March 5, 2011

Have you heard the latest?

We’ve got so much going on and so many wonderful things to tell!

Science Fair!

First, CONGRATULATIONS to the 7^th graders on a fine collection of Science Fair projects! Each team produced truly well thought out experiments, presented them in a great variety of styles, and defended their results with confidence and pride. Our STM winners this year were “Clash of the Burgers” (Jose, Ian, and Sean R.), “Glow Stick” (Daniela, Sofia, Vialina), and “The Burn Project” (Patrick, Sean C., and Chris).

These three winning boards were delivered to the Randall Museum to compete in the 30^th annual citywide competition. We are very happy to report that “The Burn Project” placed 4^th in the Physical Sciences category, and “Clash of the Burgers” and “Glow Stick” received Honorable Mentions in the Biology and Physical Sciences categories respectively. Congratulations, again, to all our students – you make us all proud!

The Ghiberti Doors!

As previously reported, the 7^th and 8^th graders have been busy working on the “Golden Doors” of Lorenzo Ghiberti. See the photos below to witness the transition from sketches to three dimensional plaques, and lumps of clay to intricate sculptures.

Though our doors may not replace the eastern doors of the Battistero di San Giovanni, in Florence, they will grace the corridors of STM as our very own “Gates of Paradise”.

Again, we are very grateful to the Museo ItaloAmericano for providing the teacher/artist and the inspiration to undertake such a challenging task! Do venture upstairs to see these works of art – the photos don’t do them justice!

Project Night Night!

The 7^th graders have just embarked on their Lenten Service project in preparation for their Confirmation and as an act of charity during this very inspirational season. This year, students have elected to support, Project Night Night (PNN). PNN is a San Francisco based charitable organization that provides comfort to homeless children in our community who need all the same things we need to feel safe, cozy, and loved – a security blanket, a favorite bedtime book, and a cuddly stuffed animal.

7^th graders have learned that PNN works with hundreds of shelters, to place Night Night packages in the hands of over 25,000 homeless children, ages 0-10, each year. The have discovered that 1 in 50 American children will face homelessness in his or her lifetime, and they recognize that they cannot take their own blessings for granted. The 7^th graders have decided that it is their duty to help other children in our community to feel the love they have always felt at home, with their own families.

The class is divided into five groups and each group is charged with various outreach duties, from publicity, to collection of donated items, to sorting and packaging. They have decided that their goal is to assemble 75 Night Night packages but they hope to surpass their goal and assemble over a hundred! They are encouraged by the success of last year’s Lenten Service Project, Soles4Souls, that sought to collect 700 pairs of shoes but ended up with over 1000!

The groups visited all the STM classrooms from Pre-School through 8^th grade to present their project and encourage all STM students to help. They presented our mascot, Fluffy the Bear, much to the delight of all STM students!!

(Thank you, Ademir – you’re a good sport!)

Next week, they will visit Alma Via to enlist the support of the residents and staff, and will also work with the Church to invite parishioners to participate. We are grateful to Monsignor Labib for his enthusiastic support of our project, and Sister Joan O’Donnell for inviting us to enlist the help of our friends at Alma Via.

The message is clear: every child who receives a Night Night packages receives a book that encourages reading and family bonding, a security blanket that can be cuddled, and a stuffed animal that can become a cherished friend, and the 7^th graders are determined to help make another child’s dream just a little sweeter this year. Bravo, 7^th grade!

Student Leadership Day!

We are excited to announce that TACSC: The Association of Catholic Student Councils, a national Catholic youth leadership development and training organization, will be hosting a Student Leadership Day for Bay Area Catholic elementary schools on March 17 at St. Mary’s College in Moraga. This event at no cost to 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade students. The program is open to ALL 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade students, not just those on Student Council.

The workshops and activities are designed to engage students and inspire them to assume leadership roles in their schools, churches, and communities. Some of the workshops include:

Presenting with Confidence:

Students will learn valuable tools and techniques to use in presenting oneself to peers and adults, public speaking preparation and delivery and managing individual and group dynamics.

Diversity and Acceptance – Building a United Team:

This workshop is designed to teach the skills needed to embrace peoples’ differences, to maximize peoples’ strengths and to promote positive communication skills amongst the group.

Officer & Life Leadership:

Student leaders will gain insight on ways to motivate, delegate and manage groups.

Leadership Challenge:

Students will apply newly acquired leadership skills during the TACSC Leadership Challenge. This exercise encourages communication, problem solving and small group collaboration using fun games and activities.

ü Student participants must register directly on the TACSC website at TACSC.org.

ü Each student must complete a separate registration form.

Space is very limited for this FREE event and registration will close on March 15. Please open the links below to learn more and to register. This is a tremendous opportunity for our junior high students to gain both confidence and experience, and to demonstrate their leadership skills as they move closer towards high school. Take advantage of this free and very worthwhile opportunity!

http://tacsc.org/programs-services/student-leadership-days/northern-california-student-leadership-day-march-17-2012-st-marys-college-moraga-ca/

Upcoming events!

ü Confirmation Retreat to Point Bonitas is on schedule for Friday, March 23

ü Off to Archbishop Riordan High School’s production of “Anything Goes” on March 27

ü Confirmation is scheduled for Friday, April 27, 5:00 PM. A rehearsal will be scheduled for the week prior to the Mass – TBA

Thanks for all your love and support! We can’t do it without you!

Times flies when you’re having fun, right? Well, we’ve been having lots of fun and adventures in January!

Our trip to the San Jose Tech Museum was a wonderful success! Students were engaged in the DNA science lab and exploring all the other fun and educational exhibits throughout the museum. A great day all around!

We had the great pleasure of spending a morning at Mercy High School for their annual Dance Concert. The dancers were lovely and the 5^th through 8^th graders that attended thoroughly enjoyed all the colorful and creative performances by these talented high school students. Bravo, Mercy girls!

A visiting artist from the Museum of Craft and Folk Art spent a morning with the 6^th and 7^th graders introducing us to the history and beauty of Grecian pottery. After exploring the various shapes and uses of these beautiful artifacts, students were invited to create their own miniature Greek urns. The variety of vessels is truly exciting, and will be even more unique when we whip out the red and black paint to finish our bowls, pots, urns, and amphorae in the traditional style of the ancient Greek potters.

We enjoyed two “Bees” in January: a spelling bee and a geography bee. The 7^th grade sent six students to compete in these events! Congratulations Sydnie, Daniela, Nizar, Ian, Kevin, and Antoine! You make us proud!

Science Fair projects are here and are truly spectacular! Well done, 7^th graders! A team of faculty, that will ultimately select the top three projects to be entered in the 30th Annual Randall Museum Science Fair, will evaluate all the displays and projects. Stop by the upper floor of the school to see these fabulous projects!

Catholic Schools Week was an excellent week at STM! We enjoyed a terrific Book Fair (and bought many books, too!), welcomed many visitors throughout the week, and played Spanish BINGO with our beloved grandparents. Our family Mass was a beautiful celebration of family and friends gathered to honor our wonderful school! The Kindergarten class did a great job hosting the Mass, and the 7^th graders were honored for their dedication and preparation for Confirmation. Congratulations to all who made this week one for the memory books!

On the horizon, we still have much to do! Beginning this Friday, the 7^th and 8^th graders will embark on a three-week odyssey to recreate the mystical golden doors of Lorenzo Ghiberti. A true Renaissance man, Ghiberti was an Italian designer, sculptor, goldsmith, architect and writer at the end of the 14^th century. He is best known for creating the eastern doors of the Battistero di San Giovanni, or Baptistry of Saint John, in Florence. Michelangelo dubbed these doors "the Gates of Paradise". We are grateful to the Museo ItaloAmericano for providing the teacher/artist and the inspiration to undertake such a challenging task! We’ll keep you posted on our progress!

Ciao!

We're back!

Sorry for the long delay in posting -- this site was not being too cooperative, but we've ironed out the kinks and we're ready to rock and roll!

Since we last posted, much has happened! The most exciting was our spectacular Christmas show -- We Three Kings. Who would have thought that three rappin' kings could deliver the nativity story so delightfully? I think it was the beat-boxing camels that stole the show... Congratulations to the entire cast and crew, and our very talented student body.

Every class, from Preschool through Eighth grade entertained us with wonderful Christmas songs -- some more traditional that others! The fabulous 7th grade sang their hearts out and sang the blues in "Bells Will Be Ringing"! Oh, how awesome that was! Who would have thought you could all be so melodramatic? :)

For photos of this exciting night of merriment and song, see the school's home page -- very cute!

We all enjoyed a well-deserved break and are now back in full swing!

This month, we are celebrating the life and accomplishments of one of our country's greatest heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We spent an afternoon painstakingly reading and analyzing Dr. King's immortal "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. His words, filled with powerful and meaningful metaphors, resonate as clearly today as they they did during the turbulent 60's. After discussing this historic and moving oration, we decided that there is no room in our hearts for racism or prejudice of any kind and that it is ignorance that breeds hate and intolerance.

We summed up our exploration of the life and works of Dr. King by watching a video of his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. It is always valuable to read his speeches, absorb the nuances, visualize the scenes he paints with his words, and intellectualize the message. It is an entirely different thing to watch Dr. King give voice to his speech. His passionate delivery inspires an emotional response that tugs at the heart (and your teacher's tear ducts!) and allows us to live in the moment, better understanding the need for civil rights legislation (Civil Rights Act of 1964).

Click on the link below if you, too, would like to witness Dr. King's timeless speech, "I Have a Dream".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs

In keeping with our enlightened perspective of respect for the dignity of all people and appreciation for their contributions to our global community, we are excited to visit the San Jose Tech Museum on Friday to tour a very special exhibit, "Ingenious Innovations: Islamic Science Rediscovered". We learned, in our Social Studies curriculum, of the significant contributions made by scholars, scientists, and artists of the Islamic Empire. This exhibit will allow us to further explore these discoveries through interactive displays and hands-on activities.

Next Friday, we will welcome a guest speaker from the Islamic Speaker's Bureau (re-scheduled from November) to share her experiences as a modern American Muslim. We look forward to discussing current topics of interest and exploring the notion that we have more in common with eachother than we have differences. As a Christian community, we embrace the opportunity to learn about other faiths and cultures, celebrating our uniqueness and recognizing our similarities.

We will continue our exploration of the empires of Africa, India, China and Japan beginning next week in our curriculum. The world is ours to explore and admire!

Hi! Here's our Christmas Song youtube video so you can practice! Good Luck -- sing loud! :)

Please Come Home for Christmas

Halloween sure was fun! You all looked fabulous and made it a fun and crazy day! Loved it!

Welcome to Conference Week! I am having the pleasure of meeting with students and their parents/guardians to celebrate their accomplishments and form a game plan for the remainder of the school year to continue to ensure success! 7^th grade is such an important year in preparation for high school, and I am so pleased that all our students recognize this and are working so hard to maximize their opportunities. All their efforts show in both their IOWA test scores and their first quarter marks. Congratulations, 7^th graders, you never cease to amaze me! Advice to all of you … READ! READ! READ!

Thank you to all that brought in “Toiletries for Troops". On Saturday, October 29^th, I delivered 13 grocery bags full of items for our troops! Each bag easily weighed 20 lbs! The Blue Star Moms were overjoyed and overwhelmed by your generosity and your thoughtfulness. Many of their sons are serving overseas and they are very grateful for your support. You have made a difference!

Your Dia de los Muertos offrendas (altars) are beautiful -- so carefully and lovingly prepared.

We are enjoying your stories and memories of the people you have selected to honor. Our lives are better for the people who have touched us by their presence on Earth and their guidance from heaven.

Next week: a visit from an American Muslim guest speaker to help us learn more about our Islamic brothers and sisters, a dramatic encounter with “Dracula!” at Riordan High School, and a working field trip to the SF Food Bank! Get ready to have an exhausting AND fabulous week!

Seventh graders continue to work hard every day as we make our way towards the end of the first quarter (October 28^th). Thank you for returning your Conference Request Form. Master scheduling will begin on Monday and you will be advised of your appointment time shortly thereafter.

Please note that all 7^th graders are required to attend the Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences the week of November 7^th.

Students and parents will have the opportunity to review the first report card, along with the results of the IOWA standardized tests. It is a wonderful opportunity to review our progress to date and plan the rest of the year together. It is essential that students be present – please consider their schedules when making your appointment.

The 7th graders performed their Opera a la Carte rendition of "The Elixir of Love!", by Gaetano Donizetti. This delightful opera, adapted for a children's audience was a great success! The professional opera singers were fabulous and the students actors were sublime! Congratulations to all the actors and chorus members from the 7th grade! You were all shining stars!

The September “Toiletries for Troops” drive was very successful! We have assembled over 16 large shopping bags filled with personal items for our brave men and women in the armed services. Thank you to all who participated and gave generously to support this outreach activity. Thanks also to the 7^th graders who helped to sort and consolidate the items for delivery. I will deliver all these items to the Blue Star Moms collection and distribution center in Lafayette on Saturday, October 29th. If you have any additional items you wish to send, please send them to the office or to my attention before the 29^th!

Our next school-wide outreach effort is the food drive for the San Francisco Food Bank. We will kick it off with a special prayer service for the student body. Look for more information in the next two weeks. The 7^th graders will be volunteering at the San Francisco Food Bank on Thursday, November 17^th from 9:00 to 12 Noon. Parent chaperones are welcome. If you wish to join us, please contact me as soon as possible – space is limited!

Seventh graders are beginning their Dia de los Muertos “ofrendas” or altars. Students are excited to create a living tribute to their heroes – those family members or friends who have passed on, but whose spirits we welcome to visit us and inspire us to be loving and appreciate people. We will celebrate by displaying our altars, sharing our stories and enjoying traditional treats for these special holidays! Visit the upper floor hallways during conference week and see the beautiful altars created by the 7^th graders!

We are also very excited to begin our bake sale fundraiser for “Maria’s Awesome Ride”… you received the schedule of donations per class in the family envelope. The 7^th graders have been assigned specific items and days to bring in their contributions for the bake sale. Please check with your child to verify the date! Our goal is to raise enough funds to help our friend, Maria, to buy a car that will enable her to travel to and from school safely and allow her to care for her son as he continues to recover from his serious accident.

Enjoy the student current events editorials below.

Remembering Steve Jobs

By: Jose

Steve Jobs died at the age of 56. He died of respiratory arrest resulting from pancreatic cancer that had spread to other organs. Steve Jobs designed and developed one of the first personal computers along with others in the late 1970s. In 1976, Job’s and others found Apple and invented the first Apple computer. The Apple Computer Company was born. In 1977, the Apple 2 was invented which was sold for $1275. Also known as the Mac 128K, the Apple Macintosh was introduced in 1984 on the cover of Byte Magazine. In the 1980s, Jobs created several more machines including Apple 3 in 1983, the Macintosh XL in 1985, and the Macintosh portable in 1989. Apple fired Jobs in the 1990s and Apple goes down, but in 1997 Jobs returned.

In 2003, he created iTunes a place where people can buy music which is still used today. In 2004, he invented the first mini Ipod. IN 2007, Apple revolutionized smart phones into a iPhone. In 2010, Job created the iPad and it becomes a hit. A year later he creates the iPad 2.

Many of us feel sad about Steve Job’s death, we are affected by his passing because many of us use his inventions, including me. He was a very smart man. His words were as inspirational as his accomplishments.

Saying Goodbye

By: Christopher

Wednesday, October 5, 2011, the world lost a bright apple, Steve Jobs, at the age of 56. Jobs, the founder of Apple, has been on hospital leave three times since 2004, was

surrounded by family and friends as he passed peacefully in Palo Alto, California. Fans all over the world poured into Apple stores, not to buy the latest gadget, but say goodbye. Yi Ran, from China said, "There are only three apples in the world, one with Eve, one with Newton, and the last with Jobs".

The Mac, iPod, and iPhone, were all Jobs creations, and have enriched millions of lives, improved communication, and connected people all over the world. It is hard to

imagine, that a college drop out had this vision, and was not afraid to fail, not once but twice in creating his Apple Company.

Jobs will be missed with future launches of iPhone 5, and iPad 3, yet I know his dream will live on. Steve Jobs said it best, "You are going to die, and the best way I know

to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason to follow your heart".

Source-China Daily News USA

We have been very busy around here these past few weeks! Our projects are coming due and new ones are on the way. We are also preparing to perform in the San Francisco Opera a la Carte production of "The Elixir of Love", starring the 7th Grade! Several of our classmates have speaking roles while the entire class provides the backup choral singing. Come see our production on Friday, October 14th in Carroll Hall at 11:00. All are welcome!

The newspaper staff has been hard at work producing it's first issue of the Bronco Chronicles. See the online issue at the school website or pick up a hardcopy in the school office. We are very proud of our students for their hard work and tremendous efforts in organizing, editing, and publishing this fantastic paper!

Progress reports and test packets have been sent home for review. As always, these documents are meant to inform both students and their parents/guardians of their status and to initiate discussions for improvement and celebrations of success! THe 7th grade overall is doing an excellent job of keeping up with the heavy workload and the time constraints inherent in the junior high curriculum. Keep up the good work and please keep an on-going dialogue with your teachers to ensure continued success!

Enjoy this week's student editorials...

What Happened to The San Francisco Giants This Season?

By: Crystal

It all happened when the Giants started the season. They did not know what was going to happen. They had hopes of making it to the playoffs.

On May 25, 2011 this season was over for Buster Posey. He broke a bone in his left ankle. Two other major injuries were that Freddy Sanchez hurt his shoulder 16 nights after Posey’s injury and Pablo Sandoval (Panda) broke the hamate bone in his wrist and was out for 7 weeks.

Another reason Giants did not do so well was that the players were not making runs. Mostly the Giants were being walked. Even after getting some new players like Carlos Beltran, they still couldn’t score – and Beltran hurt his hand, too.

The Giants ended the season with 81 losses to 76 wins. They got to second place. They did well but I think they could win more games and hopefully they do not have as many injuries next season*.

*Teacher’s Note: Despite the disappointing season, the Giants boasted a record setting attendance at AT&T Park. Giants fans are loyal – no matter what the outcome. GO GIANTS!

Bullying

By Paulina

(Based on a Channel 7 News report)

All over the news you have heard of teenagers committing suicide or wanting to move schools because of bullying. Bullying can cause people to go to extremes. Most of this bullying is caused by peer pressure. Many of us have seen on the news all the teenagers taking drugs or smoking because of peer pressure. I am sure many of us have heard these true but horrible stories. Here at school we had a meeting about bullying because teachers and parents are scared this is going to happen here. Eliminate bullying from the world!

My perspective has mostly to do about peer pressure. Have you ever heard of the saying “be what you want to be, not what other people want to see”? Well if you haven’t, this phrase is trying to tell you that you can do whatever you want to do. YOU CAN SAY NO!!! Don’t let yourself fall into peer pressure because you want to fit in. If you do give into this, then you can fall into extreme bullying and get into serious trouble. So remember you can say “no” -- you just have to let that fear go!

San Mateo Police Kill Two Dogs at a Park

By: Vialina

A San Mateo family is very angry at the police for shooting and killing their two dogs. Police say the dogs were very vicious and would not stop barking after being jolted with a Taster Stun Gun.

On Monday at 4:20 p.m. the situation began. The two boxers named Bella and Jordan escaped and started barking at children in a park. They were reportedly threatening small children at a soccer game. A citizen called 911, reporting that two boxer-type dogs were at the park growling at people.

The San Mateo Police show up to the scene and reported seeing two dogs that were, “behaving in a threatening manner.” Officers cleared people from the park in order to use a Taser Gun on one of the dogs. The Taser shock did not work on the dogs so officers then used their service guns to shoot both dogs. This killed Jordan and wounded Bella.

I think that people should keep their pets on leashes when they go outside the house. This way your pet will not get lost or escape. I also think that the San Mateo Police should not have killed the two dogs. They could have tried to move the dogs away from the people or capture them in a cage.