Important Dates and Reminders--The year is quickly coming to a close!

4/14/10

--All paperwork for Camp Joy is due along with a check for any amount owed.



--Spring pictures will be taken.





4/15/10

--Have you tri-fold for displaying Confirmation service project info., all art supplies, captions, lettering, photos, illustrations, and/or clip art, etc. at school.





4/16/10

--The 50% AR deadline is today. Half of your AR points are due and a grade will be taken.





4/21/10-4/23/10

--It's time for our class trip to Joy Outdoor Education Center!!



Reminders:



--8th graders report to the cafeteria with all your gear by 8:30 . Parents who are chaperones report to the school office.



--Make sure your sleeping bag and pillow are bagged in case of rain, mud, etc., and write your name on the bag (or tag it somehow) for easy identification later.



--Remember to pack a non-perishable lunch and drink for the first day, and put your name on both.



--Also remember to pack a rain poncho of some sort; all classes are outdoors regardless of weather conditions. Sunscreen in highly recommended, too.



--Bring an extra garbage bag for dirty laundry, wet socks, muddy shoes, etc.





4/28/10

--The 5th service project paper is due.





5/5/10

--The 8th grade retreat is today!





5/11/10

--Confirmation practice is at 7:00 p.m. in church for 8th graders and their sponsors.





5/12/10

--Confirmation: All 8th graders be in Egbring Hall by 6:30 p.m. to meet Bishop Foys. Mass is at 700 p.m.





5/14/10

--The 4th quarter AR deadline is today. All AR points are due.





5/21/10

--It's Olympic Day! Captains, make sure you have your team lists. Co-captains, make sure to pick up your flags to lead the Olympic parade of teams.





5/25/10

--The 8th grade closing Mass is at 9:30 a.m. followed by a brunch at Receptions for those who made reservations.



Reminders:



--All 8th graders report to the cafeteria no later than 8:30 a.m.



--Readers for the Mass will practice their readings, corsages and boutonnieres will be pinned on, and a class picture will be taken before the 9:30 Mass.

"The Crazy Challenge"

You may have heard about "The Crazy Challenge" I offered to all 8th graders in reading class. It was a challenge that was a little unique, and an idea to promote some fun with books. Students had to read novels in ten of twelve unusual categories like a novel where a tree, the woods or forest was a key element in the story, or a book whose title had something to do with the seasons. All books chosen had to be read during the first semester. Students had to take the corresponding AR tests and earn passing grades on them, fill out the information needed on their "challenge papers", and turn in their TOPS reports in order to meet all the requirements. Anyone who would successfully complete the challenge would receive a prize, a prize that would remain a mystery until the very end. The 8th graders only knew that it would be worth their time and effort, and to trust me that they would like it.

The following students successfully met the challenge: Sarah Bier, Katie Bruegge, Madison Culbertson, Heather Handrich, Sam Koch, Maria Linkugel, Sarah Massman, Olivia Scheper, Karah Spencer, Sandra Steiber, and Tina Whitley.

All the students listed above earned a place at "The Crazy Challenge Finale" to celebrate their success. A special invitation named the day, time and place where their mysterious prize was revealed. Even the prize provided a bit of a challenge for the winners--and they thought the challenge was over when they turned in their paperwork! All the contents of their prize linked to their categories somehow, and students had to "think outside the box" to solve the last of their challenges.

"The Crazy Challenge" was educational and fun, with a prize that sweetened the deal. If you want to know just what the prize was, just ask any of the students listed above. They liked things so much that they wanted another challenge!