Welcome to our team!

We are named “SIRIUS,”

after the brightest star

in the sky!

SIRIUS Teachers:

Kay du Moulin—Instructional Assistant

Gary Griffith—Social Studies and Team Leader

Patti Magoon—Language Arts

Eli Rosenberg—Science

Barbara Marcouillier—Math

Joy Thomas—Instructional Assistant

Sheila Paterson—Learning Specialist

Welcome to team SIRIUS!

Team Description

Our team is a two-year seventh and eighth grade looping team. We will have students for two years to help us get to know each student better as an individual and as a learner. Most of the time students will be taught in grade level classes, but there will be opportunities for us to be together as a whole team. Like any good team, we expect the results of our work, as a team, will be better than what we could accomplish as individuals.

SIRIUS Mission Statement

The “Sirius” Team will work collaboratively to create a positive school climate and promote high student achievement. We meet regularly to create activities consistent with the school mission and work toward achievement of the action plan goals. We are willing to try new approaches that will help students succeed. On a regular basis we will celebrate students’ and team successes and model positive habits. We will coordinate student assignments and assessments while creating interdisciplinary opportunities that help students make connections. Members of our team, including teacher advisors, will discuss student-centered issues to promote positive learning opportunities for every student.

Curriculum

The SIRIUS team will work together to provide a core academic curriculum that is relevant, challenging, integrative, and exploratory. Each content area will have its own set of skills and key questions, but the team will collaborate to help make meaning and connections for students. We work together to teach reading and writing across the curriculum with the support of our language arts teacher. Details of the curriculum will be provided at Open House by the teachers and in a printed guidebook given to all parents.

Sirius (see-ree-yus): Sirius, also called the dog star, is the brightest star in the sky. Sirius is the heart of the constellation Canis Major, the Big Dog. [Latin Sirius, from Greek Seirios, meaning burning or scorching.]

Contact Information

Communication between school and home is very important. “The most accurate predictor of a student’s achievement in school is the extent to which that students’ family is able to (1) create a home environment that encourages learning; (2) communicate high, yet reasonable expectations for their children’s achievement and future careers; and (3) become involved in their children’s education.” (Henderson and Berla, 1995) A student led parent conference and Open House are scheduled during the fall and another conference will be held in the spring. There are many other ways for parents to get involved in school including joining the PTO, becoming a Team Parent, and sharing expertise in the classroom. Parents are welcome to contact their child’s teacher advisor or any other member of the staff during the school year. The following is a list of the Sirius Team core teachers; a complete list of staff is in the district handbook.

Gary Griffith Social Studies 225-8627 gary@mpsvt.org

Patti Magoon Language Arts 225-8625 pattim@mpsvt.org

Barb Marcouillier Math 225-8668 barbm@mpsvt.org

Sheila Paterson Special Education 225-8619 sheilap@mpsvt.org

Eli Rosenberg Science 225-8634 eli@mpsvt.org

Middle school students are not always dependable when it comes to clearly communicating to parents what is going on at school. Check out the school web page:

http://www.mpsvt.org/msms/index.html and look for regular handouts and newsletters.

There is often extra help available for students during period zero and after school. It is always a good idea for the student to make arrangements with the teacher if he/she is having trouble with a subject. The teacher advisor is a good resource if there are general questions or concerns regarding school issues.

Learning is not attained by chance. It must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence. –Abigail Adams

SIRIUS Teacher Biographies

Kay du Moulin, Instructional Assistant

Kay has been an Instructional Assistant with the Montpelier school district for 14 years. Her patience and motivational skills are particularly suited to working with middle school students. Kay graduated from Woodbury College’s Paralegal program in 1989; she followed with 3 years of volunteer service with Battered Women’s Services of Washington County. Kay, her husband Peter, and their two children moved from Middlesex to Montpelier in 1993.

Gary Griffith, Social Studies

I have been a middle school math and social studies teacher for 20 years and am currently the Team Leader of the Sirius team. My educational background includes a B.S. degree in Business Administration and a M.A. degree in Education. The State of Vermont license endorsements that I currently hold are in mathematics, social studies, middle grades, and principal. My outside of school activities include working with youth sports programs and watching my sons games. My wife, Terry, and I have three sons, one is at Harwood Union High School, one is at Union College, and the other is in the Peace Corp serving in the Dominican Republic.

Patti Magoon, Language Arts

This is my 30th year of teaching, and I can say that the time zooms when you’re doing work that you truly enjoy. I graduated from Vanderbilt University with a master’s degree in reading, and I earned my B.A. in education from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I hold a Vermont teaching license in three areas: grade 7-12 English, grades pre-K—12 as a reading specialist, and grades K—6 in elementary education. I am originally from Pennsylvania, and my husband Peter is a native Vermonter. In my spare time you’ll find me experimenting with new recipes; enjoying music; museum-hopping, hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing with Peter; and curled up in my favorite chair with a good book and our cat Polydactyl, aka PD.

Sheila Paterson, Special Educator

I am a Massachusetts native and love my adopted state of Vermont. Initially, college lured me to this beautiful state. I received my undergraduate degree from Trinity College and my M.Ed. from the University of Vermont. I have been a special educator since 1989. For the past 10 years I have worked for the Montpelier School District and have been at Main Street Middle School for 8 years. My husband and I have three daughters ages 11, 9, and 5. When I’m not driving to practice or settling small skirmishes I enjoy walking, reading, gardening and skiing.

Eli Rosenberg, Science

I was born and brought up in Middlebury, Vermont, and although I have lived in Japan, Philadelphia, Massachusetts, California, and Burlington, Vermont never relinquished its hold on me and I now reside in Montpelier. I received a M.Ed. from UVM in 1999, and have subsequently taught for three years as a middle school science teacher. Before I was certified, I taught for two years as an environmental educator at Nature’s Classroom, and as a post-baccalaureate student built up my knowledge of Biology, Geology, Conflict Resolution, Chemistry, Forestry, and a few other odds and ends at UVM, Michigan State, and Middlebury College. I have an undergraduate degree in East Asian Studies from Haverford College, and I speak Japanese to a modest degree. I enjoy snowboarding, hiking, coffee, playing strategy games, kayaking, and in general having fun.

Barb Marcouillier, Math

I am very excited to be joining Main Street Middle School and starting my twelfth year of teaching middle school. I was born in Lowell, Massachusetts and received my B.S. from Lowell State College with a major in Mathematics and minors in Science and Education. While taking graduate courses in mathematics at the University of Connecticut, I held a Teaching Assistantship and taught undergraduate courses in Algebra & Trigonometry. For many years after leaving the University, I worked as a computer programmer before returning to education. In the fall of 2001, I completed my M. Ed. with a concentration in Information Technology at St. Michael’s College and in November of 2005, I achieved National Board Certification in Early Adolescent Mathematics. I have two sons, one who has returned to Vermont after graduating from Savannah College of Art and Design the other is currently residing in New York. In my spare time I enjoy yoga, water aerobics, cross-country skiing, reading, walking in the woods and spending time with my family and friends.

Joy Thomas, Instructional Assistant

I am starting my 11th yeat at MSMS, working in special education and with our behavior specialist. I am excited to back with team Sirius this year. I am a co-advisor for MSMS Student Council and the yearbook advisor. I grew up in Connecticut and Massachusetts and came to Montpelier in 1978 as a student at Vermont College majoring in Early Child Development. I live in Montpelier with Marty, my husband of 25 years and I am the proud mother of 3 children all graduates of Montpelier High School.

Biennial Curriculum Map

The Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science curricula are over two years. In each year, 7^th and 8^th grade students will have opportunities to excel as well as remedial support.

Subject	Year A (2008-9)	Year B (2007-8)
Language Arts	Short Stories Diversity Propaganda Relationships Reading / Writing Workshop	Greek Mythology Middle Ages Reading/Writing Workshop Africa Poetry
Social Studies	U.S. History U.S. Geography Native Americans Colonial America American Revolution Constitution (Creating a Republic)	Eastern Hemisphere Geography and History Ancient Greece Western Europe Africa South & East Asia World Religions
Science	Change over Time (Rocks and Fossils) Equilibrium and Homeostasis Cells, Organ Systems, and the Organism Energy Transformations How to be a Better Earthling	Rocket Science Newtonian Mechanics The Normal Curve Genes and Traits Cycles of Matter Population Biology

Math: Main Street Middle School uses the Connected Math Program, with additional skills practice and Algebra curricula. Math is a leveled and cumulative subject area, and thus is taught by grade level every year.

Seventh Grade	Variables and Patterns (Algebra)		Comparing and Scaling (Ratio, Proportion, Percent)		What Do You Expect? (Probability)		Filling and Wrapping (Geometry)	Accentuate the Negative (Integers)			Data Around Us (Number Sense)
Eighth Grade	Moving Straight Ahead (Algebra- Linear Relationships)	Thinking with Math Models (Algebra - Nonlinear Relationships)		Looking for Pythagoras (Geometry)		Clever Counting (Combinations)			Say It With Symbols (Algebraic Reasoning)	Samples and Populations (Statistics)

Optional 8^th grade: Stretching and Shrinking (Geometry) or Growing, Growing, Growing (Algebra-Exponential)

Language Arts

Team Sirius 2007-2008

Patti Magoon

pattim@.mpsvt.org

225-8625

Zeus, Poseidon, and Apollo; kings, knights, and peasants; Nhamo’s coming of age journey while navigating a river in Zimbabwe, and a young boy’s growing up among the Maasai on the African savanna; Robert Frost, Chaucer, and Maya Angelou; book circles and reading journals…these are a few of the items students in language arts will be encountering this year. The language arts curriculum is closely aligned with the social studies content, so, for example, while students are studying ancient cultures in social studies, they’ll be reading Greek mythology in language arts.

Throughout the year students will be focusing on learning various skills, including reading and writing skills, discussion and presentation skills, and analysis and interpretation of both fiction and nonfiction.

Below you will find a brief summary of the units of study for this year. Skills work and assessment is ongoing throughout all of these units.

Greek mythology

Reading: The myths of the twelve gods and goddesses of the Pantheon

Major writing project: Narrative – myth created by the student

Oral presentation: Small group dramatization of a myth based on student-written script

The Middle Ages

Reading: Literary circles focused on a student-chosen historical novel based on the Middle Ages

Major writing project: Report

Oral presentation: Choice from a variety of small group projects

Reader’s/Writer’s Workshop

With guidance, students set goals and independently choose books and writing projects.

Mini-lessons help students learn reading and writing skills.

Reading: Fiction and nonfiction.

Major writing project: Portfolio containing one large project or numerous smaller pieces. Acquisition of skills learned in mini-lessons should be evident.

Minor writing project: Five paragraph response to literature essay

Oral presentation: Sharing of a piece of writing

African Fiction and Nonfiction

Reading: Seventh Grade - the novel A Girl Named Disaster, by Nancy Farmer. Eighth Grade - the nonfiction book Facing the Lion, by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton. Both classes will read various other nonfiction pieces about Africa, including short biographies and essays.

Major writing project: Personal essay along with choice of partner/small group projects

Oral presentation: Presentation of projects

Poetry

Reading: A mini-retrospective of the year, with poetry from Homer’s The Odyssey to modern African poets such as Chinua Achebe

Major writing project: Poetry and persuasive essay

Oral presentation: Participation in Socratic circles and recitation of a favorite poem.

Sirius Mathematics Grades 7 & 8

The 7^th & 8^th grade mathematics program uses the Connected Math Project (CMP) supplemented with skill practice. Our program will offer students the opportunity to gain experience in both the traditional procedural mathematics as well as a more conceptual “problem-solving in context” program. This combination of experiences is essential in helping students achieve the outlined standards (called Grade Expectations) which require achievement in a rigorous set of skills, demonstration of strong conceptual understanding, and the ability to apply skills and concepts in real-world problem-solving situations. Students will become knowledgeable and skillful in the following areas:

· Use of mathematical vocabulary

· Ability to use forms of representation (graphs, tables diagrams, etc.)

· Use of tools (graphing calculators, spreadsheets, rulers, etc.)

· Techniques and strategies to approach and define problems

· The ability to define and solve problems with reason, insight, inventiveness, and technical proficiency

The curriculum for 7^th and 8^th graders is different by grade level, and the breakdown of the skills for each grade follows:

7^th grade	8^th grade
1. Number Sense (operations with large numbers) – Data Around Us 2. Ratios, Proportions, Percents – Comparing and Scaling 3. Linear Relationships – Variables and Patterns 4. Integers and Operations – Accentuate the Negative 5. 3-Dimensional Geometry – Filling & Wrapping 6. Probability – What Do You Expect?	1. Algebra (linear and non-linear relationships) – Moving Straight Ahead & Thinking with Mathematical Models 2. Statistics – Samples and Populations 3. Combinations – Clever Counting 4. 3- Dimensional Geometry – Filling & Wrapping 5. Pythagorean Theorem – Looking for Pythagoras

Additionally, 8^th grade students who qualify for Algebra Seminar and are attempting to get high school credit for Algebra will use the Discovering Algebra text in seminar classes to address some topics in Algebra not covered by the CMP.

Since CMP is a problem-solving curriculum, there is very little reference material in the CMP books. This often makes it difficult for parents trying to help students with homework. The following texts, listed in recommended order, from Great Source are excellent reference materials that you may want to invest in for home use:

· Math on Call

· Algebra to Go

· Geometry to Go

You will find new and used books online.

Additionally, you can check out the CMP Parent’s Website for homework and other help at

http://connectedmath.msu.edu/parents/

The 2007-8 SIRIUS Science Curriculum

Trimester 1 Learning Objectives:

Investigate the relationships of force, mass, and motion

Explain how pressure, temperature, and volume are related

Rocket Science: Students become engineers and use design strategies and tools solve mechanical problems. Highlight: water rocket design! Topics include engineering, design philosophy, and the physics of flight.

Newtonian Mechanics: Students learn about the physical laws that confront real rocket scientists. Highlight: rollercoaster testing! Topics include classical physics, the interaction between forces and friction, and accurate measuring techniques in the lab.

AlChemistry: Students theorize about the nature of matter through a series of thought-provoking experiments. Highlight: oxidizing reactions (fire)! Topics include chemistry, the history of scientific thought, and critical thinking skills.

Trimester 2 Learning Objectives:

Explain mitosis and meiosis

Identify that traits and genes are inherited from the parents

The Normal Curve: Students learn about human diversity as they investigate the anatomy and function of the eye. Students consider the meaning of ‘normal’ as it applies to the diversity of experimental results. Highlight: sheep eye dissection! Topics covered: anatomy, statistics, and hypothesizing skills

Genes and Traits: Students study genetics and molecular biology as they learn how the genes that they have inherited have influenced their development. Highlight: Make your own family tree! Topics covered: genetics, molecular biology, and statistics.

Trimester 3 Learning Objectives:

Predict the effects of change in a local ecosystem

Explain the process of the water cycle

Research the impact of human activities on the earth’s environment.

The Blue Marble: Students study the earth’s most precious resource, water, and how the patterns of water distribution have shaped life. Highlight: Caesar’s last breath! Topics covered: ecology, environmental chemistry, and natural resources.

Life in the Valley: Students learn about the ecology and water chemistry of the North Branch of the Winooski river, and apply this knowledge in a debate on land use. Highlight: Water Week! Topics covered: ecology, environmental chemistry, and natural resources.