8th Grade Newsletter

August 31-September 13

 

Important Dates

Sept. 3              Labor Day—No School

Sept. 6              Mass @ 8:15 a.m.

Sept. 7              8th Grade Retreat

Sept. 10            8th Grade Parent Mtg. @ 6:30 p.m. in the Garden Rm.

Sept. 11            Late Start @ 10:00 a.m.

SPS Food Pantry Drive—Week of September 10-14

 

Religion

Mr. Bob Jacobsen

            Welcome back! The eighth graders have completed some introductory work in terms of looking at goals and dreams and determining why religion is so important. They are in the process of studying the first chapter (“Human Dignity and Happiness”) in their Morality: Life in Christ religion texts. They will have a test over this chapter next week. Also next week, the students will prepare for the All-School Mass scheduled Thursday, Sept. 6. During the week of Sept. 10, the students will be studying Chapter 2, “One Person’s Decision.”

 

Mrs. Bernie VanArsdale

            Chapter 1 has been completed and the test has been taken.  The results should be home by Tuesday.  This week the class prepared this morning’s Mass.  Chapter 2, “One Person’s Decision,” will be introduced tomorrow.  The test covering this chapter should be Friday, September 14.

 

Mrs. Dianna Youngblood

            Last week my homeroom was responsible for the Thursday Mass so much of our time was spent in preparation for it.  We also made character balls to hang from our classroom ceiling and covers for prayer journals.  On Monday students began studying Chapter 1, “Finding Happiness.” There is a test Friday, August 31, over the Beatitudes.  Please review these tonight with your child.  I am so delighted to have such a talented group of young people in my homeroom this year.  It should be a great year.  

 

American History—Mrs. Dianna Youngblood

            The second full week of school has ended and everyone is off to a good start.  In history students are engaged in a review that will take us through the Civil War.  Hopefully we will not need to spend a great deal of time in this review and we can get into more recent history.   I am looking forward to an exciting year. 

 

English—Mrs. Bernie VanArsdale

            The students have been working on personal silhouettes which address the light and dark sides of their personalities.  A poem was written to express the Mark Twain theory that each of us has a light side and a dark side.  The poem and pictures were affixed to the silhouettes which will be hung from the ceiling.  The class is also working on vocabulary from Lesson One.  The test for that lesson was today.  The results should be home toward the end of next week.  A paper which will focus on the preserved areas of Kansas City will be the primary work for the next two weeks.   Lesson Two of vocabulary will also be part of the curriculum.

 

Literature—Mrs. Bernie VanArsdale

             “Not Poor, Just Broke” by Dick Gregory was at the heart of literature class.  The students are currently working on a paper for informal presentation on an issue stemming from that reading.  To Kill a Mockingbird will be under way next week. Students will again have AR as part of their curriculum for eighth grade.

 

Math

Ms. Mary DiGiovanna

            After learning the guidelines for math class, the eighth graders have begun Chapter 1.  Half-way through the chapter, a mid-chapter quiz is scheduled this week to check on progress.  Students have analyzed data using bar graphs and histograms. They have used order of operations to evaluate numerical and variable expressions, including expressions with powers. The Chapter 1 test is tentatively scheduled for next week.

 

Mrs. Diane Marrin, ext. 326                 dmarrin@stpeterskc.org

             Eighth graders have made a wonderful start to the year. At last check, every student had every paper in on time and demonstrated excellent problem solving skills for the class. We work very hard in 8th grade math as you probably have noticed in the syllabus. If your child is going to keep up with these expectations, he/she needs to spend 30 to 45 minutes studying math every night. It would be a great benefit to your child if you would monitor his/her time management in this busy eighth grade year. Please discuss your student’s first quiz when he/she brings it home to be signed. The Chapter 1 test will be Sept. 4, the day after Labor Day. In this chapter students have reviewed using bar graphs and histograms to analyze data. Students use order of operations to evaluate numerical and variable expressions, including expressions with powers. Students write variable expressions and write and solve equations using mental math.

 

Science—Mr. Bob Jacobsen

             Welcome back! The eighth grade science students are off to a terrific start. They are in the process of completing their work with the human endocrine system; the test is scheduled for tomorrow, Aug. 31. Beginning next week, the students will be studying the human reproductive system, growth, and development (some of which was just covered in health class), and focusing upon the process of meiosis. The students will be taking several short tests during this unit. This unit will then allow the students to begin their work in the genetics unit, which is scheduled to begin during the latter portion of the week of Sept. 10.