The Eagle Eye

Parent Newsletter
Volumn 6, Issue 2 - Spring 2009

8th Grade News: Mrs. Dezonno - Room 309

The junior high has learned that language arts are more than just finding the subject and predicate in a sentence. They have discovered that it involves reading, writing, poetry, art, etc. And, yes, also learning various grammar concepts. The 7th graders read the novel The City of Ember. Throughout the reading of the novel, a portfolio was kept containing various activities and written assignments. They also watched the movie and completed an essay comparing and contrasting the movie to the book. They also read many poems and different types of poetry, as well as writing original poems. The students are finishing the year reading various myths and folktales from around the world. The students learned various grammar concepts and are presently diagramming sentences. The 7th graders gave demonstrative oral presentations. We learned crafts, cooking, dances, etc. I enjoyed being the student and learning from the children. The students picked their own novels to read and kept literary portfolios on these novels. They read some interesting titles and provided some thought provoking work in their portfolios. The students are ending the year writing a research paper. They were instructed to read a novel and from this novel create a non-fiction topic for their research paper. For example, a student read a fiction book about a child who has polio and his/her research paper is on polio. The 7th graders are well-prepared for their advancement into 8th grade language arts.

It will be bittersweet to see the 8th graders graduate. They are prepared to move on to high school due to all of their hard work and dedication. However, I will miss their sweet and caring disposition. They have made so many advancements in language arts these past two years. They read To Kill a Mockingbird and kept a portfolio on the novel. They discussed their favorite quotes from the novel, wrote a summary, provided character analysis, etc. We are currently reading the non-fiction book Grayson. The students gave various oral presentations. They did a great job speaking in front of their peers. The students read a novel of their choice and completed a literary portfolio. They redesigned the cover of the book, wrote about how the novel pertained to their life, wrote a book review, etc. They did a wonderful job! The students are ending the year writing a research paper on a historical event. Some topics are Pearl Harbor, the sinking of the Titanic, the potato famine in Ireland, etc. The 8th graders will graduate St. Viator's with the tools necessary to succeed in high school.

More Exciting Eighth Grade News with Mr. Slawik - Room 310

The 8th grade has had a busy second half of the year. High schools have been chosen, entrance exams taken, and acceptance letters received. We have also been busy with the many graduation plans and events. In early May, the students attended the 8th grade retreat, facilitated by Fr. Terry Deffenbaugh, O.S.A. It was a very emotional, reflective, and rewarding experience for all. They have also just finished celebrating Spirit Week. Throughout the week, the students celebrated who they are (Class of 2009), where they are going (High School Colors), and who they will become (Career Day). The week wrapped up with the graduation ribbon ceremony held in the church with the entire school in attendance. Another major highlight of the graduation festivities is the 8th grade trip to Springfield. Some of the sites to visit are: Lincoln's Tomb and the War Memorials, the Old and New State Capitals, Lincoln's Home, and New Salem. Of course graduation preparation and festivities were not the only things we have been working on during the past few months. In social studies, we have covered many of the important events of the last century including: World War I and II, the Roaring 20's, the Depression, and Chicago history, just to name a few.

The students also did a fantastic job on the annual invention project. I hope you had a chance to see some of these creative and innovative projects during our last open house. We are currently studying the U.S. Constitution as the students prepare for the Constitution test. Some of the science topics covered this year were organic chemistry, oxidation states, formula writing, and balancing chemical equations. The 8th graders also built, tested, and raced their mousetrap cars.

The areas of concentration in math were solving and graphing linear equations and linear inequalities. They also did some investigating algebra activities. Other topics studied were exponents and the application of their properties.

All in all it has been a very busy past few months. I know the Class of 2009 is looking forward to finishing this chapter of their lives and is eager to face the new experiences and challenges they will have in high school. Good luck and God bless all of them.

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