January 17 Update

Spelling Bee
The Spelling Bee will take place this Friday starting at 1:30. Mrs. Oren is having a practice for students who are participating tomorrow morning from 7:45-8:15. Anyone is welcome to attend the Spelling Bee on Friday.

Language Arts
The students spent time learning about different abbreviations last week. They took a quiz on Thursday, and many of them did not do as well as I hoped they would. I shared with the students today that I am hoping they will grow in being proactive about taking in information, studying, asking questions, and interacting with the material as they learn. For example, I told the students they needed to know how to spell the word "Fahrenheit" for the abbreviations quiz. Over a fourth of the students did not spell is correctly on the quiz.

The students will have a quiz concerning comma usage this week on Thursday. I am planning on a quiz over run-on sentences and correct usage of semi-colons a week from Tuesday. These quizzes should all help prepare the students for an assessment they will have soon over mechanics. Students need to be mastering the material as we go; they will not be successful on the assessment if they wait until the last minute to study and understand. The students received their two journal entry assignments for the week today. Journals are due no later than Friday morning.

Farewell to the Balks
This Friday will be Naomi's last day at R.C.S. We have loved having their family part of the R.C.S. family and they certainly will be missed. We are also excited for the many things God has planned for them, and encouraged by their desire to follow God's leading and faithfulness in sharing about Him around the world! Thanks to many of you for sending in treats for our party on Friday.

Miscellaneous
*Hot lunch order forms were sent home last week. They are due no later than this Friday (January 21). Please remember that the 7th graders will be gone at Camp Roger on Wednesday, February 23rd. Hot lunch should not be ordered for that day.
*Mr. Dave updated his blog. If you would like to read it, the link is: http://mrdavescorner.blogspot.com
*Friday, January 28th we will go to Calvin College to watch a play of "Wednesday Wars" adapted from Gary Schmidt's book that I read to the students last year.
*Parent-Teacher Conferences will be on Thursday, February 17 and Tuesday, February 22 from 4-8 p.m. The set-up will be similar to our fall conferences. You are encouraged and welcome to meet with any 7th grade teacher you would like to.
*This Friday marks the end of 2nd quarter.