January 12, 2024

Shepherd of the Hills

Middle School Newsletter
Happy Friday and Happy New Year! Have you RSVP'd for our dinner auction gala event on
February 17th? This is our school’s main fundraiser. You don’t want to miss “Live from Shepherd!
It’s Saturday Night!” RSVP today! Also, just a friendly reminder that all school families are asked
to donate an item or service for the silent or live auction with a value of $25 or more by January
19th. Thank you for your generosity!
We will be celebrating Catholic Schools at the Saturday, January 27 4:00 PM Mass. Shepherd students, their
families, alumni, and teachers will lead the Mass ministries. Please sign up for the Mass ministries using this
link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KiH_Pmlr7UbIZARbcnlihuzoJnla_I6fIV0W4fFirVc/edit?usp=sharing
We would appreciate any help. Thank you! We will also have an Open House following Mass from 5-6 pm.
Hot dogs will be available with a freewill offering for the Fondy Food Pantry. Students will have projects on
display for you to check out! Any student who bring a friend or prospective family to the Open House will
receive an “out of dress code” coupon. Help spread the word about our amazing school!
If there are any questions, concerns, or you just want to talk, feel free to reach out to us. Our
emails are listed below. Have a fantastic weekend!!

Contact Info
Miss Carter: acarter@soth-school.org
Ms. Schaalma: kschaalma@soth-school.org
Mrs. Schreiner: kschreiner@soth-school.org
Mrs. Mueller: tmueller@soth-school.org Important Dates
Jan 17- Rosary
Jan 18- Jersey Day
Reminders Jan 19- Halfway through trimester
● Birthday treats= can be homemade but should be pre-portioned Jan 24- Reading assembly
● Take home and wash gym clothes every week Jan 27- CSW Mass @4
● Take home and bring back water bottles every day - Open house 5-6
● Out of dress code days are for tops Jan 28- Feb 3 CSW
 Mrs. Mueller
Math 1/12/24
Reading/ English
4th: Map Testing . Fact families.
Multiplication 2 digit numbers
4th: Map Testing. Spelling
words for I.
5th: Map Testing. Long division.
Comprehension skills.
Learning what to do with remainders
Facts vs opinion

Religion for 4th Grade 5th: Map Testing, Selling

words for I. Using context
Blessed Are We Books clues. Facts vs. opinion

Social Studies

States & capitals

US History
 Miss Carter

Social Studies
6- The sixth graders are learning about ancient
China and its different dynasties. They will be
showing their understanding by creating and
putting together Bloomballs at the end of the unit.

7/8- The Seventh and eighth graders are

learning about WW1; how it started, the important
countries and people, and how the United States
joined the war effort.

Science
6- The sixth graders learned about about
comparative anatomy and how different organisms
have similar skeletal structures. They also had the
chance to dissect an owl pellet.

Math
6- The sixth graders have finished their chapter
about finding surface area and volume of
3-dimensional figures. They also took their math
maps test this week.
7- The seventh graders have finished their
chapter about proportions, rates, and unit rates:
how to write, solve, and graph them. Their next
unit if study will be about percents; markups and
discounts.
8- The eighth graders have been learning about
solving systems of equations and inequalities
through graphing, substitution, or elimination.
Ms. Schaalma…
6th grade reading/ELA- On
Monday we will finish The
Westing Game and then we will
start the movie and write an
argumentative essay on it.

M.S. ELA- We have been

working on root words
bene/bon, mal, and dys. Next
week will be mort/nasc, and vit.
We are also learning about
analogies .

7th Reading-3 chapters left!

We will then start a research
paper on a topic from the
book. In ELA, we will work on
misplaced and dangling
modifiers.

8th grade reading- We read an

informational article about the
battle of Mogadishu. We then
compared the value of it to
other mediums. In ELA, we
will work on misplaced and
dangling modifiers and our
literary analysis.

7th/8th Science- We learned

about comparative anatomy and
dissected owl pellets. Next week
we ill start multicellular
organisms.
 Mrs.
Schreiner

● We have only had 2 classes since the last newsletter update, but the students have adjusted
well with being back into the rigor of study and learning! It is such a fun season to focus on
faith.
● The Catholic Church dedicates the month of January to the Holy Name of Jesus, which is
officially celebrated on January 3rd. In recognition of this tradition we will continue to pray the
Divine Praises, which we also prayed last month for December’s dedication to the Immaculate
Conception of Our Blessed Mother.
● The 8th grade watched “Going My Way” in celebration of Christmas. This 1944 black and
white movie features Bing Crosby as a young priest who is able to transform an inner city
community with his faith. He encouraged everyone to go a different direction than the world
and go the way of faith. It is one of my favorite Christmas movies and the students seemed to
enjoy it.
● 5th-8th grade continue to progress through the Blessed are We series.
● Monday 5th grade will take the Chapter 10 quiz.
● This week 6th grade took the Chapter 11 quiz and will begin Chapter 12 on Monday.
● Monday 7 & 8th grade will take the Chapter 11 quiz after playing blooket on the material.
 Upcoming Events
Meetings on Thursdays!

Thank you to everyone who donated to our hot chocolate social. We raised a total
of $283.53! That will go towards more student council events, equipment, and
graduation gifts.

Thursday, January 18- Jersey day! (dress code bottoms)

Hi! I’m Clementine, a student council

representative. I am in the sixth grade. My goal
for student council is to raise money. My
favorite sport is gymnastics. Outside of school I
focus on gymnastics. A few more fun facts about
me are my favorite color is PINK, I like horses,
and I like watching Frozen! My favorite food is
pasta.
Academic theme “Don’t Bug Me I’m Reading!”:
Students will be working on improving their
skills in reading throughout the school
year.Here are the all school reading goals for the
year.
● the school has read 6,000 books, we get an
ice cream party.
● reach 10,000 books read, we will have a picnic
with dirt cups.

Catholic Identity Theme Be the ‘i’

in Kind: Ephesians 4:32
Students will participate in assemblies,
classroom, or buddy activities throughout
the year to learn more about being kind and
showing kindness.