Marvelous Middle School!

Retreating to God
By Elizabeth  Dang
Editor and Chief, SJPII Times Online
 
            The sixth graders in theology this quarter participated in a retreat held at school. The retreat started with a Mass celebrated by Fr. Blick. After Mass the sixth graders reflected during Adoration. Soon after, the Consecrated Women came to talk to the students. Then, Fr. Eamon Shelly talked to the students about the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, while Mrs. Constantini, the middle school counselor, spoke about the characteristics the students should look for in a friend or their “deal breakers.” Afterward, the students made clothespin crucifixes and later ended with a blessing in the chapel.
            The sixth graders have been focusing on their tour of the world and have looked mainly at Central and South America. In Mrs. McBee’s classes, the sixth graders have been learning about the geography, culture, and history of Central and South America. To help the students improve their map skills, the students have been creating daily sketches of Central and South America. In effect, the sixth graders are able to visualize the maps. In warm ups, the students focused on maps as well. In addition, they looked at the Columbian Exchange.
            During the third quarter, the sixth graders studied the stories of Adam, Eve and Noah in theology. To help them understand the story of Adam and Eve, the students participated in a trial of Adam, Eve, and the Serpent. In addition, the students were assigned to a station in the shadow play of the Stations of the Cross they will perform for the student body, staff, and parents on Holy Thursday. The sixth graders have done a phenomenal job this quarter, and we can’t wait to see them continue next quarter!
 
Adding Up
By Ignacio Perez
Senior Editor
 
             This quarter in Mrs. Harvey’s math class, the sixth graders were taught many things. They learned about multiplication and division using fractions and were educated about ratios and proportions while reviewing older concepts. These studious students used IXL and Google Classroom on their Chromebooks to learn these new concepts and review the old ones. The scholars received Simple Solutions and worksheets for homework to strengthen their knowledge of these concepts. Because of this, the pupils completed these pieces of homework about once or twice a week. The sixth graders even received a project on figuring out certain percentages in stores. In this project they found the discount and sales prices with tax. To review for their test, Mrs. Harvey gave the learners a review and had a review activity in class. In total, this quarter has added up to a great success for the students’ math skills!
  
He, She, It, They…
By Olivia Babasick
Sports Editor 
  
            In Ms. Festa’s language and literature classes during the third quarter, the students discussed key concepts daily and learned how to apply them. In language, the sixth grade students built on their grammar foundation. They focused on learning about adjectives. They also reviewed finding prepositional phrases, subjects, predicates, complements, and pronouns. To help grow in knowledge about adjectives and pronouns, students used IXL.com. Daniela Esqueda said, “ IXL.com helps me understand the concepts more and gives me more practice to prepare me for the test.”
              In literature, the students worked on their vocabulary units. They focused on learning the parts of speech and the antonyms. They used vocabtest.com to help them master their vocabulary words, and they used online games. “It is helpful to study with vocabtest.com before the test to help me get a better grade,” said Joshua Ibe. They also had reading logs where the students recorded the pages and minutes that they read. Ms. Festa encouraged the students to read from different authors and genres.
                In class, the students had different arrangements of seating. Some of these were owl seating, flower seating, turtle seating, button seating, zig-zag seating, and spiral seating. During Catholic Schools Week, the students wrote acrostic phrases with the words Catholic and John Paul, or they could write a persuasive paper about what makes our school great. Ashley Bowring said, “I enjoyed writing the acrostic poem for Catholic Schools Week. I wrote about my amazing Catholic school.” For Valentine’s Day, Ms. Festa’s homeroom brought Valentines for the entire class and exchanged them. The sixth graders had an eventful start to the new year!
 
Science Matters
By Diana Basaldua
Layout/Design Editor
  
            In this quarter, Mrs. Cueva’s science classes have been full of learning and experiments. The students have been finding out more about earth’s water system and density. Both sixth and eighth graders learned through guided notes, partner work, and labs. They also used their technology to watch videos and look up any personal questions about the topics they are learning about.
            Mrs. Cueva’s sixth grade students have been learning about earth’s water systems. They learned about the water in earth’s ocean, the currents, and the ground. To get more deeply into this topic, the sixth graders performed a few experiments. First, they did a soil percolation experiment, where the students put sand and sugar cubes into a clear plastic cup. Then, they slowly poured water onto the sand. As a result, the sugar cubes dissolved, forming sinkholes and tiny caves in the sand. Another experiment that the sixth graders performed was designed to teach them about erosion and how waves change the shoreline. They put sand into small tubs and put some water over the sand. This modeled a regular beach. The sixth graders were also given a project about matter. They researched an element, took what they found out, and put the information into an advertisement.
            The eighth graders learned about density, matter, and light waves. The students have also completed some labs. First, they took part in a penny lab. They put a penny inside a small jar filled with water. Then, they looked through the top and side of the jar to see if they could see the penny at those angles. They also put the penny under the jar and looked through the same angles. This showed the students the bending of waves. Another lab they did gave them a better understanding of density. They took an empty water bottle and filled it with baby oil and water. They also filled the bottle with various small objects. They saw and recorded what floated and what sank. The eighth graders also completed a project. They set it up like an advertisement, like the sixth graders. They researched the difference between analog and digital technology and put what they found out in their advertisement.
            In addition to projects, Mrs. Cueva has also thought of other ways to allow students more opportunities to get major grades. She checked their science journals to see if they had everything they needed in it, as well as the regular paper tests. Mrs. Cueva also assigned homework to help the students. She made sure her homework reinforced the lessons she taught in class, such as watching Brain Pop videos. Usually, the homework would be to finish what the students started in class, such as taking notes. Mrs. Cueva did all that she could to make sure her sixth graders understand basic science, the importance of the water cycle, and the earth’s atmosphere. She also made sure her eighth graders understand basic chemistry to help them in high school. The sixth and eighth grade science classes have learned a lot this quarter!



















Seventh graders in science extract DNA from strawberries during a lab.

Science Scholars
By Thomas Whitson
Features Editor
 
            The seventh graders in Mrs. Palmer’s science class have had a fantastic start to the third quarter. The students used a lot of technology in her class. They used Chromebooks for virtual labs, checking skill sheets, and web quests. Clips online seem to be a very effective source for her to get her teaching across as well as virtual labs, lectures, and visual diagrams on the board. To ready her students for upcoming tests, she uses study guides and cooperative checks.
            In the next few weeks, Mrs. Palmer plans on covering a number of topics. She wants to go over dominant and recessive traits and how they affect our genes, how protein synthesis is responsible for traits, and Mendel. There will be many projects having to do with genetics, and perhaps a potato baby project!
            Mrs. Palmer says that mitosis has really been a puzzling topic for her seventh graders. They enjoyed doing the gummy bear osmosis lab, where the students studied a gummy bear submerged in different types of water. But, the favored project was the edible cell. During the edible cell project, the students made a model of a cell using sweets. They portrayed the cell organelles with candy, while the inside of the cell was made of cake or other foods. The seventh graders hope to continue their excellent work, while at the same time learning new things.



















Eighth graders in theology classes learn about the sacrament of Confirmation.

Our Lenten Journey
By Abigail Bowring
Layout/Design Editor
 
            As we go through Lent, seventh and eighth grade have both participated in the Stations of the Cross in honor of Lent. All middle schoolers have been encouraged to go to Reconciliation during the Lenten season.
            The seventh graders have worked on understanding the history of the early church and mission structure through the Acts of the Apostles. They also learned about Mary, heaven, and hell. Seventh grade learned about Jesus from the gospels as a foundation for eighth grade next school year.
            Eighth graders will be taught morality, church history, and social justice during the fourth quarter. This grade is learning about who the Church is and how Christ is alive. These students also learned about the sacrament of Reconciliation. Reconciliation will also be offered to eighth graders.
            In theology, the Bible, Church history, Catholic teachings, and scripture are used to support Mrs. Hartfiel’s lessons. There will be a theology final for the eighth graders. As these graduating students enter high school, Mrs. Hartfiel advises them, “To continue to work on their relationship with God, to know him as their best friend, (and) to call upon him in hard times.” Throughout Lent, the students have also focused on being forgiven, and forgiving.
 
Frankly, it’s Seventh Grade
By Janea Thibodeaux
Editor in Chief, The Spirit
  
            Mrs. Bowring’s language and literature classes have been diligently working this third quarter. The students studied the 15 types of figurative language and created a song, book, or skit as an example in language. They also wrote persuasive essays. For language warmups, the students worked on DOL, editing, and creative writing including different parts of speech and figurative language. In literature, the seventh graders read Diary of a Young Girl, a book about Anne Frank, and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The students designed a project on A Christmas Carol using the five elements of plot, and Venn diagrams on two of the ghosts. The seventh graders used Chromebooks for warmups, online vocabulary quizzes, and research for figurative language.
            This quarter, the students’ favorite part of language and literature was SQUIRT reading, working on their daily warmups, and reading Diary of a Young Girl. To prepare for finals, Mrs. Bowring helped the students stay organized, reminded them to keep important papers, and to study in advance. The seventh graders have been struggling with turning in their work on time, and managing their at-home study time. To help them, Mrs. Bowring suggested that the students make flashcards, and allowed them to come in early or at lunch to study for tests. The seventh graders were held responsible for turning in all of their papers, and if they didn’t, they realized there would be a consequence. This helps prepare the students for their upcoming eighth grade year. To teach her students, Mrs. Bowring used many techniques including THIEVES, a writing acronym for reading comprehension, kinesthetic exercises, skits and presentations, and verbal quizzing. The seventh graders were hard at work this quarter, and are working to finish the year off right.
 
Patriotic History
By Maggie Pierce
Senior Editor
  
            It was a great third quarter in both of Mrs. Berrie’s history classes! In Texas History, seventh grade learned about the Mexican-American War and Civil War. They completed a Mexican Food Menu Project for the Mexican-American War. Mrs. Berrie is preparing the seventh graders for eighth grade by teaching them how to take notes and how to manage their time wisely.
             In U.S. History, the eighth graders learned about the North and the South areas of the United States before the war, and eventually the Civil War itself. They also finished watching all of the President videos. Mrs. Berrie gave the eighth graders a test on the Star-Spangled Banner. The biggest event of the third quarter was getting ready for Dead Americans Day. The eighth graders made a list of 10 famous dead Americans that they would want to research, and they later had a lottery day to choose their dead American. The students worked on their projects throughout the quarter, and they will be completing it in the fourth quarter. To prepare the eighth graders for high school, Mrs. Berrie also encourages them to take notes faster. It has been a great third quarter in history!
 
Have Spacesuit Will Travel
By Elizabeth Dang
Editor in Chief, SJPII Times Online
 
            During the third quarter in literature, the eighth graders focused on reading Have Spacesuit Will Travel by Robert A. Heinlein, a science fiction book about a boy named Kip who wants to travel to the moon. In order to make it to the moon, Kip must overcome many obstacles, including winning a trip to the moon and defending himself against strange creatures. This book has been a twist on the students’ earlier reading projects because the details are spread out in the book, rather than having all the details in one place. It also helped the students focus on interpreting the book on their own.
             Meanwhile in language, the students’ main focus was the eighth grade graduation essay. The topic given to the students was “What lessons have you learned at St. John Paul II that have or will impact your life?” Their essays will be submitted and judged by the Board of Directors and the winner will receive an award. During graduation, the essay will be read by one of the members of the Board of Directors. We cannot wait to see the students’ great essays!
           Since the beginning of the year, the eighth graders are looking forward to Dead American Day, a day where the students present and dress as an important dead American. This project is a collaboration of U.S. History and language classes. In language, the students have focused on researching their dead American. Later in U.S. History, the students will present their Facebook poster and dress as their dead American. The eighth graders have been working very hard, and we can’t wait to see them continue to succeed in the next quarter!
 
Climbing the Number Line
By Austin Wilhite
Sports Editor
  
            The eighth grade math class kicked off the quarter by learning about the three different ways to solve systems of equations. They also began learning about polynomials, and how to add and subtract them. The seventh graders learned all about proportions, percent equations, how to solve unit rates, and how to find slope. Mrs. Kinchen reinforced all of these new math skills by giving work on IXL, Nearpod, notes, and virtual stations. Through this, both the seventh and eighth graders’ math skills are still improving. Mrs. Kinchen did not give out any projects this quarter to the seventh or eighth graders, but she did give out multiple tests which covered a time span of around two or three weeks of what they learned. The seventh and eighth graders did a great job this quarter!