TIS THE SEASON...REPORT CARD SEASON, THAT IS!

IMPORTANT DATES




Wed, Nov 23rd - Participaction Registration for Grade 8s - 7:45 am - Lottery format
Fri, Dec 2nd - Report Card Writing Day - no classes (agendas contain an error)
Dec. 6th - Participaction Meetings - period 8 - All fees due
Dec ? - Christmas Cheer Board fieldtrips - TBA
Wed, Dec 21st - Report cards go live
Thurs, Dec 22nd - School-wide Movie Fieldtrip - am
                           

IN ROOM 310, TERM 1 ENDS ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH. All assignments must be handed in by then if they are to count toward Term 1 report cards (with the exception of our final drafts of the Mystery/Suspense stories). Assignments handed in after that date will be entered and appear in the Term 2 mark.




ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS


Mystery Suspense Package - due Tuesday, Nov. 15th
                                             - includes final draft, 2nd draft, 1st draft, four square
                                             - final draft on top please


"Greatest Christmas Commercial Ever" Quick Write - due Tues. Nov. 15th


Science Fiction Movie Assignment - due Mon. Nov. 30th


Science Fiction Rough Draft - due Mon. Dec. 5th
                                               - self-editing - Dec 5th
                                               - Peer Editing - Dec 5th & 6th
                                               - Sharing Sessions - Dec 7th-9th
                                               - Final Draft - Tues. Dec. 20th




SOCIAL STUDIES


We begin our Early Peoples unit today/tomorrow. Here are the tentative deadlines for the next month:


Flashcards - due Thurs. Nov 10th
Vocabulary Quiz - Friday, Nov. 18th
Concept Quiz - Wed. Nov. 23rd
Tools and Technology Project - due Wed. Dec. 9th
Development of Man Package - due Friday, Nov. 25th






HOPE




Muscular Dystrophy Christmas Party - Volunteering - Sunday, Dec 4th
Christmas Cheer Board Fieldtrips - Dec - TBA
Shovel Brigade - TBA - watch for Remind messages and we'll go shovel driveways after we get snow
Seniors Center Visit - TBA - we'll go visit, deliver Christmas/Chanukah cards, carol (?), etc...

IMPORTANT DATES


Mon, Oct 10th - Thanksgiving - no school
Fri, Oct 14th - PD DAY - no classes
Fri, Oct 21th - MTS Professional Development Day - no classes
Thurs, Oct 27th - Acadia Dance - 7:00-9:30 pm
Thurs, Nov 3rd - Photo Retakes
Tues, Nov 3rd - Parent Teacher Conference - 5:00-7:30 pm
Fri, Nov 4th - Parent Teacher Conferences - 9:00-11:30 am - NO CLASSES
                     - Admin Day - 12:45-3:30 pm - NO CLASSES
Thurs, Nov 9th - Parent Teacher Conference - 6:00-8:30 pm
Fri, Nov 11th - Remembrance Day - no school
Fri, Nov 14th - Divisional Common Day - no classes
Fri, Dec 2nd - Report Card Writing Day - no classes
Wed, Dec 21st - Report cards go live
Thurs, Dec 22nd - School-wide Movie Fieldtrip - am
                            - Talent show - pm





ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS


Biography Assignment


- Rough Drafts - due Friday, Oct 7th
- Classes given for peer editing on Oct 7th and 11th
- Final Drafts due Monday, Oct 17th




Mystery/Suspense Story


- Rough Drafts due - Thursday, Oct 20th
- Classes given for peer editing on Oct 20th and 24th
- 2nd Draft due - Oct 31st
- Conferencing with Mrs. Fuerst - Oct 31st-Nov3rd
- Final Drafts due - Thursday, Nov 10th




CLUE Movie Review Assignment
- due Tuesday, Oct 19th


Young Sherlock Holmes Movie Review Assignment
- due Tuesday, Nov 1st












SOCIAL STUDIES


Introduction to History Vocabulary Quiz - Thursday, Oct 13th
Personal Timeline Assignment - Monday, Oct 24th (completed only at home)

WELCOME TO ROOM 310

WELCOME TO ROOM 310

It's a very busy place. It's home base for HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere), Game Club, and Wind Chill Club. I usually have kids with me at lunch, so email is the best way to contact me. If you have any questions, please contact me at kfuerst@pembinatrails.ca or call the school at
204-269-6210. Please be aware that I do not check my work email outside of school hours. My home phone number can be found at the top of your ELA Course Outline. If you have a serious concern, please feel free to call me at home.
 

I will be using an app called Remind (Safe Classroom Communication) to text interested parents and students about information that is important for classes. Large group reminders, about important dates, fieldtrips, paperwork, assignments, tests, and quizzes, will be sent to individual devices. The app is free. It’s a one way communication that can help parents and their children encourage positive learning behaviors. After downloading the app, create the appropriate account (student or parent). See below for the classroom codes. Please read the letter that comes home on Wednesday, Sept 21st and sign up if your haven't already.

8-5@werock310

8-6@potato310
8-8@lilnuggets

IMPORTANT DATES
Wed, Sept 21st - Meet the Teacher Night - I have my university class on Wed.- Sorry to miss you.
Mon, Oct 10th - Thanksgiving - no school
Fri, Oct 14th - PD DAY - no classes
Fri, Oct 21th - MTS Professional Development Day - no classes
Thurs, Oct 27th - Acadia Dance - 7:00-9:30 pm
Thurs, Nov 3rd - Photo Retakes
Tues, Nov 3rd - Parent Teacher Conference - 5:00-7:30 pm
Fri, Nov 4th - Parent Teacher Conferences - 9:00-11:30 am - NO CLASSES
                     - Admin Day - 12:45-3:30 pm - NO CLASSES
Thurs, Nov 9th - Parent Teacher Conference - 6:00-8:30 pm
Fri, Nov 11th - Remembrance Day - no school
Fri, Nov 14th - Divisional Common Day - no classes
Fri, Dec 2nd - Report Card Writing Day - no classes
Wed, Dec 21st - Report cards go live
Thurs, Dec 22nd - School-wide Movie Fieldtrip - am
                            - Talent show - pm






GRADE 8 ELA


Students have spent the first few weeks building relationships, learning classroom routines, and completing basic assessments (spelling, grammar, learning style inventory, and Strong Beginnings).


Aside from two short writing tasks, students have been asked to begin researching (over the Strong Beginnings extended weekend) a celebrity that they would like to learn about for our Biography assignment. Notes are due Wednesday, Sept 21st.


We will continue to focus on reading comprehension strategies, story structure, drafting our biography piece, and crafting our Mystery/Suspense pieces.


We begin our Mystery/Suspense unit next week!











GRADE 8 SOCIAL STUDIES


I teach Social Studies to three separate homerooms. Due to their different timetables, the below dates may vary. Please watch REMIND and use the Homework Board for class specific dates.


We've started off our year with a review of mapping skills.
https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/6e1965a3-72b9-4ded-a066-1c7f9e9d154a


Introduction to History begins next week. See the following for tentative due dates:


Intro to History flashcards - due Tues, Oct 4th
Oceans/Continents Quiz - Wed, Oct 5th
Intro to History Vocabulary Quiz - Thurs, Oct 13th
Intro to History Unit Test - Thurs, Oct 27th
Personal Timeline Assignment - due Nov 3rd

THE END IS NEAR...

IMPORTANT DATES
Monday, May 23rd - May Long Weekend - no school
May 30th-June 10th - EXAM REVIEW WEEK
June 13-16 - EXAM WEEK
June 21-24 & 27 - Life Week
June 27th - Reports mailed home
June 28th - pm - School Carnival - no classes
June 29th - am - Student Awards Assembly


EXAM PREPARATION


Students should be organizing their materials (if they haven't already) and preparing a study schedule for exam prep. Exams can be stressful for many students, but proactive planning can alleviate a lot of it.


Room 310 will be open at lunch for students looking for a quiet place to do exam prep. Students should bring their lunch and be in the room by 11:50 and stay until 12:30. We'll be open every day except Tuesdays (HOPE meetings).

With the arrival warmer weather, many students find that they have a more difficult time concentrating in class. The classroom temperatures can vary widely from room to room (15-28 degrees). Students should bring a hoodie or sweater with them in case the air conditioning is cold. Students are also encouraged to bring a water bottle to class. No sugary or sport drinks please.


ELA

ESSAY EXAM

Students will be completing the essay portion of their ELA exams, during regular classes, from May 30-June 3. They receive five scheduled classes to draft their essays. Please try not to miss these classes.


We finished our Mythology unit today and began our Poetry unit.
Students have a Poetry Package with poetic devices worksheets. The entire package must be finished by Friday, May 26th.


Students should be working independently on their Grammar Booklets. It will help prepare them for the exam.

ELA EXAM REVIEWS were handed out today. Students are expected to work on them at home and in class, so it needs to stay in their binders. The entire review must be completed by June 3rd.
SOCIAL STUDIES

Ancient Rome Unit Test - Tuesday, June 4th


SOCIAL STUDIES EXAM REVIEWS were handed out today. Students are expected to work on them at home and in class, so it needs to stay in their binders. The entire review must be completed by June 7th.



  

CRUNCH TIME!!!

IMPORTANT DATES


Wednesday, April 27th - Deadline for Cancer Care Overnight
                                    Fundraiser registration/permission forms
Friday, April 29th - Last school dance - Cops and Robbers theme
Fri/Sat, April 29/30 - Overnight Fundraiser for Cancer Care Foundation
Monday, May 9th - Life Week Meeting/Life Week Registration $ due
Monday, May 23rd - May Long Weekend - no school
May 30th-June 3rd - EXAM REVIEW WEEK
June 13-16 - EXAM WEEK
June 21-24 & 27 - Life Week
June 27th - Reports mailed home
June 28th - pm - School Carnival - no classes
June 29th - am - Student Awards Assembly


With the arrival of Spring and warmer weather, many students find that they have a more difficult time concentrating in class. The classroom temperatures can vary widely from room to room (15-28 degrees). Students should bring a hoodie or sweater with them in case the air conditioning is cold. Students are also encouraged to bring a water bottle to class. No sugary or sport drinks please.




ELA


Students are in the middle of their Lit Circles. Students use post-its to hold their thinking while they read then expand on those connections/questions on their journaling sheets. Expectations are very high as this is our major reading assignment for the year. There are also other assignments involving their novels. Students must complete the "chunk" of reading, their post-its, their journaling sheets, a minimum of one question to share with the group, and a summary of what they've read in this chunk (major events of rising action or observations). Students also fill out an evaluation form at the end of each meeting.


April 13th - Meeting #1
April 18th - Meeting #2
April 26th - Meeting #3
April 29th - Character Comparison Assignment - students
May 4th - Final Meeting - all paper work should be completed


Due to conflicts, we have had to postpone our ancient Egypt presentations until next week (April 25th-29th)


Students should be reading at home every day!


Students will be completing the essay portion of their ELA exams, during regular classes, from May 30-June 3. They receive five scheduled classes to draft their essays. Please try not to miss these classes.


SOCIAL STUDIES


Ancient Egypt Inquiry Project - due April 14th
                                           - now overdue!
Monday, April 25th - vocabulary quiz
Wednesday, April 27th - comprehension quiz
Friday, April 29th - Athens/Sparta Venn Diagram
Monday, May 2nd - Ancient Greece Unit Test


Monday, May 13th - ancient Rome vocabulary quiz


All unit tests will be returned to students on Friday, May 20th, so they can begin preparing for exams. Review packages will be handed out at the end of May.
Students who wish to begin sooner may use their flashcards, notes, handouts, and textbook.

IMPORTANT DATES


March
March
March
March
March
April


******************************************************************************




We are now in our busiest time of the year. In addition to leaving class early for sporting events, missing classes for canteen/band practices/tests/fieldtrips, we will be experiencing badminton season, track meets, volunteering at the elementary track meets, F&P assessments, band performances, extended family trips, science fair/MSSS, the remaining lockdown/fire/tornado drills, registration for next year, academic fieldtrips, hockey/ringette play-offs, dance competitions, gymnastic tournaments, etc...




It can be very easy for students to become overwhelmed and fall behind. Students are responsible for completing assignments when they are away, regardless of the reason. Room 310 is open on Wednesday at lunch for students who want to work on assignments. Homework Club operates every day before and after school. Assistance is available during TLC time every Thursday from 2:35-3:30.










SOCIAL STUDIES




Video Study
Video #1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tttasc1WuuU
Video #2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBAOQqmpLuY
Video #3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F4s5hcyUzA


Students from 8-5 need to complete Videos #2 and #3 on their own time.


We're almost finished our Ancient Egypt unit. Students are beginning their inquiry projects. This is a huge undertaking for many in which they will learn how to properly design a project, do the research, and present their information to the class in the form of an oral presentation. Students will get approximately two weeks of class time to complete their projects. This is not enough time. They will be expected to work at home as well. To help students be successful, I will 'sign-off" on each step of the process. Students MAY NOT work ahead. We have gone over the assignment, in detail, so students understand the quality of the work they need to do. Please support your child by checking on their progress regularly. Plagiarism will result in a mark of zero. This is our third research assignment and the kids understand that it is absolutely unacceptable to claim someone else's work as their own. No excuses will be accepted.


Due date - TBA




Ancient Egypt Unit Test - Thursday, March 24th
                                        - if your family is leaving early for Spring Break, your student needs to write
                                           the test before they leave

A New Year, a Fresh Start

IMPORTANT DATES

 

Feb 11th - Valentine's Day Dance - SPONSORS MUST BE PRE-APPROVED - 7:00-9:30pm

Feb 15th - Louis Riel Day - no school

Feb 19th - Participaction – school-wide fieldtrips/activities
March 3rd - Term 2 Ends

  

Please feel free to contact me with any questions/concerns.  kfuerst@pembinatrails.ca or through REMIND.

Kelly Fuerst

 

GRADE 8 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

 

Expectations

• Students are expected to read for a minimum of 15 minutes every day (at home)
• STUDENTS AND PARENTS ARE EXPECTED TO SIGN UP FOR THE REMIND APP. It's free and is a safe way for two way communication using cell phones/iPads in which phone numbers remain private.
            8-5@mason321
            8-6@cena310
            8-8@ponyboy88
            HOPE@hopeforall

• Students are nearing the end of their Mystery/Suspense unit. They have done a variety of in-class activities to prepare them for writing their own original pieces. Students have the choice of writing a mystery or horror story. Please check on your child's progress on a regular basis. There are 6 stages for our writing piece. There are homework checks for each of these stages.
  1) Pre-drafting - 4 Square Strategy - now overdue
  2) Draft#1 - due Wed, Jan 6th - must be handwritten
  3) Peer edit - due Jan 6th-11th
  4) Draft #2 - due Jan 22nd - must be handwritten
  5) Conference with Mrs. Fuerst - Jan 19th-26th
  6) Revision
  7) Publishing - completion of third and final draft - due Feb 22nd - may be typed or handwritten
   
   
  GRADE 8 SOCIAL STUDIES
   
  We are currently studying Ancient Egypt. Students are responsible for the following:
• 
  
• Chapter Questions - now overdue
• Mapping Assignment - now overdue
• Art Assignment - Friday, Feb 12th
• Comprehension Quiz - Tuesday, Feb 16th
• Hieroglyphics Assignment - TBA
• Unit Test March 3rd
• Independent Research Assignment - March 3rd
• reading the textbook chapter

         

• HOPE - Helping Other People Everywhere
   
  HOPE is Acadia's student-run social advocacy club. Students are responsible for choosing causes/issues to raise awareness on, volunteering in the community, and fundraising for targeted charities/organizations. HOPE members are also responsible for planning and implementing the school dances
  
  
  Activities to Date

•  Bake sale
• Volunteering at the Walk for Muscular Dystrophy and Children's Hospital Book Market
•  Phone interview with a reporter from Free the Children
•  Halloween Dance
• “We Scare Hunger” campaign in support of Winnipeg Harvest
•  WE DAY (did you see the article in the Free Press?)
• Volunteering at the Christmas Cheer Board
• Volunteering at the Muscular Dystrophy Christmas Party
• Volunteering at the Children's Hospital Book Fair (Feb)
• Upcoming Events 
• Sponsor Dance - Thursday, Feb 11th - we're looking for parent volunteers - if interested, please email Kelly Fuerst