Exploris Grade 8
Happy Friday! We had a busy week getting back into the groove of things and MAP testing.
We are starting our second novel next week. Please remember students need their copy of the novel Crow next week and remind your student to bring it home each day! They should be reading one chapter each night, beginning Wednesday. It’s about the coup d’etat in Wilmington in 1898. If you’d like to follow along, check out Wilmington’s Lie.
OUTWARD BOUND UPDATES:
- Parent Meeting for those who’ve committed to Outward Bound is Thursday, January 20 at 6:00 PM. Zoom Link We will record the meeting for those who cannot attend.
- The final total of $900 OR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION is due January 14, 2022. Pay online here or Scholarship Application
- Outward Bound Course – Preparation Information This is an official OB page for Exploris. Their official packing list is posted on this page. We have found students DO NOT need everything on this list. Our version of the packing list.
- 2018 Outward Bound Pics
- The Exploris School Outward Bound Portal – Many of you still have paperwork to complete, so please get that in ASAP so that we can ensure your child’s participation.
- Covid Protocols for OB
It is cold, flu, and COVID season! To help limit the spread of germs and sickness, remember that masking, handwashing, and sanitizing surfaces are still our best means of defense against the spread. 8th grade is fully masked while indoors- the mask should cover both the nose and the mouth. While the omicron and delta variants of Covid-19 are still circulating we are encouraging N(K)95 masks or double masking if you are using cloth. Unless it is raining, 8th graders are eating outdoors to lower the risk of transmission- DRESS FOR THE WEATHER; bring appropriate outerwear to wear outside during lunches.
Make sure you have a working Chromebook or laptop. We must be ready if 8th grade has to go virtual due to Covid; if you do not have a working device that holds a charge please see your crew teacher so we can issue you a Chromebook.
Opportunity for Summer Camp for rising 9th graders at NC School of Science and Math for students of color!
High School Corner: Parents please update us if you have new information
- Exploris counselors@exploris.org
- Wake County Early Colleges, Magnets, & Year Round
- Charter and Private Schools
WCPSS Base – Directly through the base school’s Student Services
- Most do not start enrollment in Spring – No action needed now. Orientations in spring and summer. We will get you connected to other 8th grade families attending the same base so you can coordinate a session with their student services.
Exploris Support for High School Transition:
- Counselor Corner Website: Transition to HS
- Transition to HS: Google Drive Resources
- Letters of Recommendation: Please email teachers/counselors what you need asap (even if you add name to the application)
Updates from Admin:
- Buy your yearbook today at Yearbook at Jostens.
- Deadline for personal tribute ads for yearbook is MONDAY! ALL families are invited to purchase an ad to honor/thank their scholar, their teachers, etc. Go to Yearbook at Jostens for the easy process to upload pictures and design your ad!
- Dear Exploris Families, our best advertisement is YOU! Please share with your networks and any interested families this information about Exploris’s open houses and lottery: Looking for a free, public k-8 school with a hands-on approach, strong academics, values of social & environmental justice, and firm belief that kids can change the world? Check out www.Exploris.org ! Applications for the 2022-2023 school year are open!
Club Updates:
- Magic the Gathering Club will continue to meet each Monday at 3:15 in 8S. Please email kelly@exploris.org if you would like to join.
- Run Club will continue to meet Thursday at 3:15 in 6E. Please email kelly@exploris.org if you would like to join.
- The Women’s Center Volunteering Elective is looking for donations! Please check the posters in your grade level room for what you can donate! Donation boxes are located in your grade level room or on the pew by the front door. All donations must be in by Thursday Jan 6th.
Helpful links:
Counselor Referral Form: Please use this link and complete the form.
Important Information regarding lunches:
- FAQ about Green Planet Lunch Program
- Exploris Online Ordering System Link
- Step By Step Guide: Create an account and how to order
Parent and Teacher Organization Resources:
- The Exploris Parent Teacher Organization is dedicated to supporting our teachers, supporting our students and building our school community. All parents and teachers are automatically members of the Exploris PTO. Please get involved!
- Please follow the PTO Blog to get weekly Exploris Updates: http://explorispto.org
- Link your grocery cards, use Amazon Smile, and support Exploris with these easy fundraisers: https://explorispto.org/fundraising/passivefundraising/
- Exploris School Directory: https://explorispto.org/directory/
THIS WEEK
| Monday 1/10 | CNN 10 Humanities: Read 30, 8B word pics Expedition: Map My Microbe Expedition: Tipping Points Lunch @ Nash |
| Tuesday 1/11 | CNN10 Humanities: Read 30, #8 Mystery Questions Expedition: Map My Microbe Expedition: Tipping Points Lunch@Halifax Mall |
| Wednesday 1/12 | CNN10 Humanities: Read Chapter 1 in Crow, #8 analogies Expedition: Map My Microbe Expedition: Tipping Points Lunch @ Morgan Street Food Hall/Working Lunch Afterschool: Drama Club and Ultimate Frisbee |
| Thursday 1/13 | CNN10 Humanities: Read Chapter 2 in Crow, Study for #8 Quiz Expedition: Map my Microbe Expedition: Tipping Points Lunch @ Moore Square Afterschool: Run Club |
| Friday 1/14 | FULL PAYMENT toward Outward Bound or Scholarship Application DUE ($900) CNN 10 Quiz Humanities: Read Chapter 3 in Crow (Quiz on Monday) Elective I Elective II |
| Next Week | Monday, Jan 17 – MLK Holiday Tuesday, Jan 18 – Flex Day – Students will have asynchronous work to complete that day Thursday, January 20 – OB Parent Meeting 6PM Zoom Link |
Important Dates (Exploris CALENDAR):
Friday, February 18 – Teacher Workday
Monday, Feb 21 – Teacher Workday – Portfolio Conferences
Thursday, March 10 – End of Second Trimester
Friday, March 11 and Monday March 14 – Teacher Workdays
Spring Break – Friday, April 8 (3:15pm) – Tuesday, April 19 (8am)
Monday, April 18 – Friday, April 22 – Outward Bound Trip
Monday, April 18 – Teacher Workday (we will be on Outward Bound)
Tuesday, May 3 – Eid al Fitr Holiday
Monday, May 30- Memorial Day Holiday
Friday, June 10 – Graduation (10:30 am), early dismissal
Friday, June 10 – End of Third Trimester, last day of school
8th Grade Contacts
Jessie Francese, Jfrancese@exploris.org
Cori Greer-Banks, cori@exploris.org
Paula Mancini, pmancini@exploris.org
Adrian Findlay, adrian@exploris.org
Kelly Fauth, kfauth@exploris.org
Who’s Who?
Adrian Findlay – Crew, Math, Expedition
Jessie Francese – Crew, Humanities, Expedition
Paula Mancini – Crew, Math, Expedition
Cori Greer-Banks – Crew, Humanities, Expedition
Kelly Fauth – Special Education
Jamie Butler – Art
Julius Debnam- Health and Wellness
Nikki Kovach – Digital Literacy
Aurelia Autman – World Cultures and Spanish Language
Michelle Duncan – School Counselor
Michelle Butterworth – Interventionist
Mary Margaret Moffitt – Development Coordinator, but mostly just about anything you need!
Josh Corbat – Directors of Resources
Deborah Brown – Middle School Director
Exploris 8th Grade 