Las Posadas

This Friday is Las Posadas.  Seventh grade students need to be at the park at 6:30 to get ready.  Remember to dress warmly, the weather is supposed to be cold.  After the procession and the concert we will move on to the gym for music and donuts.  Everything should be wrapped up by 9:00.  I hope to see everyone there!

Carnegie Hall Trip

We will we leaving for Carnegie Hall tomorrow at 8:30 AM.  This means students needs to be at school on time so we can board the bus by 8:20.

The dress code for tomorrow's trip  is a black shirt, black pants/skirt and shoes.  If students do not have black pants they may wear khakis.  If students still have polo shirts from last year's concert please bring them in tomorrow.

Latest News -

Latest News -

Progress Reports -
The fall term ended on the last day of school before the Thanksgiving vacation. Progress reports are being written now and will be mailed to you on Friday.


Mini-Term - Carnegie Hall, Mini-term Electives, & Las Posadas

Every year, the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are busy ones at Mustard Seed.

Carnegie Hall -
This year, the mini-term begins as students participate Carnegie Hall's Global Encounters Program: Music of India. Visiting musicians will perform at MSS on December 7 and we will participate in an interactive concert at Carnegie Hall on December 9. Visiting artist, Steven Dunn, will also be joining our classrooms as we take part in this study.

Mini-term Electives -
Among other things, during the mini-term, students will take part in electives the on the mornings of Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays.

Advent & Las Posadas -
On Friday, December 18, we end the term with a whole-school celebration led by Upper School students, (including the MSS Chorus & Choristers) at Las Posadas. Until then, students in K-8 will celebrate Advent together and service projects will be prominent.

Other Studies -
While electives, global music, and Advent preparations shape our days, studies in Spanish, Algebra, and language arts will continue. Literature will include the reading of Shakespeare! Advisory groups will still take place every week, along with spelling, vocabulary, and grammar - but the new test and book-talk days are FRIDAY!

What's Happening in the Mini-Term Electives?

What is the Relationship between Structure and Freedom?
What are some of the characteristics of freedom?
Where does freedom exist and what do we do with it?
When are structures (and rules) good and when are they frustrating?
How do we balance freedom and structure if we are to create good lives, work and play well, and fulfill our callings?

These are some of the guiding questions that will be recurring in our December miniterm. Whether in literature, mathematics, our common study of Indian music and culture, or electives, students will be considering these questions and others in the three weeks to come.


Of the 8 offered electives, each student participates in two.

Session #1:

Living Well (Ms. Rupke): This mini-term will involve a variety of activities. It is intended for you to think about what it means to live a healthy life style. This will include exploring physical health and goals, social relationships, and spiritual well being. Some of this mini-term will include learning how to bake "from scratch", participating in Yoga and Pilates, collage creation, and creating journals.

Capoiera (Ms. Penfold): Capoeira is a unique martial art that is African in origin and Brazilian in evolution. Introduced to the US in the mid-1970s, Capoeira has become one of Brazil's top sports (second only to soccer). Capoeira's agile movements are deft and tricky, a combination of sweeping kicks and acrobatics that marries flexibility, agility, strength, balance and coordination and results in self-confidence.

Paisley Pattern Printing (Ms. Buckley): In this mini term elective students will experiment with different printing techniques. We will start by carving potato blocks and develop the skills necessary for lino printing. The designs we'll use will be based on traditional paisley patterns, a motif that was popularized on textiles from Kashmir, India. This option will also include a time of henna painting, an activity in which students may choose to participate (that part is optional).

Weight Training and Cardio Training (Mr. Gerardo): Students will experience circuit weight training along with cardiovascular workouts. We will be working in the MSS gym and also at Church Square Park.

Session # 2:

Modern Indian Culture as "Scene" in Bollywood (Mr. Choi): This mini-term students will explore Indian culture as it is portrayed in modern Bollywood films. We will watch three films and discuss how they differ from Western films: What values are emphasized? How is humor, violence, romance and drama portrayed differently (or similarly)? The three films will be Koi...Mil Gaya, Krrish, and New York.

Indian Independence and the Question of Pakistan (Ms. Hanson; Assistant: Caroline Groce): In this elective, students will explore the difficulties surrounding independence for British India and the series of events that divided India from Pakistan. In this elective, students will examine the effects of British imperialism, reflect upon the biographies of Mahatma Gandhi and Mohammed Ali Jinnah (through documentary and movie clips, as well as texts), study the geography of the Indian subcontinent, consider the ancient religions of Hinduism and Islam, and participate in an informal debate, as we examine the conflicting positions that existed at the time of the Cabinet Mission that was assembled in 1946.

History of Baseball (Mr. Gerardo): Students will be able to learn the history of baseball. We will be watching a variety of baseball movies and documentaries.

Capoiera (Ms. Penfold): Capoeira is a unique martial art that is African in origin and Brazilian in evolution. Introduced to the US in the mid-1970s, Capoeira has become one of Brazil's top sports (second only to soccer). Capoeira's agile movements are deft and tricky, a combination of sweeping kicks and acrobatics that marries flexibility, agility, strength, balance and coordination and results in self-confidence.

Thanksgiving Break (11/20 - 11/29)

Reminder that students do not have school this Friday (11/20)
Progress reports will be mailed after Thanksgiving.  Everyone should be receiving it in the mail after the break.
Mini-Term begins the day we get back from break (11/30)

Exhibitions

Today the 7th grade gave their Art Exhibitions.  Though I only had the opportunity to watch three of the students (Beca, Juan and Devin who by the way did a wonderful job) I have heard from all the advisors that everyone did remarkably.  They should be very proud of their work.

End of Fall Term

I cannot believe it is already the end of the Fall Term.  Just 6 more school days until Thanksgiving Break (Don't forget, students do not have school on Friday Nov. 20).  However we still have plenty to do.  Besides the projects (Timeline for Social Studies) and Exhibitions (Art) that are due next week, students also need to turn in all back work/corrected work for Music by the latest, Monday Nov. 16th.  Also students will have have a chance to choose their elective for the upcoming Mini-Term.  Information for these classes will be posted/sent home soon so parents can see the choices the students have and help them select the electives that would best suit them.

As always, the homework is posted on the right side of this blog.  Please email me if I forget to update.

World War II Timeline

Due Date: Thursday, November 19

Description: Create a timeline that shows the major events of World War II.  Keep in mind that many of these events will be mentioned in class and written in class notes.  If you create a neat and simple timeline that includes all the major events covered in class and also craft it well, you will receive a 3 as a grade.  If the timeline is crafted in some extraordinary way, the grade will be higher (assuming it is handed in on time).

Social Studies Quiz

Tomorrow the Middle School will have a quiz in Social Studies.  It will be multiple choice and will cover the key figures and terms we have been studying in class.

Upcoming Events

Friday, November 6 @ 2 PM
Sol Rosenkranz, a speaker from the Museum of Jewish Heritage will be speaking to our students about his experiences during World War II. Mr. Rosenkranz was transported to six different concentration camps, including Buchenwald (where Elie Wiesel was also held) and Terezin. His will bring unique insight to our students as they continue to study the events of World War II in Europe. Parents may want to attend this as well and are warmly invited to come.

Tuesday, November 16
Both Seventh and Eighth grade students will be presenting their visual arts exhibitions. A specific schedule will be coming very soon. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend exhibitions.

Museum of Jewish Heritage Field Trip

Though it was rainy and wet the middle school students ventured out to NYC to visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage.  I was with the 7th graders as they followed our guide Chuck for about an hour and a half through the museum.  We learned about the heritage of the Jewish people, the tragedy of the Holocaust as well as some modern day atrocities in Africa.  Please ask your students about their experience, they were all very attentive and learned a lot.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday, October 22 @ 2 PM: 
Maximillian Lerner, a guest speaker from the Museum of Jewish Heritage, will be speaking to our students about his experiences in World War II. As a World War II veteran, a former member of the Office of Strategic Services and the British counter intelligence, he brings a unique insight to our studies of World War II. (Parents who can come may want to sit in! You are very welcome to do so.)

Thursday & Friday, October 22 - 23
Parent Conferences take place as scheduled. There are no scheduled classes on Friday, October 23, but 8th graders do attend conferences with their parents.

Wednesday, October 28
Students in grades 6-8 will be visiting the Museum of Jewish Heritage. At this time, our students are examining the impact of World War II and the Nazi genocide on Jewish lives and communities in Europe. At the museum, our students will especially explore issues of continuity of cultural identity, responsibility to community, and decision-making. This program, Meeting Hate with Humanity, also includes an investigation of the ways in which individuals and nations responded, as well as key events of the period.For the trip, students will be traveling by ferry and by walking (a few blocks). It is an easy commute, but students will need a jacket and a paper bag lunch.

Friday, November 6 @ 2 PM
Sol Rosenkranz, a speaker from the Museum of Jewish Heritage will be speaking to our students about his experiences during World War II. Mr. Rosenkranz was transported to six different concenrations camps, including Buchenwald (where Elie Wiesel was also held) and Terezin. His will bring unique insight to our students as they continue to study the events of World War II in Europe. Parents may want to attend this as well and are warmly invited to come. 

Photos from Spruce Lake

7th Grade Hopes and Dreams

For Myself

I hope to be independent.
I hope to progress through both high school and college successfully.
I dream of traveling
I hope to become a soccer player.
I hope to go to a good college.
I hope to become a veterinarian.
I hope to become one of the greatest doctors in the country.
I dream of becoming an aeronautical engineer.
I hope to become an athlete.
I hope to open up an animal shelter.

For the World

I dream that everyone would love each other and all of us will be one family.
I hope the amount of pollution in the world would abate.
I hope for world peace.
I hope war will cease to exist.
I dream of hunger ending.
I hope the number of Christians increase.
I dream of poverty ending.

Review of Virtual War by JN

Virtual War is an action-packed novel based in a Sci-Fi world of 2080. By this time, a virus had eliminated the majority of the human population. To avoid further contamination, the remaining people form sterilized domed cities to live in. But when uncontaminated land is found on the Earth, a computer generated war is put into place to settle a dispute between the three major cities about who's property the land is. So, within the restraints of their domed cities, the advanced genetic technology produce many mutants, or failed "humans", and two successes. These major early successes, Corgan and Sharla, become a team's Leader and Cryptanalyst. One of the mutants was not a total failure- he is a prodigy named Brig. He becomes the team's Strategist. After the team undergoes intense practice, they are ready to participate in the war. With the team assembled, will they succeed in the Virtual War?
I would recommend this book to others because of three main reasons. These major reasons are what you look for in a book to evaluate it. One, well developed characters, two, a strong storyline, and three creative writing and vocabulary.

Feathers Review by JN

Feathers

This third book card is written about the required book, Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson. Feathers is about a girl named Frannie who goes to Price Public School in the 70's. The whole school is African- American but segregation in the previous years is over. The school stays that way until a white boy, nicknamed "Jesus", walks in and joins Frannie's class. When Frannie and her deaf brother, Sean, meet the Jesus Boy they aren't sure how to handle the situation. Gradually, Frannie decides to try to know the Jesus Boy better and realizes that he is no different than herself. Through this process, she discovers the meaning of a poem that her school was talking about.
Hope is the thing with feathers...
I don't think I would recommend this book to others. I felt that at the end of the book too many loose ends weren't tied together. I think the book would be stronger if it weren't written from the perspective of Frannie. I think if it weren't written from her perspective, it might have given Frannie's character more depth and personality.

Review of The Transall Saga by JN

The Transall Saga is an exciting adventure book. It is another incredible installment to the Gary Paulsen treasury.
Mark, a 13-year-old camping/survival fanatic is making a solo camping trip across the desert. There he encounters a mysterious beam of light. Careful as he is, Mark stumbles into it. After waking from a spell of unconsciousness, he finds himself on a desolate land, unknown to Earth- or is it? Slowly, Mark recalls the previous events and begins surveying the land around him. he finds people who assist him in finding information about finding his way back to his home. But during his search, he makes a startling discovery that will change the way he looks at his current situation.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes action and a twisted storyline. Gary Paulsen also manages to sneak in some little- known camping tips and facts with expertise that only master authors can write with. For this book, I think the older you are, the more sense it will make to you.

City of Ember Review by JN

The City of Ember is captivating book about a project on people living underground during a nuclear conflict. The experiment is a success; but to the outside world, the result is unknown. When Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow decipher a chewed up piece of paper, they find the title "Instructions for Egress". The door to the outside had finally been opened! I would recommend this book to practically anyone. The quality of the writing is excellent and`the storyline is easy to follow. I especially liked the creativity with characters Ms. DuPrau writes with.

Review of The Black Pearl by RR

This summer I read The Black Pearl. I think its very interesting because its about this boy named Ramon Salazar and he and his dad sell pearls. They live in different countrys that are connected to one sea. The book is called The black pearl because Ramon goes with this old Indian Guy to his country so that he can dive and get a pearl to surprise his father. He wanted to surprise a guy that likes to brag a lot to see what he would say. So Ramon dived under water.He found a big black pear called the great pearl of heaven and it is very to a dragon called the Manta Diablo. I don't want to ruin the ending for you so if you want to know read the book. On a scale of 1-10 I would rate this book an 8 because i found some parts of the book kind of boring