JAN 26 - FEB 1

ATTN JR. HIGH PARENTS:

A Shakespeare Theatre Company from San Francisco will be coming to St. Casimir to perform

Twelfth Night

for all the students. This is the beloved comedy that 7th and 8th Grade will be reading in spring.

The performance date is on

Wed., March 12

1:00 PM

6th GRADE
ATTN PARENTS:

Reminder that your child will be attending the Aquarium of the Pacific on FEB.4th with
the 4th and 5th Grades. TURN in PERMISSION SLIPS and MONEY!!!

If you are willing and able to CHAPERONE, you may earn Service Hours. Please contact the office for details.

Students will act as Primary Sources, as they gather detailed sensory details of their eyewitness accounts of the animals. With the data and notes they collect, they will write an MLA formatted Research Paper. Each student will be assigned one of the following animals: sea otter, pacific octupus, seahorse, clownfish, lorikeet, zebra shark, sand tiger shark, white tip shark, black-necked stilt, ruddy duck, garabaldi, CA scorpionfish

WED, Jan.30

Knights Code: For the rest of the week, each student will pretend s/he is a King/Queen of St. Casimir and is in search of some honorable knights to sit at the round table. Using the Code of Chivalry s/he developed, s/he will identify peers who demonstrate the ideals of a Knight. On Friday, each King/Queen will get to Knight another student for their hard work and citizenship.

Animal Research Paper: Students were assigned a marine animal on which to write a research report.

Eyewitness Accounts: reviewed Cornell notes and discussed the traits of a solid eyewitness account. Read a vivid and descriptive eyewitness account.

Primary and Secondary Sources were discussed, and students began taking Cornell Notes on information from p.324 in Writer's Inc.

HW: Finish Cornell Notes on Writer's Inc., p.324

MON, Jan. 28
RWJ: What do you appreciate most about St. Casimir? What are the best experiences you have as a student of St. Casimir? How does being a Knight light your way in life, and in turn, help you to light the way for others?

Cornell Notes: Practiced notetaking skills with Descriptive Writing

Discussed Medeival hierachy, Knights' Code of Chivalry, and King Arthur
Read St. Casimir's Mission Statement, Philosophy, and SLE's
Students will develop their own St. Casimir Code of Chivalry based upon aforementioned writings

HW:
Choose one important phrase from the Mission Statement, Philosophy, and one SLE
Use Cornell Notes to process the information and reflect upon all three

TUES, Jan. 29
RWJ: Imagine you traveled back to the Medieval Times. Describe what it would be like using sensory details and vivid adjectives. Would you be a King, Queen, Knight, Lady, peasant, Clergyperson or a horse?

1. Reviewed Cornell Notes
2. Began writing Casimir Knights Code of Chivalry: using Mission Statement, Philosophy and SLE's create a three sentence Code of Chivalry explaining the ideals of a St. Casimir Knight, and a three sentence Code of Conduct clearly outlining how to display Chivalry

HW:
1. complete Knight Code Outline
2. Re-Read p.158 of Writer's Inc.
3. Do Cornell Notes on p.158; What are the three main points of the Eyewitness Accounts

DUE FRI:
Vocab Chart: anticipation, hiss, span, flatly, conserve, particle, unaltered, instantaneous, wriggle, nudge, miscalculate, hesitate, beloved, sipped, rassure, peremptory, courteous, mangy, grateful, evasive. (all words are from Ch. 11 of Many Waters)

7th GRADE
WED., Jan. 30:

Reviewed purpose and method of Cornell Notes.

Presidential Candidate groups finished reading current event related to politics and took Cornell Notes on information.

MON, Jan 28:
Discussed Politics and Election

Worked on Press Release Outline

Worked on Vocab. Chart

HW:
1. Press Release: Complete Outline for St. Casimir Event

TUES, Jan 29:
1. Selected and Read current event article about election
2. Took Cornell Notes on current event, highling the 5 W's

3. Wrote Rough Draft of Press Release

HW:
1. Press Release Rough Draft

DUE FRI:
Vocab Chart: Super Tuesday, electorate, momentum, adversary, polls, caucus, primaries, delegates, congressional, district, candidacy, measure, rival, political ad, debate, partisan, appeal, parties, furor, benign, bashing

8th GRADE:
ATTN 8th Grade PARENTS!

The 8th Grade has an exciting opportunity to attend the theatre production of West Side Story!

Ms. Peters (2nd Grade) currently is part of the production company putting on the classic musical, and has made it possible to get tickets for the low cost of only $10

to any St. Casimir Student and Parents who are interested.

Dates for the show: Feb.15-Mar 7

A formal letter will be sent out explaining futher this event. Since the event is off-campus, and after school hours, it is necessary for parental involvement and support for this opportunity to come to fruition for the 8th Grade.

8th Grade students who choose to attend the show will write a one page reflection about the experience and submit a ticket stub to Ms. Abbene for credit.

If you are interested and able to help carpool, please contact Ms. A to discuss this event.

MON, Jan.28

DUE Tues, Jan. 29
Cornell Notes: Brown v. Board of Education
Choose 5 central facts to case (think: Who, What, When, Where & Why?)

TUES, Jan. 29
Reviewed Cornell Notes: Brown v. Board of Education

HW:
Using focus questions, re-read Brown v. Board of Education and continue filling in Cornell Notes
1. How was it possible to eliminate segregation?
2. Why was Thurgood Marshall instrumental in eliminating segregation?
3. Why is "separate but equal" inherently unequal and unconstitutional?

Students will have an open-notes in class essay on Brown v. Board of Education on MON, Feb. 3

DUE FRI:
Vocab Chart: dictates, inferior, elusive, predominantly, equal protection clause, oppressed, sparawling, intangible, unconsitutional, bondage, isolating, modern authority, Supreme Court, gap, N.A.A.C.P., Fourteenth Amendment, waged, overcome, Plessey v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education

JAN 17 - JAN 25

6th Grade:

JAN 24:

RWJ:

"Different but Equal"- What is meant by the phrase, "all people are created equal?" If people look different, have different skills and talents, and have different thoughts and feelings, how can we truly be equal to one another?

JAN 23:

RWJ:
Read p. 536-539 in Literature Book: "I Have a Dream" by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Listened to "I Have a Dream" speech delivered by MLK, himself
Responded to following questions:
1. What are some differences you notice between reading and listening to the speech?
2. How would you describe Dr. MLK's voice?
3. What is the main point of his speech, in one clear and coherent sentence?
4. If you could ask Dr. MLK three questions, what would you ask?

THURS., JAN. 24
Many Waters:
Finish reading Ch. 11
Take notes on News Reporting Outline

Writer's Inc. Textbook: p. 155-166: will read these pages throughout the week to better understand news reporting and journalistic writing
-Students will create a news report in their Literary Circles for Ch. 11 of Many Waters
-Each student will cover a different news topic: Weather, Politics-Important Public Figure, Enviornmental, Heroism, Important Event

JAN 22:

-CRJ: Imagine you could re-paint the world only 3 colors. Which 3 colors would you choose and why? Write descriptive examples of what this world would be like.

-Read Ch.11 of Many Waters

-Identified example of "deus ex machina"

HW:
-CRJ: Respond to the following questions: Is faith something felt in the heart, or thought in the head? How can you tell the difference between thinking and feeling? Do you have to see things to believe them? Do you believe in God? Why? How do you know or feel that there is a God?
DUE FRIDAY: Vocab Chart: quench, cautious, shrill, insolent, laughingstock, abate, outrageous, illusion, gallop, shrugged, hysterical, extinction, scything, gnaw, nibble, gulp, tranquil, meanwhile, slim, crook

Thurs, Jan 17th, we:

-Read Genesis Chapters 4-6

-Compared the Book of Genesis to Many Waters

-Reviewd the three main religions of the world with Judeo-Christian roots: Christianity; Judaism; Islam


-Learned the word "deus ex machina"- Latin for "machine of God"- it is a literary device used by Greek and Roman playwrights to resolve a conflict and end a story; a magic happy ending that ensures all things end well due to divine intervention


-Critical Reading Journal: Think about a fairy tale or children's book you remember from when you were little. Just like Madeline L'Engle, recreate that story so that it is more unique. What would you add, omit or alter to make it a new and different story?

7th Grade:

TODAY:

-Read p.542-543 in Literature Book

-Took notes on Press Release

-Created Outline for Press Release

WED, JAN 23 & THURS, JAN 24

-Peer Edit Ch.5 of My House on My Street

-Start working on Cover Page, Book Dedication, Table of Contents, Book Summary, Author Bio, & Book Reviews

-Begin Creating Press Release for St. Casimir Event

DUE FRIDAY:

1. Vocab. Chart: resonate, woven, R&B, funk, jazz, rap, hip-hop, disco, multimedia, press release, post-war decade, mainstream, recognizable, exhibit, periodically, milestone, innovative, retrospective, showcasing, impact

2. FINAL DRAFT of Ch. 5: The House on My Street

3. Rough Draft:

4. Press Release Outline: Cover Page, Book Dedication, Table of Contents, Book Summary, Author Bio, & Book Reviews

8th Grade:

TODAY, JAN. 23

Listened to Dr. MLK's "I Have a Dream Speech"

Discussed Civil War, Civil Rights Movement, Pres. Lincoln and "separate but equal"

HW: Read "Brown vs. Board of Education"- p.241-246 in Literature book. . .BE PREPARED FOR POP QUIZ, responding to the questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why?

THURS., JAN. 24

-Watched West Side Story

-Discussed 1950s

-Students took notes on film to compare and contrast City vs. Country; West Side Story vs. The Outsiders; Jets & Sharks vs. Greasers and Sharks

No Vocab Chart this week

JAN 11 - JAN 22

On Friday, JAN 18th, I will be absent because I will be giving a workshop to other Catholic Educators entitled "Communicating With Youth About Sexuality." A substitute will implement lesson plans for that day, and all work will be due on Tuesday, JAN 22nd.


Family Life: Junior High Religion will include Family Life Curriculum in the next month. This curriculum includes information about sexuality, relationships and the sacred gift of life. Permission slips must be signed by a parent and returned to the school office by Friday, JAN 18th in order for student to be included in this Religion Course.

6th GRADE:

DUE Wed., JAN 16th: 1 paragraph Summary & 1 paragraph Critique on Ch. 10 of Many Waters

DUE Thurs., JAN 17th: Vocab Chart and Venn Diagram, comparing Bible passage of Noah & the Ark to Many Waters

Vocab Chart: coherent, ark, arc, anxiously, irrational, subdue, shaggy, tremble, kaleidescope, mauve, requiem, numb, tamped, indicate, noursih, phenomenon, solitary, modicum, approach, grief DUE Thursday, JAN 17th

These words were all taken from Ch. 10 of Many Waters

Many Waters: will begin reading Ch. 11 on Wed., JAN 16

Literature Project: Signed Parent Letter Due ASAP!

5th and 6th Grade will be doing a joint Literature Project. Thre will be two novels required for this project:

I. James and the Giant Peach by: Roald Dahl

II. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by: C.S. Lewis



Collectively, the 5th & 6th Grade will be honing their effective communication and critical thinking skills by participating in Literary Circles. We will read these novels along to an audio book on CD to improve listening skills, vernacular pronunciation and vocabulary.



Independent of the 5th Grade, 6th Grade will be expected to complete a Book Log Project that will teach MLA format writing skills.

Students need to have their own copy of these books by FEB. 4th. Books may be borrowed from the library.

7th GRADE

DUE Tomorrow, JAN. 15th: Venn Triangle Diagram comparing The House on Mango Street, Your life at St. Casimir, "Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto.

Vocab. Chart: elective, fair-skinned, catechism, riple, scowling, ferocity, squirm, conviction, linger, on the sly, portly, mumble, lazily, bonjour, ballet, tres bien, sheepishly, sprint, shuffled
DUE Tues., JAN 22

My House on Mango Street:
Ch. 4 Final Draft due on Tuesday, JAN. 15th
Ch. 3 Final Draft on Wednesday, JAN. 16th

"Two Kinds" from The Joy Luck Club by: Amy Tan: Tues., JAN.15th; finish reading on Wed., JAN. 16th
Venn Triagram due on Thursday, JAN. 17th

8th GRADE

Vocab Chart: diverged, undergrowth, trodden, hence, chambered, gropes, blunders, billowing, smoldering, lilting, gaily, Harlem, Renaissance, Hamlet, behold, borne, withdraw, glistens, recede, stiffen, luminance, hie, stiffen, loam

due Thurs., JAN. 17th

The Outsiders: Final Draft of literary analysis paper in MLA format is due on Thurs., JAN. 17th. Students will watch the classic, A West Side Story, on Friday, JAN. 18th to provide another example of the conflict fueled by gangs.

"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost: Personal road collage will be done in class on Wed., JAN 16th.

"Harlem Night Song" by Langston Hughes: will read on Thurs., JAN. 17th

"New World" by N. Scott Momaday: will read on Tues., JAN. 15th: Write four chapter ode to nature/life due on Wed., JAN. 16th; bring two written examples of ALLUSION

"For My Sister Molly, Who in the Fifities" by Alice Walker: read on Tues., JAN 15th because there were many examples of ALLUSION in poem. Use poem to help you brainstorm your own examples of ALLUSION.

"All But Blind" by Walter del la Mare: will read on Thurs., JAN 17th

"The Choioce" by Dortohy Paker: will read on Thurs.., JAN 17th

Scoolwork Expecations: JAN. 11 - JAN. 18

Woo-Hoo! I finally got my act together and am posting work expectations. Thanks for your patience.

6th Grade:

DUE TOMORROW: Vocabulary Chart: Kodiak, sod, kayak, hearth, tatto, gravel, impatient, woven, wept, suspicious, cycle, mainland, rural, displays, headdress

I. just finished the story "The Girl Who Married the Moon"
They presented their Literary Circle work today in class.

II. will finish their Creative Writing Personification Story in the next week.

III. is finishing Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle.

For Ch. 9 & 10, they will be expected to complete a One Paragraph Summary and One Paragraph Critique of the Chapter.

For Ch. 11 & 12, they will be expected to complete a news report on the events transpiring in the book. Pretending to be a news anchor or journalist, they will write up a story and then deliver their presentations to the whole class.

7th GRADE:

DUE TOMORROW: Vocab. Chart: fascinating, crouc, dislodge, lyric poetry, imagery, ampersand, parenthese, rouge, tiered, brooch, quarried, dialect, grantie, onomatopoeia, sputter, gashes, spurt, gushes, smattering, unravel

I. finished the book, The Hounse on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Students have finished writing Ch. 3 & 4 of their own literary masterpiece.
Tomorrow, we will finish peer editing Ch. 4

FINAL DRAFTS of CH. 3 & 4 DUE MONDAY!

II. will finish writing Ch. 5 of their own street novel

III. All Students need their own copy of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night by FEB. 4th!

8th GRADE:

DUE TOMORROW: Vocab. Chart: thou, thy, ingratitude, keen, seen, feign, mere folly, bitter warp, nigh, lyric poetry, imagery, tilted, hazy, breadth, luster, wallow, crooked, cluster

I. just finished The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.
are working on a literary anaylsis paper in MLA format

ROUGH DRAFT is DUE MON!

III. All Students need their own copy of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night by FEB. 4th!

UPCOMING:

6th:
Literature Book Log Project
Current Event Portfolio

7th & 8th:
Shakespeare Web Quest
Mock Trial Case