Welcome Back! Week of January 4-6

Hello all:

I hope you had a WONDERFUL, RELAXING, and FUN break, and return tomorrow ready to work hard in the new year!

Here are a few notes from the Discovery School Administration:

• Sweaters/Jackets and Other Objects: we ask parents (especially the Elementary parents) to label all their child’s belongings with a permanent marker. This makes it easier for us to help you look for things if they are misplaced or lost. Furthermore, we ask for your cooperation by sending back with your child any item he/she brings home that does not belong to him, and to notify the homeroom teacher about it (by text message, email or phone call).
• Parent Workshop: Our school counselor, Ms. Ivonne Casco, will be hosting a workshop for parents on Friday, January 20, at 1:30 p.m. Information will be posted on her blog.
• Report Cards and Conferences: Report Cards will be issued on Friday, January 13. This is an early dissmissal (AM Schedule) day for students. Conferences are on an ‘as-needed’ basis.
• Professional Development Wednesday: Our third Staff Development Wednesday will take place on Wednesday, January 18. Please note that we are meeting on the 18^th instead of the last Wednesday of the month. This is an early dismissal day (PM Schedule) for students.
• DPTO Fun Run: Our annual school Fun Run will take place on Saturday, January 28, beginning at 8:30 a.m. There will be the traditional run, games, and a complimentary pancake and fruit breakfast to follow. The pledge forms were sent before the Winter Holiday, however, if you would like an additional copy, please download it from the Area Administrators’ blogs.

As for Room 4 announcements, due to popular request from the students, I am implementing a new "Bathroom Ticket" policy. Each student will be given two tickets to use during the quarter to visit the restrooms. Once those tickets have been used, students will not be allowed to use the restrooms during class, or will be given a snack time or lunch detentions. Tickets left over at the end of the quarter can be redeemed for extra credit. (This policy will not affect students who use the restrooms during passing time). Let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this new policy.

Here is what you can expect for the start of Semester 2:
6th grade: You will be starting your European Exploration unit with a discussion of why Europeans chose to explore and an overview of the major European explorers. I will also be introducing your Quarter 3 Timeline Project on Wednesday. You will also learn about the first European Explorers (it's not who you think it is!)
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7th grade: You will begin your study of Southwest Asia this week with your map skills assignment. You will also chose your Southwest Asia project countries and will read and answer questions in Section 1 of Chapter 20.
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8th grade: Get ready! You will be spending the ENTIRE third quarter on the Middle Ages! I am really excited! You will start on Wednesday with the Byzantine Empire (if you remember, that's what the East Roman Empire became). On Thursday and Friday you will spend time comparing the Marriage Laws of the Byzantine Empire and Hammurabi's code. All your information will be brought together during a classroom debate on Monday, January 9th.
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9th grade: I am quite excited because we are starting the Imperialism unit! You will start the unit with a visual (you're making a map) and a discussion of the reasons why Imperialism happened. Look forward to LOTS of great primary sources in this unit! :)
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This week will be short and sweet...be ready!
KF