Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year at Warner Girls’ Leadership Academy! I’m Mrs. Peterson, and I’m excited to be your child’s 6th–8th Grade Science teacher. This is my seventh year at WGLA, and I’m especially looking forward to welcoming our new 6th graders and supporting our 8th graders as they prepare for their final year.

My teaching philosophy centers around hands-on learning and making science meaningful and relevant to students’ everyday lives. Through experiments, real-world applications, and collaborative learning, students will develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.

What We’ll Explore This Year

6th Grade:

• Rocks, Minerals, and Soil
• Matter and Motion
• Cellular to Multicellular (Modern Cell Theory)

7th Grade:

• Properties of Matter
• Energy Transfer and Transformations
• Water Cycle, Ocean Currents, and Atmosphere
• Weather and Climate
• Earth-Moon-Sun System
• Biomes and Ecosystems

8th Grade:

• Forces and Motion
• Earth’s Interior and Tectonic Plates
• Geologic Processes and Change Over Time
• Evolution
• Reproduction and Heredity

Classroom Tools & Expectations

• Daily bell work
• Science notebooks for observations and reflections
• Weekly vocabulary development
• Hands-on lab investigations
• Quizzes and tests

Arrival & Attendance

• Doors open at 7:45 AM for breakfast. All 6th-8th grade students must eat breakfast and/or report to the gym for pick-up.
• Instruction begins at 8:05 AM. Students arriving after this time are considered late and must sign in at the office to receive a late pass.

Dismissal Procedures

• Dismissal begins at 2:25 PM and ends at 2:35 PM
• Early Pick-Up: Must be completed by 1:30 PM
• Dismissal Changes: Must be communicated by a parent or guardian, either in writing or directly to a staff member

Dress Code

Students are expected to be in uniform every day:

• Tops: Solid-colored purple or red polo shirts
• Sweaters/Sweatshirts: Solid purple, red, black, navy, or white (no hoods)
• Bottoms: Khaki, tan, black, or navy pants, shorts, skirts, or skorts
• Shoes: Closed-toe only (no flip-flops, Crocs, slides, or sandals)
  If you need assistance with uniforms, please contact us.

Communication

To stay informed about middle school updates, important dates, and classroom activities, please connect with me on Class Dojo Messenger.

• Email: sara.peterson@clevelandmetroschools.org
• Phone: 216-838-8950

I’m excited to partner with you to make this a year full of scientific discovery and success. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Peterson
6th–8th Grade Science Teacher
Room A216 – Simmons College