KINDERGARTEN
Mrs. Hernandez Nagreen
May 2010 News

April was an exciting month in the curriculum area.  All of us were excited to find out about Australia.  The children found the country very interesting. The animals are always very interesting and we found out that marsupials are wonderfully exciting animals. The children were amazed at the journey a very, very small kangaroo needs to make to get into its mother’s pouch.   The children were excited to find out that the Tasmanian Devil was really a live animal, but were disappointed that it didn’t really look like the cartoon character. We learned and loved the song about Marsupial Sue who found out that a kangaroo’s life isn’t so bad after all.

We all planted a flower. The flowers really sprouted nicely. Last fall when we studied monarch butterflies we also talked about milkweed seeds. In the past I have planted milkweed in my backyard to attract these beautiful butterflies. The first year the seeds didn’t grow very well, but the subsequent years were fantastic. If you are interested please go to the website www.livemonarch.com to get more useful information on growing a successful milkweed plant to draw in the monarchs.  If you send a request to me, I would be happy to send a few milkweed seeds home with your child to plant in your yard. Last Friday we had a fun time watching the milkweed seeds “fly” in the wind.  We were amazed that each one was created with its own little parachute.

In April we also learned about George Washington Carver.  We learned that he was a botanist (a plant scientist). He helped the southern farmers learn how to grow crops and keep the soil healthy.  Did you know that he developed over 300 products that could be made from the peanut?  The kids were amazed too.

May is also an exciting month.  Our continent of interest is South America. We will focus on the land, the culture of the people and the animals of the rainforest.  In science we will continue to talk about plants, but also include farming.  Literature includes the stories of Casey Jones and The Velveteen Rabbit. We will also continue to review concepts from throughout the year. We had a great field trip to “The Gardens” at Memorial Park and in my opinion it was fabulous.  We had a great day and the children learned a lot about plants.  I even learned a thing or two. 

Shoebox:  I need every child to bring in a shoebox for a diorama.  Hopefully time allows us to embark on this great project. Please do not send in boxes that are cut at a diagonal. Boxes that have the cover connected are fine. Try to make it an adult size, if possible. Send in more than one if you have them at home.

Math: We are still on schedule to finish all of our curriculum material before the end of the year.  Many of the children could still use some additional help with identifying money. We are also working on telling time to the hour and half hour.  Many of the children enjoyed the challenge of working with tangrams. 

Reading: Reading is really progressing well.  The last test grades were really very good, but this next test is a bit more challenging…so be preparedJ I know the spelling has been challenging for some of the children.  They are always given direction as to what combination or ending that we are using. When children get things wrong, it is usually because the student chooses to add different letters into the word. I have been giving fewer points off than I am supposed to for the b and the d.  I do think that writing letters is a developmental area that can’t be rushed, but if the children are forming the letters correctly, I don’t think so many errors would be made. The letter b is made by saying “bat and a ball.”  The d is made by saying, “d starts like the a, and goes up, up and down.” 

Kindergarten Graduation: I am putting this in very large and bold letters so that everyone knows that this information is very important.  Kindergarten Graduation is on June 2nd from 1:45 to 2:45.  I need some help to make graduation a success.  Are you interested in being on the hat committee? Are you interested in being on the refreshment committee?  Contact me with any interest you might have.  Thank you to those who have already volunteered. 

Please contact me with any questions. 

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The children will explore farm life during Science Class this month.  This will include animals, crops, and types of farms. 

Last month we began a science unit that continues into this month.  We have plants that are growing tall and strong.  We witnessed the sprouting of roots and stems from peas and marigolds. We also dissected celery stalks to find the nicely stained “straws” that drank up the red, colored water. 

We will continue to add to our “Sayings” and discuss their meanings.  Then we’ll discuss how those sayings fit into our daily lives.

On Friday, May 21st we will gather to make little mortarboards and tassels from 10:25 – 11:30.  Parents welcome and needed!

Math Class
Mrs. Syverson’s class
Tests - May 3, 13, 21, June 1

Reading Class
Mrs. Syverson’s class
Please continue to read at home.  This is a very important part of your child’s learning.
Tests - May 18, June 2

May Calendar
9 Happy Mother’s Day!
11 Spirit Day
21 Last Week to return Library Books 
28 Half Day – 11:17 dismissal
31 Memorial Day - No School

June Calendar
2 Kindergarten Graduation (Wednesday) 1:45 to 2:45
4 Last Day of School 8:00 – 9:23

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Summer and the end of the school year are just around the corner.  We have had a great time and learned a great many things this year.  Our last month of school will be a full one.  Here’s what’s going on in first grade. 

In literature this month we will be listening to stories from around the world.  Some of the stories will fit into the category of “why” stories.  They explain how something came to be.  Anansi and the Sky God  and Medio Pollito are two.  We will read The Boy Who Held Back the Sea, a story form Holland, which shows that even young children can be heroes.  Another is a Yiddish story from Europe, It Could Always be Worse.  Lastly, we will listen to The Knee-High Man, a story about a man who wanted something that he didn’t need. 

The geography, culture, people and traditions of Modern Mexico will be explored .  A review of the Mayan and Aztec cultures from October will also be included in our lessons.

Our science lessons should keep the children interested during the last days until summer.  We will be learning about dinosaurs and extinct animals.  We will also learn about another interesting habitat, the rainforest. 

In grammar, we will continue to distinguish between complete sentences and sentence fragments. We will identify past, present, and future tense verbs.  We will also be introduced to writing a friendly letter and thank you note.

Saxon 1 math will be identifying and counting quarters; subtracting 2 digit numbers; identifying hundreds, tens and ones; and identifying events  as certain, likely , or impossible.  Our fact practice will include differences of 1 and 2, subtracting half of a double, and a review of previous subtraction facts.   Saxon 2 will finish out the year working on the following skills: 100 addition/subtraction facts; dividing by 2; time to the quarter hour, and multiples of 2, 3, 4, and 5.  Please do extra practice at home counting by 3’s to 30 and 4’s to 40. 

Both reading groups are working on reading very carefully with expression.  When your child reads aloud to you at home, encourage them to use emotion when they are reading the words that a particular character is saying.  Praise them when they read clearly.  This helps to reinforce what the children are to do when reading aloud in class.

We will also continue to focus on doing neat, careful work.  Please reinforce doing quality work at home with your child during these last weeks of school.  Please check nightly to see that your child has entirely completed their assignments for reading and math as well as check to see if they have completed them neatly. Thank you for your continued support.

We would like to add a special thank you to all of our parents that have helped us this year, especially our weekly volunteers.  Without their faithful dedication we would not be able to keep up with all the busy work that our Direct Instruction programs require.  Their help enables us to keep daily records of your child’s progress and also gives us more time to work on lesson planning and curricular needs!  Your help is so instrumental to the students’ success.  A special thank you to our classroom parents, as well, for organizing all of our special events.

Dates to remember:
 May 7th – Book order due
May 11th  – Spirit Day
May 28th – No P.M. class
May 31st -  No school
June 1st – Field trip to NEW Zoo – More information coming soon.
June 4th – Last day of school, dismissal at 9:23

We would like to wish all of your families a fun-filled, enjoyable summer. J  We have thoroughly enjoyed teaching and watching your children grow this year!

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2ND GRADE
 Mr. Bomann and Mrs. Campshure
May 2010 News

Here is the last newsletter of the 2009-2010 school year.  Thank you so much for all of the considerations and support that you have extended to the both of us throughout the school year. 

Reading Mastery 3 – We are finishing our Reading Mastery 3 Book C within a couple of weeks and then we will be reading a chapter book or two.  The first will be Stuart Little by E.B. White.  The other will be selections from Homer Price. 

Reading Mastery 4  –The students have been reading Pippi Longstocking and completing written work for each chapter.  In class we talk each day about how to make sentence answers better.  I encourage the children to include details in their written answers that come from the question as well as the book.  I tell them that it will help their answers make better sense.  They are learning this skill better each lesson.  We will conclude the year reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Spelling Mastery B – We continue to plug along with the difficult words and spelling rules taught at the end of this book.  I continue to review words with any extra time we have each day.  We will finish the level by the end of the school year.  A review of these words will begin the next level of the spelling program in the fall.

Saxon Math Level 2 and 3 -  As the year comes to a close we are amazed by what the children have learned.  You will want your child to practice facts over the summer.  There are a few students still struggling with some of the concepts taught at these levels.  If your child is struggling, you may want to enroll them in the Math program we are running during Summer School at Classical.  We always suggest parents look for ways to keep math skills sharp over the summer.  There are many natural ways to enrich skills and have fun as well!

Core Knowledge Literature News – This month we are reading Beauty and the Beast and The Emperor’s New Clothes both of which were written by Hans Christian Andersen and The Fisherman and His Wife which was written by the Brothers Grimm.  We will also read the Tongue-cut sparrow which is a tale from Japan.  We will read the poems Seashell by Federico Garcia Lorca and Smart by Shel Silverstein.  Our sayings for the month are “Don’t judge a book by its cover” and “Two heads are better than one.” 

Core Knowledge History and Geography – We will learn about modern Japan this month.  The students will immerse themselves in the “land of the rising sun.”  They will learn about the 4 major islands, Mt. Fuji and Tokyo.  We will study some of the traditional crafts and costumes and finally learn about some of the holidays that Japanese people celebrate.  We will also review South America which will include Brazil, Amazon River, Peru, Chile, Andes Mountains, Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina.

Science  -  This month’s focus is on Magnetism.  The children will be working hard all month on a packet of experiments designed to focus attention on forces they cannot see that act upon objects.  They will also learn about lodestones, magnetic poles, magnetic field and laws of magnetic attraction.  The month will end with a bit of orienteering and use of a compass.

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3RD GRADE
Mrs. Holcomb
May 2010 News

This marks the last newsletter of the year, but we still have a lot to accomplish before we close the door on third grade for these enthusiastic students.  We will be going to the Barlow Planetarium on Wednesday, May 12th.  The last third grade event of the year will be our Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland croquet game and tea party.  It will be on Wednesday, June 2nd. 

GRAMMAR 
The students are able to recognize the difference between Pattern 2 and Pattern 3 sentences while finding indirect objects and direct objects.  They will be learning how to correct double negative sentences. Also they will be working on how to determine if a verb is regular or irregular and learning the difference amongst the different tenses of verbs.

HISTORY 
We will be completing our study of Ancient Rome and moving onto our last unit of Important Rivers of the World.  The students will discover how rivers have shaped the places and the way that people choose to live throughout history.  The students will each do a poster report on a major world river.  We will be locating each major river on a map and determining the country that it is in.

SCIENCE 
Our science investigations will be “out of this world” as we explore the earth’s moon, black holes, meteors, and eclipses. We will read about Apollo 11, the first landing on the moon.  Our last science biography of the year will be about Mae Jemison who was the first African-American woman to go into space.   We will be making our own space shuttle glider as we complete this unit.

LITERATURE  
Alice in  Wonderland is keeping everyone’s attentions as Alice gets herself into the most ridiculous of circumstances and meets unusual characters.  This month we will also be reading many of the Arabian tales.  These are ancient tales created by Scheherazade to protect her life.  Several of the favorites that we will be reading are Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.

LANGUAGE ARTS 3  
The class will be completing The Jungle Book and will soon be reading The Princess and the Goblin.   Read along with your sons and daughters as they are intrigued by a princess who takes a hidden stairway to a secret room which leads to a mysterious woman who gives her a magic ring.  Don’t put the book down until the plot has unraveled itself into a lovely ending. 

SAXON MATH 3  
Encourage your son or daughter to finish well as this quarter in math becomes more difficult.   Continue to regularly practice the multiplication and division facts.  They will need to know these extremely well for the following year. In May we will be identifying angles, identifying geometric solids, finding factors, and identifying units of distances.

THANK YOU!!!
An enormous thank you to all who have faithfully helped throughout the year to make this a successful endeavor for all of your third grade students.  Thank you to classroom helpers, our room mother, field trip chaperones, special speakers, treat providers, KAT helpers, and any volunteer opportunity I did not list.  You are truly appreciated!!

DATES TO REMEMBER

May 6 – Barlow Planetarium field trip
May 10 - 14 – Box Tops Competition this week
May 11 – Spirit Day – wear your school colors
May 28 – No School in afternoon for K-6
May 31 – Memorial Day – No School
June 2 – Croquet game and tea party
June 4 – Last day of School

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3RD GRADE
Mrs. Hoppe
May 2010 News

History 
We will be completing our study of Ancient Rome and moving onto our last unit of Important Rivers of the World.  The students will discover how rivers have shaped the places and the way that people choose to live throughout history.

Science 
Our science investigations will be “out of this world” as we explore the stars, constellations, planets,  earth’s moon, black holes, meteors, and eclipses.

Literature 
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland will keep all of our attentions as Alice gets herself into the most ridiculous of circumstances and meets unusual characters.  This month we will also be reading Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.

Reading (Reading Mastery Plus 4) 
We have completed our Reading Mastery Plus 4 textbooks and workbooks and have begun our first novel—Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.   Our class is really doing a great job reading this story.  They are also improving on their daily questions.  We will continue to emphasize writing answers in complete sentences and using words from the question in our answers.   Please look for the book and a question page/packet to come home with your child daily.

Math (Saxon 5/4) 
Our class has made so much progress this year!  I can’t believe how hard the children have worked on the many concepts that have been introduced throughout the year.  We will continue to practice our facts in these last weeks of the year.  We will also continue to introduce many new concepts regarding fractions—equivalent fractions, adding and subtracting fractions, simplifying fractions, renaming fractions, and changing denominators.  Please continue to review these concepts with your child at home—they are quite difficult and the extra explanation and/or practice will be helpful to the children.

Two final notes...
I give an enormous thank you to all of you who have faithfully helped throughout the year to make this a successful endeavor for all of our third grade students.  Our classrooms cannot run smoothly without you!

Secondly, thank you to all students and parents who have expressed their appreciation of the staff and faculty here at Classical School!  It has been a special treat to receive this appreciation this week—THANK YOU!

DATES TO REMEMBER
· May 10-14—Remember to send in your box tops.
· May 11—Spirit Day Wear your school colors (blue, gold, and/or white)
· May 12—Field Trip to Barlow Planetarium
· May 21—All library books are due TODAY
· May 21—Picnic Hot Lunch TODAY
· May 28—No School in the afternoon
· May 31—Memorial Day No School
· June 2—Croquet Party and Tea Party
· June 4—Last day of school with dismissal at 9:23 am

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4TH GRADE
Mrs. Chen
May 2010 News

In history, we are finishing our medieval African kingdoms unit, and will move into the study of Chinese dynasties.  The early rulers, the building of the Great Wall, some of the great emperors, poets, and conquering warriors will be topics for our final unit of 4th grade world history.  The culture, religions, art and ideas are so different from other parts of the world, and the children will love this fascinating study. The geography of China, with special concentration on the main rivers and regions will also be studied in May and June.

Science will be the continuation of our unit on electricity. Moving from static to current electricity, we will tie in our knowledge of chemistry from earlier in the year, and draw on some of the meteorology knowledge too, to understand occurrences in nature.  The most “hands-on” of our science units, and one of the most exciting, this study of electricity will give children a basic foundation of circuits, the flow of electrons, how to break circuits, build them, make games that light up or buzz and how to respect the dangers of electricity.  Michael Faraday will be our last biographical study, and students will learn of his contributions with the electromagnet and electric generator. 

In language arts, we are concluding our Literature studies with the novel Treasure Island, which is always a favorite.  The language seems less and less a barrier each year, as the children come through from previous grades with a firmer, richer foundation.  This novel is the most interesting of the 4th grade “island” novels, and captures their imagination and takes their breath away at certain points.  We will hear complaints when it’s time to put the book away!  As a conclusion to this novel, we will have Pirate Day on Thursday, June 3 in the morning this year, which will be both fun and educational for the students. The Chinese folktale “The Magic Brocade” gives 4th graders a glimpse of culture, values and art of China long ago, and the classes will learn one final poem, “Things” by Eloise Greenfield.  Sayings and virtues for these remaining weeks include: wonder, lives to learn from, heroism, Blow Hot and Cold, As the Crow Flies, Run of the Mill, and Through Thick and Thin. 

My reading class is currently reading Robinson Crusoe. Although it is difficult in its original form, this version is always the favorite.  The reflections of his mind and the long lulls in the story between moments of excitement make it seem like the reader has been trapped on an island for almost 30 years.  Having points of extreme intensity as well, this book is filled with contrasts, religion and perseverance in times of great despair. 

For spelling, both classes are finishing the D Level and have a solid foundation of rules and morphographs that should help them with future spelling challenges. The words progressed in difficulty until now some of them are quite challenging when viewed apart from how they fit together in our spelling lessons.  The students have done very well with this level and it surprised me because I used to think of this as so hard compared to the Morphographic Spelling we taught in the past. 

In math, both levels of 4th grade students are finishing with some challenging concepts.  Fractions, ratios, geometry, long division, double-doubles multiplication, and algebraic equations have gradually increased in difficulty, which will continue until the end of the school year.  Please encourage your child to not let up in math!  Continue having your child fix incorrect problems on homework, and briefly review lessons as a way to study for tests. Summer math review packets will be offered this year as a way for your child to practice important concepts over the long break, and I recommend purchasing one to have your child work on briefly each day throughout the summer to keep math skills going. 

In grammar class, the fourth grade is well into the last unit -  the Pattern 4 sentences with predicate nouns and linking verbs.  This type of sentence says that one thing is another.  Students are doing well, and have a good understanding of the parts of a sentence, how the subject differs from the predicate, what different noun jobs are, the prepositions, and many other grammar concepts that will help them in 5th grade. Remember to keep studying the reference sections of the Shurley Grammar book if something is not clearly understood, because the concepts keep repeating. 

Our field trip to the courthouse to commemorate Law Day was very interesting this year.  After so many fairy tales and rewrites, our students were actually able to see the wolf on trial for allegedly causing problems for the three pigs!  Some children from our school were chosen for jury duty and helped determine the outcome of the charges against the wolf.  Others got to play key roles in the legal process along with the real judge, court officials and lawyers.  Actors from Lawrence University were quite amusing playing the parts of the 3 pigs and B.B. Wolf – with crazy accents, tears, and lots of drama.

Parents, thank you for all your support this year. You have been involved at home in laying a firm academic foundation for your child, reinforcing what was taught, and helping in the classroom as well. When food, volunteers, or supplies were needed you came forward and meet every need.  Mrs. Coenen and I wish you and your child a wonderful last four weeks of the school year and an enjoyable summer! And finally, thank you so much to my volunteers who tend to so many chores (especially the grammar and math grading) around the classroom, help with special events, prepare goodies, and send in things needed for the class.  I truly appreciate your commitment!
 

4TH GRADE
Mrs. Coenen 
May 2010 News

In history, we are finishing our medieval African kingdoms unit, and will move into the study of Chinese dynasties.  The early rulers, the building of the Great Wall, some of the great emperors, poets, and conquering warriors will be topics for our final unit of 4th grade world history.  The culture, religions, art and ideas are so different from other parts of the world, and the children will love this fascinating study. The geography of China, with special concentration on the main rivers and regions will also be studied in May and June.

Science will be the continuation of our unit on electricity. Moving from static to current electricity, we will tie in our knowledge of chemistry from earlier in the year, and draw on some of the meteorology knowledge too, to understand occurrences in nature.  The most “hands-on” of our science units, and one of the most exciting, this study of electricity will give children a basic foundation of circuits, the flow of electrons, how to break circuits, build them, make games that light up or buzz and how to respect the dangers of electricity.  Michael Faraday will be our last biographical study, and students will learn of his contributions with the electromagnet and electric generator. 

In language arts, we are concluding our Literature studies with the novel Treasure Island, which is always a favorite.  The language seems less and less a barrier each year, as the children come through from previous grades with a firmer, richer foundation.  This novel is the most interesting of the 4th grade “island” novels, and captures their imagination and takes their breath away at certain points.  We will hear complaints when it’s time to put the book away!  As a conclusion to this novel, we will have Pirate Day on Thursday, May 3, which will be both fun and educational for the students. The Chinese folktale “The Magic Brocade” gives 4th graders a glimpse of culture, values and art of China long ago, and the classes will learn one final poem, “Things” by Eloise Greenfield.  Sayings and virtues for these remaining weeks include: wonder, lives to learn from, heroism, Blow Hot and Cold, As the Crow Flies, Run of the Mill, and Through Thick and Thin. 

My reading class is currently finishing Robinson Crusoe and will soon be starting The Little Prince.  Because of the deep and poignant messages delivered I save this book for last. As the school year closes I want the students to be able to uncover the true meaning of author’s words and to connect emotionally through discussion and journal writing. 

For spelling, both classes are finishing the D Level and have a solid foundation of rules and morphographs that should help them with future spelling challenges. The words progressed in difficulty until now some of them are quite challenging when viewed apart from how they fit together in our spelling lessons.  The students have done very well with this level and it surprised me because I used to think of this as so hard compared to the Morphographic Spelling we taught the last couple of years. 

In math, both levels of 4th grade students are finishing with some challenging concepts.  Fractions, ratios, geometry, long division, double-doubles multiplication, and algebraic equations have gradually increased in difficulty, which will continue until the end of the school year.  Please encourage your child to not let up in math!  Continue having your child fix incorrect problems on homework, and briefly review lessons as a way to study for tests. Summer math review packets will be offered this year as a way for your child to practice important concepts over the long break. 

In grammar class, the fourth grade is well into the last unit -  the Pattern 4 sentences with predicate nouns and linking verbs.  This type of sentence says that one thing is another.  Students are doing well, and have a good understanding of the parts of a sentence, how the subject differs from the predicate, what different noun jobs are, the prepositions, and many other grammar concepts that will help them in 5th grade. Remember to keep studying the reference sections of the Shurley Grammar book if something is not clearly understood, because the concepts keep repeating. 

Our field trip to the courthouse to commemorate Law Day was very interesting this year.  After so many fairy tales and rewrites, our students were actually able to see the wolf on trial for allegedly causing problems for the three pigs!  Some children from our school were chosen for jury duty and helped determine the outcome of the charges against the wolf.  Others got to play key roles in the legal process along with the real judge, court officials and lawyers.  Actors from Lawrence University were hilarious playing the parts of the 3 pigs and B.B. Wolf – with crazy accents, tears, and lots of drama.

Parents, thank you for all your support this year. You have been involved at home in laying a firm academic foundation for your child, reinforcing what was taught, and helping in the classroom as well. When food, volunteers, or supplies were needed you were quick to come forward and meet every need.  Mrs. Chen and I wish you and your child a wonderful last four weeks of the school year and an enjoyable summer! And finally, thank you so much to my weekly volunteers who tend to so many chores (especially the grammar and math grading) around the classroom, plan special events, prepare goodies, and offer sound advice from experience to the students.  I truly appreciate your commitment!
 

5TH GRADE
Mrs. Rivers
May 2010 News

I can hardly believe we are approaching the end of the school year.  I am honored to have been partners with you this year in educating your children.  You can be proud of the effort they put forth this year – challenging themselves and pushing toward new heights in their acquisition of knowledge.  I feel confident that they will enter the sixth grade well prepared for their next level of study.   Time has gone by much too quickly. As I reflect back on the first day, we have come a long way! These students are amazing. Thank you for all of your support throughout the year. I have enjoyed each and every one of these special 5th graders. 

Here’s what we’ll be up to for the remainder of the school year:

Drs. Long and Webster Visit We will be studying puberty and reproduction this month in science.  We are fortunate to have two CCS parents who will be speaking to the students. Dr. Greg Long will be speaking to the boys and Dr. Hilary Webster will be speaking to the girls.

Gettysburg Address: The students have been working on memorizing Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.   Memorization is an important part of a well-rounded education and this famous speech is something they will most likely remember well into adulthood.  Please help them at home and feel free to memorize it with them if you haven’t already!

Civil War Reenactment: On April 30th we had a perfect day for our Living History Day. Thank you to: Mr. Lotton, Mrs. Nunn, Mrs. Schroeder, and Mr. Veith for helping during this day! 

CURRICULUM FOR MAY AND JUNE

Shurley English: The students just finished the Unit 5 – Group 4 exam.  We will continue this quarter with Unit 5.

Math (Saxon 7/6): We have worked hard all year. I have built in review sessions 2-3 times per week as well as completing the lessons. We will be concentrating on some of the concepts that need to be secured for next year. Keep checking work nightly.

Novels for Reading: Hobbit
Spelling: the study of Homonyms, rules, morphographs, review

LANGUAGE ARTS:Myths and Legends
· Morning Star and Scarface:  The Sun Dance (a Plains Indian legend, also known as “The Legend of Scarface”)· American Indian trickster stories (for example, tales of Coyote, Raven, or Grandmother Spider)
Speeches
· Abraham Lincoln:  The Gettysburg Address· Chief Joseph (Highh’moot Tooyalakekt):  “I will fight no more forever”
Sayings and Phrases
· Every cloud has a silver lining· Out of the frying pan and into the fire· Steal his/her thunder· Tom, Dick and Harry

AMERICAN HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY: 
The Civil War 
Westward Expansion
Westward Expansion After the Civil War
· Homestead Act (1862), many thousands of Americans and immigrants start farms in the West· “Go west, young man” Horace Greeley’s advice)· Railroads, Transcontinental Railroad links east and west, immigrant labor· Cowboys, cattle drives· The “wild west,” reality versus legend:  Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill· “Buffalo Soldiers,” African American troops in the West· U.S. purchases Alaska from Russia, “Seward’s folly”· 1890:  the closing of the American frontier (as acknowledged in the U.S. Census), the symbolic significance of the frontier
Native Americans:  Cultures and Conflicts
Culture and Life
· Great Basin and Plateau (for example, Shoshone, Ute, Nez Perce)· Northern and Southern Plains (for example, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Lakota [Sioux], Shoshone, Blackfoot, Crow)--Extermination of buffalo · Pacific Northwest (for example, Chinook, Kwakiutl, Yakima)
American Government Polices
· Bureau of Indian Affairs· Forced removal to reservations· Attempts to break down tribal life, assimilation policies, Carlisle School
Conflicts
· Sand Creek Massacre· Little Big Horn:  Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, Custer’s Last Stand· Wounded Knee· Ghost Dance

Science: The Life Cycle and Reproduction  continued
Sexual Reproduction in Animals
· Reproduction organs: testes (sperm) and ovaries (eggs)· External fertilization:  spawning· Internal fertilization:  birds, mammals· Development of the embryo:  egg, zygote, embryo, growth in uterus, fetus, newborn
The Human Body 
Changes in Human Adolescence
· Puberty· Glands and hormones (see below, Endocrine System), growth spurt, hair growth, breasts, voice change
The Endocrine System
· The human body has two types of glands:  duct glands (such as the salivary glands), and ductless glands, also known as endocrine glands· Endocrine glands secrete (give off) chemicals called hormones.  Different hormones control different body processes· Pituitary gland:  located at the bottom of the brain, secretes hormones that control other glands, and hormones that regulate growth· Thyroid gland:  located below the voice box, secretes a hormone that controls the rate at which the body burns and uses food· Pancreas:  both a duct and ductless gland, secretes a hormone called insulin that regulates how the body uses and stores sugar, when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, a person has a sickness called diabetes (which can be controlled)· Adrenal glands:  secrete a hormone called adrenaline, especially when a person is frightened or angry, causing rapid heartbeat and breathing
 

5TH GRADE
Mrs.Tirimacco
May 2010 News

Our Civil War Living History Day was a wonderful success.   I wanted to tell you how proud I was on Friday of the behavior of our students.  Everyone was polite, respectful and fully involved in the day’s event.  Thank you to all of you that could join us for all or part of the day.  Special thanks go to Mrs. Lemke, Mr. Richey, Mrs. Christenson and Mrs. Cuff for helping throughout the day. 

Thank you to Dr. Webster and Dr. Long for planning on coming to speak to us about Human Growth and Development in May.  I will have the exact dates this week and will e mail you as soon as they are confirmed.   We are very grateful for the time and dedication they put into helping our students understand this part of our science curriculum.  If you have not returned the permission form I gave you at conferences, please do so immediately.

Please contact me with any questions via e mail or phone, 

Here’s what we’ll be up to for the remainder of the school year:

Gettysburg Address: The students have been working on memorizing Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.  We will begin to listen to the students individually beginning on May 7th.  Memorization is an important part of a well-rounded education and this famous speech is something they will most likely remember well into adulthood. 

Civil War Living History Day: Our Civil War Living History Day was a wonderful success.   I wanted to tell you how proud I was on Friday of the behavior of our students.  Everyone was polite, respectful and fully involved in the day’s event.  Thank you to all of you that could join us for all or part of the day.  Special thanks go to Mrs. Lemke, Mr. Richey, Mrs. Christenson and Mrs. Cuff for helping throughout the day. 

Shurley English: We are working on finishing our study of unit 4.   We will then proceed to Unit 5.  This will take us to the end of the year in grammar.

Reading:  We all enjoyed our study of The Secret Garden.  This wonderful novel was been enjoyed by the entire class.   Some of the children identified with the main character, Mary Lennox.  At times, she was rude, selfish and unhappy.  She grew to be a wonderfully pleasant, outgoing child.    We discussed how we all have our “disagreeable Mary” moments.  We will become acquainted with William Shakespeare’s work this month.   Appropriately, as we approach the summer, we will be studying A Midsummer Night’s Dream.    I truly enjoy teaching Shakespeare to my 5th graders.  I will work to make it a pleasant and understandable experience for all.

Math (Saxon 65): We just completed Test 20.   We are spending more time reviewing concepts in preparation for our last few tests.  Order forms for summer math packets will be sent home in a week or so.   Please consider this option.   A small fee is requested but please let me know if you have difficulty with this. 

LANGUAGE ARTS:
Myths and Legends
· Morning Star and Scarface:  The Sun Dance (a Plains Indian legend, also known as “The Legend of Scarface”)· American Indian trickster stories (for example, tales of Coyote, Raven, or Grandmother Spider)
Speeches
· Chief Joseph (Highh’moot Tooyalakekt):  “I will fight no more forever”
Sayings and Phrases
· Every cloud has a silver lining· To kill two birds with one stone· Out of the frying pan and into the fire· Steal his/her thunder· Tom, Dick and Harry

AMERICAN HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY: 
Reconstruction
· The South in ruins· Struggle for control of the South, Radical Republicans vs. Andrew Johnson, impeachment· Carpetbaggers and scalawags· Freedmen’s Bureau, “40 acres and a mule”· 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution· Black Codes, the Ku Klux Klan and “vigilante justice”· End of Reconstruction, Compromise of 1877, all federal troops removed from the South
Westward Expansion after the Civil War
· Homestead Act (1862), many thousands of Americans and immigrants start farms in the West· “Go west, young man” Horace Greeley’s advice)· Railroads, Transcontinental Railroad links east and west, immigrant labor· Cowboys, cattle drives· The “wild west,” reality versus legend:  Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill· “Buffalo Soldiers,” African American troops in the West· U.S. purchases Alaska from Russia, “Seward’s folly”· 1890:  the closing of the American frontier (as acknowledged in the U.S. Census), the symbolic significance of the frontier
United States and Capitals
Native Americans:  Cultures and Conflicts
Culture and Life
· Great Basin and Plateau (for example, Shoshone, Ute, Nez Perce)· Northern and Southern Plains (for example, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Lakota [Sioux], Shoshone, Blackfoot, Crow)--Extermination of buffalo · Pacific Northwest (for example, Chinook, Kwakiutl, Yakima)
American Government Polices
· Bureau of Indian Affairs· Forced removal to reservations· Attempts to break down tribal life, assimilation policies, Carlisle School
Conflicts
· Sand Creek Massacre· Little Big Horn:  Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, Custer’s Last Stand· Wounded Knee· Ghost Dance

Science:  The Endocrine System
· The human body has two types of glands:  duct glands (such as the salivary glands), and ductless glands, also known as endocrine glands· Endocrine glands secrete (give off) chemicals called hormones.  Different hormones control different body processes· Pituitary gland:  located at the bottom of the brain, secretes hormones that control other glands, and hormones that regulate growth· Thyroid gland:  located below the voice box, secretes a hormone that controls the rate at which the body burns and uses food· Pancreas:  both a duct and ductless gland, secretes a hormone called insulin that regulates how the body uses and stores sugar, when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, a person has a sickness called diabetes (which can be controlled)· Adrenal glands:  secrete a hormone called adrenaline, especially when a person is frightened or angry, causing rapid heartbeat and breathing
 

6TH GRADE
Mrs. Foley
May/June 2010 News

Unfortunately, this will be my last newsletter of the year.  It seems like yesterday that I was introducing myself to many of you.  I have really enjoyed my year with your children, and I am sad to see it drawing to a close.  It is always fun for me to watch the students grow, and at the end of the year, it is amazing to me to see who they become.  I look forward to welcoming them back next year as middle schoolers!

Thank you again for all that you do to help your child succeed.  If you have any questions regarding your child’s performance, please feel free to email me here at school.  Email is the fastest mode of communication for me; however, you can also contact me via phone, and I will return your call as soon as possible.

Classroom Reminders:
1. Assignment Notebook:  Please check your child’s assignment notebook very carefully to see that all of their work is completed.  We fill this out together each day so it can be as accurate as possible.  Many children are coming to school without this signed, and this is a VERY important tool for communication.  I also ask that students NOT be tearing pages out or destroying their books for any reason, as we may need to travel back into past pages at some point.

2. Gimmes:  Remember that we keep track of all gimmes in the back of their assignment notebook, so please remember to check this on a daily basis as well.  Each student is given two gimmes per class per quarter.  Gimmes are given for all work that is incomplete.  If your child should have a question on their homework, please remind them to see their teacher as soon as possible the next day to allow for correct communication at the time the assignment is due.

3. Study Habits:  Students should be studying all history and science on a daily basis whether we have homework in this class or not (5 minutes).  We work very hard on learning our study strategies, and this is definitely an important one.

4. Homework:  All homework must be in complete sentences and in cursive unless otherwise instructed.  Please remind students of this when you are checking over their homework.  Students may be asked to redo assignments due to lack of neatness as well as for not following directions.  Gimmes will not be given for these assignments.

5. Study Hall:  Each day students are given 30-45 minutes of work time to complete their work.  This is not including time at the end of individual classes to begin their work.  If they are coming home with a lot of homework, you may want to ask them how they are using their time throughout the day.

6. Parent Portal:  As many of you are aware, Classical School has begun to use the parent portal.  The parent portal is an accessible database parents can use to view their child’s grades.  Passwords were sent home at the beginning of the year.  I do use Esembler, which is the grade program connected to the parent portal; however, I do not update on a regular basis all the time.  Please feel free to contact me if you have questions as to how your child is performing. 

Class Summaries

English 6:  We are currently reading The Prince and the Pauper.  This book will take us a few more weeks, and their assignments are recorded daily in their assignment notebooks.  We will be doing a characterization essay when we are finished, and information regarding this assignment can be found in their binder at that time.  If we have a few weeks left at the end of the year, we will be reading The Tempest by William Shakespeare.  The students usually LOVE this story, so I am trying desperately to fit it in.

Spelling F:  We have finished the book!  We took our last test this week, and for the remainder of the year, we will work on some vocabulary words.  We will be learning how to spell them, the definition of them, and how to use them effectively.  The daily assignments will be recorded in their assignment notebook, and they will be found in their binders.

History (Mrs. Foley):  We are currently wrapping up our Growth of America unit which included areas of study in the Industrial Revolution, Urbanization, Economic Systems, and Immigration.  We will be having our final quiz this week.  We will then beginning our final unit of study for the year which is Reform in America.  Information for this unit is found in their binders, and assignments and quizzes will be recorded in their assignment notebooks.

Greek/Latin Roots:  We have learned 56 root words already.  The students should have flashcards for each one to study from in their Greek and Latin Root books.  We have a weekly test covering all that we have learned.  These tests are usually on Fridays.  Students should be studying the pronunciation, spelling, meaning, and origin of each word.

Writing:  We are wrapping up our writing units with a creative project that will bring in all that we have learned this year regarding writing.  I call this project “Adam’s Street Stories.”  The students are given a writing prompt, and they then let their creative minds wander as they write a narrative story using description and detail.  After we write the beginning, middle, and end to the story, we break the story up into a children’s book in which they will create pages for and illustrate.  When we are finished, we will share these stories with the 1st graders!  This is always one of the most remembered writing projects of the year!

Back to the top 

6TH GRADE
Mrs. Schroeder
May/June 2010 News

Sixth-Grade Syllabus

Happy May and Happy Mother’s Day to all of our wonderful mothers! 

Where has all of the time gone? It seems like only yesterday I was greeting the students and welcoming them into their sixth grade classroom.  It has truly been a wonderful year!  You should be very proud of your children!

Box Tops! Our last collection and contest will take place the week of May 10th-14th!

The students and I discussed the importance of staying focused for the last stretch of school.  Please continue to sign assignment notebooks after you have checked with your child about homework completion.  Gimme information is located in the back of the assignment notebook.

Remember you are able to obtain grade information via the parent portal at http://portal.aasd.k12.wi.us. If you need your login or password, please contact the office.

Algebra 1/2
As of Thursday, May 6th, we are through Lesson 114.  The concepts are getting much more difficult, so the students need to utilize their time in class wisely by asking any pertinent questions.  The students also have the opportunity to ask for review sheets pertaining to concepts of their choice.

Spelling Mastery F
As of Thursday, May 6th, we are through Lesson 111.  Please continue to encourage the studying of words at home as we progress into more difficult rules and words.

English 6
We continue our study of The Prince and the Pauper with a focus on characterization.  At the end of our novel, we will write characterization essays about one of our three main characters…Edward, Tom, or Miles.

Grammar
I made a change in our grammar curriculum since I sent out my April newsletter.  In April we worked on active and passive voice.  For May, our focus in grammar will be on correct usage of around 30 troublesome words, such as effect/affect, lie/lay, like/as, good/well, and who/whom.

Writing
Our writing focus for May continues to be on descriptive writing with emphasis on details, details, details as well as “showing” sentences versus “telling” sentences.

Greek and Latin Roots
We have studied all of our 62 roots!  Students are responsible for the definition, example words, and origin for each of the roots.

Julius Caesar
We continue our study of Julius Caesar.  I am impressed with how well the students are comprehending and analyzing the plot of Shakespeare’s play.  The students are making remarkable connections to their daily lives as well. When we are finished, the students will be placed into groups for a performance of the entire play!

History/Geography
Students completed their Industrial Revolution, industrialization, urbanization, and economic systems units with Mrs. Foley.  Future units include immigration and reform.

Here are a few dates to put in your calendar for the months of May and June:

q Tuesday, May 4 – Orchestra Concert (7:30 p.m.)
q Tuesday, May 4 – KAT Pledge $ Due
q Wednesday, May 5 – Cinco de Mayo Festivities (School Day)
q Thursday, May 6 – School Store (7:40 a.m.)
q Monday, May 10 – Mid Quarter
q Tuesday, May 11 – Spirit Day
q Thursday, May 13 – Band Concert (7:30 p.m.)
q Friday, May 21 – Picnic Lunch
q Friday, May 21 – Library Books Due
q Friday, May 28 – All-School Assembly (8:15 a.m.)
q Friday, May 28 – No School PM
q Monday, May 31 – No School
q Tuesday, June 1 – Yearbooks Distributed
q Tuesday, June 1 – Classical Awards and Commencement (7:00 p.m.)
q Thursday, June 3 – Report Cards
q Thursday, June 3 – Sixth Graders versus Teachers Volleyball Game (2:00 p.m.)
q Friday, June 4 – Last Day of School (Dismissal at 9:23 a.m.)

Please check out the Classical School website at www.classicalcharter.com.   If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please feel free to contact me at 832-4968 or schroedersara@aasd.k12.wi.us. 
 

Classroom News
We are into the final stretch of the school year.  I had a student remind today that we only have 22 1/2 days of school left...but who’s counting? There are quite a few exciting events during the month of May for our middle schoolers including a field trip to The Art Institute of Chicago and the Farewell party for our 8th graders.  Please make sure to check the side of this newsletter for important dates.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  Email seems to be the best way to make sure that I have received your message and ensure a quick response. 

English 7
In English 7 we are currently working on poetry and a grammar review. The students also have a poetry and music project that is due on Wednesday, May 21st. 

In the world of Spelling, Roots, and Foreign Phrases, we added 5 new spelling words and 6 new Greek and Latin roots to our list.  Please remember that all tests are cumulative!   Students should also begin preparing for our “Vocabulary Parade” scheduled for Thursday, May 27th.  Students are to choose a Greek or Latin root and create a costume to wear that will successfully define their word visually.  Costumes should be inexpensive made up mostly from items found around the house.   Please make sure your student has already starting planning his or her costume.

I.  Spelling Words: 
tendency      thorough            truly                   women                   written 
achievement, address, analysis, anonymous, argument, beginning, business, college, conscience, control, criticism, definite, definitely, description, despise, doesn’t, environment, excellent, existence, grammar, hypocrisy, immediately, interpret, knowledge, lieutenant, medieval, muscle, muscular, occasionally, offense, particularly, persuade, politician, prejudice, probably, recognize, remembrance, responsibility, rhyme, sacrifice, scholar, shepherd, sincerely, sponsor, succeed, surprise 

II.  Roots:
 Latin/Greek Root     Meaning  Examples
 trans [L]    Across   Transfer, transcontinental 
valeo [L]   Be strong  Prevail, valiant 
venio [L]   Come   Event, advent
 voco [L]    Call   Vocal, voice, vociferous
 volvo [L]   Revolve  Evolve, revolution
 zoon, zoe [G]   Animal, life  Zoology, protozoa

sequor [L]    Follow   Subsequent, sequel
 solvo [L]    Loosen   Solution, dissolve, solvent
 specto [L]    Look at   Inspect, speculate, perspective
syn [G]    Together    Synchronize, synthesis
 tendo [L]    Stretch   Tension, intense, detention
 teneo [L]    Hold, keep  Contain, content, maintain

re [L] Back, again  React, reply, revise
scribo [L] Write   Scribble, inscribe
sentio [L] Feel (with senses)   Sensation, sensual, sentry
strictus [L]   Drawn tight  Strict, constricted
 sub [L]    Under   Subdue, subject, subtract
 super [L]    Above   Superficial, superlative, supreme

neos [G] New   Neophyte, Neoclassical
pan [G] All    Panorama, panacea
pedis [L]    Foot   Pedal, biped
polis [G]    City   Metropolis
pro [L]    Before,for   Proceed, propose, prodigy
pseudos [G]   A lie   Pseudonym

judex [L]    A judge   Judge, prejudice
juro [L]    Swear   Jury, perjury
makros [G]   Long   Macrocosm, macron
malus [L]    Bad   Malady, malice
manus [L]    Hand   Manufacture, manuscript, manual
morphe [G] Form   Metamorphosis, amorphous

fragilis [L]    Breakable  Fragile, fragment
finis [L]    End   Confine, finality
homos [G]   Same   Homogenous, homophone (to, two) 
hyper [G from “huper”]  Over, beyond  Hypertension, hyperactive
hypo [G]    Under, beneath  Hypodermic, hypothesis, hypothermia
jacio [L]    Throw   Eject, interject, reject

demos [G]   People   Democracy, epidemic
erro [L]    Wander, stray  Error, erratic
ex [L]    From, out of  Exclaim, exhaust, extinct
extra [L]    Outside   Extravagant, extraordinary
facio [L]    Make   Effect, affect
fero [L]    Bring, bear  Confer, defer, reference

circum [L]    Around   Circulate, circumference
celer [L]     Swift   Accelerate
chronos [G]   Time   Chronological
cresco [L]     Grow   Increase, decrease 
cum [L]                     With/(like co-)  Cum laude, Cumulative, Compose, Accommodate
curro [L]      Run   Current, cursive, course

ab [L]    Away from   Abnormal, absent
 ad [L]    To, forward  Advocate, advance
 amo [L]    Love   Amiable, amorous
audio [L]      Hear   Audience, inaudible
 auto [G]    Self   Automobile, autocrat
 bene [L]    Good/well   Beneficial, benefit 

III.  Foreign Phrases Commonly Used in English:
ad hoc—concerned with a particular purpose; improvised [literally, “to the thing”]
bona fides—good faith; sincere, involving no deceit or fraud
carpe diem—seize the day, enjoy the present
caveat emptor—let the buyer beware, buy at your own risk
de facto—in reality, actually existing
in extremis—in extreme circumstances, especially at the point of death
in medias res—in the midst of things, in the middle of a narrative or plot 
in toto—altogether, entirely
modus operandi (singular)--a method of procedure/ Modi operandi (plural)—methods of procedure
modus vivendi (singular)—a way of living, getting along/Modi vivendi (plural)—ways of living, getting along
persona non grata—an unacceptable or unwelcome person (not used with an article)
prima facie—at first view, apparently; self-evident
pro bono publico —for the public good
pro forma—for the sake of form, carried out as a matter of formality
quid pro quo—something given or received in exchange for something else
requiescat in pace, R I P—may he or she rest in peace [seen on tombstones]
sic transit gloria mundi––thus passes away the glory of the world
sine qua non—something absolutely indispensable [literally, “without which not”]
sub rosa––secretly

English 8
We are finishing The Good Earth in English 8.  I have been pleasantly surprised by the discussions our class has been having so far.  The novel gives us plenty to talk about!  Once we finish our novel we have a few writing and grammar pieces to complete.

The students also have a poetry and music project that is due on Wednesday, May 27. 

In the world of Spelling, Roots, and Foreign Phrases, the students have their last 6 Greek and Latin roots.  Please remember that all tests are cumulative!   Students should also begin preparing for our “Vocabulary Parade” scheduled for Thursday, May 27th.  Students are to choose a Greek or Latin root and create a costume to wear that will successfully define their word visually.  Costumes should be inexpensive made up mostly from items found around the house.   Please make sure your student has already starting planning his or her costume.

I. Spelling Words:

absence, accommodate, analysis, attendance, believe, bureau, capitol, colonel, committee, correspondence, counterfeit, courageous, curiosity, defendant, dessert, desperate, dissatisfied, extraordinary, fascinating, foreign, guarantee, hygiene, independence, laboratory, library, lightning, maintenance, mileage, necessary, occurrence, permanence, physician, prairie, sergeant, souvenir, straight, technique, temporary, vacuum, whether 

II. Roots:
Latin/Greek Word Meaning  Examples
tractum [L]   drawn, pulled  distract, tractor
usus [L]   use   abuse, utensil
vacuus [L]   empty   evacuate, vacuum
verbum [L]   word   verbal
verto [L]   turn   avert, convert, anniversary 
via [L]   way, road  deviate, viaduct

scio [L]   know   science, conscious
solus [L]   alone   solo, desolate
sonus [L]   a sound   unison, consonant
sophos [G]   wise   philosophy, sophomore
spiritus [L]   breath   inspire, spirit 
totus [L]   whole   totaliltarianism

possum [L]   be able   possible, potent
pugno [L]   to fight   impugn, pugnacious
rego [L]   to rule   regular, regency
sanguis [L]   blood   sanguine
satis [L]   enough   satisfy

pendo [L]   weigh or hang  depend, pendant
per [L]   through   perceive, persist, persevere
phobos [G]   fear   phobia, claustrophobia
plenus [L]   full   plenty, plenary
positum [L]   placed   position, opposite
porto [L]   carry   transport, export

missio [L]   a sending  emissary, mission
morior [L]   die   mortal
nego [L]   deny   negate
nihil [L]   nothing   nihilism, annihilate
occido [L]   kill   homicide, suicide
pathos [G]   suffering, feeling  sympathy, apathy

holos [G]   whole   holistic, catholic
jungo [L]   join   junction, conjugal
lego, lectum [L]  read, thing read  intellect, legible
locus [L]   a place   local, dislocate
loquor [L]   speak   eloquent, loquacious
medius [L]   middle   mediate, mediocrity

dominus [L]   a lord, master  dominate, dominion
duco [L]   lead   abduct, introduce
fido [L]   to trust, believe  confide, infidel
fundo, fusum [L]  pour, thing poured  effusive, transfusion
genus [L]   kind, origin  generic, congenital

caput [L]   head   captain, decapitate
clino [L]   to lean, bend  incline, decline
cognito [L]   know   cognizant, recognize
copia [L]   plenty   copy, copious
credo [L]   believe   credible, incredulous
culpa [L]   blame   culpable, culprit

aequus [L]   equal   equal, equation
ago, acta [L]   do, drive   agent, enact, transact
anthropos [G]  man, human being anthropology, misanthrope
ars [L]   art   artist, artifact
brevis [L]   short   brevity, abbreviate
canto [L]   sing   chant, cantor

III. Foreign Phrases Commonly Used in English:

au revoir -- good-bye, until we see each other again
avant-garde – a group developing new or experimental concepts, a vanguard (the forefront of an action or movement)
bête noire—a person or thing especially dreaded and avoided (literally, “black beast”)
c’est la vie—that’s life, that’s how things happen
carte blanche—full discretionary power (literally, “blank page”)
cause célèbre—a very controversial issue that generates fervent public debate (literally, a “celebrated case”)
coup de grâce—a decisive finishing blow
coup d’état—overthrow of a government by a group
déjà vu—something overly familiar (literally, “already seen”)
enfant terrible—one whose remarks or actions cause embarrassment, or someone strikingly  unconventional (literally, “terrible child”)
fait accompli—an accomplished fact, presumably irreversible [something that is over and done]
faux pas—a social blunder [literally, “false step”]
Madame, Mademoiselle, Monsieur—Mrs., Miss, Mr.
merci—thank you  (Merci beaucoup—thank you very much)
pièce de résistance—the principal part of the meal, a showpiece item
raison d’être—reason for being
savoir-faire—the ability to say or do the right thing in any situation, polished sureness in society (literally, “to know [how] to do”)
tête-à-tête—private conversation between two people (literally, “head to head”)

Humanities 7
We have had an interesting year of Humanities 7.  We recently finished studying Shakespeare’s Macbeth.  The last month of school will be spent learning about opera with Rigoletto.  We just began Rigoletto and the students seem to be pleased with the twisted storyline.  We will be studying the libretto and watching a movie version of the opera starring Luciano Pavarotti.

Humanities 8
We have had an interesting year of Humanities.  We studied Shakespeare, Elizabethan Sonnets, Art History, and Opera.  The last month of school will be spent finishing our study of The Barber of Seville.  Currently, we are about half way through.  We have also been viewing three different versions of the opera to watch to compare and contrast. 
 

7th and 8th Grade History/8th Grade Geometry
Mrs.VanRyzin 
April 2010News

History—Topics to be covered 

7th Grade—April
The Great Depression
· Italy: Mussolini and facism
· Germany: Weimar Republic/ economic repercussion of WWI
· Adolf Hitler and rise of Nazis 
· Spanish Civil War: Franco, International Brigade, Guernica
· Stalin: Soviet Russia
· Reoccupation of Rhineland, Anschluss, annexation of Austria
· Soviet-Nazi nonaggression pact
· Blitzdrieg: invasion of Poland
· Battle of Britain: Winston Churchill
· Dunkirk
· Lend-Lease supplies/ Atlantic Charter
· Historical bkg on Japan
· Pearl Harbor

8th Grade—April

The Vietnam War
· French Indochina War: Dien Bien Phu, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Minh, Viet Cong
· Domino Theory
· US becomes involved in Vietnam: Special Forces, Tonkin Gulf Resolution
· Tet Offensive; My Lai Masssacre
· Antiwar protests, Kent State, The Pentagon Papers
· “hawks v. doves”
Middle East and Oil Politics
· League of Nations’ territorial mandates
· Creation of Israel, David Ben-Gurion (done)
· Suez Crisis, Gamal Abal Nasser
· Palestine Liberation Organization, Yasser Arafat
· Arab-Israeli Wars: six-Day War, Israel occupies West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, Yom Kippur War, OPEC, oil embargo
· Camp David Peace Treaty
· Islamic fundamentalism, Iranian hostage crisis, Iran-Iraq War
· Persian Gulf War
· Geography of Middle East

7th Grade—May
· Holocause: The final Solution
· Internment of Japanses-Americans
· Fall of the Philippines: Bataan Death March
· Soviet Union: Communist totalitarianism
· Battle of Midway, Coral Sea, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima
· North Africa Campaign: El Alamein
· Appeasement: Munich Agreement, “peace in our time”
· D-day: Allied invasion of Normandy
· Battle of the Bulge, bombing of Dresden
· Yalta Conference
· Surrender of Germany
· The atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
· Surrender of Japan
· Potsdam Conference: Nuremberg war crimes trials.

8th Grade—May
· Jimmy Carter’s human rights diplomacy
· Strategic Arms Limitations 
· Breakup of Soviet Union
· Contemporary Europe: European Union, chunnel
· End of Apartheid: Bkg
· African National Congress: Nelson Mandela
· Internal unrest and external pressures for South Africa to end apartheid.
· Geography of Mexico and Canada

Geometry

April
v Introduction to Trig Identities
v Quadrilaterals on Coordinate Plane
v Solids: Orthographic views
v Law of Sines
v Equation of Circles: Translating/Dilating
v Law of Cosines
v Transformation Matrices
v Lengths of segments intersecting circles
v Frustums of Cones and Pyramids
v Circumscribed and Inscribed Figures
v Concentric Circles

May
v Rotations and Reflections in the Coordinate Plane
v Maximizing Area
v Into to Coordinate Space
v Scale Drawings and Maps
v Golden Ratio
v Solving and Graphing Systems of Inequalities
v Finding Areas of Polygons Using Matrices
v Seacant, Cosecant, and Cotangent
 

7th and 8th Grade Science and Algebra
Mr. Nelson
May 2010 News

Welcome to this month’s installment of Nelson’s Notes.  Here are some of the news items that we have been covering in Mr. Nelson’s Classes.

Homeroom:  We have an upcoming field trip to the Chicago Art Museum.  I can hardly wait!  Be sure to plan on packing a lunch on June 2nd.  Thank you one and all for the kind notes of thanks and the wonderful gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week! 

Algebra:  The material recently covered includes: graphing non-linear functions, the Pythagorean Theorem, more rational equations, absolute value inequalities, dividing polynomials, systems of equations, and value problems, Throughout the rest of this month, we will be working on quadratic equations, completing the square, and linear inequalities. 

Science 7:  We have had an exciting time researching material on scientists and their contributions to the world of science.  Our studies in DNA and genetic engineering are complete.  This month we will take an in depth look Paleontology, Geologic Time, and the theory of evolution and how natural selection and extinction play a role in species. 

Science 8:  The eighth grade science classes just began explorations in the science behind waves and sound.  Students should plan on learning about the electromagnetic spectrum and light in upcoming lessons.
 

6th - 8th Grade Math and 7th Grade Science
Mrs. Lindsay
May 2010 News

Mrs. Lindsay’s Weekly Preview: May 24-June 3, 2010

Science

Monday: L 124 and 125 Determining Evolutionary Relationships—Embryo development and DNA
Homework: Read and highlight p. 152-155 in packet and answer questions on p. 153. Use cursive, looseleaf, and complete sentences. 

Tuesday: Lesson 126 Convergence
Due Today: Read and highlight p. 152-155 in packet and answer questions on p. 153.
Homework: Read and highlight p. 156.

Wednesday: Review for Test
Due Today: Read and highlight p. 156.
Homework: Study for test. 

Thursday: Chemical Reaction Rockets
Homework: Study for test.

Friday: Unit Test
Monday, May 31: Memorial Day, No School
Tuesday, June 1 Chemical Reaction Rockets
Wed. June 2: Middle School field Trip
Thursday, June 3: Half Day Last Day Review Game

Math 

Monday: Lesson 116 due. Homework: Lesson 117 due Tuesday.
Tuesday: Lesson 117 due. Homework: Lesson 118, due Wednesday.
Wednesday: Lesson 118 due. Homework: Lesson 119, due Thursday.
Thursday: Lesson 119 due. Homework: Lesson 120, due Friday.
Friday: Lesson 120 due. Homework: Test 23B Review, do twice, due Tuesday

Monday, May 31: Memorial Day, No School
Tuesday, June 1: Test 23B review due. Test 23A
Wed. June 2: Last day of math. Test 23 Corrections due at the end of class.

L 115 omit: 6, 8, 21, 22, 30
L 116 omit: 2, 3, 16, 20, 23
L 117 omit: 3, 4, 9, 12, 23
L 118 omit: 2, 10, 20, 22, 27
L 119 omit: 6, 14, 15, 20, 26,
L 120 omit: 11, 12, 13, 14, 20
 

¡Felíz Cinco de mayo!

Thank you to all families who sent in cascarones for our cinco de mayo festival.

Parents: I update parent portal weekly.

2nd Grade
We will begin each day working with the calendar and the seasons and weather. We will be finishing up our last fill in the story unit and making sports cards in the month of May.
Hambre- hungry pone- puts  caja- cash register  paga- pays
Saca- takes out Mercado- market bolsa- bag   huevos- eggs

Grade 3
We will begin each day reviewing past vocabulary. We will be working on our last fill in the story unit and making a poster about ourselves.
Recoger- to straighten up   estufa- stove   queso- cheese
Vienen- come     cocina- kitchen  tiene- has
* There are review activities and games on the textbook website. www.phschool.com.

Grade 4
We will begin each day reviewing past vocabulary. We will be working on the verb hay (there is/there are) and making a book about ourselves.

Grade 5
We will be working on indirect object pronouns and making posters about ourselves.
Me, te le, nos, os, les

Grade 7
We will be working on a food unit and reviewing present, preterite, and imperfect tenses. 

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LA CLASE DE ESPANOL - Grades K, 1, and 7
Señora Cihlar
May 2010 News 

Kindergarten
¡Hola!  We have lots of exciting things going on this month in Spanish class.  The entire school will be participating in a number of activities for “5 de mayo”.   Students will be learning some latin dances from a professional dance instructor, breaking cascarones (confetti-filled eggshells) after lunch, and attending a latin music/dance assembly followed by sampling some traditional Mexican treats in the afternoon.  Students are also encouraged to wear red, green, and/or white colored clothes or other “Mexico” apparel that day.

This month we will be learning fairy tales in Spanish.  As the month goes on I will be sending home a note asking parents to listen to their children re-tell these stories in Spanish to the best of their ability.  Please sign and return the note that comes home for each story.  Below is a list of vocabulary that will be needed to for the stories.  Please take some time, when you can, to practice this with your children over the next few weeks. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.  The best way to reach me is by e-mail:  cihlaranna@aasd.k12.wi.us. 

Los 3 cabritos Gruff –      Ricitos de oro y los tress osos –
The Three Billy Goats Gruff     Goldilocks and the Three Bears 
El cabrito – the goat      la avena – porridge/oatmeal
El pasto – the pasture/grass     caliente - cold
El ogro – the troll      fría - cold
¡Tengo hambre! – I’m hungry!    la silla - chair
Pequeño – little      dura - hard
El Puente – the bridge     deliciosa - delicious
Mediano – medium      blanda - soft
Grande – big       perfecta - perfect 
El río – the river      la cama - bed
Un golpe – a hit      durmió – slept 
se despertó – woke up
corrió - ran

First Grade
¡Hola!  May is going to be a busy and exciting month in Spanish class.   The entire school will be participating in a number of exciting activities for “5 de mayo”.   Students will be learning some latin dances from a professional dance instructor, breaking cascarones (confetti-filled eggshells) after lunch, and attending a latin music/dance assembly followed by sampling some traditional Mexican treats in the afternoon.  Students are also encouraged to wear red, green, and/or white colored clothes or other “Mexico” apparel that day.

We will also be learning how to describe people/things and talk about our feelings in Spanish.  Below are the vocabulary lists we will be working with.  Please take some time, when you can, to practice these with your children over the next few weeks. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.  The best way to reach me is by e-mail:  cihlaranna@aasd.k12.wi.us. 

Adjetivos = Adjectives    Emociones = Emotions
Alto – tall      contento - happy
Bajo – short      triste – sad 
Grande – big      emocionado - excited
Pequeño – small     enojado - angry
Bonito – pretty     enfermo - sick
Feo – ugly      cansado - tired
Delgado – thin     asustado – scared/frightened
Gordo – fat      tonto - silly
Fuerte – strong
Débil – weak
Joven – young
Viejo – old
ORAL COMMUNICATION:
¿Cómo es?  =   What is he/she like?      Es ___.  =  He/she is ___.
¿Cómo estás?  =  How are you?   Estoy ___.  =  I am ___. 

Seventh Grade
¡Hola!  May is going to be a busy and exciting month in Spanish class.   The entire school will be participating in a number of exciting activities for “5 de mayo”.   Students will be learning some latin dances from a professional dance instructor, breaking cascarones (confetti-filled eggshells) after lunch, and attending a latin music/dance assembly followed by sampling some traditional Mexican treats in the afternoon.  Students are also encouraged to wear red, green, and/or white colored clothes or other “Mexico” apparel that day.

Additionally, we will be finishing Chapter 4B:  Celebrating Holidays.  At the end of this chapter students will be able to:
*Describe holiday celebrations
*Talk about your family and relatives 
*Describe people, places, and situations in the past (we will spend extra time 
  studying the two past tenses in Spanish:  preterite and imperfect.)
*Talk about how people interact 
*Understand cultural perspectives on holidays and special events

If you have some extra time, please help enrich your child’s learning by visiting the textbook’s website at home:  phschool.com.  You will find many activities that correspond to each chapter of our textbook. 

Challenge of the Month:  Towards the end of the month test your child’s progress by asking him/her to tell you in Spanish what his/her favorite holiday was as a young child and what was special about it

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time throughout the school year.  The best way to reach me is by e-mail:  cihlaranna@aasd.k12.wi.us. 
 

LA CLASE DE ESPANOL - Grades 6 and 8
Señora Nelson
May 2010 News 

6th Grade
The 6th grade have finished a unit on technology.  They learned the meaning of servir, pedir, conocer and saber.  We will continue to review the past tense until the end of the school year. 

8th Grade
The 8th grade students are learning about professions, the future tense, the perfect tenses and predicting what life will be like in 50+ years.  Their speaking abilities and vocabulary have impressed me this year.  I’m excited for the journey and opportunities they will have to utilize their Spanish in high school, on the Costa Rica trip or in future endeavors. 

Remember that additional help also exists online at www.PHSchool.com. 

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK:
Thank you so much for the wonderful things that I have received throughout the school year.  Thank you also for the opportunity to work with your children!

Summer Information:
There are still several weeks of school left (although some are shorted weeks).  Students need to remember to complete all assignments until the school year ends.  I would like to see a strong finish from all the students.

Ideas for utilizing your Spanish over the summer:

1.  Go to a Mexican restaurant and order in Spanish.
2.  Go to the library and check out (AND read) books written in Spanish.  (The Menasha and Neenah libraries have really good collections in their children’s sections).
3.  Go to the library and check out computer software to practice Spanish.
4.  Go to the following websites and practice your Spanish or learn new vocabulary:

• www.studyspanish.com
• www.conjuguemos.com
• www.quia.com/dir/spanish/
• http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/adventure/index.htm
• www.spaleon.com
• www.classicalcharter.com  (see textbook links or other Spanish links)

Useful websites:

www.phschool.com

http://www.colby.edu/~bknelson/exercises/

http://www.quia.com/shared/spanish/

http://www.spaleon.com/index.php

Websites for practicing Spanish:

www.studyspanish.com

www.conjuguemos.com

http://www.colby.edu/~bknelson/exercises/index.html

http://www.quia.com/shared/index_top50.html
 

LA CLASE DE ESPANOL - Grade 6
Señora Meidl
May 2010 News

It is hard to believe that we have only a couple of weeks left.  As the year is coming to an end, so is our Realidades book.  Students are excited about the fact that they are finishing their first Spanish text.  Our last unit was a good unit for the students.  They learned about technology and it’s vocabulary in Spanish. We were also very busy learning the last couple of irregular verbs.  The most interesting thing to me about our class is that all students love to “chat” in Spanish.  They are always anxious to hear about my day, and are even more eager to share their news with me.  They do it all in Spanish.  This has been a terrific year for me.  I enjoyed very much working with this 6th grade class.

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MUSIC - Grades 1-6
Mrs. Lindsay
May 2010

I can’t believe this is the final newsletter of the school year! Time has flown as we learned so many new musical topics. If you’d like to contact me any time, you can email me at lindsaykendra@aasd.k12.wi.us or you can call me at school 832-4968 or at home: 749-0072.

At the end of the year I’ll look forward to seeing your children again in the fall! I love that I don’t have to say goodbye to very many students. I get to sing and learn with them every year!

First Grade: We are finished with the Hansel and Gretel opera unit. We have watched the opera, read the story, and sung the arias. Next we learn La Cucaracha, which begins with low Sol. Then we learn low La, and sing songs that have low La, such as John the Rabbit, Dry Bones, Charlie Over the Ocean, and There’s a Hole in My Bucket. We will learn Yankee Doodle, and dance a little dance to it. We Learn about Mozart as a composer and listen to Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Near the end of May we sing Make New Friends and Take Me Out to the Ball Game, appropriate songs for summertime. We will watch The Sorcerer’s Apprentice on Fantasia. Last we will have a day of musical games before we end for the year.

Second Grade:  We will learn This Land is Your Land, everyone’s favorite song! Then we hit plenty of percussion instruments as we learn about the percussion family of instruments. We will also listen to Toccata for Percussion by Carlos Chavez, to help us recognize the sounds the percussion instruments make. At the end of the month we will play a review game to review all the wonderful musical topics we’ve learned. Last we’ll spend a couple of days dancing some fun folk dances and playing musical games.

Third Grade: During May and June we’ll learn some fun songs: This Little Light of Mine, Alouette, My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, Li’l Liza Jane, and Sidewalks of New York. We’ll have a review game and test of the musical topics we’ve learned this year. We’ll cap it all off with two days of folk dancing and musical games.

Fourth Grade: We had a test at the end of April that challenged everyone. We reviewed our musical symbols and Gregorian chant, and then took a test on it. During May we will listen to Theme and Variations on Ah! Vous dirai’je Maman, by Mozart. The tune is an old French folk song we know as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Then we learn some Irish and Scottish folk songs: Loch Lomond, Comin’ Thro’ the Rye, and Cockles and Mussels. We’ll finish off the year with two days of folk dancing and musical games. The students always enjoy the Virginia Reel.

Fifth Grade: We’ll also sing Shenandoah, If I Had a Hammer, and Sakura. We study Mendelssohn’s Incidental Music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. We will review our musical topics for the test, and then end the year with some fun folk dancing.

Sixth Grade: We’ll review the classical era and have a test. We will sing and do some world percussion music with dancing and singing. We’ll finish out the year with some folk dancing.

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MUSIC - Kindergarten
Ms. Swaagman
May 2010

In May, we will be singing the songs “The Bear Went Over the Mountain,” “The Farmer in the Dell,” “The Hokey Pokey,” “Old MacDonald Had a Farm,” “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” and “A Tisket, a Tasket.”  We will also be recognizing the following instruments by sight and sounds:  guitar, piano, trumpet, flute, violin and drum.
 

MUSIC -Orchestra/Chorus/Band

7th/8th Grade Chorus - Ms. Olson - May 2010
I’d like to thank everyone for their grace and understanding with the rescheduling of our concert due to the tornado warning.  What an experience!  The afternoon concert on May 11th went very well.  Congratulations all orchestra and chorus students!  On Tuesday, May 18th we have our workshop with Dr. Meidl from Appleton West High School.  We will be singing “A Girl’s Garden” and one other piece for him.  As the year winds down, we will continue working on sight-singing and our core knowledge curriculum.

7th/8th Grade Band - Mr. Schneider - May 2010
Congratulations to all Classical School Band members for an evening of wonderful music performed at our Spring Concert last night.  I am very pleased with the progress that all three grade level bands made this year particularly in regards for your ability to play with a smooth legato style, good phrasing and balance and good intonation.  You also play with lots of energy and musical expression.  I would like to wish our graduating 8th graders continued success on their journey through high school.  It has truly been a pleasure working with you and I’m confident your future band directors will be equally pleased to work with you as I am.  To our 6th and 7th grade players I very much look forward to working with you next year, helping you advance to the next level of expertise.  Keep up the good work and keep your “chops” strong over the summer. 

Applications for 7th and 8th grade students planning on participating in the band camp at North HS, August 2-6 are due next Tuesday.  It’s a wonderful opportunity and I would encourage you to give the camp careful consideration.  Applications can be found on the district web site; just follow the summer school link. 

Also, please give some consideration to the AASD Band Department golf outing on Thursday, August 19, 2010.  Proceeds fund the purchase of new school owned instruments such as French horn, baritones, and tubas.  Our equipment is getting very old and in need of repairs that simply can no longer be made.  E-mail me for more information or contact Jim Thaldorf at North HS.

7th/8th Grade Strings - Ms. Wilson - May 2010
The Classical Charter School String students did a super job at their daytime strings/choir concert!  Thank you to all performing students and to parents who attended the event!

4th-6th grade string students have been working diligently on intonation, bow grips, posture, rhythms and note reading!

The 7th and 8th grade orchestra students have consistently listened to a tuning note for proper tuning of their instruments.   They have played as individual soloists, worked in pairs and in sections to produce a deeper tone that enhances dynamic ranges.  Detailed class focus for both grades has included:  technique, rhythm, style, knowledge of terms, listening, performing and discussing music from various time periods.

Please encourage your child to continue study and practice of their instruments throughout the summer!.

Summer instrument rental is offered for $20. Information on instrument rental, summer school music classes and private string teachers can be obtained from Patti Wilson.

Thank you for your support and involvement of the string program at Classical School!
 

ART Grades K-6/Fine Arts - Grades 7-8
Ms. Fischer
May 2010 News

Kindergarten
Students are learning about the artist Gustav Klimt, creating a self portrait.

Grade 1
Students will be focusing on still life and murals for their final project. 

Grade 2
Students will look at pattern and repetition, creating an imaginary summer insect. 

Grade 3
Students will complete their bedroom piece after Vincent van Gogh’s, The Bedroom at Arles.

Grade 4
Students are studying the art of China, creating a watercolor piece. 

Grade 5
Students will finish their Civil War self portraits. 

Grade 6
Students will finish their clay container pieces and color wheel project. 

7th and 8th Grade April Calendar:

Green=7th Grade; Red=8th Grade
***Note*** Schedule may change throughout the month.  Please check frequently.
 

17 · S.G. Exam· Work on painting when finished.	18  · S.G. Exam· Hand out Sculpture images-set #2-exam on 25th.	19 · P.Imp. Image Exam· Work on painting when finished.	20 · Work on photos	21 Painting Day
24 Painting Day	25 · Set #2 image exam· Work on photos when finished	26 ·Painting Due-Glue both pieces to border.	27 · Photo piece due at the end of the hour.	29  · Set up paintings and photo piece for display.

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Phy Ed: Grades K-6
Mr. Gallus
May 2010 News

Striking
K-2nd:  We will be working on their striking skills (hand-eye coordination) by using cones, soft balls and whiffle ball bats to simulate T-ball batting practice.  Holding the bat correctly, standing properly and understanding safety rules will be emphasized.
3-6:  We will emphasize the same fundamentals as K-2, but will pitch soft-skinned balls to a batter instead of hitting off a tee.  We also plan to do “Home Run Derby” again. 

Soccer
K-3:  We will work on foot/eye coordination by kicking moving balls and doing soccer-skill drills such as dribbling and trapping.
4-6:  We will play line soccer on a field I have painted on the playground between the staff parking lot and Ferber.

Orange Trail
The orange trail is now painted and the 1/7 mile oval is now ready for class or recess activity.

Kickball
3-6:  Everyone enjoys a good game of kickball.  We will increase the amount of movement with the additions of two modified games called “aerobic kickball” which is also called “stop” and a new variation called “3 things“:

Frisbee Golf
3-6:  We hope to use our new Frisbee golf goals to play Frisbee golf again for a couple of class periods.
6th Grade:  We will play a double-elimination tournament.
 

Phy Ed: Grades 7-8
Mr. Gilbert
May 2010 News

It has been a great year of activity. Our goal is to present many different activities to enjoy with the understanding that it is the exercise that is important. We have been finishing up the year with inside and outside lessons depending on the weather. We will participate in soccer, speedball, capture the flag, softball, and track. 

Thanks for a great school year and hope everyone has an active and safe summer.