Love
Students focused a bit on the attribute of love. The students worked on making Spanish cards for friends and family, expressing love. We also worked on learning the members in extended families.
Mr. Hernandez
Civil War Plays
Studying The beginnings of the Civil War, students had to write their OWN skit scripts, including specific names and events. Students shared these in front of the class, making the rawness and anxiety of the era come to life. Student Matteo Papacostas gave one of his characters a family member away at war, and had him try to convey to an indifferent character how much the war affected him personally. This unit helped students connect with each other as Americans, and with Americans long gone.
Miss Jensen
Civil War news
Extra! Extra! Early Civil War reporters writing up a storm! During this unit we wrote news stories on early Civil War events as if they were unfolding right before our eyes. Students wrote stories about the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas Nebraska Act, and John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry. Many included interviews with eye wittiness recalling sights, smells, and feelings.
Miss Jensen
North vs South
As we studied Sectionalism and how the U.S. was beginning to divide. We compared the North’s and South’s views of the Constitution, and the idea of different kinds of contracts. We took time to talk about the difference between a Union and a Confederacy—asking what makes us one, instead of many? This brought up though-provoking questions about how to have unity when people are very different from each other.
Miss Jensen
Abolitionists
We studied people who were beginning to speak out against slavery—the Abolitionists. We studied men and women like Frederick Douglas and Sojourner Truth, and practiced parts of their famous speeches out loud. We wrote diary entries, pretending we were escaping from slavery on the Underground Railroad, and had stimulating discussions about the importance of recognizing Abolitionists as American heroes.
Miss Jensen
Morse Code
As the United States was expanding westward, many new things were being invented. One of the inventions that made travel and transportation faster was the telegraph, and the development of Morse Code. Students studied how inventions like the telegraph improved communication, and practiced writing their own telegrams in Morse Code! This gave us a profound appreciation for modern communication technology.
Miss Jensen
Pioneers
We began our second semester by learning about how pioneers traveled west on the Oregon Trail. Students completed posters, research papers, and presented about their findings. Even though everyone presented on the Oregon Trail, the variety of facts was very interesting. 7th Grader Isaiah Bienemann explained how when the wagon trains would camp at night, they would circle their wagons, making it easier for the group to protect itself from animal or human enemies. Student Karen Lopez showed the differences in men’s and women’s tasks on the trail, and the intense difficulty of both.
Miss Jensen
Perspective drawings
Anyone can draw a picture but how about drawing a picture that has depth and looks as if you can step right into it? Sixth and Seventh grade students learned the techniques that come with what are called Perspective Drawings, they had to include a horizon (the place where sky and land/water meet) and a vanishing point (the place where as the scenery looks as if it disappears because it gets smaller and smaller). Students had their choice of scenery, some chose cityscapes others chose beaches and parks, but all had the two main techniques – Horizon & Vanishing Point. Once they carefully measured and drew their pictures they colored them using color pencils and markers.
Miss Arnau
Photo Frames
Students worked on painting paper mache photo frames for that special someone. That special someone can be a good friend, a teacher, parents or other relatives. Students used various Valentines Day themed colors (red, pink, purple & white) to paint their picture frames, some students also decorated theirs with beads and glitter. This craft is a great gift that is both decorative and functional, it can be placed on a bookshelf, desk or dresser.
Miss Arnau
NHS and NJHS
On Tuesday, June 8th, we conducted our national Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society Ceremony. This ceremony is beautiful as students carry during the processional and recessional.WE are very proud to have inducted 63 new members to NHS and 13 new members to NJHS. We welcomed back 68 NHS members from last year and 53 NJHS members from last year. Both Societies worked very hard on their service project, raising money through bake sales and other means. Students were delighted to take what they had raised to the different institutions. What a blessing to be able to bless others. Please see Galleries for some great pictures of NHS and NJHS traveling to give what they had raised.
Here is a little history about the National Honor Society and the criteria for selection:
When the National Honor Society was founded in 1921, the hope was to create an organization that would recognize and encourage high school students’ academic achievement while developing other characteristics essential to citizens in a democracy. The National Junior Honor Society was founded shortly thereafter-in 1929 to recognize middle school students in the same areas. Now, over 80 years later, these Societies have become prestigious organizations with outstanding faculty members and students from the school community. Their reputation for excellence is the result of years of commitment on the part of everyone involved. Membership is thus both an honor and a commitment.
The NHS and NJHS recognize outstanding high school and middle school students who demonstrate excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. The National Association of Secondary School Principals proudly sponsors these Societies.
For the selection of Members to the NHS and NJHS Chapters:
* Members must maintain a cumulative overall 85% average or higher for two consecutive semesters with 80% as the lowest grade in all subjects.
* Members must be in good behavioral standing.
* Members must demonstrate outstanding performance in areas of scholarship, service, leadership and character.
* The selection of each Member shall be reviewed and approved by the this School’s Administration and Faculty each school year.
Please click on the links below to view our NHS and NJHS Program.
Please go to “Galleries” for some wonderful piictures of this beautiful ceremony.