Friday, February 24, 2012
8TH GRADE VIDEO
Please remember to send a picture of your child as a baby or toddler, along with a current picture, to homeroom teachers as soon as possible. We are compiling these pictures and the students will begin working on the video right after conferences. We will later be asking for additonal pictures. We are especially interested in large group pictures (such as a1st Eucharist picture, a 2nd grade class, etc.). If you can send pictures electronically that is a huge help. If not, just send a picture and we will scan them and return them. Make sure your child's name is on the picture.
Student Council
Remaining Student Council Meetings for 8th Grade:
Wednesday, March 7
Wednesday, March 14
Wednesday, April 4
Wednesday, April 11
Wednesday, April 25
Wednesday, May 2
Wedmesday. May 16 - Final Meeting
Wednesday, March 7
Wednesday, March 14
Wednesday, April 4
Wednesday, April 11
Wednesday, April 25
Wednesday, May 2
Wedmesday. May 16 - Final Meeting
Science - Mrs. Louise Mistry
The 8th Graders have moved on from chemistry to a study of astronomy. This week we worked on understanding the earth-moon-sun system. The students should have an understanding of revolution and rotation of the earth and moon, phases of the moon and tides. They can also explain what causes a lunar and solar eclipse and what causes the Earth's seasons. Today we started a study of space exploration. We will first focus on the history of space exploration, such as the Apollo missions and then move on to more current exploration and discoveries. Later, we will focus on stars, galaxies and constellations.
I am really enjoying working with the 8th graders and seeing them coming together as a very close and faith-filled class. Keep up the good work!
I am really enjoying working with the 8th graders and seeing them coming together as a very close and faith-filled class. Keep up the good work!
8th Grade Religion
Hello Parents,
Your 8th graders have started their studies into Confirmation. We have started out with a study of the Sacraments and it's definition as "an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace". Your students have learned what is so special about these signs, when each Sacrament was instituted and what this grace actually does in their lives. They took a test today over these concepts today (Friday Feb. 24th). From here we will move onto the study of the specific graces and history of Confirmation.
Right now they are in the middle of their large Saint Project. Each student has a sheet with the various check points for this project. The next check point is due this coming Tuesday February 28th. For this checkpoint they need a binder, a story that they can tell in an interesting way about a Saint that they are considering for Confirmation, and a summary of their story. Each student has received a list of patron saints, a link to a saint quiz, and we have talked in class about different ideas. They are doing a great job trying to find special Saints that they can relate to.
Quick Reminder: The parish office is in charge of Confirmation Service Hours and any Sunday night gatherings, Deb Ryan asks that questions about these things be directed to her for the most updated and accurate answers.
Serviam hours: Thank you for your support of the Serviam Program! The 8th graders need a total of 10 hours by the end of this year. 8 were due for the last two trimesters, so that is just 2 more hours for this year. By May your 8th grade students will have done over 750 hours of service in our community! Congratulations!
Your 8th graders have started their studies into Confirmation. We have started out with a study of the Sacraments and it's definition as "an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace". Your students have learned what is so special about these signs, when each Sacrament was instituted and what this grace actually does in their lives. They took a test today over these concepts today (Friday Feb. 24th). From here we will move onto the study of the specific graces and history of Confirmation.
Right now they are in the middle of their large Saint Project. Each student has a sheet with the various check points for this project. The next check point is due this coming Tuesday February 28th. For this checkpoint they need a binder, a story that they can tell in an interesting way about a Saint that they are considering for Confirmation, and a summary of their story. Each student has received a list of patron saints, a link to a saint quiz, and we have talked in class about different ideas. They are doing a great job trying to find special Saints that they can relate to.
Quick Reminder: The parish office is in charge of Confirmation Service Hours and any Sunday night gatherings, Deb Ryan asks that questions about these things be directed to her for the most updated and accurate answers.
Serviam hours: Thank you for your support of the Serviam Program! The 8th graders need a total of 10 hours by the end of this year. 8 were due for the last two trimesters, so that is just 2 more hours for this year. By May your 8th grade students will have done over 750 hours of service in our community! Congratulations!
Social Studies - Nennig
Dear Eighth Grade Parents,
Report cards were sent home today. Enclosed will be your student’s report card as well as their Iowa Assessments Test Score. Please be sure to read the letter sent home yesterday before trying to interpret the Iowa Assessments Scores.
In American History students finished their study of the Constitution and moved directly into the early struggles of the government and the movement west. The students used a combination of text and internet videos to learn about this time period of expansion. Students had the opportunity to play a Westward Trail game online to help improve their decision-making skills as a pioneer. Next week, students can expect a larger quiz on Wednesday to demonstrate their knowledge of the 1800-1850s.
As we look to the spring our eighth grade team will begin setting up the Service Day for the eighth graders. Please contact me if you have a suggestion on a non-profit organization that could use the hands of seventy eighth graders for the day.
For those of you who are traveling to Washington D.C.
In addition, thank you to the following Nennig Homeroom Families for submitting their video photos at the time requested: Benson, Clausen, Drey, Hoey, S. Lewarne, Maude, Palmer, Prey, Schaffer, Vandermillen, Willey. If you have not yet sent in BOTH a baby picture and a current picture of your child please send it to your child’s homeroom teacher as soon as possible!
Finally, I have a friend who teaches religion at a Middle School in Minneapolis
Math: Mrs Cindy Streff
8th graders are working on Chapter 7, Exponents and Powers. It is a very short chapter, but packed with concepts that they will use next year in Algebra. Students have worked with scientific notation, both with positive powers of ten (large numbers) and negative powers of ten (small numbers). They have learned how to multiply numbers in scientific notation also. 8th graders have worked with exponents before, but now are learnig to multiply and divide with exponents. We will quiz on Tuesday, February 28 and test sometime the next week. Chapter 8, Geometry, is up next. More to come as we work in this chapter.
I look forward to seeing many of you at conferences next week. We can discuss Dowling Catholic registration at that time if you would like.
I look forward to seeing many of you at conferences next week. We can discuss Dowling Catholic registration at that time if you would like.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Language Arts/Reading - Miss Mataloni
Where has the time gone? With the 2nd trimester now complete, it's fun to look ahead at all the upcoming events that the 3rd trimester holds.
In the 3rd trimester, the 8th grade students will be accomplishing the following:
In the 3rd trimester, the 8th grade students will be accomplishing the following:
- Short Story, Big Idea Picture Book
- Punctuation unit
- Parts of Speech unit
- World War II Literature Circles
- World War II Research Paper
- Left to Tell novel study
- Book Trailers, independent reading and technology project with MovieMaker
- Graduation Speech
- Graduation Poem
Friday, February 10, 2012
Social Studies - Nennig
Hello Parents,
Over the past few weeks our students have had the opportunity to participate in several really amazing field trips. Yesterday, they worked out with the First Lady an experience many will never forget. Her message of healthy living and decision-making was one we all need to be reminded.
Previous to Catholic Schools Week, social studies students finished learning about the articles of the Constitution and the importance of the Bill of Rights. Then, students dug into history on their own. They researched and listened to speeches from their classmates over the past week. They learned about times the Constitution was changed or added to because citizens spoke out against injustice and inequality. Today, they had an open-note quiz to show what they've learned.
Students have also had guest teachers for Junior Achievement one each week. They learned about entrepreneurship, decision-making, and using resources. Thank you to our three eighth grade volunteers: Mr. Hagenbucher, Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Doud.
Next week, we will begin looking at the Movement West. Students will become familiar with the challenges and conflicts pioneers faced as they traveled west.
Over the past few weeks our students have had the opportunity to participate in several really amazing field trips. Yesterday, they worked out with the First Lady an experience many will never forget. Her message of healthy living and decision-making was one we all need to be reminded.
Previous to Catholic Schools Week, social studies students finished learning about the articles of the Constitution and the importance of the Bill of Rights. Then, students dug into history on their own. They researched and listened to speeches from their classmates over the past week. They learned about times the Constitution was changed or added to because citizens spoke out against injustice and inequality. Today, they had an open-note quiz to show what they've learned.
Students have also had guest teachers for Junior Achievement one each week. They learned about entrepreneurship, decision-making, and using resources. Thank you to our three eighth grade volunteers: Mr. Hagenbucher, Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Doud.
Next week, we will begin looking at the Movement West. Students will become familiar with the challenges and conflicts pioneers faced as they traveled west.
Religion: Miss LeDuc
8th graders have been moving along quickly. We have just finished our unit on Moral Choices and the first three Commandments. They wrote convincing papers about why God commands us to go to Mass every Sunday, they performed clever commercials about the benefits of going to Mass, receiving the Eucharist, and the graces of the sacraments. As a final review they performed group parodies of songs with main points from their class discussions and notes.
Our next Unit will be all about Confirmation and getting the students ready for the Sacrament, the mastery test, and life as a mature Catholic. This will be an exciting unit to learn about the gifts received in Confirmation, the Saints that students may choose as their "forever guides" in their Catholic faith, and to understand even more about our mother, the Church and her teachings.
Service hour requirements for the last trimester is only 2 hours. Please encourage your students to get these in early in the trimester.
It's felt great to be back, thank you for all of your support. Your students are wonderful, thank you for sharing them with me!
Our next Unit will be all about Confirmation and getting the students ready for the Sacrament, the mastery test, and life as a mature Catholic. This will be an exciting unit to learn about the gifts received in Confirmation, the Saints that students may choose as their "forever guides" in their Catholic faith, and to understand even more about our mother, the Church and her teachings.
Service hour requirements for the last trimester is only 2 hours. Please encourage your students to get these in early in the trimester.
It's felt great to be back, thank you for all of your support. Your students are wonderful, thank you for sharing them with me!
Math: Mrs Cindy Streff
8th graders are working in Chapter 6, Application of Percent. In this chapter 8th graders are able to interchange fractions, decimals, and percents. We have also reviewed common fractions and their percent. We have taken our knowledge of fractions, decimals, and percents to solve percent problems. Students are able to solve percent problems with either and eqaution or proportion. 8th graders spent this past week learning about percent of change, percent of mark up & discount, selling & sale price, and regular price. They quizzed over those concepts today. 8th graders will be working with simple and compound interest next week (using a calculator) and then will test over Chapter 6 next Friday (Feb 17). If all goes as planned the test will be the last assesssment for the trimester.
Dolwing Catholic freshman registration is a couple weeks away, but I wanted to share some thoughts with you about the options for Math next year and things to consider when registering. There are three Math options for freshmen--Algebra A, Algebra I, and Advance Algebra I. Algebra A is for students who struggle in Math and would benefit from Math at a slower pace and in a smaller class size. Algebra I is what most students take. It is what most of you, as parents took. Advanced Algebra I is for students who do well in Math and want to maybe persue a career that requires math and science.
Some things to consider when registering for classes. You child will be recommended for their core classes (math, science, english, social studies) and will options for electives (foreign language, band, choir, art, etc).
1. What is your child going to be involved in? Most sports practice are 90-120 minutes, 6 times a week (football is even more). The Band practices before school and travel for competions in the fall. There are a lot of clubs and organizations to get involved in that require time outside of school. Make sure you child has time for everyting, including time for activities and homework.
2. There are 4-5 advanced classes available to freshman. Most require more work than a regular class. Know your child and how they handle homework, stress, etc. Just because they are recommended doesn't mean they have to take it.
3. High school is suppose to be fun. Time to be with friends, go to football games, be involved. Help you child find the balance of school and fun.
If you have any questions about registration, especially you first time parents, I would be glad to talk with you about it.
Enjoy the cold February weather and I look forward to seeing many of you at your last conferences at St Francis.
Dolwing Catholic freshman registration is a couple weeks away, but I wanted to share some thoughts with you about the options for Math next year and things to consider when registering. There are three Math options for freshmen--Algebra A, Algebra I, and Advance Algebra I. Algebra A is for students who struggle in Math and would benefit from Math at a slower pace and in a smaller class size. Algebra I is what most students take. It is what most of you, as parents took. Advanced Algebra I is for students who do well in Math and want to maybe persue a career that requires math and science.
Some things to consider when registering for classes. You child will be recommended for their core classes (math, science, english, social studies) and will options for electives (foreign language, band, choir, art, etc).
1. What is your child going to be involved in? Most sports practice are 90-120 minutes, 6 times a week (football is even more). The Band practices before school and travel for competions in the fall. There are a lot of clubs and organizations to get involved in that require time outside of school. Make sure you child has time for everyting, including time for activities and homework.
2. There are 4-5 advanced classes available to freshman. Most require more work than a regular class. Know your child and how they handle homework, stress, etc. Just because they are recommended doesn't mean they have to take it.
3. High school is suppose to be fun. Time to be with friends, go to football games, be involved. Help you child find the balance of school and fun.
If you have any questions about registration, especially you first time parents, I would be glad to talk with you about it.
Enjoy the cold February weather and I look forward to seeing many of you at your last conferences at St Francis.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)