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....