Eighth grade poets finished free verse journey poems on Friday, their first writing assignment of the year. The poems adapted the story of one of the three main characters from the summer reading text Refugee by Alan Gratz. The book depicts fictionalized journeys of refugees from Germany in 1938, Cuba in 1994, and Syria in 2015. Students learned about using sensory detail to create a vivid scene rich with smells, sounds, feelings, visual images and colors. Students also developed their skills at simile, metaphor, and symbolism to show how the characters change in their journeys. Next up, 8th graders will tackle narrative writing in the form of original mystery stories due in October.
Students in Ms. Dobler’s STEM club worked to understand the classic chemical reaction by creating elephant toothpaste, which uses soap, hydrogen peroxide, yeast, and water. The hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water over time, and the yeast is added as a catalyst to speed up the reaction. After following the “directions” the first time, students were able to ask their own questions, so they experimented with things like using more or less of the materials to see what would happen.The club meets 12:15-12:45 every Monday and Friday. Mondays are choice days, with 4 or 5 different activities to choose from, ranging from programming, design, and engineering. Friday there is one bigger activity that is led. This Friday’s big activity will be an introduction to the 3D printer!
In Ms. Dorsey’s 5th grade science class, students have been trying to get a grasp on the size and scope of the solar system for their first project. We did a scale model of the solar system to investigate just how big/small the objects are compared to each other. Using paper, yarn and other materials they created a model of the solar system on the board. The hands-on approach to science is central to Ms. Dorsey’s classroom. She uses various materials to produce labs that help students grasp abstract concepts by putting the tools of construction and experimentation in their hands.
Middle School sports had tryouts on Wednesday and Thursday afterschool, with many students taking the late buses home for the first time. Fall sports include volleyball, cross country, football, and soccer. Boys varsity soccer had its first game against E.L Haynes on Thursday, and on Friday, girls varsity soccer will travel to St. Andrews for the Francisco Hope Tournament. Also on Friday, girls JB soccer will have a home game against Brookewood. For Thursday’s varsity boys’ game, the team triumphed over E.L. Haynes when senior co-captain Elliott D’Allesandro scored the first goal, senior Abu Brockarie scored the second goal, senior Conor McAloon scored the third goal after an assist from senior Owen Nadler. Senior Marcus Beggs scored the final goal. The team is coached by Mr. Bane and Mr. Edwards Stuart.
While summer vacation is a key time for teachers and students to recharge their batteries, many also chose to build their knowledge through various workshops and volunteer opportunities. language and cultural explorations. Mr. Day completed an online professional development seminar through Washington D.C.’s Folger Shakespeare Library, entitled “Teaching Shakespeare IS Teaching Race,” considering ways to teach some of Shakespeare’s most problematic and emotionally intense texts. Meanwhile Student Support teacher Ms. Gott facilitated a virtual cultural exchange program that took place in Paraguay and Washington D.C. through Learn Serve International. She helped students in DC connect with students in Paraguay and learn about social entrepreneurship and business ideas. Her students created business plans to change the world through Sustainable United Nations goals on issues related to the environment.
