November

November is a busy time of the year at home and at school.  While most students are thinking ahead to Christmas we must also think about the busy work of the month.

Friday, November 22nd marks the end of the 1st trimester.  All work and corrections must be submitted by Thursday morning.  Grades will be closed and report cards prepared and mailed the following week. 

Parent/Student/Teacher conferences are on Monday, Nov. 25th and Tuesday, Nov. 26th.  If you are unable to come at one of the pre-determined times, please email me so that we can arrange an alternative time. Remember 8th grade students must attend the conference.

8th grade students will be hosting the Holiday Luncheon for the faculty and staff on Friday, December 6th at the Parish Center.  You will receive additional information in the near future.

The students selected speeches and have been memorizing them for some time.  We have finally selected a Speech Presentation  day and time.  On Monday, December 16th at 2:00 each 8th grader will present a speech of their choice.  All parents are invited to attend and support their child.

 

 

What’s Happening in Room 8

Religion – We will talking about the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy

Literature – As we continue reading “Shane”, we will make connections between the historical west and our novel.

Speech and Debate – Students will work with a  partner and practice their speeches.

Writing Workshop – Students should be developing the body of their expository essays on LIFE.

Literature 7th grade – I will be introducing Robert Frost’s “Everything Green is Gold” as students read further into their novel “The Outsiders”.

Literature 6th grade – I will introduce information about Cesar Chavez and his historic work as the students continue to read “Esperanza Rising”.

Thank you!

Thank you to all 8th grade parents who attended the parent meeting last week. I shared a lot of important information about the high school application process.  I hope the information was helpful and alleviated some stress.

Conferences are scheduled for the last week in November and at that time I will speak individually about area high schools and answer any questions that you may have.

What did you watch this weekend?

Have you joined Widmann’s Weekend Film Festival?

If not, you are missing out.

Our film library has grown tremendously thanks to donations and loans.  We boast movies like 12 Angry Men, Laura, The Great Escape, High Noon, Wait Until Dark,  and many more.

The goal of Widmann’s Weekend Film Festival is to get students involved, watching, and enjoying classics while receiving credit for their critiques.  We have something for everyone: westerns, thrillers, fantasies, and musicals.

Visit our library today!

Crusaders 4 Life – Youth Rally Celebrating Life!

Congratulations to the cast of “THE SOUND OF MUSIC”

Maria – Savannah

Mother Abbess – Kaleia

Sister Berthe – Maria

Sister Margaretta – Alessia

Sister Sophia – Christina

Captain Von Trapp – Vincent S.

Franz – Enrique

Frau Schmidt – Anna

Liesl – Ava

Friedrich – Luca

Louisa – Sabrina

Kurt – Daniel

Brigitta – Olivia

Marta – Noemi

Gretl – Ella

Rolf – Hector

Elsa – Ivy

Ursula – Chloe

Max – Leo

Herr Zeller – Vincent V.

Baron Elberfeld – Joseph

Admiral Von Schreiber – Seamus

Ensemble –

Monks – John Paul, Tom, Joe, Andrew, Seamus, Enrique, Joseph, Vincent V.

Nuns – Chloe, Anna,

What’s Happening in Room 8

Religion – We will finish our chapter on “Prayer” and be tested on Thursday.  Even though the chapter is finished, remember that prayer is a part of our daily lives.

Literature  8th – As we continue to read Shane, we anticipating conflicts as the tension rises.  There will be a quiz this week.

Literature 7th – The 7th graders have been introduced to the main characters in the novel The Outsiders.  Now they must get to know them by creating a character analysis page for each one.  There will be a quiz on Thursday. 

Literature 6th – As the 6th graders continue reading Esperanza Rising, they will focus on the  novel’s  unexpected turn of events.  Students will continue working on brain storm activities to help organize their responses.  

 

 

Our Lady: Queen of the Rosary

The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary was instituted to honor Mary for the Christian victory over the Turks at Lepanto on October 7, 1571. Pope St. Pius V and all Christians had prayed the Rosary for victory. The Rosary, or the Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is one of the best prayers to Mary, the Mother of God.

Pope Benedict XVI invited all families to pray the Rosary for the intentions of the Pope, the mission of the Church and peace. “It is as if every year Our Lady invited us to rediscover the beauty of this prayer, so simple and profound.” The Rosary, a “contemplative and Christocentric prayer, inseparable from the meditation of Sacred Scripture,” is “the prayer of the Christian who advances in the pilgrimage of faith, in the following of Jesus, preceded by Mary,” said the Pontiff.

What’s Happening in Room 8

        Religion                   

We will begin a chapter on prayer.  Students will learn about and hear the Liturgy of Hours and compose their own scriptural celebration.  Rosary pamphlets are due this Friday.

Literature

We are continuing to read Shane and are creating character analysis pages that explore the main characters.

Speech and Debate

This week we will read a short article on raising the driving age. Students will collect information, think, then participate in a lively discussion on this issue.

Writing Workshop

This week students will begin working on an expository essay on an issue focusing on our call to Respect Life. 

Literature 7th grade

The 7th graders have just begun reading The Outsiders.  We will be discussing various themes, conflicts , and characterizations. This is one of my favorite novels to teach and I look forward to the students taking this literary journey.

Congratulations to the 7th grader students who presented their Public Service Announcements.  Their themes were discrimination, prejudice, scapegoats, and stereotypes. They all did an excellent job.

Literature 6th grade

The 6th grade students are continuing to read Esperanza Rising. They are learning how to  respond to open-ended questions and how to identify conflicts.  

 

Respect Life

“How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers.” – Mother Teresa

We are anticipating a day filled with activities, prayer, and camaraderie all centered around LIFE! I will be taking a few 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to a celebration of life this Wednesday.  As Catholics, we know and profess that life is sacred and this Wednesday we will be listening to speakers and participating in activities that echo this  sentiment.

Permission slips must be submitted by Monday, Oct. 7th.  i am still looking for parent drivers/chaperones.