Our Final Week of School! Week of June 4-8

Hello everyone!

I CAN'T BELIEVE we're at the end of the school year!!!

This week is a strange one with the timing because Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are all half days; students will be dismissed at 11:45 am all three days. Tuesday and Thursday are AM schedules, Wednesday is a PM schedule. Monday is a full day of school! The Honors Breakfast will be held Monday morning at 7:00 AM. Wednesday at 10:30 we will head to Discovery Idol. Thursday at 10:30 is the Awards Assembly. Friday is Graduation Day!!!

Here are a few messages from the Administration:

HONORS BREAKFAST – Parents and Teachers of students in Grades 6-12 who were on the Honor Roll during the first three quarters of this school year are invited to attend the Honors Breakfast to recognize these students on Monday, June 5, at 7:00 a.m.

 
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. There will be games, food, and of course the exciting Bingo. Please come bid the school year good bye with our family and friends while supporting the Choir in their last effort to raise fund for their upcoming San Francisco trip in July.

UNCLAIMED ART SALE - Yes! It is time for the annual Unclaimed Art Sale!  Parents, if your students have not brought their portfolios home from the art room you may find them up for sale in the art room.  All unclaimed art work will go on sale Monday June 4,5,6,7 from 7.30 am to 3:30.

All pieces are reasonable priced (10-20-50 Lempira) and families will get a huge discount (free). All proceeds from the sale of student work will be used to help pay for the framing of students’ works for the permanent collection. 

2011-2012 YEARBOOK IS COMING!– The ‘Year of the Wolf’ – The Discovery School yearbook is being printed and will be ready for distribution on Friday, June 8, according to the publisher. We are currently offering pre-sales to guarantee that you get a copy. Although the book is larger than last year, we have been able to arrange for no increase in the cost over last year. Therefore, our school memories are reflected in an 80-page, hard cover yearbook for the price of L. 650 each. You can reserve your copy by seeing Belgica in the Finance Office and paying the L. 650. We know these will sell out quickly, so be sure and reserve yours now! The school offices will be open throughout the summer so you will still have a chance to buy a yearbook as long as they last. 

MOZART’S ‘COSI FAN TUTTE OPERA COMES TO TEGUCIGALPA! – For the first time in Honduras, the National Philharmonic Association, with the support of Maestro Jorge Mejia, has arranged for a professional opera company from Texas to come to Tegucigalpa and perform Mozart’s famous opera, ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’.  Premiere  will be held on Thursday, June 7, at 7:00 p.m., with a repeat performance on Friday, June 8, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the Discovery School Finance Office.

Don't forget to sign up for the Summer Course, Great Writing!

Even though it's a short week of school, we will still be learning in Room #4!

6th grade: Monday you will finish up the Little House on the Prairie Pilot episode movie. Tuesday there is no class. Wednesday we will watch a section of the History Channel show America: The Story of US about Westward movement. Thursday there is no class. Have a great summer!

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7th grade: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday you will watch How the States Got their Shapes, which will show how geography affects the creation of state boundaries. Wednesday there is no class. Have a great summer!

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8th grade: Monday you will watch the movie Mill Times. Wednesday you will attend the Discovery Idol show. Tuesday and Thursday you have no class. Have a great summer!

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9th grade: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday you will watch sections of the History Channel show America: The Story of US about World War II and the world after the war.

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On a personal note, I have truly enjoyed being your teacher for the past two years, and am incredibly sad to be leaving Discovery School this summer. Here are a few of my favorite moments from the past two years:

(Last years') 8th Grade Play

Thanks again for the birthday cake, 8B!

Wasn't cricket fun, 9th graders?

Model UN Unite! :)

Looking spiffy at the Chronicles of Discovery event, 6th graders!

Another shot of last years' 8th graders on UN Day!

 I hope you all will keep in touch and let me know how everything is going! I will miss you all!

 KF

The Last Day of April: Week of April 23-27

Hello again everyone!


•I want to start off with a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to our Model United Nations Team who competed in the ABSH Model United Nations competition this past weekend. We took a team of 8 students who competed in 5 different committees and returned with TWO Best Delegate medals as well as an Honorable Mention Delegate medal! Other awards won include a Bazooka award for the most founded "attacks",  an Encyclopedia award for most knowledge, three Best Alliance awards and three Future UN Delegate Awards. WOW! I heard nothing but positive comments about our students from the advisers, chairs and delegates of the other schools participating, and I was super-impressed with the poise, participation, and preparedness of our students! CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN!!


•Because I was at the Model UN competition I was not able to attend last Friday's Family Fun Night, but thank you to all of you who did! I hear it was a great success!

•Please remember that Discovery School does have a dress code. Students who do not follow the code may be asked to send home for a new outfit. Please think carefully when dressing for school!


•This Wednesday is a half day due to a teacher work day. We will be running a PM schedule. Please make arrangements to have your child picked up by 11:45 AM!


•This Friday is the Chronicles of Discovery Gala, an Oscar's-like event celebrating our students' achievements in the arts and literature. If you would like to attend, please contact Mr. Fenn to purchase your ticket!

Here is the in-class schedule for the week:

6th grade: You will be reviewing for your immigration quiz on Monday, and will have an industrial revolution and immigration quiz on Tuesday, April 24! Wednesday-Friday you will start learning about the Westward Movement in the United States! Don't forget your American Tail Questions and Activity, as well as your DBQ Essay are due Monday, April 23!!

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7th grade:  Your Africa Country Container Projects are due Monday, April 23 and will be presented at that time. Be ready! You have no class on Wednesday due to the professional development half day, and no class on Thursday due to a PE Field Trip, Friday you will have a map quiz over Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa! Be ready!!! Don’t forget that you have three textbook assignments due when you return to class tomorrow!

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8^th grade: This week you will begin studying the Reformation. You will have an introduction on Monday, and will follow the life of the man who started it all by watching a movie Tuesday-part of Thursday. Along the way you should be keeping track of the major events of Martin Luther’s life. On Friday you will begin researching for a fun activity about Martin Luther, which will last into the following week. Remember that your After Las Meninas artwork is due Monday, April 23!

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9^th grade: Hopefully you have completed your timeline activity from last week, because your timeline and your magazine article activities are due Monday, April 23! You will also be using your timelines in class tomorrow as we look at some of the major events and battles of the early war. Your minorities at war activity is also due tomorrow! Tuesday, (no class on Wednesday), Thursday and Friday you will be working with oral histories from World War II and preparing to capture some of your own over the long weekend.

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Have a great week!

KF

Model UN Competition Week! Week of April 16-20

Hello everyone!

Can you believe we only have 8 weeks left until summer vacation begins?! I can't! This year has gone by SO QUICKLY!!

Here are some announcements from the Discovery School Administration:

DPTO FAMILY NIGHT – The DPTO annual Family Night, JUNGLE NIGHT 2012, will take place on Friday, April 20. As usual, Discovery School teachers will host games from 5:00-6:00 p.m. There will be other activities happening from 6:00-7:00 p.m. and a Choir Sponsored BINGO from 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Family Fun Fishing! This year on family fun night the art room will be open for family art making. Parents please come with your students and join in the fun. The result will be an art work that every member of the family has contributed to. We will be experimenting with Gyotaku fish prints and other printing techniques. (Allow 10-20 minutes.) See you Friday night for Art FUN with Ms. Campbell!

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION - The tenth grade Environmental Science students will be hosting the Earth Day celebration on Friday, April 20th during snack time. There will be activities to teach our students how to conserve resources, thereby protecting our planet.

DRDRESS CODE - Reminder to all parents! We are requesting support in this matter: All students should be appropriately dressed in a manner that promotes academic seriousness. The following is NOT ACCEPTABLE, among others (please refer to the Parent/Student Handbook, page 30 and 31):

• Drug, alcohol or tobacco related clothing, jewelry or paraphernalia
• Clothing promoting sex, racism, violence or profanity
• Clothing which, because of its briefness or tightness of fit is deemed distracting to the academic atmosphere
• Strapless tops or tops with either shoulder bare
• Shower-type flip-flops
• Shorts or skirts that are shorter than mid-thigh

The school stresses the avoidance of extremes and reserves the right to request a student to change into more appropriate attire or call home to acquire more suitable dress.

**Discovery School shirts are ALWAYS appropriate! Don't forget to join the teachers and staff in showing school spirit by wearing Discovery School apparel each Friday!

Model UN Absence: Just a reminder, I will be absent from school this Wednesday-Friday, April 18-20, as I will be accompanying our Model United Nations team to their annual competition in La Ceiba! (This is my last planned absence for the year!!!) Please double-check all deadlines listed below to be sure you have all your work ready to be turned in when it is due!!!!!

Here is the schedule for the week:
6th grade: Monday and Tuesday you will continue working on the Immigration DBQ that you started last Friday. Remember you have an assignment due in class tomorrow (Monday, April 16)! With the sub on Wednesday-Thursday you will be watching another immigration-based movie, An American Tail, and will be answering questions and completing an assignment based on the movie on Friday. Both your American Tail questions and assignment, along with your DBQ packet and essay, will be due at class time on Monday, April 23! If you have questions about the assignments please feel free to contact me over the weekend or come to my room during snack or lunch on Monday. Asking questions about an assignment at the beginning of class is not an acceptable plan!
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7th grade: On Monday you will be reading and answering questions from the textbook (due Tuesday). You will also choose your countries for the next country project. Remember that you will need a container with a fully-removable lid for this project. You will need to bring your container to school on Tuesday. In class on Tuesday (with me) and Wednesday (with the sub) you will have research and project worktime in the computer lab. On Friday you will have two assignments out of the textbook. Your textbook assignments from Friday and your project presentations will be due at class time on Monday, April 23!
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8th grade: Be sure to bring your painting research that you started on Friday to class tomorrow (Monday, April 16) because you will be using it to complete tomorrow's assignment! Tomorrow you will also find out about the fun three-day Renaissance art activity you will be completing with the sub Wednesday-Friday in class! You will have a Renaissance mini-quiz in class on Tuesday, April 17. Your in-class art activity from Wednesday-Friday will be due at class time on Monday, April 23!
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9th grade: You will continue working on World War II this week. Monday you will see part two (of three) of the 1940s House series. Be sure to bring your notes page with you to class! On Tuesday you will be researching the experience of minorities in World War II. Wednesday-Friday (with the sub) you will be reading about some of the art that was "displaced" by World War II and the lingering question of what to do with "misappropriated" art. You will also be working in pairs to create a 1-year illustrated timeline of World War II. Your minorities assignment, reading questions, and timeline will be due at class time on Monday, April 23!
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I want to wish the Discovery School Model United Nations team good luck this week at their competition! They have put in a lot of work, and I can't wait to see all that work rewarded!

Have a great week!
KF

Two Weeks until the End of Quarter 3! Week of March 5-9

Hello again:

It has come to my attention that those of you who signed up for the e-mail alerts are not receiving the updates for many hours after I actually update the blog. I apologize for this, but actually have no control over when Google or Blogger send my updates. If you don't mind getting the information hours after I post it, by all means feel free to wait. However, if you feel you need the information earlier (say, you want the review questions the night before the quiz) you may actually have to log into the blog to see them. Thanks.

School Pictures: School pictures will be taken for the yearbook this week. I apologize for the late notice, but they were only scheduled last week. Every Discovery School student MUST have their picture taken for the yearbook, even if they do not want to purchase an individual photo packet later (information on the packages will be released soon). Here is the schedule:

(Click for a larger image)

Please note the schedule for my students:
6th grade: Wednesday, March 7 (1:20-2:10-this is during my class time)
7th grade: Wednesday, March 7 (2:10-3:00)
All School Picture: Thursday, March 8 (8:00-8:50--9th grade, this is during my class time)
8A: Thursday, March 8 (8:53-9:45)
8B: Thursday, March 8 (10:10-10:55)
9th grade: Thursday, March 8 (10:55-11:45)
Model UN and Make-Up photos: Thursday, March 15 (TBD)

Please plan to come looking lovely or handsome for your photos!

Substitute in the Classroom: I apologize for my continued absences from school! I will be away this Friday, March 9-next Tuesday, March 13. I leave Thursday night to present at a teacher's conference in San Pedro Sula. Thank you for your patience and continued good behavior, students!

As always, I will leave excellent sub notes, and expect the students to do their best on all assigned work!

Here's what you can expect:
6th grade: We will finish up your Road to Revolution worksheet on Monday (don't forget your homework!) and will look at the major events of the Revolution and the viewpoints of different people on Tuesday. Wednesday you will not have my class due to school picture day. Thursday you will learn about the French Revolution, and Friday (with the sub) you will begin learning about the revolutions in Latin America. Your Revolutions Quiz will be Thursday, March 15!
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7th grade: You will continue learning about Southeast Asia this week. Monday you will have another textbook assignment. Tuesday you will be in the computer lab researching your projects or playing country games. Wednesday will be our final presentation day. Thursday and Friday you will complete a packet about the location of Singapore! Your Southeast Asia Quiz will be Thursday, March 15!
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8th grade: Monday you will present your 100 Years War projects, and then you will learn about the Spanish Inquisition by watching a movie and looking at some primary sources on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday and Friday you will have a culminating Middle Ages DBQ. Your Middle Ages Quiz will be Wednesday, March 14 and Thursday, March 15!
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9th grade: On Monday you will turn in your technologies assignments and learn about the reasons behind the US' entrance into World War I. Tuesday you will study the concepts of propaganda and Total War. Wednesday-Friday you will learn about the Russian Revolution, and the steps Russia took to go from a monarchy to a communist state. Your World War I and Russian Revolution Quiz will be Thursday, March 15!
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Model UN: Thanks to those who were able to make it to our Saturday meeting last week! I would like you to all start working on your position paper for your Topic A. Your first copy of the paper will be due Thursday, March 15!
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I hope you all have a wonderful week!
KF

Have Fun on your Field Trips! Week of February 21-24

Hello all:

For some of you, this next week will be short and sweet...for others, you have a quiz to look forward to! One class has BOTH!

Remember, due to the US holiday of President's Day, there will be no school on Monday, February 20.

Also, just a quick note to my Model UN students...we will (finally) have our Thursday meeting this Thursday at lunch! Bring your country research and be ready to discuss with the group!

Whether you have class once or 4 times this week, here's what's happening in Room #4:
6th grade: Due to your, let's say, less than stellar performance in the review game last week, I have decided that you need a bit more time to review for your Colonialism Quiz. Therefore, you will have time both Tuesday and Wednesday to review. Please bring all your notes and assignments from this unit, including your timeline information, to class both of these days!
Your Colonialism Quiz will be Thursday, February 23! On Friday you will be working together in a group activity.
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7th grade: You will finally have the ability to present your South Asia projects on Tuesday! You will also have your South Asia Map Quiz. Enjoy your field trip the rest of the week!
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8th grade: Class time on Tuesday will be spent following the progression of the Black Death across Europe using primary sources. You will be given a Black Death Packet assignment for homework, due on Monday when you return. NO EXCEPTIONS!
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9th grade: You will spend your class time on Tuesday and Wednesday finishing up learning about the resistance movements against Imperialism. Thursday will be your review game, and Friday, February 24 will be your Imperialism quiz!

Have great week, enjoy your field trips, and come back ready to finish the last 3 weeks of Quarter 3!

KF

Model UN: "Assignment" for Thursday, February 9

Hey Model UN!

It was really fun to get together with you all today! I think this is going to be a great team, and I am SO excited for the simulation in April! :)

Anyway, here is your "homework" for next Thursday:
I would like each of you to research your country...just focus on the background information. I suggest looking at the following things:
Capital City
Neighboring Countries
Landforms
Population
Climate
Important Products
Crops
Important Cities
Ethnic Group(s)
Language(s)
Major Religion(s)
System of Money and Comparison to the US Dollar
Historical Background (beginnings, independence, major wars, major social movements, etc--understanding the background of the country will help you understand what is happening now)
Current issues (social, economic, governmental, etc)
Anything else you find that you think is interesting or relevant

Here are some excellent websites for you to do your research:
The United Nations Website
British Broadcasting Company Country Profiles
CIA World Factbook
Best Country Reports
National Centre for Trade Information
Intute World Guide
US Department of State
You may also want to look at the Embassy website for your specific country (search your country's name + the word "embassy")

Another very helpful website for you to keep in mind throughout the process of preparing for April is the Mazapan School Model United Nations website: http://mmuns.org/MMUNS_2012/Home.html. You can find a lot of great information there, including the list of committees and topics. There is also a great page of Delegate Information which will give you a tentative schedule, more information about the dress code, and other information. Enjoy!

Let me know if you have any questions...otherwise, see you next Thursday! :)
KF

First Post of the 2011-2012 School Year!!!

Greetings Discovery School Parents and Students!

For those of you who haven't met me before, my name is Kristen Fink. I am originally from Iowa, USA, and have bachelor's degrees in history and journalism, and my Master of Arts in Teaching. This is my second year at Discovery School, and my third year of teaching. This year at Discovery I will be the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grade social studies teacher. I am also the coordinator of the school yearbook and the faculty supervisor for the Model United Nations team.

This is my classroom blog, and I work very hard to make it a resource for you. Each week you can log onto this site to check out an overview of what we will be studying that week, special information and announcements from the school, and the #1 blog hits generator, quiz review questions (with answers)! Please take a moment to answer the poll question to the right: your feedback will help me make this blog the best it can be!

I am located in the secondary building, room #4, and my door is always open to parents and students...please let me know what I can do to help all our Discovery Students succeed!

Enjoy the last week of summer...
KF

Believe it or not...6 Weeks Left: Week of May 3-6

Hello again to everyone!

Hasn't this year gone quickly!?! Wow! Only 6 weeks left!

REMINDERS FOR THIS WEEK:

Wednesday, May 4: Midterm. Remind your student to double-check for any missing assignments.
Thursday, May 5 at 6:00 PM: General Assembly. All Discovery School parents are highly encouraged to attend, because both the 2011-2012 budget and calendar need to be approved by a quorum of parents. The Discovery choir will also be performing, and works of art from all Discovery students will be on display at the Annual Art Exhibition (opens at 4:30). Activities will be provided by the Discovery School staff for any/all children who come along.
Friday, May 6: Half Day. Due to all of Thursday night's activities, the Discovery School administration has decided to make Friday, May 6 a half-day for students. Please arrange to have your child picked up promptly at 11:45.
Monday, May 9: MAP Testing begins. I will post the schedule as soon as I have it!
Wednesday, May 11: Progress Reports go home. Please be sure to ask your students for these important (and final) grade reports before the final grades of the year!!

Also, I want to CONGRATULATE! our Model United Nations team...this past weekend we participated in the ABSH Model UN Simulation at the Mazapan School in La Ceiba.

Seven Discovery students attended, and we came home with two Honorable Mention medals (2nd place) and a 4th place! Other prizes awarded to our delegates were Best Dressed Delegate, Best Alliance, and Encyclopedia (for knowledge).


I am so proud of the hard work our students put into this competition, and of all the positive comments I heard about ALL our students from other faculty advisers and students participating in the simulation. WELL DONE! :)

Now, for this week:

6th grade: This week we will continue looking at the idea of Westward migration through the eyes of people who experienced it. We are going to be reading selections from the books "My Antonia" by Willa Cather and "Little House on the Prairie" by Laura Ingalls Wilder to help you better understand why people went west and how it affected their lives. We will also be exploring the Homestead Act and looking at its impact as well. You will be with Ms. Campbell for an art activity on Wednesday.

**Due to Friday's half-day schedule, we will only have this class Tuesday-Thursday this week**

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7th grade: Hopefully you worked hard on last week's assignments, because we are going to move right on to new topics this week. On Tuesday we will go back over the idea of imperialism, and read some primary source justifications for the practice. Then we will start looking at the effects of imperialism on China...this week we will look at important things like trade imbalances and wars over opium...can't wait!
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8th grade: I hope you enjoyed the past few art-filled weeks! We are going to move from the Renaissance to the Reformation this week, and take a deep look at the man who started it all...Martin Luther. We will be watching the PBS movie Empires: Martin Luther and going through a timeline of the man's life on Friday.
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Seniors: Please remember to keep meeting your project deadlines! We have 3 more genres due this Friday! Also, the goal for this week is to FINISH the yearbook!! I will be contacting you to get anything you are missing for me by the end of the week.
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So that's that...another week!

Students, sprint to the finish!
Parents, please continue to support your students as they work hard to finish the year strong!

KF

Short and Sweet: Week of April 27-29

Welcome back, everyone!

I hope you are rested and ready to come back strong from Semana Santa.

Just so you know, I will not be at school this week, as I will be chaperoning the Model United Nations team to our Simulation at the Mazapan School in La Ceiba.

6th grade: You will be focusing on the motivations and routes of different people who moved to the western United States. You will be completing a packet all week, which has built-in extra credit if you finish early.
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7th grade: I have broken you into 3 groups within your class and assigned you each a topic to study. Your goal will be to learn as much as possible about US and Japanese Imperialism, and will have a series of questions to answer and present to the class on Friday. Although I will not be at school, I expect you will give this project your utmost attention and work hard at it. I ask that any of you with BBs periodically send me visual updates of what you are achieving in class...but do not abuse this privilege. I want to hear only good things from the sub...
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8th grade: You will be working on your portrait project with Ms. Campbell...don't forget your After Las Meninas artwork is due on Tuesday, May 3.
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Seniors: You will be a class of 3 this week, but I expect you to work hard on your multi-genre project...please remember it is due in just 3 weeks, and you have deadlines each of the next three Fridays.
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I hope you all have an excellent week!

Good Luck to the Model UN Participants!

KF

Model UN Meeting: Tomorrow!

Any 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade student at Discovery School:

You are invited to join the Model UN team...we will be having an introductory meeting tomorrow (Friday, January 21) at lunch in my room...

Hope to see you there! :)

KF

Model United Nations

Students in grades 9-12:

Anyone interested in joining the Discovery School Model UN team should plan to attend a meeting on Tuesday, December 14 during snack break. This will be an informational meeting, and we will discuss Discovery's participation in the National Model UN conference in April 2011.

Hope to see you there!

KF