6th Grade Blog

This week the sixth-grade students presented research at their their very Science Fair Expo! We are all very proud of their inquiry skills, report writing, and public speaking.  In the midst of putting finishing touches on the Science Fair Expo presentations, they were hard at work on learning about the life cycle of stars. Check out their research and models below! The middle school has been loving outdoor recess in the sunshine! This morning, Coach Nick joined a groups of students to shoot some hoops, while others enjoyed a good book in the shade. May 21, 2021 HCA Auction - Be sure to sign on to HCA Facebook Live on Saturday at 5:45 p.m. to watch! - https://www.facebook.com/HCADrexelHill Auction opens Friday, May 21st - Sunday, May 23rd. Happy Bidding - https://www.32auctions.com/HCA2021 Please fill out the Diversity and Inclusion Survey  if you have not done so already. Please send in your leaf for the school-wide Family of Families Project if you have not done so already.  There i

This week the 6th graders have been hard at work preparing for their CTP exams next week. In math class we spent time taking practice tests and reviewing our answers. The students have been working hard, but we still found time for fun during lunch and recess. Good luck on the CTP's next week, 6th grade!  

The 6th grade did a fabulous job of transitioning to virtual learning earlier in the week.  We have become more creative and flexible as we navigate the challenges that this year has presented to us. The students have proven to be excellent problem-solvers during this time.  On Thursday of this week,  we celebrated Earth Day.  Students in every grade participated in a Litter Walk.  Sixth graders were shocked at how much trash they picked up as they cleaned up the perimeter of the school building.  Friday, students honored Autism Awareness month and dressed in blue.  The school raised over $300 for the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support at Saint Joseph's University. Upcoming events: S tudents in 3rd through 8th grade will be taking the CTP 5 exam the week of May 3rd. .

The 6th graders spent this week peer-editing each other's science fair reports. The have now completed their entire rough draft, including making data charts from their experiment, and writing their Discussion and Conclusion.  The peer editing process was useful to not only get constructive feedback on their own paper, but also to see how their classmate wrote their research paper and to think critically about the writing process.  The Science Expo will be held on May 19th, and we will be having a virtual version as well, so families can check out all of the hard work the students have done this year, and the students can show off their finished report and display board. Stay tuned for more info, and join us in May!

This past Tuesday middle school students had the opportunity to hear from guest speaker Dr. Stephanie Nnadi Northrop. Dr. Nnadi Northrop is a professor in the Department of Biology at Montgomery County Community College, as well as an HCA parent and board member. Students learned about what led her into a STEM career and they had lots of questions about careers that they are considering.  In language art class, the sixth-graders are planning their personal narratives. Check back for some snippets on a later blog! Reminders: Please provide utensils for lunch if needed. Please communicate with bus drivers if you are not using the bus. April is Arab American Heritage Month. If you or someone you know would be willing to share with a class, a division , or multiple groups to enhance our celebration in any way, please email jmyers@holychildacademy.com , and we will make it as easy as possible.  Looking forward, May is Asian and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month. If you have ideas or suggest

 Happy Spring! Highlights from Planting Day: Last Friday, the entire school participated in Planting Day. From Early Childhood through 8th grade, the students came together to plant the seeds that will become HCA's Organic Garden this summer. Early Childhood looked at root gardens and planted carrots, radishes, and onions. Lower School planted marigolds to take home. Middle School led the charge in planting the vegetables. We planted: tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, peas, sweet peppers, zucchini, carrot, spinach, radish, and lettuce.  The 6th grade incorporated their unit on soil into Planting Day. We took soil samples from the Organic Garden and tested the soil's texture and fertility. The consensus is that we have sandy loam, which is soil with very little clay, but healthy levels of sand and silt. Below are photos of the progress our tiny plants have already made! Everything is kept in the science lab until the weather is warm enough to put them in their homes outside.  On