus to Sellwood Middle School on Friday, May 26th at 1:30. Please arrange for your child to be picked up. We will not return to Holy Family. Students are welcome to go home and begin their weekend! 

If you have questions or concerns regarding this email or ODS in general, please contact me for clarification. 

Social Studies News - 2017

• May
• 6th graders are researching self-chosen topics in relation to ancient Greece. Topics for independent study include architecture, warfare, fashion, philosophy, and more. The end goal is for each student to become an "expert" and teach other students about the wonders of Ancient Greece. 
• 7th graders are just finishing their unit on the MIddle Ages. After taking their test on Medieval Europe, they will be choosing prominent figures from the Middel Ages to research and rol play. 
• in 8th grade, students are participating in a simulation of the American Civil War strategy. This game asks students to critically think about the logistics and strategy of waging war in addition to gaining an understanding of the historical facts.  

 

• April
• 6th grade is creating comic strips that show the evolution of democracy in ancient Greece. This part of a broader unit of study on forms of government including monarchy, oligarchy, and tyranny as well. 
• 7th grade is currently studying the geography and culture of medieval Europe. They are currently working on an illuminated manuscript that shows and tells different aspects of medieval culture through writing and art. 
• 8th grade is learning about the Civil War. They have worked in groups to author, direct, and act out a twelve part mini-series called "The Road to the Civil War," which tells the story of the many controversial events and issues that caused the North and South to turn against eachother. 

 

• March 
• 6th grade is studying its River Civilization unit. The class is split into 4 groups and will be learning about Ancient China, India, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. 
• The 7th grade is in the midst of writing Country Reports. Students will be researching the geography, culture, governments, and economies of nations from all 7 continents. Besides writing a research paper, students will also be hand-drawing political and physical maps, designing charts and diagrams that explore their country's population, and finding the meaning behind their country's flag. 
• 8th graders at HFCS are studying the impacts of westward expansion on both European Americans and Native Americans. We are studying primary documents from the time and analyzing the first-hand accounts from the time period. 

-Matt Gregor