Hello, Eighth-Grade Parents! Information by Course Advisory: This week, our eighth grade students hosted Creative Action, a group that sparks and supports the academic, social and emotional development of young people through interactive classroom performances. “Crossing the Line” is a four day interactive performance that teaches young people about bullying, cyber bullying, and sexual harassment. The group followed the stories of Cody, Mark and Jessica as they leave elementary school and enter the complicated world of middle school. Trouble at home, run-ins with the neighborhood bully, and negotiating a crush on a best friend are some of the conflicts that arose in this engaging play. Students have been engaged in different actives to help to understand this topic. Please always remember to check the eighth grade calendar located in Mrs. P’s classroom to see tests or project due dates that have been posted from your teacher. English — Ms. Nadine Feiler email: [email protected] Compliments to all the eighth graders for their well-prepared oral reading of Cyrano de Bergerac. Even though our “casting” is gender-neutral, and sometimes the part of Roxane is read by a deep voice, and the part of Cyrano by a soprano voice, we all get so caught up in the performances that, when we stop for discussion, there is a chorus of “No’s.” By now, every class has reviewed a number of conventions of drama, and as they read through Act III, students are noticing them more often. The theme of Act III is “misdirection,” and we are discovering the many types of misdirection that take place; from Cyrano simply sending a character off in the wrong direction, to his hiding his true feelings through verbal irony, to his even misleading himself about his feelings. We continue discussing the different beliefs about romantic love held by each character. Students also did Lesson 5 in their vocabulary workbooks; a quiz will follow late next week. Geometry – Mrs. Roxanne Thurman e-mail: [email protected] Students continue to make progress on their Rube Goldberg project. In this project students are exploring different shapes and centroids and it is a lot of fun. When finished, we will make a video. We have moved from congruent triangles to similar triangles and have begun using proportions. Algebra – Mr. Dan Imburgia Email: [email protected] This week, our mathematicians began to explore systems. We began the week by graphing systems to discover how to find solutions. After we had a firm understanding of graphing, we moved on to solving systems of equations using the substitution method. Moreover, we worked on an ongoing assignment that pertains to each student’s Project 8 work, which will incorporate, among other things, systems of linear equations. Algebra – Mrs. Trudy Pzynski e-mail: [email protected] Students started their journey into systems this week, looking at various ways to solve systems and prove their solutions. They also reviewed and practiced writing linear equations and solving and graphing absolute value and linear inequalities. They will continue to see this material throughout the year on assessments and during what-the-heck’s. We practiced the graphing method and substitution method for solving systems throughout this week and will move into addition/subtraction and elimination next week. Students are starting to comprehend the various solution options: one solution, no solution, infinite. They also were too excited to work with word problems involving systems. They continued their research into real world data collection related to their Project 8 business and will be given another day next week to finalize their research before writing their functions and creating graphs. History — Mrs. Jordan Shaughnessy e-mail: [email protected] Student used their knowledge from Leadership 101 to discuss how leadership works. We discussed the rise of dictators in several European and Asian counties during the 1920s and 1930s. Using the rise of Hitler and the strategies of FDR as examples, students began dissecting how leaders gain power. Science – Ms. Laura Sanders e-mail: [email protected] This week in Environmental Science the eighth graders modeled diffusion, active transport, and transpiration as they pertain to the mechanisms through which plants take in water and nutrients from the soil and incorporate them into their cells. They began their experimental designs for their individual eutrophication labs and presented entertaining current event reports. Spanish - Srta. Caroline Burdett and Profesora Saida Salamanca e-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Students continue to practice their pronunciation skills by reciting El Credo (The Apostles’ Creed) and La Oración de la Mañana at the beginning of each class. Students began learning four new trabalenguas (Spanish tongue twisters) highlighting the correct pronunciation of the letter ‘C.’ Students practiced listening comprehension skills by learning and singing three songs: Gracias a la Vida (Mercedes Sosa), Te Quiero (José Luis Perales), and Andar Conmigo (Julieta Venegas). Students researched hechos importantes about Costa Rica, a Spanish-speaking country located in Centroamérica which is well-known for its rainforests, deportes acuáticos, and of course – the eighth grade trip! Students were introduced to new vocabulary to talk about taking vacations and activities they do on vacations. Students also learned a new grammar concept for using adjetivos demonstrativos (demonstrative adjectives). Students practiced using this target vocabulary and grammar in a variety of oral, written and reading activities. Students began reading their second issue of the Spanish-language magazine, Ahora, and are completing the reading comprehension activities about the articles and information they read. Spanish II - Profesora Saida Salamanca e-mail: [email protected] Students continue to practice their pronunciation skills by reciting a prayer called the Apostles’ Creed and La Oración de la Mañana at the beginning of each class. Students started to learn four new “trabalenguas” (Spanish tongue twisters) highlighting the correct pronunciation of the letter ‘C.’ Students practiced listening comprehension skills by learning and singing three songs: Gracias a la Vida (Mercedes Sosa), Te Quiero (José Luis Perales), and Andar Conmigo (Julieta Venegas). Students researched hechos importantes about Costa Rica, a Spanish-speaking country located in Centroamérica which is well-known for its rainforests, deportes acuáticos, and of course – the eighth grade trip! Students were introduced to new vocabulary to talk about taking vacations and activities they do on vacations. We reviewed the Direct Object Pronoun and practiced exercises from the textbook. Student completed exercises from the textbook and workbook. We began to learn the past tense of regular ‘ar’ verbs and irregular verbs. Students completed a chart by conjugating different verbs to practice their endings. Students completed reading the ¡Ahora! magazine, and then students wrote questions in Google Docs to prepare for the quiz on Friday. Latin IB – Ms. Ramona Ward e-mail: [email protected] This week Latin 1B is winding down Stage 14 while continuing to review noun-adjective agreement and prepositions. We had an enlightening side discussion of elements from the periodic table and that it is their Latin names, in most cases, which are abbreviated on the table. There is a terrific app for the iPad called Periodic Table+ (there is a free version) that is an excellent resource for students who wish to learn more. This discussion grew out of a couple of the stories that we have read recently which use silver (argentum) and gold (aurum). Students should continue to review vocabulary from stage 1 forward, particularly the “trouble” stages of 7-11. Project 8: Students had to finalize their organization plan i.e. determine their product and/or service, select their land, and civic partnership(s) by the end of class last Friday. This week they will have a short guest presentation on logo design by our own Sarah Venkatesh and will spend the rest of their time deciding where their company headquarters will be located and doing some demographic research. Students will also revise their resumes to make sure they are ideal for attracting investors. 2D Art – Mrs. Linda Herron e-mail: [email protected] The 2D art students have completed their visual research on their computers to choose a famous person for their painting project. After completing a planning sketch, the students will be painting on canvas in the style of the American artist, Julian Schnabel. They will be using mixed media on canvas with acrylics. 3D Art – Mrs. Linda Herron e-mail: [email protected] The 3D class continues to sketch the different viewpoints of a portrait in the style of Pablo Picasso. This is a study of his Cubist style as he distorts and changes the body and facial features into unusual proportions. The drawings will then be transferred onto muslin and reinterpreted from Picasso’s work into simplified forms of Cubism. Their form will be changed into a soft sculpture, as they learn stitching and form. Advanced Art Studio – Mrs. Linda Herron e-mail: [email protected] The advanced art students are completing their self- portraits. They will begin a study on the style, form and function of shoes throughout history. Each student will plan an original design of a pair of shoes, as they research “shoe history” and the many shapes, styles and influences. They will be creating 3D forms of their original plan and design. Beginning Guitar – Mr. Chris Gebhard e-mail: [email protected] We are working on our Christmas songs, “The First Noel” and “The Little Drummer Boy,” in preparation for our December 14th Christmas performance. Also, we are working on some rock songs – “Float On” by Modest Mouse, “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith, “Love Me Do” by the Beatles, and “Simple Song” by the Shins. Choir - Mrs. Adamson e-mail: [email protected] Holiday Happenings is THIS Saturday! Come on out to Hill Country Galleria, and bring your friends and family too.