RAZORBACK EXPRESS
A weekly newsletter brought to you by James Hogg Middle School 

Volume 2, Issue 27
March 24, 2017
  We are an IB World School in the heart of the Heights.
Hogg Happenings
Teacher Highlight
Mr. Calvin Mark

Mr. Calvin Mark, Hogg M.S. 7th Grade Science Teacher, is our Teacher of the Week because he exhibits the IB learner profile trait of KNOWLEDGEABLE. In addition, he was recently named Hogg M.S. Teacher of the Year!

Mr. Mark has been selected for this honor because he develops and uses his conceptual understanding of Science in his teaching, and he is passionate about exploring more knowledge across a range of disciplines. He engages with different issues and ideas that have local and global significance. Mr. Mark graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences in 2013. During his time at A&M, he was also very involved with Young Life. After graduation, he worked in the tourism industry, and realized it wasn't the right fit. As a volunteer with Young Life, he became a tutor at Hogg M.S., and fell love in with teaching. He decided to get his teacher certification, and was hired as a Science teacher for the 2014-2015 school year. His favorite thing about teaching Science is building relationship with his students and watching them develop their curiosity for how the world works. He enjoys the challenge of Science being a moving target, forever advancing and becoming more complicated.

Away from school, Mr. Mark loves to play basketball, read comics, garden, spend time outside, take care of his many class animals, build things, and hang out with his friends. He loves traveling, especially to Latin America. He is working on learning Spanish, and hopes to be fluent one day. Mr. Mark's family is very important to him, and he is happy that a long-time friend is now his girlfriend!

Congratulations again, Mr. Mark, for being the Hogg M.S. Teacher of the Year!!!
Student Highlight
Diego Alvarenga - 7th grader

Diego Alvarenga, Hogg M.S. 7th Grader, is our Student of the Week because he exhibits the IB learner profile trait of CARING
Diego was chosen because he shows empathy, compassion and respect toward his teachers and fellow students. He has a commitment to service, and acts to make a positive difference in the lives of the people around him. His says his favorite subject is Math because he likes solving problems and working with numbers. He has also been a Mission Squash Scholar for two years, and loves playing the game of squash. 

When Diego is not at school he likes to play soccer with his friends. He enjoys to drawing especially landscape scenes. He loves playing video games on his laptop, and reading graphic novels. He has a cat that he has fun playing with, and the time that he spends with his little brother and two little sisters is very important to him!
What's happening in 6th grade?
Language & Literature : Students will continue to perfect their mastery of summary. They will practice choosing the best summary from among a selection. They will do this by measuring each according to the standards they have been using to write their own best summaries. Literature circle books are going to be the backbone of their summarizing practice and they will also continue overhauling their soon-to-be-fabulous imaginative stories.
Academic Vocabulary: precise, concise, paraphrase, summarize, summary

Math : In the MYP,  students will continue learning to identify the dependent and independent variables in tables and graphs, and they will write equations from tables. 
In the Vanguard classes, students will practice solving two-step equations/inequalities.  
In the Advanced class, students will learn to find the slope of a line from two points, a graph, a table, and an equation.
Academic Vocabulary for MYP/VG:   equation, constant, variable, dependent variable, independent variable, coordinate plane, axes, origin, x-coordinate, y-coordinate
Academic Vocabulary for  Advanced Track: slope, constant rate of change, direct variation, proportional, nonproportional, linear equation
 
Science: Students will model the layers of the Earth, test properties of minerals, and classify rocks by the process of their formation.
Academic Vocabulary : rock cycle, Earth’s layers, force
Individuals & Societies : In MYP classes, students will continue focusing on East Asia with the Silk Road and the Dynasties of China
 In Vanguard classes, students  will present their big independent research project on Monday/Tuesday. They have been working hard on their projects for 3 weeks and are ready to show what they know! Students need to bring all materials to class on their presentation day. The presentation is 30% of the project grade. For the remainder of the week, they will begin studying the geography of Europe. 
Academic Vocabulary for MYP classes: d ynasty, t rade, e mpire
Academic Vocabulary for Vanguard classes: peninsula, Mediterranean, artic, canal
What's happening in 7th grade?
Language & Literature : Students will be in Writing STAAR boot camp Monday and take the actual test Tuesday! Please encourage students to use BrainPOP, Vocabulary.com, and other resources over the weekend to prepare and keep their brains saturated in good words! (All resources available through the Hub). After STAAR, we’ll take a quick breath and then pivot to an interdisciplinary unit with math to review literary analysis and math content from this year. The theme is SPORTS!
Academic Vocabulary:  accumulation of the year
 
Math : Students will continue their unit on sales and income tax. They will calculate the sales tax for a given purchase and calculate income tax for earned wages. 
In Algebra, students will learn to solve Quadratic Equations (using properties of radicals; solving quadratic equations by graphing and using square roots, and the quadratic formula) 
Academic Vocabulary: deductions, federal withholding, gross pay, income tax, net pay, principal, sales tax, taxable income, unit price, interest, compound interest, simple interest
Academic Vocabulary for Algebra : radicand, perfect cube, conjugates, radicals, quadratic equation, root, zero of a function, square root, quadratic formula, discriminant
 
Science:  Students will be observing the different ways plants respond to stimuli, including light, gravity, and touch. Please have your students bring empty shoeboxes or cereal boxes to class next week for an experiment we are doing!
Academic Vocabulary :  thigmotropism, phototropism, geotropism

Individuals & Societies : In Texas History, students will continue to discuss the causes of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Academic Vocabulary: Sectionalism, Civil War, state's rights, tariff, compromise, secession
What's happening in 8th grade?
Language & Literature : Students will continue to work in groups based on specific skills they need to improve. They will take the STAAR Reading assessment on Wednesday, March 29.
Academic Vocabulary: accumulation of the year

Math : Students will the take the STAAR Math assessment on Tuesday, March 28. Parents, please ask the parents to make sure the students are studying every night.  They have a lot of review material.
Academic Vocabulary: accumulation of the year
 
Science: Students will continue with topography and satellite images.  They will make clay landforms to understand contour lines and they will look at satellite images using QR Codes to determine how land changes over time.  We will finish up topography and satellite images and begin focusing on organisms and environments.
Academic Vocabulary : topographic maps, contour lines, contour interval, gentle slope, steep slope, depression, Index contour lines, elevation, satellite images

Individuals & Societies : Students will complete their study of Jackson, Manifest Destiny, Technology, and Reform the Industrial Revolution, technology of the 1850's and reforms
Academic Vocabulary: u rbanization, i ndustrialization, m anifest destiny,  cotton gin, s teel-tipped plow, mechanical reaper, a bolitionist,  Fredrick Douglass,  Harriet Tubman, Harriet Beecher Stowe,  Uncle Tom’s Cabin,  temperance,  Lyman Beecher
Report Cards Go Home TODAY!
All students will bring home their report cards TODAY, March 24 from the 3rd nine weeks of the school year.  Please take the time to look at their report card and discuss the grades with your child.  If you would like to set-up a teacher conference, please reach out to your child's teacher(s) directly by e-mailing them or calling the school.   
Hogg M.S. Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre
TONIGHT at 6:30pm
The Hogg M.S. Musical Theater Department has planned a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater event TONIGHT at 6:30pm. This program will provide an enriched entertainment experience using theatre and food to bring parents, students, and the greater Razorback community together. Tickets will be $10.00 for adults and $8.00 for children under the age of 10. Tickets will also be sold for $7.00 without dinner. Please contact Dr. Taylor if you have any questions. Her e-mail address is [email protected].

All proceeds from this event will benefit the Hogg M.S. Choir and Musical Theater Department.
7th Grade Writing Boot Camp
TOMORROW from 8:30am-12:00pm
All 7th graders are invited to Writing Boot Camp this Saturday, March 25 from 8:30am-12:00pm. We will review test-taking strategies, developing ideas in our writing, and grammar. Students will also have the fantastic opportunity to have small-group and one-on-one writing conferences. All the content will be catered towards the individual students attending. Please send an e-mail to Ms. Breed at [email protected] or Mr. Acosta at [email protected] TODAY if you would like your child to attend.
Hogg Wild Wednesday at Good Dog Houston
Wednesday, March 29  from 5:30pm-8:30pm

We would like to invite you to join Learn Local at Good Dog Houston, 903 Studewood Street, for their annual Hogg Wild Wednesday fundraiser. The event is Wednesday, March 29 from 5:30pm-8:30pm.

Come by to...

  • Enjoy dinner: 10% of your purchase will benefit Learn Local
  • Unwind after the STAAR test
  • Spend time with Ms. Sugarek and some of our great teachers
  • Visit with incoming Razorback families who are choosing Hogg M.S. for their students
HISD Nutrition Services is Coming to Hogg!
Thursday, March 30
We are very excited to be hosting a one time only Pop-Up Restaurant this coming Thursday, March 30. Houston ISD Nutrition Services has been touring the district with a Pop-Up Restaurant serving a healthy, nutritious take on pop culture favorite Street Tacos. The menu includes a choice of Shredded Turkey Asada or Beef Carnitas with Grilled Pineapple on whole grain flour tortillas. This is served with cilantro-lime rice, charro beans, street corn, fresh fruit and agua fresca – a watermelon infused water. Our school is one of a select few to be surprised with this Pop-Up Restaurant concept and we are excited for our students to share this experience!
Literacy Night Writing Contest Results

Hogg M.S.’s Literacy Night celebrates writing through its writing contest for 4th-8th graders.  We had over 350 entries this year!  Congratulations to the following students who placed...

6th Grade Winners:

  • 1st Place - Andrea Guadalup Juarez Camadro
  • 2nd Place - Kathleen Hill
  • Honorable Mention - Matthew Messinger 
  • Honorable Mention - Victor Garcia 
  • Honorable Mention - Katarina Lim 
  • Honorable Mention - Jeriko Smith
  • Honorable Mention - Francesca Bowne

7th Grade Winners:

  • 1st Place - Sofia Benitez
  • 2nd Place - Nicole Smith
  • Honorable Mention - Eva Hines
  • Honorable Mention - Natalie Segura
  • Honorable Mention - Cassidy Farrell
  • Honorable Mention - Tara Lewis
  • Honorable Mention - Ayden Martinez
  • Honorable Mention - Cate Bennett 

8th Grade Winners:

  • 1st Place - Alejandro Herrera
  • 2nd Place - Adrian Olveda
  • Honorable Mention – Roque Estrada
  • Honorable Mention – Zach Birdwell
  • Honorable Mention – Anett Castro
  • Honorable Mention – Starla Probst
  • Honorable Mention – Damian Carmona 

The 1st and 2nd place winners will receive a cash prize on Literacy Night, April 4th.  They also have an option to read their entry after author Lauren Myracle speaks at 6:00.   Honorable mention writings will be on display on the night of the event and will receive a ribbon.
Hogg M.S. 2nd Annual Literacy Night
Tuesday, April 4 from 6:00pm-7:30pm

You will not want to miss Hogg M.S.’s 2nd Annual Literacy Night happening on Tuesday, April 4.  This year Hogg M.S. will host author Lauren Miracle  and she will present at 6:00pm.  The doors will open at 5:30pm along with literacy stations.  The stations include a wishing fence, wishing trees, fortune teller, henna wishes, Poetry Buskers, slam station, dream catchers and so much more!  We are asking each family to bring a new or gently used paperback elementary age book for our wishing well.  This wishing well supports the library of our sister school in Sambour, Cambodia.

Bring your family out and enjoy an evening of Literacy!  A huge thank you to Hogg PTA, Hogg Teachers and Blue Willow Bookstore for sponsoring this event! 
GeoForce Texas Update

We want to congratulate the following 8th graders for being accepted into the GeoForce Texas Program:

  • Tamicra Butler
  • Micah Hayes
  • Shakayia Lott
  • Laila Rodriguez
  • Ylana Santos
  • Kate Sullivan
  • Cain Trevino
  • Zackary Zamora

In addition to these students, we also want to announce that the following 8th graders are on the waitlist. 

  • Noel Ayala
  • Trevor Guerra
  • Amanda Hearn
  • Leslie Munoz
  • Mauricio Pena
  • John Ramos
  • Gabriella Taverna
  • Joseph Timmons
  • Julian Villanueva

GeoForce Texas is a program that takes students across the country from Texas to the Grand Canyon, to Oregon and the Appalachians. They teach geology in some of the best field areas in the country, our National and State Parks. The program is academic and rigorous.

This summer, these 8th graders will travel to South Padre Island and study the beaches. The summer after 9th grade, they will go to the Grand Canyon. After 10th grade, they will study volcanoes in Oregon, and right they to travel to Philadelphia and make their way to D.C. studying the geology of the Appalachian Mountains. 

We want to thank Dr. Maye, 8th grade Science teacher, for bringing this program back to Hogg M.S. Our students are so fortunate to have access to this outstanding opportunity!
Donate to Support Sheltered Animals

Hello Razorback Families! Would you like to to help support sheltered animals? Please donate the following items:

  • old newspaper
  • old towels
  • cat litter
  • dog and/or cat food

Items can be delivered to the library. The Advocacy class who donates the most items will get a free dress pass. This contest is for all grades. If you have any questions, please contact Fabian Ulloa or Joseph Timmons in room 505 during Advocacy.
2017 We Are Girls State-Wide Conference
Saturday, April 29

Who: Girls in 3rd-8th grade and the adults that care about them. (That includes parents, guardians, social workers, counselors and anyone else that supports young girls in their lives.)

Theme: "Find Your Power"

When: Saturday, April, 29, 2017 from 9:00am-3:00pm (Doors open at 8am)

Where: Hogg Middle School, 1100 Merrill St., Houston, TX 77009

Cost: Tickets are $20 for the early bird rate per person until April 1. Tickets are $30 per person after that date. Scholarship are also available.

Featured Conference Speakers: Lizzie Velasquez - Global Motivational Speaker, Anti-Bullying Activist, Social Media Personality and Author; Coach Keisha- Internationally Recognized Speaker, Author, Mentor and Certified Life Coach.

If you would like to register for this conference or get more information, please visit: https://girlsempowermentnetwork.org/what-we-do/we-are-girls-conference/
Help Support Full and Fair Funding for Public Education

The Texas Education Funding Coalitions is a coalition of HISD parents, families, and members of the Houston community at-large advocating with the Texas legislature and within our communities to support adequate, equitable, and effective funding for public education. We are independent of the Houston Independent School District board and administration, but strive to support the legislative priorities outlined by our district.

Over the next few months we will be tracking important bills that will impact funding for HISD. We invite you to join our effort by signing up for our email list to stay informed and learn how you can take actions to support our public schools. Please click on the following link to sign-up: http://www.txedfunding.com.
Hogg PTA News
Steel City Pops will be selling their healthy popsicles after school every Tuesday for $3. Please remind your student to help support this PTA fundraiser!

After-school chocolate chip cookie sales are happening every Friday. Students can purchase 1 cookie for $1.00 or 2 cookies for $1.50. There will be a limited amount of cookies made each week.
James Hogg Middle School | ph: (713) 802-4700 | fax: (713) 802-4708 | [email protected]