I know that you've all been notified that I will be away while my son is having his surgery and is in hospital. I want you all to understand that I would not choose to be away from you if it was not absolutely necessary. Emmett is getting a tracheostomy. That's a breathing tube in his throat that will hook up to a machine that will help him breathe. Originally the doctors wanted him to stay in the hospital for three months. If all goes according to plan, our goal is to be out in three weeks. Em will be in the intensive care unit for the first week and then in the extended care unit for the remainder of his stay. He will have to learn how to speak again afterward. This is a very stressful time for my family and I and I need you to know that I'm depending on you to be polite, do your best work, and not take advantage of the fact that I'm away. I'll be back as soon as I can and they, man, will we work our butts off!!!

I will be checking my email periodically, but all academic questions/concerns should be directed to Ms. Felbel, the teacher who will be taking over. She can be reached at 269-6210.

GRADE 8 ELA

-been given their new reading logs (due January 6th). All reading goals should be 

  higher than 800 pages

- been given their grammar booklets
- been reminded that they are responsible for reading three MYRCA books by
   the end of Spring Break
- will continue to work on improving their reading comprehension and fluency
- been informed that they will be working on a short story unit
- been informed that they will be working on a science fiction writing piece –
   due before winter break (Ms. Felbel will assign the specific due date)

- been informed that there will be a final unit test for The Outsiders novel study.

  Ms. Felbel will assign the date of the test

^{GRADE 8 SOCIAL}

^{We're currently in our Early People unit. Ms.Felbel will be finishing the unit with students and then introducing a unit on Mesopotamia. Falsh cards should be completed by November 10th.}

^{Early People Unit
Quiz #1 - November 15th
Quiz #2 - November 22nd
Unit test - November 28th}

 GRADE 9 SOCIAL

Students will continue working on the Citizenship unit.