Amazing Auxiliary Classes!

Music to My Ears
By Camila Baldasso
Photo Editor
 
            The Advanced and Beginner Bands have been busy achieving this last quarter. The Advanced Band went to their annual competition, the Houston Symphonic Band Concert and Sight Reading Festival, on April 4. The band won Sweepstakes for the seventh year in a row! Sweepstakes is awarded to bands who receive first division on their concert music and on sight reading.             Additionally, low brass, low woodwind, and percussion received medals which recognized their section. When asked about the competition, Dylan Michaels, a trombone player, said, “I wasn’t nervous for the competition because I was confident in our abilities as a band.”
            The Beginner Band has been working on songs in their Essential Elements book and on songs for the Spring Concert. They played songs such as Antiquitus and Rattlesnakes for the Spring Concert.
            The Advanced Band performed songs such as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Beauty and the Beast, Ride, and more at the Spring Concert.
            Both bands played at Fun in the Sun this year on May 26. The Advanced Band played songs such as My House, 21 Guns, Can’t Hold Us, and more. The Beginner Band played Space Shuttle Rock and School Spirit March.
            Over all, both bands have had a great year!


















Stretch students help out at CAP.

Stretching For the End of the Year
  By Ashley Bowring
Sports Editor
 
            The Stretch classes have been working their hardest to the end of the year. Unfortunately these fun Stretch classes are coming to a halt on the week of May 14-20. Until then, there are still things to do!
            The seventh grade exceptional groups have been especially busy. Ashley Bowring, Meyer Jane Davis, Katelyn Clark, and the eighth grade group recently went on a field trip to Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP) to drop off their collected items from the supply drive, take a tour of the center, and help out the staff with duties. Also, busy with their presentations of the brain were Laura Merlina and Dafne Campos. They presented their PowerPoint, a replica of the brain, and its sections to Mrs. Philips and Mrs. Cueva. In the PowerPoint, they had information about common brain diseases and traumas. The rest of the classes had been on task and working hard, or they were already finished with their projects.
            The younger reading students had been working on syllables, spelling, writing, and their vocabulary skills with Mrs. Ickert and Ms. Corte. Using one syllable exercises, they were progressing steadily. Their gradual improvement has been noticeable in their Iowa test scores using these exercises. Compared to their scores last year and the grade average, they were making their way up the grading scale!
            To congratulate these exceptional readers and overachievers, they are going to have a celebration at the end of the year in their classes to celebrate their achievements during the past year!
 
A Book Fair Blast
By Brian Nehme
Sports Editor
 
            This quarter, in the library with Ms. Lamb, many things have happened including the Book Fair! Ms. Lamb was busy setting up the Book Fair books in age groups and different types of books, like activity books. She orders whatever books they have, but sometimes she ordered special books because they are favored by students. Book Fair isn’t all Ms. Lamb has done, she has also been preparing the students for their tests every time they visit the library weekly. Some tips she had for the students were to eat well, get a good rest, and to make educated guesses when they don’t know the answer. The most important is the study skill of SCORER, which stands for Schedule time, Clue words, Omit, Read, Estimate answers, Review. It helped students do great on their tests. Ms. Lamb has helped the students a lot with study skills and books!
           
“Wheel” Be Back Soon!
By Gabriela Clinton
Features Editor
 
            This last quarter was filled with amazing projects and classes! In Mrs. Resweber’s sixth grade Wheel computer science class, the students practiced their typing skills, used Google CSFirst, coded in Scratch, and had fun with Ozobots. In Google CSFirst, the students watched demonstration videos to make digital art before trying it out themselves. Next they used Scratch, a website where students create their own interactive animations and more fun things. The students enjoyed Ozobots most of all. Who could resist a tiny one inch robot that is easily coded to move on paths designed by the sixth graders themselves? To accomplish all this, the sixth graders needed an open mind to learning new things, the ability to think abstractly, and a positive attitude. At the end of the year, it was important for students to keep in mind their hopes for the future. This class helped expose them to the job options of creating computers instead of just using them. Our world could really change if our sixth graders took their skills and created new forms of technology!
            In Mrs. Hughes’ choir class, the sixth graders learned about the different eras in music history and famous composers. They also improved their singing voices by practicing, doing warm ups, and following new procedures of breathing while singing. The sixth graders combined their knowledge of composers and imagination to make one inspirational and moving choir. They took their angelic voices to Masses and the Spring Concert on May 10 with the Chorale. The sixth graders are ready for whatever the future brings!
 
Wrapping Up the Year(book)!
By Jade Garrido
Layout/Design Editor
           
            As we approached the end of the school year, the journalism students were working efficiently to finish their yearbook pages and beat stories. The scholars have many things to complete, including the new advertising project!
            The focal points in the journalism classes included Halo News broadcasts, wrapping up the yearbook, and the advertising project, which consisted of inventing a product, making advertisements, and eventually filming a commercial! The classes discussed these parts of the project at the beginning of class with Mrs. Kimmitt. These projects included working on students’ public speaking skills.   
            To be successful in journalism class, a student must have leadership, responsibility, and they should also know how to be positive and well-mannered! The scholars have been evaluated by their work ethic, attitude, and willingness to take on new challenges. Both journalism classes have been doing great since they started in the first quarter. “The seventh graders have grown in their skills, and the eighth graders have refined their skills a great deal,” Mrs. Kimmitt mentioned about the scholars. The students continue to progress in their journalism expertise, and strive to be outstanding in their classes!
 
Fasting For Jesus
By Brian Nehme
Sports Editor
 
            The fourth quarter has been very busy for Mrs. Richard. Do you know what goes on in her office? Well, she has been scheduling priests for our Masses on Fridays by sending emails to priests so they can sign up. Sometimes when she wants a special priest, she invites him to our school. Have you heard that the Cardinal is coming to say Mass next year? Mrs. Richard also has a special book called the “Ordo” and inside are the readings and prayers. She also prepares the PowerPoints that have the song lyrics at Mass. Lent at our school has been great, thanks to Mrs. Richard. She helped the religion classes from each grade with what to put in the Mass baskets. The Rice Bowl project was also helpful for Lent. It helped us think about others in other countries that can’t get as much food as we can. This service project has raised $1125 for the Catholic Relief Services. The behind the scenes may be quiet, but thanks to Mrs. Richard, a lot gets done.
 
Take a Bow!
By Taylor Schababerle
Editor in Chief, The Spirit
           
           Honor Choir finished the quarter off with a bang presenting Annie, Jr. to the StJPII community! This was the first time the Honor Choir performed a production three times. They performed on Monday and Tuesday night for the parents and friends, and Wednesday during school for elementary students. The cast sang the songs Hard-Knock Life, Tomorrow, and You’re never Fully Dressed Without a Smile and many more. The performance of Annie went very well according to Mrs. Dao, and the choir worked well as a team. Every student’s gifts are showcased in the play, so each student gets a chance to shine! Some of these talented students were Beatriz Eade as Miss Hannigan; Cate Broussard and Theresa Nguyen as Annie; and Harry Hageney and Emma Holden as Oliver Warbucks. The students worked hard to really learn the traits of the characters, and to develop the role they played. Be sure to buy your tickets for Winnie the Pooh next year!
 
Hasta La Vista, Clase!
By Jade Garrido
Layout/Design Editor
 
            As the year came to an end, the elementary Spanish students worked productively to complete their studies in Mrs. Linares’s Spanish class. The main activities for the students included learning about clothing and food for Pre-K and Kindergarten the human body, and animals. The first, second, and third graders studied Spanish-speaking countries.           
            The main points in the classes were truly understanding the language and learning more about the Hispanic countries and their cultures, such as Paraguay, Ecuador, and Colombia. For the younger students, Mrs. Linares used stories, songs, and they also play fun educational games to help them understand Spanish. For the older students, she introduced more complex and elaborate exercises. Also, the third graders were given a project which consisted of choosing a song from the Spanish culture, and performed it in front of the class! The students were excited to show their classmates their work.
            The typical Spanish class started with a greeting to Mrs. Linares (in Spanish), praying, and introducing the activity the students will be working on that day. Mrs. Linares evaluated the students by their participation and their behavior with their classmates and their teacher. “The students are understanding Spanish more, and they are getting better!” Mrs. Linares said. It is no doubt that all the elementary Spanish students ended this school year on a good note!
                       




















Spanish classes celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

Adios!
By Catherine Dang
Layout/Design Editor
 
            Working hard in Spanish as the school year ends, fourth graders worked on conjugating different verbs, learned to express what they want to do, described how they felt, and ended it off with a project. In the project, the students split into small groups and had to create their own mini play. In fifth grade, the students learned to use adjectives to describe objects around the class, changing verbs, and how to use the different conjunction forms of venir, which means “to come” and to use gustar, which means “to like”. They also worked on a project in which they had to design and present a school map with a partner.
            In Spanish I and II, they worked on expressions used for shopping, conjugating the irregular verb ir, which means “to go”. In preparation for tests, the students completed writing, speaking, reading, and listening exercises. For homework, they had workbook pages and had to remember Spanish songs. Learning these songs helped the students enhance the words in the songs. In Spanish I and II, they presented a project in which they memorized a song they made with all the vocabulary words they used this year. They also created a dance to go with it. Learning a new language is a great way to end the fourth quarter and the end of the school year!
             
Shining STUCO Stars
By Emily Colgan
Managing Editor
           
          Student Council ended the year with service! STUCO helped out at Fun in the Sun with the cupcake booth. Any student could sign up to donate cupcakes, but the STUCO members ran the booth. The other service project STUCO had was the STUCO store. The money from the store went toward the charities they chose at the end of the year.
          This year, the STUCO elections took place at the end of the year. The officer positions will be elected by the fifth, sixth, and seventh graders. Also, the position of historian is gone. Instead, the sixth graders will vote on a sixth grade representative. The home room representatives will be voted on in the fall.
Student Council had an exciting end of the year!
 
Serving With a Smile
By Elise DeGeeter
Senior Editor
           
            National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is finishing off the year strong! On March 9 and 21, about 40 students from NJHS volunteered to serve dinner to residents of the Ballard House. Students who didn’t serve cooked and brought food instead. Teacher appreciation week began the first week of May and the students wrote letters to all staff and teachers at the school. In the second semester, the students made a pizza out of paper to keep track of how many books each grade read. Throughout the fourth quarter they added toppings to the pizza like mushrooms, onions, pepperoni, and cheese. On each topping, they wrote a book that they had recently finished. NJHS has had a productive year, and they are looking forward to having a great year next school year!
 













Artisan students create copper lanterns.

Painting Through the Year
By Elise DeGeeter
Senior Editor
           
            The art students have had an exciting fourth quarter! The elementary students studied Alma Jackson, and painted with neon paint. They used math shapes and repetition. Fourth and fifth grade students made metal punch Easter bunnies, and then third through fifth graders made torn paper collages using a multi-cultural theme. Third through fifth graders also made papier mache crosses which they then splatter painted. Grades first through third drew with tools on metal to also make bunnies. Then, first and second graders finished their paper torn collages of paint palettes. Next, third through fifth graders studied Jackson Pollock and splatter painted watercolor boats. All of elementary students ink etched African animals. They had a fun quarter!
            Artisan students used freedom of media to create culture and food themed artworks. Their “Fun Friday” project this quarter was coil method baskets, which they really enjoyed. They also made advanced baskets. The Artisan students made copper metal punched lanterns. They drew an animal or creature. They then used this drawing as their template for their 2D clay creature. The students made a six-prong ojo. They also did wood burning and leather burning. At the end of the quarter, Artisan and Art 1 students went to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts where they studied and discussed lifelike sculptures and famous artwork.
            Art 1 students made a small, oval basket. They also made a 4-prong ojo. The students made an animal with indie ink. They made a hummingbird using pointillism. All of the art students had an exciting quarter!
 
Students in Wonderland
By Daniela Esqueda
Photo Editor
           
          This quarter, the StJPII theatre arts and choir programs have had a lot on their plate. The TARTS students have been very busy working on their production of the Alice play. The one-act play was based on the original story by Lewis Carroll. After many hours of preparation, the eighth grade students performed their play on May 16, and it was a huge success! Although the TARTS students have been working hard, so have the middle school choir students.
            The Middle school Chorale has been very industrious this quarter. With singing in most Masses, performing in concerts, and preparing a special performance for Fun in the Sun Day, they have been extremely busy. The students along with the sixth grade Wheel students recently performed in front of their parents and the school in the annual spring concert on May 10, which went very well! With all the hard work these two classes have done, they have successfully entertained the StJPII community.