10/08/2007

 

Dear Families,

 

For students who are thinking about applying to a private high school, it’s time for parents to figure out how to sign up for placement testing.    

Thanks to Mrs. Partington, I took a closer look at the placement and application dates posted in the classroom.  These dates are several weeks earlier than in previous years.  I sent home a grid with important dates listed.  I will need my portions of the application forms turned in NO LATER THAN MONDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2007. 

 

A reminder: NO School THIS Friday, October 12, 2007.

 

¯ ACADEMICS

HISTORY

Eighth graders continue to investigate similarities and differences in the thirteen colonies.  As we march down the road to revolution and the Declaration of Independence, my focus will be to help them see the Revolutionary War and the Declaration as reactions to significant events rather than as goals colonists attempted to accomplish or achieve.

 
RELIGION

Students took their first Religion test on Thursday, October 4.  This week we look at the first mark of the Church – apostolic - and learn about St. Francis of Assisi whose feast day is October 4.

 

The final “God of the Gathering” essay is due Thursday, October 11.   

 

 

LANGUAGE ARTS

Students have written several news articles.  They will write one more feature article.  I have reminded the students many times that these news articles need to remain accessible.  In a few weeks, students will design and lay out their own newspaper front page.

 

 

LITERATURE

In small groups, students began analyzing themes from The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter.  This skill is new to most of them and challenging.  I am working with them both to think critically and to approach new skills with a positive outlook. 

 

Students will have a vocabulary test from this novel on Wednesday 10/10 and an essay test on Thursday 10/11. 

 

MATH

I would like to thank everyone for signing and returning the math progress reports.  The next reports will be sent out on October 17.

 

8th

This week in math we will be working on the following:

·        Dividing a decimal by a whole number

·        Multiplying and dividing by multiples of 10

·        Dividing a decimal by a decimal

Algebra

In algebra we will be working on the following:

·        Chapter 1 review

·        Integers and the number line

 

 

SCIENCE

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

 

 

ü CLASSROOM COMMUNITY

I am preparing the students to lead their first cross-age family meeting Thursday, October 11.  The students lead the meeting and are in charge of accomplishing the agenda items.  This is a wonderful leadership opportunity for them but it is challenging.  I want to be sure they are comfortable with the meeting expectations.  I don’t want them embarrassed or unprepared 

 

Class elections are complete.  Your students debated well, nominated respectfully and accepted the voting results with dignity.  Our new officers are:

President – Gabe

Vice President – Natalie

Sec./Treasurer – Patrick

Historians – Shannon & Andrea

CONGRATULATIONS!

 

I want to mention a group of students who ran for office and truly wanted to be involved in this aspect of our 8th grade classroom, but were not elected.  These students handled themselves with grace – you should be proud.  Deserving recognition are: Chrissy, Derek, Brianna, Maria, Ryan T., and Liezl.      

 

 HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!

Ann Christianson

annc@saintbrendan.org