Seventh Grade Classroom

Dear 7th Graders and Parents,

Welcome to Week 29 and Wellness Week! All week students will have fun learning and practicing all things wellness.

A few reminders–
1- Green slips today are coming home today! Please sign and return.
2- Tomorrow will be on an all-day field trip to Martha’s Place in MtV. We will arrive back to school around 2:45. Students should wear spirit or uniform tops. Pizza lunch provided.
3- Thursday is our jog-a-thon. Please look for Mrs. Kohlhaas’ email from this morning for details. Students will receive their T-shirts Wednesday afternoon. Please have students wear them with athletic gear on Thursday.
4- Field Trip Permission Forms for next Tuesday’s science field trip to Padilla are due asap. Students will need a sack lunch from home, beach clothes, coat, and rubber boots.
5- Saturday, April 29 is our School Yard sale. This is the last opportunity for volunteer hours. Please come out and help.

Working On –
Reading – Today we began a documentary on John Steinbeck. Our next will be The Pearl.
Parents need to know that The Pearl is Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck’s interpretation of a Mexican folk story in which a poor pearl diver’s life is changed by the discovery of a very large gem. This short novel makes an excellent introduction to literary criticism, as the author’s use of symbolism is fairly simple for teen readers to analyze and understand. However, the message put forth by the book — that man invites evil by trying to better his situation — invites a lot of questions. Also, gender roles in the book are very old-fashioned, as the story offers a portrayal of poor, uneducated Mexican people as simple folk who live unquestioningly, as generations before them have lived.

Math – Students are continuing their exploration of surface area and volume by making a 3D castle. Teams will compete for the best castle.

Writing –

Social Studies – We have completed our Holocaust Unit and looking forward to our Road Trip stop at the Center for Humanity.

Geography – We will have our test of East Asia on Wednesday.

Grammar –Mrs. Rutherford will be joining us on Thursday to quiz us on the commonly confused words, lay and lie.

Washington State History – Students will be reading and taking notes from our new Washington State books, Chapter 4: 1900 – 2000. We will also take a deep dive into the Japanese American immigration in WA.

Religion – I am excited that these seventh graders will be a part of the success of Martha’s Place. Their gift of service on Tuesday will be meaningful and rewarding. Last week students looked at the Sermon on the Mount and the words of wisdom Jesus shared with his followers. They revisited the Beatitudes. Jesus tried to make his wisdom relevant to the times. Today students will think about modern situations and create two new “Beatitudes.”
They will complete chapter 8 review on Wednesday and have chapter 8 assessment on Thursday. Don’t forget to have your child complete 5 hours of service this trimester and fill out the Service Log.
Blessings,
Mrs. Reichlin

Science – This week in 7th science we have pp. 73-79 due Wednesday. We also have a flower lab on Wednesday and I asked students to bring a few flowers from home if they have any.
Thank you, Mr. Bell

Calendar –
Apr 17-21 Wellness Week
Apr 18 Service Field Trip to Martha’s Place 9:30-2:30
Apr 20 Jog-a-Thon @ 1:30
Apr 20 MS Track Meet
Apr 20 MVHS Science Night
Apr 25 Science Field Trip to Padilla Bay
Apr 29 ICRS Yard Sale
May 1 May Crowning
May 5 7/8 Spring Dance
May 16/17 MAP Testing
May 19 MASS
May 23/24 MAP Testing
May 29 No School – Memorial Day
May 30 – Jun 2 Road Trip

Sarah Bluhm
Seventh Grade Teacher
Immaculate Conception Regional School
Mount Vernon, WA