The Final Countdown: 6th Week of the 6 Weeks

Greetings Newman Parents!

Can you believe we are down to our final 6 weeks? What a great year of learning we have had!

Quick Note: Reports cards were sen home today ! 4/23/2014

This final 6 weeks we will delve into a few great American novels:

7^th Grade will read “the Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain.

8^th Grade will wonder into the world of the Greasers and the Socs in S.E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders”.

10^th Grade will roar with the 1920’s reading            F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Tales of the Jazz Age”

Students will have a Reading Log (Due April 30^th) uniquely designed to suit the time period in which their novels are set.

Students will also have a Fictional Character Analysis final essay as well as a Novel Portfolio due at the end of the six weeks. May 23^rd .

Probably the most exciting part of the last six weeks is the Newman Talent Showcase, CLASS Trips, Field Day and Awards DAY!

Oh did I forget the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL? Wednesday, June 4^th!

Finally, I am so thankful for all of the Newman Parents who have partnered with US to make this a wonderful year.

Miss Sanders

NIAA - ELAR

All work due Thursday at 1230

Greetings Parents,

Because tomorrow is early release and there is no school on Friday, April 18^th all current and late assignments are due To Ms. Sanders by Thursday, April 17^th 12:30pm (early release day)

Have a wonderful Easter Break!

Final Week of 5th 6 Weeks

Greetings Parents!

So much going on this week.:

ALL of my ELA-R grade levels have a poetry essay due. Please see flow chart and 5 Reason article attached for extra help with writing the best essay possible. Due by April 17th 12:30pm

Article: 5 Reasons why we need poetry in schools by Elena Aguilar

7^th Grade Poetry Project:

After gathering 3 images of “nature” students will create 3 haikus inspired by their images: Due Monday, April 14^th

8^th Grade Poetry Project:

After viewing and photographing art work in the Fielder Church lobby, students will write poems inspired by those images.  Due Monday, April 14^th

10^th Grade Poetry Project:

Students will write parallel poems and found poems inspired by poems read in class or from an excerpt of one of their favorite novels. Due April 14^th

Exams:

Monday – Language and Electives Exams

Tuesday – Math and Social Studies

Wednesday – ELAR and Science

Thursday - Early Release

More Reminders

Apr. 15: Bring Your Dad to POWWOW!

Apr. 17: End of the 5th12:30

Apr. 18: Good Friday Holiday Six Weeks/Early Release 

Apr. 22:7th Grade STAAR Math / 8^th Grade STAAR Social Studies

          9^th Grade Trip Meeting at Alley Cats 7pm

Apr. 23: 7^th grade STAAR Reading Test/8^th STAAR Science Test

May 1&2 NIAA Drama Presents “Fiddler On the Roof”

MAY 5^th is a bad weather make up day WE WILL HAVE CLASS!

May 6: STAAR Algebra I

May 7: STAAR Biology

May 8: STAAR US History

May 9: AP English Test

Ms. Sanders 

psanders@niaa.newmanacademy.org

NIAA-ELAR

10th Grade Fundraiser for Galveston Trip

The 10th grade class will hold a "CAR CLEAN OUT" Thursday and Friday of this week, 2:30-5:00.

Parents will be directed (by ticket writers) to pull around to the East parking lot where students will vacuum and bag all the trash out of their cars, trucks and minivans for ONLY $5!

There will be a waiting area where parents can sit and wait with kiddos as well as purchase treats.
Come out and support our students! (and get clean car!)

Spring is HERE!

Greetings NIAA Parents on this First Day of Spring!

7^th, 8^th and 10^th grade are taking a closer look at poetry this six weeks. Students will understand, make inferences and draw conclusions about the structure and elements of poetry and provide evidence from text to support their understanding.

We will read, understand and analyze the poems of Billy Collins, Naomi Shahib Nye, Langston Hughes and Robert Frost just to name a few.

Our goal is not only to understand the structure and use of figurative language in poetry but also to understand the meaning and message of the passages we will read in class.

See Awakeningthe Heart: Exploring Poetry by Georgia Heard for reference.

Students also have a poet biography reading log due 

March 25^th , a final six weeks essay analyzing poetry and a poetry portfolio which will contain every assignment associated with poetry which will count as a test grade. Students will need a folder with page protectors to organize their work. The due date of the portfolio is April 17^th. (subject to change if students have more projects due from other classes at the end of the six weeks).

UPDATE on activities here at Newman International Academy!

Yearbooks! You can order yearbooks ONLINE!

March:

Mar. 18: Civil Air Patrol Informational

Meeting for Parents 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Mar. 21: International Day

Mar. 25: Walk-a-Thon Kick Off in POWWOW

Mar. 25-27: Secondary Cheer Clinic (Parents

can watch on the 27th) 3:45-5:30 p.m.

Mar. 28: Cheer Try Outs (Closed) 4 p.m.

Apr. 1-4: Mini Cheer Camp for Elementary

Students 3:30-5 p.m.

Apr. 7-11: Scholastic Book Fair

April 8: Wellness Night

STAAR TESTING:

Monday, March 31-- STAAR English I (10^th Grade)

Tuesday, April 1—STAAR 7^th Grade Writing/ 8^th Grade Math

English II (11^th Grade)

Wednesday, April 2—7^th STAAR Reading/8^th Grade Reading

A FEW THINGS:

Make sure students have a good night's sleep and a protein packed breakfast.

Wear a WHITE long sleeved tee under their Newman Uniform shirt because jackets and sweaters are NOT allowed during testing.

NO CELL PHONES can be used during testing, so they will turn them into to the proctor before testing and received them back after testing is complete and they are moving to their next class or simply leave with at home.

ALL ESSAYS (7TH, 8TH AND 10TH) DUE BY FEBRUARY 28TH!

Reminder: Final Essays Due by Friday!

The original due date for the Final 4th 6 weeks essay, which will be counted as a FINAL Test grade, was due Monday, February 24^th.

However, although considered late, student essays will be accepted until Friday, February 28^th  12:30pm

Miss Sanders

NIAA- ELA ( R )

*Rough drafts were composed in class during writing exercises  two weeks prior so most students are very close to completion!

Where's the Homework? There it is!

NIAA Parents and Students,
Please make sure homework is turned in on time! Students are encouraged daily and weekly to write down assignments in their planners as reminders of due dates. If homework is not turned in on time it will result in an infraction and over time these infraction will add up to a detention.

Homework: Why it is Important - an excerpt by Jennifer Atkinson:

What About Traditional Daily Assignments?

"Research has consistently shown that parental involvement in a child's learning is a key factor in that child's achievement in school. With the reality of the test driven world of education, many parents expect what they were given in school for homework, familiar daily or weekly assignments. I do agree with the rationale behind these daily assignments:

• Homework reinforces skills, concepts and information learned in class.

• Homework prepares students for upcoming class topics. 

• Homework teaches students to work independently and develop self-discipline. 

• Homework encourages students to take initiative and responsibility for completing a task. 

• Homework allows parents to have an active role in their child's education and helps them to evaluate their child's progress. 

• Homework activities relate what is learned in school to children's lives outside of school and helps to connect school learning to the real world."

So to avoid the detention assignments and infractions, Let's Get The Homework Done!
Thanks,
Miss Sanders
ELA-R - NIAA