Welcome Back! (08/30/2010)
Miss Longstaff
Happy Vay-Kay! (06/07/2010)
May you all have the bestsummer break ever!
Last Week! (05/28/2010)
My classes have finished their finals! We'll be wrapping up our history and world studies classes with a look at "wars and rumors of wars" and a special presentation courtesy of a Gulf War veteran, Mr. Surran. We're finishing up our study of insects in science, and we'll be getting into some heavy duty material in Bible class as we look closely at the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
Please note that if you have any missing assignments OR extra credit work to hand in, it must be on my desk no later than TUESDAY, which happens to be our last FULL day of school. It is neither a chapel nor a discipleship day, and you do NOT have to wear chapel attire. Wednesday, June 2, is a HALF DAY of school: junior high will be dismissed at 11:20am. We will be CLEANING that morning, and I will have to get back to you on the clothing issue--I don't want to assume we can wear our grubby clothes and find out we should've been wearing the status quo.
Happy Memorial Day!
Miss Longstaff
8th Grade Picnic! (05/21/2010)
PARENTS: We, the eighth grade class, would like to go to Bangor following the awards ceremony on Friday, June 4. There are some things we need to know before we can set this in stone. First of all, we need another adult chaperone/chauffeur to accompany us! Secondly, we would not be returning until later Friday afternoon (5 or 6pm instead of 2:40pm). Lastly, this will involve a cost--I'm willing to cover the gas fee, but we'd like to go to Blackbeard's USA Family Fun Park for mini-golf, batting cages, and go-carts. In addition, we'll be stopping at the mall for lunch and/or supper. It would not be a problem to take a cooler packed with lunches if you'd prefer your son or daughter to take his/her lunch, but the park does have an admittance fee (I will provide more information ASAP).
FINALS: THURSDAY, MAY 27 - BIBLE (Chapters 26-31) and 7 WORLD STUDIES (Chapter 23: Israel)
FRIDAY, MAY 28 - 8 HISTORY (Chapter 26: World War II)
Please check GHCA's exam schedule for your other class finals.
STUDY HARD!
Miss Longstaff
New News (05/11/2010)
Wednesday, May 12: 8th graders will be walking to the museum in downtown Houlton to help wrap up our studies of World War I (there is a GREAT military room at the museum)! Please dress appropriately--it is May in Maine, and it is NOT WARM in the morning. Please. Your teacher does not need to share any more of your illnesses this year! Those same historians need to remember their recruitment poster project is due Friday and we will be having a test the same day.
7th graders need to be aware of the following:
World studies quiz Thursday, May 13
Science insect project due Wednesday, May 26
That is all for now! Have a great (1-month-to-go) week!
Blessings upon blessings,
Miss L.
May Day! (04/30/2010)
Tomorrow marks the start of May! WOW. Time's going to fly, I can tell.
Junior high students will be taking SATs from May 4-6. Please bring something to read/work on as you may not use all of the time allotted (students are not allowed to move around the classroom/hallways while tests are being given). 8th grade historians have finished their Civil War studies and are jumping ahead to the Great War. 7th grade geographer/historians are concluding their studies of Russia and moving on to modern Asia. Our theologians are looking at Christ's meeting with the Greeks as recorded in John 12. The 7th grade scientists held a debate to finish off their studies of evolution and Creationism, and will be studying insects this coming month. I expect we'll have some expert entomologists on our hands before we're through!
Blessings,
Miss Longstaff
Praise! (04/14/2010)
After the break, our junior high Bible students will be presenting review skits to their classmates. We're looking forward to seeing some of these events set in modern times and in modern places such as a coffee shop, a hospital, and a red carpet event! Seventh grade scientists will be preparing for an "Evolution vs. Creationism" debate. I can't wait to hear the arguments! The Civil War continues to be investigated in 8th grade history, and 7th grade world studies students will be examining Russia.
FIRST NOTE OF THANKS: Mrs. Tomi Little gave an outstanding presentation on Japanese culture to the 7th grade world studies class this week. She had a slide show of various foods, clothing, ceremonies, and a demonstration of how kanji has evolved into today's Japanese characters. Mrs. Little also presented each of the students with a beautiful card, on the back of which was the student's name in kanji along with its definition. Thank you also to Mr. Little for running the slide show and giving a commentary! Bless you both!
SECOND NOTE OF THANKS (and praise!): I received my ACSI Educator Certificate today! Bless all of you who prayed for me! I'm proud to have this "under my belt" so to speak, and I promise not to take that literally. (A classroom wall is definitely a more fitting display.)
Thanks be to God!
Ms. L.
P.S. The 8th grade classroom is running low on tissues and Germ-X...we're using more of each item than we'd like to but it has been an unpleasant season health-wise!
April News (04/09/2010)
To the junior high students who represented us at Maine Academic Day: WELL DONE! I trust you all had a great time using your God-given talents and having fellowship with students from other schools! A few reminders for the week of April 11th follow:
8 History - open-book quiz over Chapter 16 will be on Monday
7 World Studies - notes to p436-440 are due Monday. Tuesday we'll have a field trip to the museum in Houlton (we will be walking, so dress appropriately for the weather)
Discipleship - Tuesday we'll be here sharing food and having fellowship *Please note, our April 27th discipleship will be a day of community service instead of what we'd previously planned
7 Science - be prepared to share your creation myths on Monday
Bible - we will continue skit rehearsals on Monday
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
Ms. L.
Upcoming (03/25/2010)
Hi everyone,
Congratulations to the 8th graders on your Spirit Week win! We had a great time getting to know one another better. We extend thanks to our 2nd grade buddies who helped us garner points by all participating during Spirit Week. (Kudos to youdos!) To the 7th graders: you fought valiantly! Well done!
*Special Guest Alert* On Tuesday, March 30, Officer Nason of the HPD will be giving a presentation to the junior high students regarding drug use, effects, punishments, and consequences. The topic has come up because our world studies class is examining the opium trade in China during the 18th and 19th centuries. We've studied some fantastic scriptures that tell us how our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and how we must use them to glorify God. There's no place for drugs or alcohol in the life of a born-again believer! (Can I get an "AMEN"?)
To wrap up our study of American settlers and westward expansion, the 8th grade will be taking a field trip to the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton on Thursday, April 1. All that is required is for students to show up early at GHCA (we will depart at 7:45a.m.) and to dress warmly as their facilities are not heated. The museum welcomes monetary donations if you feel so led. Please make sure to return the (signed!) permission forms as soon as possible. One change to note: instead of returning precisely at 9:30a.m., we may be back closer to 10 or 10:30. History can't be rushed!
Please check the calendar for more due dates/exciting happenings.
God is good all the time,
Miss Longstaff
100% (03/15/2010)
COME ON 8th GRADE! We've got one more day to take the lead away from the 7th grade! Let's aim for 100% participation in tomorrow's dress-up theme: SPORTS! Grab a jersey, grab your Eagles gear, grab a giant inflatable baseball suit (?) and let's DO IT! I'm still looking for someone who has a horse-head-on-a-stick toy that you pretend to ride...it is costume-related and I will provide candy to anyone who brings one in!
You did GREAT with today's events--the baseball bat spin game made me queasy just watching you!
Remember to bring in BOTH signed forms and your money by TOMORROW for our tubing trip.
100% participation and 100% effort! We can do it!
Blessings,
Miss L.
Do you have questions or comments about this blog? Email Miss Longstaff at llongstaff@ghca.com!
27 School Street