3/3/2008

 

Dear Families,

 

I hope that those of you who were able to attend the annual auction enjoyed yourselves.  We are blessed with an especially generous and caring community. 

ATTENTION 8th GRADE MOMs – I hope some of you are interested in going to Mt. St. Helen’s with us.  I have only had one mom express interest so far.  I have three dads – Mr. Flanigan, Mr.  Loutsis and Mr. White.  I can take one more dad if anyone is interested. Dates again are May 5 and May 6.

REMINDERS: All-School Mass March 7 – half-day but uniforms required; March 14 – full day of school; March 14 – 2nd trimester ends; March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day, Free Dress and Annual Potato Bake; March 24 – 28 - Spring Break.

I still have a few students who need to return signed term paper and/or Family Life forms.  Please return these forms ASAP.

 

 

¯ ACADEMICS

HISTORY

Eighth graders have been singing about Washington state history!  Students used the material in Chapter 1 to compose lyrics to familiar tunes.  Their performances were outstanding!

 

The test on the US maps will be next week – Wednesday or Thursday.


RELIGION

We begin Chapter 9 in Religion this week.

 

Student-led prayer service reminders:

 Monday- Eric (forgot – will have make-up day)

Tuesday – Ryan C.

Wednesday – Kelsey

Thursday – Marni

 

Remember that I keep the candle until we return from Mt. St. Helen’s.

 

LANGUAGE ARTS

Spelling -  Lesson 20 – Workbook p. 89 B; 91 A and B – due Wednesday.

 

Term Paper –

1. Working bibliography check – Tuesday 3/4.   Because citing sources is new o the students, they are struggling to follow the APA citation guidelines.  (They have a model to follow.)  Please lend them an encouraging word and help when needed.  For websites, it is often difficult to locate an author.  When an author cannot be found, the web site’s name may be used.  For example, if you needed to cite information in the St. Brendan school mission statement, you could use, “St. Brendan Parish School” as the author. 

 

2. Final Outline – due 3/5.  At this point the “final” outline should include: topic, thesis idea, perhaps terms or ideas that will be included in the introductory essay, Main Idea #1, A. and B.; Main Idea #2, A. and B. and perhaps an idea or plan for the Conclusion.  VERY IMPORTANT: Students will continue to revise and complete the outline as they delve into further research.  The purpose the outline at this point is to guide the research and note-taking.

 

3. I need to ask you (again) to please encourage your student to use the term paper time I give them here at school.  I have planned for students to have a full class period (or close) each day this week.  Yesterday, I interrupted several students who were playing computer games.       

 

4. DUE DATE CHANGE – The term paper is now due Thursday, April 4.  We will celebrate that afternoon with our poinsettia goal reward – an ice cream buffet.

 

LITERATURE

Students have been divided into nine story groups and are working independently completing work related to the short story.  Each student will take a selection test for his or her own story on Thursday (hopefully!)

 

Students need to be sure to have a silent reading book here at school.  Reading term paper printed sources is OK.  

 

      

MATH

This week the algebra class will be working on graphing compound inequalities and reviewing for their chapter 6 test, which will be this Thursday.

 

The 8th grade math class will be writing and solving percent equations.  They will be reviewing for their chapter 6 test, which will be next Tuesday.

 

 

SCIENCE

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

 

 

COMMUNITY UPDATE

I know you all join me in praying for the Rourke family.  Kate’s dad passed away last week and they have been in New York attending the funeral and spending time with family.

 

 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!

Ann Christianson

annc@saintbrendan.org