SEMESTER EXAMS AND SONGFEST

Christmas vacation is fast approaching!  We are excited for all the events occurring this week! 
Ninth through twelfth grade students will be taking exams on Monday through Wednesday.  Being well-prepared by studying, getting a good night's rest, and having a healthy breakfast will increase success.  Exams begin at 8 AM; students should be sure to arrive early to school to be prepared to begin on time. 
Songfest will be held on Thursday, December 16th.  The program will begin at 6 PM.  Students and parents are encouraged to come early to get something to eat and find a good seat before the program begins!

Semester Exams

Semester exams will be held December 13-15, as following the below schedule.  To prepare for exams, students should begin studying now.  Studying in small chunk (20 to 30 minutes at a time) is much more effective than hours of study.  Students should use this weekend and all next week to divide their time studying for the classes in which they need the most review.  Students should be sure to ask lots of questions about any topic over which they still do not feel secure.  Studying with classmates or a parent may be a great option!  Use diagrams, motions, songs, and games to help you learn!  Remember that what helps you study most may not be what helps someone else study.  Develop your unique study habits!

Monday, December 13 - 8:00-10:00- Math; 10:30-12:30- Spanish
Tuesday, December 14- 8:00-10:00- Social Studies; 10:30-12:30- Language Arts
Wednesday, December 15- 8:00-10:00- Science

Midterms

Monday marks the midterm for the 2nd quarter!  Students should be sure all work is submit to their teachers by then.  Parents should be on the lookout for progress reports, which will be passed out to students on Monday, November 22nd.

Confernces

It was great to meet and greet parents at our conferences on Friday.  If you were unable to come, please contact me (cagurcia@discoveryschool.edu.hn) to set up a conference at your soonest convenience.

Student Led Conferences

This Friday (October 29, 2010) student-led conferences will be held from 8:00-12:00 and 1:00-3:00.  There will be no classes held this day.  However, the conferences are mandatory.  Students and parents must visit their homeroom teacher first to pick up their report card.  Then, students and parents will visit other teachers.  No appointments are needed.  However, there will be sign up sheets outside the teacher's door, for those desiring a set time.  Looking forward to seeing you there!  If you will not be able to attend the conference on Friday, please contact the school (by phone or email) to arrange an individual appointment.

New Quarter- A New Start

Friday, October 15th marked the end of the 1st quarter, and Monday, October 18th begins the 2nd quarter!  Its' time for a new start!  All grades start new.  Take advantage of the new start, and start well.  Make the effort to complete all work and study hard!  Make it a great quarter!

End of 1st Quarter

Can you believe it?  We have only one week left until the end of first quarter!  Its time to make sure all work is complete and submitted.  Check with Mrs. Agurcia for your missing work.  All extra credit and missing work is due by Thursday, October 14th at 3:15 pm!  Any work submitted after that point will not be counted.

Being on Time to Class!

Tardies are becoming an increasing problem in our classes.  The beginning of class is used to review the previous day's topics and introduce the new concepts for the day.  Missing even just a few minutes of class can really hurt a student's comprehension of class concepts.  As well, students arriving late to class are a disruption to the teaching occurring in the classroom and can impede other student's comprehension. 
If your student has been tardy, help him/her to review his/her schedule.  For morning tardies, avoid being late by getting lunches and bookbags ready the night before and setting your alarm just five minutes earlier.  For day time (between classes) tardies, students should evaluate when they need to go to their lockers and when they should bring the books for a couple classes at a time.  A few simple steps can make a big difference!

Check out your class page!

Midterms are coming!!!!

The midterm for first quarter is Thursday, September 9th.  Teachers will be submitting grades by Friday, September 10th, and midterm reports will be passed out to students on Thursday, September 16th.  Students- Be sure all your work is submitted to teachers.  If you think you may have any outstanding work, ask your teacher! 
Parents- Be on the look out for the midterm report.  Sign it and have your student return it to school. 

Exciting Upcoming Events

                                                                                      Ecofriendly Lunch Day

Can you pack a waste free lunch?

"It has been estimated that on average a school-age child using a disposable lunch generates 67 pounds of waste per school year." (www.wastefreelunches.org)   By taking just a few steps, like packing food in reusable containers rather than plastic bags or in aluminum foil, your child's lunch waste for the year could be drastically reduced.  

On Friday, August 31st, the 10th grade environmental science students will join our elementary students for lunch, as a part of Ecofriendly Lunch Day.  Fun games and activities will show your student how packing a waste free lunch is easy and is one way they can help Earth be a cleaner, healthier place.

Visit www.wastefreelunches.org to learn more about how your child can pack a waste free lunch and the savings it brings for the Earth and your wallet!

Honduran Independence Day

Its a pleasure to invite students and parents to join us for this year's Independence Day celebration on Friday, Septemeber 10th from 9:00-11:30 AM.  As a part of this celebration, students will be enjoying some local, traditional Honduran foods.  We are asking each family to contribute Lps. 100 (in cash) to cover the cost of food.  Please have the youngest child in the family bring the Lps. 100 to his/her homeroom teacher by Monday, September 6th.  Looking forward to seeing you on September 10th!

Open House Rescheduled

Open House

Rescheduled

For

Friday, August 27th

7:00 -8:50 AM

From 7:00 AM-8:00 AM, parents can visit their student's classrooms.

At 8:00 AM, classes will begin, as normal, and parents are invited to attend an informational meeting, which will be held in the cafeteria.

Check out your class page!

Click on your class in the column to the right to see special updates specific to your class!

WELCOME!

Welcome to a great year of learning about the beautiful world that surrounds us! I am excited for a new school year to begin!


My name is Christina Agurcia, and I am originally from Illinois. I graduated from Lincoln Christian College with a BS in Bible and from Illinois State University with a BS in Biology. I am certified by the State of Illinois to teach a wide range of science subjects, including biology, chemistry, and physics. As well, I have taken graduate education courses in zoology, botany, chemistry, and physics. To continue gaining knowledge about pedagogical technique, I also have participated in teacher workshop events, such as the ones offered by Discovery School and Escuela International Sampedrana in San Pedro Sula, and most recently, an AP environmental science training at Conserve School in northern Wisconsin.


This will be my eighth year in the teaching profession and my fourth year as the eighth through twelfth grade science teacher at Discovery School. Previously, I taught one year at a private school here in Tegucigalpa and three years at a public school in the States.

I am looking forward to developing an excellent working relationship with you. Outside of school, the best way to contact me is through email. My email address is cagurcia@discoveryschool.edu.hn.  If you would like to meet with me outside of class, I would be happy to schedule an appointment with you. Most days, I am available between 7:30-8:00 am, at break, at lunch, and 3:00-3:30 pm. If you have any concerns or do not understand a topic, please see me.
Looking forward to a great year!


Sincerely, Mrs. Agurcia