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JUNIOR HIGH ENGLISH
Mrs. Przybojewski and Henry are excited about sauntering a new school year with you. It will be a year filled with great writing!
"How vain it is to sit down and write when you have not stood up to live." Henry David
Thoreau
Students in my 6th grade English class read If You Spent the Day with Henry Thoreau at Walden Pond by Robert Burleigh. Then then had to write their own narrative of what they would do if henry visited them today and what they would do together. Then they had to craw an illustration of their day together.
I just had to share some excerpts from one of my sixth grade homerooms at St. Benedict Catholic school.. Students had to write how they would spend the day with Henry if he visited them today. There were so many excepts from their narratives to choose from. I can see the development in their writing as they continue to write. Their progress does a teacher's heart good.
Madelynn wrote in part:
“When I think of going on a walk with Henry I think of it being soothing and peaceful. He would call the birds that chirp, and we would watch the mother build the nest for her babies. We would look at the trees and all the squirrels climbing up carrying their acorns. We would probably see a creek, and when we came to a stop, we would to listen to the water rushing on the rocks. We keep walking, but then he would tell me to stop and be still, so the animals would feel safe coming up to us. Henry and I would sit outside and watch the clouds and see what shapes they would make. We would eat our lunch and pick flowers when we were done. We would have leftover bread that we would feed the birds by hand. Then we would visit Tinker’s Creek and look at all the fish. We would skip rocks and walk on the bridge. Henry and I would have a lot of fun together and end our day drinking hot chocolate by my fireplace because I know he loves everything that is sweet.”
Chloe wrote in part:
“Henry and I would sit outside and watch the clouds and see what shapes they would make. We would eat our lunches and pick flowers when we were done. We would have leftover bread that we would feed the birds by hand. Then we would go to the beach in Geneva, Ohio. When I walked into the lake, I felt a mixture of rocks and sand rubbing against my feet. The water moved slowly as a family of yellow fish swam up to me. The fish tickled my feet as they swam around me.
I laughed, “Haha! That tickles.”
Henry replied, “I know and love that feeling. Look, they're coming towards me!”
Noah's touched my heart. He wrote in part:
“I always wanted to walk around in the woods, but I was never able to because I was scared to go in the woods by myself. This time though, I was able to go into the woods because Henry David Thoreau was with me. Therefore, I was not as scared as I was before. The animals came out and let me watch them when Henry was there. I was no longer scared in the woods."
Ryland wrote in part:
“When we were at the park, Henry would walk and look at plants. I would take some photos of them as Henry would sketch in his notebook. We would hear the birds and crunching of fallen leaves with each step. When we walked, we saw leaves floating slowly to the ground. The walk would be calming and quiet other than the sounds of animals and us crunching the leaves. The air felt crisp and cool as it blew against our faces and carried the scent of wood burning.”
Gabriel wrote in part and gave a beautiful ending:
“Henry and I would discover new places and see new things from a different perspective. I would say to Henry, “Hey look over there at that bird in the tree.”
He would say, “That’s the most beautiful bird I have ever seen”. Then we would discuss for hours all the colors, shapes, sizes, and types of different birds. We would walkfor hours checking out the valleys and the streams. Nature is God’s gift to us, and Henry and I embraced it. This day was a little bit of heaven for Henry and me. Best of all, I had my friend Henry to share it with.”
I am so blessed to be a part of these students' lives. It is a gift to see them grow and develop in so many ways and to be open to what I teach them.
Journal: August 8, 1856--The Runaway Pig
As resident author of St. Benedict Catholic School, Henry visited his display on the first floor of the school before he substituted in Mrs. Przybojewski's English classes. He taught both the virtual and in persaon students and wore a mask with his signature as a part of Covid protection. Henry was happy to read and discuss his journal entry about chasing his father's runaway pig. He even brought the pig so it would not escape again. The students laughed and enjoyed Henry's frustration in experiencing a ruined they. They also had experiences of ruined days and knew exactly what that look from his father meant. When Mrs. Przybojewski returns tomorrow, students will rewrite Henry's journal entry from the pig;'s perspective and will illustrate their narratives.
Quarter 1It is difficult to believe that quarter one is completed. I want to give a round of applause to my students for really doing their best during this strange beginning to the school year. The students in my sixth, seventh, and eighth grade classes in ELA spent time reviewing grammar and sentence structure. They worked on nouns and subject complements also. In addition, students concentrated on the personal narrative and the narrative. Henry David Thoreau, the American author, naturalist, and philosopher came and substituted for Mrs. Przybojewski for a day. He read the students Mrs. Przybojewski's book about his childhood called A Life of Joy, Childhood Memories of Henry David Thoreau. Students then reviewed the writing process to write about their own childhood memories. Students also wrote many responses to quoytes or questions in their journal entries. This has helped them improve writing skills as well as think critically.
Looking forward to Quarter 2, students will continue writing various typoes of writing. The eighth grade will begin reading and writing responses to varous chapters in Thoreau's Walden, and they will get an introduction to the Holocaust. This will be part of their writing on social justice. I look forward to working the next quarter with my students and see their wonderful progression in writing.
SEPTEMBER NEWS
In English, students have reviewed the format for writing a paragraph and have begun writing journal entries. The eighth grade journal entries are based on the words of the American author Henry david Thoreau. Students explain his words and relate them to their own lives.This enhances their critical thinking ability.They are also reviewing nouns and the usage of nouns.Students are also reviewing grammar and punctuation through Daily Oral Language.
In Religion, the eighth graders are learning what the characteristics of being Catholic are. Included in this review will be the seven Sacrements, the Apostles Creed, and the Catholic Social Justice Principles. Mr. K. and I will be co-teaching Religion, and we are happy that Father Haren will be teaching the students periodically.
It is great being back in school with the students even though we see each other only through Zoom. Students are getting acclimated to this new form of education and are being patient with us as we try to become adept with the new technology. Even though we see our students every day through distance learning, it is not the same as having them physically in class. We miss each of them and look forward to when they can safely return physically to class.
The junior high teachers have devoted the first two weeks of school getting the students used to Google Classroom for their particular subjects. Students needed to practice writing on word documents, pulling up documents to read, as well as finding where their classwork and homework would be located. Students have been doing an excellent job with this and are fully ready to delve into the learning process across disciplines.
Students were also introduced to group work. Believe it or not, students can actually be broken into smaller groups, just as they were in the classroom, and work together on an assignment. The teacher is able to visit each of the groups and answer questions or discuss what the students’ responses were to the activity at hand. Such an activity creates a sense of normalcy and allows students to communicate one on one with each other.
By the middle of the second week of online learning, teachers introduced students to the material that would be covered in class. They began working on bell work, short writing assignments, responding to questions that were based on reading material that was given, watch videos that enhanced a certain topic that was being covered, and view power points that introduced the topic of a particular subject.
Over all, distance learning for St. Benedict’s junior high has been successful. Our administration and teachers have supported each other in learning the new technology. Online learning is improving every day because we work together as a community. So, as we venture into the weeks ahead, there is no doubt that our junior high students will be receiving the same quality education as they received in the past due to the support and collaboration of our administration, junior high team, parents, and students.
St. Benedict Catholic School 2020-2021
Henry is back as resident author at St. Benedict Catholic School. His place in the display cases is done and he appropriately is wearing his autumn Walden Pond face mask as a reminder that we need to take precautions to keep ourselves and everyone safe. Henry is also ready to sub for me in my classes this year because my students will continue to learn about him and focus on many of his writings to help them critically think in their written work. He will also be the focus as we continue learning about social justice especially during this difficult time in our world. The beginning of the year will seem strange because the students will be virtually with me in the classroom. The desks are empty but will be ready to greet the students once it is safe to return to school in person.
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Henry David Thoreau Resident Author
Also, students are using the book Henry David Thoreau Bell Ringer for Justice to journal about issues concerning the Catholic Social Justice Principles. They identify through the paragraphs read how Thoreau reflected the principle in his actions and words. Students then discuss the page orally and journal about it relating the action and words to their own lives. We have been strongly focusing on the Dignity of All Life from Conception to Natural Death.
Congratulations to Junior High Language Arts teacher, Mrs. Donna Przybojewski, who received her official invitation to speak at the Thoreau Society Gathering in Concord, MA in July. She will be focusing on the ways in which her book Henry David Thoreau Bell Ringer for Justice was utilized to focus on the Catholic Social Justice Principles in the classroom. She will share much student writing and explain how Thoreau provides an avenue for students to express themselves and discuss difficult topics such as discrimination and prejudice. Mrs. Przybojewski will share how she has seen her students’ writing develop through Thoreau.
Also. Mrs. Donna Przybojewski’s seventh book on Thoreau A Life of Joy…Childhood Memories of Henry David Thoreau will be published in early April. Mrs. Przybojewski, places Henry at Walden. As he goes through his daily activities, each activity brings back a childhood memory that Henry recorded in his journal. Henry’s mother, Cynthia, told him this memories of his boyhood, and Henry treasured them often writing about this special time in his life. One page illustrates Henry at twenty-eight, and the opposite page illustrates Henry as a child. It will be used as a story walk At Walden Pond Reservation in Concord, MA in the summer.
February News Article
Grade 8
Students in Grade 8 English are working very hard on their MLA style research paper. They are researching people, who have contributed greatly to the development of our society in the greater Cleveland area. Students are focusing on the fact that communities are created by the hard work and sacrifice of others, no matter how great or small. They are also learning that many different ethnicities contributed to our city’s development. This project falls in line with our work on social justice in that every single person has worth and dignity and plays a vital part in the society he or she lives in. They have completed their bibliography cards and works cited page and are now working on notecards.
Also, students are using the book Henry David Thoreau Bell Ringer for Justice to journal about issues concerning the Catholic Social Justice Principles. They identify through the paragraphs read how Thoreau reflected the principle in his actions and words. Students then discuss the page orally and journal about it relating the action and words to their own lives. We have been strongly focusing on the Dignity of All Life from Conception to Natural Death.
Students examined the poem by African American poet Langston Hughes “Theme for English B.” They discussed the meaning and inferences of the and the way in which it related to the culture of the time during the Harlem Renaissance.
Father Haren continues to teach Religion weekly. He is focusing on the Ten Commandments and explaining to the students the significance of each. Also, students are being instructed in Church History. Students are looking forward to the Choose Life program that will be taught once weekly till May. Students will be taught by an instructor from Life Works.
In Science, our eight graders are learning about and conducting experiments using Sir Isaac Newton's Three Laws of Motion.
While in the Science lab, students built racing tracks and adjusted them at various levels. They then raced their match box cars down the various incline tracks, calculating the distance the car traveled at each level. They then added mass to their vehicles in an attempt to get them to accelerate faster and travel longer distances. We conducted other experiments to test Newton's Laws of Motion using flour, marbles, paper, playing cards, coins, and cups.
The eighth grade in Reading has been working on various informational texts on current events or holidays such as the Super Bowl, Valentine's Day and President's Day. We have also been working on a class quilt for Black History month. We have also been talking about things we cherish or hold dear. For example, a photograph of a favorite friend or relative wouldn't be worth much money, but the memories it holds are more important. In "The Treasure of Lemon Brown," a boy's encounter with an old blues musician helps him discover what he treasures most.
In Social Studies our eighth grade students have been hard at work on two major projects. The have been creating a business, with real products ranging from t-shirts, jewelry, and back packs. They have learned some essential business knowledge along the way including supply and demand, unit cost, and start-up costs. We are looking forward to our students presenting to our judges in a mock Shark-Tank style competition. They have also continued their investigation into the founding documents of the United States, including the Articles of Confederation, The United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
In Math grade eight is in the middle of working with solving systems of linear equations. We have been looking at ways that some equations have one, infinite, or no solutions and how to identify them. While we do this we have been reviewing many skills of previous years including the distributive property, combining like terms, finding the GCF (greatest common factor), reciprocals, and many other terms and skills.
Henry David Thoreau Resident Author
Students in grades six, seven, and eight are continuing their study of social justice through the book Henry David Thoreau Bell Ringer for Justice. Each grade level is beginning a MLA style research paper that stems from Thoreau’s advocacy for social justice. The sixth graders are researching an African Americans such as Frederick Douglass, Anthony Burns, Reverend Martin Luther King, among others. Thoreau, as an abolitionist, had direct contact in his life with some of these individuals and others, he directly influenced. Martin Luther King was influenced by Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” essay, which inspired Dr. King’s nonviolent resistance during the Civil Rights days. This corresponds with the social justice principles of Respect and Dignity of Life as well as Community and Participation.
The seventh graders are focusing on the Catholic Social Justice Principle of Respect for Creation. Throughout the past three years, students have been learning about Thoreau’s love and respect for nature, so students are working on a MLA research paper that focuses on a problem that affects our global environment. This is an interdisciplinary project that not only involves the writing of the research paper but also other assignments from other teachers. Some topics include how the loss of birds can affect the wetland environment, global warming and its effects, oil spills and their effect on oceans, reforestation, wildfires and their effect on woodland communities, and the use of DDT and pesticides. This is part of project based learning, which also relates to our STREAM classes. Students will create a final project, which will involve discovering the amount of money it would take to rectify the problem they researched in the environment.
The eighth grade students created little houses in STREAM. They designed one room houses and decided the essentials to place into those houses. This project was in connection with the reading of Walden by Henry David Thoreau, who built his own one room house at Walden Pond. Students then wrote a compare and contrast paper comparing their little houses with Henry’s and giving the advantages and disadvantages of each.
January News Grade 8
Ms. Ruth Rachel Przybojewski, Gas Operations Supervisor, Northeast from Dominion Energy, came to speak to the eighth graders. She holds a Masters in Nonprofit Administration and a Masters of Business Administration from John Carroll University. Ms. Przybojewski gave students pointers on how to prepare for their Shark Tank project, which included the steps in beginning the project. She also gave them pointers on how to prepare a pitch for the judges. The students also learned proper etiquette when dealing with the business world. In addition, she brought gift bags from Dominion Energy that had a charger cord, pen, highlighter, among other things. Students then, in English class, learned the format of the business and friendly letter. They wrote and printed their letters of appreciation to Dominion Energy and Ms. Przybojewski.
Students also created little houses in STREAM. They designed one room houses and decided the essentials to place into those houses. This project was in connection with the reading of Walden by Henry David Thoreau, who built his own one room house at Walden Pond. Students then wrote a compare and contrast paper comparing their little houses with Henry’s and giving the advantages and disadvantages of each.
In Religion, Father Haren is continuing to teach class on Thursdays. Students are required to take notes. Father Haren stated that the students’ notes are the best he has ever seen. In addition, students are beginning to study the Marks of the Church and will be in the initial stages of learning about Catholic Church history.
Did you know that our current Constitution is not the original United States Constitution? Our eighth grade students have been investigating the original version, the Articles of Confederation and have discovered that this flawed document demonstrated all that America did not want in a founding document. They have also been hard at work on their "Shark Tank" project where they will create their own business to pitch to our own pane of sharks next month!
Eighth grade is finishing a chapter on linear relationships and will continuing with linear equations and solving systems of linear equations.
Even under the best of circumstances, leaving someone or something behind can be difficult. Familiar people and places often provide us with a sense of security. In the memoir "My First Free Summer" that the eighth grade read, Julia Alvarez faces the pain of leaving her homeland, even as she realizes the dangers of staying.
In eight grade science, the students are beginning a physical unit science lesson on the laws of motion, and the role they play in everyday life.
The children engaged in several demonstrations involving each of the laws to begin the unit.
Henry David Thoreau Resident Author
“It’s not what you look at that matters, but what you see.” (H.D.T.)
Students in eighth grade English have been working on an essay for the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. It is based on their annual Martin Luther King essay contest. This year’s theme focuses on social justice, which works very well with our study of the Holocaust and the use of the book Henry David Thoreau Bell Ringer for Justice. Students have been and will continue to pursue the study of injustice in the past and present. They had to focus on what they could do to promote justice in our world and why it is important to do so in their essays.
In addition, students have begun to read Thoreau’s Walden, which will serve as the springboard for a variety of writing activities—expository, creative, compare and contrast, as well as writing short answer responses to questions throughout the year. We have also been working on grammar and punctuation skills consistently to improve writing.
In Religion, students chose an African canonized saint and answered questions about that saint. They also drew an illustration of the saint. The focus for the next few weeks will be prayer and the Mass. Students will learn the various parts of the Mass as well as learn the meaning behind the symbolic actions during the liturgy.
In Science, our eighth graders are learning about the evidence scientists use to determine Earth's past. They've learned about and examined insect fossils that got stuck in sticky tree sap, fell to the ground, and where they were buried by mud and sand. Over time, millions of years go the sap turned into amber, and the insects were preserved as fossils. They have also learned how scientists use the age of the rock in which the fossils have been found in to determine the age of the fossil and what conditions contribute to the likelihood that a dead organism will be fossilized.
Lastly, they researched and reported back to the class by using a power point presentation on the best locations on Earth to locate dinosaur bones and fossils.
Students in Math are finishing up a chapter on dilation, similarity, and slope. They will be working with the equations of lines soon.
In Social Studies, the eighth grade has just begun a unit on the American Revolution. In this unit we will be investigating the causes of the Revolution, as well as early founding documents like the Declaration of Independence. Students will begin the process of doing a re-write of the Declaration in modern day language to ensure maximum comprehension. Additionally in social studies the eighth grade is beginning a 3 month project based on the television show Shark Tank. Students will ultimately design a business idea and pitch their idea to a panel of judges. The winner of our in-house competition will move on to a regional competition at Saint Ignatius High School in March.
The eighth grade wishes everyone a blessed Thanksgiving.
Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 have been utilizing the book Henry David Thoreau Bell Ringer for Justice as a way to learn about the social justice activities of this American author as well as reflect on the issues of injustice in our world today. They have been involved with a number of writing activities, which included compositions, short answer reflections in journals, as well as power point presentations.
Also, sixth grade students imagined that Henry visited them and wrote a compositions describing three things that they would do with him and evaluate if he would have liked those activities. Walden is the focus with eighth grade and will provide a variety of writing activities that will exercise their critical thinking skills and help them evaluate their own use of time.
Students continue to improve description and observation skills through their observation journals.
The eighth grade students had a spiritually moving retreat at Camp Christopher. They prayed, listened to Trinity High School students’ witness talks about their relationship with God, and went on a prayer hike in the beautiful natural setting. Liturgy was celebrated in the evening in an outdoor setting by the lake with Father Miola as presider.
Studying the roots of our faith through the Scriptures is the focus of our chapter in Religion. Students participated in a prayer service with pita and honey to symbolically show how God’s word is as sweet as honey to the lips. Father Miola has been teaching the students once a week as well.
Language Arts classes is reinforcing grammar with the diagramming of subject complements as well as direct and indirect objects. Students completed writing an original poem about their feelings of leaving childhood behind. The students are being introduced to the Holocaust in preparation for a number of writing assignments. Observation skills are growing with the students observation journals, which are done every two weeks.
In social studies the 8th grade has been learning about the original 13 British colonies. They have observed the differences between the three regions. This will become important later on as these differences magnified over 150 years of American history will eventually lead to the American Civil War.
In math, students have been finalizing their study of rigid transformations by looking at congruence. They will be looking at dilations and similarity of shapes after that. The eighth graders will look at more kinds of grids in the near future.
Henry David Thoreau Resident Author
Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 have been really trying to perfect their observation and descriptive writing skills as they observe nature at least three times a week. They then record their observations using the five senses. Modeling Henry, they doodle a sketch of something they observed.
Here are a few samplings of their awesome writing:
"I hear the rustle the leaves of the small bush that sways its leaves back and forth. I stand and let the wind surround me touching my skin. A calmness comes over me and I feel peace."
"Most trees still have their leaves, but some of them are beginning to change their hue. They are now a golden yellow and resemble sunflowers in an open field."
"The woods near my house is bright today, not shadowed because the sun is so bright and it's beams penetrate though the trees. As I look, it seems mystical to me."
"The clouds are so close together, they begin to look like mashed potatoes that have been spread on my plate."
The raindrops hit my face making it wet. It seems as if my face is covered with tears that roll down it and fall upon my chest."
"I heard a bird that looked like a chicadee on a branch. It made a sound like, ' see-dur-dur-dur-du."
Henry David Thoreau Book Walk
Junior High teacher Mrs. Donna Przybnojewski joined Cleveland Metroparks naturalist Jake Kudrna join us for a family-friendly fall hike don the newly completed Towpath Trail (Centennial Lake Link Trail). She read her book "Henry David Thoreau Loved the Seasons of the Year linking Thoreau’s writings about the change in season at Walden Pond with the natural experience along the newly reclaimed Cuyahoga riverbank. This was in connection with Visible Books, where a book signing followed the event.
September News Grade 8 2019
The eighth graders are off to a great start as they enter their last year of elementary school at St. Benedict. There are many wonderful experiences awaiting them this year. On Oct. 1, students will attend the Got Prayer Retreat sponsored by Trinity High School at Camp Christopher. Also, on October 9, students will shadow Trinity High School or another Catholic high school of their choice.
In Language Arts, students are reviewing the parts of speech as well as discussing and analyzing the lyrics to the song “House on Pooh Corner” by Loggins and Messina and the poem “Fern Hill” by Dylan Thomas. This is to prepare them for the writing activities that will be based on Thoreau’s Walden. The themes found in both the song and the poem relate to the many themes in Thoreau’s work. Students are also developing their observation and descriptive skills by writing an observation journal that is grtaded every two weeks.
Father Lou Miola is teaching the students once a week in their Religion classes. They are learning about the characteristics of being Catholic, learning the Creed, and reviewing the Catholic Social Justice Principles at present in their classes.
In social studies the eighth graders have been looking at America before America. Together with small groups they completed a web quest that allowed them to see just how advanced civilizations like the Inca, Maya, and Aztec were.
In Math the eighth grade is learning about rigid transformations which include translations, reflections, and rotations. These are the correct terms. However, many people know these as a slide, flip, and turn. The shape stays the same but position and orientation might change.
We started the year in Reading by solving a mystery! Students heard a read aloud to them. They then worked with partners reading clues to and worked on solving the case together. This was a great tool for critical thinking and team building skills. We also took a look at "The History of Roller Coasters" reading comprehension passage.
The questions students answered were carefully crafted to move readers from basic, recall questions to higher-level questions where students must cite evidence from the text to support their answers. There were 5 tasks/activities for the passage, moving from easier tasks to more challenging activities.
Our eight graders started off the new school year learning about the subject of plate tectonics and the theory of continental drift. How a very long time ago, the world was comprised up of one huge supercontinent known as Pangaea. And how over time that one great supercontinents broke up into two supercontinents and then eventually broke apart into the seven existing continents they we know of today. We reinforced this theory by using an orange peeled into seven separate pieces and how once pieced back together how well they fit together, just like the continents would. They will then begin exploring about the Earth and its layers by creating their own world by using play do.
HENRY DAVID THOREAU RESIDENT AUTHOR
IDuring July of 2019, junior high teacher, Mrs. Donna Przybojewski, attended the Thoreau Society gathering in Concord, MA. She gave a presentation explaining the continuing study of Henry David Thoreau in junior high language arts classes. The title of the presentation was Engineering through Junior High Language Arts with Henry David Thoreau. Everyone was amazed that St. Benedict School displayed such high academic standards by encouraging students to write, critically think, and celebrate their own unique qualities. St. Benedict Catholic School and Mrs. Przybojewski received a standing ovation for the work done in promoting the legacy of Thoreau through language arts.
Also, Mrs. Przybojewski had an art display of her oil paintings based on selected journal entries of Thoreau at the Thoreau Farm in the very room where the author was born.
Another highlight for Mrs. Przybojewski occurred at Walden Pond State Reservation where her new book book Henry David Thoreau Bell Ringer for Justice was used as a story walk throughout the summer. This book is based on Thoreau's work for social justice during his lifetime and will also be used across grade levels at St. Benedict Catholic School for social justice lessons.
