The eighth grade students spent the week looking into Catholic internet websites. Each student has explored the internet and found a differnent Catholic website that they have entered into our March Madness competition. The students vote at the end of each class as to which website will go on in the competition. The goal is to expose your children to a world of Catholic resources avaliable to them at their fingertips.
We have also learned more about the Sacrament of Confirmation this week and the characteristics of the Holy Spirit. Next week we will spend some time reviewing the gifts of the Holy Spirit and begin working in groups on our Confirmation projects.
All Serviam hours will be due on or before May 6th. Please contact me if you or your child needs help finding places to serve. One of our greatest needs in our Diocese is the need for supplies to help settle refugees. I have received the following email from Catholic Charities, if your child would like to plan a "supply drive" in your neighborhood for the new refugees please let me know. They can receive Serviam hours for planning and collecting items.
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The Refugee Resettlement Program of Catholic Charities in Des Moines is in need of donations for apartment setups! If you have any of the items listed below please call or email Katie Ryan! Tax receipts are given if you need one! They do furniture pickups Mondays 9:30-12:30pm.
*Kitchen Tables and chairs* *( MOST NEEDED ITEM)*·
Coffee Tables/end tables·
Lamps/shades
Vacuums ·
Light bulbs·
Hand soap·
Pots and pans ·
Children’s backpacks (middle school and high school age)·
Notebooks and folders·
Sewing kits·
Band-Aids·
Brushes/combs
Katie Ryan
Volunteer/Donation Specialist
Refugee Resettlement Program
Catholic Charities
601 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Phone: 515-237-5090
Fax: 515-237-5099
kryan@dmdiocese.org
Friday, March 25, 2011
Language Arts/Reading - Miss Mataloni
The 8th graders are currently learning about figurative language and poetry terminology. They've done an excellent job of being actively involved in creating alliterations and clever idioms, metaphors, and similes. Next week, they will put these terms into action when they create a sensory imagery poem about spring.
After we finish up the poetry unit, the 8th graders will begin the WWII/Holocaust literature unit. Each student will have a choice to read one of seven novel options that coincide with the WWII topic. They will be expected to read each night and take part in whole group and small group conversations and projects. It is one of my favorite units of the year and I can't wait to get started!
In addition, students need to keep reading 25-30 minutes per day to get their 2000 reading minutes completed by the end of the trimester. 8th graders are continuing with weekly vocabulary and spelling, too.
After we finish up the poetry unit, the 8th graders will begin the WWII/Holocaust literature unit. Each student will have a choice to read one of seven novel options that coincide with the WWII topic. They will be expected to read each night and take part in whole group and small group conversations and projects. It is one of my favorite units of the year and I can't wait to get started!
In addition, students need to keep reading 25-30 minutes per day to get their 2000 reading minutes completed by the end of the trimester. 8th graders are continuing with weekly vocabulary and spelling, too.
St. Francis Middle School Dance - Mrs. Louise Mistry
St. Francis will be hosting the Diocesan middle school dance on Friday, April 15. We will need many volunteers to make the dance a success so we thank you in advance for your help! The dance is from 7:00-9:00. A typical shift is about 45 minutes. Many of you signed up to help at the dance. I will be sending out a schedule the first week of April. If you did not sign up and would like to help just let me know. Thanks!
Mrs. Louise Mistry
The 8th graders are finishing up their study of astronomy. Our next are of study will be weather and climate, which should be a very relevant topic, given our weather this week!
The students have also started work on their science fair projects. Students have selected their topics and turned in their proposal sheet. I will be looking over their proposals and may ask the students to make changes if needed.
The week before spring break the 8th graders received a packet of information about their project which you may want to review with you. They have a rubric, a review of scientific method, a timeline of due dates and a letter from me. Background information reports are due next Friday, April 1 and they have detailed guidelines about how to prepare the paper. We will be ordering tri-fold boards on Monday. I prefer that all students use the same board, which I will order in bulk. The cost is about $4. No need to send money until the boards arrive (in a couple of weeks).
The final project is due on Friday, April 29 and projects will be available for viewing in the science room all day.
The students have also started work on their science fair projects. Students have selected their topics and turned in their proposal sheet. I will be looking over their proposals and may ask the students to make changes if needed.
The week before spring break the 8th graders received a packet of information about their project which you may want to review with you. They have a rubric, a review of scientific method, a timeline of due dates and a letter from me. Background information reports are due next Friday, April 1 and they have detailed guidelines about how to prepare the paper. We will be ordering tri-fold boards on Monday. I prefer that all students use the same board, which I will order in bulk. The cost is about $4. No need to send money until the boards arrive (in a couple of weeks).
The final project is due on Friday, April 29 and projects will be available for viewing in the science room all day.
Math Mrs Cindy Streff
Welcome back from Spring Break! I hope everyone is ready for the last months of the school year.
8th graders are working on Chapter 8, Geometry. The first part of the chapter has them learning about angles--vertical, adjacent, complementary, supplementary, corresponding, and alternate interior. It is interesting to see how many different types angles are congruent to eachother. We will continue with Geometry for several weeks (Chapter 9 is also Geometry). We will finish the year with Tables & Graphs and Algebra Readiness.
8th graders are working on Chapter 8, Geometry. The first part of the chapter has them learning about angles--vertical, adjacent, complementary, supplementary, corresponding, and alternate interior. It is interesting to see how many different types angles are congruent to eachother. We will continue with Geometry for several weeks (Chapter 9 is also Geometry). We will finish the year with Tables & Graphs and Algebra Readiness.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Social Studies: Mrs. Wallace
The 8th graders are currently working through Chapter 20: The Industrial Period of the US. We are studying such industrial giants as Andrew Carnegie, J.D. Rockefeller, and J. P. Morgan. The students also discussed the "Gospel of Wealth," by Andrew Carnegie in which he believed that it was the duty of the wealthy to give away most of the fortune to charity. We then connected it to the recent foundation work of men such as Bill Gates and Warrne Buffett with their "Giving Away" drive in which people can sign on to pledge to donate most of their wealth. It was great to take the philosophies of these men a hundred years ago and relate it to today.
The 8th graders should be testing over Chapter 20 on Friday, April 1st. We will then be studying WWI and working our way to our last unit which is WWII.
The 8th graders should be testing over Chapter 20 on Friday, April 1st. We will then be studying WWI and working our way to our last unit which is WWII.
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