1/08/2007

Dear Families,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 2008 is here and believe it or not, 8^th grade graduation will arrive in several short months. I wrote a Happy New Year letter to your kids which I asked them to share with you. In case the letter has not yet found its way to you, I want to wish you a Happy and Blessed New Year.

One resolution I have made in the New Year is to email this weekly newsletter rather than just posting it to the website. I have multiple email addresses for most families. I will send this newsletter to the “home” email address. Just let me know if you want to me add additional addresses.

First trimester report cards were distributed Friday, December 14, 2007. Please return the report card folder (outer blue) and the envelope at your earliest convenience. Replacement envelopes cost you $1.

� ACADEMICS

HISTORY

This week we begin our in-depth look at the Constitution. Students learn the Bill of Rights and then examine Supreme Court cases to figure out how the justices ruled. In addition, I’ll spend a bit of time on how presidential candidates are chosen and ultimately elected. We focus on the election process, NOT on candidates and their platforms. Later this month I will teach a short unit on the modern Civil Rights movement. In early February we move from US History to Washington State History.

RELIGION

We will be working on chapters 5 and 6 in the Religion text this week. We will also resume contemplative prayer this week or next.

LANGUAGE ARTS

The final draft of the editorial commentary is due Wednesday, January 9. At the end of the week, we will film the verbal delivery of the ed comm. In addition, I hope to produce the final copy of the newspaper front page.

Students are to write a New Year’s letter to me. I have asked them to respond to several questions. The letter is due Thursday, January 10, 2008.

This week’s Spelling: Lesson 13. The workbook assignment is due Wednesday and the test is Friday.

LITERATURE

Students should finish reading The Staircase by Ann Rinaldi by Friday, January 11.

MATH

8^th Math

The 8^th grade math class will be reviewing on Monday and Tuesday for their Chapter 3 test on Wednesday.  On Thursday, they will begin Chapter 4, and work on the first section, which is the order of operations.  The students will receive a Problem of the Week and it will be due Monday, Jan 14.

Algebra

The algebra class will be working on equations and solving equations with variables on both sides.  They will, also, receive a Problem of the Week which will be due on Monday, Jan 14.

SCIENCE

Updates about Science are posted in the Science section of school web page.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!

Ann Christianson

annc@saintbrendan.org