Exam Countdown

Today's classes were used as study classes.  Grade 7s were given a large list of geographic locations and a blank map to practice their geography knowledge.  Grade 8s were given some dates to remember for their early people unit.

Thinkfast Weekend

8SS - Magazines are due Monday.
8ELA - "The Highwayman" Q. 1-8 due Monday.
7SS - No new work assigned.
***To those who want to do well on the SS exam...1215 is significant because...?

Long Time, No Write

My apologies for not updating my blog.

7SS     Students began their unit on Malawi.  Today we did work in the atlas on climate and natural resources.  HOMEWORK:  AFRICA & MALAWI:  Q. 1-3.
8ELA/SS - These periods were used to finish work on the SS projects (magazines).  Tomorrow's class will be used for proofreading and assembling the magazine.  Completed magazines are due Monday, period 2.

**SPECIAL TREAT FOR REGULAR BLOG READERS:  EVERY FRIDAY I WILL WRITE SPECIFIC EXAM HINTS.  CHECK IT OUT!
**REMINDERS:  SPELLING TEST TOMORROW, THINKFAST TOMORROW, SPRING TEA IS THREE WEEKS AWAY--LET'S GET OUR TICKET AND TOMATOR MONEY IN!

March Assembly

7SS - The Good Life tests was returned to students for parent signatures.
8SS - Ancient Greece tests were returned to students for parent signatures.
8ELA - Spelling Unit 22 precheck was done today as was page 92, q. 1-5 from the spelling text.
8B ELA - In addition to spelling, this group read chapter 4 of I am David and was assigned q. 9-12.

**As per the newsletter, the Me to We Team is collecting a tin of canned food (fruit, vegetables, soup, anything canned) as part of our school's effort of almsgiving for Lent.  Please share with those in need and bring in ONE canned item.

Science Fair Soon

7SS - The Good Life Test tomorrow.  NO HOMEWORK.
8SS - Ancient Greece Test tomorow.  NO HOMEWORK.
8ELA - Corrected Spelling Unit 21.  Read chapter 3 of I am David.  HOMEWORK:  CH 3 & 4, Q 1-8.

**Science Fair on Friday.

Catholic Schools Week Starts on Monday!

8M ELA - Corrected David's World in Ruins handout. Began reading Chapter 1.  HOMEWORK:  FINISH CHAPTER 1 OF  THE NOVEL.
8B ELA - Corrected Europe in the 1950's.  Finished reading chapter 2.  HOMEWORK: CHAPTER 1 & 2 SUMMARY INCLUDING A PINK QUESTION.
7SS - Finished reading a section on the UN's Human Development Goals.  HOMEWORK:  MDGS Q 1-5 INCLUDING A PINK QUESTION.

**Monday is Pajama Day--come in a GOOD pajama costume or come in uniform!
**Tuesday is Valentine's Day--find something red or pink--no excuses!

Science Fair Presentation-Tips and Tricks

8SS - Reviewed the definitions and explanations of monarchy, oligarchy, tyranny, and democracy.  Learned about the population breakdown of ancient Athens; we took these facts and used them in charts then applied math calculations to determine what portion of a pie graph was represented by each group.
8B ELA - Corrected David's World in Ruins (assigned yesterday).  Reviewed maps of Europe and thought about the route David could have taken as opposed to the route he did take.  HOMEWORK:  EUROPE IN THE 1950S AND READ ALL OF CHAPTER 2.
7SS - Discussed the Hunger Activity; focussed on how it so like the real world.  NO HOMEWORK
7REL - Began a section on the Ten Commandments.  Read a story "My Friend".  HOMEWORK:  P.51, Q 1-4.

**Grades 5-8 students gathered in the MPR today to hear from a university student about science fair projects; where they can lead, tips, and other ideas. 

House Assembly Day

8ELA - Students finished reading and highlighting notes on Europe after WWII.  Students were assigned P. 5 Q 1-5 plus Q 6-9 from the front board.  8B started reading Chapter 1.  HOMEWORK:  DAVID'S WORLD IN RUINS Q 1-9 PLUS 8B MUST FINISH READING CH 1.
8SS - Corrected the handout on Democracy.
7SS - Discussed the Hunger Activity from yesterday.  Collected Reflections.

8ELA Novel Study

8ELA - Students presented their Literature Circle ABC booklets summing up their novels.  The book I am David was introduced to both classes and students were introduced to the idea of communism and what life was like in Europe after WWII.  HOMEWORK:  8B ONLY-FINISH READING AND HIGHLIGHTING P4 OF THE BOOKLET.
7REL-Corrected and discussed the Respect questions (1-6).  NO HOMEWORK.
7SS-Checked for completion of the Village People activity.  Students participated in an activity on global hunger issues.  HOMEWORK:  HUNGER ACTIVITY REFLECTION.

**Read-a-thon continues!  How much will you read today?

Read-a-thon Continues

7SS - Finished reading the book If the World Were a Village and checking our work.  HOMEWORK:  VILLAGE PEOPLE.
7REL- Eggbaby Books were collected.  HOMEWORK:  RESPECT Q 1-6.
8SS - Learned about the evolution of democracy in ancient Greece.  HOMEWORK:  DEMOCRACY DEFINITIONS HANDOUT.
8ELA - Began Lit Circle presentations.  No Spelling today.

**Hope everyone is keeping track of minutes read at home!

Busy Day

7HEA-Updated our Eggbaby Journal.  Reviewed our Sexual Health Review sheet.  NO HOMEWORK.
8B SS-Watched the movie Romero; followed with a reflection.  NO HOMEWORK.
8M ELA-Discussed the Lit Circle project.  Followed with work time.  HOMEWORK:  AS GROUPS FEEL NECESSARY.

**Remember pledges for Read-a-thon!
**8SS had lessons on Sparta and Athens assigned last week.  Are they done?
**Spelling Unit 18 due tomorrow.

Everyone's Doing Projects!

7REL - Students continue with the Eggbaby project.  Read about the love we get from Moms and Dads.  Read scripture about how God's love is bigger than the love of our parents.  HOMEWORK:  GOD, SCRIPTURE & MOM AND DAD Q 1-3.
7SS - Reviewed the Poverty Cycle and thought about ways to make it stop.  HOMEWORK:  POVERTY CYCLE REFLECTION Q 1-5.
8B SS - Oral review of the traits of Sparta then learned about the ancient city of Athens.  HOMEWORK:  ATHENS Q 1-2.
8ELA - Held the last Lit Circle group meetings for discussion.  Reviewed multi-unit for Spelling.  HOMEWORK:  UNIT 18 SPELLING Q 1-5 PLUS PROOFREADING PARAGRAPH. 
8B ELA - Assigned the Lit Circle projects, students decided jobs within the groups. 

**Read-a-thon Pledges...Did you get yours?

Time for Sparta and Athens!

8B SS:  Learning about the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta.  Used our text book p. 128 and 129 and the British Museum website http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/ .  HOMEWORK:  Q 1-4 PLUS CHALLENGE SECTION OF THE WEBSITE.
8M SS:  Learning about the ancient Greek city-state of Athens.  Used our text book p. 130 and 144.  HOMEWORK:  Q 1-2.
8ELA:   Unit 17 Spelling Test
7SS:  Continued our work on the ideas of Human Development, Poverty, and Quality of Life.
7 REL:  Eggbaby Project continues!

**Our annual Read-a-thon kicked off today.  Funds raised go towards new libary books.  Please participate and get your pledges.  Things improve when everyone gets involved!

**Our annual Open House is next week on Thursday.  Please tell prospective familes and have them come out, 7 pm, to meet the teachers and tour the school.

Stay Warm this Weekend

8ELA - Worked on Wonder of Words based on Holocaust Vocabulary.  Read the non-fiction story The First Day of the War by Maia Wojciechowska.  HOMEWORK:  WONDER OF WORDS, VENN DIAGRAM, Q 4 AND 5
8SS - Corrected Greek Religion.  NO HOMEWORK
7SS - Worked on I Would Rather Live In... HOMEWORK:  I WOULD RATHER LIVE IN...DUE MONDAY.  TEST JAN 17 (CLIMATE, LAND COVER/USE, POPULATION, PULL/PUSH FACTORS, MORE AND LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.
7HEA-Reviewed our reflection on scripture's message about our bodies and sexuality.  Discussed.

**Grade 8 boys will attend a Field Trip Monday to St. Paul's Highschool.  Lunch will be provided.  Please discuss St. Paul's as an option for grade 9 next year and have questions ready for the presenters.

Welcome Back, Everyone!

7REL - Corrected James' Story and Agnes' Story.  NO HOMEWORK.
7SS - Corrected More and Less Developed Countries Q 1-4.  HOMEWORK:  FIX Q.4.   DUE TOMORROW.
8SS - Learning about Greek religion.  Students received a Who's Who handout.  Begin reading a story about Greek everyday life and religion.  NO HOMEWORK.
8M ELA - Corrected Spelling Unit 15.  Introduced to Holocaust vocabulary.  Reading Class.  HOMEWORK:  HOLOCAUST VOCABULARY LIST DUE TOMOROW. 
8B ELA - Reading Class.

**Permission forms for the Romero movie and signed SS tests (both Gr. 8) need to be in by end of week.  Lit Circle reading and meeting prep is due on Monday.