Post date: Feb 09, 2013 4:21:45 PM
Good Morning Parents!
Recap of the Week:
After 12 solid hours of wondrous sleep last night, the events of the week seem like a distant and blurry memory. But, the entries on the daily schedule remind me that there were some noteworthy activities: balancing chemical equations, solving the case of the exploding lawns, a chapter 14 quiz, and performing/seeing two great exothermic reactions. Oh, and during recess or spare time, some kids also played a few rounds of an "offensive trivia" game called Head Rush. Next week will be the last week on chemistry and the unit packet (5 & 6 combined this time) should be coming home for your review during vacation. After the week off, we'll jump into electricity & magnetism!
Last Week's Discussion:
Thank you to all the parents (and even a few kids) who responded to my (all-too-lengthy) discussion starter on student responsibility, autonomy, and self-discipline. As someone once said (tell me who, if you know; I love the quote) "Sorry for the lengthy letter, I didn't have time to write a shorter one". There does seem to be a renewed level of focus in the classes. The gradebook already has about ten assignments logged in and another 3 will be added this weekend the fresh start of the semester change has given everyone the chance to get back on board the speeding science train and keep up with assignments and activities w/o the burden of old missing work or non-adaptive habits.
Coming up:
Weekly chapter quiz on Thursday (2/13)
School tours, round 2 on February 13
February 14: 8th grade panoramic picture
February 18 - 22: Another week off.
March 6: Prospect and Westmont administrators come to DCS
March 8: 8th grade to "In the Heights" in San Jose
March 15: Teacher learning day
March 22: Possible GPS trip to SF
April 1-5: Spring Conferences
April 8-12: Spring Break
April 23-May 2: STAR Tests
April 25: "Being Ernest" at Mt. View Center for Performing Arts
May 6: Asian Art Museum
May 14: DeAnza Planetarium
May 22, 23, 24: Possible dates for the possible (optional) Cal Coast trip
May 27: Memorial Day
June 10: Graduation
June 11: Last day of school