ACADEMIC NEWS

MBA teachers present  their

ACADEMIC MANIFESTO

We stand for rekindling a love of learning:

Our students:

• Restore their academic self-confidence
• Discover their strengths and potential
• Renew hope for future education

Because our teachers:

• Honor progress and celebrate success, no matter how small
• Dream dreams for kids who don’t have them
• Seize teachable moments, even when outside of the classroom or subject area
• Teach to the whole child, accommodating individual needs without compromising our standards
• Model the value of education by sharing our passions
• Strive for quality and excellence in our methods, our tools, our students, and ourselves

We can help the school community by:

• Extending ourselves outside the classroom to participate in the school community
• Taking on roles outside of subject area
• Building relationships with students and colleagues
• Being the mentors’ eyes within the classroom
• Acting as positive role models
• Adding structure and consistency by following through with student issues in and out of the classroom
• Creating experiential activities for students on and off campus

What we need from our colleagues:

• To be recognized as an equal partner in MBA’s mission
• Because we wear many “hats” in the school community, we need further training about how to help when we are working outside of our classrooms
• Regular communication from mentors about student goals and expectations, as well as follow-up on weekly feedback from teachers
• Consistent rules and expectations which are known by the entire community and upheld by all staff members
• Respect for the sanctity of the classroom by making time for learning a priority over other activities, especially when students are ready and willing to learn
• Time to be creative, so we can be on the cutting edge of educational practice, not just in “survival mode”

FROM THE TEACHERS DESKS

LIBRARY : Fall, the Season with colored leaves, and typical fall celebrations has come to the Library this quarter. The Library Atrium Bulletin Boards shows the divisions of the Dewey Decimal Classification in brightly colored posters with the sub-headings “New World Discovery Quest” and “Read In New Areas.” Students are being encouraged to embark on new discovery quest by reading in different genre, discussing what they read with someone else, and increasing their knowledge skills.
“Books and ideas are the most effective weapons against intolerance and ignorance.”
Lyndon Baines Johnson
The students are to read, get information, formulate what they believe or not believe, be open minded with an option to change views.

Sammie Jo Meek

ENGLISH 12

A Master Class in Poetry: Students are understanding the English Language
at its fundamental level, recognizing the power of and use of sound,
imagery, and rhythm in their writing. With the philosophy that all writing
exceeding state benchmarks has a poetic use of the language within each
work, whatever structure they are writing in, students discover the
relevance of practicing poetry with all of their writing. We have studied
the works of those who are masters at their craft, as well as embarked on
intense revision and workshopping of their own work. Students are finding
their own crafted voices.

At the conclusion of this unit, we will be composing a 'College Application'
style essay on one of two topics: "A Significant Person in my Life" or " A
Significant Event that changed my life" This practical unit will give
students a chance to showcase their crafted voice to the admissions
departments of Colleges of their choice. Attention will be paid to
significant essayists in the field, as well as sharing and editing each
other's work.

ENGLISH 10

We are in the waning stages of our experiential "Character
Maps" curriculum, having students become the literary characters in the plot
of their own life stories. Students gain a much deeper insight into the
story of their own life, how they as characters are shaping it, and are
given a potential vision of their future as being triumphant or tragic
characters. This has also been informed by various character studies in
literature and film. Students have completed very focused writing
assignments that not only exceed state benchmarks, but serve as remarkable
tools to aide in their own emotional growth.

Later in the quarter we will continue in our theme of characterization, but
in the context of literature and relationships, namely, Shakespeare's "Romeo
and Juliet" among other literature. Content involving Interpersonal
Communication/Philosophy will also be incorporated in this unit.

Jim Churchill-Dicks

CHEMISTRY

In Chemistry, we discussed early and modern atomic theory, and how each

contributed to the modern structure of an atom.  We are applying what

we've learned about atomic structure to how atoms behave individually and

interact with one another.  These concepts will also lead us into

exploring the organization and classifications of the periodic table.

Some activities we have completed or will be completing include creating

an atomic theory timeline, making planetary models of atoms, participating

in a flame test lab to identify metallic salts, building electron orbital

models, writing electron configurations, and making balanced compounds

from combinations of ions.

Second-semester Chemistry finished up mole relationships from last quarter

and applied it to stoichiometry (how substances are proportionally related

within a chemical reaction).  Their investigation included making silver

from a reaction between copper and silver chloride, and determining the

percent yield based on mole ratios.  Students are also finishing up their

chemistry research projects, which will culminate in a research paper and

presentation of their individual topics at the end of the semester.

The Health class is focusing on Nutrition this quarter.  We are discussing

types of nutrients, the food pyramid, and calories.  Students will create

a food journal where they track their food choices for a week, to then

analyze the average amount of calories consumed each day and whether or

not they are meeting daily requirements based on the food pyramid.  Other

topics of exploration will include the exercise connection to diet,

alternative eating styles, and eating disorders.

Julie Stuben

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