Thanksgiving Feast

Thursday and Friday were such wonderful examples of community in our 7th and 8th grades. Families all pitched in and students baked some traditional Thanksgiving favorites such as cranberries, apple pies, and stuffing. They made clove oranges, place settings, and we enjoyed some fun team building activities. They also learned how cranberries are harvested, kitchen techniques and safety, and we reflected on some of the things for which we are thankful. It was a special two days and we thank you for sharing your children with us. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

David and Diana

POR vs. PARA

Eighth graders spent the past week learning about the differences between the words, POR and PARA. Both words means "for" and can be used in a variety of different ways depending on the circumstance. Therefore, in order to avoid confusion, students learned the usages of each in a contextualized and comprehensible manner. After learning the usages of each of the words, students created a mini-project which entailed taking a photo or drawing an image of the actions they were writing about. Students then wrote two sentences, one for POR and one for PARA.  Eighth graders presented their projects while the other students determined which circumstance the words POR or PARA were used in their classmates' sentences. Below are some of the students mini-projects.

Holiday Clothing Drive

HOLIDAY CLOTHING DRIVE

National School District Preschool Program is seeking donations of gently used children’s clothing (for children ages 0-6 years).

If you have clothes you wish to donate, please place them in a box or bag and deliver them to your child’s classroom by Friday, December 13^th.

Your donation will be distributed on Wednesday, December 18^th and Thursday, December 19^th to needy families in National City. 

National School District Preschool Programs serve 500 low-income families at eight schools in National City.  Many of our families are struggling to provide clothes for their children.  Any donation of clothing would brighten the holidays for our families.  If you have questions, please feel free to contact Cathy McDonald at the National School District Preschool Center at 619-336-8637.

The View From Saturn

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/12/science/space/the-view-from-saturn.html?_r=0

Can you spot Earth? Click link above for the New York Times story!

Propaganda Project

pro·pa·gan·da noun \ˌprä-pə-ˈgan-də, ˌprō-\

: ideas or statements that are often false or exaggerated and that are spread in order to help a cause, a political leader, a government, etc.

 Full Definition of PROPAGANDA

1 capitalized :  a congregation of the Roman curia having jurisdiction over missionary territories and related institutions

2  the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person

3  ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause; also :  a public action having such an effect

— pro·pa·gan·dist noun or adjective

— pro·pa·gan·dis·tic adjective

—   pro·pa·gan·dis·ti·cal·ly adverb

Examples of PROPAGANDA

1.            He was accused of spreading propaganda.

2.            The report was nothing but lies and propaganda.

3.            She didn't buy into the propaganda of her day that women had to be soft and submissive. —Maria Shriver, Time, 26 Oct. 2009

 

Rubric: Persuasion Multimedia Project -- Poster / Other Persuasion Multimedia Project -- Po Poor 1 pts Fair 2 pts Good 3 pts Excellent 4 pts Artistic Poor One or many required elements may be missing. Fair Sizing may be inadequate. Color, visual images and/or wording may be not effectively communicate message. Good Presented at proper size; uses color, visual images and clear wording to communicate message. Excellent Presented at proper size; uses bold color, strong visual images and clear, eloquent wording to communicate message. Content Poor Details are lacking and a persuasive message is barely present. Fair Details may be muddled and the poster as a whole struggles to communicates a persuasive message. Good Details are clear and the poster as a whole communicates a persuasive message. Excellent Details are explicitly clear and the poster as a whole effectively communicates a persuasive message. PRESENTATION AND EFFORT Poor An explanation is given, but may fail to explain the assignment or the connections. Some grammar mistakes are present which may impact understanding. Fair An explanation is given which attempts to explain rhetorical devices used. This may fail to fully explain or may fail to prove the effectiveness of the poster. Some grammar mistakes are present which may impact understanding. Good An explanation is given which explains rhetorical devices used and why the visual is an effective piece of propaganda. A few grammar mistakes present. Excellent A detailed explanation is given which explains specific rhetorical devices used and why the visual is an effective piece of propaganda. No grammar mistakes.

High School Open House Updates

High School Information

Open House Schedule:

November 2, 1-4pm @ Pacific Ridge

November 2, 11am-2pm @ Grauer

November 9, 9-12pm @ Army & Navy Academy

November 12, 3:30-5:30pm @ Francis Parker

November 14, 6-8pm @ La Jolla Country Day School

November 16, 10am-1pm @ Bishops

November 21, 10-11:30am@ San Diego Jewish Academy

January 9, 10-11:30am@ San Diego Jewish Academy

January 11, 1-4pm @ Pacific Ridge

January 14, 3:30-5:30pm @ Francis Parker

January 16, 6-8pm @ La Jolla Country Day School

January 18, 9-12pm @ Army & Navy Academy

Grauer: January 17 – Priority Admissions* applications DUE, February 28 – Regular Admissions applications DUE

High Tech High: Informational meetings/Open Houses are in January, February and March.  Dates will be posted Nov. 1st. http://www.hightechhigh.org/admissions/
Application Deadline: February 28, 2014

Cathedral Catholic: Applications due January 10, 2014

Canyon Crest Academy – lottery, http://cc.sduhsd.net/index.php, (858) 350-0253

La Jolla High School: http://ljhs.sandi.net Open House TBA, 858.454.3081

ISEE Test Sites:

January 11, @ La Jolla Country Day School, Bishops, & Francis Parker

January 25, @ La Jolla Country Day School, Bishops, & Pacific Ridge

February 1, @ La Jolla Country Day, Francis Parker, & Pacific Ridge

Priority consideration Application deadline for CAIS schools February 3, 2014

CAIS School decisions mailed March 7, 2014

Any questions, please contact Rachel Ridgeway at rridgeway@tcslj.org or 858-454-0184 x 101