Middle School Update

Volume 7 Number 33

June 16 , 2008

CALENDAR:  

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF:  Middle School students under the direction of Mr. Lee Piscioneri and musical direction of Ms. Anne Cochenour will be presenting Fiddler on the Roof for your enjoyment.  Please join us for one or both of the performances. The dates and times are Wednesday evening June 18 at 7:00pm and Thursday afternoon June 19 at 4:00pm. Seating is limited as it is being staged in the Middle School Music Room rather than Center Stage.  From June 11 onward you can purchase advanced tickets for 10 soles directly from Mr. Piscioneri or Ms Cochenour. A limited number of tickets may also be available at the door.

POWER SCHOOL ACCESS has been cut off for students who have overdue library books and materials. They were due in on June 10th. Please encourage your child to check thoroughly around the house for books that belong to the school.

CLASSROOM WITHOUT WALLS TRIPS 2008. As you might have expected, the cost of the trips to Cusco, Iquitos, and Trujillo/Chiclayo have increased for the coming trips.  At this point, the quotes for the three trips are all in the neighborhood of $800.  This could change, up or down, between now and August depending on the cost of oil or other factors. For all trips we need to ask for a $200 non-refundable deposit August 4-8. After that point, we will not be able to guarantee the price or availability of seats. November will be a busy time in the tourism industry in Peru, so please meet the deadline. The balance of the payment will be due the first week of November.

KINDERGARTEN AND GRADE 5 CEREMONIES will occur on the last day of school. Parents often want older siblings to attend these. Please send in a note NO LATER THAN THE MONDAY BEFORE.  Eighth graders will be in transition workshops and sixth or seventh graders might be doing a presentation at the time of the ceremonies. That is why prearrangement is needed.  Thank you for planning ahead.

REPEATED ANNOUNCEMENTS –

THE LAST WEEK OF THE SEMESTER (June 23 –27) includes many activities students will not want to miss.  There will be tests, quizzes, and presentations through Tuesday the 24th in various classes at each grade level.  Wednesday is the end of year recognition assembly for eighth graders to celebrate the “Moving On” to high school.  Thursday is the end of year picnic for 8th graders. Thursday afternoon we will have a swim meet for all students in grades 6 & 7. Students will ALL get the chance to compete on behalf of one of four color teams (red, blue, yellow, or green.) No one is excluded because they are not fast enough. Points are awarded for participation not just for winning.  Thursday will also include the second talent show of the year. Students will be able to perform individually or in groups with either vocal or instrumental – or dance.  Friday is a half day and at the end of it, report cards and school records will be distributed.  Report cards and records will not be available before then as teachers will still be grading papers and computing grades through Wednesday.  Please remember also that students who have outstanding books or obligations will NOT receive report cards on that day.  They may be picked up when school reopens on July 14th.

PE and BOOK LOCKERS must be cleaned out and all belongings taken home. Locks which remain will be cut off and the contents of the lockers donated with other lost and found items not picked up by the last day.  Please encourage your child to clean out lockers and check ALL lost and found boxes before the last week.

RECORDS - If your child will be attending a different school next year please see Ms Marquez for the withdrawal form soon. We need time to photocopy records and have the packet ready for June 27th.  Some schools will ask for forms to be filled out or letters of recommendation from certain teachers. Do not wait to ask for these. As the year draws to a close everyone is busy. Thank you.

CALCULATORS -  Is your child going into 8th grade or HS? Students must have a graphing calculator. It is best if this is a Texas Instrument, TI83 or 84 model.  If it is a different brand some of the functions will work in a different way and make it difficult for the student to get help in using it. Save the manual!!!  These are easily available online. Go, for example, to www.amazon.com and search for TI84 graphing calculator.  You can have this shipped to someone who will be in the US to bring it back for you, or if you are in the US you can find them in many stores – Best Buy, Target, Office Depot, etc.

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:

SOCCER TEAMS:  We have boys and girls soccer teams participating in Copas and ADCA this month. Check the website for schedules: