St. Matthias International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP)
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Testing... 1... 2... 3!

4/28/2017

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Freedom fighters...

On Tuesday, the eighth grade students took a break from their Aspire testing (oops!) to head down to the DuSable Museum of African American History. The students drew upon knowledge from their units of study on Imperialism and the Civil Rights Movement to make connections between the many exhibits they visited. They were inspired by the story of those who participated in the Children's Crusade in Birmingham, Alabama. We look forward to seeing their final projects on restorative justice in I&S this trimester!
Beware of subliminal messaging...

As we continue the "Holocaust and Human Behavior" unit, the seventh grade students are challenged to analyze the decisions made by individuals living in pre-World War II Germany. This week, we tackled propaganda put forth by Joseph Goebbels and Adolf Hitler. In groups, the students examined and presented upon the various tactics used by German politicians to manipulate ordinary citizens. 
We're holding out for a hero...

​The sixth grade students investigated primary sources to determine whether Alexander the Great was truly deserving of his moniker. Using coins, statues, and written accounts, the students will decide if citizens of the past saw Alexander through the same lens as
modern historians. Ultimately, our amateur historians will set the record straight by labeling Alexander as a hero or a villain. 
Where's the ice?

The junior high students are coming to the end of the hockey unit. In each class, they apply the skills and rules they've learned so far into game play. As always, we are proud of the great sportsmanship and leadership we see in these classes! Pretty soon, they'll be ready to take the ice!
Looking ahead...

-Make up Aspire testing will continue next week. If your child missed one or more tests, please be sure to send him/her with pencils and HEALTHY snacks for testing. 
-Progress reports will be sent home on Friday, May 5. Please review the grades, reflection, and comments before signing this document. All progress reports must be returned to the homeroom teacher by Friday, May 12.
-The annual Global Fest celebration is on Saturday, May 20. Before that celebration, please join us at the IB Learning Galleries on Wednesday, May 17 (8:15-9:15) in the gym or Thursday, May 18 (8:30-9:00) in the convent. Our junior high students are excited to share their learning with their classmates and parents!

​Happy Friday!
Ms. Denten & Ms. Scheiber

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Spring Fling

4/21/2017

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Who you callin' a dummy?
Eighth grade spent the week designing crash test dummies for vehicle safety. They planned where the sensors would go, what the sensors would measure, and of what materials the dummies would be made. Force and motion come to life!
Yeast are beast...
What are yeast? Do they respire? Seventh grade got to find out this week by mixing up yeast, water, and sugar, then observing to see if the indicator bromothymol blue turned yellow from exhaled carbon dioxide. In the process, they also learned more about how we make bread! Later in the week, they investigated how a cell membrane works by making a model of a cell with a sandwich bag, water, cornstarch, and Lugol's solution. The results were fairly surprising!
The Mustang Cup Awakens...
With dance class over, Mustang Cup could return to its monthly slot during intervention! Teams enjoyed Easter-themed games this time, with Peep in a Basket, Peep Tower Challenge, Resurrection Trivia, and some good old-fashioned riddles. The Cup has changed who's in the lead -- check out the leaderboard to the right!
Distilling dystopia...
To refresh their brains and practice a bit of close reading, sixth grade did a literary scavenger hunt to look for dystopian elements in The Giver. This was a great way for us to begin discussing how an author expands a dystopian motif or theme throughout the story.
Thursday Night Live...
All of the middle schoolers have been busy preparing their scenes for the spring show! To aid in their risk-taking endeavors, the eighth graders spent a portion of their class doing improvisational activities. They definitely thought outside of the box and came up with some VERY creative ways to describe an activity without using any words, only their bodies. This year, the annual spring Art and Music show will be on Thursday, May 25th, at 6:30. The third through eighth graders will be presenting "The Granny Awards."
Looking ahead...
Aspire testing is next week! Be sure to drop well-rested, well-fed students off on time. PILLARS will provide snacks. See below for the adjusted schedule for the week.
The annual GlobalFest celebration is May 20th. Look for more information to come about the special junior high IB GlobalFest gallery!
Have a great weekend!
-Ms. Scheiber & Ms. Denten

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Hoppy Easter Everybunny!

4/10/2017

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Who is behind the mask?

The sixth grade students examined a series of masks from around the world. After trying a few on for size, they got down to business and posed the question: "When and why did the ancient Greeks wear masks?" For theatrical purposes, of course! This week, we will go through the range of emotions as we explore the tragedies, comedies, and histories that dominated the Golden Age of Greece.
What did one cell say to his sister cell when she stepped on his toe?*

For the first activity in our new cells and diseases unit, seventh grade took an up-close look at cells -- including their own! They will spend this unit learning about cells and cells organelles, eventually applying their new knowledge to help further new ideas for cancer research. 

Answer: MITOSIS!
Gotta find 'em all...

This week, our junior high students teamed up with classes from the lower school for some Easter-themed activities. Sadly, there is no photographic evidence of Ms. Nolan and the 7th grade class dancing to "The Bunny Pokey" with Mrs. Pacholski's kindergarten crew, but we did snap lots of pictures during the 8th grade/preschool Easter egg hunt! The eighth graders guided their buddies through Fr. Larry's garden and then enjoyed playtime in the sunshine!
Looking ahead...

-St. Matthias is closed for the Easter holiday from Thursday (4/13) to Monday (4/17). School will resume on Tuesday (4/18)!
-The April Hot Dog Day is on Thursday (4/19). Please remember to submit your order on time, otherwise food choice cannot be guaranteed. No hot lunch or milk will be served on HDD.
-Aspire testing will take place during school hours from Tuesday, April 25 to Friday, April 28. Please remind students to head to bed early and bring a snack/water bottle on testing days. 


​Happy Easter!
Ms. Denten & Ms. Scheiber
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April Showers Bring May Flowers

4/7/2017

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I voted today...
To bridge the gap between our units on World War I and the Holocaust, the seventh grade students took on the personas of German citizens in the Weimar Republic. These shopkeepers, lawyers, veterans, and parents considered how the end of World War I impacted their lives, examining treaties, paintings by Otto Dix, and propaganda. Ultimately, they did their civic duty by casting an informed vote in the 1932 election, which was responsible for bringing Adolf Hitler to power.  
Heat wave coming your way...
Sixth grade designed their own experiments to test possible causes of global warming. After hearing many ideas for the causes, they picked one idea to test, then developed a controlled experiment to test it. Next week they will compile their results as a class and share their findings!
Somebody's knocking at your door...
Sixth grade visited their PreK buddies in Mrs. Contreras's class this week. Together they prayed the stations of the cross, read picture books that they had made about hearing God's call in our lives, and played outside. What a treat!
Little lamb, little lamb...
Seventh grade learned about one final system in the human body: the nervous system! They investigated their sensitivity to touch by trying to tell the difference between one- and two-point touches with a toothpick tool. While everyone in our class ended up with the same sensitivity, we also compared our data to thousands of other students', and we saw that there is much more variety nationally. They also got to dissect a sheep brain! 
Double the fun...
Eighth grade investigated how the friction applied by brakes affects a car's stopping distance differently at high and low speeds. Then they took things a step further by designing a double independent variable experiment -- their first one ever -- and they really rose to the occasion to develop the procedure and data table accordingly!
Looking ahead...
-We have school Mass on Wednesday, April 12. Please drop off at the main campus.
-
Easter Break is April 13-17.
-Aspire testing will be April 25-28. More info coming after Easter!
Happy weekend!
-Ms. Scheiber & Ms. Denten

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    Mustang MArket open Dates:

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