Week of February 14

Sophomores will be working on their Raisin in the Sun essays in class this week, to be due on Friday.  The Honors class will be given the novel The Alchemist, to be completed over vacation.

Freshmen will have their final test on Romeo and Juliet today and then begin work on creating an "updated" version of the play in their own words.  Freshmen will also be given project assignments which will be due after February vacation.

- Mr. Hacker

Week of February 7

Hello Everyone,

This week, Sophomores will be finishing Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun."  In addition, we will be completing journal entries, discussing relevant themes, and having our final test on Friday.  Next week, we will be in the computer lab completing an MCAS-like essay prompt for the play.  Students will receive the entire packet upon completion of the play.  Please look for it in your child's school belongings.

Freshmen finished reading Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" today after completing their Act IV quiz.  A quiz on Act V will follow on Wednesday.  Our final test will be on Friday.  Students will also be completing a project on the play next week.

Let's hope for no more snow days!

Mr. Hacker

Week of January 24

Hello,

Sophomores will begin work on Lorraine Hansberry's classic American play "Raisin in the Sun" this week.

Freshmen will continue their work on Romeo and Juliet.

Probably looking at another snow day this week unfortunately.  Stay tuned!

Mr. Hacker

Week of January 17, 2011

Hello Everyone,

With all the snowdays, we have had to adjust our schedule a bit.  Therefore, Sophomores will NOT be viewing Schindler's List as planned.  We will be handing in essays on Night tomorrow and beginning Lorraine Hansberry's "Raisin in the Sun" on Monday.

Freshmen will continue working on Romeo and Juliet.

FYI - Second quarter will close on February 1 instead of January 28 because of the snow.

- Mr. Hacker

Week of January 10, 2011

Sophomores have completed review of Elie Wiesel's Night and have handed in their projects.  This week we will be completing our essays for the novel Night (due this Friday).  Next week we will begin viewing Schindler's List.

Freshmen began work on Romeo and Juliet last week.  We had our first quiz yesterday and began Act II.  Today, we will be working on our own modern day version of Romeo and Juliet after completing Act II.

A reminder: Second Quarter closes on January 28, 2011.

Week of December 20

Hello and Happy Holidays to Everyone!

This week, our Sophomores created "Butterfly Poems" to hang in the classroom.  Each butterfly represents an individual member of our class.  Over the Christmas holiday, students will be reading Elie Wiesel's poignant autobiography Night.  While reading, the students will keep a reading journal which they will turn in after the vacation.

Freshmen will be starting William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet beginning after the holiday break.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!  I hope your vacation is safe and joyous!

Mr. Hacker

Week of December 6

Hi,

This week in all Sophomore classes we will be presenting our "Identity Box" projects.  This project is the beginning of our Holocaust Unit in which we will read Night by Elie Wiesel, watch Schindler's List and perhaps Life is Beautiful.  The Identity Box project is the most important assignment students will have in my class this year because it is so personal in nature.  I shared my Identity Box with classes last week and this week, students will share themselves with the class.  Identity is important to this unit because so many identities were attempted to be "erased" by the Nazis during WWII.

In our Freshman class, we are continuing our work on The Hobbit.

I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season and as always, if you have questions, please email.

Mr. Hacker