Polynomials
In December students learned to divide polynomials using long division and synthetic division. They also spent time working with functions. They determined horizontal and vertical asymptotes and sketched graphs of the function.
Mrs. Wong
Study, Study, Study
Students are now reviewing in preparation for their finals. They are working through their study guides polishing up their skills.
Mrs. Wong
Exponents
In December students reviewed the properties of exponents. They used these skills to evaluate and simplify expressions. They were also able to work with functions. They became skilled at finding the inverse and composition of functions.
Mrs. Wong
Exponents
Students learned how to use the properties of exponents. They used these properties to multiply and divide powers that had the same base. They also were able to simplify expressions.
Our Legal System
Thank God we live in a nation of law and not one simply of majority rule! The 12th grade has been learning about our legal system, from evidentiary rules to the traditional customs observed by our Supreme Court. As we have been exploring this fascinating topic, I think all of us, teacher and student alike, have grown more and more thankful for our system of law. It may not be perfect—God knows it is far from the ideal!—but it is better than many other countries’ legal regimes. I told the students of a friend of mine from Ecuador who is studying the Founders at Columbia University in order to take their great wisdom back to his country. Ecuador is on their umpteenth (the 20th to be exact) constitution, while we’re still on our first (not counting the Articles of Confederation)! My friend finds this impressive and worthy of intense study and contemplation; I hope our Evangel students do to.
Mr. Poe
Contradictory Ideas
U.S History is full of heroes and villains… as well as figures who might qualify as both! We’re nearing the start of the American Civil War in 11th grade, and the students are often thunderstruck by the contradictory ideas and people which populate the early and middle 1800s. For instance, I could tell the students were surprised to learn that abolitionists were not necessarily for equal rights—that one could still be prejudiced, bigoted, or condescendingly paternal, while advocating the abolishment of slavery. I told them that people 100 years from now might look at our views as surprisingly contradictory or hypocritical, so we shouldn’t be quick to judge. As Christians, we must first LEARN from the men and women of history, and not initially jump to critique them. We should honor them by allowing them to critique us first—they are, after all, are forefathers and foremothers, and thus deserving of respect. We are their children, and we are bound to partake of their glory and of their shame. Thank God for Jesus, our Savior, who is not a respecter of persons!
Mr. Poe
Ted Dekker
Throughout December, tenth graders were busy reading Saint, by Ted Dekker. The book practically read itself! Students came in so excited to talk about what happened to Carl and the X-Group. We learned about suspense authors, like Edgar Allen Poe, and what the similarities are between his writing and Dekker’s. We read the famous poem The Raven. One student rapped its words for the class, while another student gave him a beat, giving a new life to old words. The students saw how pursuing excellence in a craft is respectable, even if it is in a different form than they are used to.
Miss Miller
A Christmas Carol
But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas-time […] the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.
~Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
Above is a quote from our most recent 9th Grade novel, A Christmas Carol. The class explored the themes of greed and charity, and compared Dickens’ writing to the Biblical truths. The students chose projects to learn about characterization and interpretation. Some students made movie posters, choosing well-known characters to play the different roles. One student chose A Nickelodeon Christmas, and selected different cartoon characters to play Tiny Tim and Scrooge. Another student wrote four letters to Scrooge; he coffee stained and burnt the edges to make them look older and more realistic. One of the most fun times we had was reading a children’s version of the novel. We dimmed the lights, put on soft Christmas music, and even had a fireplace projecting onto the overhead screen. The students enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere while getting to experience how different authors interpret Dickens’ famous story. We laughed and learned–Dickens would be proud.
Miss Miller
Chronicles of Narnia-The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Our 5th through 12th grade students had the privalege of viewing the new movie, “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.” We were able to secure the entire theater exclusively for our students. We had a great time with snacks and viewing this new movie based upon C.S. Lewis’s books, “Chronicles of Narnia.” After we returned, students discussed the Christian Symbolism represented in the Bible! It was awesome!
Step Up Your Faith
January 3rd- January 7th
“Step up You Faith,” the theme for the week, encouraged students to go a step further in their walk with God. Middle School and High School students were challenged with speakers each day to take their faith to the next level. Our Elementary students looked at a different bible stories each day as well as completed crafts to encourage them to “step up their faith.” Our memory verse for the week was Luke 17:5-6