Fun with DNA

Last week we continued our exploration of evolution at the microscopic level. We examined the structure of DNA and how it replicates and expresses itself through proteins by actually building a model of this amazing molecule using red vines and marshmallows. Check out the following pictures and videos to get a sense of how DNA is able to use its double helix to compact itself.

Lucy!

On Friday the 8th grade and I - along with the delightful adult company of Rafael and our 5th grade teacher - turned free-lance field trip monitor, Gretchen - hopped on the #8 bus and headed down to the Pacific Science Center for an edifying day of exhibits and Imax delight. Thanks to Shalini Singh who completely planned the event (with help from Ellie Nielson), the entire day ran like clockwork. We spent two hours viewing the excellent "Lucy Exhibit" - completing an informational treasure hunt that I'd crafted - well, completing it in our heads, as the folks at the exhibit wouldn't let 8th graders wield writing implements!! We learned more than we ever dreamed possible about the rich culture that was and is Ethiopia...and were in awe of the 40% of Lucy's 3.18 million year old skeleton that we viewed at the end of the exhibit. We then enjoyed an "everything you ever wanted to eat but never had access to" lunch at the Center's Food Court. There we were greeted serendipitiously by two of last year's graduates who attend "the Center School" - Gemma O'Neill and Jackie Greer. Finally we attended the 1:30 showing of "Mysteries of the Nile" in the Imax Theater. Who knew that the Nile actually originates in Ethiopia's Lake Tana?? We caught the #8 bus back "home" just in time to quickly check our emails before heading off for the weekend...a weekend that surely included a viewing of the recently released "Twilight" for a signficant number of our 8th graders. Whew!!

Letters About Literature

We're in the RRD (revised rough draft) stage of our current writing project: a multi-draft exercise and national competition called "Letters About Literature" which is sponsored by the Library of Congress. (http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/letters/) Girls are writing to their favorite authors/poets/ speech makers, describing how various works have changed their ways of thinking, feeling and being. Among the lucky recipients of such missives: Maya Angelou, Stephenie Meyers, Roald Dahl, Lois Lowery, Dr. Suess, Shel Silverstein, Jodi Picoult, Marge Piercy, Pearl S. Buck and President-elect Barack Obama. (In case you're wondering, the author need not be alive in order to warrant a letter about literature.) Last year two of our 8th graders placed for the state of Washington...this year we're aiming for the BIG PRIZE: $10,000 for the 8th grade library!! And with the kinds of letters I've been editing this weekend, I do believe we have a chance! I'll keep you posted!!

Math tests are coming!

Please be on the lookout for your daughter's chapter 6 individual math test. They were handed back in class today. The girls have been asked to make corrections to the problems they missed and then write a short note to you explaining how they feel about their results. Once you have seen this test, please sign the front page and add any comments. Or feel free to email me any questions or comments you have.

Darin

Linguist Learning Channel

The linguist group prepares for their class presentation.

High School Test Prep

We heard from a number of folks during learning team meetings that you had some questions about how best to prepare for entrance tests to high schools. After checking in with one another, here's our best advice based on hearing back from girls in years past. For those girls that are taking the ISEE, everyone could benefit from sitting down and doing some practice tests, maybe one or two a week till the actual test date. You can order a practice test book online or find them at your local bookstore or library. For most girls, just getting their timed-test skills sharpened a bit will be all they need to do fine for the real thing. If you notice that her scores don't improve some with successive practice tests, you might also consider focused tutoring if you are able to.

For those who will be taking the math test for entrance to the Catholic schools, this is very much a basic skills and computation test. Again, some practice would be in order as some of the skills, like geometry and fractions, will feel a little "rusty" for the girls. While they "know" these math skills, they haven't used them extensively while learning algebra for the last couple of years so would benefit from working through some problems as well as from having it timed to get used to the pressure of a timed test.

Jeannette and Sarah in our admissions department have done a great job with the Next Schools program and are, of course, happy to answer any specific questions you have about your next steps. While we in the 8th grade have some experience with a few schools, we are not familiar enough with all of the high school options to be able to support you fully for either the process or evaluating competing choices. We are, however, happy to faithfully represent your dauhters' range of abilities in our high school recommendations (so remember to get them to us on time : >). Good luck with your tours and paperwork in the meantime!

Progress Reports

Over the next week, you all can expect to be seeing progress reports of various sorts being given to your daughters to provide them, and you, some reminders on how they have been doing so far this term. While the learning team meetings were a great opportunity to hear directly from the girls, we also know that many of you want to hear directly from the teachers about the specifics. Here’s what you can expect to hear from us: first, one of the key things we are at looking at is the consistency and quality of her classwork and homework; second, the first round of major tests, project due dates, and presentations are happening this week and next and results will follow shortly after. We will each post on the blog as we give homework reports or hand back tests/project rubrics. We also will be emailing you individually when we observe that there are issues with turning in homework. Please ask your daughter how she’s doing and remember that we are still early in the year and plenty of time for “course corrections” if needed.