Dear Parents,
This week has flown by. I heard several kids say the same thing, and this will only accelerate as we get closer to graduation. Until then, I am trying to keep the kids focused and on track with their academics and behavior. They are an awesome class, so they need few reminders.
The kids finished and handed in their autobiographies for the Legacy Project today. I will be grading these over the weekend and giving them back on Monday (hopefully). They should make corrections and print these for inclusion in their albums. The next task is the poem about themselves – due next Friday. We took a Latin test yesterday, so look for that in student work that should come home today.
In literature we are reading “To Kill a Mockingbird”. We have encountered prejudice, racism, and classism. All is not dour as we have also discovered acts of courage, social justice, integrity, and loyalty. This book has so much to offer, and it certainly promotes many interesting discussions. I hope to be able to watch the movie when we have finished the book (because who doesn’t love Gregory Peck?!).
In religion we have been learning about the challenges of discerning between authentic faith and teachings and practices that do not reflect Christ’s truth. We learned about the deep schism between the Church centered in Rome (the Catholic Church) and the Church centered in Constantinople (the Orthodox Church) in 1054AD. The Pope and Patriarch excommunicated each other. We also learned about the differences between the two and subsequent (more recent) popes’ attempts at reconciliation.
In social studies we finished learning about Jackson’s Era with a focus on Native American relations, Westward Movement, and Oregon Territory. We learned about Manifest Destiny and then took the Topic 6 test. We will move into an abbreviated unit on the Industrial Revolution next week as we lead up to our study of the Civil War.
SAVE THE DATES:
April 24, 6PM – D.C. trip planning meeting in gym with parents and students (immediately prior to general PTC meeting)
April 26, 7PM – Variety Show in gym (some 8th graders are helping with this for service hours)
April 29-May 3, then May 20-24 – MAP testing, please be sure your child has plenty of sleep and good, nutritious food/snack
May 1, 8:15AM – May Crowning prayer service, dress uniform
May 6 – May 10 – 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C.
May 13-17 – Missoula Children’s Theater
May 28-29 – 8th grade retreat at Camp Lutherwood (overnight), I will ask for drivers after D.C. trip
May 31, 7-8:30PM – Multicultural Fair, 8th graders share LP albums in classroom
June 3, 10AM – 8th grade graduation farewell assembly in gym (parents welcome)
June 5 – Last full day for 8th graders (free dress, party in afternoon – students plan this)
June 6, 8:30-10 – Graduation rehearsal in the church
June 6, 10:00-11:30 – Brunch in the gym (for graduates and two adults only)
June 6, 5PM – Graduation in church (students arrive no later than 4:40 to Stafford Room to get lined up and ready – don’t forget robes!); sharing of Legacy Projects, photo ops, last goodbyes in gym afterwards
Have a great weekend!
Chris