Founders Classical Academy of Fort Worth
Week of February 22 - February 28
"As you are old and reverend, you should be wise."
— William Shakespeare
Week in Review
This week, our 6th Grade students eagerly began their new novel, The Scarlet Pimpernel. We explored the historical setting of the French Revolution and discussed how suspense and secrecy shape the opening chapters. Students examined character motivations and began identifying traits of both heroes and villains. We also discussed how Baroness Orczy builds intrigue through dialogue and pacing. The class is already forming thoughtful predictions about the mysterious rescuer known as the Pimpernel.
In 7th Grade, students analyzed the chapter “Tiger, Tiger” from The Jungle Book. We examined Mowgli’s struggle between the world of humans and the jungle, focusing on theme and character development. Students also strengthened their grammar skills by identifying and correcting run-on sentences and sentence fragments. Through practice and revision, they demonstrated increased confidence in crafting clear, complete sentences.
Both classes began learning their poems in preparation for our Black History Month concert on March 6th. Students are working diligently on memorization, expression, and projection. We are excited to see their hard work come to life during the performance!
Next Week
Next week, 6th Grade will continue reading The Scarlet Pimpernel, diving deeper into the daring rescues and the growing tension between the French revolutionaries and their enemies. We will focus on plot development and the use of disguise as a literary device. Students will also continue analyzing character motivations and conflicts.
In 7th Grade, we will continue our study of The Jungle Book, paying close attention to Kipling’s use of imagery and moral lessons. Students will practice connecting themes from the novel to broader life lessons. Grammar instruction will remain ongoing as we refine sentence structure and clarity in writing.
Words of the Week
6th Grade: Incognito – in disguise; having one’s true identity concealed.
(An especially fitting word as we follow the mysterious hero of The Scarlet Pimpernel!)
7th Grade: Estranged – no longer close or affectionate; separated.
(A key idea in “Tiger, Tiger” as Mowgli experiences separation from both the jungle and human society.)
Did You Know?
Did you know that The Scarlet Pimpernel was originally written as a stage play by Baroness Orczy before it became a novel? The success of the play led to the publication of the book in 1905, and the story went on to inspire the “secret identity” trope later used in many superhero tales!
POEMS OF THE WEEK
What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist:
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
To the Right Honourable William, Earl of Dartmouth
by Phillis Wheatley
Hail, happy day, when, smiling like the morn,
Fair Freedom rose New-England to adorn:
The northern clime beneath her genial ray,
Dartmouth, congratulates thy blissful
sway:
Elate with hope her race no longer mourns,
Each soul expands, each grateful bosom burns,
While in thine hand with pleasure we behold
The silken reins, and Freedom’s charms un-
fold.
Long lost to realms beneath the northern skies
She shines supreme, while hated faction dies:
Soon as appear’d the Goddess long defir’d;
Sick at the view, she languished and ex-
pir’d;
Thus from the splendors of the morning light
The owl in sadness seeks the caves of night.
No more, America, in mournful strain
Of wrongs, and grievance unredress’d complain,
No longer shall thou dread the iron chain,
Which wanton Tyranny with lawless hand
Had made, and with it meant t’ enslave the land.
For favours past, great Sir, our thanks are due,
And thee we ask thy favours to renew,
Since in thy pow’r, as in thy will before,
To sooth the griefs, which thou did’st once de-
plore.
May heav’nly grace the sacred sanction give
To all thy works, and thou for ever live
Not only on the wings of fleeting Fame,
Though praise immortal crowns the patriot’s
name,
But to conduct to heav’ns refulgent fane,
May fiery coursers sweep th’ ethereal plain,
And bear thee upwards to the blest abode,
Where, like the prophet, thou shalt find thy God.
Resources for Parents
Here are a few excellent, free sites to help students build reading comprehension skills at home:
ReadTheory – adaptive online reading practice with comprehension quizzes:
https://readtheory.org/
CommonLit – free texts with guided questions and assessments:
https://www.commonlit.org/
Newsela – leveled nonfiction articles to strengthen reading comprehension and critical thinking:
https://newsela.com/
About Mr. Laurence
Mr. Ethan Laurence-Gauglitz earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of North Texas, also studying a semester at Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität in Hannover, Germany. After graduation, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kosovo, working as a grant writer for the local municipal government and teaching English in local schools. These experiences deepened his appreciation for cultural exchange, global perspectives, and the power of language to connect people.
Most recently, Mr. Laurence was the Academic Coordinator and Lead English Instructor at Excel Academy in Henderson, Nevada, where he developed curriculum, supported teachers, and helped students reach their full potential. He brings to the classroom a love for languages, literature, and learning, and is excited to share these passions with his students this year.