Math with Annie Tally
Math students worked hard to complete any necessary testing prior to their mid-semester exams. Those who began Algebra with the new book earlier in the year have completed a chapter on data analysis and the three groups presented their election predictions on Election Tuesday using data from various polls. They are learning the virtues of working within a team and communicating with their teammates outside of class.
Science with Lori Hilliard
Chemistry:
The completion of formula writing and a major mid-term exam were the highlights of this module. Students have done well in all aspects of the course thus far.
Human Biology:
The students have completed an intensive unit on the cell and cell processes as well as a look at classification. All students did very well on their mid-term exam.
Biology:
The study of Botany has been successfully completed by the students in Biology I this semester. Their mid-term exam was also a great learning experience and all of the students are doing very well thus far.
Environmental Science:
The Environmental Science class has successfully completed their unit on population ecology this module. Students are very good with group discussion and seem to actually enjoy testing their knowledge.
Physical Science with Daniel Hill:
The Physical Science students have started a unit on measurement, dealing with uncertainty and significant figures. This will lead to unit conversion and dimensional analysis.
English with Jill Sugg
English 7 read The Pigman by Paul Zindel and studied mythology in conjunction with a great film version of The Odyssey. They just began Plague Year by Stephanie Tolan.
English 8/9 and 10,11,12 read the play "Deathtrap" by Ira Levin. Some of us attended an evening performance at Raleigh Little Theater.
The 10,11,12 class are through the first half of The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and the 8/9 class is through the first half of The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier.
Advanced 8/9 read the first half of Salem's Lot by Stephen King. I have rarely seen people so into a book.
Advanced Placement Composition has studied non-fiction samples of 3 rhetorical modes thus far: description, definition, and persuasion. Students have also read the first half of The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
History with Matt Wilhelm
Civics:
Students have learned about political parties, interest groups, and the logistics of campaigns.
World History:
Students have been examining various aspects of Ancient Rome, including its republican form of government, the advent of Christianity, and social life during the peak of the Empire.
US History:
Students studied the United States Constitution and the early years of the Republic through the Jefferson administration.
AP Government:
Students have been studying topics associated with the electoral process in the United States: voter beliefs and behavior, political parties, campaigns, and elections.
Current Events:
Students continued to examine topics related to the November 4 elections. Students also debated the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution.
Spanish with Celia Battle
Spanish I —
Students continue to enjoy "Destinos" and are studying Episode 6. They have learned how to conjugate -ar verbs pertinent to the story line. We have animated conversations daily in class to discuss what we are learning about the characters and their adventures in Spain and Mexico.
Spanish II —
Students have been introduced to the poetry of José MartÃ, a Cuban patriot of the War of Independence. They have memorized poetry and have written their own poems as well. We have finished reading our brief novel, Pobre Ana, and have discussed the protagonist’s adventures in Mexico and how this experience changed her outlook on life.
Spanish III —
Students have completed their intense review of the preterite tense. They continue to increase their vocabulary as they read the brief novel, Mi Propio Auto, and to discuss the adventures of the protagonist as he travels to El Salvador to help build houses for earthquake victims.
Spanish IV —
Students completed Chapter 1 in their text and have started Chapter 2. They are reviewing the uses of object pronouns and prepositional phrases, are learning about diversions and entertainment and have started to learn about the Golden Age of Spanish painting.
Art with Heather Cramer
9th Grade is making good progress on their Emotions 3D paintings. Most have finished building the 3D piece with styrofoam and have begun "plastercrafting" over that. I hope that many of these will be completed in time for display at Academic Fair.
Nine UPPER SCHOOL students participated in our special session of "What Are The Masks We Wear?" (Great photos on the Camelot website.) This was a wonderful day of sharing, creativity, and a real sense of accomplishment with our final products - also to be displayed at Academic Fair!>
UPPER SCHOOL students (with the exception of 9th Grade) have been working on drawing skills... loosening up with contour drawing, observation, placement and proportion with an autumn still life. Students have picked up these techniques quickly and their drawings are delightful.
Watch for the folk art "Fence Folks" that have just gone up on the playground fence...sure to add a smile to everyone's day!
Our trip to the Nasher Museum to see the El Greco and Velázquez exhibit was fantastic. Our students were very engaged and interested... What an amazing experience for them to see masterpieces that were done 400 years ago. Many thanks to Ms. Celia for making this happen!
Physical Education with Krista Moll
I've been pleased to see how engaged students are by our Ultimate Frisbee unit. We were able to play at Forest Hills Park and the kids loved it. Ultimate is an easy sport to pick up. After reviewing the basic skills of the game (specific grips, basic forehand and backhand throws, ways of catching) and the rules we were able to get right into playing!
The Fit for Life program has been going well. If you have time, be sure to check out the rising thermometer! I'm so proud of all the students and their enthusiasm! I've heard students talk about their parents working out with them and getting sore as well. Excellent!
Reminder: Please make sure your log has the total amount of physical activity calculated in minutes at the bottom of the sheet where it says "total." If I have to do all the totaling, it becomes very time consuming! Thanks!
Also, thanks to all those who have made equipment donations! It's a big help!
Music Performance with Glenn Mehrbach
We are settling in with new keyboards, a new mic, and really sounding good on the songs we've been working on. We actually have three keyboards now, which accommodates all the players in the "A" class.
"A" CLASS
The "A" class has just about mastered "You Won't See Me" and "Fixing A Hole," and they have been working on Led Zeppelin's "All My Love." Josh is playing the virtuosic synth-trumpet solo, and was sight-reading it almost up to speed. Great job, Josh! We will begin work on "Carry On My Wayward Son" by Kansas on Monday. We all agree that this will be a big challenge for everyone, but I know we can make the song sound great. Lennon is creating some very melodic and passionate fills on "All My Love" as well. David and Edwin are starting to gel as a rock rhythm section. Aaron and Sarah have been very consistent in learning and performing their parts, and the band as a whole is sounding terrific. We have been concentrating less on improvising these past few weeks, and more on playing together as a band.
With the approval of the class, I have decided to move up the start time to 8:20am. Everyone should arrive at 8:15am, so that we have time to set up and tune before the start of class. We just didn't have enough time to accomplish what we needed in each session, especially with Wednesdays gone because of Academic Fair. I am confident that we can accomplish much more with this extra time. So please do what you can to have your child there at this earlier time.
I am also looking into a performance opportunity at a local mall or shopping center during the Holiday season. If anyone has any contacts or ideas about places to play, please let me know.
"B" CLASS
The "B" class is doing well on their two main songs, "You Won't See Me" and "Bilrthday." We also started "Twist and Shout" this week, and are having a lot of fun with it. Grace has become quite the rock'n'roller, singing and playing her violin on "Birthday" with great style and passion. Kriea and Amy sing with Grace on "You Won't See Me," trading melody and harmony parts throughout the song, and are learning how to sing directly into the mics and sing with style. They sound great.
Alec is beginning to master his parts, especially the offbeat chords on "You Won't See Me." I am encouraging him to use more 'bar chords' in the songs, as they are more what is used by most rock guitarists. I gave him a chord chart to help him learn the different positions of the chords on the neck. Although we lack a bass player, Brian has done well with his left hand bass lines, joining Elisabeth in giving the band a solid rhythmic underpinning. He has discovered the "split keyboard" function on one of the donated synths, and uses it well, especially on "Birthday."
Max is playing a more integral part in the group with each session and Elisabeth, our drummer, continues to surprise me with her learning ability, creativity and brute strength! She is starting to lay down strong, consistent beats, and really seems to understand how the drums fit in with the texture of the whole sound. The band as a whole, in fact, seems to be listening more and more to each other, and it shows.
I would like to move the start time of the class to 8:20am. If everyone arrives at 8:15am, we will have time to set up and tune before we start. I've decided that 30-35 minutes just isn't enough time, especially with Wednesdays gone because of Academic Fair. Please talk with your student about this change, and do what you can to have him/her there at this earlier time.
I am looking into a performance opportunity at a local mall or shopping center during the Holiday season. If anyone has any contacts or ideas about places to play, please let me know.
Dramatic Arts with Roni Peterson
I am very excited with the progress of these students and in their ability to perform in front of their peers. We have gone from improvisational work to monologues. Each student was given a particular monologue to memorize and perform. I have video taped most of the performances. Seeing themselves on a monitor, allows them to critique themselves at another level. I feel it's more effective than me critiquing them. It also fosters the "safe" environment and nonjudgmental atmosphere that I wish to provide in this class. Short plays were handed out and we will be going over them during the next few weeks. Each day, these wonderful students surprise me with their abilities to create. How far they have come in such a short time!
Guidance Update with Thelma Glynn
The seniors have finished their ACT course and taken the test! Yeah! One hurdle down. Several of the seniors have now moved on to start work on their essays and personal statements.
