Yearbooks are on sale!

Good evening!

You can preorder your yearbook at last! The Yearbook Club is going to spend the next several months designing and building this year's book, which we will print courtesy of Jostens. Every year, we pour the heart and soul of the Bonny Eagle experience into this beautiful publication, and it can be yours for only $25.00 in hardcover, or $20.00 in softcover.

But, from now until Columbus Day, there is a SALE going on! You can get 16% off hardcovers and 20% off softcovers if you order online or in person before or on October 10th. That's $4.00 off either option!

Buy now while prices are low, and guarantee yourself a book of memories that you will cherish for a lifetime. Order at http://jostensyearbooks.com?REF=A03296105 or in person in Room 83, right above the office. You can pay online with credit card, or you can pay with cash or check in person. Make checks payable to BEMS Yearbook.

Buying a yearbook supports your school and gives you something you can enjoy for years to come. Take the time; order a book.

Sincerely,
Mr. DeMaris

Late Arrival for Students

Good evening,

     Please remember that Wednesday is a two-hour delay for students; staff still arrive on time, but the student day does not begin until 9:10, instead of the usual 7:10. In Language Arts here in Clan Barclay, students will be reading silently, so make sure everyone has their book.

Regards,
Mr. DeMaris

Week of September 26 – 30

Welcome back!

     This week will be all about developing the practical use of persuasion. That means combining the simple persuasive method with letters and speech. On Monday and Tuesday, students will write a basic persuasive letter about a selected topic, finding evidence from credible sources to support their claims. Wednesday, the late arrival day, will be for silent reading in the classroom. Students must submit their letters by Wednesday evening to be printed for Thursday. Throwback Thursday will be a chance for students to present their claims and a part of their reasoning aloud to the class, and Friday will be a day for review.

     After school this week, Yearbook Club meets on Tuesday and Chess Club meets on Wednesday. On the sports front, there is field hockey Monday at 4:30, a girls' soccer game Wednesday at 4:30, and a boys' soccer game Friday at 4:30; the seventh grade games all happen at 3:30 the same days. If you have the time, come out and support your Scots!

     Remember, Wednesday is a late arrival day for students. That means everything starts two hours later — busses and the school day.

     Finally, the school news website is up and running! bit.ly/BENewsNet is the official site of the Newspaper Club — check it out!

Regards,
Mr. DeMaris

Ferry Beach — What should I bring?

Good morning,

     Tomorrow (Wednesday) after the first Allied Arts class, Barclay students pack into busses and head down to the Ecology School at Ferry Beach in Saco. We will spend the rest of the academic day there, exploring the dunes and the forest and learning about the environment and the management of our natural world. Students will come back to school in time to get on their regular bus and go home at their regular time, or attend whatever after-school programs they do.

     Please remember that this means students will be walking on uneven ground for a period of multiple hours, with a break in the middle to each lunch. We highly suggest students wear closed-toed shoes, either sneakers or boots, so they do not injure themselves or break a sandal by slipping. The weather is predicted to be 75 – 80 degrees down in Saco that day, so you won't need any cold-weather gear like we will in the spring, but be advised that the school dress code still applies on field trips.

     Many students have indicated they will bring their own bag lunch on the trip; students who have said they need a school lunch have told us already, and will have a school-provided bag lunch available.

     We are looking forward to a good time!

With anticipation,
Mr. DeMaris

Learning Lab

Good morning,

     Learning Lab signup is now completely digital; there will not be a paper in the office to sign. Instead, you need to go to the link and fill out a form online, explaining which day you will go this week and what you will do there. There is a link to the form on this website, just as indicated in the image below.

     Please remember that Learning Lab is not a place to socialize or play games or simply waste time. This is a time and space for doing homework, studying for tests, or seeking help on concepts you did not quite master in class. Respect the needs of other students working there, and follow all the rules for good conduct.

Thank you,

Mr. DeMaris

The Week in Preview

Hello Everyone,

     This week in Clan Barclay we have ourselves a busy, busy schedule. Last week, students were introduced to the basic ideas of argument, and this week we will continue on that theme. But first, we need to refocus on our books.

     Monday will be spent in the library, reading quietly or finding new books and then reading. Students must be prepared by the end of September to present their reading book to the teacher and the class, and they will write a review of their books as well. Monday is a step in that process. Remember your book if you have one.

     Tuesday will be a day for argument development. Students will open their first argument assignment and begin to flesh it out, adding evidence and searching for credible sources to support themselves, separating the good from the bad. Remember, if your source is not credible, your evidence is not useful, and your argument is not valid. Do not ruin a good argument with bad evidence! Also, the next Newspaper Club meeting is Tuesday after school.

     Wednesday is our field trip to the Ecology School at Ferry Beach in Saco! Students will attend their first Allied Arts class, then pack into busses and head down for a day of walking and talking and exploring the coast and the woods nearby. Be sure to dress accordingly — check the weather forecast! We are going, rain or shine. Also, the next Chess Club meeting is Wednesday after school.

     Thursday we get right back to arguments, and this time they will be student pairs based on student-selected topics, albeit selected from categories we may discuss ahead of time. Remember, we will not use laptops this day. The key is a clear, cohesive presentation of your ideas, this time in written and spoken word.

     Friday will be a day for building on arguments by developing claims from evidence found in news articles. This day will be less free-form and more structured, so students can better understand how argument should be organized.

     Finally, I found this clever quotation by a modern author, and I appreciate it; share and consider!

Sincerely,
Mr. DeMaris

A Fundraiser

Hello All,

I have copied the text of a letter sent out to parents of some eighth grade students here at BEMS, and I encourage you to read it and consider donating to this project. 3D printing is a ridiculously futuristic idea that we can actually use in school and people are using in all kinds of fields in the work force. Toy companies print complex toy parts; engineering companies print machines. Just recently, doctors have begun printing artificial jawbones for bone cancer patients, an incredible way to improve the lives of many people. Here, we have a chance to introduce our students to the technology that is changing their world.

Please read, and consider.

Regards,
Mr. DeMaris

Dear Parents,

This year we have an exciting opportunity to develop a more technologically-based learning experience. In Math classes this year, students are learning about Geometric Transformations, and may apply their knowledge by using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to create designs that can be printed on a 3D printer.

3D printing is an incredible new technology that allows students to turn a computerized design into a real-life object. In Math classes students can simulate real-world problems involving the volumes of cones, cylinders, and spheres. In Science classes, students can develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures. With these experiences the possibilities have few bounds beyond the imagination of our students.

While we do have access to a 3D printer, a single print for one student can take several hours, and with that printer designated to the whole school, this limits our ability to maximize the capabilities of our project. In June, we started a fundraising effort on DonorsChoose.org to get a 3D printer dedicated for 8th grade student work. However, the deadline for donations is approaching fast (Oct 15, 2016), and we are still only half-funded.

Our students are tremendously excited by this wonderful opportunity, but our finances are limited.

Any donation you can provide will go a long way towards making our dream a reality.

By contributing through DonorsChoose using this link or by scanning the QR code below with your phone - http://goo.gl/bpr1c2 - you will be helping your children to develop their skills with this fun and engaging classroom resource to succeed in an increasingly technological world. Thank you so much for your support!

Sincerely,

Oisin O’Searcoid

Mathematics

8th Grade

Bonny Eagle Middle School

Picture Day!

Good afternoon!

     Tuesday (tomorrow) is picture day here at Bonny Eagle Middle School; make sure you are dressed your best and wear your favorite shirt — this is the mugshot that goes in the yearbook, so everyone will think of you this way for years to come. I will be wearing a snazzy tie; I encourage you all to do the same!

     If you already have your picture order forms, bring them in tomorrow morning; I already have a couple, but you should bring them with. Look at the form for pricing. If you have any questions, let us know.

Sincerely,
Mr. DeMaris

Our Upcoming Week

Good Evening,

     This is our first full week of school this year, five uninterrupted days at BEMS, and it looks like the weather will be a little cooler by the end of the week, too. Those of us upstairs are thankful for that; any break from the heat will be appreciated. Come December, we will appreciate our warmer spot, but right now it is just uncomfortable.

     On Monday, we in Clan Barclay will be watching the ESPN mini-documentary "The Man in the Red Bandana," a fourteen-minute segment honoring the memory of Welles Crowther, a man who sacrificed his life on September 11, 2001 rescuing others in the South Tower. We will discuss and write about the event as a part of history, a tragedy, and a moment that united the nation; this year's students are the first group where everyone was born after those events took place.

     Tuesday will be a reading day in class; all students should bring their reading books and read silently throughout the class period. Tuesday is also picture day here at Bonny Eagle Middle School! Dress your best, comb your hair, and smile for the camera; even if you do not plan to purchase photos from LifeTouch, you should still look good — these will be the student photos in the yearbook this year. Speaking of yearbook, our first club meeting will be Tuesday after school in my classroom; if you are interested, come join us!

     We begin discussing argument and persuasion on Wednesday; students will learn the basic terminology — claim, counterclaim, evidence, source, rebuttal. Students will memorize the terms and see which team can identify them all clearly first. The first Chess Club meeting is Wednesday after school in Room 98, down the hall. We also have a Cross-Country meet Wednesday afternoon at 4:00; come support your Scots!

     Throwback Thursday will be a discussion day; we will review argument definitions and read quotations on the purpose of democracy and government, and then students will have group discussions and small debates centered on those quotations. Remember, you are not allowed to use your laptop in Language Arts on Thursday, so come with a pencil or pen if you want to jot down notes. Thursday afternoon is the first Newspaper Club meeting; if you are interested in investigating your school, your community, and your world, or you like drawing cartoons, or you are just curious, stop in!

     On Friday, all students will write a "Week in Review" letter, reflecting on their first full week of school and connecting it, if they please, to their weekend or their plans for the future. This is an open opportunity to express themselves clearly and without any criticism of grammar and spelling, as it is only graded on completion. Once they have finished writing, they may free write or read quietly. We also have our first school-wide assembly Friday afternoon, so classes will be shorter than usual — roughly 40 minutes instead of the full hour.

     As usual, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, get in touch by email or phone, or even by commenting here. We are always interested in what you have to say.

Have a good week!

Mr. DeMaris

Dance and Football!

Hello All,

     Remember there is a dance tonight from 6:30 – 8:30 at BEMS! Seventh and eighth grade students are invited to attend; admission is $5.00 at the door, and there will be activities in the Murchie Gym for students less interested in dancing. On top of that, there will be food available for purchase at the outside barbecue… sounds great, right?

     Our boys have a football game at home on Sunday at 1:00; they play on Field 15, out behind the high school. Come out and support them as they play Thornton Academy!

Go Scots!

—Mr. DeMaris

Laptops

Good Morning, Parents:

     On Thursday morning Clan Barclay will receive their shiny new laptops from our IT department; we are looking forward to getting these in student hands so we can work with them moving forward. Please remember that for a student to collect a laptop, he or she needs to have

1) a parent or guardian who attended a technology meeting, and
2) a printed "Laptop Pick-up Ticket" with the student's name and parent signature.

Please make sure your child has the ticket in hand with your signature; without it, the school will not provide a laptop.

     If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,
Mr. DeMaris

Open House Tonight!

Hello Everyone!

     Tonight is Open House, or Back to School Night, at Bonny Eagle Middle School. We in Clan Barclay are excited to welcome you into our little wing of the building, and we hope you attend. The event runs from 6:00 – 7:00 PM; we will be in our classrooms right up the front stairs of the building. Come in, come up, and see where your children spend their time this year.

     Remember, this is not a conference night — we don't know your children very well yet, and the year is just beginning. Rather, this is a chance to meet and greet teachers and other parents and get a feel for how the year will go. Conferences will take place later in November.

     We hope to see you there!

With Anticipation,

Mr. DeMaris

The Upcoming Week

Hello Everyone!

     We had our first day of school today, complete with tricky locker combinations, misplaced schedules, wrong turns, and plenty of laughs and smiles. Everyone has new faces and new names to learn, and we all took some time in the middle, of course, to get some food. It was, all in all, a good day.

     Friday we have no school, and Monday is Labor Day; in celebration of the holiday, we have no school again. This four-day weekend will be followed by a four-day school week, and we already have plenty to keep you busy, parents and students alike. Here is how it will break down.

     On Tuesday, students return to school and start their first genuine school day, without all the extra bits and modified schedules tacked on today. Tuesday will be a White Day, so our new Advisory period will take place from 9:15 – 9:45, where students will join small groups and meet with a staff member. Once school lets out, activity busses begin running that afternoon. In the evening, from 6:00 – 7:00, parents are encouraged to come to school (bring your kid back with you, too!) to attend our annual Open House, or Back to School Night. This is not a time for conferences, but an opportunity to meet teachers, see the clan, figure out what is where, and get a feel for how this year will go. Please be there.

     On Thursday, provided a parent has attended a technology seminar by that point, students will receive their new laptops from our IT department. These are fresh out of the box MacBook Airs, a slightly updated version of their previous machines. If you, as a parent, have not yet attended a meeting, please check the times on the district calendar here. There are sessions at all hours of the day, so there will be one to fit your schedule.

     On Friday evening, after this first nearly-complete week of school, students have the opportunity to attend their first school dance for 7th and 8th graders. Put on by the Pathfinder program, it runs from 6:30 – 8:30. Bring a friend or come alone, but students are welcome to dance and have a good time.

     In Language Arts today, students received their first reading books for the trimester, unless they identified books they are already reading. They also received their first assignment:  write a letter of introduction about themselves to me. Details about that assignment can be found on the assignments page of this website; see the link in the top menu.

     As usual, get in touch if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. We in Clan Barclay genuinely want you to know what is going on in the school and with your child, and communication is key to that understanding. Our email addresses are below, and you can call the school if that works better for you. Welcome to eighth grade, and welcome to Clan Barclay!

Sincerely,
Mr. DeMaris

Mrs. Grace Davis
gdavis@bonnyeagle.org
Mr. Andrew DeMaris
agdemaris@bonnyeagle.org
Mr. Dale Menard
dmenard@bonnyeagle.org
Mr. Lawrence Robertson
lrobertson@bonnyeagle.org