World Languages

Spanish Language and Culture (Mr. Fontalvo, Ms. Gonzalez)

Last week, students learned how to tell time in Spanish and practiced expressing different times throughout the day. Next week marks the end of Term 1, and we encourage families to check Aspen to review students’ grades and see if any assignments need to be redone.

Throughout the week, students will participate in a variety of engaging review activities to reinforce what they have learned during Term 1. In addition, we will celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with meaningful cultural projects and classroom activities.

Spanish I (Mr. Donaldson, Ms. Cuffee)

We made it to Week 10, the last week of Term 1! Students will continue to focus on practicing directions through in-class activities.

To retake a summative in which a student scored 69% or below, they must complete a summative retake review. All retakes and makeup assignments must be scheduled in advance. Friday, October 31, the last day of the term, is the last day for retakes (only one retake per assignment up to 76%), makeup work (-10% if after excused absence deadline), or to turn in missing work not turned in on time (-10%) given between September 25 and October 31. For Profe. Donaldson, students can use the form at the top of his Canvas page. For Sra. Cuffee, students must use the format she provided to send her a message on Canvas.

Spanish II (Ms. Wooten, Ms. Henderson, Mr. Almanza)

This week, students practiced expressing personal reactions in Spanish while exploring the historical context of our class novel. They deepened their understanding of Guatemala’s history by watching and responding to the stories of Guatemalan people. Next week, we’ll continue building on this learning by discussing the reasons people choose to immigrate and what the immigration experience can be like. As we near the end of the advisory, please remember to check Aspen and reach out to teachers with any questions or concerns.

Spanish Humanities, grade 6 (Ms. Balestra)

We have some really cool dolls that illustrate what we wrote about last week! I will send pictures home soon. Next week we will wrap up our unit on Growing Up around the World. All work needs to be completed by October 31st!

Spanish Humanities, grade 7 (Ms. Henderson)

English:
This week, we finished the first chapter of Lazarillo de Tormes! Students learned about Lazarillo’s early life and reflected on how key events in his childhood shaped his view of the world and his understanding of society. Next week, we’ll take a short break from our novel to celebrate El Día de los Muertos. Students will help construct a classroom altar while learning about the meaning of the celebration and comparing it to similar holidays around the world. As we approach the end of the term, please remember to check Aspen for grades and reach out to teachers with any questions or concerns.

Español:
¡Esta semana terminamos el primer capítulo de Lazarillo de Tormes! Los estudiantes aprendieron sobre la infancia de Lazarillo y reflexionaron sobre cómo algunos eventos importantes de su niñez influyeron en su manera de ver el mundo y de comprender la sociedad. La próxima semana, haremos una pausa en nuestra lectura para celebrar El Día de los Muertos. Los estudiantes construirán un altar en el salón mientras aprenden sobre el significado de esta celebración y la comparan con otras festividades similares alrededor del mundo. A medida que nos acercamos al final del trimestre, por favor recuerden revisar las calificaciones en Aspen y comunicarse con los maestros si tienen preguntas.

Spanish Humanities, grade 8 (Ms. Wooten)

This week, students finalized their poetry portfolios, creating covers in the cartonera style, modeled after a self-publishing movement that began in Argentina during the economic crisis. Next week we will wrap up our poetry until with some final poems, and have our celebration on Wednesday Oct 29. Please sign up to bring food Wednesday here for 4th period and here for 6th period. Students will bring home their completed portfolios after the celebration Wednesday, so please ask them to share their poems at home. In preparation for the 2nd advisory, please buy this edition of Casa en Mango street by Halloween and send it in the classroom with your student. I have some used copies, but it is highly preferable that each student has their own new copy, as we will be focusing on annotating the text as we read.

French Language & Culture (Ms. Bullock, Mr. Almanza)

We've been working hard in introduction to French. Hopefully you've been treated to hearing some French around the house. This week classes will be reviewing based on class needs as revealed on our end of term summatives. Reminder the final date to submit work will be on October 31st.

Learning a language involves building a foundation. It is never too late to start reviewing information to strengthen a foundation. Homework for French includes studying our vocabulary every night—a little study every day makes students stronger language learners! Students can (and should) access study materials on Canvas or they can use their reference sheet. Please check in with your student about how they review.

French I (Ms. Balestra, Mr. Osei)

In our first unit, we have covered vocabulary of the house and our city, regular and irregular verbs, contractions, and possessive adjectives. Students have focused on Listening and Writing this term. Next week is the last week of Term I. Students should make sure they have caught up on all outstanding work. A reminder that what we learn in unit 1 will not go away! We will continue to build on this foundation.

French II (Dr. Mbayu & Mr. Osei)

Students reflected on identity and culture, using vocabulary for multicultural identity and relative pronouns (qui, que). Listening featured multicultural French teens, and students drafted “Qui suis-je?” essays. Peer feedback encouraged comparison of cultural perspectives. Reflections asked how culture shapes identity and language use.

Chinese (Ms. Liang)

Grade 6

Last week our students started lesson 3 School supplies and learned new characters through etymology. We continued learning Lesson 3 School Supplies and had a formative assessment on Friday. Next week we will have a summative speaking assessment of lesson 3. We are excited to see their progress as they build their foundational communication skills in Chinese.

Grade 7

Last week our students completed listening practice and a formative assessment on Friday. We will start learning Lesson 3 My house locality words about describing the house. Next week we will continue to learn L3 and have a formative assessment the following week. We are excited to see their progress as they build their speaking and writing skills in Chinese.

Grade 8

Last week our students completed a formative assessment on Friday and prepared for the speaking summative assessment on the Dream China Trip project last week. Students will continue their China trip project with the class. Students will have one written summative assessment the week after next week. Then we will start lesson three. We are excited to see their progress as they build their presentational speaking skills in Chinese.