Acting Awards - 2008

Thanks to Mr. Bilal for helping us out and helping choose the winners of the acting contest. 

Here is the Best Actress - Runner Up 

Zaina Mazen 

From Courtroom Drama

Best Actor - Runner Up 

Ahmed Hashmi 

From Courtroom Drama

Best Actress 

 Zainab Bukhari 

From Courtroom Drama

Best Actor 

Hamza Bukhari 

From Courtroom Drama

Best Group Production 

Osvaldo's Testimony - 8A 

From Courtroom Drama

Photos on Facebook

See the photos from today's drama on Facebook 

Pictures from the Awards Lunch

Check out the pictures on Facebook

Extra Credit Due TODAY

Don't forget the extra credit book review is due today. Make sure it is a REVIEW and not a REPORT. There are plenty of links available. A book review should include what you thought about the book and how it was written. A good book review will never give away the ending or important plot twists.

After you submit your review, make sure you bring your book to school so I can ask you a few questions about. This will help confirm that you've read the book.

If you haven't started it, don't try to plagiarize. This makes me very upset! Anyone who has been caught plagiarizing this year will have their names put on a warning list for the high school English teachers.

Announcements

• Just a reminder, we will probably only have 4 English periods next week due to the IOWA Testing Schedule
• You should be finished with the book by now!
• Final Exam will include Vocabulary, Plot, Characters, & Essays all based on what we've done in the fourth quarter
  
• You should be memorizing your lines for your drama presentation of Monster
• Tuesday May 6th we will go for an English Awards Lunch from 11:00 to 14:30 - Bring money for your lunch and dress to impress
  

Extra Credit - Book Review

For up to 40 extra credit points (equivalent to 40 points on a standardized test) you can read a book and write a review of it.

What to do:

• Choose a book appropriate for your reading level. Bring it in to school and I will approve it.
  
• After completing the book, write a two page (double spaced, font 12) book review

How to write a book review:

Writing a book review is actually similar to writing a restaurant review. It's not a 'book report' where you just say who is who and what happens in the book. You must actually evaluate the book and form an opinion on how good it was, just like with the restaurant. Here are some helpful links to get you started

How to Write a Book Review

Interactive Online Book Review Tool - by Scholastic

How to Write a Book Report (to compare)

Book Reviews written by Middle Schoolers

Please do not even THINK about plagiarizing. Academic dishonesty is very disappointing and will certainly be reported to the office.

If you're having trouble finding a good book, look on Listmania! sites like this one

Best Middle School Books

Q3 Grades Available

Today was the Parent Teacher Conference which means your grades are ready! I know you've all been waiting a month for these report cards, so make sure that if your parents didn't come today that you send someone to pick up your marks soon.

Announcements:

• If you missed Friday's Standardized Test, please bring a note of application for a re-sit. Be prepared to take it the first day you are back at school. Once I have the note and the permission from the office then I'll grade. Until then you will have a ZERO.
  
• Read to page 259 by next Friday
• 8A- Why do I only have proposals from 3 students? This was due a long time ago! I don't care if you get it to me by carrier pigeon but it must get to me soon if you want to get any credit for it.
  
• 8S - Your reading quiz grades on average are very low. Let's see an improvement for this week.
  

Stay tuned for this quarter's extra credit option.