Month: March 2024

Hi Parents, 

We have been working hard this week to learn new words using the Latin roots that are becoming second nature to us. We finished a unit on sentences (simple, compound, and complex) and clauses (independent and subordinate [aka dependent]) and the conjunctions that join them. We tested today and have returned the graded tests to the students.

In literature we continue to analyze our Civil War novels. We learned about direct and indirect characterization this week. We also learned how story elements like setting, characters, plot, and conflict can help to support the theme of a novel. Today we reviewed what inferences are and viewed a “Mr. Bean” video to see if kids could recognize when they were making inferences from the video. We’ll wrap up our Civil War novels next week. Please remind your child that only one book report is due this month and it can be about the Civil War novel to save time for work on the Legacy Project. The book report is due next Friday but can be turned in earlier (recommended). 

In religion we have been learning about the early Church and how Canon Law was formed. We learned that Pope Gregory united Church and state into one society known as Christendom. We have also been busy studying for the ACRE test (coming in April). Fr. Moore would like to have more Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC’s) and has reached out to any interested 7^th and 8^th graders. There will be a training during religion class time on Tuesday, April 9^th for those interested. Please have your child let me know if they would like to participate in the training. It will prepare the to be EMHC’s not only for school Masses, but also for weekend ones.

In social studies we started our next unit on Jackson and Westward Expansion. We learned about the Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears. We played an interactive game about the Oregon Trail today and, sadly, we all died. We will resume our Westward Expansion unit when we return, making an art project that tells a part of this story. 

As you know by now, the biography portion of the Legacy Project is due next Wednesday in class. The kids will be doing some peer editing and will then fix up their biography, print it at home, and turn it in on Thursday. Please do print it at home as it would be too cumbersome for me to print more than 200 pages (19 students X min. 10 pages). Of course, if you have extenuating circumstances, I am happy to print it for you. 

Our service-learning project at the WeGrow Garden continues this spring when we return from break. We will be going to the garden each Monday from 12:30-2PM. We will continue learning about organic and sustainable gardening, food insecurity, at-risk youth, and the benefit of community gardens. We will also get the garden ready to produce approximately 500 pounds of vegetables for the Bellingham Food Bank right across the street. I will send a SignUp Genius next week asking for parent helpers to walk us to the garden and provide some supervision and support. Please look for the permission slip I am sending home today so that you have it back to me early next week. This will be important, since we go to the garden the day we get back from break. Remember that your child may wear casual uniform (non-ripped jeans and the blue ACS t-shirt) on garden days.   

Have a great weekend, 

Chris 

Dear Parents,

Happy St. Patrick’s Day early! We had lots of fun dressed in all shades of green on Wednesday, then today we celebrated by having a second breakfast of Lucky Charms. They were magically delicious!

In language arts we finished a Latin lesson and tested today. We learned about conjunctions and how they join compound and complex sentences this week and listened to the old “Schoolhouse Rock” song to reinforce it.

In literature we started reading through a variety of Civil War novels in small groups. The kids read according to their agreed-upon schedule in order to finish the book by spring break. They discuss and then respond to a variety of literature tasks. Next week, we will review some important literary elements with them and have them respond to those each day.

In social studies we have been studying some precedent-setting Supreme Court cases. Kids worked in pairs to study a Supreme Court case and then presented it to the class. They presented what was at issue, the background of the case, the decision handed down, the amendment or article of the Constitution that the case refers to, and why it matters to us today. The kids wrote a short essay telling which case interested them the most and why. Most have been graded and are in FACTS, although a few will turn theirs in on Monday.

The Legacy Project is in full steam. The kids have already completed several components of the project and are saving them to insert into their Legacy Project albums. Their albums can be a scrapbook style (with glued in corners that hold each item – lots of work), a photo album type, or a binder (most prefer this type). If they choose a binder, they will need sheet protectors to insert their writing and artifacts into. Please remember that they need to have at least 50 pages total (many will have more). This means a minimum of 25 sheet protectors, since each side of a page counts as one page. The biography is due Thursday, March 28^th for peer review/editing in class, and March 29^th printed out and turned in to me for grading over spring break. If your child has not made much progress, you might want to light a fire under him/her this weekend to get a goodly amount done.

Have a great weekend!

Chris  

Dear Parents,

We had rain, snow, sun, snow, and more sun this week. What could be next?!

In language arts, we have started a new Latin unit as well as a unit going over sentence structure focusing on subjects and predicates and learning the difference between simple, compound, and complex versions of each. The kids have done a great job understanding the subject so far and we will continue to build on it next week!

In literature, the kids have written a paragraph explaining who they believe was responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s death and used text evidence to support their claim. I’ve noticed that everyone has really improved their writing abilities over the year! As always, everyone is always welcome to turn in a revised essay with corrections for an even better score.  Today we are beginning our Civil War novels unit where they have gotten a chance to read through a small portion of several novels to see what interests them. On Monday, we will assign the novels based on their preferences. Please remind your child to turn in a reading log on Monday!

In religion this week we learned about the Church in the east and the west and that there are 24 Catholic Churches: the Latin Church (Roman Catholic Church) and twenty-three Eastern Catholic Churches – each one recognizing the Pope as the head of the Catholic Church on earth and believing that the Church is “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic”. The kids researched some of the different rites (liturgical heritages) of the Church and presented to one another today.

In social studies we have begun a unit learning about the Supreme Court, what function it plays in our government and why its decisions are so important and affect all of us as citizens. We had some open discussion talking about a few particular cases such as Riley v. California and Board of Education v. Earls. The kids really got into the discussion about how the court made its ruling on these cases, and they got to provide their own opinion and ideas about it! They finished the week working in pairs on a presentation of a specific Supreme Court landmark case assigned to them and will present them next week.

The Legacy Project is in full steam. The kids have already completed several components of the project and are saving them to insert into their Legacy Project albums. Their albums can be a scrapbook style (with glued in corners that hold each item – lots of work), a photo album type, or a binder (most prefer this type). If they choose a binder, they will need sheet protectors to insert their writing and artifacts into. Please remember that they need to have at least 50 pages total (many will have more). This means a minimum of 25 sheet protectors, since each side of a page counts as one page. The biography is due Wednesday, March 27^th for peer review/editing in class, and March 28^th printed out and turned in to me for grading over spring break. If your child has not made much progress, you might want to light a fire under him/her this weekend to get a goodly amount done.

Next Wednesday, March 13^th is “Green and White Day” to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Thursday, March 14^th is Pi Day (3/14) so “Dress like a Scientist Day”. Alternatively, kids can wear their school uniforms if they choose not to dress in green and white or like a scientist. Lastly, don’t forget that Bellingham Schools is hosting a presentation to private school families from 2-3PM on Friday, March 15^th at each of the schools. Please let the office and me know if you are taking your student from school early to attend that presentation. If you are arranging for another parent to escort your child, you will need to provide us with that information as well; we will not release students with a non-family member without written permission.  

Have a great weekend!

Chris

Dear Parents,

We had a busy week with all kinds of weather causing indoor and gym recesses. Hopefully, we’re done with the worst of it and can bring in the spring weather!

In language arts we finished a unit in Latin and took a test both on that unit and on a unit about adverbs. Most kids have already corrected their mistakes, but those who haven’t have two weeks within which to do so. I always recommend making corrections, because that is often where the learning finally happens.

We finished reading “Romeo and Juliet” today. Since we just finished writing an essay (“Is Man Basically Good or Evil?”), I will ask the kids to instead write a paragraph telling who was responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s death using text evidence to support their claim. On Monday we will brainstorm at least eight different people who could be to blame, then talk out our reasoning. Finally, using the ideas we heard and contributed, we will write. Please remind your child to turn in a reading log on Monday. Book reports were due yesterday for the month of February. I am missing a few, and these will be deducted a “late fee”.

In religion we finished a chapter about early Church councils whose goals were to firm up the beliefs of our faith and to combat heresies. We learned about Arianism – that heresy put forth by Arius that taught that Jesus was fully human and not divine. Another heresy denied the goodness of humanity and creation. I brought up the essays the kids wrote and reminded them that humans couldn’t possible be anything but good, since they were made in the image and likeness of God. We are good, but we make mistakes!

In social studies we finished learning about the new republic under the first few presidents. We learned about the two-party system (which included Democratic Republicans and Federalists), how trade and commerce were so important to our young economy, and finished with James Monroe’s presidency and the War of 1812. We took the Topic 5 test yesterday and the kids will be allowed to make corrections.

During our Legacy Project work time today we shared our family crests. We also shared some of the most interesting information we’ve found so far. As the kids learn more about their relative, they can add a few main ideas to their initial legacy paragraph to help create a great thesis statement (a statement that guides an essay, somewhat like the topic sentence of a paragraph).

Please check FACTS with your child this weekend. We are still early in the semester and have time to correct some bad habits. If you feel the need to have a conference with me, please let me know as I have set aside next Friday morning from 8 to 11 for these. Simply email me and we can find a time that works.

Have a great weekend and see you at the auction on Saturday!

Chris