Lunchtime Awesomeness

Looking for something new to do at lunch?  Come check out the drop-in embroidery club.  Starts next week!

Writing Your Bills - 2009

Below are links to the suggestions all three classes came up with today, as well as a link to the ideas from last year's classes.

Enjoy!

2008 Ideas

2009 Ideas

Constitution 2009!

If you're looking for the assignments for this unit or the outline for the Preamble Collage, take a look in the sidebar under "Constitution".  Each branch (legislative, executive, and judicial) will have its own folder, so be sure to take some time to explore.  Also available are info/links related to topics from the unit, as well as enrichment suggestions to start on early!

You may also want to check out the Five Freedoms Project.  Their focus is on First Amendment rights (speech, press, assembly, petition, and religion).  Take a look at their videos, too.

Tweeting for Dollars????

Even if you're only a casual user of Twitter, check out this article.  You could win money for college just for coming up with an amazing tweet!

from OpenEducation.net

Are you still new to the Twitter process? Ever wondered if that Tweet-texting your son or daughter was doing would ever amount to anything useful?

Well, now you just may see some possible value in what that college-age son or daughter has been up to. Given our love for all good things free, we could not help but point folks in the direction of CollegeScholarships where the site supporters are offering $14,014.00 in scholarships for the best in Tweeting.

Happy Labor Day 2009!

Most people associate Labor Day with the end of the summer, patriotism, barbecue picnics, and family trips.  However lovely each of these may be, though, they have little to do with the actual history and meaning of Labor Day.  Check out the following links below to find out more.  If you're interested, try putting together an extra credit assignment of your own design based on what you find out.

Labor Day History:

• History from the Department of Labor
• Labor Day timeline
• May Day from Wikipedia
• May Day from the IWW
• History Channel info
• Origins according to About.com
• Origins according to PBS.org
• Images and info from the Library of Congress

Wearing White after Labor Day:

• Why not?
• ...according to Gossip Girl...
• Fashion faux pas?
• Rules for the rule
• Breaking the rule
• Other fashion rules to break

Labor Day Food Traditions:

• Recipes from the Food Network
• Labor Day Food Quiz
• Pinehurst, NC, festival
• Free food
• Thank you meal

Extra Credit?  You may recall that there are very few opportunities for extra credit.  However, you may want to consider making your own 50 States Notebook, which can be submitted for xc.

Thanks to everyone (all eight of you!) who brought in tissue last week.  As we near cold season, every little box helps!  Keep 'em coming :)

A Few Reminders

History textbook: Be sure to bring the brown TCI text to school each day.

Lockers: Get Core supplies/texts from your locker *before* coming to class--before school, at break, at the end of lunch.  Leaving during class to go to your locker can be a disruption, especially if many others need to do the same.  **This will negatively impact your conduct grade.**

Parent Questionnaire:  Please ask your parents to fill out the questionnaire.

• Click on the "Parent Questionnaire" link in the sidebar under "Forms & Useful Items"
• Complete the survey.  The information will be extremely helpful!

Back to School Night 2009

Redwood's Back-to-School Night begins at 6:30pm on Thursday, August 27.

We all look forward to sharing with you a taste of what your students experience each day :)

This evening is designed to give parents an overview of the curriculum and procedures in each of their child's classes.

Students will bring home their class schedules (with a map on the back) to advise you of the evening's events and timing.

This is a parent-only event.

Info Sheets:

Homeroom Overview

Conduct Rubric - for Homeroom AND Core

Core Overview

Welcome to the 2009-2010 School Year!

Hello, Class of 2010!

I look forward to meeting to you and hope that you are just as excited about this new beginning as I am. Please take a few minutes to explore the site--we will look at it during class, but you might want to get a head start! Also, feel free to email me with questions or information as we start this new year together :)

STUDENTS--Check out the supplies list, also found under "Forms & Useful Items".

PARENTS--Click on the "Parent Questionnaire" link in the sidebar under "Forms & Useful Items" to complete the survey.  The information will be extremely helpful!

The first day of school is Monday, August 24. Don't forget that 8th graders come for only the second half of the day.

If you are new to the district, please come to the orientation on the Multipurpose Room (the Cafe-gym-a-torium) from 11:30am-12:00pm.

First Day Schedule

12:30 – 12:45 All 7th and 8th graders report to period 1.

12:45 – 1:05 Assembly

1:10 – 1:25 Period 2

1:30 – 1:45 Period 3

1:50 – 2:05 Period 4

2:10 – 2:25 Period 5

2:30 – 2:45 Period 6

2:50 – 3:05 Period 7

End of the Year Updates

TEXTBOOKS:

Bring them in ASAP--missing books = no yearbook + no grades

TKAM books are due back on 5/29.  Yes, that's a few days before the Lit Journal is due--be sure to plan ahead if you need material from the book to complete your journal items.

Remember--there are several missing copies of Glencoe out there. If each remains "lost" by the end of the year, all students will be charged for a replacement per library guidelines.

GREAT AMERICA:

Wear comfy shoes, bring sunscreen and water, and remember that dress code still applies.
In order to by your tickets, you must have your permission slip and payment in hand.  If you want to ride on the same bus as your friends, you must sign up at the same time.

TKAM:

The Final Project is due Friday, 5/29.  Remember that we have Art Docents that day, so we won't be sharing projects until 6/1--bring food projects in ahead of time!

Also, our Southern Picnic is coming up on 6/8 and 6/9. Please be sure to sign up to bring a beverage (lemonade and Coca-Cola!), food (fried chicken and Lane cake!), snack (see the TKAM Foods List), or utensils/plates/napkins in order to fully enjoy the Mockingbird Experience.

Update on Sunday, May 31, 2009 by Ms. Aviña

*Great America ticket sales are NOW OVER.  If you have any questions regarding the trip, see Mrs. Brandt in the main office.

**TKAM books must be returned no later than Wed., 6/3!

TKAM Resources

Full-text of each chapter available here.

Student Survival Guide available here.

• Lice video
• Gum video
• "Does Your Chewing Gum" video