Week of Nov. 21 – Nov. 25

Good afternoon!

     This week is a short one from the school's point of view; there are only two days of classes, followed by Thanksgiving Vacation. The days are slightly unusual as well.

     On Monday, classes are their usual times for a Green day, but a few classes will be catchup periods. RTI will be primarily dedicated to Social Studies, with students who are set in that class given time to work on Math, Language Arts, and Science.

     On Tuesday, students will likely have shortened classes in the afternoon, and in the morning they will attend an assembly run by local meteorologist Charlie Lopresti. He will talk about extreme weather conditions, show some videos, and share his experiences working with a new company. This ties in nicely with our current science curriculum, which is about weather patterns. Tuesday is Full Chorus day during RTI. Yearbook club meets Tuesday afternoon, too.

     Wednesday through Friday is Thanksgiving vacation for students and teachers alike. Take this time to remember what good things you have in your life, and let someone who cares for you know you care for them. See family, smile, and share a few moments. The weather on Thanksgiving is supposed to be grey and rainy, but you can still appreciate the warmth indoors.

     Thank you for your time, and keep in touch if you have any questions.

Regards,
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