The Monarch for Thursday December 13th, 2007

At left, Ivan, Stephen, and Phillip practice their roles as the Three Wise men.





From Mrs. Groves...

• In math classes, the sixth graders are gaining a better understanding of decimals and are beginning to use them in algebraic expressions.
• Seventh graders are working with the computation of integers (positive and negative numbers), and graphing ordered pairs on a coordinate plane.
• Eighth graders are exploring exponential notation, squares, square roots, and applications of the Pythagorean Theorem. They seem to understand this concept very well.

From Mr. Carlstedt...

• On Saturday December 8th, several 7th and 8th graders were involved in the Second Annual Middle School Mock Trial Competition. Held at Noblesville middle school, the students acted as attorneys, witnesses, defendants, and plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit.
• The students applied skills from asking questions, following directions, and thinking on their feet. Aside from necessary instruction, the students constructed questions, thought out answers, and learned to think quickly using their knowledge of the case. A parent, Jim Osborn, was instrumental as legal advisor. A warm ‘thank you’ to him!

From Mrs. Schaefer...

• All middle school students were shown the video “The Nativity”.
• Next week we will have a discussion on the students’ feelings on the birth of Jesus—in the past and if He were born today.

From Mr. Heneghan...

• The 8th graders have been busy preparing for the Nativity play, to be presented in concert with the Christmas musical program next Friday. We can’t wait to transport you back to the story of the birth of Jesus.
• Thank you to all families who helped with our 8th grade poinsettia sale. Pick up is today between 3:30-6pm in Doyle Hall.

The Monarch for Thursday, December 6, 2007

Ivan and Jordan (above) measure carefully during a lab in Mrs. Bryant's class.

TODAY IS THE FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS!

From Mr. Carlstedt...
• Please check with your student and their weekly planner. It is important they are writing their work in the planner and not relying on Homework Watcher. Homework Watcher is a fantastic aide and communication venue, but NOT a substitution for students writing down their assignments.
• As the 8th graders are finishing up typing with Mrs. Morris, the 6th and 7th are using Publisher to learn about Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

From Mrs. Schaefer...
• Projects: 5th grade and 7th grade joined classes and made four blankets for an orphanage in Africa. Mrs. Lincoln will send these blankets to their destination before Christmas. These blankets will be given to those infants and toddlers who are in need. These children actually cuddle-up together to stay warm. Hopefully, these blankets will help. We will also have the 8th and 4th grade come together and do the same project before the Christmas holidays. Mrs. Lincoln will come and pick-up these blankets the week of December 17th – 19th.
• Movie: 6th, 7th, 8th students will be shown the movie The Nativity Story, December 10th – 12th. The 4th & 5th grade students have been invited to join us. Discussions will follow.
• The 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students made an Advent Wreath . Fr. Guy also came and talked with the students about the meaning of Advent and the Advent Wreath.
• The Jr. High students will be completing their rosaries, as these rosaries will be sent to the soldiers in Iraq.
• Christmas cards are also being prepared for the elderly and for those without families.

From Mrs. Hasbrook...
• The 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders have just completed another chapter in their Spanish textbooks. We are entering a new chapter that is entitled Alumnos y Cursos (Students and Courses). We will be learning lots of classroom vocabulary, the plural of the verb SER (to be), and how to tell time. In addition, students have just begun a project that will require them to research a famous Central American. They have a partner from their Spanish class and will write a 2 page report and create a visual. This project will be due right before Christmas break. Students will also be singing some Spanish Christmas carols as the season is upon us. Overall, they are all doing a really good job.

From Mr. Heneghan...
• Praise for the following students for taking advantage of recent extra credit opportunities: Marshall, Graham, Dominic, Miles, Aeriel, and Ben.
• Students have been reading articles from the New York Times recently. This is our nation’s paper of record, and one of the finest newspapers in the world. I hope this spurs their curiosity to read more and find out about the world around them.
• We have been practicing Cornell Note-taking, a method that has a built-in study tool as well: the questions the students create. These notes will come in handy in our reading comprehension quizzes and on the test next week.
• Students will also be writing an essay where they will need these important facts, opinions, and questions from their notes.
• We will start Vocab Unit 4 on Friday.

From Mrs. Bryant...
• Would all grades please save and send in empty and clean peanut butter jars? I use these so often in science class and would appreciate any that you have.

• Students will be given lab coats for this year. They are to bring them on lab days and be responsible for taking them home for washing when needed.

• All students have their own pair of safety goggles for labs which stay with them for the three years of middle school and are not shared. I keep those in the science room for their convenience.

• Please see me with any concerns about progress reports. I am always happy when a parent calls me with questions or concerns because it is the beginning of a solution.

The Monarch for Thursday November 29

Tony Dungy and the Colts in prayer.



In Mrs. Bryant’s class...

Sixth grade students are learning about air pollution this week, and will test our most recent rainwater for acidity.
Seventh grade students are learning about osmosis and diffusion. They will be exploring these concepts with a couple of hands on experiments today and Friday.
Eighth grade students are learning about chemical bonding and electron energy levels.
So much of what the students learn during a school year is building upon previously mastered concepts. Please encourage your child to complete their work to the best of their ability each day.
In sixth grade, we use the time between 3:00 and 3:15 each day as a short study hall. If students have questions about their assignments, the teachers are readily accessible at this time.

In Mr. Carlstedt’s class...

The boisterous 6th grade is going South of the Border to Mexico the next week.
The 7th grade has been studying Africa from the Masai to the Boers to Nelson Mandela.
The American Revolution has been the focus point for the 8th grade.
Finally, the 6th and 7th graders are working on a project using Publisher in Technology as they study the aspects of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.


In sports...

The Athletic Committee is having a Chili Cook-off this Sunday in order to raise money to subsidize the cost of uniforms. Come on out and support our athletic Monarchs! Tickets are five dollars each.
Boys basketball and Girls volleyball are in full swing. Can’t wait to see those games.

In Mr. Heneghan’s class...

8th graders are working on their own personal mission statements. This is something we learned about during our “7 Habits for the Highly Effective Teens” training. 8th graders will be sharing these with the whole school at the beginning of the 3rd quarter.
7th graders are reviewing nouns and working on responses to writing.
6th graders are working on responses to writing.
Students are now half way through the quarter, and therefore should be half way or more to their point goal for Accelerated Reader. Check at home to see their progress.


8th graders will begin selling poinsettias this week. The proceeds go towards our gift to the school and our 8th grade trip.

How Much do YOU Read?

These are some excerpts from a recent New York Times article, highlighting a new National Endowment for the Arts study on reading.

Study Links Drop in Test Scores to a Decline in Time Spent Reading

By MOTOKO RICH
Published: November 19, 2007

"Harry Potter, James Patterson and Oprah Winfrey’s book club aside, Americans — particularly young Americans — appear to be reading less for fun, and as that happens, their reading test scores are declining. At the same time, performance in other academic disciplines like math and science is dipping for students whose access to books is limited, and employers are rating workers deficient in basic writing skills."

An interesting quote:
"The new report also looked at data from the workplace, including a survey that showed nearly three-quarters of employers who were polled rated “reading comprehension” as “very important” for workers with two-year college degrees, and nearly 90 percent of employers said so for graduates of four-year colleges. Better reading skills were also correlated with higher income. "


To read more, follow this link to the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/arts/19nea.html?em&ex=1195707600&en=19c57bbd70b9bb6a&ei=5087%0A

Today's Monarch

In Mr. Carlstedt’s class...

• 6th grade: the intrepid sixth grade is moving in the southerly direction of the Western Hemisphere. We recently finished Canada and the US and are examining the geographic, historical, and political aspects south of the Rio Grande and north of Colombia.
• 7th grade: the heat of the Sahara moved the seventh graders into Sub-Saharan Africa.
• 8th grade: the thoughts of the recent political upset in Indy are part of the conversations of the 8th grade as we study taxes imposed by the British.

In Mrs. Groves’s class...

• Tuesday night seventy parents and students enjoyed a delightful evening at Family Math Night. They learned twelve different games to play and were able to take several home with them. Many thanks to the Education Department at Marian College and their students for helping with the event, and to all our parents from FSF and the Sports Committee. They helped prepare and serve the delicious meal and clean up afterwards. Also, thanks to Ms. Bayt and Ms. Clouse for babysitting during the evening. It was an enjoyable, fun-filled, educational evening for all.

In Mrs. Bryant’s class...
• Sixth grade students are discovering which areas in the United States are currently experiencing drought conditions. Students should know what a watershed is, the name of the watershed that serves our community, and be able to tell you where it is located on an Indiana map. We will have a class discussion of ways to conserve water and then the students will create posters as a reminder of what one person can do. Only 1% of all water on the earth is available as fresh water.
• Seventh grade students will be making cell cakes and sharing them with the fifth grade once they all have mastered the cell’s components and the function of each.
• Eighth grade students will have a test Monday over the periodic table of the elements. Tuesday the students played Element Bingo in order to better learn the elements’ symbols. Thursday they received sample test questions online in our computer lab. Please reiterate at home that it is important to review a little each evening.

In Mr. Heneghan’s class...
• All grades completed their compare-contrast essays this week. Look for those to come home next week. How well do they write?
• We’ll be watching a brief video on Study Skills tomorrow. What kind of study skills do you promote at home?

In sports...
• Congratulations to the 7/8 girls on their Semi-final appearance in CYO basketball. Lots of teamwork and hustle out there!
• Can’t wait to see the boys basketball teams go to work in the next month. They have a jamboree at Chatard this weekend. Go Monarchs!

Recess!

High School Parent Night: This Wednesday the 14th

Please join us this Wednesday at 7pm in Mrs. Groves's room. Representatives from the surrounding high schools--Bishop Chatard, Cathedral, Brebeuf, and Providence Cristo Rey--will be there to talk and answer your questions. Your high school students-to-be are encouraged to attend as well.

The Monarch

Bishop Chatard Open House is this Sunday from 12:30-3pm.

In Mrs. Bryant’s class...

Sixth grade students will be studying water, with special attention to what we have seen in the news the last few weeks with regards to the droughts in Louisiana, Tennessee, and other parts of the United States.
Seventh grade students continue to study plant and animal cell structures and will have a test next Monday. Tomorrow, students will be using the microscopes to observe cells. They need to remember to return their lab safety contracts by tomorrow.
Eighth grade students are learning about the periodic table of elements and common uses for some of the less well known elements. Ask your son or daughter what element is used to make solar panels, or which element is used to make computer chips; they should know.

In Mrs. Groves’s class...

Middle School Students compared the statistics from the Colts-Patriots game this past Monday. It certainly would have been more fun had the Colts won Sunday afternoon. We figured passing percentages: Manning -59% , Brady – 65%. Both quarterbacks were well below their pre-game average. We also found the yards per carry for players on both teams. The students seem to really enjoy learning math through our Sports Connections Program.
Please join us Tuesday evening for Math Family Night. Dinner and FSF meeting at 6:00, Math at 7:00 pm. Dinner is $5.00 per person, $15.00 per family. The students will each earn extra credit points for attending.

In Mr. Heneghan’s class...

• See my eclassroom for all sorts of goodies, including slideshows, videos, book lists, hot links, polls, and even this very newsletter!
• We are beginning a review unit in vocab, so all students must have their units 1-3 flashcards at the ready. This is when organization pays off!
• We are now beginning a big writing section in English, so look for your kids to be planning, proofreading, and organizing their writing for homework.

In Service...

We would like to have 6 – 8 7th /8th grade volunteers to help with the Early Education Open House tomorrow night. We will need about 3 young people to help watch the little kids and help with the children’s activity (decorating butterfly cookies). Then we will need 3 – 4 students to help with set up and clean up.
We will start setting up at 4:00 p.m. and we should be done pretty close to 8:00 or shortly thereafter. This will qualify for service hours.

In Sports...

• Both the 56 and the 78 girls basketball teams have moved on to the second round of play in their respective tournaments. Represent us well, girls!
• Boys basketball practices are ongoing. Please see the office for details.

Bishop Chatard Open House

You and your family are cordially invited to attend Chatard's annual Open House.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
12:30-3pm
Official welcome programs will be held at 12:30 and 2:15pm (Tours begin after first program).

Important dates for the Class of 2012
Placement tests-November 17, December 1, and January 12. Tests begin at 8:30am.

Application AND financial aid deadline: January 16

For more information, please contact the admissions office at 251-1451, ext. 2247 or 2242. Via email at admissions@bishopchatard.org

All Saints Day Edition of The Monarch

Jerome Dawn searches through Mr. Heneghan's "Mystery Box" after reaching all three of his AR reading goals.

In English…
6th and 7th graders will finish their novels tomorrow. Both will have a test next Tuesday.
All report cards are past due. If you have not conferenced yet, please call the school office to set up an appointment, 283-1518.
7th and 8th grade parents: there will be a high school night here at SJA on Nov. 14th at 7pm. Bishop Chatard and representatives from the other surrounding private schools will be in attendance.

In Social Studies...
There are a few barristers in the making among the seventh and eighth graders. Classes are participating in the second annual Indiana Middle School Mock Trial. The competition will take place on December 8th. The case involves a paintball injury and the liability of the paintball facility. The characters have some imaginative names:
Izzy Hurt, Plaintiff
Dr. O. Noh, Plaintiff's doctor,
Lee Nonmie, former R.A.G.E. employee
Carey Less, Defendant
Lou Sur, friend of Plaintiff
Pat Turn, paint ball expert

In Math...
In Sports Connections last week we took a look at the batting averages of the Colorado Rockies and the Boston Red Sox. We determined the teams overall average. Rockies, .222; Red Sox, .300. We also discussed whether of not this was indicative of the outcome of the series. There were pros and cons. Hind sight, of course, is 20/20. With the Red Sox sweeping the series 4-0, it seems in this case the batting average of the team was indeed influential in their win.
Next Monday we will be comparing and analyzing some of the stats from the Colts/ Patriots game. One we will figure out will be the passing percentage of the quarterbacks. It should be a very interesting game.

In Spanish...
The majority of the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders have completed their dialogues in front of the class. Some of them have been recorded and will be available for viewing on my blog via the SJOA website in the near future. This week all Spanish students are continuing to learn new vocabulary. They are mainly learning adjectives, as they are learning to describe people. Students enjoyed playing 20 questions and trying to guess famous celebrities using their new Spanish vocabulary. This week students will also be studying/celebrating “El dia de los muertos” (The day of the dead).

Are You A Good Leader? 8th Grade Is Learning How.

8th graders worked with Ted Roach, Bill Campbell, and top students from St. Richard, and St. Thomas on how to be a more complete person. They have used the book "7 Habits of a Highly Effective Teen" as a framework.

The Monarch for Thursday, October 18, 2007

Scenes from today's 8th grade mass:


From Mr. Heneghan’s class...

• 6-8 grades will have their Unit 3 spelling Tests next Tuesday.
• The 8th graders have been busy promoting paper recycling throughout our school. We got our first progress report back: our school has recycled almost ONE TON of paper, that’s 2000 pounds! That is six cubic yards of landfill space that we didn’t use because we cared enough to recycle. In addition, we also earn money for every ton recycled, so please feel free to package up all your newspapers and magazines (no cardboard) and drop them off in our yellow and green paper recycler. RECYCLE!
• Check out my blog for a slideshow of today’s mass:
• Remember, all blogs, a.k.a. eclassrooms, can now be accessed from the new St. Joan of Arc website at www.sjoa.org.

Kucinich? Really?

This website will ask you to answer some questions about some of the big topics of today, including Iraq, universal health care, and social security. See how your responses match up with the Republicans and Democrats running for office.

I was surprised to see who I agree with most and on what issues.

You probably will too.

http://www.wqad.com:80/Global/link.asp?L=259460

Coats for Kids Service Trip 10-10-07

Your kids helped a lot of people today...

The Monarch for October 11, 2007

From Senora Hasbrook,
By the end of this week all of the Spanish students will have completed our introductory portion of the class. All students have studied and been tested over the following material:

The Spanish alphabet
Numbers 0-100
Colors
How to form the date
Singular/Plural
Feminine/Masculine
Noun/Adjective Agreement
Definite/Indefinite Articles

The 6th and 7th grade students will begin using their textbooks next Tuesday. The 8th graders have been working in the text for a few weeks. Currently the 8th grade students are working on dialogues. They are pretending to be in a Spanish restaurant. The students are required to memorize 5 lines each and perform their dialogue in front of the class. These dialogues will be performed next Tuesday and Wednesday. During the second quarter the students will be studying new vocabulary and grammar as well as learning about el dia de los Muertos, researching a famous Central American, cooking and taste-testing a famous Spanish dish, and learning and singing a few fun Spanish Christmas carols.

Please make sure that your students are completing their homework. Overall, everyone is doing a great job. I’m looking very forward to a fun second quarter!

From Mrs. Bryant...

Seventh and eighth grade students are exploring radioactivity as they modeled half-lives using M&Ms, and then graphed their results. They should memorize the half life formula for their test Friday; we have been working with it throughout the week. They should also be able to tell you about the work of Marie Curie and her husband. Ask your son or daughter where you might have radioactivity in your home; they will be able to tell you.

Sixth grade students finished up a lesson on the solar system and were able to ask an astronaut their question online at the NASA website. The students came up with some very interesting questions. They will be checking this week to see if their questions have been answered.

From Mr. Heneghan...

• Stat trackers for English, Reading, and Spelling are due next Thursday. Next Friday is the final day of the 1st quarter.
• Parent-Student-Teacher conference slips went home yesterday. Please be sure to list your top three choices. Those who turned them in today got first dibs.
• All students’ top three AR quiz scores go into their Reading grade. How many quizzes has your child taken? Many students have quizzed on four, five, six or more. Most importantly, how did they do on the quizzes? Our school goal is 90% or more.

In Sports...

The Lady Monarchs basketball teams had a doubleheader on Tuesday evening. The 4/5/6 girls played a great back-and-forth game, but finally lost to St. Pius X, 24-20. The Cadet ladies also played an impressive game and beat St. Barnabas, 26-17. Great games, ladies!

The STA/SJA 56 Football team won this past Sunday 24-7 against St. Mark on the Roncalli turf. This Sunday's game will be against St. Lawrence at the St. Lawrence field at 46th and Shadeland. Come out and support the boys. Game starts at 3:00 pm.

In High School news...

Our Open House at Providence Cristo Rey is Sunday, October 14th 1:00-4:00 with chili supper from 1:00-3:00. If you know of students who are in 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th grade and who qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school is providing our young men and women the opportunity of a lifetime. Please feel free to call with questions.

The Monarch, Thursday October 4

The Monarch
October 4, 2007
From Mrs. Groves...
Wednesday, our middle school students will go to the Indiana State Fairgrounds to help the Salvation Army set up for Coats for Kids. While there, they will sort hundreds of coats, check them for broken zippers, missing buttons, etc., and put them on hangers. They will then place them on the appropriate coat rack according to size. The following weekend, coats will be given away to any child or adult needing a winter coat. In the past, our students left with a new appreciation for the huge number of dedicated volunteers it takes to make an event like Coats for Kids happen. It is a great lesson in service to our community.

From Mrs. Bryant...
Sixth grade students are learning about our solar system. They will have a test probably next Monday. We will review in class on Friday.

Seventh and eighth grade students will have a quiz over atomic structure on Friday. They should study their notes and handouts provided in class. They will be learning about Marie Curie, her discovery of radium, and how to calculate half-lives after their quiz and into early next week. They were given class time today to earn their extra credit points. Several students had completed this online exercise, but neglected to include their names.

All students should have brought home a copy of their detailed grades from science this week to be signed by a parent. I wanted to give them an idea of what they had achieved thus far in the class before report cards came out in the last half of October.




From Mr. Carlstedt...
7th grade: Test Friday on Chapter 3
8th grade: Test Friday on Chapter 3
Technology quiz for 7th on Thursday, for 6th and 8th on Friday.

Please turn in Homework Watcher or Internet Permission slips to the office or Mr. Carlstedt.
Chat
Real-time text-based communication in a virtual environment. Chat can be used in e-learning for student questions, instructor feedback, or even group discussion.
Collaboration technology
Software, platforms, or services that enable people at different locations to communicate and work with each other in a secure, self-contained environment. May include capabilities for document management, application sharing, presentation development and delivery, white-boarding, chat, and more.
Courseware
Software designed to be used in an educational program.
Hub
A common connection point for devices in a network. Hubs are commonly used to connect segments of a local area network (LAN).
Infrastructure
The underlying mechanism or framework of a system. In e-learning, the infrastructure includes the means by which voice, video, and data can be transferred from one site to another and be processed.
KB (kilobyte)
1,024 bytes.

From Mr. Heneghan
--6th and 7th graders will have Vocab Test 2 tomorrow, Friday.
--8th graders will test over Vocab Unit 2 next Tuesday.
--1st quarter ends Oct. 19th. The following week will be parent-teacher conferences. We will send a schedule of times next week.
--October 23 & 24 are half days for parent-teacher conferences. The 25th and 26th are Fall Break.

8th Grade Retreat

Check out some pics from our great retreat at Rancho Framasa. Many more pics were taken with a different camera, and I'll have those up as soon as I can.

Enjoy,



...and here are the rest of the photos!



Peace,

Mr. Heneghan

The Monarch Thursday Sept 27

The Monarch
September 27, 2007

From Mrs. Bryant’s class...

I was very encouraged by the effort that the students gave in completing their I-Step tests.
All grade levels are studying atomic structure and will create sketches tomorrow to demonstrate their new knowledge. Seventh and eighth grade student groups will present the theories of scientists such as Dalton and Thompson, whose ideas on atomic structure preceded those of today.
Seventh grade students will be given an opportunity to retake their sound and wave quiz. This score will replace their earlier one. We will review beforehand in class tomorrow.

From Mrs. Groves’s class...

The middle school students have started “Sports Connections”, our math program that uses sports to heighten the interest and enthusiasm for mathematics. In “Sports Connections” students will learn mathematical concepts while using statistics from various athletic teams. This week students gathered statistics about the Colts using our new computers in the Math Center. They then created bar graphs and histograms of the heights and weights of the Indianapolis Colts players. We will then compare these statistics with those of other teams and see how the Colts stack up size-wise.

Volunteers from the Actuarial Foundation and others from the community are mentors for our students. Working in groups of four or five, the mentors were able to help them determine the best way to display and analyze their data.

From Mr. Heneghan’s class...

8th graders will be on their way to Brown County on Monday morning. Thank you to Mrs. Poe, Mr. Edge, and Susan Tsangaris for accompanying us on this overnight retreat. Permission slips and release forms must be returned BY TOMORROW.
Students took their first novel tests today.
Pictures are next Wednesday.
Students may come in Spirit Wear tomorrow for a buck. Proceeds go to HETO, which supports schools in Honduras.
8th graders will have a special meal and presentation tomorrow, courtesy of Mrs. Jeatran and the good folks at Mama Carolla’s. They’ll be learning about manners.

From Mrs. Burnside...
Students will no longer be able to purchase school lunches if they forget theirs. If your child forgets their lunch, a parent will be called.

The Monarch for Thursday September 20

The Monarch
September 20, 2007
From Mr. Heneghan...

Students are busy taking their ISTEP this week. We will finish up Wednesday of next week. All students who pass the English portion will be treated to fine dining from Mr. Heneghan!
All students are reading every night, whether it’s from To Kill a Mockingbird, And Then There Were None, The River Between Us, or 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens.
Ask your kids questions about what they’re reading, for example, “What is your favorite part?” or “Describe the main character”.

IMPORTANT: We must get another male volunteer for our retreat on October 1 & 2. If you know someone, please contact me. We don’t want to have to cancel such a great trip.

ACTIVITY FEES ARE DUE.

A great story!
I was playing basketball with a guy the other day. His name is Larry and he’s probably in his late forties. He has a son who is a junior in high school. He told me whenever they have to buy the next book for his son to read for a class, they buy two: one for his son, one for him. So, they both read the books and are able to have discussions around the dinner table. What a great idea! I say go for it, parents!

From Mrs. Sherri Bryant...
Students should log onto my website: bryantscience.com and click on the Eighth Grade Quia link, then go to the last link under useful links entitled: "Students Try this Quiz." They should take the 20 question, 8th grade science quiz. They were introduced to this in class last week, so students should know how to do this.
Students can earn up to 20 extra bonus points (one point for each correct answer) by completing the quiz and printing off the grade sheet. They may take the quiz as often as they like. Parents please try to encourage your son or daughter to take time for these extra points. This extra credit is due Friday.
If a student does not have internet and a printer access at home, ask them to make arrangements with me to come in early, work during lunch, or stay after school if they would like to take advantage of this opportunity.

The Monarch for Thursday Sept. 13

The Monarch
Thursday, September 13, 2007


Dates to remember:
• Oct. 1 & 2 is the 8th grade Retreat in Brown County. We need a male and female adult chaperone to make this happen.
• Sept. 15 is the French Market. Come on out to the school and church celebration. Thank you for all your fundraising efforts!
• Sept. 17-27 is ISTEP Testing. Please be EXTRA sure your child gets a good night’s rest and healthy meals. Curtail absences as much as possible. Homework assignments will be lighter during this time.



Questions Adults Should Be Asking Students, Every Week

Some good questions that I ask my students BEFORE and FOLLOWING a given homework assignment or test:

1. How did you prepare?
2. Did you do your best?
3. Do you think the grade is an accurate reflection of your preparation and effort?
4. How did you study? (I ask this one in place of the terrible question, “Did you study?” It is just too easy to say, “Yes” to that one and never really know what a student has done. Make THEM explain exactly what they do to prepare/study)
5. Did the way you prepared work? If not, what are you going to do differently the next time?
6. If you didn’t understand something in class or for homework, did you seek out someone to clarify the confusion? If so, who? Were they helpful?

Thursday's Newsletter 9/6/07

The Monarch
Thursday, September 06, 2007
French Market is just a week away! Many students are signing up to volunteer, so be sure to write down the times so they can be sure to be prompt.

In Mr. Heneghan’s class...

• Looking for adult male and female chaperones for 8th grade two day retreat to Rancho Framasa on Oct. 1-2. Contact Mr. Heneghan for details.
• Middle schoolers are “sharpening the saw” on their writing. We are practicing color-coded “Stoplight Writing”. This helps students organize their ideas before they write expository essays.

In Mrs. Bryant’s class...

• We are continuing to review in grades seven and eight for I-Step. I met individually with seventh and eighth grade students to review their progress in science. Several students are off to a great start giving excellent work and effort in science. I especially appreciate the questions that I get from students in class.
• I was disappointed by a few students who are not working to their potential, as all student scores –except one-- has come from homework assignments where they are encouraged to use their text as a reference.
• Sixth grade students are learning about scientific method, and why scientists use models. They will have a quiz on Friday. Students may verify their notes taken in class or review by going to bryantscience.com and clicking on the Sixth Grade Quia link. When they get to the Sixth Grade Quia home page, students should click on the red tool bar.

From the office...
• Please sell your French Market raffle tickets. Your efforts help our school financially. St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church provides us with financial assistance to help our school meet our budget. Selling your tickets is a great way to say thank you for supporting our school.
• New Dispensing of Medicine Procedure: Please do not send in medicine with a blanket statement saying “student’s name” needs to take this as needed or on a daily basis. We are no longer allowed to dispense medicine with directions as this. We must have a written statement or e-mail giving us permission to dispense on specific days. Also, to dispense ibuprofen to your child, will require a phone call to you and then a follow up e-mail or written note. If you have any questions concerning this new procedure, please call the school office.
• To all school families enrolled in the free/reduced meal program: Our hot lunch program began 2 weeks ago. If you have not returned the necessary items (application and current copy of pay stub) to re-qualify for the program, you must submit them immediately. If we don’t receive them tomorrow, you will no longer be eligible for the program. Please call the school office to be sure your have been re-qualified.

Thursday's Newsletter 8/30/07

The Monarch
Thursday August 30, 2007

• We have started the “Homework Club”, so if your child has not done their homework, they will be calling to let you know.
• 8th grade retreat at Rancho Framasa in Brown County is scheduled for Oct. 1-2. This is an overnight trip. We are looking for male and female chaperones. Please contact Mr. Heneghan if you are interested.
• French Market is Saturday, September 15th. We have no school on the Friday of that week.
• No school on Monday, it’s Labor Day!

In Math...

In middle school mathematics, all students are reviewing pre-requisite skills for their current year. This will assure that they are better prepared for ISTEP as well as the new skills they will learn this year. Thus far, most of the students have been doing a fine job of showing their work and turning their homework in on time. Those students who do not have their homework will be calling home to let a parent know. The homework would then receive partial credit the following day. Thank you for encouraging your student to do their homework neatly, thoroughly, and on time.

In Science...

Sixth grade students have been learning about recycling, particularly paper.
They tested various paper samples for absorbency today and will finish analyzing their data tomorrow.

Seventh and Eighth grade students continue to intensely review for I-Step. Please encourage your son or daughter to use their textbook when completing any worksheets that are given as homework. If they are having difficulty, have them see me at school or give me a call at home 841-3952.

If there are any allergies that your son or daughter has, please be sure to let me know as we will be working with many different materials in science class.

In English...

Students have all started reading novels. 8th is reading To Kill a Mockingbird, 7th is reading And Then There Were None, and 6th is reading The River Between Us. We are reading these in class, so you won’t see them at home, however, you SHOULD see them reading their A R books every night.
6-8 will have their first vocabulary test over Unit 1 next Tuesday. You should see them reviewing their flashcards every night.
One of the gifts the 8th graders received from LAST year’s 8th grade class was a book called, 7 Habits for the Highly Effective Teen. The 8th graders will be reading this at home on their own. Periodically, we will have quizzes.

A Truly Amazing Piece of Footage

God certainly works in mysterious ways...



Those who watch the entire video will be rewarded with a surprisingly pleasant resolution.

The Monarch 8-23-07

The Monarch
Thursday August 23, 2007

Welcome back!

We are all so excited to get started on another fabulous school year, and part of that was last night’s Back to School Night. Thank you so much for attending. It is one of hopefully many occasions to see our parents in our building. Some announcements:

• Saturday is our “Growing the Arts” fundraiser at the home of Michael O’brien. There will be food, beverages, music—SJA’s own choir—and student artwork on display for purchase. Come join us! Call the office for details (283-1518).
• All students should have their planners and binders.
• Purple folders go home every Thursday and should be returned Friday. Discuss newsletters, graded work, stat trackers, etc. with your kids every week.
• This Sunday from 1-3pm, all middle schoolers have been invited by Bishop Chatard to attend the North Deanery Cadet Football Jamboree. They have also been given a ticket to get their picture taken with the Colts’ Super Bowl Lombardi trophy. Bring your cameras!
• French Market is Sat. Sept. 15th.
• sjoa.org will be changing to an updated look with new features. Be on the lookout!
• Homework Watcher emails go out daily. If you have not given your email address to us—or would like to add an additional address—let us know.
• All teachers also have blogs. For example, Mr. Heneghan’s is: http://sja-eclassroom-msla.blogspot.com/
  
  A note from Mrs. Bryant...
  
  Middle School Science
  
  Sixth grade students have been using the microprojector, which is similar to a large microscope, to examine their specimens from nature. At the same time we learned a little bit about chlorophyll and its role in photosynthesis.
  Seventh and eighth grade students have begun to prepare for I-Step testing, which takes place in a few weeks.
  Please make me aware of any allergies that your son or daughter has, as we work with a variety of materials in science. Please call me at home 841-3952 or send me an e-mail at sbryant@sjoa.org.
  
  Our emails:
  English—Mike Heneghan—mheneghan@sjoa.org
  Social Studies—Eric Carlstedt—ecarlstedt@sjoa.org
  Math—Beth Groves—bgroves@sjoa.org
  Science—Sherri Bryant—sbryant@sjoa.org
  Religion—Mary Anne Schaefer—maschaefer@sjoa.org
  Spanish—Julia Hasbrook—shasbrook@sjoa.org

Back To School Night!

Welcome!

Just some quick notes for tonight:

About me:

• Christ the King, Bishop Chatard, IU
• 10th year of teaching (2 in Poland, 8 at St. Joan
• married to Corrie
• love reading, cooking, teaching, softball, basketball

In class:

• My focus: literature, writing, and vocabulary
• My grades on report card: Reading, English, Spelling
• Syllabi, stat trackers
• Participation, curiosity, and learning

Talking points:

• Thursday folders
• Recycling
• Growing the Arts Dinner this Saturday at Michael O'Brien's
• 8th grade only--PCR, retreats, 8th grade trip, fundraisers, Cath. higher ed.

Questions?

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Entering my 8th year as a teacher at St. Joan of Arc, I am not only blessed to see our young readers and exceptional writers grow, I also have the pleasure of working with some pretty terrific people as well. Living every man's dream, I'm joined by my mother-in-law Jeanne Conner (the "peaceful" one on the left) this year, who is working with her sister, Ms. Peggy, on the Pre-K floor.

In addition to these two knuckleheads, St. Joan of Arc has many more who comprise the family I get to work with everyday. From Patsy, Burnside, and Eileen in the office, to Carolyn and Sarah who work with our after-school children, to my compadres in the middle school--Eric, Beth, Sherri, Julia, and Mary Anne--and many more. But, my favorite people are, of course, my students.

I work with the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders in a host of ways, but in the most generic sense, I'm the middle school English teacher. We spend most of the time in my classes exploring literature and writing, with a dash of vocabulary sprinkled in to boot.



As the eighth grade homeroom teacher, I also spend extra time doing special projects like discovering local business opportunities with the eighth graders in conjunction with corporations like Eli Lilly, Ice-Miller, the Indianapolis Convention and Tourism Board, and Kite Realty among others.

I am also the liason for students' experiences with Catholic higher education, including excursions to our North Deanery high school, Bishop Chatard, Marian College, and this year, St. Mary of the Woods.

Lastly, I am blessed to be part of the 8th grade retreat, a two day spiritual exercise at Rancho Framasa in scenic Brown County. We hike, pray, do high ropes (as seen below), canoe, team build, and learn about God's presence in the everyday simplicity of nature. In more ways than one, truly a "trip" every year.

I look forward to the journey ahead!

---Mr. Michael Heneghan