Where information gourmets like to dine. February/March
Celebrating Black History Month
Students recently finished reading books based on the Black History Month theme. There were a variety of offerings and pairs of students got together twice a week to talk about their books. They also complete standards based response sheets that guide them to analyze the content. The students loved these books and were able to empathise with the characters and their challenges.
The culminating activity was to complete a questionnaire about the character of their choice, then write a report as if they were a psychiatrist and the character a patient. The results were very insightful reports by our would-be doctors.
Updates:
Spelling tests are every Thursday, pre-tests and practice at home improves scores!
Why not come to Homework Club ? It's a good way to get a few things done. We are busy, busy, busy, and every little bit helps!
Are your books covered?
Please be sure you have all your supplies all the time.
GIVING BACK
Service hours are due March 3rd.
Last year's seventh and eighth grade completed 2,470 hours of service to the community. This is evidence that we are making service a part of our lives.
Students are required to complete 10 hours of service. Try to find something you like to do and turn that into a valuable service to someone else. Share you talents and gifts.
Is that you, Henri Matisse?
Creating a collage in art class has been our goal for the last few weeks. Inspired by the work of Matisse, our piece will be a fun adaptation of the "room with a window" motif that he frequently used. These will be on display in the classroom or in the office soon.
The Corp of Discovery:
Lewis and Clark Explore the Louisiana Purchase
The seventh and eighth recently traveled up the Missouri River with Lewis and Clark in a simulation of their historic trip to explore the Louisiana Purchase for Presidnet Thomas Jefferson. Groups of explorers faced daily dilemmas, created crafts, maps and artifacts, wrote journal entries about their experiences and sent postcards back to President Jefferson about Native American tribes they encounted along the way.
In an awards ceremony, the Red Team, The Clatsops, took first place, but all the teams were winners, because this kind of learning is fun and challenging. There was never a dull momment in class during this project!
Coming soon: The Civil War!!!!!
Accelerated Reader Update
LAST DAY FOR AR TESTING IS MARCH 3rd!!!
Parent FYI: Student AR status is posted in the classroom
Accelerated Reader tests are currently being taken by students for the first trimester. Seventh graders need 25 points and eighth graders need 30 points for an "A" in this strand of the reading curriculum. Choose a great book from our extensive list, and take advantage of class time to do some reading! Many new titles have been added this year.
SECOND TRIMESTER ENDS MARCH 5TH
Here are some things to remember:
Students have until the end of the trimester to accumulate their points. Ideally, students should be at the half way point of the points goal at mid-semester, otherwise there will be some scrambling at the end of the trimester.It is especially important that students learn how to read independently and to pass comprehension tests on the material they've read, as this will be a more common practice in high school.
This year's theme: GROW HERE
STUDENT COUNCIL
SPONSORS
See's Candy Sale!
Create the perfect Easter Basket with these wonderful candies from See's!
Sale Ends March 10th!
Breaking Barriers
Students in the seventh and eighth grade are participating
in a writing contest sponsored by Major League Baseball and Scholastic Magazine. The essay is based on the nine values introduced by Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947. The nine values of courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment and excellence are the basis for their essays about a barrier they have personally overcome. Students have been enjoying examining their personal experiences and the triumphs that frequently go unnoticed in their lives.
Thanks to a generous gift from the Oakland A's, each participating student will receive two tickets to the April 15th game against the Baltimore Orioles. That evening MLB will officially pay tribute ot Jackie Robinson with special pre-game ceremonies and by every player on both teams wearing No. 42 in their game jerseys.
Feature Stories Feature Us
Students recently paired up with their classmates to write feature stories about eachother. To their surprise, there was a lot they didn't know about eachother! The FEATURES and all other writng can be found in bound books in the front of the classroom. Stop by and enjoy some great writing!