November 29 Update

Service-Learning Reflections
Thanks for your prayer support last Tuesday as we served places in the local community. We had a wonderful day serving, learning, and praying. The students wrote a reflection at the end of the day sharing thoughts about experiences they had. I was moved, encouraged, and challenged by things they shared in their written reflections. Here are just a few:
"I think God taught me a lot of things while helping those people, but the main thing God was trying to tell me was to be thankful for what God has blessed you with; whether it's food, clothing, shelter, or family, thank God for all the things you have."
"I noticed how sad the homeless people looked, and that really opened my eyes to what I live next door to, but don't notice. I think God was trying to get me to realize that I am lucky to have a home, family, and food everyday."
"I think what God taught me through this experience is that the people who we were serving are just like us and we don't have something that they don't. I also think God was trying to tell me that you can have very little and still trust, love, and obey Him."
"I also saw some people come in and get food. I realized how blessed I am to have food whenever I want. I saw the faces of the people that were eating and they were happy, and I thought how can they be so happy and joyful, when sometimes I don't get what I want and I am not happy. I think God really spoke through me and to me today. I never realized what these people go through."

Language Arts Update
Over the past few weeks in language arts, we have been talking about effective elements that writers use. We focused on the use of an effective beginning, foreshadowing, flashback, word choice, and imagery. The students now get to practice using these elements as they write a memoir. They will be receiving all of the assignment specifics and rubric in class tomorrow. Rough drafts are due on Thursday, December 9th. Students will peer edit in class that day. Final papers are due on Monday, December 13. This assignment will be worth a major portion of the students' second quarter grades; I am expecting thoughtful, reflective, well-worded papers that show evidence of the ability to apply things we have been discussing in class. The students will be given some time to work on their papers in class. The rest will have to be completed outside of school.

Pando Christmas Party
It is tradition for the middle school students to go tubing at Pando on the last day of school before Christmas break. We will leave for Pando around 12:30 on Friday, December 17th. We'll return to school towards the end of the day and have a small party in the classroom. We are asking each student to bring in $5 to help cover the cost of tubing at Pando. Please have your child bring this to school by Monday, December 13th. If this is not possible for your family, let me know and I will be able to pursue finding another way to cover the cost for your child.

Miscellaneous
*If your child is participating in Live Nativity, he or she should have brought home a paper containing the time that each person should arrive. Please email me if you do not know what time your child needs to be here next Thursday (December 9).
*Geo Bee: The Geo Bee will take place in the Worship Center this Friday starting a 2:20. Feel free to join us.
*Christmas Family Time: We will not have normal family time on Monday, December 13th. Instead, we will meet as a school on Friday, December 17th in the Worship Center from 8:35-9:15 for a special Christmas family time. Parents are welcome to attend.
*Mark your calendars for the 7th and 8th grade choir concert at the CAW on Monday, December 13th. The concert starts at 7:30. Students should plan to arrive no later than 7:10.