Late Arrival Tomorrow

Hello Everyone,

     Remember tomorrow's schedule; students have a two-hour delay while staff attend professional development meetings. Students, this means your bus will show up two hours later than usual, and homeroom will begin at 9:10. Keep this in mind, especially if it is raining outside.

     You will still have all your classes; this is a shortened class day, not a missing class day.

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

Out Sick

Hello,

     I'm out sick today, unfortunately. I don't appreciate it, but it's better than infecting the lot of you. I will be back in tomorrow, though, so don't worry. Until then, remember your manners and do your work. All of you, and I mean that literally, have more work to do on your projects. If you think you are done, find more evidence. The more you have, the stronger your case and the stronger your grade. If you need paper, you know where to find it. If you don't, a teammate will.

     I am proud of how well you have focused so far this year; please keep that going.

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

Soccer vs. Windham

Hello Sports Fans and Scots!

     Tonight we have games versus Windham at home and away; the boys play here at Bonny Eagle at 4:30, while the girls are away at Windham at the same time. If you are in either neighborhood, stop in and cheer on your Scots! Several Barclay students are on the team. We beat Windham last year, and we can do it again.

Go Scots!

Mr. DeMaris

Creative Writing Club

Hello Everyone,

     Mr. Pease is hosting a creative writing club after school this year, starting on Wednesday, September 23. If you are interested in joining, email him at jpease@bonnyeagle.org or see him in Room 36. He would love to have some eighth graders join!

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

Week in Preview — September 21

Hello Everyone,

     This week should finally be cool and comfortable upstairs; we will have a high of 75 at most all week, if you believe the weather man. So far as schoolwork is concerned, in Language Arts we will go into a little more detail about conflict, point of view, irony, and characterization, and then start in on the book project itself.

1. On Monday, students will analyze an interpersonal conflict between characters in their stories, and explain how their points of view impact said conflict.
2. On Tuesday, students will differentiate between different types of irony in a story. They are provided with "Mammon and the Archer" by O. Henry as an example of a story that contains all three types of irony.
3. On Wednesday, students will address all three types of conflict again, this time in more detail, as relates to "Mammon and the Archer."
4. On Thursday, students will review their answers, officially declare their project book, and begin connecting it to the ten Elements of Literature.
5. On Friday, students will write a Week in Review and continue their Elements of Literature book project.

     Remember that Chess Club is after school on Wednesdays, and Yearbook will meet again on Tuesday and Thursday of next week (September 29 and October 1).

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

Beautiful Creatures — Book Review

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Reviewer:  Tanya M.

Beautiful Creatures is a fantasy book about a boy named Ethan. He has lived in Gatlin his whole life. His mother died in an accident and his father is an introvert. There is a new girl at school named Lena. She is the niece of the crazy Macon Ravenwood. She is more than she seems.

Genres:  Fiction, Fantasy, Suspense

Week in Preview — September 14

Hello Everyone,

     I hope you all had a good weekend. I had to replace a corroded brake line in my car and rotate some tires, but it was a good weekend overall. This week, September 14–18, starts comfortably, but we will be back up into the 80s from Tuesday on.

     This week, we will continue our development of the elements of literature, which we started with theme last week. You will work in groups and individually on terms and application of the concepts.

1. On Monday, students will discuss terms and definitions in class, including application of concepts with a story of their choice.
2. On Tuesday, students will provide and work with examples of setting, characterization, point of view, and conflict.
3. On Wednesday, students will provide and work with examples of mood, irony, foreshadowing, and plot.
4. On Thursday, students will provide and work with examples of symbolism and theme.
5. On Friday, students will recap the concepts and write a Week in Review.

     Remember that Tuesday is Picture Day here at Bonny Eagle Middle School, and Open House has been rescheduled for Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 7:30. Students also have their first dance on Friday from 6:30 to 8:30.

     Finally, Yearbook Club meets Tuesday afternoon from 2:20 to 4:00 in Room 83 (my room), and Chess Club meets Wednesday afternoon from 2:20 to 4:00 in Room 98 (Mr. O'Searcoid's room, in Clan MacCallum).

     Have a good week!

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

The Lost Hero — Book Review

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
Reviewer:  Isaac R.

     In The Lost Hero Jason woke up on a bus with no memory at all. Later on in the book he finds out that it was Hera that stole his memories and to get them back he must find her and free her before Gaea (the earth) rises and destroys everything. Jason, Leo, and Piper must all overcome their fears and fight one of the most risky, dangerous, and the most suicidal missions of all.

Genres:  Fiction, Action

Early Release

Hello Everyone!

     In case you do not have a connection to Blackboard, you should know that all MSAD 6 schools will close early today. For Bonny Eagle Middle School, dismissal will be at 11:30. All regular afternoon activities are cancelled, including school clubs and sports.

     Open House, or Back to School Night, will take place on Tuesday, September 15, from 6:30 to 7:30.

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

A Reminder

Hello Everyone,

     Please remember that Open House takes place from 6:30 to 7:30 on Wednesday night (that's tomorrow!) at Bonny Eagle Middle School. All us teachers will be there, and we are looking forward to meeting family members and introducing ourselves in person. This is usually a nice little event, and I am looking forward to it. We will all meet in Mrs. Davis' room (Room 84) for quick introductions of the teachers and an overview of the clan, and then we will all go to our homerooms so students and families can circulate as they wish.

     Please remember that this is not parent-teacher conference time; we barely know any of you yet, and we do not have the time or the privacy to discuss conference-level information this night. Thank you for understanding, and I will see you there!

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

Week in Preview

Hello Everyone,

     This coming week, September 8–11, promises to be another hot one; dress accordingly, within school code. As usual, the eighth grade floor will be toastier than the rest of the school. Remember that the quieter and less active you are, the cooler the rooms stay and the longer the doors can stay open to circulate air!

     This week, we will work on objective summarization, identification of themes in narratives, and how to properly defend a point.

1. On Tuesday, students will read a passage from their individual reading books, summarize it objectively, and provide a possible theme of the story so far, including how that theme relates to the events in the story.
2. On Wednesday, students will discuss in teams and with the teacher what a theme is, and how evidence can be used to support it.
3. On Thursday, students will review their answers and improve them as needed, and help team members with their answers and definitions until the entire team can provide working definitions and examples of both summary and theme.
4. On Friday, students will complete a Week in Review letter and present their week's reading to their team and the teacher.

     Also on Friday, students will participate in a short memorial for the anniversary of September 11, 2001; all students will join together in the first floor hallway to sing the national anthem and honor the flag.

     Finally, Learning Lab begins this week; it runs every Tuesday–Thursday from 2:15 until 4:00 in the library. Students must sign up in the main office beforehand, and they must have work to complete; it is not social time. The activity bus can take all students home after. Many clubs and events begin this week as well; check with teachers and coaches for official times.

     Welcome back to school, and enjoy the heat!

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris