Pink cupcakes

 Happy Friday!

Here are my 7th graders enjoying a pink frosted cupcake from Sandra's Bakery. We just finished Number the Stars, and we left behind a sweet character who loved pink cupcakes, but could not have them because the Nazis took all of the flour, sugar, and butter from the residents of Denmark. So we had cupcakes in honor of Kirsti.

My 6th graders are about to embark on their castle project! Parents, please check your email for the info sheets on this project. Castle day is October 29, and it will be amazing! Students need a copy of The Jungle Books (Barnes and Noble Edition) by Monday. This can be purchased on Amazon.

My 7th graders have a Number the Stars one pager assignment which is due October 13. Students were given a template and requirement sheet earlier this week. Students need a copy (digital or physical) of Hatchet starting Monday.

My 8th graders have a body biography project due October 15. They were given a copy of a template and requirements earlier this week.

Next Tuesday is picture day! All students must wear a polo shirt that day.

Please check Renweb for missing assignments from your students. Next Wednesday is the last day work may be turned in.

Thank you for sharing your children with me! I love the time I spend with them.

It's fall, y'all!

 

It's finally fall! Hooray for cooler weather, hockey, changing leaves, and cozy hot drinks. Isn't it just like God to make the season in which leaves and grass die one of the most spectacular and beautiful times of the year!

Literature is amazing. This week I've seen:

6th graders enthralled at the comparisons between Jesus's crucifixion, death, and resurrection and the death and rebirth of Aslan, and the salvation story that results from this.

7th graders moved to tears at the close of Number the Stars. This beautiful novel is a story of a little country who refused to allow the Nazis to terrorize their Jewish citizens, so they quietly smuggled them to safety across the sea. Right under the Nazis' noses, and at exceedingly great peril. 

8th graders who watch a king, his unicorn, and a handful of others stand up to Aslan's enemies and fight to the death, because to die fighting for Aslan is better than living with the mocking cruelty of his enemies.

English Tests: I'll be done grading them by Tuesday, if not earlier.

Every Friday: 8th grade SAT quiz

7th Grade: Number the Stars test Wednesday

6th grade: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe test Friday

October 29: 6th grade castles

October 13: 7th grade one pagers

October 15: 8th grade body biographies

I love spending my days with your kiddos. Have a beautiful weekend! I am praying for you all.

-Mrs. Desjarlais

It was the best of times....

 Well, it has been another excellent week in English class! 

My students are killing it in verb class. I'm so proud of them!

In literature, things are getting tense in here. The sixth graders are spending far too much time with the White Witch these days, but her power is dwindling. Too soon I'll have to put away my scary White Witch voice (my students are terrified). The eighth graders are reading about the last days of Narnia, which have unsettling similarities to our current times. The seventh graders are in Denmark, watching ordinary people do extraordinarily brave things to save their Jewish neighbors. I love books, but I love even more watching what books do to and for my students.

My 8th graders set up chapel this week. They did a great job! It was interesting to watch them work together. They played to their strengths; Elayna and Chayton put their height to good use, and Jackie calmly and adeptly helped everyone else stay organized. 

I love that we all have iPads. We are using them for studying, for assignments, for assessments, and for review games. My favorite thing about the iPads is the way my students help each other. If one student is not terribly techy, another student helps. Without being asked. Reasons I love teaching in a Christian school....

 

 Here are some of my students learning about remembering 9/11 on the website Actively Learn.

Next week:

ALL CLASSES: 

EVERY WEDNESDAY: Prayer group for middle school girls, lunchtime, Mrs. Desjarlais's room!

Vocabulary test Tuesday - Study on Quizlet

Grammar test Wednesday - Study guide in grammar book

May God bless each of you!

Mrs. Desjarlais

hello, September!

Hello, Grammarland!

Middle School ELA is amazing! I’ve been so proud of my students this week. They’re doing so well with verbs, and the novels we read in each class lead to amazing discussions. Since all of our novels have characters who make godly choices, our conversations in English class are often about God. It’s beautiful  

Next week:

Chapel and MS girl prayer group: Wednesday 

8th grade SAT quiz: every Friday

All classes: next vocabulary test: September 21

All vocabulary lists are in the Mrs. Desjarlais class on Quizlet. 

We are loving the iPads and Vibe boards! This week my classes all joined Microsoft Teams and submitted an assignment. I love saying “now, let’s get out our iPads” and seeing my students’ excitement. 

Here are my 7th graders learning about 9/11 on Actively Learn today.

In the coming weeks, we will continue verb studies and novel studies. We will also begin a concentrated effort to become good writers. I’m so excited to get started. 

May God bless each of you. You’re in my prayers. 

Blessings, 

Mrs. Desjarlais