Fall is here but we wouldn’t know it as the warm winds brush our skin and steal Fall’s beautiful red-orange foliage through drought-like conditions and record-high temperatures. Despite the warm Halloween evening, trick or treaters will walk our neighborhood streets and progress reports will go out on Wednesday (11/2).

We are in our final six weeks from finishing this semester. It is important for all of my students to stay focused, study smarter, and turn in all of their assigned work – daily formative or summative graded projects. Students who are completing and turning in all of their work are doing very well in my classes. Students who are not making the effort and/or not turning in assignments are struggling. My co-teachers and I have worked with all students expressing how important it is to complete all work.

I like to compare learning to that of being an athlete. The first time my coach saw me high jump (many years ago), she saw potential. As I practiced day after day, year after year, I improved. What started off as feeling awkward, scary, and exciting eventually became as natural as walking for me. But I wouldn’t have become a Junior Olympian or jumped 5’6″ if I had never pushed myself to learn and practice. Just like an athlete trains for an event, a student must practice the skills that will transfer to success in life and a future career. We train our brains through reading, writing, and practicing new skills. It takes courage as it’s uncomfortable and unknown. I push my students to be okay with feeling uncomfortable as it’s the only way they’ll learn a new skill. “Nothing ventured; nothing gained.”

Therefore, I want to acknowledge students who have stepped up and pushed themselves in new ways that may feel uncomfortable. The result? A whole lot of learning, creating, and a ‘lil bit of praising! Sweet success.

9th Grade Shout-Outs for Poetry Projects that involved writing an original poem, presenting it to the class, and analyzing poetry for a summative grade. This class composed original poetry that contained vivid imagery and creativity of self-expression. Those who received a 100 are:  Justin Akhavan, Madison Benedetto, Nya Kempany, and Alexa Tomlinson. Students with a 90 and above are:  Leah Bauman, Trevor Dyer, Jake Koninsky, Evyan Long, Connor Mace, Lorenzo Mora, Malakai Paez, Casey Rose, Nicholas Santacruz, and Ayana Thompson. All students deserve a shout-out for writing original poems.

10th Grade Shout-Outs for Socratic Seminar that involved writing, listening, and speaking skills in a seminar forum. I want to thank the five student facilitators chosen by Mrs. Roberts and I for the leadership skills potential we see in:  Dillon Ventresca, Hayley Lorking, Blake Pittman, Arlena Keosoukanh, and Morganne Bradford. Students who received a 100 on this summative project are:  Dillon Ventresca and Sandra Flaucher. Students who scored a 90 or higher are:  Arilyn Baughman, Eddie Contreras, Alan Fernandez, Shamar Joseph, Arlena Keosoukanh, Joseph Leidell, Hayley Lorking, and Jack Rainbow.