by Danie Ayers, 7th Grade Student
My class loves learning science in seventh grade! We do experiments like Newton’s Cart, dry ice, and looking in the microscopes. We are all also on the Science Olympiad team, and we’ve done research for Plant the Moon and Plant Mars. My favorite science topic is space, and I can’t wait to learn about it this year.
by Jennifer Jordan, History Teacher
As 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, 7th grade commemorated this day through the lens of the heroes who helped others. Specifically, we focused on all of the boat captains who heeded the call to rescue people off Manhattan and on Welles Crowther, the “man in the red bandanna”. After watching the short documentary “Boat Lift” and learning about Welles Crowther’s heroism in the South Tower of the World Trade Center, 7th graders chose the name of one victim on the 9/11 memorial website and researched that person further. Students learned the biographical details of that person and discussed that person’s legacy through their loved ones’ memories. Students then shared about each person so as to remember that person and give each one respect for the sacrifice of his or her life. We learned about a 46 year old NYFD battalion chief, a 23 year old flight attendant, a 32 year old husband whose wife learned she was pregnant on September 12, and a 30 year old bond trader who loved to joke with his best friend. 20 years after this tragedy, the U.S. war with Afghanistan may be over, but we will not forget the heroes who gave their hearts and the ordinary people who gave their lives to fight terrorism.
By Susie Rogers ELA 5th-8th
Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year! I was so thrilled to see my students and begin yet another fun-filled learning adventure! All of the middle school students were assigned a hexagonal one-pager in ELA. In this guided one-pager activity, students created a hexagon about who they are. I asked all of my students to create a one-pager explaining 6 different personal aspects: name meaning, favorite quotes, places, authors and artists, sports and activities, and subjects & careers you find interesting. They used their creativity and imagination to write and illustrate their unique perspectives.
My 7th-grade students were then asked to take all the hexagons and find how classmates were connected through the different aspects of their lives. They created a web of interconnected hexagonal one-pagers that will be hung in the commons area for all the students to explore the different ways everyone connects to one another. This assignment provided a meaningful way for students to see how they are all connected in unexpected ways. Because most of the students have known each other for a long time, they were surprised by the information they did not know. This introspective back-to-school activity provided a colorful visual of connection.
All hail, the Roman Carnival! This year the middle school held the 10th annual Roman Carnival, and we were grateful to do so in person. As the customary culmination of our Latin program, the Roman Carnival provided an afternoon of fun and games for the entire campus. Sixth, seventh and eighth grade students dressed up as Roman deities and monsters and entertained all of the younger classes with a series of 9 activity booths. Fifth grade students served as assistants to ensure that games ran smoothly. Each activity was designed to highlight the powers and skills of the students’ chosen deity. Students created the activities themselves, demonstrating their innovation and ingenuity. Our inside activities included the Underworld’s “pick a ball” game in the dark hallway, as well as Venus (goddess of love), Flora (goddess of flowers), and Cupid (god of love)’s flower craft booth. Diana (goddess of the hunt)and Apollo (god of music) hosted a musical freeze tag wherein students were gently hit with a soft ball by Diana’s bow. Mars (god of war) and Hercules (god of strength) ran an obstacle course and foam sword fight, while featuring a bench press to showcase muscular abilities. Minerva (goddess of wisdom) and Fortuna (goddess of fortune) offered a wheel of fortune game, whereas Ceres (goddess of grain) and Vesta (goddess of the home and hearth) provided cereal and lemonade to our guests. It appeared that all who attended enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of smiles, laughter, and play. Gratias tibi agemus!
by Nicole Ayers, 7th & 8th Grade Math and Science
We study body systems every year in 7th grade. This year we had the pleasure of hearing from Dr. Reginald Baptiste, a cardiothoracic surgeon at CHRISTUS St. Michael. Dr. Baptiste was formerly the director of pre-health professions at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin where he founded a Health Sciences Summer Camp to inspire students toward careers in the medical field. He graciously offered to bring some of these lessons and activities to our students! We had an incredible learning experience, hearing from a medical professional about several case studies and then interacting with specimens such as a cow’s heart, sheep brain, and pig lungs. This was a lesson our students will not forget!
