Spruce Lake
Spruce Lake is just around the corner! The dates are October 6th-8th. We will be leaving from school Wednesday morning and arriving back around 4PM on Friday. Here is a suggested list of what to bring:
PERSONAL (Based on a three-day program)
-Warm jacket, hat and gloves
-Sweater or sweatshirt
-3 shirts, including a warm shirt
-3 pairs of long pants or jeans
-6 pairs of socks
-Comfortable, practical footwear (including hiking and/or sneakers)
-OLD sneakers (not good hiking boots) for aquatic studies or rainy days
-Complete set of rain gear, boots, poncho or raincoat
-Face cloth and 2 towels
-Personal hygiene items (soap, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.)
-Flashlight
-Insect repellent
-Sleeping bag and pillow
-1 pair pajamas
-Personal medications
-Chapstick™
Parent Teacher Student Conference
Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences take place for 7th grade students and parents on October 21(after school & evening) and 22 (daytime until about 5:00 PM). In a few weeks, you will receive an email from the office about signing up for a time.
Please take note that on Friday, October 22, there is no school for students in grades 4-8, due to conferences. Please also note that for this conference, students do attend and participate.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Welcome to the 2010-2011 School Year!
Back To School Night
Parents are invited to attend BTSN on Thursday, September 23rd. Upper School parents will meet in the Community Room at 7:15 PM and the night will begin at 7:30.
Parents are invited to attend BTSN on Thursday, September 23rd. Upper School parents will meet in the Community Room at 7:15 PM and the night will begin at 7:30.
Spruce Lake
This year's field trip will be on October 6th, 7th and 8th. More information will be provided in the following weeks. Also, I may be contacting some of the parents to be chaperones for the trip.
Daily Homework Posting
Starting next week the homework will be posted on this blog daily.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Summer Reading Entries (9/8/10)
A Wrinkle in Time
Meg Murry is a young girl with a flaming temper and low grades. Her 5-year-old brother, Charles Wallace, is something of a genius, but is thought by everyone at school to be an idiot. Their long-missing father gives them reason to be subject of most gossip in their town.
Meg, Charles, and their mother are eating a midnight snack when a mysterious tramp visits. Charles already knows her as Mrs. Whatsit. She informs them that there is such thing as a tesseract, and leaves.
Soon after, Charles, Meg, and their friend Calvin embark on a journey to other galaxies to fight the Dark Thing, the IT, that is engulfing Earth and imprisoning their father.
I enjoyed this book because of the challenge it gave. It's a very complicated book, which can be hard to understand, so even though I'd read it before, I decided to reread it.
The House of the Scorpions
Another book I read over the summer was The House of the Scorpions By: Nancy Farmer. This book I thought was really good but, it was complicated to understand.
So the story is about a boy named Matt, who is a clone of El Patron. El Patron is the ruler of a small country called Opium, which a strip of land between Mexico and the United States. In the book, Matt is not liked or discriminated because he is a clone. So the only family/friend he has is El Patron. The only reason for that is because El Patron made Matt just like him. So they were almost the same people. When El Patron gets sick, and needs Matt to give him a heart transplant, Matt doesn’t want to. So he decided to run away to to the United States. At first Matt wasn’t enjoying his time, and was struggling with getting money, and food. After he stays for a while he makes a friends that help him with everything he was struggling with, and they eventually became his family.
I would rate this book a 4/5. Just because I didn’t understand the book, so I had to re-read a lot parts. Overall, it was a good book, and once you get to the end, and you re-read parts you didn’t understand, it all makes sense. I would recommend this book to 7th and 8th graders.
A Wrinkle in Time
Meg Murray is the main charecter in A Wrinkle in Time. She had always been the odd girl out. It was hard because she was on of six in a family. When her father; a gifted scientist goes missing, Meg, her little brother Charles Wallace and her friend Calvin are taken through time and space to rescue him. Her father is trapped in the planet of ‘Camazotz’ which is taken over by evil forces. Everything that happens on the planet of Camazotz is the same. For example everyday kids all call their mothers at the same time everyday. I would be very upset if the world was like that. Just imagine if the same thing happened to everyone at the same time everyday! That would be bad and we would have boring world. Anyway, Meg I thought was very brave when she has to fight evil forces to rescue her father and younger brother who have been taken to the planet, and have been trapped under evil forces. But she did it, and she used not her strength or mind she used something nobody on Camazotz had, or any evil force had....Love. I think that is a lesson learned.
I really enjoyed reading this book, because I learned that if you don’t have strength or a lot of power in the mind, that love can really help you. How I thought about it is, if you really love someone or something you will risk your life to save or help it in any way.
I would rate this book at 4.5/5, because the book was very confusing but, it taught many lessons, and it was a good read. I would recommend this book to anyone in the ages of 12 and up.
Meg Murry is a young girl with a flaming temper and low grades. Her 5-year-old brother, Charles Wallace, is something of a genius, but is thought by everyone at school to be an idiot. Their long-missing father gives them reason to be subject of most gossip in their town.
Meg, Charles, and their mother are eating a midnight snack when a mysterious tramp visits. Charles already knows her as Mrs. Whatsit. She informs them that there is such thing as a tesseract, and leaves.
Soon after, Charles, Meg, and their friend Calvin embark on a journey to other galaxies to fight the Dark Thing, the IT, that is engulfing Earth and imprisoning their father.
I enjoyed this book because of the challenge it gave. It's a very complicated book, which can be hard to understand, so even though I'd read it before, I decided to reread it.
PC
Another book I read over the summer was The House of the Scorpions By: Nancy Farmer. This book I thought was really good but, it was complicated to understand.
So the story is about a boy named Matt, who is a clone of El Patron. El Patron is the ruler of a small country called Opium, which a strip of land between Mexico and the United States. In the book, Matt is not liked or discriminated because he is a clone. So the only family/friend he has is El Patron. The only reason for that is because El Patron made Matt just like him. So they were almost the same people. When El Patron gets sick, and needs Matt to give him a heart transplant, Matt doesn’t want to. So he decided to run away to to the United States. At first Matt wasn’t enjoying his time, and was struggling with getting money, and food. After he stays for a while he makes a friends that help him with everything he was struggling with, and they eventually became his family.
I would rate this book a 4/5. Just because I didn’t understand the book, so I had to re-read a lot parts. Overall, it was a good book, and once you get to the end, and you re-read parts you didn’t understand, it all makes sense. I would recommend this book to 7th and 8th graders.
NA
Meg Murray is the main charecter in A Wrinkle in Time. She had always been the odd girl out. It was hard because she was on of six in a family. When her father; a gifted scientist goes missing, Meg, her little brother Charles Wallace and her friend Calvin are taken through time and space to rescue him. Her father is trapped in the planet of ‘Camazotz’ which is taken over by evil forces. Everything that happens on the planet of Camazotz is the same. For example everyday kids all call their mothers at the same time everyday. I would be very upset if the world was like that. Just imagine if the same thing happened to everyone at the same time everyday! That would be bad and we would have boring world. Anyway, Meg I thought was very brave when she has to fight evil forces to rescue her father and younger brother who have been taken to the planet, and have been trapped under evil forces. But she did it, and she used not her strength or mind she used something nobody on Camazotz had, or any evil force had....Love. I think that is a lesson learned.
I really enjoyed reading this book, because I learned that if you don’t have strength or a lot of power in the mind, that love can really help you. How I thought about it is, if you really love someone or something you will risk your life to save or help it in any way.
I would rate this book at 4.5/5, because the book was very confusing but, it taught many lessons, and it was a good read. I would recommend this book to anyone in the ages of 12 and up.
NA
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Summer Reading Entries (9/7/10)
The Battle of Jericho
In the battle of Jericho written by Sharon M. Draper Jericho, a teenager in high school, was asked to be a pledge of the Warriors of Distinction, a club that has the latest shoes, clothes, and the best parties, but to be officially a Warrior of Distinction you must go through numerous tests including toilet swirly, beating, and even jumping out of a two story window. In this book Jericho gives up the chance of a life time. Part of a concert and a chance to get into Julliard just to get into a high school club. He loses the life of his cousin and best friend josh to the club. In this book you can learn many life lessons like never do stuff just for popularity.I would rate this book a 8 out of 10.
In the battle of Jericho written by Sharon M. Draper Jericho, a teenager in high school, was asked to be a pledge of the Warriors of Distinction, a club that has the latest shoes, clothes, and the best parties, but to be officially a Warrior of Distinction you must go through numerous tests including toilet swirly, beating, and even jumping out of a two story window. In this book Jericho gives up the chance of a life time. Part of a concert and a chance to get into Julliard just to get into a high school club. He loses the life of his cousin and best friend josh to the club. In this book you can learn many life lessons like never do stuff just for popularity.I would rate this book a 8 out of 10.
FR
Monday, September 6, 2010
Summer Reading Entries (9/6/10)
A Wrinkle in Time
FR
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Summer Reading Entries (9/5/10)
Battle of Jericho By Sharon M. Draper
This book was about two boys. Jericho and Josh who is like a brother to him. They are asked to help the club called "Warriors of Distinction" which could lead to them being pledged. They did get to pledge but had to do activities which was basically humiliating to them. The last activate was to jump out a window of a old warehouse. They all did it successfully except Josh. He got up in the window and pretended to fly but he fell right on his head. He died. I liked this book because I always wanted to read more. I would recommend this to someone who would like a book that does not have a happy ending.
This book was about two boys. Jericho and Josh who is like a brother to him. They are asked to help the club called "Warriors of Distinction" which could lead to them being pledged. They did get to pledge but had to do activities which was basically humiliating to them. The last activate was to jump out a window of a old warehouse. They all did it successfully except Josh. He got up in the window and pretended to fly but he fell right on his head. He died. I liked this book because I always wanted to read more. I would recommend this to someone who would like a book that does not have a happy ending.
MC
Wood-song by Gary Paulsen
When I first decided to read this book, I didn't know that it is an autobiography. I assumed it would be similar to Hatchet; another of Paulsen's books. But it was kind of nice to read an autobiography because i haven't read one in a while. This book was of particular interest to me because I've always wondered about how Gary Paulsen gained the knowledge that gave him the ability to write books about adventure and survival. And now i know.
There are many things that can be learned from dogs. In this book, Gary Paulsen talked a lot about the things his experiences with his dogs have taught him. One lesson is that when it comes to directions, the dog is always right. On of the humorous experiences Paulsen shared in this book was how he learned that lesson. He was running the dogs in preparation for his first Iditarod, a 1180 mile sled race in Alaska, and whenever he came to a divide in the road, although he knew which direction the head dog thought to be the correct one, he deliberately decided to go the opposite way. Finally, the lead dog had had enough, so she intentionally dropped the entire team, the sled, and Paulsen, over a steep drop. Another thing that can be learned from this book is that dogs are always loyal. This was an experience that was a bit harder, for me anyway, to read about. Gary Paulsen had a dog named Storm. Storm was a well-behaved dog who always did his share of the work. He had a way of signaling to Paulsen whether or not he was pleased, and signalling his approval, or his disapproval, of Paulsen's decisions. This signal was a stick in his mouth. Whenever Storm was pleased, he would carry a stick in his mouth. When he was displeased, he would drop the stick. Storm ran miles and miles, never showing that he was tired of carrying the stick with him. Then came the time for Storm to die. It was evident for a long time that Storm was on the road to death. "We had some new dogs and some of them wanted to fight all the time...I did not want Storm to end in violence with them, so when I went on a trip one day, I left Storm tied to his chain. It was a temporary thing, just until I got back, but while I was gone it came upon Storm to end and in the final time of his life he somehow got the chain wrapped around his doghouse so he could not face east, could not do it properly. I saw where he had struggled and torn at the ground...he could not tear the chain out of the ground, could not move the house, could not face east and end it right. And it was my fault and when death came and Storm could not face east he knew I would be upset. Storm knew I would feel bad, and he did the only thing he could do. When I came back the next day, I knew that Storm was gone. Knew before I saw him...I found him next to his house. He had jammed into the side, trying to get around to the east. The earth was torn beneath him, the chain held his head north. But he didn't blame me. I will always blame myself, but Storm did not blame me. His last act, his last thought, was for me. Storm lay dead and in his mouth was a stick, the stick. Our stick." This part of the story really touched me. I think it's very special the someone could be that close to a dog. I also really liked the way Paulsen described it. I could see it happening, as clearly as if it had been me. The last part of the book is a day to day section, similar to a journal, focused only on his first Iditarod race. That is the only part of the book I would change. I think that, insignificant as this might be, I want to know more details and less information about distances and stuff.
Paulsen is the kind of writer that can make you cry when he shares a sad experience, and nearly jump for joy when he shares a happy one. I am really glad i got to read this book. I rate it a 5 out of 5 because, again, his way of writing is so clear that I could be the one who'd had the experience he's sharing. I recommend this book to my little brother because he likes books about animals and I think he would enjoy the parts about the race, which he took great interest in after he studied it in third grade.
Wood-song by Gary Paulsen
When I first decided to read this book, I didn't know that it is an autobiography. I assumed it would be similar to Hatchet; another of Paulsen's books. But it was kind of nice to read an autobiography because i haven't read one in a while. This book was of particular interest to me because I've always wondered about how Gary Paulsen gained the knowledge that gave him the ability to write books about adventure and survival. And now i know.
There are many things that can be learned from dogs. In this book, Gary Paulsen talked a lot about the things his experiences with his dogs have taught him. One lesson is that when it comes to directions, the dog is always right. On of the humorous experiences Paulsen shared in this book was how he learned that lesson. He was running the dogs in preparation for his first Iditarod, a 1180 mile sled race in Alaska, and whenever he came to a divide in the road, although he knew which direction the head dog thought to be the correct one, he deliberately decided to go the opposite way. Finally, the lead dog had had enough, so she intentionally dropped the entire team, the sled, and Paulsen, over a steep drop. Another thing that can be learned from this book is that dogs are always loyal. This was an experience that was a bit harder, for me anyway, to read about. Gary Paulsen had a dog named Storm. Storm was a well-behaved dog who always did his share of the work. He had a way of signaling to Paulsen whether or not he was pleased, and signalling his approval, or his disapproval, of Paulsen's decisions. This signal was a stick in his mouth. Whenever Storm was pleased, he would carry a stick in his mouth. When he was displeased, he would drop the stick. Storm ran miles and miles, never showing that he was tired of carrying the stick with him. Then came the time for Storm to die. It was evident for a long time that Storm was on the road to death. "We had some new dogs and some of them wanted to fight all the time...I did not want Storm to end in violence with them, so when I went on a trip one day, I left Storm tied to his chain. It was a temporary thing, just until I got back, but while I was gone it came upon Storm to end and in the final time of his life he somehow got the chain wrapped around his doghouse so he could not face east, could not do it properly. I saw where he had struggled and torn at the ground...he could not tear the chain out of the ground, could not move the house, could not face east and end it right. And it was my fault and when death came and Storm could not face east he knew I would be upset. Storm knew I would feel bad, and he did the only thing he could do. When I came back the next day, I knew that Storm was gone. Knew before I saw him...I found him next to his house. He had jammed into the side, trying to get around to the east. The earth was torn beneath him, the chain held his head north. But he didn't blame me. I will always blame myself, but Storm did not blame me. His last act, his last thought, was for me. Storm lay dead and in his mouth was a stick, the stick. Our stick." This part of the story really touched me. I think it's very special the someone could be that close to a dog. I also really liked the way Paulsen described it. I could see it happening, as clearly as if it had been me. The last part of the book is a day to day section, similar to a journal, focused only on his first Iditarod race. That is the only part of the book I would change. I think that, insignificant as this might be, I want to know more details and less information about distances and stuff.
Paulsen is the kind of writer that can make you cry when he shares a sad experience, and nearly jump for joy when he shares a happy one. I am really glad i got to read this book. I rate it a 5 out of 5 because, again, his way of writing is so clear that I could be the one who'd had the experience he's sharing. I recommend this book to my little brother because he likes books about animals and I think he would enjoy the parts about the race, which he took great interest in after he studied it in third grade.
ZR
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Summer Reading Entries (9/1/10)
A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle
I remember reading this book many years ago, and my understanding of the book at that time was very different than my understanding of it now. There are many things that i remember interpreting very differently when i was younger than i did now. I find it interesting that one story can be understood differently depending on how old you are. This book is about a girl named Meg who throughout the story learns about friendship, courage, and most importantly, love.
Meg Murry has always been the odd one out. She's always the one who's different; the wierd one. But when an impossible adventure through space and time takes her to the far away planet of Camazotz; a planet who has given in to "IT." "IT" is a brain...a repulsive, evil brain that is trying to take over everything in the universe. Everything on Camazotz is the same, every child bounces the ball in the same rhythem, every mother calls her child in at the same moment every day. I wonder what it would bel like to have my life controlled like that. I wouldn't handle it like the people on Camazotz do. I would fight. And Meg, though she is very scared, is willing to fight those on Camazotz, those in sink with "IT," in order to rescue her father and dear younger brother, both of whom have been taken into the power of "IT." And she succeeds, not with any physical strength or any strength of the mind, but with the power of something she has, but yet "IT" does not...love. Meg has finally found a place to belong.
When i read this book many years ago, there are some aspects of the book which i do not remember at all. For example, i do not remember the beasts, or the situation in which Meg is almost crushed by the black thing, or the fact that it is Meg alone who saves her younger brother and her father, or even the emphasis on the power of love throughout this book. It is curious to me that the things i do not remember from the last time I read this book, are the most crucial parts of it. I wonder why that is.
I reccommend this book to people between fifth grade and eighth grade because I think the many lessons that can be learned from this book can benefit the people in that age group more than anyone else. I rate this book a 4 out of 5 because i think I would've understood this book better if i could've pictured more clearly the places the characters visited. In other words, I think the book would've been more strongly written if the author had given more descriptive detail. All in all, however, this was a great book, and it definately makes me want to read the next one in the series.
ZG
I remember reading this book many years ago, and my understanding of the book at that time was very different than my understanding of it now. There are many things that i remember interpreting very differently when i was younger than i did now. I find it interesting that one story can be understood differently depending on how old you are. This book is about a girl named Meg who throughout the story learns about friendship, courage, and most importantly, love.
Meg Murry has always been the odd one out. She's always the one who's different; the wierd one. But when an impossible adventure through space and time takes her to the far away planet of Camazotz; a planet who has given in to "IT." "IT" is a brain...a repulsive, evil brain that is trying to take over everything in the universe. Everything on Camazotz is the same, every child bounces the ball in the same rhythem, every mother calls her child in at the same moment every day. I wonder what it would bel like to have my life controlled like that. I wouldn't handle it like the people on Camazotz do. I would fight. And Meg, though she is very scared, is willing to fight those on Camazotz, those in sink with "IT," in order to rescue her father and dear younger brother, both of whom have been taken into the power of "IT." And she succeeds, not with any physical strength or any strength of the mind, but with the power of something she has, but yet "IT" does not...love. Meg has finally found a place to belong.
When i read this book many years ago, there are some aspects of the book which i do not remember at all. For example, i do not remember the beasts, or the situation in which Meg is almost crushed by the black thing, or the fact that it is Meg alone who saves her younger brother and her father, or even the emphasis on the power of love throughout this book. It is curious to me that the things i do not remember from the last time I read this book, are the most crucial parts of it. I wonder why that is.
I reccommend this book to people between fifth grade and eighth grade because I think the many lessons that can be learned from this book can benefit the people in that age group more than anyone else. I rate this book a 4 out of 5 because i think I would've understood this book better if i could've pictured more clearly the places the characters visited. In other words, I think the book would've been more strongly written if the author had given more descriptive detail. All in all, however, this was a great book, and it definately makes me want to read the next one in the series.
ZG
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