Christmas Program Rehearsal Tomorrow

The 8th grade will be rehearsing with the 7th grade tomorrow at 1:30 for the Christmas program. What we did today: Religion: The Rhythm of Life: The three circles (desire, needs, talents) How to pray the rosary - the various mysteries Homework: none Reading: Paraphrase: "Life is the sum of your choices." Albert Camus The animated Hobbit, part II Notetaking Checking novels for highlighting Homework: continue writing interpretive questions English: The Rhythm of Life: Physical Needs Correct/discuss diagramming practice Introduction to verbals Homework: none

The Animated Hobbit

Today's schedule: Reading: Paraphrase: "Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new." -- Henry David Thoreau The Hobbit movie, Part I: What did the creators of the movie get right? What did they change? Homework: Begin writing questions about the novel. Factual questions Interpretive questions Evaluative questions English: Diagramming practice

Yesterday's Work

Sorry about getting this up so late, but here was what we did yesterday: Religion: The Rhythm of Life Discussion of being fully awake and alive Homework: bring your completed twine rosary to class on Wednesday Reading: Early Work: Paraphrase this quote: "Education is not received; it is achieved." The Princess Bride Comparison of the 1937 edition of The Hobbit with our edition English: The Rhythm of Life Diagramming review Diagramming subjective complements

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are all having a wonderful Thanksgiving break. I know I am. We are sitting around recovering from our turkey dinner and enjoying the slower pace. One of the things I am most thankful for this year is the opportunity to teach all of you. Thank you for working so hard this year and for being such fun to be around. I also wanted to let you know that I just finished work on a new podcast for St. Peter parish called Keys to the Kingdom. Mr. Harry Lewis records all of the homilies for the weekly masses, and now he will send them to me to turn them into podcasts. You don't need an Ipod or mp3 player to listen to the homilies--you just need to visit the Keys to the Kingdom webpage. Check it out and tell me what you think. The first ten students to email me their comments about the new podcast will get 5 extra credit points.

Free Dress Tomorrow

Don't forget that picture retakes are tomorrow, and tomorrow is also free dress. Here is what we did in class today: Religion: Early Work Summary Prayer The Rhythm of Life Making rosaries Reading: Early Work Summary Don Quixote Structural Patterns in The Hobbit Marking The Hobbit Homework: Mark up chapters 1-3 in The Hobbit for Monday Have the entire book marked up by Tuesday, November 28. English: Early Work Summary Sharing 55 Fiction rough drafts with peers Introduction to making rosaries Homework: Work on your final draft of your 55 Fiction story--due Wednesday, November 22.

Welcome Back

It was great to see your faces again today after almost a week off. Here's what we did today: Religion Schedule: Early Work: What is the name of the first prayer of the Rosary? Prayer The Rhythm of Life Recording the Rosary Reading Schedule: Early Work: What was the name of the man from Laketown who killed Smaug? Don Quixote The Hobbit outlines Structural Patterns in The Hobbit Homework: Finish the Structural Patterns chart English Schedule: Early Work: Name one of the sets of mysteries of the Rosary The Rhythm of Life 55 Fiction Guidelines Recording the Rosary Homework: Write a rough draft of a 55 Fiction Story

An Extra Day Off

High winds have knocked out power to the primary building, so school is cancelled today. That means I won't see most of you until Wednesday, since tomorrow is the Gonzaga Prep visitation day. If you have any questions you can email me at mrsenger@hotmail.com. Photo from SpokesmanReview.com

Conference Week

With conferences this week our daily schedule is a little different, so I will just post the homework for this week. Religion: We are continuing to work on making knotted twine rosaries. Reading: The specific outline for The Hobbit is due on Monday, November 13. English: We are looking toward next week when we will begin the 55 Fiction unit. A few reminders: Be sure to be dropped off at the primary building tomorrow for our Veteran's Day Assembly. You can shuttle down from the middle building before school if you can't get dropped off at the primary. Tuesday, November 14th is the Bullpup Preview--a day for you to visit Gonzaga Prep.

Rosaries in the Netherlands

Fr. Roderick just posted this video about how the Rosary Army is giving away twine rosaries at a youth convention in the Netherlands:

End of the First Quarter

It's hard to believe that the first quarter has ended already. Report cards will go home on Monday, along with the second newsletter of the year. Here are today's schedules: Religion Early Work: What is the name of the prayer book you received yesterday? Schedule: Early Work Prayer How to Make a Rosary Homework: Begin memorizing the Apostle's Creed and the four sets of rosary mysteries Note: If you are interested in more about making rosaries, see the Rosary Army's web page here. Reading Early Work: What did Sauron call himself when he taught the elves to make the rings of power? Schedule: Early Work Read-aloud: Don Quixote Quiz Hobbit Q & A The Art of The Hobbit English Early Work: Underline the subject in this sentence: The cars and trucks on the freeway were moving slowly. Schedule: Early Work The Rhythm of Life Autobiography sharing

All Souls Day

Here are today's schedules: Religion Early Work: What is the feast that follows All Saints Day? Schedule: Early Work The Rhythm of Life Praying with Living Faith booklets Reading Early Work: Name three places that Bilbo and the dwarves visit on their journey. Schedule: Early Work Read Aloud: Don Quixote Silent reading of The Hobbit Homework: Quiz on The Hobbit tomorrow English Early Work: What is the feast that follows All Saints Day? Schedule: Early Work The Rhythm of Life Autobiography format discussion Homework: Autobiography (due Friday, November 3)

Jack the Depressed Pumpkin

Here is Fr. Roderick's new video, Jack, the Depressed Pumpkin: