Hello and welcome to the 2022-2023 school year at Mary J. Donohoe School. Anything regarding the 7th and 8th grade Math and English classes will be updated regularly on this website. Please continue to visit our website throughout the year. Thank you and have a great day!
About the Teachers:
Mrs. Awan - This is my first year teaching at Mary J. Donohoe School. I have a Bachelors degree in Secondary Education and English from New Jersey City University. I am very excited to be working with the students and you this school year. As a teacher, it is my goal for every student to develop an appreciation for reading literature composing their own written works.
Mr. Bock - I am sixth year teacher at Mary J. Donohoe School. I currently hold a Bachelors degree in Mathematics from New Jersey City University, and recieved my teaching certification and Masters Degree in Educational Leadership at Saint Peter's University. I am excited to get the opportunity to teach in the my hometown and get to work with every student. My goal is allow students to fall in love with the subject of Mathematics, and pave their way for a bright future.
Welcome Back Bulldogs!
It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Mrs. Hadia Awan and I will be your child/children’s 7th and 8th grade English Language Arts teacher for the coming school year. I am very excited to be working with you and your child to ensure a successful and fruitful year.
As a teacher, it is my belief that we all must work together (students, parents, and teachers) in order to ensure the success of all students. One way to achieve this goal is through open communication on both ends. I will be as transparent as possible with you and your child and hope for the same in return. My goal is to make students feel comfortable in the classroom environment and develop a love and appreciation for literature. Students should be able to see themselves in the characters they read on the page. I hope to make English Language Arts relatable and enjoyable for my students.
Part of a student's success is attributed to organization and attendance. It is the child’s responsibility to bring all of their supplies, which includes their textbook, novel, writing utensils, etc. to school everyday. Missing supplies or materials will affect your child’s participation in class. Next, it is vital for your child to arrive at school and to class on time. Tardiness will not be accepted.
Our week will consist of focus mainly on the myPerspectives textbook alongside a novel. We will diligently work in the textbook that the students are allowed to write throughout the week and conduct literature circles on Thursday or Fridays. Students will be expected to complete any assignments given to them in regards to both the textbook and novel.
With your cooperation, I hope to have a very productive school year. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Regards,
Mrs. Hadia Awan
Contact Information
Mrs. Hadia Awan
Mary J. Donohoe School
7th and 8th Grade English Language Arts Teacher
Overview of Course
The English Language Arts course designed for 7th and 8th grade students this year focuses on a textbook from Savvas titled myPerspectives. We will be diligently working in these student textbooks that they will be able to write in. Students will also be given online login information to access the textbook on their Chromebooks. Along with the textbooks, we will be reading novels throughout the year that correlate to the material being covered in myPerspectives. It is important for your student to complete the assigned reading and assignments in order to succeed in English Language Arts this year.
7th Grade Novels: 8th Grade Novels:
- Milkweed - The Giver
- The Outsiders - Night
- Crater - Midnight Summer's Dream
- Hatchet - Of Mice and Men
- Heroes,Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths - The Time Machine
Materials
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Notebook (5 subject)
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Pencils, Pens, Highlighters
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School issued Chromebook (charged daily)
Expectations
The following rules, procedures, and expectations have been discussed with the students in the first few days of school. It is vital that students adhere to these rules in order to create a functional learning environment.
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Respect. Students must respect themselves, their classmates, and their authority figures. Without respect, there will be no order in the classroom. Disrespect will NOT be tolerated.
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Be on time. Tardiness in coming to school or in turning assignments may jeopardize your child’s success in school.
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Be consistent. Students must put their best foot forward in their work and behavior in and out of the classroom.
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Be responsible. Students are responsible for their personal belongings, which includes their Chromebook. They are also responsible for their actions and their work ethic. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure their work is done in a timely manner.
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No cell phones are to be used during class. A visible cell phone will be taken away.
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Come prepared to class with all of our supplies everyday.
Grading Policy
Tests/Projects/Essays - 55%
There will be 3-4 tests given every marking period. Essays will count as test grades. If a student is absent the day a test is administered, they will have to complete it once they return.
Quizzes - 30%
Quizzes will be given announced and unannounced, as deemed necessary.
Participation - 10%
All students are expected to participate during class. This includes speaking during class discussions and collaborating with their fellow classmates during group activities.
District Assessments - 5%
All students will be required to take a district assessment at the end of every marking period. Students will be given a list of topics to review before the assessment.
Student Folder
Each student will be assigned a folder that I will keep in my classroom. This folder will contain all tests, quizzes, important documents, notes, etc. A student is welcome to see the folder by making an appointment with me.
7th and 8th Grade Math Student Contract
Hello and welcome to my class! I’m so excited to get to know you throughout the year and I look forward to being your teacher. Before we get started, let’s go over the rules of procedures for the 2018-2019 school year.
CLASS EXPECTATIONS
When you enter my classroom, you will be expected to:
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Be prepared to learn. In order for this class to run smoothly, you are responsible for bringing your materials, completing your assignments on time, being organized, and participating.
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Make mistakes. Everybody will make mistakes (including me). These are the best learning opportunities, so please do not be afraid of them. The more mistakes you make, the more you will learn.
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Ask questions. If you do not understand something, please say so. Please raise your hand, find me outside of class, or send me an email. The more information you give me, the more I can help you.
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Enjoy my class. I want this to be a fun and exciting class for everyone. This does not necessarily mean that you will enjoy everything in this class, but my goal is to provide you with an education that is as stress-free as possible.
Since I have expectations of you as my student, you should have expectations of me as your teacher. If there is a problem or something is wrong, please come and talk to me so that we can resolve the problem as quickly as possible.
CLASS RULES
When you are in my class, I ask that you follow these simple rules:
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Respect everybody. Any name-calling, teasing, bullying, or other rude behavior towards any other person in the classroom for any reason will not be tolerated and appropriate discipline will be used to remove such behavior from my classroom. The more you respect others, the more others will respect you.
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Keep all electronics away unless instructed. NO CELL PHONES are to be used during class for any reason. There will be times where you will be allowed to use your Chromebooks during class, but ONLY when I give you permission.
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Follow all directions. Rules and directions are in place for a reason, so listening to them and following them are of utmost importance. If a direction I give is unclear, please let me know.
CLASS MATERIALS
For my class, I would recommend having the following materials:
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Notebook/Binder
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Textbook (online)
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Chromebook
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Folder
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PENCILS PENCILS PENCILS
Other products to consider
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Book cover
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Highlighters
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Calculator
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Ruler
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Loose leaf paper
GRADING POLICY
At the end of each marking period, you will receive a single grade that reflects your performance. Please note: the minimum passing grade is 70%.
To determine your letter grade, the following weights will be used:
Tests/Projects65%
District Assessments5%
Quizzes15%
Homework/Participation15%
*Promotion and Retention
Students who are in danger or failing Math after any progress report or report card are required to attend a zero period Mathematics support class at their school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. A letter from the mathematics department will be issued. A Student may exit the zero period support class if they earn a 78 or better on the next marking period report card. Students who fail to maintain regular attendance (65% of eligible classes) in the morning sessions will not be eligible for summer school and will be retained if the student fails Math for the school year.
*The Board of Education updated regulation 5410: Promotion and Retention on April 2018
Homework
Each homework assignment will have a specified due date to have the assignment completed and returned. Your homework grade will be a point value out of 100 points. For each homework assignment that is missed, 5 points will be deducted. If there is a valid excuse, accommodations can be arranged.
Absence
I understand that sometimes people get sick or emergency situations happen that require students to miss school. If you are absent for a day, it is YOUR responsibility to find me and ask for any make-up work.
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For class notes, it is your responsibility to catch up on notes either from Google Classroom (everything is on Google Classroom) or from a classmate.
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For homework/projects
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If it is due while you are absent, you must return it the next day you are present. Otherwise, it will be considered late work.
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If it is assigned while you are absent, you will have as many days as you were absent to complete and return the work (for example, if you are absent for 3 school days, you will have 3 school days to complete the make-up work).
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For tests or quizzes, talk to me about scheduling a time for you to come in and complete the test or quiz. They will be given to you under the same conditions that your classmates completed the test or quiz.
Certain exceptions and circumstances may be made based on the reason for the absence. In these cases, I will work with you to develop a plan to ensure that all make-up work is completed.
STUDENT FOLDERS
Each student will have a file folder in my classroom that I will use to store copies of their work (tests, quizzes, district assessments, etc.). You are allowed to review your folder with me if you schedule a time, but you will never be permitted to look at a classmate’s folder.
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SPECIAL SUBJECTS
Mr. D (7D)
Monday: Technology
Tuesday: Phys Ed
Wednesday: Art
Thurday: Phys Ed
Friday: Technology
Mr. Bock (7B)
Monday: Technology
Tuesday: Technology
Wednesday: Art
Thurday: Phys Ed
Friday: Phys Ed
MONTHLY EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
To access any important documents, please view our digital backpack on our website.
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Mathematics
Brief Course Description
7th Grade: This course is based upon the 7th grade NJSLS standards to prepare students for future algebra based understandings. The course begins with basic algebraic reasoning and rational numbers through solving equations and inequalities. Students will explore proportional relationships, graphing and analyzing data, percents, geometric figures, measurement, and probability. This will help students tranisition to the 8th grade curriculum.
8th Grade: This course is based upon the 8th grade NJSLS standards to prepare students for future algebraic and geometric based understandings. Students will be continuing number reasoning skills, building into irrational numbers and exponential expressions. Algebraic concepts will build into using the Pythagorean Theorem, solving linear equations and systems of equations, and graphing functions. Geometry will cover transformations, and formulas for specific geometric figures. Data analysis work includes scatter plots and two-way tables. Students in this class will be prepared to tranisition to Algebra 1 curriculum.
7th Grade Curriculum: 8th Grade Curriculum:
Ratios and Proportions Ratios and Proportions
Percents Percents
The Number System The Number System
Expressions & Equations Expressions & Equations
Measurement & Geometry Measurement & Geometry
Statistics & Probability Statistics & Probability
Functions
Grading Policy:
- Tests 65% of grade
- Quizzes 15% of grade
- Homework 15% of grade
- District Assessment 5% of grade
Students will take approximately seven to eight quizzes and four tests a marking period. At the end of each marking period, students will take a district assessment that will count towards their average and will be cumulative.
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