Mrs. McDonough

Reminder! 8th Grade Qualifying Math Exam at Loyola Academy

Mathematics Qualifying Exam Saturday, May 12, 2012 8:00 A.M. ‐ 10:00 A.M.  There is no fee for this test. Scientific/Graphing TI 83, TI 84 calculators are permitted.  Graphing TI 89, TI 92 calculators are not permitted.  Students should bring 2 pencils with erasers to the exam.  Pre‐registration is not required.  All incoming freshmen who are taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade and are interested in enrolling in Geometry for freshman year, must take the Algebra 1 Mathematics Qualifying Exam.  All students who have been placed in Algebra 1, Track 1 and are required to attend summer school may take a Pre‐Algebra Qualifying Exam to have the summer school requirement reviewed. This is optional.  8th grade students who are currently taking Geometry or Algebra 2 and are interested in placing out of either of these subjects must take the Geometry or Algebra 2 Qualifying Exam. These exams will take place at Loyola Academy on Saturday, May 26th from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. Students are allowed to use a scientific/graphing TI 83, TI 84 calculator. There is no fee and registration is not required for these exams. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Phil Nieman at pnieman@loy.org. * Students can advance to Geometry by either:  Passing the Qualifying Exam; Achieving a minimum score on the Qualifying Exam and then taking a required two‐hour course in summer school called Geometry Prep (this is an Algebra 1 Review course); Successfully completing Honors Algebra 1 in summer school (this is a four‐hour course in summer school.)

Summer Math Skills

I highly suggest that your child keep up with his/her math skills throughout the summer by purchasing a "Summer Math Skills Sharpener" book.  It is designed to be used 3 days per week for 10 weeks.  Solution pages are provided at the back of the book.  Mixed concepts are presented on each page, ensuring that all skills are reinforced.  Students can order the book for the math course that they just completed or work ahead for the following school year.  Registration is taken by phone at (800) 411-8186. 

8th Grade Math

The 8th grade is working in class on a cumulative Algebra 1 practice test.  This test should assist those students that wish to take the Loyola Math Placement test on May 12th at Loyola Academy.  I will also be giving all 8th graders, near the end of fourth quarter, a math final which will include everything in Algebra 1.  I also distributed a standardized practice test for chapters 9 and 10 which is due tomorrow.  I will continue giving standardized test packets for review in the upcoming weeks.  We will complete Chapter 11 and 12 during fourth quarter. 

7th Grade Math Test

The 7th grade will be taking their Chapter 7 math test on Monday, April 23.  The test will cover everything in Chapter 7 which includes the following: converting fractions to decimals to percents; using a proportion to calculate percent story problems; find the percent of change; calculating the price of a meal after sales tax and tip; finding the new amount after a markup or a discount; and working with simple and compound interest to find the account balance.  We will go over a practice test tomorrow in class.  Students are able to use their note cards with the formulas for the actual test.  Students may also use their calculators. 

8th grade picture re-takes

Just a reminder that 8th grade picture re-takes are on Wednesday, March 14 at 8:30am.  Students are required to bring their uniform to change into.

7th Grade Geometry Exam

The 7th grade will be starting their geometry exam on Friday, March 9.  The students are responsible for everything from this unit.  It's very extensive, therefore they are able to use their notecards and calculator during the exam.  We have completed our studies on the surface area and volume of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones.  The Pythagorean Theorem will also be included on this exam, in order to solve for the slant height of a pyramid or cone.  Students will have two days to complete this test.

7th Grade Math Quiz

The 7th grade will take a Geometry quiz on Wednesday, February 15.  This quiz will cover Chapter 10, lessons 1-5.  Students will be able to use their ring of note cards for this quiz.  We have now completed our studies of classifying polygons, solving for the missing angle and side lengths, calculating the area of circles, parallelograms and trapezoids, and finding the surface area of prisms and cylinders.  We will conclude our Geometry unit with the surface area of pyramids and cones, and the volume of pyramids and prisms. 

8th Grade Math Quiz

The 8th graders will be taking a math quiz on Friday, January 27.  This quiz will cover Chapter 6, lessons 1-5.  We are currently working on solving absolute value equations and inequalities, solving and graphing compound inequalities, and graphing inequalities on a coordinate grid.  The quiz will cover all of these concepts.  Students took a practice quiz over the first three lessons earlier in the week.

7th Grade Math

The 7th grade is working on a geometry unit.  They have started making notecards for each shape that we discuss and each formula that we learn for solving area, volume, and surface area.  There are a lot!  Therefore, it's very important that they keep up with their notecards.   They will be using these notecards on quizzes/tests.  Each student has been given a metal ring to help them keep their notecards organized and from getting lost.

8th Grade Picture Day

8th grade picture day is Wednesday, February 8 in the morning.  Students should come to school dressed for picture day.  Girls are to wear dresses or skirts and a nice top.  Please keep it at an appropriate length.  Boys are to wear a shirt, tie, sport coat, and nice pants.  Students may bring their school uniform to change into after their picture if they'd like.