In 7th grade, we started the week with some intense thinking in I&S, with the last round of "Tennis Debates."  Students worked in teams to generate arguments for or against Puerto Rico's statehood.  Students investigated both sides, and had to back up their arguments with evidence and consider possible opponent "turns" to their claims. The debate goes back and forth across the table like tennis, and their classmates scored each round! 

The real fun kicked in at our Christmas Party/Last Mustang Cup of 2017!  Many thanks to all the parents who donated and coordinated our Gingerbread House Challenge!  We had so much fun building free-standing, aesthetically pleasing (and tasty!) creations!  

From all the teachers at St. Matthias Junior High, we wish our students and their families a Merry Christmas and a blessed and restful break.  We are so excited for what 2018 will bring!

​8th graders investigated the transformation of electrical energy to
other forms of energy, such as light energy, thermal energy, and
kinetic energy! They build simple electric motors using batteries,
magnets, and copper wire. Through lots of trials and some failures,
students were able to make theirs motors spin using electrical energy!
They also used a motor as a generator to light an LED bulb and
investigated the ways in which current flow affected the light.

6th Grade continues to work on their Advent Kindness Calendar Journeys.  Each day leading up to Christmas, students have an act of kindness they will do.  In coordination with a project Kindergarten began in November, 6th Grade also made "Kindness Rocks" with positive phrases on them to spread good cheer this Holiday season.  

On Saturday, many Junior High students attended the winter "Snowball" dance, hosted by Student Council. This included students from Northside Catholic Academy. The dance featured a Hot Chocolate bar and student-made photo booth! 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

December 17th: CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
December 21st: Mustang Cup Matchup
Dec 22nd-Jan 7th: NO SCHOOL.  
Jan 8th: School Resumes 

St. Matthias Junior High Students showed their brightness and creativity in many areas this week-from deep thinking in Writer's Workshop to interactive activities in Science!

​During writer’s workshop, sixth grade worked on organizing main topics and subtopics in a group activity.  They worked together to decide which pieces of content best fit under the categories of “Family Dynamic,” “Auggie’s Perspective,” and “Belonging.”  This trimester, we will work on organizing our thoughts in our writing pieces.

7th graders are exploring a unit on evolution in science class. To introduce the concepts of variation and natural selection, students acted as a “Forkbird” with various numbers of fork tines simulating their beaks. They collected “Wild Loops” during feeding time, and the birds with the most food produced offspring with variations of beaks. In the end, students compiled class data to see which variation of beak had the highest frequency after 10 generations. Can you guess if Forkbirds with a 4-tined beak, 2-tined beak, or 1-tined beak survived for more generations??


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UPCOMING EVENTS!

​12/9 Winter Dance for 6-8 grades 6-9 p.m. St. Matthias School * if you are interested in chaperoning all or even part of the dance, please contact kendal.davis@stmatthiasschool.org! 
12/10 Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsal 1-3 p.m. St Matthias Church
12/12 Our Lady of Guadalupe program 8:15-DROP OFF AT MAIN CAMPUS
12/17 Christmas Pageant 1 p.m. St. Matthias Church
12/21 Last day of School! Winter Break!

UPCOMING EVENTS
December 9th-Snowball Dance 6-9pm
December 17th- Christmas Pageant 1pm

MYP PROJECT REQUEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nina Ranalli is collecting school supplies NEXT WEEK for high risk youth in Chicago.  A bin has been placed in the front foyer of the school for pencils and notebooks and other supplies.  The collection will take place from December 4-8th.