2/11/2008

 

Dear Families,

 

Happy Valentine’s Day and upcoming long weekend!  We continue to battle illness and hopefully will soon turn the corner toward health.

We have run out of paper towels and Kleenex.  If kids with student numbers 1 – 15 will bring 1 roll of paper towels and numbers 16 - 30 will bring one box of tissues, we should make it through allergy season and the end of the school year.  Thank you.

I will introduce the Term Paper project at the end of this week.  You will receive a letter from me outlining the project and the process.  I will send both paper copy and electronic copies.

Although we are not having an “official” Valentine’s party, the kids will have 30 minutes or so to exchange Valentines, eat a treat and socialize.  I have invited them to bring in music – Eric has volunteered to bring the Juno soundtrack.  Our second class party will be, “A Last Full Day of 8th Grade Party” – Details to follow.

 

 

 

¯ ACADEMICS

HISTORY

Because 11 students had to make up the Constitution Part 2 test, those grades ARE NOT included in the mid-trimester report.

 

Students are busy working in partners on an overview of the modern Civil Rights movement.  Today we watched several mini-videos about the period.  It is difficult for the kids to imagine the volatility of the period.  My hope is that the kids at least glimpse the lengths to which people were willing to go to claim their rights provided by the Constitution.   

 

The completed USA maps are due Wednesday.

 

I plan to introduce Washington State History on Thursday.


RELIGION

We will take on Chapter 7 in our Religion books this week.

 

We have begun the student-led prayer services.  Leading us in prayer this week are:

Monday- Rowan

Wednesday – Chase

Thursday – Chrissy

Students should have a list of what to include in the prayer service.  Students earn a religion grade for this activity.

 

LANGUAGE ARTS

Spelling -  Lesson 17 - Review.  Workbooks are due Wednesday.  We will have 3 spelling tests on Thursday – 1 regular and 2 Mastery tests.

 

LITERATURE

The Staircase project is due on Wednesday.

 

This week I will introduce the next literature unit – short stories.  We will read two stories as a whole class and the kids will read two stories in two different small groups.  It is a bit of a scheduling challenge but it gives the students the chance to read stories of their choice with others who also chose the story.

 

     

MATH

Math:  This week both math classes will be working on tessellations.  At the end of the week they will be assigned a tessellation project that will be due February 28.

 

Progress reports will be sent home this Wednesday.  They need to signed and returned by Wednesday, February 28.

 

 

 

SCIENCE

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

 

 

COMMUNITY UPDATE

Thank you to those students who distributed ashes at Ash Wednesday Mass: Eric, Ryan C., Sean B., Kylie, Kelsey, Marni.  We received many positive comments from parishioners and alumni parents.

 

An extra-special thank you to those students who stepped in to usher at the last second: Chas, Megan, Chrissy and Caroline.

 

Jesse Jepson has transferred to another school.  Jesse came in this morning to say goodbye.  We prayed together and sent Jesse off with our blessings.  We will miss him and continue to hold him in our hearts. 

 

 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!

Ann Christianson

annc@saintbrendan.org