A week of Lasts

As a teacher, I have mixed feelings about summer break. I really love spending more time with the family, going on vacations, working in the garden, and dreaming about next year. However, I really love teaching this 8th grade class. We really have had a great year together. They are unique, curious, intelligent, and funny (in their own ways.) But here we are. There is a season for all things, is this is coming to the season to say farewell to the 8th graders and welcome to the 5th.  They will be amazing in their new school. They will make new friends, have new teachers, work in various new classes, and spread their wings a little further. I also want to say goodbye to all those who will not return next year for various reasons. Blessings on your new adventure, we love, and will miss you as well.
So this is the week of lasts. For the 6th and 7th graders, tomorrow is the last day they will have their Chromebooks. They will get a new one next year.
This Wednesday we will have our last field trip of the year. I am excited about how many adults are planning to join us for this event.
This week is the last couple of classes. For me it will be the last couple of experiments. On Monday we will launch our stomp rockets, and I have a present for each student. To get the present they will have to perform a simple experiment. On Tuesday, students will be making their own ice cream. I do need a little help from parents on this one and I will send out an email shortly about how you can help. On Wednesday we are gone on field trips and Thursday we are with our own classes the whole day.
6th graders should bring in a reusable grocery bag on Thursday. That is the last day to clean out our desks. We will clean the classroom and spend the rest of our time in worship. at 10:30 we head to the chapel for the last chapel of the year.
Tuesday is the last day for students to turn in any work to me. If they have missing, late, or corrected work, it must be in by the end of the day Tuesday. I will still have Math Club on Tuesday, so students can turn in work all the way until 4:00 in the afternoon.

Thank You. Thank you for a wonderful year.

P.S. This is the last couple of days with normal hair. On Tuesday, my new barber Laura in 7th, will give me a new look. I can't wait to see what she does to me.

Library Books

Looking For Books

As you are gathering your items for school, please be on the lookout for books that belong in our library.  You can put them back on the shelves at anytime.  If you still have books from the school library they need to be returned as soon as possible.

Calling All Chromebooks!!!

On Monday, June 5th, the middle schoolers will be going through the End of Year Chromebook Check-In.  The 6th and 7th graders will be turning in their Chromebooks for the summer while the 8th graders will be having their Chromebooks reset and turned over completely to them.  Here are a few things to remember for Monday in regards to Chromebooks...

• Every student needs to come to school with their Chromebook fully charged.
• Every student with a school-owned Chromebook needs to remember to bring their charger to school to turn in as well.  Lost or broken chargers will result in a $20 replacement fee charged to the family's TADS account.
• Every student needs to transfer any files stored locally on their Chromebook that they want to keep to their Google Drive.  Locally stored files can be found mostly in the Downloads folder as well as any pictures taken in the Camera app.
• Since Chromebooks are being turned in Monday, Monday is the last day to turn in any late/missing/corrected Digital Literacy assignments.

8 Days Left

I hope all of you have had a great 3 day weekend.
I cannot believe that there are 8 days left of this school year. Ever since we went to LEST, the school year has gone by in a whirlwind.
It has been a while since I have shared on the Blog. Sorry about that, I let other things take priority and business of the weeks was my excuse. Outdoor School and the time that surrounded it took more time and energy than I had expected.
I have had a blast this year. I recently had a chance to visit with some of my former colleagues at a wedding. They wanted to know how my year went and if I like Forest Hills. I told them that is a "good fit" for me. I certainly didn't want to compare (as that would hurt their feelings) but just wanted to point how much I appreciate being at a place that really matches up with my gifts and talents. On that note...
Thank you for this year. I have had a great year of growth, encouragement, patience, and I have felt loved and appreciated by so many of you. We are doing something truly special here and God is really at work in this place. I am so glad that God has lead me to this place. I am already excited about how God will work in the coming year.
There are so few instructional days left, but I will keep pushing to the end. Here is what your child can expect in my classes.
Bible-- we are now learning about Jesus and his early ministry (there will still be a year end book check, students should make sure they are following along and doing the work in the book)
Math-- we are finishing chapter 9 (Congruence and Similarity) and will be starting to look at Statistics in Chapter 10.
Science-- we are almost done with waves. We just completed our section on audio and visual waves and a quiz is coming. To finish the year, I plan on doing "fun" experiments. This could be anything from making slime to making ice cream. Please send me any ideas you have.
Worship team-- we have two times left this year to lead worship during chapel. The eighth graders have chosen the four songs we will finish with this year. This has been a great addition to the school and we will continue worship team next year.
History-- we have been looking at how Roman culture has influenced so many things, even today. We will finish with it soon and will be looking to a new choose your own adventure soon.
That is it for me for right now. I am always open to ideas or just talking. Blessings on your last days.
Mr. Bauer

P.S. My grades are up to date. There are many missing assignments for the year.
I know each class is going on a field trip on the June 7. 6th is heading to Silver Falls. I am still missing permission on several students. It is not to late to sign up, please see the email sent with the permission slip for details.

Book Reports

Third Trimester Book Report

The final book report of the year is due Friday, May 26.  Students will have Tuesday, May 23 for working on their report in class.  Students should come prepared with their book, writing supplies, and other items as needed.  Students who need to do their oral reports will sign up for sharing on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday of that week.

Language Arts

Grammar, Grammar, Grammar

Now that research papers are completed and turned in for grading we are off to new adventures.  We will be ending the year looking at adjectives and adverbs, words that modify nouns and verbs.  Being able to identify and use them correctly in our writing is important.  When we want others to understand exactly what we are communicating we use adjectives and adverbs.  They also make our writing more interesting!

Subject Update: Digital Literacy

A bunch of grades were just added to Digital Literacy on Gradelink for several projects we had done.  I wanted to give a quick reminder of how Digital Literacy is graded.  All assignments in this class can be resubmitted to earn up to 100% (this also goes for those that did not originally turn it in).  If someone received a score under 100%, there is a comment left for them in Google Classroom on what they need to improve to earn their 100.  The goal is everyone has the opportunity to get 100% in this class if they are willing to put in the work for it.  I hope all make it a goal to get there!