A Week of Exams! Week of May 29-June 1

Well hello again everyone!

Thank you 7th Graders for the lovely Teacher Appreciation gift!

I hope you have all enjoyed your long Memorial Day Weekend. (And I hope you spent at least some of your time studying!)

The school year is quickly winding down but there is still A LOT to do at Discovery School in the next two weeks!

YEARBOOK: We are hard at work on the Discovery School Yearbook! Details and pricing to come!

GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Thank you to all who attended the General Assembly meeting last week! Your time and votes are truly appreciated!

DPTO GARAGE SALE: Come one come all to the DPTO Garage Sale this Saturday, June 2, starting at 9:00 AM! If you would like a table to sell items please contact Maikel Ryan or Carolina Villareal.

CHOIR FUNDRAISING END-OF-THE-YEAR CARNIVAL: The Choir Parents are organizing an end-of-the-year Carnival and Bingo for Saturday, June 9, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the school There will be games, food, and of course the exciting Bingo. Please come and celebrate the end of the school year with our family and friends while supporting the Choir in their last effort to raise fund for their upcoming San Francisco trip in July.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEDNESDAY: This Wednesday will be a half-day, AM schedule, due to Discovery teacher professional development. Please plan to have your child picked up by 11:45 AM.

SUMMER WRITING COURSE!

This class is for anyone who wants to work on their writing skills over the summer! Letters were sent home to some students last week, but all middle school students are invited to attend. Please let me know if you have any questions, or if you want your student to join the class! It is going to be FUN! :)

Here's the plan for my classes this week:
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6th grade: Remember we had to change the schedule last week due to bootcamp. And, go figure, I'm going to have to tweak it again this week, because I totally forgot about the half day this Wednesday! Oops! So, in class on Tuesday we will finish the book by reading chapters 24-26 and you will have page 20 (and any other part of the packet you have not completed) as homework that night (don't panic--it's 2 questions!) THE PACKET IS STILL DUE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 30! There are no exceptions! I will come to your first period class to collect the packets or you may turn them in to me at any time before you leave school on Wednesday. If you plan to be sick that day, please send it to school so I can get it checked and have your final grade entered before June 1.
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7th grade: Tuesday and Wednesday you will have time in the computer lab to practice for your Whole World Map Quiz, which will be in class on Thursday and Friday. Remember, you will start the quiz in class on Thursday, and Thursday night I will check the countries you ID'd. Then on Friday you will have the opportunity to identify any countries you left blank on Thursday. I will add together your two scores and give you a score out of 100%. That will be divided by two and you will receive two grades out of 50 in the gradebook. (So, for example, if you score 83% on the test, I will divide that by two and you will have 41.5/50 on both quiz scores in the gradebook.) Be sure to use the maps packet I provided you last week, this information, and the country games to study study study!
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8th grade and 9th grade: I hope you studied hard over the weekend, because your World History final exam is Tuesday, May 29 from 10:30-12:30. I will be wandering in and out of the rooms if you have questions during the test, but if you have any lingering content questions, I'd ask them now...
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Have a wonderful rest of your weekend and enjoy the short 4-day week ahead!
KF

6th Grade: "Little House on the Prairie" Schedule Change

Hey 6th graders:

As I'm sure you're aware, the schedule I gave you for the reading/activities of Little House on the Prairie has now become a little outdated due to some last-minute changes in the school schedule.

Therefore, please take note of the following changes:

Wednesday, May 23
In class: Read Chapters 22-23
Homework: Chapter 22-23 Reading Questions

Thursday, May 24
In class: Activity pages 18-19
Homework: Finish activity if don't finish in class

Friday, May 25
No class! Bootcamp! Have fun! (Students not attending bootcamp will watch an episode of the Little House on the Prairie TV show!)

Monday, May 28
No class! Memorial Day! (Study study study for your Himno Nacional exam!)

Tuesday, May 29
In class: Read Chapters 24-25
Homework: Chapter 24-25 Reading Questions

Wednesday, May 30
In class: Read Chapter 26, Chapter 26 Reading Questions, Activity page 20

PACKET (with chapter 22-26 reading questions) IS BE DUE BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY! PACKETS NOT TURNED IN ON MAY 30 WILL BE GIVEN A GRADE OF ZERO!

Good luck to all 6th grade students on their Himno Nacional exam on Thursday, May 31! :)

KF

7th Grade: Countries of the World

Hey 7th Grade:

Just FYI, here are the numbers of countries you will need to be able to identify in each area of the world:


North America (including Central America but not the Caribbean): 10
Caribbean (islands only: not including Central America): 13
South America (not including Central America or the Caribbean): 13
Europe (not including Russia or Turkey): 47
Asia (including Russia, Turkey, all of the Middle East and Southeast Asia): 45
Africa (don't forget the islands!): 51
Australia and Oceania (hint: use the map quiz to help you study!!!):14

Total of countries = 193! (Remember that you will not be quizzed on any countries that are "owned" by other countries (ie: Guam, the Virgin Islands, etc)

Happy Studying! :)

KF

Believe it or Not...There's only Three Weeks Left • Week of May 21-25

Hello again:

I hope you are all having a pleasant weekend, recharging from the past week and gearing up for the next. We had a tragedy in the Discovery School family last week, but I have been very proud of how our students have pulled together during this hard time. My thoughts continue to go out to the families and friends affected.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Thank you to all parents who attended the General Assembly last Thursday. However, a quorum (33% of parents) was not reached at this meeting, so a second summons has been sent out for a second meeting on Thursday, May 24. PLEASE make room in your schedule for this important meeting where next years' budget and calendar will be voted on and the next two years' board members will be elected.

ENROLLMENT DRIVE BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!  The Enrollment Drive  has begun again! Information was emailed to all parents last Friday and more will be explained at the General Assembly on May 17. This enrollment drive applies to teachers as well as parents—please see Paola for a copy of the guidelines if you are interested.

MAP TESTING: Map testing will wrap up this week. Here's the middle school schedule:

Tuesday, May 22
8:30-9:45 6th grade (Language Usage)
10:05-11:20 7th grade (Language Usage)
11:40-12:55 8th A (Language Usage) **Please bring a big snack on this day as you will not eat lunch until after ALL students are finished with the test. You WILL get lunch, just later than normal.**
1:15-2:30 8th B (Language Usage)

Wednesday, May 23
8:30-9:45 9th Grade (Language Usage)

Make-up tests have been scheduled in the afternoon of May 23 and all day May 24-25. Please be ready to be pulled from class to complete any tests you may have missed over the past three weeks.

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Here's the schedule in my room this week--it's REVIEW TIME!

6th grade: You will continue to follow the schedule for your Little House on the Prairie reading. Remember that the deadlines will still be applicable if you miss class! Your African Doctors book is due Monday, May 21. That day we will also read chapters 18-20 in class. Tuesday you will have a reading assignment and will look at the treaty the US Government made with the Osage Indians just a few years before the Ingalls family moved to Kansas. Wednesday you will read and complete a Venn Diagram about the Osage. Thursday you will have a reading assignment, and Friday most of you will be absent enjoying bootcamp!
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7th grade: You will be working with enlargement techniques in order to better understand how that big, cool, painted map on my wall was made. Each day in class you will have a one-page worksheet to complete, and then will have time to work in your maps packets to study for your Whole World Map Quiz, which will be held next week, May 31-June 1. You will have no class on Thursday due to a PE Field Trip, and Friday most of you will be absent enjoying bootcamp!
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8th grade: Remember that your World History I Semester Exam will be Tuesday, May 29, from 10:30-12:30. This next week you will spend each class reviewing for this exam. I will have a study guide for you on Monday and you will have class time to organize your notes and complete the study guide. Later in the week we may have some review activities if you have completed your study guides. Friday most of you will be absent enjoying bootcamp!
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9th grade: Remember that your World History II Semester Exam will be Tuesday, May 29, from 10:30-12:30. This next week you will spend each class reviewing for this exam. I will have a study guide for you on Monday and you will have class time to organize your notes and complete the study guide. Later in the week we may have some review activities if you have completed your study guides.You will only have about 25 minutes of class on Tuesday due to MAP testing.
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The next three weeks will go very quickly, especially if you stay focused and sprint to the finish!
KF

Fun Things Happening in Room #4!

Hello:

I just wanted to share some of the fun things that we've been doing in my class lately...

First of all, last week the 8th graders researched and had a trial for Martin Luther, similar to the Imperial Diet of Worms in 1521. Here are a few photos of the students in action:

The prosecution and Charles V

Charles V defending himself to the defense

The defense and Erasmus

Martin Luther passionately defending himself

Although both the defense and prosecution sides did well, the ultimate decision of the court was that no decision could be made...the same decision as the judges at the Imperial Court of Worms in 1521.

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The 6th graders have also been a little "dramatic" this past week. As part of their reading of Little House on the Prairie, the class performed a Reader's Theater version of Chapter 11 of the book (Indians in the House) in class on Friday. There were speaking and non-speaking roles, but as in all theater, there were no small parts, only small actors ;)

Our creative Mr. Master, the master of props

The "Indians' and their skunk-skin clothes

The director (far right) directing the narrators, Jack, and Ma

Mary, Laura, and Jack listen to the narrators

RUN AWAY!

Great job, 6th graders!

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I also got to have a little creative fun a few weeks ago when I presented one of my hobbies, tatting, (or frivolite in Spanish), to my 5th Grade Spanish class as part of an "All About Me" presentation!

Threading the needles getting ready to begin

Sometimes its easier to see the little knots you're making when they're far away from your face

Tatting is a serious thing, don't you know? ;)

What a fun school Discovery is! :)
KF

Happy Mother's Day! Week of May 14-18

Hello everyone!

I want to wish a very happy Mother's Day to all our Discovery School Moms! I hope you have a wonderful day! And just for fun, here's a link all about the History of Mother's Day!

MAP tests continue this week. Here's the middle school schedule. The classes in bold below will take their tests during my class time.

Monday, May 14
10:05-11:20 9th grade (Reading)
11:40-12:55 8th B (Reading) **Please bring a big snack on this day as you will not eat lunch until after ALL students are finished with the test. You WILL get lunch, just later than normal.**
1:15-2:30 8th A (Reading)

Tuesday, May 15
8:30-9:45 7th grade (Reading)
10:05-11:20 6th grade (Reading)

Please remember to do your best on these tests. We do use this data to know at what level to set your lessons, and if you don't try on these tests we don't know your true abilities. Take your time and do the best that you can do!

AP TESTS: The students have been doing a great job of being quiet in the halls and patient when we have the bells turned off during AP exams. Keep up the great work! :)

MATH OLYMPICS: CONGRATULATIONS to the Discovery School Math Olympics teams! Four Superior and 1 Very Good rankings are AWESOME! Glad your hard work really paid off!

GENERAL ASSEMBLY:  The General Assembly of parents has been scheduled for Thursday, May 17, 2012, and the official Summons was sent to all parents electronically and by hard copy last week. Attendence for teachers is not mandatory. We need a quorum of 33% of our parents in order to have a legal meeting. During the meeting, parents will vote on the budget and calendar for next year, as well as electing Board members for the next two years.

ENROLLMENT DRIVE BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!  The Enrollment Drive has begun again! Information was emailed to all parents last Friday and more will be explained at the General Assembly on May 17. This enrollment drive applies to teachers as well as parents—please see Paola for a copy of the guidelines if you are interested.

Here's the schedule for this week's classes
6th grade: Thank you to those of you who stayed with the schedule last week when we had an unexpected day off. Remember, one of the reasons you have the schedule is so that you know what to do even when you are not in school! As per the schedule, we will read chapters 12-13 in class on Monday, will have fun listening to and analyzing cowboy songs on Tuesday, read chapters 14-15 on Wednesday, create our own children's books on Thursday, and read chapters 16-17 and work on a primary source on Friday. Remember that chapter 8-14 reading questions will be due on Thursday, May 17.
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7th grade: This will be a very disjointed week for you...you're only with me three days! On Monday, ALL 7th grade students need to be ready to present their Australia and Oceania projects! NO EXCUSES! Tuesday you will have no class due to MAP testing. Wednesday will be our second presentation day. If you were not pulled from the "Cup of Doom" on Monday, you will present Wednesday. Thursday you will have your regularly-scheduled PE field trip, and Friday, May 18 will be your Australia and Oceania Quiz.
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8th grade: Monday is a MAP test day for both classes. Any class time that either class has will be used to finish the Henry VIII assignment from Friday, which will be due on Tuesday at class time. Tuesday and Wednesday you will learn about the Catholic Counter-Reformation, Thursday you will review, and Friday, May 18 will be your Reformation Quiz.
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9th grade: Be ready, your World War II Mini-Quiz will be Monday, May 14! Be sure you ALL have your 1-page, front-side only notes page with you for your LAST QUIZ OF THE YEAR!!! Double-check this page to know what you should be studying. Tuesday-Thursday we will have a continent-by-continent look at the world after World War II! Friday you will not have class due to bootcamp! Don't forget to turn in your money and permission slips ASAP!
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So there you have it...I can't believe there are only 4 weeks of school left! WOW!
KF

PS: Did you meet our new student? ;)

8th Grade: Henry VIII and his Wives Assignment

Hey 8th graders:

Here is your assignment about Henry VIII:

Activity Choices:

1) Write a love letter/poem/song from Henry VIII to one of his wives. Then, write the wife's response to Henry.
(Minimum 1 page for each=total of 2 pages)

OR

2) Write a "personal ad" for Henry VIII and any two wives, then answer them. Be sure to include:
    •    a description of yourself (likes, dislikes, physical appearance, etc)
    •    a description of what you are looking for (personal and physical qualities)
    •    how people can answer your ad
(Minimum 1 paragraph for each=total of 2 pages)

Click here or here for examples of personal ads.

Due in class on Tuesday, May 15!

Have fun! :)

KF

No School • May 10

Good morning everyone:

I hope you are enjoying your unexpected day off today.

I just wanted to remind you that all deadlines still apply:

6th grade: You will need to turn in your movie questions and chapter 1-7 reading questions tomorrow at class time. You also need to have read through chapter 11 by tomorrow's class!

7th grade: Projects will still be presented tomorrow! You can spend your free time today practicing for your Whole World Map Quiz!! :)

8th grade: Sorry you'll have to wait another day to find out about Henry VIII's wives and children...if you want to do your own investigation, check out this very excellent website: http://www.tudorhistory.org/

9th grade: You have an extra day to study and prepare for your mini quiz! We'll figure it all out tomorrow...don't forget your notes page!

Have a nice day, be very safe, see you tomorrow!
KF

9th Grade: World War II Studying Suggestions

Hey 9th grade:

Remember that tomorrow we will have about 20 minutes more review and then will jump right into our World War II Quiz!

Here are some things you will need to be aware of:
-Causes of World War II
-Rationing
-Minorities' contributions to the war effort
-Monument's Men
-Radio/Propaganda

Major events/dates:
Beginning of the war (2 dates)
Pearl Harbor
VE Day
Atomic Bomb dropped
VJ Day

Happy Studying!
KF

Teacher Appreciation Week: Week of May 7-11

Hello again:

As it is Teacher Appreciation Week, I just want to take a moment to address how much I appreciate all my fellow teachers at Discovery School...what an AMAZING staff we have! I also want to say how much I appreciate my ability to BE a teacher at Discovery...undoubtedly the BEST school in Honduras! Thank you for being such wonderful students and parents!

MAP testing begins this week and will continue for the two weeks following.

Here is this week's schedule for the Middle School classes:
Thursday, May 10
8:30-9:45 6th grade
10:05-11:20 7th grade
11:40-12:55 8th grade A **Be sure to bring a big snack as you will have a late lunch.**
1:15-2:30 8th grade B

Friday, May 11
8:30-9:45 9th grade
A note: Please remember that these tests are IMPORTANT! The results of these tests are used to help determine the level of assignments and evaluations we can use in our classrooms to be sure we are challenging each student. When students don't try their bests on these tests we do not get an accurate representation of the abilities of our students, and therefore have to work much longer fully meet their needs in the classroom. Please discuss the importance of these tests with your student and encourage them to give their best ability on each of the three exams!


From the Administration 
DRESS CODE: As the weather gets hotter, please remember the Discovery School dress code! No bare shoulders/short shorts or skirts/overly baggy jeans, etc! Thank you!

GENERAL ASSEMBLY:  The General Assembly of parents has been postponed to Thursday, May 17, 2012. The summons will be sent electronically and by hard copy to all parents. We need a quorum of 33% of our parents in order to have a legal meeting. During the meeting, parents will vote on the budget and calendar for next year, as well as electing Board members for the next two years. We hope to see you there!

ENROLLMENT DRIVE BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!  The Board of Directors has voted to repeat the Enrollment Drive that was held last year. Information will be emailed to all parents and sent home via hard copy during the week, and explained at the General Assembly on May 17.

 
MIDTERM REPORTS: Midterms were sent home last Friday. Please sign the form and return it with your student ASAP. If you would like a conference with me, please feel free to contact me to schedule one.
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We have three 5-day weeks left, then two 4-day weeks and then the school year is over. This means you have just 23 days left to do your best at your current grade level. DON'T WASTE THEM! Here's what you can look forward to in social studies this week:

6th grade: You will continue our reading and activities about Little House on the Prairie this week. Be sure to check the schedule I gave you last week so you know what we're doing in class, what is due, etc! Remember that last Friday's Wagon activity and your immigration DBQ essay redo are both due tomorrow!
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7th grade: On Monday and Wednesday you will have textbook assignments about Australia and Oceania. Tuesday you will work on an Australia and Oceania packet. Thursday you will be out with Mr. Victor. Friday is the first presentation day! Everyone needs to be ready to present on Friday!
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8th grade: Monday you will work with the classroom textbooks to find out about some of the other major revolutionary leaders (besides Martin Luther), as well as how the reformation affected women. Tuesday-Friday you will be learning about Henry VIII and his lovely wives. It's going to be very "dramatic" by the end of the week! ;)
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9th grade: You're almost done with World War II! Monday and Tuesday you will present your Oral History projects to the class. Double-check your rubric to make sure you know what you need to include in your presentations. Wednesday you will finish up the 1940s house series. Thursday you will review, and start your World War II quiz. Friday you will finish the quiz in the first 20 minutes of class, and then end out the week taking your MAP test!
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So there you have it...Have a great week, and keep sprinting to the finish!
KF

9th Grade: Atomic Bomb Webquest

Hey 9th Graders:

Today in class you will be working in groups of four to complete an Atomic Bomb Webquest!

Head over to https://c1.livetext.com/visitor-pass.html and enter the visitor's pass: 22C5333A in the box provided!

Work together and have fun! Your group reports and individual reflections will be due on Monday, May 7!

KF