Week of September 21-25, 2026
I found out who “Mom” is! Mrs. Claypool! Thank you for buying from the teacher wish list!
If you have not yet filled out the field trip form that went home in the Wednesday Parent Envelope, please do so. It is for the 8th grade religious retreat on October 20. Mr. Blas and Mrs. Dennis have volunteered to be drivers. The rest of the students will just have to walk to Ferndale. 🙂 Mrs. Dennis has also volunteered to bring food. If anyone else would like to drive, provide food, and stay as a small group facilitator, please email me. As the date gets closer, I am hoping someone with some mad Sign-Up Genius skills will create a list of main dishes, veggies, fruits, drinks, and desserts to bring. If you can drive, please email me and include the number of passengers you can take. Be sure to let me know if you can only drive one way or both ways. Check with Mrs. Angie King to see if you are up to date on your Virtus and that you have the proper insurance coverage. It’s a LOT!!!
ELA: The students did some MAP testing this week, so there is not much to write about in the ELA section. They did finish a Latin Lesson 2 test and edited their 20-sentence dialogue challenge paper. We will continue to work on that next week.
Literature: Students are at the climax of Chains! We are connecting the historical fiction to actual historical events mentioned in the text. Students are always being asked literal and inferential reading comprehension questions.
Social Studies: Students are reading and discussing the time period that the Declaration of Independence was written, and they are reading about the first battles of the Revolutionary War.
Religion: Students are reading from their Word of Life textbook about St. Peter and God’s plan for all his people. In Second Step, students are continuing their lessons on motivation.
Electives:
Band: Last week, we continued our preparation on the hymn “Chester.“
This week in Orchestra, we are focusing on proper bow hold and giving stand partners constructive feedback on their bow hold
Math-8M (McEathron): This week we finished up solving linear equations. We worked on writing equations to represent real world situations, and reviewed for our test. We will have our first unit test on Monday, so please remind your students to review their notes over the weekend.
Experienced musicians are coaching new students on placing the bow on the string and producing an even, smooth tone by keeping the bow parallel to the bridge
Practicing ensemble playing with beginners playing open-string parts alongside advanced students playing more challenging parts
Notes: Next week, school pictures will be taken. 8th graders will be able to wear free dress on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please have your child follow the school guidelines on free dress:
Occasionally the school will announce non-uniform/free-dress days. It is the parents’ responsibility to send their children in appropriate attire for school. Dress on these days must be neat, modest, and appropriate for school. Students may not wear cut-offs, tank tops/spaghetti straps, mini-skirts, spandex type fashions, sweat clothes or yoga pants, or T-shirts with sayings or designs which advertise drugs, alcohol, or any other inappropriate subject matter or sexual innuendos. Shirts, sweatshirts, and dresses
must cover the shoulders. No exposure of the mid-drift is allowed. Shorts must always be of walking length, not athletic type or oversized, below the knee style. Shorts may only be worn from the start of school through September 30th and from March 1st to the last day of school. Leggings may be worn under shorts or skirts but not on their own. Jeans must be in good repair and may not be ripped, have holes, or any adornments on them. Uggs and low-heeled boots are only allowed on non-uniform
days. Tutus are not allowed at any time, even on spirit days. Three non-uniform day or casual dress infractions mean a loss of a non-uniform day.
PRIVATE TUTORING OPPORTUNITY
We are excited to share a wonderful tutoring opportunity with our ACS families! Ms. Natalie Zender, sister of our new Preschool Teacher/EDP Director, is offering affordable private tutoring for students in grades 3 and up.
Natalie is a lifelong parishioner of Sacred Heart. She graduated from the University Idaho with her Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics. She then went to work for the Navy as an engineer and is currently working for a private engineering firm in Burlington. Math and science are two of her favorite things, and she is excited to share that with the students! Natalie is also happy to collaborate with Assumption teachers to tailor instruction to each student’s individual needs and goals.
Natalie has completed all required Archdiocese qualifications to work with our students, and we are grateful to have this resource available to support our students!
đź“š Tuesdays after school at Assumption Catholic School
đź’˛ $25 per hour
📧 nzender20@yahoo.com
đź“ž 360-296-5523
If your child could benefit from some extra support or enrichment, please reach out to Natalie directly!
Week of September 14-17, 2026
Gratitude: Thanks so much for the classroom wish list items. Thank you, Mrs. Wolf, for your generosity! Thanks to all the people who took part in the Harvest Festival. And thanks to all the volunteers for organizing so many moving parts.
WA DC Update: We have a few more people signed up for the WA DC field trip. I am so excited!
MAP: MAP testing continues, so please encourage your children to charge those laptops!
Notes: Please look for upcoming information about the fall 8th grade retreat. We will have both 8th grade classes come together for an all-day retreat. The location, time, and other information will come as I gather more information. Look for permission slips in the Parent Wednesday Envelope in the near future. The retreat will likely be in mid-October. We will need drivers who are updated on their Virtus training and insurance coverage, food and drinks that are gluten-free and nut-free (for a few students), and a few parents who would be willing to stay the whole day to lead small group discussions. We have a few weeks, but I want to plant the seed now! Thank you!
ELA: Students reviewed complete subjects and predicates. They completed Latin Lesson 2 and will have a test. We will work on simple vs complex sentences, and finish the 20-sentence creative writing assignment.
Literature: Lit is lit! We are still reading Chains with a focus on literal and inferential reading comprehension. Literature circles are improving with some students feeling comfortable enough to participate without my question prompts while others are still depending on them. No need to worry! It is still September, and students will become more independent in literature circles as the weeks go on. Next week, we will read Chapters 25-33 in sections.
Social Studies: Students are reading about the tensions that were the catalyst of the Revolutionary War. Next week, we will finish Topic 3, Lesson 4 about the Declaration of Independence.
Religion: Students completed Chapter 1 and did quite well on the chapter test! We will move on to Chapter 2 next week after our Second Step lesson on motivation and a lesson with Fr. Moore. Typically, this is what religion will look like throughout the week: Mondays: Second Step (social-emotional learning with a Catholic twist), Tuesdays: Fr. Moore’s lessons, Wednesdays and Thursdays: Word of Life textbook lessons, and Fridays: Mass. All this will change in November and December when we prepare for the Christmas Program. Eek!
Electives & Math News:
PE 6-8: This week we explored the 5 components of fitness and talked about the importance of staying active. Students gave it their all in the 1-Mile Run and Curl-Up test — great effort from this group!
Math-8M (McEathron): This week we worked on solving linear equations that involved multiple steps and variables on both sides of the equation. Most students are doing well in solving, but there are lots of details to make sure they are careful with. Please check FACTS and encourage your student to come see me at lunch if they need to make-up work or retake the first quiz from 9/3. We will have our first unit test next Friday.
This week in Spanish, students reviewed familiar verbs, learned new ones, and practiced using them in simple actions and sentences. They also practiced describing la araña Raúl and his friend using phrases such as “yo soy,” “me llamo,” “yo tengo,” “soy,” “hay,” and “me gusta/no me gusta.”
Our Spanish-speaking students (hispanohablantes) worked on developing their written Spanish. They organized their ideas before writing, answered questions about a picture, practiced writing complete sentences, and used new vocabulary to describe the characters and what they saw.
Week of September 9-11, 2026
MAP testing next week! Remember to charge those laptops!
Thank you so very much for coming to the WA DC and Curriculum Night meetings. If you could not make it, please be sure to browse the WorldStrides website and register your child or sign up to be a chaperone! Step 1 – Travelers If your idea of fun is to tour WA DC with thirty-six 8th graders, this is for you!
5-day Washington, D.C. | K–12 History Tour | WorldStrides Click here to view information about financial aid.
Thank you for donating to the classroom via the Amazon teacher wish list! Thanks again to Tiffany Smith, Gary Blas, Stephanie Wolf, and someone named Mom. I don’t know who that is, but it is certainly not my mom (unless there is an Amazon in heaven). Mom has provided a poster, coat hooks, and stickers (bribes/rewards). Stephanie has provided prayer cards, a cursive Bible verse workbook, a card organizer, classroom posters, and a wall organizer. I DO love organizers! Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and generosity!
I am very pleased with the 8th graders who led the 9/11 Mass today. David A., Adrian, Bella, Isaiah, Levi, Collin, David P., Macie, Jackson, and Elodie participated with honor and reverence. The first reading was particularly long, and Elodie read it loudly, clearly, and beautifully. God bless those who perished on 9/11. May we always remember.
ELA: Latin Lesson 1 Test & 4 Types of Sentences Quiz
Literature: We continue our reading of Chains, focus on literal and inferential reading comprehension, participate in literature circle discussions & write Cornell Notes
Social Studies: Civics presentations- The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, The Bill of Rights, and the last 11-27 Amendments
Religion: Fr. Moore’s Q&A time, Textbook: The Acts of the Apostles and the work of the Holy Spirit in the early Church
Electives:
Math-8M (McEathron): This week students worked on a project/presentation of patterns and algebraic rules. We started solving one & two step linear equations (chp 2 in the textbook). A reminder that I am available during study hall or lunch daily, if students need extra help.
Band: https://school.assumption.org/music/2026/09/09/weekly-newsletter-week-of-september-7th-11th/
Choir: This week in choir we are working on hymns for mass including “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” sung with a single sustained drone note in the organ as an accompaniment. We have also started working on a song in Latin called “Cantate Domino” from the Baroque era.
P.E.: 6-8: This week we talked about what great sportsmanship looks like in action. Students practiced good sportsmanship while playing Mushroom Ball and the ever-popular recess game, Gaga Ball. Heads up: next week we’ll be tackling the FitnessGram One-Mile Run and Curl-Up tests!
Art: This week, students continued developing their 7 Elements of Art Challenge artwork. They transferred their sketches onto their final paper and used Sharpie to add details, lines, textures, and contrast while strengthening the seven Elements of Art.
Spanish: ¡Hola familias! ¡Vamos a jugar y vamos a recordar! Our classroom was full of movement as students practiced Spanish through games, actions, and a fun story about Lola, a little spider! Students reviewed the days of the week, months, and colors while learning the phrases “Yo soy,” “Me llamo,” “Hay,” “¡Qué lindo!” and “¡Qué bello!” We also practiced familiar action words such as caminar, escribir, lanzar, and organizar through playful activities.
“Every time you practice, you get a little better!”
Week of August 31-September 4, 2026
ELA: We began with a review of the parts of speech and how to stretch a plain sentence into a flourishing, sophisticated sentence!
Literature: We began reading Chains, students learned how to properly write Cornell Notes, and we had our first literature circle discussions. Students are graded on their notes and their (inferential and literal) reading comprehension.
Social Studies: Students are working in groups to finish their civics project in which they are going to teach their peers about the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the other Amendments made since the Bill of Rights.
Religion: Students met with their kindergarten buddies whom they will accompany to Mass, they had their first lesson with Fr. Moore who will teach them religion on Tuesdays, and they began their first chapter in the Word of Life religion textbook. Next week on September 11, 8B will lead the Mass.
ELECTIVES:
Orchestra
This week in Orchestra we are…
- Going over the syllabus, class expectations, and procedures for setting up and putting away the classroom
- Completing our Orchestra Partner Instrument Tour, where experienced musicians teach new students about their instruments to learn instrument parts, bow basics, instrument safety, open strings, proper playing and holding position, and how to safely put the instrument away.
Esta semana en la clase de Español… students learned about La Tomatina, a famous tomato festival in Spain, and practiced Spanish through a fun tomato-throwing game. Students reviewed and practiced correr, agarrar, jugar, lanzar, mucho, poco, casi nada, and ¡alto! while following Spanish commands. Students also completed a short Spanish grammar assessment to help me better understand their current skills and plan instruction for the year.
6-8: This week we went over PE expectations and procedures, then had a blast with a cooperative game called The Crazy Card Challenge, followed by some friendly competition in Circle Relays. We also talked about the power of connection — and how much fun it can be to discover things in common with people we don’t know very well yet. Great energy from this group!
“Every time you practice, you get a little better!”
Week of August 26-August 28, 2026
A (Partial) Week in Images:
Welcome to the last year of ACS!!! I am so excited to be working with these students.
We have been going over classroom and school-wide expectations and trying to get into our routines.
We started a civics project about the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Amendments.
Next week, we will begin our first novel called, Chains.
I want to thank the Flores family for the beautiful card and flowers. What a sweet way to begin the new school year! I want to thank the Smith family for the flip chart and marker caddy. Am I a nerd because I’ve always wanted a date flip chart? The answer is YES! I want to thank Mr. Blas for buying lots of things on my Amazon teacher wish list. It’s like a teacher’s personal Christmas! I truly appreciate everyone for their thoughtfulness and generosity.
Other Classes:
Welcome back! We are excited to begin a new year of creativity and exploration in Art class. Students are starting the year by learning about the 7 Elements of Art and will use them to create their own unique animals and imaginary creatures!
Algebra- McEathron: This week we went over the basics of the class and reviewed expectations. Next we will dive into the first unit: Algebraic Foundations & Linear Equations.