Bring your Charger Tomorrow

Hello All,

     I hope your vacation went well, and you had a chance to enjoy the free time and the sunshine. I got three days down in Boston out of the deal, which were fantastic. This was a good time to get out of school and take care of things at home.

     Heading back into school tomorrow, we are beginning state testing on Monday, which is entirely computer based. This means you need to have a fully charged computer. That said, I know some of you have battery problems and some of you have a problem where you don't charge your battery, so bring your charger with you to school. That way, you don't have to worry about running low on power just when you need to finish an answer!

     Don't freak out about the tests, either. This isn't something you can study for, and it isn't something you can improve by worrying about it. The tests simply see where you are right now in skill level compared to your classmates and other eighth graders across the country, and help school organize what classes you take and what we teach you. Do the best you can, and take it seriously. Just don't feel like they are the end of the world.

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

Words of the Week—Concern

Hello,

     Here are your Words of the Week; the theme is levels of interest or "concern." Each word, regardless of part of speech (and they are all adjectives), indicates a level of concern or interest held by the subject about an object. They are, in alphabetical order, as follows.

Word (Origin)	Part of Speech	Definition
1. ambivalent (G)	adj.	having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas
2. attentive (OF)	adj.	paying close attention to something; polite or courteous
3. fascinated (L)	adj.	irresistibly drawn or attentive to something
4. indifferent (L)	adj.	having no particular interest or sympathy; neither good nor bad
5. interested (L)	adj.	showing curiosity, concern, or a desire to know more

Apply these to today's Make a List assignment, and study them, including spelling and part of speech, for the Thursday Think.

     I will stay after tomorrow to help any students with work who need it. If you are missing assignments or do not understand some material, stay for help. This is not, however, social time for you to waste with friends; I expect results. Let me know if you have questions.

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

Picture Day Tomorrow

Hello Everyone,

     Don't forget that tomorrow is Picture Day here at Bonny Eagle Middle School. You do not have to buy the photos, but these will be taken and then offered to you later. Dress your best!

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

Words of the Week—Relations

Dear Students,

     This week, the Words of the Week are organized on the theme of "relations." Each word, regardless of part of speech, concerns the relationship of one thing to another. These things may be people, places, objects, or ideas, but they connect or fail to connect to others. They are, in alphabetical order, as follows.

Word (Origin)	Part of Speech	Definition
1. acquaintance (OF)	n.	a person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend; or your knowledge or experience of something
2. cleave (OE)	v.	to split or separate to adhere or attach strongly to
3. cohesive (L)	adj.	characterized by or causing the formation of a united whole
4. disparate (L)	adj.	essentially different; not allowing comparison
5. unique (L)	adj.	unlike anything else; the only one of its kind

     Apply these to today's Make a List assignment, and study them, including spelling and part of speech, for the Thursday Think. Remember that "to cleave" something is far different from "to cleave to" something…that is an important distinction to make!

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

Grades are Posted

Hello,

     All Language Arts grades for Quarter Three, including comments to parents, are posted on Infinite Campus. Many of you did far better than you have in previous quarters, but some of you have slipped behind. Take the opportunity that Quarter Four gives you to bring your grades up as high as they can go before you finish your eighth grade year.

     Quarter Four starts on Monday, April 6—tomorrow. Come to class prepared to do your best. This is a new quarter, with a fresh new gradebook, so take full advantage of it. This is your last chance to show your teachers, parents, and the high school what you are capable of academically. Take advantage of all opportunities to Review and Improve assignments, including time after school. Use the Learning Lab for a quiet place to study and do homework from Tuesday–Thursday, and ask your teachers for help all through the quarter, not just in the last week or two.

     You must be responsible for your own success; we are here to help, but we can not and will not do the work for you. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

Final Quiz

Hello,

     Here is the link to the final quiz for the week:  http://goo.gl/forms/faVykbYyAe.

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris