Empty Chairs and Empty Tables...

As I sit in my classroom grading final exams in a room full of empty desks, I find myself pausing to reflect on what just happened over the last ten months.  I am filled with gratitude for the wonderful students God has blessed Trinity with over the last years.  I am eternally thankful for the support and encouragement from parents.  I praise the Lord for all of his provisions throughout the school year.  THANK YOU for being a part of it.  THANK YOU for your continued generosity and thoughtfulness.  I appreciate you all so very much.

Students, thank you for giving it your all.  We got through all the curriculum (and then some!), we learned a ton, we had some fun and made some great memories, but I am most interested in the spiritual growth that took place this year.  My prayer is that while the flames of knowledge were certainly fanned, even more so may your hearts continually be set on fire for Christ.  There is a classic reading list on my website, and you need to be reading this summer; but will you please read God's Word the most?  

So here is your summer work:
1. Read God's Word and talk to Him daily.
2. Lovingly SERVE the people you live with, and spend quality time with your family.  (Step away from the screen!)
3. Classify some sentences.  (Please contact me for summer grammar work!  I made packets for those who need extra help!)
4. Read AND write.  (Read one novel at least, and try to write once a week at least!  I would be happy to send writing assignments out for those who are interested.  Contact me for specific writing help and novel suggestions.)
5. Hang out with your friends often, and have fun!

In a nutshell: Read, pray, serve, study, enjoy! :)

I love you crazy kids,
Mrs. Agate

Bible Bowl!

Tomorrow, Tuesday June 7th, is our Fifth Annual Bible Bowl!  At the end of every unit in Bible class, we play Bible trivia.  This year we have played seven rounds in each class.  I recorded the individual points all year, and the students with the highest points get to compete in the Bible Bowl!  Mrs. Miller has the names of the 6th grade competitors, and I would like to congratulate the middle school teams.
7th Grade: Zachary Bray, Samuel Dutton, and Lucie Scandrett
8th Grade: Dean Merritt, Jacob Pan, and Aliza Weaver

Parents are welcome to come and watch this fun competition.  It will take place in 8th period and will only take around 40 minutes (2:05-2:45).

Friends, Fellowship, Food, Fun, Foosball...

Thank you to all the drivers and chaperones and to Mr. Jensema who organized the fun field trip for the middle school today!  

This little time together before final exams was just perfect!

Reminders for Students!

Dear students,

Some of you have been forgetting your planners at home and losing track of important events.  Here is a list of items for my classes that you should be keeping track of.  Some are due dates, and some are dates that include finishing goals.

7th Bible:
*May 19th: Written Testimony Due
*June 3rd: Bible Final Exam

7th English:
*May 20th: Finish Novel
*May 25th: Finish Literary Critique in MLA Format
*May 31st: Finish artisitic component of project
*June 1st: Novel Presentations are Due (paper, project, speech)
*June 7th: English Final Exam

8th Bible:
*June 6th: Bible Final Exam

8th English:
*May 18th: Vocabulary Test
*May 27th: Written Speech Due in MLA Format
*June 1st: Oratory Presentation
*June 8th: Final English Exam

Events:
*May 17th: Choir Concert, 7PM
*May 20th: Kennywood Day!
*May 24th: Middle School Awards Banquet, 8:30AM
*May 24th: Band Concert, 7PM
*May 27th: 8th Grade Lock-In, 7:30PM- Saturday, 7:30AM
*June 2nd: Middle School Field Trip to Games N' At
*June 8th: Half-day / Last day of school!

I'm praying that all will finish STRONG as this year comes to a close!

Love,
Mrs. Agate

It was a wonderful celebration!

The seventh graders were able to bless the kindergarteners with donuts, juice boxes, and their story books today!  The students did a great job working with these little ones.

Not only did the middle schoolers create stories complete with characters, descriptive settings, rising action, conflict, falling action, resolution, and more, they also showed the love of Jesus to the sweet kindergarteners through their patience, gentleness, and thoughtfulness.

The laminated cover and "about the author" page were extra special touches!

The seventh graders loved their thank you notes from the kindergarteners!

The Home Stretch! :)

Can you believe that it is May already?  I find myself reviewing all the things my students have learned this year, anticipating the materials we have yet to cover, and looking for areas where they can use some extra reinforcement!  This next month of school is going to fly by!

Here is what is on the agenda in my classes as we close out the year:

English 7: 
*Booksellers Day!  The students will be reading one more novel of their choosing (approved by me).  They will have to "sell" their novel to their classmates in an exciting book report.  They will also be writing critiques on the novels.
*The last grammar unit!  We have one more unit in grammar to cover, and it is a review of all we learned this year.
*The last vocabulary unit!  We have one more vocabulary unit left!

English 8:
*Persuasive Logic Speeches!  Students will be writing speeches in support of or against a provided topic.  Students will not be able to use any of the fallacies they learned in logic to convince the audience (along with Mr. Jensema and myself) to agree with their speech.
*Last writing unit: firming the foundation!
*We will be covering two more vocabulary units!
*Grammar overview!  We will be reviewing all we have learning in grammar to prepare for high school.


Bible 7:
*One unit left on Biblical Literary Forms in God's word!

Bible 8:
*We just finished our last unit!
*The students will present their church reports next week.
*Now we will be doing a Bible study together to complete our middle school years and spiritually prepare for what God has in store for these upcoming high schoolers!

Please enjoy this photo of an impromptu Bible skit showing how the Jewish sect, the Zealots, reacted to the pressures of Hellenism in Ancient Greece.  (Maybe you had to be there...)

A citizen of Greece (Annika) in 230BC takes cover as the Jewish Zealots (Lucie, Haley, and Mekka) revolt against her Hellenistic pressures! 

7th Grade Story Book Project

The seventh graders had a wonderful time interviewing their kindergarten buddies for the Story Book Project.  I thought I would share some of the cuteness via the photos below.  Some of the students were absent, and I regret that I didn't get everyone included in the photos.

In all my years of doing this project, I have the highest hopes for this seventh grade class.  They have come a long way in their writing in just one year, and I have already loved some of the first drafts I have seen.  This class is so creative and gifted!  I have no doubt that they will present wonderful works of literature to the sweeties in kindergarten.  Please see the handout for the individual check-in dates and requirements for this project.