HOLIDAY HELLO

Ms. Gonzalez and I want to wish you the MERRIEST of Christmases and the HAPPIEST of days!  We miss you already!  Thank you for the many notes, hugs, gifts, and goodies you gave us this past week; we love EVERYTHING and are so grateful for your thoughtfulness and love.  Really, our days are brighter because of you!

Don't forget to do your 4 sessions of Reading Plus.  You can do them whenever, as long as they're done by 1/8/13.  In addition, if you are not up to 26 sessions by then, you will need to be.  Take this time to get caught up.  Every week you aren't, you will not get the points for keeping up the pace.  If you are already at 26 sessions, you are OFF for the entire break (good job).

REMEMBER THAT WE LOVE YOU VERY, VERY MUCH!!!!!

Periods 3 & 4, read this!

In the aftermath of our nation's recent tragedy--and much to our chagrin--C-Rod and I have decided to postpone our Ides of December Toga Celebration until we return from winter break.

Please pass this news on to your friends and classmates as soon as you read it!

Remember, bookbags and large purses will not be allowed in school on Friday; that said, make sure to bring pens, paper, and folders to class. YOU WILL STILL HAVE YOUR VOCABULARY TEST; STUDY!

Know that we love you! While we have been eager to culminate our JULIUS CAESAR unit, we agree the postponement is most wise. :0) 

Celebrating Caesar - PERIOD 3

Celebrating Caesar

Period 3 (Period 4, you will leave a comment in the next post): We did not have time to decide which items you could bring for our Ides of December celebration.  Naturally, all items need to relate to our play - Julius Caesar.  Be sure to list the item(s) you plan to bring here in this post.  For example, Michelle Garcia is bringing three bottles of Portia's Burning Coal-a (soda). Try not to double up on items.  Let's be different. YOU WILL NEED TO LABEL YOUR FOOD WITH THE NAME YOU CREATE :)  Oh, if you cannot bring anything, but you can donate $3, I will bring in a HUGE tray of Brutus's Zealous Ziti.

YOU MUST WEAR A TOGA over your uniform for our celebration!!!!

Celebrating Caesar - PERIOD 4

Period 4: We did not have time to decide which items you could bring for our Ides of December celebration.  Naturally, all items need to relate to our play - Julius Caesar.  Be sure to list the item(s) you plan to bring here in this post.  For example, Michelle Garcia is bringing three bottles of Portia's Burning Coal-a (soda). Try not to double up on items.  Let's be different. YOU WILL NEED TO LABEL YOUR FOOD WITH THE NAME YOU CREATE :)  Oh, if you cannot bring anything, but you can donate $3, I will bring in a HUGE tray of Brutus's Zealous Ziti.

YOU MUST WEAR A TOGA over your uniform for our celebration!!!!

BLESSING BASKETS - ALL PERIODS

For the holidays, we are doing Blessing Baskets in honor of Ms. Valle's beloved grandfather. He passed away this week, and his wish was that we help our families :)  With that said, we are collecting items for SIX blessing baskets (one per period) to help those in our Gladiator family.  Please sign up in class THIS WEEK.  We will need all items by Monday :)

You all have no idea how important it is to PAY IT FORWARD, and we're proud of you for participating for no credit, no grade, no points.  It is you, our amazing students, who put the "BLESSING" in Blessing Baskets.

All Classes

ALL CLASSES:  Remember to have your 20 Reading Plus sessions done by tomorrow  :)  For Word of the Day this week, do ONE of these graphic organizers (see below) for ONE word from 112/10-12/14.  It is due on Thursday (per. 3 & 5) or Friday (per. 2, 4, and 6). For more specific instructions for certain periods, SEE BELOW:

Period 4 - Be sure to finish Act I of Julius Caesar.  Click HERE to access an online copy.  Be ready for a quiz on that scene on Friday. 

Periods 2 & 6 -   Go to TEAMROGO.COM.  Click on the ENGLISH LANG tab to access your page.  Once you're on your page, click on the EL Unit 5 Vocab link on the right.  Remember, you need to be on the English Lang page to see the link. Copy the new words into your vocab journal. 

Love you ALL!!!

PS. For WOD this week, use this:

– Period 4, here's your homework:  

 Create your own slither of a sonnet following these guidelines:

- Topic:

™ 1) Excessive pride leads to one’s ruin.    OR

™ 2) Good leaders acknowledge their weaknesses. 

– - 6 lines of Iambic Pentameter (10 syllables each)

– - Rhyme Scheme:

™ A

™ B

™ A

™ B

™ C

™ C

–  -Due Monday, 12/10.

Period 3

Period 3 - Be sure to finish Act I, scene ii of Julius Caesar.  Click HERE to access an online copy.  Be ready for a quiz on that scene on Friday.  In addition, don't forget to do your graphic for one of the Words of the Day.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?????

All Classes:  For this weekend (or at least until Tuesday), you should be working towards that Reading Plus MINIMUM of 18 sessions.  Remember that a session doesn't end until you see that progress screen.  Be sure to complete reading and vocab each session.  For Word of the Day this week, you will create a graphic of one word from THIS WEEK (Nov. 30-Dec. 7) like the ones we have done in class.  There are some samples here on our blog under the General Paper column.

General Paper:  Your only HW is to complete Reading Plus.  Keep in mind that you will have the FCAT 2.0 Writing Field Test on Tuesday.  This is merely a pilot; however, you are EXPECTED to go FULL THROTTLE on this test and RACE TOWARDS a SIX!!!!!!  Your actual FCAT Writing exam won't be until the end of February.  (Period 4, we will be collecting your essays and your self-evaluations on Tuesday, so please bring them in.)

English Language:   You not only have to get caught up on Reading Plus, you must also do your Iola reading, and study for your vocab test.  Many have expressed that they're really immersed in our novel, which is always music to our ears.  Be sure to check the calendar for the chapters you must complete.  (Period 5, we are back on schedule, so be ready for a quiz on Chapters 9-15.)  Period 2, since I didn't collect them, you will submit your annotated article on Tuesday for last week. 

Thinking Skills: Be ready for a cumulative vocab quiz any minute! STUDY THOSE WORDS DAILY!

Know that we love and miss you DEARLY!

ALL CLASSES - HW CLARIFICATION

ALL CLASSES:   First, THANK YOU for being the wonderful, brilliant, comical, and uplifting students you are.  WE LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW!!!  

In addition, thank you, thank you, thank you for your donations to our Turkey Bowl project.  There were 12 baskets made throughout the school, and ROGO's amazing students accounted for 6 of them!  There is no way we could have done what we did without your help.  As always, GREAT JOB!  Remember, what you do in life will echo for an eternity :) 

For Word of the Day, all you have to do is fill out all the words for this week and next.  We will check your journals next week to ensure all of your words are in there.  Good news - skip your synthesis chart that would have been due this Thursday and Friday (our Thanksgiving gift to you).  You will do something for next Thursday or Friday that is a little different: Pick an article from this week or next (11/19-11/29), print it, annotate it (take marginal notes), and be prepared to speak about it in class!  You will not be doing a chart.  However, do try to find an article that relates to PLESS:  Politics, Love/marriage, Economics or environment, Social media (sports or entertainment), or Science/technology.  This will help you for the argumentative/discursive portion of the AICE exam in May.

There will also be make-up for Reading Plus.  You can make up sessions dating back until the first week of THIS marking period. 

PERIODS 2, 5, and 6:
Take some time this weekend to watch the video below.   It gives you some insight to the Civil War, as well as many of the key battles.  This will help as you read our novel.  Already in the beginning chapters, we learn about Bull Run, and there will certainly be more references to the war as the novel progresses.  

As a reminder, periods 2 & 6, you will read the introduction through chapter 4.  Be ready for discussion and a quiz on Monday.  Period 5, you will read chapters 3-6 for Tuesday.  Be ready for a discussion on the first two chapters through chapter 6.  The lexicon is beneath this post.  Check under the comments for our initial list of words, and feel free to add to it as you read.  

In addition, if you plan to attend the field trip on 12/4, please bring in your money at the beginning of the week.  It's $20 and includes the play on the various short stories/poems, food, as well as your bus ride.

LEXICON for IOLA LEROY

For those of you confused by the words in Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted, NEVER FEAR! Just look at the comments under this post to see the definitions our students have figured out.  :o)

The End

"And...[they] continued blissfully into...[their] forever."

Thank you all for a wonderful day!  

We love you!

Please share pictures from today's trip with us.  

E-mail them to rogoracing@gmail.com

General Paper students:  Remember, your Breaking Dawn Part II analysis assignment is due on Monday (Per. 3) and Tuesday (Per. 4).  Click HERE to access the chart if you lost it :)

Jean's Day Pass Clarification

Contrary to the afternoon announcement, you do not have to buy a jean's day pass if you are going on the field trip in your decorated shirt and jeans pass it on, and see below.

Field Trip Information

Everyone needs to be by the vending machines near the bus loop at 8:35 (leave class no sooner than 8:30).   Once you get there, look for the signs that will say on which buses you will be (it will likely be by period).

Remember that you MUST wear the white Breaking Dawn shirt that you made in class.  If so, you can wear blue or black jeans (no rips or tears in them) or uniform pants.  Otherwise, you MUST wear your school uniform (collared shirt and beige pants).  You WILL NOT be allowed on the bus in any other outfit.

When we arrive at the theater, remain with the people on your bus.  We plan to take pictures by period, and you will enter the theater that way as well.   We are not allowed into the theater until 9:30.  Do NOT rush the doors, as we will close them and go home.  We don't purchase the tickets until everyone is inside, so we have no qualms with going back to school and giving everyone their money back.  :)

Here are your food choices:
CLICK HERE for the Johnny Rocket's menu.  Notice that the tax and tip are included in the price :)


Pizza Scene will have a special for us: Two slices of pizza and a soda for $5

Cold Stone will be ready for us, too.  There is no special menu for them :)

We will see you tomorrow by the bus loop.  Only 2nd period has HW due. Those who did not write the essay must submit theirs, the Directed Writing Task (the journal entry on the winds) for everyone else, and WOD.  You can use the first chart we did.  Everyone else, yours is due on Tuesday :)