©2017 EB Academic Camps, LLC
General Contact
School Phone 919-404-3630
Welcome to 2024-25 School Year
6th Grade Administrator:
Mrs. Jayme Whitehead
jpwhitehead@wcpss.net
The Cougar Way
March Newsletter
Interims (week of) | Quarter Ends | Report Cards |
September 23rd | October 31st | November 8th |
December 9th | January 17th | January 28th |
February 24th | March 28th | April 15th |
May 12th | June 13th | June 17th (mailed) |
ZGTMMS: Center for Advanced Studies and STEM
©2017 EB Academic Camps, LLC
6th grade Core Classes
The Cougar Way
ELA | |
Jasmine Jackson Website Michaela Evans Website mnevans@wcpss.net Tamiah Mason Website tmason2@wcpss.net | Hello Cougar Family! In the next week, students will finish analyzing World Without Fish, focusing on author’s point of view and tracking central idea. Next, we’ll begin Flush by Carl Hiaasen, where students will explore narrator’s perspective and plot development. They will use text evidence, vocabulary strategies, and discussion protocols to strengthen comprehension. |
Math 6 | |
For the month of March, our students will be studying expressions and equations in Unit 6. They will learn how to write and solve equations, write expressions from real life situations and solve using the distributive property. The primary focus is on accurately writing and solving equations, order of operations, evaluating expressions, combining like terms and using the distributive property using decimals, whole number and fractions. The end of the unit will be a focus on writing equations from tables and graphs and understanding the relationship between two quantities. | |
Math 6 Plus | |
For the month of March, our students will be studying expressions and equations in Unit 7 and 8. They will learn how to write and solve equations, write expressions from real life situations and solve using the distributive property. The primary focus is on accurately writing and solving equations, order of operations, evaluating expressions, combining like terms and using the distributive property using decimals, whole number and fractions. The end of the unit will be a focus on writing equations from tables and graphs and understanding the relationship between two quantities. Our 7th grade skill practiced this month will be constant of proportionality, reading, writing and analyzing equations from tables, graphs and situations. | |
Social Studies | |
Hey Cougars! We will be completing Unit 2 which is all about Geography. This unit introduces students to physical features of our world and the effect the natural world had on the emergence and expansion of civilizations. Students will learn the role migration played in the development of early settlements and the many ways humans have interacted with the environment in order to build thriving civilizations. | |
©2017 EB Academic Camps, LLC
6th grade Core Classes
The Cougar Way
Science | |
This month your 6th grade student will complete the Waves Unit and will transition into studying Earth Systems. This next phase will include both virtual and hands-on investigations to deepen their understanding of how our planet functions. | |
©2017 EB Academic Camps, LLC
7th grade Core Classes
The Cougar Way
ELA | |
Lauren Miller Zac Wilson (AVID) Britney Jones | Hello ELA families! This month we will continue studying the poetry and short stories written during the period of the Harlem Renaissance, focusing on creators like Langston Hughes, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Claude McKay, and James Weldon Johnson. We will use the TPCASTT method to analyze poems and identify uses of figurative language, and we will continue utilizing our ELA Fiction and Non-Fiction toolboxes to annotate short stories and informational texts. Our unit on the Harlem Renaissance will conclude with students writing their own poems inspired by the works we studied this quarter. |
Math 7 | |
Hello cougars! This month we will start out with geometry where we will be learning about angle relationships, triangle theorems, and prisms. In this unit is of vital importance that students memorize complementary, supplementary, and vertical angles, as well as formulas for surface area and volume. We then will move into our unit on statistics and probability. This unit is very fun so be prepared for games and predicting the likelihood of events! | |
Math 7 Plus | |
We have finished up our unit on slope and linear systems and are moving on to functions which is a huge part of 8th grade math. Our goal is to get through functions, exponents, and scientific notation by the end of the month. Since we are currently focused on introducing 8th grade standards, it is highly recommended that students practice on IXL and delta math in order to set students up for success in Math 1. | |
Social Studies | |
| |
©2017 EB Academic Camps, LLC
8th grade Core Classes
The Cougar Way
ELA | |
Felicia Quinton Shereka Greene Bradley Shepstead | In Module 3, Unit 1 of our 8th grade ELA curriculum, our students are exploring A Mighty Long Way by Carlotta Walls LaNier, a memoir about her experiences as one of the Little Rock Nine during the Civil Rights Movement. Through this unit, students analyze how LaNier conveys her personal journey and the historical context surrounding school integration. They will closely examine informational texts, historical documents, and multimedia sources to deepen their understanding of the struggles and resilience of those fighting for equality. This unit not only strengthens students’ skills in reading and analyzing nonfiction but also fosters meaningful discussions about justice, perseverance, and the power of personal narratives. |
©2017 EB Academic Camps, LLC
8th grade Core Classes
The Cougar Way
Science | |
Grace Sarris Science Olympiad Dawn Stokes Paul Dennis If you know a student in Science Olympiad, be sure to cheer them on as they took home 3 medals (1st, 5th, and 6th) in various events this past weekend at ECU. Mr. Parchomenko and I are super proud of our students! | We just wrapped up our Matter Unit last week in school. Check-in scores were just released, so make sure to check PowerSchool in the coming week or two to see how your student performed. With that, make sure to check on your student’s grade via their progress reports and stay up to date on their NHI’s and their performance in preparation for their EOG! We are now beginning the Hydrosphere Unit, where students will investigate water distribution, the roles of water in the Earth’s systems, environmental impacts of the hydrosphere, and our impact on the hydrosphere. Please reach out to your student’s teacher on TalkingPoints if you have any questions. Families, we are seeking the following donations for this unit! Please send these items to school if you are able/willing, and thank you! Coffee filters, pH strips/testers, and deep containers to hold water (aluminum or plastic storage containers). |
Math 8 | |
The final section of the unit focuses on systems of linear equations in two variables. Using previous work from Grade 8, students review that points on a line are solutions to the associated linear equation. Students categorize two linear relationships and their graphs into three categories: no intersection, exactly one intersection, and same line. As students explore these 3 categories, they also explore the meaning of solutions to a system such as parallel/no solution, not parallel/exactly one solution, and same line/infinitely many solutions. Students conclude the unit with the knowledge that the solution to a system is a pair of numbers that make both equations true and are also coordinates that lie on the graphs of each linear equation. | |
Math 1 | |
Maryann Martin | In Unit 6, students explore quadratic functions by modeling real-world patterns and comparing them to linear and exponential functions. They begin by analyzing visual patterns and creating tables, graphs, and equations to describe quadratic relationships, reinforcing concepts from earlier units. As they progress, students examine key features of quadratic functions, such as domain, range, and rates of change, while determining how they grow over time. By the end of the unit, students will be able to distinguish between linear, exponential, and quadratic functions and understand how each behaves in different scenarios. |
©2017 EB Academic Camps, LLC
Electives
The Cougar Way
Fine Arts & World Language Department | |
Hello Students and Families! Please be sure to check in with your student this week as interims will begin to be sent home on Friday 2/28. Students will be given some extra time to catch up on their assignments from our snow days. Exploratory Art: Beginning Value Paintings Drawing 2: Finishing series of Still-Life studies 5 due 2/28 | |
Band: 6th Grade students are currently reading and rehearsing two FULL pieces of music, and I have been extremely impressed with their ability to do this! This is great practice for us to hone our skills on our instruments. 7th and 8th Grade students are preparing for their Concert on FRIDAY, March 7th. They will travel to MPA next week. Guitar: Students have learned the first three strings on the Guitar and how to perform different pieces of music by analyzing and interpreting note names and values. We just finished a project, where students had to perform a duet, requiring them to work with a partner to perform a piece! | |
Int and Adv Orchestra- We are preparing for 3 upcoming performances. 1. Stars in the East @ East Wake High School on March 27 2. Spring concert on May 8 3. Adjudication through Festival of Music at Kings Dominion on May 16. Beg Strings- We are well on our way for presenting during our Spring concert on May 8. Students have been working hard and are growing each day. Everyone is bowing and we are starting our 3rd song in preparation for the concert. Chorus- The 8th grade chorus is also attending the festival of music trip with the orchestra. They have prepared several pieces to perform during our Spring concert on May 8. | |
Stephen “Ken” Jones�Acting and Theater Tech | Acting II- In acting 2 we are currently performing our original student written mime scenes. Next students will start work on our 1st scripted scenes. Advanced Dramatics- In advanced dramatics we are in rehearsals for a Midsummer Night’s Dream. We will be performing for 8th grade ELA during the school day March 21st. Tech I- Students have been learning about how scenery is built and working on their miniature flat project. Next students will learn about how sound equipment is used to support a production. Intro to Theatre- Students have been learning about how scenery is built and working on their miniature flat project. Next we will be creating original mime performances. Musical- Our spring Musical for 2025 will be “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown”. Performances will be April 25th @ 6PM and April 26th @ 2pm. If your student is a member of the Spring musical cast and crew the link below contains lots of helpful resources Musical Auditions |
©2017 EB Academic Camps, LLC
Electives
The Cougar Way
How is it March already?!? It is a big performance month for the dance department! The ZMS Talent Show has been rescheduled for March 6th at 6pm. All ensemble classes will be performing a piece in that! Due to the February snow, the Dance Showcase has been rescheduled to March 18th, so be sure to save that date! The Dance Performance Adjudication at Broughton HS has also been rescheduled due to snow, and it is set for Saturday March 15th. We wish our dance company luck as they perform to represent ZMS with many other middle and high school dance programs in the county! Be sure to catch a performance this month to see what our lovely dance students have been working on! | |
After enjoying the snow days in the last weeks of February, we will be working hard for the rest of the school year. Spanish I students (8th graders) will be doing a Design Thinking project using new technology tools such as Makey Makey and Scratch this quarter. Exploratory Language students will be learning and exploring new cultures as well as the language (Spanish); and each day will be filled with communicative, target language activities in the Spanish Beginning Less Than 1 Year (7th graders) class. Remember that it is important that students bring their materials to school every day (computer, charger, pencils, and notebook) in order to optimize their learning. |
©2017 EB Academic Camps, LLC
Electives
The Cougar Way
Career & Technical Education (CTE) & Career Development | |
Kyle Carlson Website Madeline Cutchin Website Trishell Moore tmoore23@wcpss.net
Families we need you !!
Eastern Wake Business Alliance EWBA Spring meeting 3/13 4-5pm College/Career/Military Fair 5/1 FCCLA Happenings-See more here HOSA Happenings-See more here Career Development Off Site Learning Trips for 8th graders See here
Send them in and drop them off with Mr. Carlson | Mr. Carlson: Time is flying by, and it's hard to believe March is already Here! Hoped some of you got to enjoy the snow while it lasted .As we move into the last few weeks of third quarter, I want to reinforce the high expectations I have for each of my students. The goal is to be career-ready, which means staying prepared, respectful and focused in the classroom. Meanwhile, in my carpentry class, each group received a wood pallet to work with, and they have the opportunity to design a project using only the wood from that pallet. This is a fantastic chance to showcase group creativity and skills! Let’s make the most of of these next few weeks! Mrs. Creech: Exploring Apparel and Interior Design Students have begun hand sewing lessons. They are learning how to thread a needle, how to tie a tailor’s know, how to sew the basting, back and hem stitch and they learn how to sew on a sew through and shank button. Students will then learn how to use a sewing machine for basic straight line sewing. Ms. Cutchin: March 28 is the last day of the 3rd quarter. March marks the immersion of my coursework. Courses taught this quarter are Computer Science Discoveries I, Magnet Robotics, and Exploring Business and Entrepreneurship. In Computer Science Discoveries we will focus on the Problem Solving Process and Computing Processes (input, output, process, and output). In Magnet Robotics we will look at robotics in the medical fields and build simple robots using Legos. In Exploring Business and Entrepreneurship we will explore what business is and the process of being a business owner. Ms. Moore:Fundamentals of Ag Science students have completed their forestry lesson and will begin creating mini tree models in the coming weeks. In Ag Issues , students finished researching an agricultural issue they find important and will continue exploring various challenges impacting the agriculture industry. |
STEM | |
Please save the date for Thursday, April 24th This is our STEM family Night. Melton-In our Logical Minds class, students have learned about empathy and created User Personas and empathy maps. Students have also practiced writing problem statements and brainstorming activities. Johnson: This month, our STEM classes are diving into hands-on learning with two exciting projects! Students will channel their creativity and critical thinking in our 3D City Project, using Tinkercad and design thinking to create sustainable city models. Additionally, we'll harness the power of the sun with our Solar Oven S'mores Project, where students will learn about renewable energy and enjoy a sweet treat! | |
©2017 EB Academic Camps, LLC
Electives
The Cougar Way
Physical Education & Healthful Living | |
6th grade classes:
Sports Variety:
Kickball/Softball:
Personal Fitness:
Health:
Basketball:
| |
ZMS Athletics | |
2025 Spring Team Rosters Selected Required parent meeting for spring sports, Tuesday, March 4th at 5pm First week of games: March 10th | |
©2017 EB Academic Camps, LLC
We are excited to share information about the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS), an organization that recognizes outstanding middle school students for their scholarship, leadership, service, character, and citizenship. NJHS provides students with opportunities to develop leadership skills and serve their school and community.
Important Information for 6th and 7th Grade Students:
We encourage students who meet the academic requirement to take advantage of this opportunity to be part of NJHS. If you have any questions, please reach out to TJByrd@wcpss.net
NJHS Parent Announcement: Upcoming Meetings for Current Members
This is a reminder that current National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) members will have upcoming meetings on the following dates:
📅 March 6th, 2025 – 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM�📅 March 27th, 2025 – 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
We encourage all members to attend as we will be discussing important updates and upcoming NJHS activities.
Thank you for your support,
�Tyesha Byrd �NJHS Advisor�
Stay in the Know...
The Cougar Way
NJHS
©2017 EB Academic Camps, LLC
Arlene Knuckles-School Library Media Coordinator
-40 Book Challenge - click HERE to complete form.
-Library Circulation/Lessons:
--February 11-28, 2025 (What the Dewey? Students will break down the 10 main classes of the Dewey Decimal System.
--March 10-21, 2025 (Book/Genre Tasting) Students will have an opportunity to preview books from different genres.
-Overdue library materials can still be turned in to
the library- No Fine
-The library makerspace will soon be available for classes.
-Checkout new displays in Media Center
--Women History Month
Reminders
Last Chance to Buy the ZGTMMS Yearbook for 24-25!
Stay in the Know...
The Cougar Way
Media News
Hello everyone! It is hard to believe but Registration season is upon us. Over the next few weeks counselors will be presenting to students information regarding registration for next school year. It is important to remind your student of any upcoming dates and deadlines so that we can make sure that they have the best chance of taking classes that they are most interested in for next school year.
Week of 3/3- Students will be shown videos during their SSS period promoting all the different electives they can register for
**Students will receive elective course forms during their science or social studies course. These forms are due back to their teacher by FRIDAY 3/7 at the latest!**
Week of 3/3- Counselors will visit Science and Social Studies classes to help students enter their course selections in PowerSchool
3/24- Verification forms are sent home to families to make sure there are no mistakes.
3/26-Verification forms must be returned if there are any changes that need to be made
Student Services
Magnet News
Whitney Reynolds- Magnet Coordinator
Thank you to all of our student helpers and parents who assisted in our magnet welcome event! We are excited to welcome our newest cougars for the upcoming school year!