Greece...It's that time of year!

Dear Parents,
Probably the most popular unit of the year - Ancient Greece - is upon us. We will be doing a variety of activities: students presenting mini-lessons, creating pictures of Greek vases, and comparing some mythology. If your student has read Percy Jackson and the Olympians, then this will be their favorite time of year! We will be viewing Disney's Hercules in class, the last two days before Christmas break. Before we watch the movie, we will talk about the classical Greek heroes, Hercules' story specifically, and then we will create a book that will compare the story to the movie. You may be begged to watch Percy Jackson, or Clash of the Titans. Greek-themed movies have been very popular over time, but I am not asking students to watch movies their parents would find offensive. If you have any questions about our unit, please feel free to contact me... And enjoy your child's journey to Ancient Greece!

New Trimester

Dear Parents & Students,

It's almost Thanksgiving already! We have started our 2nd trimester...
Students who made Honor Roll for 1st Trimester received a special treat today.
No announcement has been made yet about the winner of the Box Tops competition between 6th periods.

CANNED FOOD DRIVE - the Student Council is sponsoring a canned food drive competition this week between 4th period classes (we try to rotate these things...) Please bring your surplus canned foods to the Student Council Room (400 hall) in the morning before school.

There will be NO SCHOOL on Wednesday, Nov. 24. Usually the district has made it a short day, but this year, there will be no school that day...

Happy November!

Great to Chat with You!

I really enjoyed meeting so many parents over the last 2 days. If you were unable to come to Parent-Teacher Conferences, I have sent home with your student a copy of the grade report and a paper with important dates and web addresses. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, and thanks for all your support!
Mrs. White

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Dear Parents,

Parent-Teacher Conferences are this week: Tuesday and Wednesday, 10/12-10/13, from 4-7 pm each evening. There is no advanced sign up or scheduled appointment times for you to worry about. All the teachers will be gathered in the commons area, and you will be free to visit some or all of your child's teachers at your convenience. If you are unable to attend during those hours, and still would like to meet with me in person, please call or email to schedule a different time. I look forward to visiting with you!
Also, please remember that this upcoming weekend is UEA. There will be no school Friday 10/15, and Monday 10/18. We will be starting the new TBT Session (#3) on Wednesday, 10/20, because of that short week.
I have offered extra credit for our Mesopotamia (Hammurabi's Code - see the Social Studies blog) and for our Egypt unit. Instead of a test for the Egypt unit, students will be creating a book to demonstrate their learning. I have scheduled 2 weeks in class to work specifically on the books, including 4 days in the computer lab for research and typing. They will probably have to do some work at home, and may ask you for additional materials that I don't have available in the classroom. I can provide basic supplies, but don't have the resources to supply extra artistic supplies for 150 students.
ALL WORK (late, regular, and extra credit) MUST be turned in Friday, 10/29. Please check PowerSchool to see if your child is missing any assignments (will show as empty or 0). This is the day that my gradebook will close for the 1st trimester (which ends 11/5). This will give me time to get everything graded and recorded before that date.

Thanks!
Mrs. White

1st Trimester MidTerm

It's the middle of 1st trimester...a good time to look at where kids are and make goals for the end of the trimester. I really appreciate all the communication I've had from parents this year. Please feel free to email me or call if you have a question about an assignment or grade. If you check PowerSchool on a regular basis, notice that some assignments (most of mine) show up in blue (hyperlink). There is more information about that assignment available if you click on it. "Official" midterm reports will be sent home with your child on Monday. According to the front office, parent-teacher conferences will be in mid-October (Tues., Oct 12 4-7pm and Wed., Oct 13 4-7pm)

These will work slightly differently than in the elementary. Teachers will all be centrally located in the commons(cafeteria) area, allowing parents to speak to all their child's teachers without running around the school. I look forward to meeting most of you those evenings!