Principal’s Corner

 

Dear students and parents,

 

            Our school year has begun with many changes: staff members, room assignments, schedules, expectations and routines. Whenever there are so many changes, patience in understanding and adjusting is necessary. At this time, I want to thank everyone for their positive comments and whole-hearted support.

            Middle School is a unique time in a student’s life. Their emotional, physical, social and spiritual development is on the fast track. That is one of the main reasons why teaching middle school students can be quite exciting. Often times, students and teachers are discovering new ideas together.

            As our year progresses, I expect to see more positive results of the changes which have been implemented. Parents, teachers, and students working together can guarantee the most effective results. Thank you for your support.

 

Together in Christ,

 

Mrs. Sandor

 

Calendar

 

Coliseum Mass Grades 4-8, 10/2

Health Screenings, 10/4

Popcorn Friday, 10/5

Bishop Luers Ambassador visit (student), 10/8

Bishop Luers Parent Meeting, (parent), 7:00 Ryder Hall

“Charting Your Course” Program,10/16

School Picture Day, 10/17

Grandparents day, 10/19 (1:00 Dismissal)

End of First Quarter, 10/19

New quarter starts,10/22

Report Cards and Parent, Student, Teacher conferences,          10/24 (2-4 and 5-7) and 10/25 (8-12)

Nelson’s Port-A-Pit Fundraiser for 8th, 10/27

Junior High Dance, 10/27

Bishop Luers Placement Exam (8th Grade), 11/3

 

 

Book Orders

 

Mrs. Sturm and Mrs. Welling appreciate the book orders that we have received in the past.  These orders allow us to accumulate points for free classroom books.  The current book order is due Monday, October 8, 2007.  Please make checks out to the club from which you are ordering.  You may write one check for multiple orders and make it out to Scholastic.

 

Wish Lists

 

The biggest wish that all of us have is for lunchroom assistance on a regular basis.  Each day someone is needed to work in the lunchroom from 11:30-12:45.  The day of most need is Friday, but we need someone each day.  If you are interested, please contact any one of the Junior High teachers. 

 

Mrs. Welling:

Scrapbook Paper

Re-writable CD’s

Flat Screen Monitor

Blank VCR tapes

$ towards classroom novel sets

 

Mr. Bercaw:

46, 4ft. sections of PVC pipe (2.5”)

Smartboard

Barnes and Noble Cards

Staples Cards

 

Ms. Hollar

Donations towards bottle rocket           launcher

Atomic Clock

Lava Rocks

 

Mrs. Sturm:

Gift Cards Barnes and Noble

Gift Cards United Art

Digital Camera

Smartboard

 

Mrs. Welling

 

7th grade Language Arts:

            The 7th Grade is starting a unit on Theodore Taylor’s The Cay.  The unit begins with students researching an island in the Caribbean, the setting of the novel, and preparing a visitor brochure.  The exercise requires them to follow explicit instructions on the preparation of the brochure and to create a project that will be presented to the entire class and then posted in the hallway for everyone to see.

            One of the important themes of the book surrounds a young boy who is blinded by an accident.  Dr. Westrick, the dad of Casey Westrick, will be speaking to the classes about how the eye works and about blindness on Monday, October 1.  They will get to do some simulations of blindness and, hopefully, gain an understanding of how it must feel to be blind and how the character of the novel learns to adapt.

 

8th grade Social Studies:

            Continuing with our study of the foundations of the government of the United States, we are studying the formation of the original 13 colonies.  The Revolutionary War is on the horizon!

 

Finance Park:

            Students have also begun Finance Park studies.  We have just learned about credit and debit cards and are currently starting to track stocks throughout the next several weeks.  Next, budgeting!  I encourage parents to use this opportunity to show your kids how a household works - bills and all!

            Parents - next week you will see an introductory letter for Finance Park with an opportunity for you to sign up to moderate the session.  Our date is November 14.  Parent training for this session happens about 45 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival of the students on that day.  I will need at least seven parents to assist on that day.  I will also need parent drivers.  Please watch for the information.

 

Mr. Bercaw

 

    Bronze Bow assignments are due on October 8th and should be nearly completed.

           

     Mr. Bercaw’s classroom website had to move. To access it go to:

www.stjohnsfw.org

click on “School Groups”

click on “Junior High Information”

My website will be listed with lots of other great information.

            There has been a weekly opportunity for 7th grade Social Studies students to receive extra credit. I post two or three questions every week and students may answer them and submit them to an extra credit lottery. I will draw six answers out of the box and if I draw their correct answer they receive two points of extra credit. We did not have enough correct answers the last three weeks to reward all the available extra credit! Encourage your student to take advantage of this opportunity.

 

 

Mrs. Sturm

 

7th grade Science:

            We are studying Earth Science.  Ask your child to see their Science Journals.  We are learning to read and take notes, and to do math relevant to science.

8th Grade Language Arts:

            Students will be assigned an author study the first week of October.  We will begin writing Memoirs and will read The Giver by Lois Lowry.  Students should be reading 1/2 hour each night and 1 hour on the weekend.  Additionally, students should be studying vocabulary every night.