May 13 to May 17 (7th Sunday of Easter) NewsNotes from Mrs. McPhilamy . . .


THANK YOU TO PARENTS & STUDENTS WHO TAKE THE TIME TO READ OUR CLASSJUMP POSTINGS.

THERE ARE 7 SUNDAYS IN THE EASTER SEASON, ending with PENTECOST on May 19, 2013.

Upcoming Events: Mary's Month of the Holy Rosary

May DWP is Cooperation (and) Fruit of the Spirit is Gentleness.

LOVE is a five-letter word = Cross, Jesus, Grace, Faith, Heart (you get the idea) . . .

Regular Thursday Masses at 8:15 at our campus, Grades 6,7,8;

May 21 - 19 State Capital Test, 7G only;

May 22 - Final Exam in Language Arts - open notebooks allowed, but you must use your own notebook.

May 22 - Religion 7-4 Test (may use your study cards only);

May 23 Fine Arts Festival at our middle school campus - come and view the artwork and listen to a concert;

May 27 (Monday) - Memorial Day - NO School - Enjoy;

June 3 Final FF Day Farewell Mass for our 8th Graders at our campus;

June 5 My students will be emptying desks and lockers last hour and taking ALL home.  The room will be prepped for the summer months with the help of the students.

June 6 Field Day (Rose Park) but drop off is at St. Bavo Campus.  We will be walking to the park and eating there; then, walking back to our home campus, after a morning of games and competitive fun.  Early dismissal of 2:10. This will be the LAST DAY for STUDENTS - Happy Summer at that time.

Happy Mother's Day to all of our Moms at MCS.  I just read in the paper today that no matter what your name or what you're called, Mother = LOVE.  (I am a "Madre" to our son; a "Mom" to our daughter; and a "Nana" to our two grandsons) . . . It's all good :-)

Progress Reports were sent home Friday, May 3.   Some students did not receive one due to not having the Report Card envelope returned yet.  If you wish to have the Progress Report for your child, please sign & return the envelope from last time (or) come in and I will give you a copy in person.  Students need to learn to take items home and returned signed in a timely manner at this age.  I am still holding 5 progress reports for 5 students.  Parents, aren't you wondering where the progress report for 4th quarter is by this time?!?

I have been keeping a Tally as an Incentive (allowing students to be rewarded for doing the right thing) for those who are in their assigned seat when the lights go on and I am ready to begin class.  They ALL began with 13 points (the average age of a 7th grader at this time) and most of them kept their full value at placing time (Banking LA or Religion Points - their choice).  Now, we begin the cycle again.  Within a couple of weeks, I just STOP and invite them over to my desk to bank their points where they want as BONUS

Your student has begun again to accumulate their AR Points for Quarter 4.  Be sure they are reading at home.

Every LA student has a novel to read.  You should see them reading - ask them to read aloud to you.

Listen to their fluency (flow, smoothness) and determine if they are in need of more practice reading aloud.

Reading aloud is how they read silently, too.  If they are stumbling, their comprehension is going to suffer.

Caution your student about behavior in my absence.  Knowing what to do in my absence makes for a successful student.  I am not the babysitter, nor is a sub.  No matter where they are in the building, a sub takes the place of the homeroom teacher and deserves respect & cooperation from EVERY student.

Students at this age need to stop making excuses with an "I don't remember," or "I don't know why I did that."  Do YOU consider your child to be a truthful child?  What happens when they make a poor choice (language or actions) and get caught?  The results of their reponses may surprise YOU most times.

 

Behavior/Conduct Grades will be as follows:  (1) Excellent; (2) Satisfactory; (3) Needs Improvement; (4) Unacceptable.  ANY student receiving (4) in ANY subject will not be eligible for sports.  We will compile a Conduct Honor Roll so that students who earn all (1)'s are recognized for their Outstanding Performance of self-discipline in & out of classes.

Self-discipline = initiated by the individual - shows a willingness to wait and think before demonstrating an action.

A morning snack can be enjoyed by students during 3rd Hour (Religion) campus-wide.  No pop, candy, gum.  Bring a healthy, small snack and only water is allowed for a beverage.

Medical Appointments that must be scheduled during the regular school day?  Remember, student Electives are the first two periods of the day.  By 9:40, Religion (3rd Hour) begins and we expect students to be present and seated for instructional purposes.

ALL electronics are being collected in the AM and returned in the PM. New Policy.   Students risk suspension if they do not follow the new Electronics Rule.

IS your child walking to another campus at dismissal?  Why are they not being picked up at our campus? 

NOTE:  Behavior/Conduct Grades will be as follows:  (1) Excellent; (2) Satisfactory; (3) Needs Improvement; (4) Unacceptable.  Any student with a (4) in any subject will be Ineligible for Sports.  Any student with 1's in ALL areas, including electives & specials,  will be eligible for Conduct Honor Roll.  Behavior will be noted for both Report Cards and Progress Reports.

ATTENTION :  Any student chewing gum AT SCHOOL (before, during, after) will serve in the capacity of a Gum Scraper at church.  AM offenders will serve that day; PM offenders will serve the next day.  They will work the first 20 minutes of the lunch block and will eat the second 20 minutes of the lunch block, with or without their class.  Currently, Grade 6 eats lunch the second block.

May 13 to 17 NewsNotes from Mrs. McPhilamy . . .


THANK YOU to parents & students who take the time to read our classjump postings. 

Your student's homework is to complete what does not get completed in class AND to read in order to take AR tests and earn their quarterly points.

REMINDER :  The LA 6-4 FInal Exam will be May 22.  Notebooks allowed, but you must use your own notebook.

Vocabulary Card Craze:  Personification, Paraphrase, Outline, Onomatopoeia, Plot.


Genre Study:  Mythology, Folklore, & Folktales from around the world.

Writer's Choice Exercise:  Grammar - What are Collective Nouns?

Card Craze:  EVERY Monday, your student needs 5 index cards for class.  The words will change weekly.

Materials & Supplies:  Does your student need to replenish paper, pens, pencils, and folders in order to finish out the school year?  Ask them.  Too many are borrowing items from teachers & other students.

Vocabulary/Spelling Lesson:  Card-Craze, 4th Quarter:     Students will use WRITE SOURCE 2000 to determine definitions & examples of each.  Study your cards and be ready for the CC Test every Friday.  The words change weekly - every Monday.  Come with your index cards, 5 per week, always on Monday.

NO Formal Spelling Lesson this week - but a TEST on Friday, covering Review Words from Quarter 4 + Card Craze Vocabulary Test (see above for 5 new words).


Comprehension Lesson:  Passage Topic:  "Look Out for Lightning!"  Students are given a one-page essay to read about one topic.  Then, they are given a 7-point quiz to take over the content of that passage.  My expectation is that they can pass the quiz with a near-perfect score of 7.

I asked last week, "Why would you attempt to drive your car blind-folded and expect to arrive safely without injury or accident?"  In my mind, same concept in terms of attempting to answer questions before reading the passage about the topic.  Think about  it and discuss this with your (reading) student in Language Arts (or any other subject)

The Planner or Agenda is meant to be used daily by every middle school student.  Any teacher can ask to check a student planner and is alerted if work is not being turned in by the due date.

NOVEL QUIZZES: Novel Day is always Tuesday.  Novels should always be with the students, here & at home.  Not bringing them back is NO excuse for not reading.  I will find you another copy to continue reading.   Grade 6G: SWINDLE; Grade 6P: SHILOH series.  The SHILOH SEASON Quiz #1 (Chapters 1-8) is now available.  Some students have completed their readings & quizzes and have moved on to a classic novel (from my classroom collection) or something they have brought from home or gotten from a library.

ALL of MCS library books are due May 28.  Do not get denied a report card due to late fines from the library in June.

A few are reading other titles, due to conferencing that took place about their reading interests.

EXTRA CREDIT?  It rarely happens in my room, but I have begun offering 10 points on Wednesdays for students who read the magazine and take the QUIZ on the back cover = 10 points maximum.  Accuracy in answers determines their score out of 10.

On-Going Focus:  Conventions of Good Writing & Strategies of Good Readers.  I am concerned about the quality of weekly sentences from students.  We are addressing the weak links in search of some remedies to improve writing across the classes.

AR Points (independent reading) are due every quarter (9 weeks).  Students have their point cards from the very beginning.  They are to read & take AR tests in order to pass those tests AND fulfill their points goal.  NOTE:  I have not yet changed the points per quarter.  Your reader has the same required # they had for Quarter 1, as we begin anew each & every quarter.  POINT were due Thursday, March 21, end of Quarter 3.

AR Website:  http://www.arbookfind.com/usertype.aspx

I AM surprised when students ask if the points assigned are for the whole year?  No, they are assigned (to be earned) for EACH quarter.

 

 

 







 

 







 

 

 

YOUR STUDENT OF READING NEEDS TO BE READING, daily, at home & at school.  Do not accept excuses for not bringing novels home.  Place them near you, if necessary, and watch how they read for 20 minutes.  It can be very revealing.  Turn off the music and turn off the TV.  Talk to them about what they are reading.

Parents:  Are you checking Power School weekly for your child?  All subjects?  Please address in a timely manner.

No Personal Electronics may be used at school.  Your student's items must be bagged and tubbed for the day for safe-keeping.  They will be returned to students at the end of the day.  New Policy.  Students risk suspension if not following Electronics Rule.

Is your child walking across the river each day at dismissal to meet up with a ride between here & St. Joe campus? If so, why?  Their safety is in jeopardy.  Why are only the teachers worried about this new mode of action with middle school students?

NOTE:  Behavior/Conduct Grades will be as follows:  (1) Excellent; (2) Satisfactory; (3) Needs Improvement; (4) Unacceptable.  ANY student receiving (4) in ANY subject will not be eligible for Sports.  Any student receiving all 1's in all areas of learning, including electives & specials, will be added to Conduct Honor Roll.

May 13 - 17 NewsNotes from Mrs. McPhilamy (7th Sunday in Easter Season)


THANK YOU TO PARENTS & STUDENTS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ OUR CLASSJUMP POSTINGS.

ATTENTION Gum Chewers:  If you are chewing gum AT SCHOOL (before, during, after), you will become a Gum Scraper at church.  AM offenders will scrape that day during the first 20 minutes of lunch block.   PM offenders will scrape the next day.  A teacher will accompany you to church and stay with you for the 20 minutes; then, you will go to lunch with the second block of students, Grade 6.  Scrapers will be provided a tool, latex gloves, and a baggie.

NOVEL STUDIES (every Tuesday)  New Novels:  Flight #116 Is Down (7P) and Share-Pair Reading with Readers' Response Notebooks for 7G - following the Classics - student selected last week.

NO Formal Spelling Lesson this week, but a TEST on Friday + Card Craze Vocabulary Test.


SCRABBLE DAYS each month are now closed for this academic year.  Winning Teams will be announced the last week of school.


Week 1 = Abbreviation, Abstract, Adjective, Adverb, Agreement (April 8-12) Card Craze Vocabulary

Week 2 = Analogy, Appendix, Asterisk, Ballad, Bibliography (April 15-19)  Card Craze Vocabulary

Week 3 = Brackets, Brainstorming, Caricature, Cause & Effect, Cinquain (April 22-26)  Card Craze Vocabulary

Week 4:  cliche, colon, couplet, diary, diction (April 29-May 3) Card Craze Vocabulary

Week 5:  elegy, essay, etymology, expository, narrative (May 6-10) Card Craze Vocabulary

Week 6:  Descriptive, Fable, Footnotes, Free Writing, Glossary (May 13-17) Card Craze Vocabulary

Too many Electronics and not enough Reading time at home.  Addiction is a strong word.  Tally the amount of time your middle schooler spends on his/her electronics.  Is it balanced with sports, fine arts, family time, and reading time?  If not, as parent, try making some changes soon.  Also, Conduct Grades have dropped.  Students are not completing work and are too social at tables.  I may be moving the seating arrangements again.

PLEASE check Power School weekly.  You will see what they are missing.  ALL work is due every Friday by 3:00.

EXTRA CREDIT is now being offered on Wednesdays (10 points) in Language Arts.  Optional, of course.

Here I go again, sorry to sound so repetitive.  DRESS CODE:  All black shoes or all white shoes.  All must wear a black or brown belt.  All black socks or all white socks.  They must be socks that can be seen above the shoes.  NO polish on nails and NO make-up.  They will be sent to office to remove either or both.  Regardless of the # of piercings, females may only wear ONE set of earrings in the lower lobe, closest to their cheek.  No earrings for our male students.  The pricey sox for boys with the logo up the back are NOT Dress Code, no matter what your student tells you.  The MCS hoodies are only allowed on Fridays  (can be worn to classes) and all hoodies are to be removed in church for Mass and Rosary and Stations of the Cross.

Discuss with your son/daughter how they handle themselves in my absence from school.  A teacher nor a sub is the babysitter - that's a different service you pay for when it comes to your child's care + safety.  In any teacher's absence, a sub represents that teacher and should be given the respect they deserve.

Ask your child if they can verbalize the expectations of the Teacher (and) yours, as a Parent. 

What makes having a sub in the room a different experience?  Should it be different, or business as usual?  Everyone knows - it's all about the choices WE make.  It's not hard to figure out.  You walk in and see a sub.  You should be thinking, "I know what to do today, just like any other day."

 

 

 

 

 







NOTE:  This may be helpful to some parents, so here's a Normal Week in Language Arts:  Structure & Routine foster a predictable pattern for the students.

Monday:  New spelling lesson, pass back week's graded work, introduction to new story, TAGS-T in our notebooks and vocabulary with definitions.  Prepare weekly index cards (5) with word & definition.  Begin reading selection;

Tuesday:  Novel Day (quizzes & silent reading, some discussion); Vocabulary noted for chapters, if applicable;

Wednesday: Magazine or Periodical Day with TAGS-T and vocabulary required for the story selections.  EXTRA CREDIT IS NOW BEING OFFERED with a maximum of 10 points for completion of the back page (quiz) with accuracy.

Thursday:  Interactive Reader Day & Structured Instruction, including Literary Terminology sets of 5 each;

Friday:  Spelling Test or Review Test; Structured Instruction, Language game/activity; finish up any reading of stories not yet completed.  HAND IN ALL WORK TODAY BY 3:00 to the trays for your class.







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE TO PARENTS:  Please, please, please model reading for your pre-teens & teen readers!  It is so critical to be reading.  Unplug the technology and READ, READ, READ.  They are not too old to read to you - it's a great way to monitor their Fluency & Comprehension, too.  After they have read a page, stop, and ask at least 3 questions about what they've read to you. 

God is the Center of this Classroom.  HE is the Master Teacher.  Come, Holy Spirt, guide us in making good choices each and every day.  AMEN.   Make God known, loved, and served. Take off your bib, roll up your sleeves, and find ways to serve the needs of others.  (Teach service to your children, too)  YOU are not their servants.  Teach independence & responsibility and avoid waiting on them.  It does not all happen at school, in class.  Children really need time to practice being quiet & alone with their thoughts.  This is a challenge for most.  Always needing stimulation is not the best way to learn all the time.

Looking for some down-time for yourself & your family?  It's there, you just have to find (create) it.

During May, our Religion classes begin the same way each day:  Asking 3 Questions:  What are my abilities? Do I say YES as often as I should? Was my day pleasing to my God? (any 7th grader is not too young to ask, reflect, and meditate = those are my expectations) . . .

Does your family use the bible, pray the rosary, know the stations & mysteries and all the main prayers?  Do you have a crucifix in your home?  Do you have a picture of the Holy Family in a visible location?  Does your home say that you are Catholic or Christian? Are you attending Mass every weekend? WE all are obligated to model the Faith for our children.  It cannot all happen at a Catholic school.  There has to be carry-over between home & school, too.  Our students at this age are VERY impressionable.  Actions are easier to see than words to hear & remember ...

THE YEAR OF FAITH IS UPON US.  Teach the Faith to your children and model service to them on a weekly basis.

Teachers' Expectations for students AT MASS will be shared by teachers, principal, and priests.  Fully engaged and responding is our obligation to this beautiful opportunity - it is a privilege to attend Mass in this country.  

Unplug them and teach them to communicate with others around them.

 It is the request & prayer of the three parish priests that your student(s) attended Mass with you & the family this weekend.  Being a baptized Catholic means that it is your moral obligation to attend and have your children present.

May 13 - 17 NewsNotes from Mrs. Cathy McPhilamy (7th Sunday of Easter Season)


THERE ARE 7 SUNDAYS IN THE EASTER SEASON and end with PENTECOST, May 19, 2013.

Stewardship Leads Me to My Judgment Day = 3 Key Questions:  What are my abilities?  Do I say YES more often than not?  Was my day pleasing to God in every way?

Chapter 18:  The Church Today:  Confirmed Believers (I am waiting to teach Chapters 16,17 until Pentecost)

They may always use their books to take a quiz or a test in Religion.

May 22 - Religion Test for 7G.   Your notecards may be used.  Last week for Easter Pails to be displayed in my windows.  They were there for a reason.  Do you know the Mysteries of the Rosary?  You should be ready for the test on May 22.

Rosary Recitation this week:  Corey & Cody Madera, Grade 7 (Joyful Mysteries) Monday, 10:00 in church.




***ON-GOING PRAYER INTENTIONS***

1.  For Maria Bennett, Grade 4, as she continues to beat her blood cancer battle;

2.  For those with physical, emotional, and mental challenges;

3.  For students who struggle due to a learning disability;

4.  For all families who are obligated to attend MASS as baptized Catholics;

5.  For the health & safety of our student athletes, as they represent our school on their various teams each week;

6.  For all Catechists, who dedicate their energies to bringing the Faith to children, both in and out of the Catholic school setting;

7.  For the repose of the soul of God's Faithful Servant, Miss Jean Ellen Brown, Liturgist, who died December 1.  She now joins her loving God, her parents, and our beloved Sr. Pat Gavin.  Thank you, Jean, for guiding me in my search for what's best for children at this campus.

8.  For the father of Mrs. Kristi Melser (Tyler's grandfather), who died December 21, following a lengthy illness.

9.  For the mother of Mrs. Tammi Watt (Art Teacher @ SB campus), whose mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time.  

10.  For those who are guests at the Center for the Homeless on Michigan Street in South Bend, that they continue to listen to God's encouragement through the volunteers and friends of the city, who raise them up with prayer and support in so many different ways...

11.  For the staff & students, who were victims of the CT shootings on December 14th and for their families...

12.  For all who struggle to feed their families & heat their homes this winter season...

13.  In remembrance of Emeritus Bishop John D'Arcy, who died in January.

14. For the daughter of Mrs. Hatfield, who had surgery recently - for her continued recovery.

15.  In thanksgiving for the mother of Mrs. Wojcik, whose recent surgery resulted in very good news...

16. For the success of our Operation Rice Bowl campaign here at MCS this Lenten Season...

17. For those who will be diagnosed with cancer this (Easter) month & for those who are struggling with it now...

18.  For retiring Pope Benedict XVI, as he prepares for a life of prayer & reflection ...

19.  For the influence of the Holy Spirit in the work of our new Pope Francis.

20.  For the victims who were killed or injured in the bombings at the end of the Boston Marathon ...

21.  For the victims who were killed or injured in the explosion in Waco, Texas ...

Mishawaka Catholic School
Catherine McPhilamy