Week of October 10 – 14

Good Evening,

     This week has three major components:  arguments, NWEAs, and reading. On Tuesday, students get introduced to their big persuasive project, which will include written, visual, and presentation components. Students will get rubrics for each section in time to ensure they all have the opportunity to earn a three (3) or four (4) in every aspect of the project. There will be ample class time over the next couple weeks for students to work on this in school and to ask questions so the work they do at home will be successful.

     Remember, as students you are responsible for your own success. You have reached an age where you can ask for help when you need it, and you can recognize when you are struggling. While we, as teachers, check in and offer support, you must take charge of your work and stay focused.

     On Wednesday and Thursday, students will have regular Allied Arts classes followed by NWEAs before lunch. After lunch, they will have their standard afternoon classes for those two days. This way, thanks to the Green / White scheduling, they will have all of their four core classes once each over the two days. Students will read silently in Language Arts on those days, taking a break from the computerized tests and the pressure.

     On Friday, students will have a chance to work on their persuasive projects in class; they should be prepared to get up and announce their topics to the class as a whole by the end of the period.

     After school this week, Yearbook Club meets on Tuesday, and the same afternoon sees our field hockey teams facing Scarborough and girls' soccer teams facing King at home. Wednesday is Chess Club, and 8th grade soccer faces SMC. Thursday we play Gorham in field hockey, and on Friday our girls are home competing against Westbrook in soccer. As always, you should take an afternoon out of your busy schedules and come support your Scots — there is always more room for fans to cheer them on!

     Yearbooks are still for sale, but prices have returned to normal — $25 for hardcover, $20 for soft. Buy them online at jostens.com or in person by bringing cash or check up to Room 83. Make checks to BEMS Yearbook. Students will get yearbooks delivered to their homerooms in the spring upon completion of design by the club and printing and binding by Jostens.

    Thank you for reading, and remember to get in touch if you have any questions!

Kind Regards,
Mr. DeMaris

NWEA Testing and the Class Constitution

Hello Everyone!

     Today and tomorrow we will have NWEA testing in Language Arts class.  Some students may finish today, but you will all have the opportunity to finish the test tomorrow in class as well.  There are 43 questions on the test, and you will work on it silently in the classroom.

     This means the final classroom discussion of the Class Constitution will be online, in the form of a vote.  Click here to access the voting form for the line-item vote.  Then, click here to access the grading form for this project.  You must be logged in with your Bonny Eagle email account to vote; consider that the equivalent of your Voter ID.  You will have two options for each law:  yea or nay.  You are not graded on your answer, only on whether or not you vote.  When you are done, click the green "Submit" button at the bottom, and your votes will be added to the class total.

     Voting is open only on Wednesday and Thursday.

     We will start class on Friday by officially signing the Class Constitution, making it the foundation of our government and the law of our classroom.  As of Monday, this means students and the teacher must abide by all laws within that Constitution.

     Vote carefully, and good luck!  Once again, here is the link to the voting form.

     Click here to access the voting form for the line-item vote.

     Click here to access the grading form for this project.

Yours Sincerely,


Mr. DeMaris