November 2 Update

Report Cards
This Friday is our final day of 1st quarter. Report cards will be posted to Net Classroom after that. I will email you to let you know when the report cards are ready. Your child can view grades on Net Classroom before the report cards are posted. Report cards are found under a different section and will contain comments and information from teachers. Please let me know if you are unable to print a copy of the report card and would like one sent home with your child. Thank you for taking time to review your child's first quarter grades with him or her.

Conferences
Fall Parent-Teacher conferences are coming up shortly. Please see today's home bulletin for more information. Conferences will be held on Thursday, November18th and Monday, November 22 from 4-8 p.m. Conferences are a great opportunity for you to connect with 7th grade teachers and hear more how your child is doing in school. I look forward to seeing you there!

Service-Learning Day
Look for more information coming home soon about a Service-Learning day that the students will participate in on Tuesday, November 23rd. We are excited to be able to offer opportunities in the community for students to serve at. November 23rd is the Tuesday before Thanksgiving break. In past years, this day has been a half day of school; we have a full day this year. Please let me know if your family is leaving early for vacation and your child will not be at school on the 23rd. We are planning on every student participating in service that day.


Teton 2011 Program
The students heard about the Teton 2011 program last Thursday. Please click on the following link if you would like more information or need an application: http://grandtetonsummerjourney.blogspot.com Applications are due November 19th and the first team meeting is December 6th. Please email me with questions.

Operation Christmas Child
They are requesting that we have all our Operation Christmas donations turned in by this Friday. Students will be assembling the boxes next week. I know that there are many different ministries and ways you are involved in giving to others. However, in case you were planning on donating (either washcloths, soap, or money for postage in shipping the boxes), I wanted to be sure that you were aware this Friday is the last day to turn items in.

Language Arts Update
Don't forget that the students' Freak the Mighty projects and papers are all due this Friday. Today is the last day the students are working in class; they will have to finish the remainder of their work for homework. I'm looking forward to reading their thoughtful reflections on the book, characters, theme, and plot.

On Friday, we will watch the movie Mighty based on the book. The students will analyze similarities and differences in the book and movie. We'll tie up our discussions and activities with the book this Friday. Next week we will start a unit on elements of effective writing that will culminate in the students writing a memoir towards the end of this month.

Weekly journal assignments are still happening. If you are wondering if you child has been handing in completed journals each week, you can view his or her grades on Net Classroom. The assignment is worth 5 points each week and must be handed in by Friday morning.


A note about the netbooks: students need to bring their netbooks to school with them EVERYDAY. Netbooks need to be a full charge when they arrive at school. Some students seem to have had difficulty remembering this lately. The netbooks allow us to do all sorts of different activities in class; these activities are limited if students do not come prepared. Thank you for doing what you can to help you children remember to charge their netbooks if they bring them home. Netbooks can also be left in a charging cart at school each night.