IT'S DECEMBER !

We're back....it's now December, Monday the 1st....I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! All of my children came home from college, along with my mother, sister and her husband all came to my house for Thanksgiving. My grandson was also with us. We had a very nice Thanksgiving celebration, ate a lot of food, and also celebrated my daughter's birthday. We drove to Maryland to visit some friends and relatives. Friday, my mother and grandson went with my husbands and I to cut our Christmas tree down and then we spent the rest of the day decorating the tree and the house inside and out. My kids have all gone back to college so it's time for all of us to get back to work and school. Soooo...We are now starting a new trimester, which means a fresh start for everyone! So if you didn't meet your goals or do your very best the first trimester, you can be sure to do it this new trimester. Advisement groups stay the same. Last Monday, my advisement group enjoyed treats that each brought in to share, and everyone also shared 3 things that they were thankful for. It was very refreshing to me to see and enjoy our group in that way. Thank you to all of my students for the great treats they brought in to share. New Electives start on Tuesday. My "Tournament of Games" elective has been changed to Wed. and Fri. Ok, now for some class info.... in ELA - Grammar we will be having a chapter Test Tuesday, the 9th. This Test will be on nouns. Be sure to know the following: concert, abstract, common, proper, plural, singular, and possessive nouns are. Make sure you can also tell the difference between a direct object, indirect object and a predicate noun. You should also know about appositive and prepositional phrases. Reading - all students should have a nonfiction book by Friday the 5th for our next book project. Be sure you choose a book that you will enjoy reading and doing a report on. If you enjoy sports, there are many biographies and autobiographies about favorite athletes. If you don't enjoy reading a long book...you might check out something like Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, which is a collection of short stories, that are true. Don't just look at the cover of the book, read the back and inside flaps, glance through it, then make a decision. Social Studies - don't forget we have a field trip coming up on December 8th. Keep in mind that if you do not go, you will not be allowed to attend the year end "fun" field trip. Other class information to come. Remember that report cards will be sent home either Thursday the 4th or Friday the 5th. So let's get going and have a great week!
Be a positive thinking person and know that all things are possible!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

• Tomorrow, Friday the 21st, is jeans day. All you have to pay is $3 and you can wear jeans and any school appropriate shirt. In the morning, the 8th grade will have visitors from 3 high schools to tell you about what their school offers and answer questions. Please be on your best behavior and make our school proud. Those of you that missed the Polytech field trip can attend their open house this Saturday. It is not a field trip, you will need to visit with your parents.
• Tuesday the 25th is Community Service Day. All students at PCA will participate in doing something for the community. All 8th graders will be traveling to Shutte Park in Dover for clean up. Students may wear jeans and a school appropriate shirt. Keep in mind the weather and dress accordingly to be outside. Be sure to bring a bag lunch and drink.
• NO SCHOOL Wednesday the 26th - enjoy your Thanksgiving celebration. Be sure to take time to think of all the many things to be thankful for. We'll see you back in school Monday, December 1st - yep - December...then it will be time for Christmas. Gosh how time flys!!!
• It is now the end of the first trimester. Second trimester and new electives will start the week we return. Report Cards will be sent home on Dec. 4th

November 17th update

SCIENCE - Today we took our weather station model test. Those that did not finish will finish
tomorrow.
MATH - We did goal testing today and will finish tomorrow.
WRITING - Homework - Copy given paragraph using correct quotation marks and commas
READING - Tomorrow (Tues. 18th) we have the Unit 1-7 test. Study all 6 essays. You will write
4 essays. Also study the vocab. definitions.
SOCIAL STUDIES - We continue on JA moving onto taxes. Did you bring in your field trip slip?
HEALTH -

Wed. 19th - High School Asembly 9-12
Wed. 26th - 30th - NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Break

NOVEMBER UPDATE

SCIENCE - Monday 17th Test on Weather Station Models
MATH - Tomorrow we will finish the 2 step equation quiz,
M/T 17/18th - Goal Testing and Th/F 20/21 Math Benchmark Testing
READING - Tues. 18th Reading/Vocab Test
SOCIAL STUDIES - We continue working in our Junior Achievement Finance Booklet.
Remember the Field Trip Permission slip must be in by end of this week (the 14th)
The all day field trip is to JAFP on Dec.8th
Wed. 19th - There will be a High School Assembly from 9-11. Also, anyone that missed Polytech's open house field trip, you can go this Sat. 15th to their general open house 9-1 this is not a field trip, you go on your own.
ADVISEMENT - Mon. 17th we will review our goals then talk about next week. The following Monday the 24th, I would like to have a "thankful celebration". I would like each student to bring in something to eat to share with our advisement group. There are 10 of us. I will have each student write 3 things they are truly thankful for and we will share these things. (Does not have to be tangable.)
Wed. 26th - 28th NO SCHOOL
Thurs. 27th - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! BE THANKFUL !!
Mon. Dec. 1st - Back to school

November and December Dates to Remember

Tomorrow, Nov. 4th, is Election Day - NO SCHOOL ! (Remind your parents to vote)
Wednesday, Nov. 5th - Reading and Vocab. Test (Lady and the Tiger)
Wed. 5th - Fri. 7th - Parent Teacher Conferences (scheduled times)
Mon., 10th and Tues. 11th - NO SCHOOL ! (Remember to say thank you to a veteran)
Thurs., 13th - Book Report Due - points deducted after today
Fri., 14th - Science Test on Weather Unit
Wed. 19th - Holiday Lunch (parents are invited to eat with you)
Fri. 21st - Jeans Day with a sports jersey ($3)
Mon. 24th - Trimester Ends - Report Cards will go home the first week of December
Tues. 25th - Community Service Day - ALL students will do community service today
Wed. 26th - 30th THANKSGIVING BREAK - BE THANKFUL !!
Mon., December 1st - Back to school - Canned food drive begins, bring canned food to school
Wed. 17th - Holiday Lunch (parents invited to eat with you)/ Holiday Band Concert 7:00pm
Tues. 23rd - Food drive ends - LAST SCHOOL DAY IN 2008
Wed. 24th - NO SCHOOL until 2009 - Have a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year !
Monday, January 5th 2009 - Back to school....

GO PHILLIES !! and HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!

• Don't forget that this Monday, Nov 3rd, is PICTURE DAY. You must wear your school uniform and a big smile! These pictures go in the yearbook.
• Have a fun and safe Halloween night and weekend!
• NO SCHOOL Tues. 4th - Election Day - Remind your parents to vote
• NO SCHOOL Mon. 10th and Tues. 11th - Veterans' Day - Remember those that fight to keep us free!
• NO SCHOOL Wed. 26th thru 30th - Thanksgiving Break - BE THANKFUL!!

End of October Update

Well here it is the end of October....can you believe it?

Congrats to all that worked so hard to make PCA's First Annual Halloween Haunting a success!

Book Fair is all week - all of Muldoon's classes will go tomorrow, Thursday 30th

Spirit Day - Also tomorrow, Thursday 30th - Students may wear jeans and a PCA color shirt for $3. That afternoon will be the pep rally. Middle school will start at 2:30.

Middle School Gathering will be on Halloween day, Friday, Oct. 31st

PICTURES - Don't forget that picture day is Monday, Nov. 3rd

CONFERENCES have been scheduled and a reminder will be attached to your agenda this week. Be sure that your parent gets the reminder.

NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - November 4th, 10th, 11th

ELA - Continue to read your fiction books. Don't loose your book report file folder with the instructions to completing your book report. As soon as you finish reading, get started on your book report. ALL BOOK REPORTS ARE DUE THURSDAY, NOV. 13th (points will be deducted for any report handed in after that date). Grammar - We will continue working on nouns. READING - We will have a quiz on "Lady and the Tiger" and the vocab. next week.

SCIENCE - Weather Unit continues...

MATH - Equations with Positive and Negative Intergers (Numbers) using the order of operations (pemdas) continues...

SOCIAL STUDIES - Junior Achievement booklets continue...

October 16th - UPDATE

• Writing - Final copy of your Short Story is due tomorrow, Friday 17th.
• Science - Test today...hope you studied!
• Math - We will continue practicing Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying and Dividing and Negative Numbers
• Social Studies - Did you present yet? Some have been great! If you haven't presented yet, be ready it's your turn next!

MISTAKE POSTED

ATTENTION - The DSTP info. below is incorrect. Testing is for 4th-6th ONLY. I was not able to correct it after posting, sorry.

ATTENTION PARENTS

Agenda MUST be signed by the parent/guardian EVERY night. (The far right column is specific for parental signing) The agenda will be checked every Friday at the end of the day. Consequences after 3 missed and 10 missed signatures for ALL Middle School students, NOONE is exempt! Please be sure to read and sign your child's agenda every night.

Monday, October 13th - UPDATE

ELA - Reading/Vocab. Test Tues. 14th and Grammar Test Wednesday 22nd,
Writing - Final of Short Story is due Friday 17th
SCIENCE - Test on Wednesday 15th, directly from your notes... so study them
MATH - This week we start "Inverse Operations"
SOCIAL STUDIES - Presentation of projects begin tomorrow, are you ready?
Advisement - My group continues to set and revisit their goals. Good Luck - you CAN do it!!!
Think about an activity for the group that requires everyone to work together to be
successful. Also, we will plan on Mon. Nov. 24th to be a celebration. Everyone will bring
something to share (food, drink, etc.) that must be approved by Mrs. Jilek. We will also talk
about what we are thankful for.
Dance - The first PCA dance will be this Friday the 17th from 6-9 for 5th-8th grade only. The
cost is $5, unless you bring a chaperone and it is $4.
Book Fair - Oct. 27-31st
Haunted Night - PCA Haunting will scare the britches off of you!!! Friday the 24th at night...
wear your costume...watch for more information to come
Pep Rally - Thursday, Oct. 30th will be the last home football game and peprally. We will participate from 2:30-3:00. For $3 you may wear jeans and a purple or school appropriate shirt. Best "PCA ALL THE WAY" wins the spirit stick!

Things to Remember

Reading: Wed. 17th - Tell Tale Hearts Quiz and Vocabulary
Writing: This week - Think of 2 short story ideas
Science: Wed. 17th - We start our posters, so you must have a piece of WHITE
poster board, (markers will not be supplied so bring them if you want them)
Frid. 19th - Review for Test (Exam1)
Mon. 22nd - Poster Presentations (Be ready - no excuses!)
Tues. 23rd - Exam 1 (Study - Be prepared!)
Social Studies: Political posters, skit, speech, and debate due for presentation this week
Math: Keep up the great work! Ms. Decker and I are very proud of how well you are working.
Practice your mulitplication facts. We might have a timed test on Friday, be ready!
Advisement Group: You each made some good goals for yourselves to meet this week.
Remind yourself daily what your goals are and I'm sure you CAN do it!
*OPEN HOUSE - Wednesday, September 24th 5:30-7:00pm

HAVE AN GREAT WEEK! See you at school.... Mrs. Jilek

Mrs. Jilek's Monday Advisement Group

Today, Monday Sept. 8th, we started our Monday Advisement group. Don't forget to think about about your 2 weekly goals. One should be for academics and the other for citizenship. Mrs. Bullen and I gave you plenty of examples and ideas. You could also talk to your parents, an older sibling or family member for other ideas. Be sure that your goals are measureable, meaningful, manageable, and realistic. Write them in your agenda book on the bottom section of one of this week's pages. Also be thinking about a name for our group; one that we could have a picture to go with it. We will talk about those ideas next Monday. Remember that goal setting is an important part of life, being successful academically and personally. See you at school...Mrs. Jilek

Just a reminder....we start our electives tomorrow, Wednesday, so be sure to know where you should go. Enjoy!!

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

Here it is the 1st of September. The weather is good and the air is crisp. I hope you are enjoying your 4 day weekend. Last week we enjoyed many "get to know you" activities and everyone knows our school rules. Back to school tomorrow, Monday the 2nd. We will get started on our lessons. If you do not have all of your school supplies, be sure to get to Walmart or the Dollar store today, you must have everything on the list. Enjoy your day and we'll see you tomorrow!

First Day of School

Well we all made it through the first day of school! I hope you enjoyed the first day and are looking forward to this new school year. This week we will be getting to know each other, your schedules, and the new rules and procedures. You will be taking the beginning of the year Math placement assessment test, to assure that you are in the correct Math class. Likewise, you will also be taking a Reading Benchmark Test to help us know where you are in your reading and comprehension.
Remember that Wednesday the 27th is tryouts for all fall sports. Be sure to have your physical forms completed and in hand or you will not be allowed to tryout.
Be sure to have your parents look at the supply list and be sure to have everything you need. Remember: No School this Friday, 29th and Monday, Sept. 1st, so plan a fun 4 day weekend!

Last night's "Meet and Greet" was a big success! It was nice to meet some of the new students that will be attending PCA, as well seeing those that are returning to PCA. We will have an awesome year!
It was also great to see some of my students from last year; thanks for coming to say hi. Good luck to each of you in your first year in high school. Stay focused on the important things, and have fun! Keep in touch.

8th Grade Supply List

Required Items:
2 – 1” Binders
1 – 2” Binder divided into 3 sections
4 Marble Composition Books
2 Pocket Folders
1 Folder or Divider with pockets for Binder
Pens, pencils, colored pencils, pencil case, highlighters and loose leaf paper (these will need to be replenished throughout the year)
Optional Items: Scientific Calculator, Pencil Sharpener, Protractor, Three-hole punch that fits in a binder.
Shared Classroom Items: Tissues, Paper Towels, Wet wipes, and Hand Sanitizer
Thank you for any donations that you can make throughout the school year.

** Parents/Guardians: ONLY purchase what is on this list. Upper School students will be required to carry all personal belongings throughout the day.

Calendar Reminder: There is NO SCHOOL on Friday, August 29th and Monday, September 1st, so everyone can enjoy a 4 day Labor Day weekend.

Sport Tryouts: Get ready for the Fall sports tryouts. Tryouts begin Wed.,the 27th. That means that you must have your sports physical and the form completed in order to attend tryouts. So don't delay, get it done today! The physical form can be found on the PCA website. Go to the "Parents Corner", then the "Nurse Info.", then "Sports Physical".

In the near future, I will be adding special links to my blog, so be sure to come back to visit.
I welcome your comments and/or suggestions. You can send a comment via this blog or you can e-mail me at sjilek@pca.k12.de.us
Always remember that we are a team, working together for student success.
Without "U" I would not have "SUCCESS"!

Have a great weekend and we'll see you on Monday, August 25th.

Welcome Back!

I hope everyone had a great summer! Here at PCA we are excited about the new school year beginning Monday, August 25th. Schedules, class lists and bus routes will be out soon. Mark your calendars to attend our annual Meet and Greet night, which will be Thursday, August 21st from 5-7. I look forward to seeing our returning students, and meet new students to PCA. Be sure to check out each of your teacher blogs for important information. See you soon.