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*Grade level newsletters, core syllabus, content updates, assignments, homework, and Team 6 news & reminders will be posted here for Montford's 6th Graders and their
families. Teacher Emails: ELA samantha.covalt@acsgmail.net Math kathryn.hardy@acsgmail.net Science gretchen.ross@acsgmail.net Social Studies james.tracy@acsgmail.net ELA/Math leah.kiell@acsgmail.net |
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6th Grade Teacher Team Bios: 2020-21
Welcome to Sixth Grade!! Exciting journeys are in the works for middle school! This school year the courses will be taught by the following teachers:
Ms. Covalt- ELA
Welcome to 6th grade English and Language Arts! My name is Samantha Covalt, and I am so thankful to be a part of the 6th grade team! I absolutely love seeing the world (whether through an excellent book or travel), drinking coffee, and spending time with my wonderful family and friends. I graduated from Watauga High School in Boone, North Carolina but then moved to Arkansas for college and to begin my teaching career. I graduated from Harding University (in Arkansas) with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Mid-Level Education (Language Arts and Social Studies). I also have a Master’s degree in Reading from Harding University. I have since moved back to North Carolina and LOVE teaching at Montford North Star!
My hope is that this class will develop your child into a serious and independent learner. I have a passion for fostering inquiry and life-long learning through literacy, and I am excited to see where this year takes us! I believe that each and every one of my students can learn and grow, and I believe that each student should be treated with the utmost respect. I take my job seriously in order to ensure that your child receives the best possible education while in my class.
I know that this is an exciting and transition-filled time for you and your child. Please see me as a partner in your child’s education. Communication between parents and teachers is an extremely important part of the educational process. It is my goal to keep you informed throughout the school year. I will send home updates either with your child, via email, or through Remind. You may also email me at samantha.covalt@acsgmail.net with any questions, comments, or concerns.
Mrs. Hardy- MATH
My name is Katy Hardy and I am the 6th grade math teacher here at Montford North Star Academy. I started my teaching career teaching 5th grade in 2009. I was responsible for teaching all subjects and did that for several years. I enjoyed getting to teach all subjects but found myself spending more and more time focused on math. When I moved back to Asheville, I taught 5th grade math at Vance Elementary School for two years. It was great getting to teach math all day, every day! When the idea of Montford North Star Academy was mentioned I was excited from the start.
I was born and raised here in Asheville and consider myself a true local. I love the mountains and it was a great place to grow up. I went to college at UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC-Greensboro and lived in the piedmont for several years. My husband and I were able to move back to Asheville a few years ago. I have a step-daughter named Dylan, a Goldendoodle named Tupelo, and two cats, Izzie and Mavis.
The idea of math class panics many students and parents. When I was a kid I didn’t think that I was capable of being “good” at math and I was convinced that learning math was impossible. As I have gotten older I have realized that math is more connected than I ever realized, and that if you have a strong foundation, it makes learning more difficult skills easier than ever. My goal as a math teacher is to demonstrate to students that they are capable of learning and being “good” at math. I am worried that students get to me believing that they are already bad at math.
In an effort to help students build a strong foundation in mathematics, I will be focusing on teaching using a progression of understanding. Students will start learning skills in a very concrete and tangible way (manipulatives) and will then move to a representational way of learning (drawing a model) and finally to the abstract (standard algorithms, etc.). It has been proven to help all students learn math skills in these ways.
If you need to reach me, please email me at kathryn.hardy@acsgmail.net. I look forward to working with all students in the upcoming year!!!
Ms. Ross- SCIENCE
And hello from me, too! I am Gretchen Ross, your 6th grade science teacher. I moved to Asheville from Raleigh 4 summers ago where I taught for 17 years. I taught kindergarten for 11 years, 2nd and 3rd for one year each, and 4 years in 5th grade departmentalized teaching science and social studies. I joined the Ira B. Jones community for two years teaching 5th grade science and social studies and started Science Olympiad teams there. Two years, I took the leap up to middle school joining the MNSA team. I am looking forward to 22nd year in this amazing career I still adore! My son, Peyton, graduated from Appalachian State where he’s studyied Sustainable Technology May of 2019(Overly proud momma here). He is starting grad school at UNC-Charlotte to get his master's in architecture.
I’m a HUGE live music fan and spending as much time as possible outdoors hiking, kayaking, identifying trees, catching salamanders, and camping with friends.
Science has always been a love of mine from a very young age. Discovering how our earth works and inspiring children to love and wonder about our world is truly a joy for me. Understanding of content and vocabulary are vital this year, as well as, developing perspectives about how systems affect our world. In 6th grade, our quarterly plan is composed of five units that will cover the 6th grade science essential standards revolving around Ecosystems, Weather Systems, Heat Transfer, Genetics, Human Body Systems, Changes in Matter, and Motion and Design.
Additionally, I am hoping to coach Montford's Division B Science Olympiad team again this year. I am looking forward to having kids tryouts this fall once we return to school. More details to come.
All subjects will be infused with a strong focus on literacy and our global focus. We will be working closely together to support and meet the needs of every child in the grade level. We will be here to help your child work their ability in all areas. Focus will also be placed on enrichment, whether your child’s interests lie in the area of technology, creativity, culture, collaboration, or communication. Other important components of our curriculum will emphasize study skills, social skills and organizational skills. All of which are important for the transition into middle school and beyond. Learners will have an opportunity to experience all of these in an equitable, comfortable, safe, and often times humorous atmosphere. We will have high expectations for your child throughout the year and expect each child to be respectful to everyone, follow directions the first time, and be responsible for their actions. In addition, we will be meeting with every learner’s parent(s) or guardian(s) together as a team in a conference this fall. With all of us working together, this will be a very special year. We are looking forward to meeting each of you and are delighted to have you as part of our Montford family for this new adventure and a memorable school year! Feel free to email me anytime gretchen.ross@acsgmail.net.
Mr. Tracy- SOCIAL STUDIES
Hello, I’m Jim Tracy and an excited new member of the Montford North Star Academy. My previous 14 years in education have been with Buncombe County Schools, where I was primarily a Math and Science teacher in both 5th and 6th grade until the last two years dedicating myself to just Social Studies and Science. Prior to being with Buncombe, I worked in Middle School with 6th, 7th and 8th for 7 years in Avery County.
I have been living in West Asheville since 2006, with my wife and twin daughters, who attend Isaac Dickson Elementary School.
I have truly found my happy place in teaching Social Studies after being “the Math guy” for so many years. I graduated from UNC Charlotte with degrees in Geography and Political Science. My parents were both 30 years in government service. My Father a Marine, and my Mother in the State Department, made traveling the world and attending many schools the norm for my twin brother and myself. In all, I attended 9 different schools before graduating High School. Hence, my love for varied cultures, history, and all things social studies is baked in.
My goal with students is to help create a life long inquisitive learner who will seek out diverse people; to share themselves and learn from them. An open mind continues to be filled.
I appreciate any input by parents and guardians in helping this discovery of our world. We certainly live in a cultural mecca in Asheville. I’m also thrilled that in 6th grade, we build a foundation that if strong, can support other learning and understanding. My hope is that your dinner table talks are full of the topics we cover.
My email is james.tracy@acsgmail.net , and look forward to making so many great connections.
Ms. Kiell- ELA/MATH
Hello wonderful MNSA family! I'm Ms. Kiell and you will frequently see me teaching math and ELA. However, if you keep a watchful eye, you also might see me working with a small group on organization and study skills, social/emotional growth, or even how to navigate middle school! (I like to keep busy). My goal this year is to help my students become independent learners who are not afraid to take risks when it comes to their learning. Our best growth occurs when we are outside of our comfort zone!
When I'm not zooming around campus, I spend most of my free time baking yummy treats, chasing squirrels with my adorable pittie, Anna Lee, and hanging out in the sunshine with friends.
I can be reached at leah.kiell@acsgmail.net.
Joyfully,
Your 6th Grade Teachers
Welcome to Sixth Grade!! Exciting journeys are in the works for middle school! This school year the courses will be taught by the following teachers:
- ELA-Reading and Writing—Ms. Samantha Covalt
- Math—Mrs. Katy Hardy
- Science- Ms. Gretchen Ross
- Social Studies – Mr. Jim Tracy
- ELA/Math- Ms. Leah Kiell
Ms. Covalt- ELA
Welcome to 6th grade English and Language Arts! My name is Samantha Covalt, and I am so thankful to be a part of the 6th grade team! I absolutely love seeing the world (whether through an excellent book or travel), drinking coffee, and spending time with my wonderful family and friends. I graduated from Watauga High School in Boone, North Carolina but then moved to Arkansas for college and to begin my teaching career. I graduated from Harding University (in Arkansas) with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Mid-Level Education (Language Arts and Social Studies). I also have a Master’s degree in Reading from Harding University. I have since moved back to North Carolina and LOVE teaching at Montford North Star!
My hope is that this class will develop your child into a serious and independent learner. I have a passion for fostering inquiry and life-long learning through literacy, and I am excited to see where this year takes us! I believe that each and every one of my students can learn and grow, and I believe that each student should be treated with the utmost respect. I take my job seriously in order to ensure that your child receives the best possible education while in my class.
I know that this is an exciting and transition-filled time for you and your child. Please see me as a partner in your child’s education. Communication between parents and teachers is an extremely important part of the educational process. It is my goal to keep you informed throughout the school year. I will send home updates either with your child, via email, or through Remind. You may also email me at samantha.covalt@acsgmail.net with any questions, comments, or concerns.
Mrs. Hardy- MATH
My name is Katy Hardy and I am the 6th grade math teacher here at Montford North Star Academy. I started my teaching career teaching 5th grade in 2009. I was responsible for teaching all subjects and did that for several years. I enjoyed getting to teach all subjects but found myself spending more and more time focused on math. When I moved back to Asheville, I taught 5th grade math at Vance Elementary School for two years. It was great getting to teach math all day, every day! When the idea of Montford North Star Academy was mentioned I was excited from the start.
I was born and raised here in Asheville and consider myself a true local. I love the mountains and it was a great place to grow up. I went to college at UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC-Greensboro and lived in the piedmont for several years. My husband and I were able to move back to Asheville a few years ago. I have a step-daughter named Dylan, a Goldendoodle named Tupelo, and two cats, Izzie and Mavis.
The idea of math class panics many students and parents. When I was a kid I didn’t think that I was capable of being “good” at math and I was convinced that learning math was impossible. As I have gotten older I have realized that math is more connected than I ever realized, and that if you have a strong foundation, it makes learning more difficult skills easier than ever. My goal as a math teacher is to demonstrate to students that they are capable of learning and being “good” at math. I am worried that students get to me believing that they are already bad at math.
In an effort to help students build a strong foundation in mathematics, I will be focusing on teaching using a progression of understanding. Students will start learning skills in a very concrete and tangible way (manipulatives) and will then move to a representational way of learning (drawing a model) and finally to the abstract (standard algorithms, etc.). It has been proven to help all students learn math skills in these ways.
If you need to reach me, please email me at kathryn.hardy@acsgmail.net. I look forward to working with all students in the upcoming year!!!
Ms. Ross- SCIENCE
And hello from me, too! I am Gretchen Ross, your 6th grade science teacher. I moved to Asheville from Raleigh 4 summers ago where I taught for 17 years. I taught kindergarten for 11 years, 2nd and 3rd for one year each, and 4 years in 5th grade departmentalized teaching science and social studies. I joined the Ira B. Jones community for two years teaching 5th grade science and social studies and started Science Olympiad teams there. Two years, I took the leap up to middle school joining the MNSA team. I am looking forward to 22nd year in this amazing career I still adore! My son, Peyton, graduated from Appalachian State where he’s studyied Sustainable Technology May of 2019(Overly proud momma here). He is starting grad school at UNC-Charlotte to get his master's in architecture.
I’m a HUGE live music fan and spending as much time as possible outdoors hiking, kayaking, identifying trees, catching salamanders, and camping with friends.
Science has always been a love of mine from a very young age. Discovering how our earth works and inspiring children to love and wonder about our world is truly a joy for me. Understanding of content and vocabulary are vital this year, as well as, developing perspectives about how systems affect our world. In 6th grade, our quarterly plan is composed of five units that will cover the 6th grade science essential standards revolving around Ecosystems, Weather Systems, Heat Transfer, Genetics, Human Body Systems, Changes in Matter, and Motion and Design.
Additionally, I am hoping to coach Montford's Division B Science Olympiad team again this year. I am looking forward to having kids tryouts this fall once we return to school. More details to come.
All subjects will be infused with a strong focus on literacy and our global focus. We will be working closely together to support and meet the needs of every child in the grade level. We will be here to help your child work their ability in all areas. Focus will also be placed on enrichment, whether your child’s interests lie in the area of technology, creativity, culture, collaboration, or communication. Other important components of our curriculum will emphasize study skills, social skills and organizational skills. All of which are important for the transition into middle school and beyond. Learners will have an opportunity to experience all of these in an equitable, comfortable, safe, and often times humorous atmosphere. We will have high expectations for your child throughout the year and expect each child to be respectful to everyone, follow directions the first time, and be responsible for their actions. In addition, we will be meeting with every learner’s parent(s) or guardian(s) together as a team in a conference this fall. With all of us working together, this will be a very special year. We are looking forward to meeting each of you and are delighted to have you as part of our Montford family for this new adventure and a memorable school year! Feel free to email me anytime gretchen.ross@acsgmail.net.
Mr. Tracy- SOCIAL STUDIES
Hello, I’m Jim Tracy and an excited new member of the Montford North Star Academy. My previous 14 years in education have been with Buncombe County Schools, where I was primarily a Math and Science teacher in both 5th and 6th grade until the last two years dedicating myself to just Social Studies and Science. Prior to being with Buncombe, I worked in Middle School with 6th, 7th and 8th for 7 years in Avery County.
I have been living in West Asheville since 2006, with my wife and twin daughters, who attend Isaac Dickson Elementary School.
I have truly found my happy place in teaching Social Studies after being “the Math guy” for so many years. I graduated from UNC Charlotte with degrees in Geography and Political Science. My parents were both 30 years in government service. My Father a Marine, and my Mother in the State Department, made traveling the world and attending many schools the norm for my twin brother and myself. In all, I attended 9 different schools before graduating High School. Hence, my love for varied cultures, history, and all things social studies is baked in.
My goal with students is to help create a life long inquisitive learner who will seek out diverse people; to share themselves and learn from them. An open mind continues to be filled.
I appreciate any input by parents and guardians in helping this discovery of our world. We certainly live in a cultural mecca in Asheville. I’m also thrilled that in 6th grade, we build a foundation that if strong, can support other learning and understanding. My hope is that your dinner table talks are full of the topics we cover.
My email is james.tracy@acsgmail.net , and look forward to making so many great connections.
Ms. Kiell- ELA/MATH
Hello wonderful MNSA family! I'm Ms. Kiell and you will frequently see me teaching math and ELA. However, if you keep a watchful eye, you also might see me working with a small group on organization and study skills, social/emotional growth, or even how to navigate middle school! (I like to keep busy). My goal this year is to help my students become independent learners who are not afraid to take risks when it comes to their learning. Our best growth occurs when we are outside of our comfort zone!
When I'm not zooming around campus, I spend most of my free time baking yummy treats, chasing squirrels with my adorable pittie, Anna Lee, and hanging out in the sunshine with friends.
I can be reached at leah.kiell@acsgmail.net.
Joyfully,
Your 6th Grade Teachers
