Wednesday, September 16, 2015

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

Monday, September 14, 2015

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

Thursday, September 10, 2015

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

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

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

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

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

Monday, September 7, 2015

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


    

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Welcome to Clan Barclay!

Hello Everyone,

     The new year is about to begin, and for all of you, this means the transition into eighth grade, your last step before entering high school. You will have many challenges this year, including maintaining your personal responsibility for all assignments at school; we expect you to meet these challenges with maturity and respect.

     We are Clan Barclay. Our clan leader is Mrs. Davis, the math teacher. The rest of us are Ms. Rancourt, for science; Mr. Robertson, for Social Studies; and Mr. DeMaris, for Language Arts. We are a dedicated clan, and we believe strongly in personal student responsibility both in and out of the classroom. Each of us has his or her own teaching style, but we care very deeply for the success of our students, and we expect you to work your best to honor that.

     Our clan motto is "Aut Agere Aut Mori," which, cleanly translated from the Latin, means "Do or Die." We work very hard to make our assignments and lessons understandable and accessible to you, the students, and we strive for success in all aspects of our professional lives. In return, we expect you to embrace the motto with equal vigor. School is your training for adult responsibility and education, and the lessons you learn here will have a direct and meaningful impact on the rest of your lives. You have no reason to give up on your education, and we expect you to try your hardest at all times. If you struggle and cannot solve your own problem, recognize your limitations and seek help. Your classmates and your teachers are here. Asking for help is not the same as giving up, and we respect students who can honestly assess their skills. "Do or Die" means you should fight for your success and find it despite any obstacles.

     This is a year of transition at Bonny Eagle Middle School, with changes in many areas and at many levels. We will communicate soon with you and with your families about all important aspects of school this year, and we will continue to communicate any important news throughout the year. In return, we hope you will communicate clearly with us about any questions or concerns you may have, or any obstacles you face that may impact your experience here at Bonny Eagle. We cannot solve problems if we do not know they exist, and communication should travel two ways. Personal responsibility means respectfully communicating concerns as well as compliments, and addressing consequences, both good and bad, for any actions. You are at the top of the middle school now, soon to enter high school, and you should be mature enough to recognize and accept responsibility for your work and actions.

     Welcome to Clan Barclay. We look forward to working with you this year.


Sincerely,



Mr. DeMaris