Welcome back students! I know that many of you are already missing the sun and fun of last week, but it doesn't have to end there! There are many good books that take place on fun filled beaches or that remind us of the summer to come. Take a moment and find a few to enjoy.
Let me take a moment to remind the faculty about our policy on reserving the computer room for classes. If you do not speak with me or Ms. Jones to reserve this room, it is assumed that the room has not been reserved! I need at least 24 hour notice on these reservations, but the sooner you reserve, the better. There are 30 faculty members on campus.
Seniors, I am pleased with your projects. You have done an outstanding job with the research and presentation of the wide spectrum of topics. Your projects will be on display in the media center until May 8, 2009. At that point, you will need to take them home. Thank you for allowing me to share them with the rest of the student body.
The new book orders will be going out in two weeks for the media center. Student and faculty, if you have any suggestions for additions to our collections, make them ASAP! I need to see what I can squeeze out of the budget line.
Everyone have a nice week!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Spring break
I know, I know. It's spring break and the chances of any of you hitting this site are slim, but on the off chance that you do, I would like for you to do something for yourself. Read a good book. Trust me, there are plenty out there, and it's a good way to get off the television, the computer, and the video game console. Your eyes will thank you for it later.
A few recommendations: One book that I just finished is Savvy by Ingrid Law. If you think your family isn't normal, you should check this one out! Imagine turning 13 and gaining a "gift". What if one of your older brothers controlled lightning and the other storms. Now it's your turn.
Another is Keeping Corner by Kashmira Sheth. Leela is twelve and has just been told her husband is dead. She is expected to shave her head, release all her finery, and stay locked up for a year in mourning of someone she barely knew. What would you do?
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare contains the gritty world in which fifteen-year-old Clary Fray witnesses her fist murder and then sees the body disappear. Now everyone is after her and she doesn't understand what's going on. Was the dead boy human at all?
If you haven't read any of the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, I encourage you to do so. There's always J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter, Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, and the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz.
Other good books are the classics (or other notables) by authors such as Jane Austen, Alexandre Dumas, Harper Lee, Bram Stoker, John Steinbeck, Emily and Charlotte Bronte, Tim O'Brien, Toni Morrison, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Pick up a book. Free your mind while on your break. You may go to places you never expected to see.
A few recommendations: One book that I just finished is Savvy by Ingrid Law. If you think your family isn't normal, you should check this one out! Imagine turning 13 and gaining a "gift". What if one of your older brothers controlled lightning and the other storms. Now it's your turn.
Another is Keeping Corner by Kashmira Sheth. Leela is twelve and has just been told her husband is dead. She is expected to shave her head, release all her finery, and stay locked up for a year in mourning of someone she barely knew. What would you do?
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare contains the gritty world in which fifteen-year-old Clary Fray witnesses her fist murder and then sees the body disappear. Now everyone is after her and she doesn't understand what's going on. Was the dead boy human at all?
If you haven't read any of the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, I encourage you to do so. There's always J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter, Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, and the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz.
Other good books are the classics (or other notables) by authors such as Jane Austen, Alexandre Dumas, Harper Lee, Bram Stoker, John Steinbeck, Emily and Charlotte Bronte, Tim O'Brien, Toni Morrison, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Pick up a book. Free your mind while on your break. You may go to places you never expected to see.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Congratulations!
Congratulations! Our students for Battle of the Books did well in the competition and should be congratulated for their hard work and dedication. The list for next year has been posted. Please consider joining our team for next year.
Latin students, your projects are due Friday. Do not turn these in late!
Seniors, presentation night is next week. Make sure your stuff is together!
Have a good week!
Latin students, your projects are due Friday. Do not turn these in late!
Seniors, presentation night is next week. Make sure your stuff is together!
Have a good week!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Battle of the Books
NCSLMA Battle of the Books Booklist 2009-2010
2009-2010
Title Author
Airborn- Kenneth Oppel
Bronx Masquerade- Nikki Grimes
Bud, Not Buddy- Christopher Paul Curtis
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman- Brian Jacques
Chasing Vermeer- Blue Balliett
Chicken Boy- Frances O’Roark Dowell
Code Talker- Joseph Bruchac
Dicey's Song- Cynthia Voigt
Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie- Jordan Sonnenblick
Esperanza Rising- Pam Muñoz Ryan
Flush- Carl Hiaasen
Freak the Mighty- Rodman Philbrick
The Graveyard Book **- Neil Gaiman
Invitation to the Game- Monica Hughes
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life- Wendy Mass
Just Ella****- Margaret Peterson Haddix
The Kite Rider- Geraldine McCaughrean
The Lottery Rose- Irene Hunt
Peak- Roland Smith
Peter and the Starcatchers- Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Phineas Gage- John Fleischman
Storm Warriors- Elisa Carbone
Stormbreaker- Anthony Horowitz
Summer of My German- Soldier Bette Greene
The View from Saturday- E.L. Konigsburg
The Wednesday Wars- Gary D. Schmidt
White Fang ******- Jack London
**The Graveyard Book (Due to be released as a paperback in May)
****Just Ella (Aladdin Paperbacks edition)
****** White Fang (Puffin Books edition complete and unabridged)
List last updated March 20, 2009 @ http://www.ncslma.org/BookCompetitions/BoBstate/bobinfo.htm
Team, we have a regional competition for 2008-2009 next weekend- Be prepared, don't slack off now! Practice is Tuesday (03/31/2009) and Thursday (04/02/2009) from 3:30p- 5p.
Latin students, you should be working on your final projects now. Please see Ms. Brooke if you have any questions.
Seniors, your presentations are coming up in two weeks. Are you ready to show all you've learned about your topic? Free presentation tutoring is available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until the end of April. Please see me or Ms. Brooke to sign up for a slot.
2009-2010
Title Author
Airborn- Kenneth Oppel
Bronx Masquerade- Nikki Grimes
Bud, Not Buddy- Christopher Paul Curtis
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman- Brian Jacques
Chasing Vermeer- Blue Balliett
Chicken Boy- Frances O’Roark Dowell
Code Talker- Joseph Bruchac
Dicey's Song- Cynthia Voigt
Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie- Jordan Sonnenblick
Esperanza Rising- Pam Muñoz Ryan
Flush- Carl Hiaasen
Freak the Mighty- Rodman Philbrick
The Graveyard Book **- Neil Gaiman
Invitation to the Game- Monica Hughes
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life- Wendy Mass
Just Ella****- Margaret Peterson Haddix
The Kite Rider- Geraldine McCaughrean
The Lottery Rose- Irene Hunt
Peak- Roland Smith
Peter and the Starcatchers- Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Phineas Gage- John Fleischman
Storm Warriors- Elisa Carbone
Stormbreaker- Anthony Horowitz
Summer of My German- Soldier Bette Greene
The View from Saturday- E.L. Konigsburg
The Wednesday Wars- Gary D. Schmidt
White Fang ******- Jack London
**The Graveyard Book (Due to be released as a paperback in May)
****Just Ella (Aladdin Paperbacks edition)
****** White Fang (Puffin Books edition complete and unabridged)
List last updated March 20, 2009 @ http://www.ncslma.org/BookCompetitions/BoBstate/bobinfo.htm
Team, we have a regional competition for 2008-2009 next weekend- Be prepared, don't slack off now! Practice is Tuesday (03/31/2009) and Thursday (04/02/2009) from 3:30p- 5p.
Latin students, you should be working on your final projects now. Please see Ms. Brooke if you have any questions.
Seniors, your presentations are coming up in two weeks. Are you ready to show all you've learned about your topic? Free presentation tutoring is available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until the end of April. Please see me or Ms. Brooke to sign up for a slot.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Some announcments and books to share
Battle of the Books students, please do not forget practice tommorrow in the Media Center from 3:30p-5p. Please have your rides lined up and waiting for you when practice is over! Please come prepared!
Students, your library fines are starting to run up with overdue books. Please turn the books in and pay your fines! I do not want to start contacting parents again. It's not a pleasant experience!
Below I have posted a review for a couple of books that were just donated. Everyone have a good week!
Deem, J.M. (2008). Bodies from the ice. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
Gr 5-8
Deem's lucid account explores mummified remains recovered from several glacial locations and time periods. The many discoveries presented include the famous 5300-year-old Alpine Iceman Ötzi, the mummified Incan children of the Andes Mountains, and the identification of George Mallory's body on Mount Everest. The background and methodology of glaciology are examined, as are relevant issues in climate change and archaeology; historical photographs of glaciers are compared to modern photographs of the same, much-receded ice. Full-color photographs, reproductions, and maps are clearly captioned; grand images of glaciated mountain peaks span entire pages, and detailed pictures of recovered objects, including the mummies themselves, the Iceman's ax, and surviving fabric fragments are presented. To nitpick one point, Deem states that scientists "don't understand" why the Ice Age glaciers retreated, instead of mentioning the Milankovitch cycles as a consensus explanation. Nonetheless, this volume provides updated information, including new insights into the causes of the Iceman Ötzi's death. With its extensive bibliography, suggested Web sites, and a listing of glaciers to visit, Bodies is a fantastic resource. Deem superbly weaves diverse geographical settings, time periods, and climate issues into a readable work that reveals the increasing interdisciplinary dimensions of the sciences.-Jeff Meyer, Slater Public Library, IA (obtained from School Library Journal).
Easton, K. (2007). Hiroshima Dreams. New York: Dutton Children’s Books.
Gr 6 Up
Lin is five years old when her grandmother arrives from Japan. She feels an immediate kinship with Obaachan, who teaches her to meditate and shares stories of her former life. They also share the gift of vision, or second sight. Lin is a musical prodigy; aware of her otherness, she struggles to find her voice. Unlike her mother and older sister, Sally, who embrace American culture, Lin is drawn to her Japanese heritage. Her story spans 11 years, as she discovers her strengths and overcomes her shyness. After she hears her grandmother's horrific story of surviving the atomic bomb, Lin is troubled by images of Hiroshima, and this is later linked to September 11 and its aftermath. Easton's prose throughout is heartfelt and insightful, but, ultimately, Lin's development follows a familiar path. Secondary characters are interesting if somewhat one-dimensional, and some incidents seem gratuitous, such as when Lin uses her second sight to help police locate a missing boy. These flaws notwithstanding, this pensive coming-of-age novel may hold appeal for readers who appreciate a sensitive, character-driven story. (obtained from School Library Journal).
Jiménez, F. (2001). Breaking through. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Gr 5-8
Maturity means breaking through the cocoon into freedom for Panchito, whose adolescence is described in this sequel to The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child (Houghton, 2001). The simplicity of life and the unending work for the whole family continues here, but is mitigated by Panchito's increased awareness and gradual loss of innocence as he learns to make his life a success. His father's bitterness, pain, and need for unquestioning obedience is matched by his mother's ability to coax agreement out of her son. The clash of cultures between teen insolence in the U.S. and Mexican respect for elders' authority is vividly portrayed, as is the injustice and casual bigotry often endured by young and old. Fortunately, the protagonist, now often known as Frankie, finds friends and employers willing to recognize his strength of character and ability. While sure to be inspiring and reassuring to readers mesmerized by the first book, this follow-up lacks the intensity and voice so memorable in that one, and is consequently less affecting. Still, Jim nez ably helps readers see the world of 1950s and 1960s California through adolescent eyes. Rock 'n' roll, Kennedy versus Nixon, the old-boy network of service clubs, the humiliation of deportation, and the painful struggle to have the right clothes are among the pieces of that world that readers see with a startling clarity from a new perspective. The photos at the end are great additions.-Carol A. Edwards, Sonoma County Library, Santa Rosa, CA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information. (obtained from School Library Journal).
Johnson, A. (2003). The first part last. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Gr 7 Up
Angela Johnson's Printz Award-winning novel (S & S, 2003) is perfectly suited to the audiobook medium, and Khalipa Oldjohn narrates this first person tale with poignant authenticity of tone and pacing. At 16, Bobby struggles to be a father to his newborn daughter while keeping up with school, maintaining his boyhood friendships, and trying to live up to his parents' expectations. Told in alternating passages of "Now" and "Then," the back-story that has brought Bobby to this point falls steadily but deliberately into place, with the revelation of why Bobby is a single father arriving only near the very end. In spite of its brevity, the story is complex and satisfying. Bobby is both boy and man, responsible and overwhelmed, near panic and able to plan an intelligent and loving future for Feather, the daughter he adores and nurtures. In audio format, this story can readily be shared in just a class period or two and will grab listeners immediately, making it an ideal subject for class discussion. It will also be instantly popular for leisure reading outside of school.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information. (obtained from School Library Journal).
Students, your library fines are starting to run up with overdue books. Please turn the books in and pay your fines! I do not want to start contacting parents again. It's not a pleasant experience!
Below I have posted a review for a couple of books that were just donated. Everyone have a good week!
Deem, J.M. (2008). Bodies from the ice. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
Gr 5-8
Deem's lucid account explores mummified remains recovered from several glacial locations and time periods. The many discoveries presented include the famous 5300-year-old Alpine Iceman Ötzi, the mummified Incan children of the Andes Mountains, and the identification of George Mallory's body on Mount Everest. The background and methodology of glaciology are examined, as are relevant issues in climate change and archaeology; historical photographs of glaciers are compared to modern photographs of the same, much-receded ice. Full-color photographs, reproductions, and maps are clearly captioned; grand images of glaciated mountain peaks span entire pages, and detailed pictures of recovered objects, including the mummies themselves, the Iceman's ax, and surviving fabric fragments are presented. To nitpick one point, Deem states that scientists "don't understand" why the Ice Age glaciers retreated, instead of mentioning the Milankovitch cycles as a consensus explanation. Nonetheless, this volume provides updated information, including new insights into the causes of the Iceman Ötzi's death. With its extensive bibliography, suggested Web sites, and a listing of glaciers to visit, Bodies is a fantastic resource. Deem superbly weaves diverse geographical settings, time periods, and climate issues into a readable work that reveals the increasing interdisciplinary dimensions of the sciences.-Jeff Meyer, Slater Public Library, IA (obtained from School Library Journal).
Easton, K. (2007). Hiroshima Dreams. New York: Dutton Children’s Books.
Gr 6 Up
Lin is five years old when her grandmother arrives from Japan. She feels an immediate kinship with Obaachan, who teaches her to meditate and shares stories of her former life. They also share the gift of vision, or second sight. Lin is a musical prodigy; aware of her otherness, she struggles to find her voice. Unlike her mother and older sister, Sally, who embrace American culture, Lin is drawn to her Japanese heritage. Her story spans 11 years, as she discovers her strengths and overcomes her shyness. After she hears her grandmother's horrific story of surviving the atomic bomb, Lin is troubled by images of Hiroshima, and this is later linked to September 11 and its aftermath. Easton's prose throughout is heartfelt and insightful, but, ultimately, Lin's development follows a familiar path. Secondary characters are interesting if somewhat one-dimensional, and some incidents seem gratuitous, such as when Lin uses her second sight to help police locate a missing boy. These flaws notwithstanding, this pensive coming-of-age novel may hold appeal for readers who appreciate a sensitive, character-driven story. (obtained from School Library Journal).
Jiménez, F. (2001). Breaking through. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Gr 5-8
Maturity means breaking through the cocoon into freedom for Panchito, whose adolescence is described in this sequel to The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child (Houghton, 2001). The simplicity of life and the unending work for the whole family continues here, but is mitigated by Panchito's increased awareness and gradual loss of innocence as he learns to make his life a success. His father's bitterness, pain, and need for unquestioning obedience is matched by his mother's ability to coax agreement out of her son. The clash of cultures between teen insolence in the U.S. and Mexican respect for elders' authority is vividly portrayed, as is the injustice and casual bigotry often endured by young and old. Fortunately, the protagonist, now often known as Frankie, finds friends and employers willing to recognize his strength of character and ability. While sure to be inspiring and reassuring to readers mesmerized by the first book, this follow-up lacks the intensity and voice so memorable in that one, and is consequently less affecting. Still, Jim nez ably helps readers see the world of 1950s and 1960s California through adolescent eyes. Rock 'n' roll, Kennedy versus Nixon, the old-boy network of service clubs, the humiliation of deportation, and the painful struggle to have the right clothes are among the pieces of that world that readers see with a startling clarity from a new perspective. The photos at the end are great additions.-Carol A. Edwards, Sonoma County Library, Santa Rosa, CA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information. (obtained from School Library Journal).
Johnson, A. (2003). The first part last. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Gr 7 Up
Angela Johnson's Printz Award-winning novel (S & S, 2003) is perfectly suited to the audiobook medium, and Khalipa Oldjohn narrates this first person tale with poignant authenticity of tone and pacing. At 16, Bobby struggles to be a father to his newborn daughter while keeping up with school, maintaining his boyhood friendships, and trying to live up to his parents' expectations. Told in alternating passages of "Now" and "Then," the back-story that has brought Bobby to this point falls steadily but deliberately into place, with the revelation of why Bobby is a single father arriving only near the very end. In spite of its brevity, the story is complex and satisfying. Bobby is both boy and man, responsible and overwhelmed, near panic and able to plan an intelligent and loving future for Feather, the daughter he adores and nurtures. In audio format, this story can readily be shared in just a class period or two and will grab listeners immediately, making it an ideal subject for class discussion. It will also be instantly popular for leisure reading outside of school.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information. (obtained from School Library Journal).
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Since I'll be out tomorrow...
I just wanted to remind my students of a few things:
**Media Tech, we are to meet at the high school gym at 6:15am to start our long trek tomorrow- Do not be late or I will leave you! We will arrive back at the school around 7pm tomorrow night. I will have my cell phone and all of your parents have my number in case of emergency. Eat your breakfast before we leave and pack a lunch. We will be stopping somewhere for dinner, so bring money for that and any souvenirs that you might run across that you simply can not live without. I am providing some snacks and beverages for breaks along the way. We will be riding on ferries, so if you have problems with motion sickness, let me know before we board!
**Latin students, classes resume next week, so come back rested and prepared to learn more.
**Battle of the Books will only be on Wednesday next week from 3:30p-5p. Please come a little more prepared than you have this week. I suggest some of you need to do some serious cracking down and reviewing over the weekend. If there is no further progress next week, I can see some students will be cut from the team.
**There is a band concert this weekend in the auditorium at 3pm on Sunday. They will be performing movie and show tunes. Come support the arts in our school system.
**We have our fifth period assistant in the Media Center now- Ms. Erin Spate from the eleventh grade. Please treat her with her courtesy. Thank you to the parties who expressed interest in this position. It was a hard choice, but we welcome Erin!
Hope everyone has a great weekend. See you all back on Monday!
**Media Tech, we are to meet at the high school gym at 6:15am to start our long trek tomorrow- Do not be late or I will leave you! We will arrive back at the school around 7pm tomorrow night. I will have my cell phone and all of your parents have my number in case of emergency. Eat your breakfast before we leave and pack a lunch. We will be stopping somewhere for dinner, so bring money for that and any souvenirs that you might run across that you simply can not live without. I am providing some snacks and beverages for breaks along the way. We will be riding on ferries, so if you have problems with motion sickness, let me know before we board!
**Latin students, classes resume next week, so come back rested and prepared to learn more.
**Battle of the Books will only be on Wednesday next week from 3:30p-5p. Please come a little more prepared than you have this week. I suggest some of you need to do some serious cracking down and reviewing over the weekend. If there is no further progress next week, I can see some students will be cut from the team.
**There is a band concert this weekend in the auditorium at 3pm on Sunday. They will be performing movie and show tunes. Come support the arts in our school system.
**We have our fifth period assistant in the Media Center now- Ms. Erin Spate from the eleventh grade. Please treat her with her courtesy. Thank you to the parties who expressed interest in this position. It was a hard choice, but we welcome Erin!
Hope everyone has a great weekend. See you all back on Monday!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Congratulations...
...to our ball teams who trounced the opposition this past weekend. If you see one of the players give them a nice pat on the back. No hitting!
Two things to remind students:
**Battle of the Books practice starts tomorrow (Tuesday) at 3:30p in the Media Center. Come prepared! You will not be allowed to compete if you are not ready!
**Media Tech students I still need the permission slips by Wednesday for the field trip on Friday. No permission slip = no trip for you. I will not be pliable or held responsible for this. If you do not go, this will effect the grade on your final project and consequently your class.
Hope everyone has a nice week. Please stop by the library with your research requests- I know senior projects are due soon. Do not wait until last minute or I will be unable to help you!
Two things to remind students:
**Battle of the Books practice starts tomorrow (Tuesday) at 3:30p in the Media Center. Come prepared! You will not be allowed to compete if you are not ready!
**Media Tech students I still need the permission slips by Wednesday for the field trip on Friday. No permission slip = no trip for you. I will not be pliable or held responsible for this. If you do not go, this will effect the grade on your final project and consequently your class.
Hope everyone has a nice week. Please stop by the library with your research requests- I know senior projects are due soon. Do not wait until last minute or I will be unable to help you!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Reminders for next week...
A couple of things to remind our students about...
1.) There will be no Latin classes next week through the link in the Media Center because it is that school's spring break. Enjoy the breather!
2.) Battle of the Books practice will be next Tuesday and Thursday (March 17th and 19th) at the Media Center from 3:30pm to 5:00pm. Come prepared to battle with your classmates in some mock sparring.
3.) Fifth period has still not been filled by a student aide in the Media Center. If you are interested, please come see Ms. Debbie and we will speak with your advisor and home base teacher.
4.) Media Technology students, we have a field trip next Friday to the Outer Banks next Friday to start work on the filming of your final projects. I need your permission slips signed by your parents by Wednesday, March 18!
The Media Center received some new books in this week. I know a lot of students were asking for the new Stephanie Meyers book- well it's here! Come peruse the new selections.
Remember the make-up baseball and softball games this weekend. Come support your classmates as we battle the Lakers and the Tigers.
That covers it! Everyone have a nice weekend and start a new book!
1.) There will be no Latin classes next week through the link in the Media Center because it is that school's spring break. Enjoy the breather!
2.) Battle of the Books practice will be next Tuesday and Thursday (March 17th and 19th) at the Media Center from 3:30pm to 5:00pm. Come prepared to battle with your classmates in some mock sparring.
3.) Fifth period has still not been filled by a student aide in the Media Center. If you are interested, please come see Ms. Debbie and we will speak with your advisor and home base teacher.
4.) Media Technology students, we have a field trip next Friday to the Outer Banks next Friday to start work on the filming of your final projects. I need your permission slips signed by your parents by Wednesday, March 18!
The Media Center received some new books in this week. I know a lot of students were asking for the new Stephanie Meyers book- well it's here! Come peruse the new selections.
Remember the make-up baseball and softball games this weekend. Come support your classmates as we battle the Lakers and the Tigers.
That covers it! Everyone have a nice weekend and start a new book!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Here it is!
Welcome, Trouble High students to what we hope is a step in the right direction. This site is dedicated to you, students, in an ongoing effort by the faculty of this school system to get the information to you in a speedy manner. Any details you feel need to be added or addressed, please let us know. In using this site, please keep in mind that all school rules apply here as well. We hope this is a useful tool to you guys and that you use it often. So once again, welcome! Now let the fun begin!
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