Week of February 24th

Most students had an extremely good week of learning with various learning tools and strategies, and it is my hope that this week will be no exception!!

The 6th grade class is past the midpoint of their novel, Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. Students are thoroughly entertained by the excellent writing of Mr. Paulsen and the various themes he conveys within the novel. Most students are elevating their high-order thinking skills as they try to draw conclusions and make predictions as to what Brian Robeson, the main character, will discover next about his predicament.

Students will continue to deepen their vocabularies with a new set of words for study, complete a vocabulary assignment, discuss the novels in Literature circles with student- driven questions, journal using various writing prompts, and reading. Students will conclude the week of a review of the themes from the various chapters and a vocabulary test.

The 7th grade class has used their time wisely to craft an issue to write about in a persuasive essay. Students will complete the rough draft of their essays on Monday night and on Tuesday, use the day to peer edit them. They will use the editing and ideas of their peers and use the Writing Process to rewrite their essays and peer edit and teacher edit them on Thursday. Students will make their presentations to their peers on Monday and Tuesday of next week.

The 8th grade is nearing the conclusion of their great novel, Bad Boy: A Memoir, by Walter Dean Myers. The class has enjoyed the novel thus far, enjoying the antics of their main character, and will possibly conclude it this week.

Students will continue to deepen their vocabularies with a new set of words for study, complete a vocabulary assignment, discuss the novels in Literature circles with student- driven questions, journal using various writing prompts, and reading. Students will conclude the week of a review of the themes from the various chapters and a vocabulary test.

Let's have a great week! Achieving is Believing!

Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Week of February 18th

Happy President's Day!!

Celebrate Black History Month by viewing the bulletin board in the Secondary wing commemorating the accomplishments and contributions of African-Americans to US and World history.

I hope that all students, teachers, and parents where able to enjoy the extra day off and are ready for a fun, but rigorous week of learning!!

The 6th grade class will begin the week studying chapters (1- 5) of their novel, Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. Students have enjoyed reading the novel so far, and discussing the subsequent chapters in their Literature circles. Students will demonstrate how effective those discussions are with a formal test this week covering those chapters. After, students will diagnose other chapters in those circles and journal using prompts.

7th grade students will begin their week taking photos. The next day, we will begin discussing what a persuasive essay is and how it can be used to effect change, not only in their lives, but the lives of their communities and the world at large using examples from the world and the assistance of the Elements of Language textbook. Students will use the week to brainstorm their topics using the CPS method, write their essays using a rubric, the Writing Process, and the 6+1 Traits of Writing.

The 8th grade class will use the week to deepen their learning of vocabulary with a new list of words, journal with and without a writing prompt, create non-linguistic representations of different chapters, and discuss chapters of their novel in Literature circles. Also, students will conduct a one act play to demonstrate comprehension of chapters (6- 10) of their novel, Bad Boy: A Memoir, by Walter Dean Myers.

Let's have a great week of learning! Achieving is Believing!!
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Week of February 10th

Please visit the new Discovery School website for all news, and while your there, check- out all the new cool photos!!

The 6th grade class will begin reading their new novel, Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. Students will pre- read the novel by understanding the author's purpose for writing, his point of view, and the themes to be explored while reading the novel. Students will deepen their workability within Literature circles and enhance their existing high- order thinking skills by answering and developing those type of questions. Also, students will deepen their vocabulary and increase their writing abilities by journal writing as they read and discuss the events in the chapters of the book.

In the 7th grade class, students will watch the movie, The Island, starring Ewen McGregor and Scarlette Johansen. Students will compare the movie to their recently finished novel, The Giver, by Lois Lowry, which both feature a Utopian society and how the main characters are trying to find themselves in the unknown confines of them. After the movies, students will communicate collaboratively in their Literature circles discussing the similarities and differences of the two communities, their characters, settings, plot, problems, solutions, main ideas, and themes.

The 8th grade class will continue to read their novel, Bad Boy: A Memoir, by Walter Dean Myers. Students will discuss chapters (1- 5) with the assistance of a worksheet of high- order thinking skill type questions, and test their levels of comprehension on a test on Tuesday. Students will discuss the results of their test on Wednesday and continue to read, discuss, cover vocabulary, and increase high- order thinking skills in Literature with self- created questions as the week progresses.

Let's have a fabulous week of learning! Achieving is Believing!
"There is no passion found to be playing small in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."   Nelson Mandela

Week of February 3

Congratulations to all Seattle Seahawks fans for a great win and the Denver Broncos for a good season!

Celebrate Black History Month by honoring the accomplishments of African- Americans and how those accomplishments help shape the Unites States and the world!! Parents and students, please stop by the bulletin board in the secondary and read about these proud moments of our lifetime and history.

In all grades, students will have a lively, informative, and fun discussion about the socio -economic impact the Super Bowl has on the world.

The 6th grade class will close the week by reviewing the parts of speech and learning the differences between the types of sentences in preparation to read their next novel, Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen.

The 7th grade will continue to read their novel, The Giver, by Lois Lowry. While reading this novel, students have participated in literature circles to discuss the elements of comprehension and other HOTS, journal- ed using writing prompts, create non- linguistic representations of the chapters they have read, and study vocabulary with different partners. Students have had fun discussing this novel of a Utopian society and understanding the fundamental differences of it and their current realities. We will end the novel at the end of the week and test covering all the remaining chapters at the beginning of next week.

The 8th grade class will begin their new novel, Bad Boy: A Memoir, by Walter Dean Myers. The class will learn the overall themes of the novel, the author's purpose for writing, and the author's point of view.  Also, while reading their novel, students will participate in literature circles to discuss the elements of comprehension and other HOTS, journal using writing prompts, create non- linguistic representations of the chapters they have read, and study vocabulary with different partners.

Let's have a great week of learning! Achieving is Believing!!

"Darkness cannot drive- out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive- out hatred; only love can do that."       Martin Luther King, Jr.

                                                                 Discovery School News

Nutrition Talk - presented by Mónica Mourra- Wednesday, February 12th  from 1:00 to 2:00 pm for grades 5-8.

PICTURES FOR THE YEARBOOK – The individual and class pictures for the 2013-2014  yearbook will be taken from Wednesday, February 12 to Wednesday, February 19. Melissa Durón from Merlin Pictures will be taking the photos and will be offering different packets of our students’ pictures at a very convenient price for parents to buy. We encourage parents to make sure their child is in school and nicely dressed the day assigned for the photos.

 

Assigned dates will be posted on the Monday Memo and the teachers’ blogs.The schedule for the times for each grade is below. Please be accommodating and patient if we need to make any last minute adjustments to the schedule:

 

	Wednesday  February, 12	Thursday February, 13	Friday February, 14	Tuesday February, 18	Wednesday February, 19
Period 1	KA	2nd grade A	4th grade B	7th grade	11th grade
Period 2	Pre Kinder	2nd grade B	5th grade A	8th grade	12th grade
Period 3	Nursery	3rd grade A	5th grade B	9th grade	Make up
Period 4	Kinder B	3rd grade B	6th grade A	10th grade A	Make up
Period 5	1st grade	4th grade A	6th grade B	10th grade B	Make up
Period 6					Make up
Period 7

 

 

INFORMATION FOR YOUR BLOG POSTS – Please include the following information on your blogs:

 

MAP TESTING – This is week three (the final week) of our second MAP testing session for this school year. Reports will be sent home along with the Midterm Progress Reports on Friday, Febrary 14.

 

PICTURES FOR THE YEARBOOK – The individual and class pictures for the 2013-2014  yearbook will be taken from Tuesday, February 11 to Wednesday, February 19. The specific day and time for each grade will be posted next week.

 

CHOIR PARENTS – On Monday, February 3, at 3:15 p.m., there will be a mandatory meeting in the school Library for parents of all Choir students who are planning to travel to New York City in June 2014 to perform at the prestigious Carnegie Hall. Information will be given concerning the trip and payments needed, and Important decisions about the trip will be made. We need at least one parent for each Choir student to attend this meeting.

 

SCHOLASTIC BOOKS! - This month your child(ren) will have the opportunity to purchase books through the International Scholastic Book Clubs.  This is an optional activity offered by the school, in case you want to motivate your child to read at home and to increase their own library.  With your purchase, our library will accumulate points to redeem for more books for the benefit of your children in our school. Order forms and catalogues were sent home previously. The final date to purchase the books online is February 10. The books will arrive at the school in one single delivery, and we will distribute them to the students according to their orders, approximately three weeks after the purchase due date. Please email Ms. Marilis (mzambrana@discoveryschool.edu.hn ) if you have any questions.

 

FROM THE DPTO – PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS – The DPTO has been organized the traditional Movie Event for Discovery School families. This year, it will take place at NOVACENTRO on Sunday, February 9 at 11:00 a.m. for the presentation of THE LEGO MOVIE