Our Morning Message Meeting is one of the most important things we do in our day.  We begin by taking a few deep breaths then students have the opportunity to share what they are thankful for each day.  They also have time to share if there is anything they want to hold onto or let go of before starting our day as well.  It gives everyone a clear head and a positive attitude.

 Our message is different every day.  For example, today I chose the word patience.  Students gave me words that they thought of when they thought of patience, then I shared the actual definition.  They gave examples of when they need to be patient and what it looks like when demonstrating it.

We also rolled out our yoga mats this morning and listened to a meditation video and completed a short yoga session.  It was really good for us especially with the wet weather outside.  Namaste!

Mr.  Reed graciously came into our classroom on a virtual platform to talk to us about Karst Topography.   Students viewed a video, participated in a powerpoint presentation, and had a Q & A session.   I am always so impressed with the amazing questions Summit students ask the experts.  We did miss the nice hike out at the Nature Center to observe Karst in person though.

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Students conducted an experiment to simulate how caves are formed using sugar cubes, caulking, and water.  This was a great way to show how dissolution occurs and speleothems form.  They were able to create sinkholes and cave formations through this experiment.  Ask your child to explain the experiment to you.

This beautiful fall weather has given us the opportunity to go outside and enjoy a few pumpkin themed books together.  Students are currently writing their own pumpkin picture books that they will read aloud virtually to share with our younger Summit students.  Parents we will share your child’s video read-aloud as soon as it is complete.

Yesterday,  students used a variety of chocolate chips to create an edible rock cycle.  We put white, dark, and butterscotch chips in a plastic bag to begin our experiment.  Students crushed the chips to represent sediment.  Once they crushed the chips they applied pressure ( to create sedimentary rock) with their hands to cement them together.  Next, they put their plastic bag in hot water which turned our chips into magma (metamorphic changes). We quickly put the bag into an ice bath which hardened the chips into lava (igneous rock).  Students looked for crystals (butterscotch chips) to decide if they had an intrusive or extrusive rock.  Then it was time to eat!

Greetings Summit Community,

I want to thank everyone for their diligence, cooperation, and open communication as we navigate this new school year together. I continue to be amazed and impressed by the resilience of our students, faculty, parents, and greater community. We have made it to our sixth week of seated instruction. This is an incredible accomplishment, and it could not be possible without the vigilance of our parent community.

As we enter cold and flu season, please continue to inform administration of any absences due to illness, and, as always, if your child or anyone in your household is not feeling well, please stay home. We are happy to connect any families with our Hybrid Learning Coordinator, so we can all continue learning safely, wherever we are.

Thank you for your continued support of The Summit. I am so grateful for our tight-knit community, and your dedication to health, wellness, and safety on our campus, so we can all continue learning together!

With much appreciation,

Dr. Katie Heet

Students will review and be introduced to several types of figurative language to use in their writing.  Figurative language helps the reader form mental images in their mind as they are reading.  Students will complete several activities over the next two weeks using the following types of figurative language.   Hopefully,  you catch the alliterations in the title above!

Information below derived from: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/other/figurative-language/

There are several types of figurative languages that are used in modern writing. They include:

 Simile

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things and uses the words “like” or “as” and they are commonly used in everyday communication. A simile is used with the aim of sparking an interesting connection in the reader’s mind.

An example of a simile is, “The cat sat in the chair like a king overlooking his kingdom.” The cat’s sitting posture is compared to that of a king who relaxes in a special chair that is reserved for him and not any other person in the kingdom.

Other examples of similes include:

• The boy was as brave as a lion in the jungle.
• The new teacher is as tall as a giraffe.
• The new neighbor is as curious as a cat; nothing escapes her attention.

 Metaphor

A metaphor is a statement that compares two things that are not alike. Unlike similes, metaphors do not use the words “like” or “as.” Such statements only make sense when the reader understands the connection between the two things being compared.

An example of a popular metaphor is “Time is money.” The statement compares time and money, and it does not literally mean that the amount of time you have equals the money that you have. Instead, it means that time is a valuable resource, and it should be used effectively to earn money. Any time wasted means that a person loses the chance to make more money.

Other examples of metaphors include:

• The warrior has a heart of stone.
• Love is a battlefield.

 Hyperbole

Hyperbole is an exaggeration that is created to emphasize a point or bring out a sense of humor. It is often used in everyday conversations without the speaker noticing it. The exaggeration is so outrageous that no one would believe that it is true. It is used to add depth and color to a statement.

An example of hyperbole is, “I would die for you.” The sentence does not necessarily mean that one person is literally willing to die for the other, but it used to exaggerate the amount of love that one person has for another person. Death is only used to show the extent of affection.

Other examples of hyperbole:

• I have told you a million times to wash the dishes.
• You are so slender that the wind can carry you away.
• The afternoon is so bright that the sun would have to wear sunglasses.

 Personification

Personification is the attribution of human characteristics to non-living objects. Using personification affects the way readers imagine things, and it sparks an interest in the subject.

An example of personification is, “The sun greeted me when I woke up in the morning.” The sun is a non-human object but has been given human characteristics since greetings can only be performed by living creatures.

Other examples of personification include:

• April is the cruelest month of the year.
• The radio stared at me.
• The car brakes screamed all through the journey.
• The car stopped with a groaning complaint. 

6. Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a language that names something or an action by imitating the sound associated with it. They add some reality to the writing. Examples of onomatopoeia include:

• The fireplace heater hissed and cracked.
• The truck engine roared as it climbed the hill.

Support the Summit

Check out these great opportunities to support The Summit:

Summit Face Masks: $15/mask

Click here to order face masks. Quantities are limited and sizes vary. All proceeds support SPO and their activities for the year.

Summit Umbrellas: $30/umbrella

Click here to order Summit umbrellas. Show off your Summit pride with our brand new umbrellas! Quantities are limited so be sure to order yours today! 

Fall Mums: $12/mum

Click here to purchase mum vouchers from Wheeler Gardens. Friday, October 2nd is your last day to purchase a mum voucher and support SPO! Each $12 voucher is good for one (1) 2-gallon jumbo hardy mum from Wheeler Gardens.

Scrip

Scrip is a great way for families to earn rebates that go towards their Summit Growth Fund! The first Thankscriping Day is coming up on Thursday, September 17th. Families can earn up to 20% with 85+ bonuses on eGift cards and money added to reloadable gift cards on this day. Questions? Email Summit Scrip Coordinator & Parent, Phil Isley at scrip@thesummitprep.org.

Pre-Order the 2020-2021 Yearbook

Click here to pre-order the 20/21 Yearbook. Designed by The Summit High School, don’t miss out on this year’s memories. Pre-order your copy before September 30th to save 10%. 

AmazonSmile

AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice, The Summit Prep. You must go through smile.amazon.com (not amazon.com) to log into your Amazon account for the benefits to be applied.

Third grade students are learning about the layers of soil that make up Earth’s crust.  After reading books, researching, taking notes, and watching videos we thought we needed to create the layers ourselves.  Students used Whoppers to represent the bedrock layer of soil, pudding as the parent material, crushed Oreo’s as topsoil, and gummy worms to represent the humus layer.  Ask your student to tell you what soil is made of and to name and explain each layer and its role in Earth’s crust.