Week 7 (9/29) A Peek into our week

 From the class bloggers:  Nick and ???

Disclaimer - Students worked hard at "stepping up" the article so parents could get a better look inside our class.  I can't remember who Nick's partner was.  Kudos for getting detailed!!

This week we did a lot of fun things. On Monday, it was library day. We also got our new jobs this week for around the classroom. On Tuesday, strings were working on their chapel music, Our Mighty Fortress, You Have Called Us, and Go and Baptize All the Nations, their winter music, Up On the housetop and the Christmas Symphony. In music class we started learning about old instruments. In gym, we did Poor Poor Puppy. It was lots of fun, tiring, and intense. General had block English and Transition had block math. Block means instead of math and english it is just double whatever that subject is.

 On Wednesday, we did study hall and got a lot of work done. We also had computer lab where we did typing.com and learned about AI. Joyful noise sang Whoever Would Be Great Among You in Chapel and Pastor Nelson led the chapel. Choir sang God is Our Refuge during their choir time. We started a quick Social Studies project on climate regions. In science, we learned about food chains and food webs. We got to play a game on it. General had block math, and transition had block english.

From Mrs. R.

 ** Quick reminders: 

Field trip Friday - Weldon Spring Interpretive Center/Harvest Lanes

Parent drivers meet at 8:30 in the parking lot in front of Jr. High.  We will come out to meet you shortly after that time.  Return by 2:45 p.m

• Cold lunch 

• red Zion shirt
•  jeans/jean shorts (modest length) or school shorts

 

 Oct. 3  TJ Pizza orders are coming home.  My family's favorites are the break-a-part cookies.  So easy!

Oct. 6 is Trunk or Treat.  After School Care closes at 5p.m. that Friday.  See Sycamore for details and registration.   

NO SCHOOL Oct. 11-13   Teachers are at the district Professional Church Workers conference. 

 

 

 CHOIR IN CHAPEL  (click to hear on youtube.  Does not want to embed here)

 

 

Parenting Corner:  Tips on Technology Limits from Love and Logic. (3 minute read)

Week 6 (9/23): Walkathon Photos

 

6th graders after the Walkathon

From the class blogger:

 This week was a fun week. We had a Literature test and an English test this week. 

This week chapel was lead by Mr. Maddick and he taught us a new song to sing at

 chapel. On Thursday we got to have Mr. Debrick teach us Social Studies. Friday 

was extra fun because it was Walkathon day. We are donating the money to 

Christian Friends of New Americans. Our class donated more than $100 so far. 

The money is due next week. This week has been very fun and we hope that next 

week will be just as fun.

-Laina M.

 

From Mrs. R: 

Don't you love how the class things tests are fun!  (not!)   What was fun was the WALKATHON!!  What an amazing experience to see your kids having fun, encouraging each other, and running/walking to help others.  They walked over 126 miles!!  

We have the opportunity to instill in our children the gift of giving back -sharing of God's blessings with others and seeing the impact that makes in their lives.  What a wonderful response to God's love for us!  When so much of our finances are automatically deducted from our bank accounts, kids don't see Mom and Dad put an offering in the plate  or donate to a charity.  Have that conversation with your child.  Share what giving means to you and how you might have been blessed at a time by the generosity of others.

I reminded the class there is still time to make a donation - Envelopes with cash or checks need to come in by Friday Oct. 6.  Online giving closes Oct. 8.   (yes, if they forget, they can still bring their envelope in on the next Monday!!)

 

Midquarter is upon us Sept. 25. It's amazing how well students have transitioned into our school routine.  I am loving this class and the fun discussions throughout the subject areas.  Religion skit writing focus on letting God bring good through us to other people in tough situations.   "Making Friends" is our 2nd Step topic and we are practicing empathy and listening skills in practice scenarios.  And they we pondered, "What if God made Earth a cube?"  We see that God designed this world exactly the right way to create our seasons, climate zones, and even gave us the beauty of landforms.

The quarter is LONG.  Please don't wait until parent/treacher conferences at the end of October if you have questions or concerns. 

Field Trip Oct. 6  Weldon Spring/Bowling- Thanks to parents for volunteering to drive.   You have been contacted.  Watch the blog next week for reminders.

Parent Corner  Encouraging GRIT in our kids (taken from Love and Logic:Insiders Club)

True achievement comes through struggle and perseverance, which is the key to building grit. There is no doubt that kids who develop grit through experience will lead happier and more productive lives than those who don’t. Listed below are few “grit stealers” with corresponding “grit builders.”

Grit Stealer:  Micromanage or rescue your kids.
Grit Builder:  Allow your kids to make affordable mistakes and live with the consequences.

Grit Stealer:  Constantly tell them that they are bright, gifted, or exceptionally talented.
Grit Builder:  Celebrate effort, hard work, and perseverance.

Grit Stealer:  Immediately gratify their desires.
Grit Builder:  Let them wait for what they want.

Grit Stealer:  Talk badly about yourself.
Grit Builder:  Show your kids that you maintain a positive attitude when you make mistakes.

Grit Stealer:  Model perfectionism
Grit Builder:  Let them see you make mistakes.

Grit Stealer:  Try to always keep them happy. Give them the impression that life should never be upsetting or stressful.
Grit Builder:  Allow them to experience a natural and full range of emotions. Show that you care by expressing empathy.

Teaching perseverance isn’t complicated. It requires a willingness to allow kids to experience healthy challenges as they grow. It also requires that we let them to see that they have what it takes to cope with life’s challenges.   https://www.loveandlogic.com/

 

Band getting us pumped up!  Avengers assemble!

Mr. Weinhold reminding us of our mission and leading prayer

Mr. Braddy came from LHS to encouarage kids with giveaways

Our path took us completely around campus.  Who is sporting the cool hat?

Miss Dubberke pumping us up with music and dance moves

Mrs. Crenshaw and Mrs. Streuter kept us hydrated. Lovin' the sunglasses!

The Snack Shack is open!

Former Zion teacher, Mrs. Beaty, was back to see that we had great snacks!

Oops!  Sorry this one was fuzzy, girls.

Social studies - landform match

Plains don't look the same everywhere

T-math doing "Around the Room" review

Discussing strategies for Decimal placement

:

Week 5 (9/15) Walkathon Friday!

 Has your child asked you to sponsor him or her?  Our Walkathon is FRIDAY!!

I polled the kids today and many had not yet started to ask for pledges.  Encourage your child to share with you about Christian Friends of New Americans and the great work they do.  Check out their website and the video below:  https://www.cfna-stl.org/   

Kids may come to school in athletic dress:  Spirit wear or Christian message t-shirt, PE style shorts (modest length) or sweats.  No spandex shorts please.  Don't forget a water bottle, hat or sunscreen as we will be outside all afternoon.

From the class bloggers:

This week we had our first memory quiz, we also had 

a science test and a social studies test. We started 

doing a new type of vocab words to see if it works 

better. (This is a Latin and Greek root study)We started camo art and it was pretty awesome. 

We worked outside in the outdoor classroom.

-Finn and Owe

News and Reminders

• permission slips for our field trip came home today
• Trunk or Treat sign ups are on Sycamore or the school email
• Check out the Art Tab for pics of Line art taken by photographer, Nick
  

Week 4 (9/9) Field Trip News

 From the class bloggers:  

This week at zion we had an intruder drill.We also had an English test.We also had a vocab test. Art was fun, because we did it in the outdoor classroom. Confirmation started this week. It was a very fun week.

-Jake, Elliot

 From Mrs. R -  Other highlights of the week:

    **learning about dialect in Literature

   **Mr. Braddy from LHS led chapel on Jesus washing away our sin

   **math facts practice has begun!  T-math brought home an enrollment code for xtramath.org and G-math brings theirs home on Wednesday.  I encourage 1-2x a week at home to build facts fluency.  We uses xtramath and other facts fluency activities in class, too.

  **learning Flipgrid in S.S. to teach each other about thematic maps

 

Save the Date:  Weldon Spring Field Trip ~ Oct. 6

On Friday, Oct. 6 the sixth grade will take our first field trip. We leave campus at 8:30 a.m. to go to the Weldon Spring Interpretive Center to learn about environmental cleanup.  After a picnic lunch, we head to Harvest Lanes for an afternoon of bowling.  We return by 2:45 p.m.  We are looking for parent drivers.  Please email your homeroom teacher if interested.  Chaperones will need an up to date background check.  More detailed information will come home with a permission slip next week. 

 

 

Scholastic Book Club

Flyers came home for the book club.  Scholastic does a great job of showing you new titles and offering good prices on books. HOWEVER - use discretion.  Not all books promoted by Scholastic may be appropriate for your child.  Mature content is often found in young adult reads now that your child is getting older.  For reviews of content on books, movies, video games, etc - go to:

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/   (3 free reviews allowed each month)    

https://www.pluggedin.com/  (reviews from the Christian group: Focus on the Family)

 If you choose to place an order, with an order of $25 or more, you can pick a FREE $5 book (use code READS at checkout).

 

Family Order Due Date: 09/27/23

 

SHOP OUR CLASS PAGE: https://orders.scholastic.com/GV2FP

 

SHOP FLYERS: https://clubs.scholastic.com/ms

 

Please let me know if you DON'T want email reminders from Scholastic and I will not add your email to the Scholastic's reminder list.  

I set aside books for gifts, too.  Just let me know!

 

 

Walkathon Reminder

 

Friday, September 22, 2023

Has your child started to ask for donations?   Have you seen the packet that came home last week?  The walkathon will be here before you know it!

This school year, Zion’s Junior High Students and Teachers annual Walk-a-thon will support  Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA).  This faith-based organization’s mission, “Showing God’s Love to Refugees and Immigrants” provides housing, furniture, employment, English language instruction, education, various programs, and spiritual and religious needs by sharing the Story of Jesus.  (https://www.cfna-stl.org/).

Your support and partnership would be greatly appreciated.

How can you help?

Please pray for the people in these difficult situations and for our junior high students to feel the call to serve. In addition, your help in raising funds for CFNA would be greatly appreciated.  Any amount of donation will go directly to this worthwhile cause. 

The following options for a donation are available from September 4 through October 8, 2023.

• Digital donation using QR code or 2023walkathon.givesmart.com

• Donation by Cash 

• Donation by Check addressed to Zion attention Walk-a-thon.

Any monetary gifts toward a Zion Junior High Student’s pledge card or for the project in general, would share your love with others.

Working With You in His Love,

Zion Lutheran School Junior High Teachers and Students

     If you have any questions, please contact a junior high teacher or the school office.

       Since CFNA is a non-profit organization, all donations are tax-exempt.

 

 

Art class outside Friday

Exploring Bible Story books for inspiration

We love the outdoor classroom!

2nd step - group communication

One person could touch paper...one scissors...

...one tape....one paper clips.  Now build!!

 

 

OLDER PHOTOS FROM WHEN I FORGOT THE Ipod AT SCHOOL.....

Rocky the Bobcat and our Special Friends cards for the senior center

AR Shout outs

Line art

Pop art

Science notes!