Welcome Future Sixth Graders!!!

Dear Future 6th Graders:

Hi! I am Mrs. Fink, your new social studies teacher.

I know most of you, and I know you have heard a lot of things about me...well, I'm here to tell you they're all true! (Because they've all been good, right? ;)

Anyway, before you return to school as newly-minted 6th graders, I want to let you know a few things about my class, which may help you out next year.

I love to have fun in my class, and I love to use primary source documents, or things that were created during the time we are studying. Sometimes these are challenging, but if you give it your best, I think you will find primary sources are the best way to study history. I very rarely give "homework" (meaning, "Go home and do this" work...) If you have to do it at home, it means you didn't finish it at school. Check the blog weekly...I always update it by 8:00 AM on Monday. I always play review games the day before a quiz, and I always let you bring notes...but that means I don't often give chances to redo tests, so you need to do your best the first time around. Finally, if you hand in all your work on time, you will NEVER fail my class. Period. I am a big sticker about handing in work, and you will not be successful in 6th grade if you fail to turn things in.

I am really looking forward to being your teacher next year, and I hope you will enjoy, be challenged, and learn lots in my class!
See you in the fall!
Mrs. Fink

Final Week of School: Week of June 6-8

Hello everyone:

Well, we made it! I can't believe the school year is over!

I have had such a great first year at Discovery School, and I want to thank each and every one of you for everything you have done to make it so wonderful!

This week is all about winding the school year down...obviously the 6th and 12th grade graduates won't be at school, but I will look forward to sharing Tuesday's "Discovery Idol" and Wednesday's Awards Ceremony with any 7th and 8th graders who come to school.

Don't forget school is out at 11:45 on both Tuesday and Wednesday, so please make arrangements to have your student picked up promptly at that time.

Thanks again for a great year! I hope you all have a refreshing summer, and to see you all again next school year!!

My best regards,
KF

Congratulations, Graduates!!!

Many congratulations to the 6th and 12th grade graduates today!

Speakers, I thought your speeches were excellent...I didn't really understand the Spanish ones, but the English ones were excellent.

It has been a privilege to be your teacher this year.

Congrats!
KF

Second-to-Last Week: Week of May 31-June 3

Hello again:

I can't believe there are only 7 days left of school!!!

This week is a wind-down week for most of the students:

6th grade: you will be with Ms. Valencia for my class on Tuesday to practice for graduation. On Wednesday and Thursday we will be watching a movie about immigration so you can evaluate it for some of the trends we discussed earlier in the quarter. And, on Friday, you graduate!! :)
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7th grade: Your DBQs are due Tuesday, so I hope you have worked hard on them over the weekend! On Wednesday we will review for the quiz, and on Thursday we will have your final social studies quiz of 7th grade!! Friday you will be attending the graduation ceremonies.
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8th grade: Good luck on your final exams this week!!
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Seniors: Congratulations on your graduation!! :)

Sprint to the finish everyone! :)
KF

Three More Weeks: Week of May 23-27

Hi everyone!

We're winding down the school year VERY quickly!

Just want to say a GREAT congratulations to Mr. Fenn and all the students who participated and won awards at the Chronicles of Discovery Gala last Friday...it was a great event and really showcased how AWESOME our Discovery kids are! Way to go!



















(By the way, if you want to get your hands on the Chronicles of Discovery magazine, let Mr. Fenn or myself know and we'll make sure you get a copy! What a great way to support our students' literary and artistic endeavors!)

Anyway...here's what's up for this week:

6th grade: CONGRATULATIONS to each of you for passing your National Anthem Exams!! I am so proud of you! You have just a week+ left as 6th graders...let's make them great! This week we will finish up our look at Westward expansion with various looks at the Mexican-American War...you will have your last 6th grade social studies quiz on FRIDAY!!!
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7th grade: We will continue looking at African Imperialism this week with a second segment of the Queen Victoria movie and the resistance movements in Africa. We will also have a DBQ at the end of the week!! :) 7B...sorry for you, you have no class this Friday. :(
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8th grade: Review review review, that will be the word for you this week. I hope you are ready for your first round of final exams next week...and I'm sure you will be after this week! We will be working on both your study guide and an artistic review activity as well...I hope it will be a fun but worthwhile review week for you. Also, don't forget, due to Friday's half day you will not have class on the 27th.
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Seniors: I was very impressed with your multi-genre projects! Thank you very much for all your hard work this school year. It was a pleasure being your teacher, and I wish you all the best in the future! :)
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Well, there you have it...3 more weeks! Sprint to the finish! :)

KF