Week June 18 Congratulations Class of 2019
Graduation is tomorrow.
Wednesday June 19, 2019 (tickets incorrect)
Students arrive 8:45 sharp
Graduation starts promptly at 9:30 am
Punch and Cookies immediately following (thanks PTO
Wednesday June 19, 2019 (tickets incorrect)
Students arrive 8:45 sharp
Graduation starts promptly at 9:30 am
Punch and Cookies immediately following (thanks PTO
Week June 8
The PTO is hoping that 2 family members of 7th graders might be willing to help with 8th grade graduation on the morning of June 19. We're looking for assistance with setting up and serving/cleaning-up the refreshments from 9am until about 11:30. Please reach out to Katie Gruber ([email protected]; 773 988-9869) if you are able to help with this. Thank you!
Week 5/27/19 to 5/31/19
NWEA TESTING for 8th Graders
7th Graders are preparing for the CONSTITUTION TEST for May 31, 2019
7th Graders are preparing for the CONSTITUTION TEST for May 31, 2019
Week 5/20/19 to 5/24/19
7th Grade COUNTDOWN TO CONSTITUTION MAY 31ST!!!!!!!
Students will study and play constitutions games to reinforces previous lessons.
8th grade Gulf War
Students will discover the US involvement in the Gulf War.
Students will study and play constitutions games to reinforces previous lessons.
8th grade Gulf War
Students will discover the US involvement in the Gulf War.
Walk-a-thon is coming May 17, 2019!
Please join us for our annual Walk-a-Thon fundraiser, which will bring our entire school community together for a day of fun, fitness and fundraising.
Fun and Fitness: During the Walk-a-Thon, our students reach for their personal best distance during their walk-skip-run around our school playground, while family and volunteers cheer them on. Creative GREEN costumes are encouraged!
Fundraising: The Walk-a-Thon is also a fundraiser. Whether it's $5, $25 or $100, we hope that each family will financially participate in the Walk-a-Thon to the best of their ability.
Our Fundraising Goal: Ray School is committed to keeping students moving, especially in our beautiful outdoor campus, with recess and gardening activities. Active bodies contribute to active minds. Research shows that the more our students can move during the day, the more they can stay on task during class. Funds from this Walk-a-Thon will create more opportunities for movement for our students: new recess equipment and wonderful indoor/outdoor recess staff. Additionally, this year we want to install a second, new water fountain for filling water bottles, encouraging our students to drink water instead of sugary juices and soda. Let's help our children's bodies and brains stay fit and sharp!
REGISTER YOUR STUDENT TODAY!
Fun and Fitness: During the Walk-a-Thon, our students reach for their personal best distance during their walk-skip-run around our school playground, while family and volunteers cheer them on. Creative GREEN costumes are encouraged!
Fundraising: The Walk-a-Thon is also a fundraiser. Whether it's $5, $25 or $100, we hope that each family will financially participate in the Walk-a-Thon to the best of their ability.
Our Fundraising Goal: Ray School is committed to keeping students moving, especially in our beautiful outdoor campus, with recess and gardening activities. Active bodies contribute to active minds. Research shows that the more our students can move during the day, the more they can stay on task during class. Funds from this Walk-a-Thon will create more opportunities for movement for our students: new recess equipment and wonderful indoor/outdoor recess staff. Additionally, this year we want to install a second, new water fountain for filling water bottles, encouraging our students to drink water instead of sugary juices and soda. Let's help our children's bodies and brains stay fit and sharp!
REGISTER YOUR STUDENT TODAY!
Week 5/6/19 to 5/10/19
All students will be taking the End of the Year Benchmark Assessment
Week of 4/29/19 to 5/3/19
8TH GRADE CLASS TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C.
Week of 4/22/19 to 4/26/19
7th Grade is studying the Executive Branch of the Constitution to enhance their knowledge for the Constitution Test May 31.
8th Grade is studying the Cold War and specifically focusing on communism and the GI Bill.
8th Grade is studying the Cold War and specifically focusing on communism and the GI Bill.
Week of 4/15/19 to 4/19/19
SPRING BREAK! ENJOY!
Week of 4/8/2029 to 4/12/2019
Its parent teacher conferences/report card pick-up week!!! Please check classdojo for our sign-up sheet (homeroom only).
Report Card Pick-Up Sign-Up Sheet
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pgdmMxoEGqrdImXiU_jNjYx6yPcI8IRJN-G0HXYYC24/edit?usp=sharing
Let me know what time works for you. So, I can schedule your time without conflict.
Let me know what time works for you. So, I can schedule your time without conflict.
April 1-5
No School Friday, April 5. Teacher Institute Day. No School next week on Wednesday, April 10--Parent/Teacher Conferences.
Week of 3/25/2019 to 3/29/2019
America to Me: A Ray School Watch Party and Community Dialogue
Join Ray parents and staff to view and discuss the first episode of the critically-acclaimed documentary series, America to Me. The series explores issues of race and inequity at Oak Park River Forest High School. From 6:00-8:00 on Thursday, April 4, we will gather to eat, watch, talk about the episode and how it relates to our own experiences. 7th and 8th graders are welcome to attend with a parent. Childcare will be provided for younger children. Reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
Join Ray parents and staff to view and discuss the first episode of the critically-acclaimed documentary series, America to Me. The series explores issues of race and inequity at Oak Park River Forest High School. From 6:00-8:00 on Thursday, April 4, we will gather to eat, watch, talk about the episode and how it relates to our own experiences. 7th and 8th graders are welcome to attend with a parent. Childcare will be provided for younger children. Reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
March 11-March 15
IAR TESTING 3-11-19 thru 3-13-19
8th Grade will continue to work on the Vietnam War and developing an opinion towards US involvement and the idea of drafts as a means to populate our military services.
7th Grade will continue to work on the Constitution and understanding the foundation of government in the US covering the Constitutional Convention parts 1-3.
8th Grade will continue to work on the Vietnam War and developing an opinion towards US involvement and the idea of drafts as a means to populate our military services.
7th Grade will continue to work on the Constitution and understanding the foundation of government in the US covering the Constitutional Convention parts 1-3.
BLACK HISTORY ASSEMBLY
CELEBRATING ICONIC LITERATURE, JOURNALISM, LYRICS & MORE
February 27, 2019
CELEBRATING ICONIC LITERATURE, JOURNALISM, LYRICS & MORE
February 27, 2019
Week 2/18/19 - 2/22/19
Attendance Incentive Field Trip - 2/22/2019
International Movie Night - 6:00 pm
8th Grade is focusing on Lynchings through race and state by creating a bar graphs of statistical information.
7th Grade is focusing on the life of a slave and annotating articles based on real accounts of slavery.
International Movie Night - 6:00 pm
8th Grade is focusing on Lynchings through race and state by creating a bar graphs of statistical information.
7th Grade is focusing on the life of a slave and annotating articles based on real accounts of slavery.
Week of 2/11/2019 to 2/15/2019
BLACK HISTORY PROJECT
Compose 2 paragraphs on your activist:
detail their life
What was their fight for equality
When did they fight for equality
How their work impacted equality for African Americans
Include a picture and date of birth and death (if applicable)
Your object should be creative in nature (make it yourself) and reflect your activist's life (no boards or store bought items)
Compose 2 paragraphs on your activist:
detail their life
What was their fight for equality
When did they fight for equality
How their work impacted equality for African Americans
Include a picture and date of birth and death (if applicable)
Your object should be creative in nature (make it yourself) and reflect your activist's life (no boards or store bought items)
Week of 2/4/2019 to 2/8/2019
Welcome to 3rd Quarter
This week presentations on projects geared towards equality and inequality in society. Students paired with a partner to depict the inequalities by creating PSA's.
This week presentations on projects geared towards equality and inequality in society. Students paired with a partner to depict the inequalities by creating PSA's.
January 15, 2019
High School Application Timeline
First-round results released: March 29
Deadline to accept or decline first-round offers: April 12
First-round waitlist process opens: April 17
Second round application process opens: April 29
Second round application deadline: May 6
Second-round results released: May 31
Deadline to accept or decline second-round offers: June 7
Second-round waitlist process opens: June 12
First-round results released: March 29
Deadline to accept or decline first-round offers: April 12
First-round waitlist process opens: April 17
Second round application process opens: April 29
Second round application deadline: May 6
Second-round results released: May 31
Deadline to accept or decline second-round offers: June 7
Second-round waitlist process opens: June 12
NWEA TESTING
Week of 1/14/2019 to 1/18/2019
NWEA Testing this week!
This week we will be taking the MOY NWEA Test in ELA Class. All students will have to 2 days to test with Friday being a day for make up testing. Please be sure to get a good night's rest along with a healthy breakfast. All students will be testing for 2 hours straight and we want to make sure they are ready.
NWEA Testing this week!
This week we will be taking the MOY NWEA Test in ELA Class. All students will have to 2 days to test with Friday being a day for make up testing. Please be sure to get a good night's rest along with a healthy breakfast. All students will be testing for 2 hours straight and we want to make sure they are ready.
Student Council Fundraiser
1/14/2019
Our Valentine’s Event
Attention Students/Parents/Guardians,
You are cordially invited to the Ray School Valentine’s Day sale! In an effort to spread positivity around the school, student council will be selling poems and candy bags ($2). Don’t miss out, send your children to school with money so that they will be able to purchase items to either give to friends at school or simply buy for themselves. The more money your children are supplied with, the more items they will be able purchase. All proceeds go to funding for graduation festivities at the end of the year. Student Council will be collecting the money with orders on the week of February 1st - 8th. We will ONLY take orders that week! Deliveries of poems and candy will be made to students on Valentine’s Day, February 14.
Thank You,
Student Council
Our Valentine’s Event
Attention Students/Parents/Guardians,
You are cordially invited to the Ray School Valentine’s Day sale! In an effort to spread positivity around the school, student council will be selling poems and candy bags ($2). Don’t miss out, send your children to school with money so that they will be able to purchase items to either give to friends at school or simply buy for themselves. The more money your children are supplied with, the more items they will be able purchase. All proceeds go to funding for graduation festivities at the end of the year. Student Council will be collecting the money with orders on the week of February 1st - 8th. We will ONLY take orders that week! Deliveries of poems and candy will be made to students on Valentine’s Day, February 14.
Thank You,
Student Council
Social Studies for week 1-7-19 Welcome Back
7th Grade
Students will:
Explore the meaning of the term "unity" through analyzing events leading up to the Revolutionary War to motivate colonists to work together.
8th Graders
Students will:
Explore chid labor during the Industrial Revolution and analyze the effects this had on children, families and society.
Equality Project is due January 22 for both 7th and 8th
Students will:
Explore the meaning of the term "unity" through analyzing events leading up to the Revolutionary War to motivate colonists to work together.
8th Graders
Students will:
Explore chid labor during the Industrial Revolution and analyze the effects this had on children, families and society.
Equality Project is due January 22 for both 7th and 8th
- Students use storyboards and creation of PSA to relay messages about equality and inequality
- Gender
- Race
- Social
- Economic
- Age
- Gender
Social Studies for week 12-17-18
7th Grade
Students will:
Create a word game using vocabulary for Salem Witch Trials
8th Graders
Students will:
Create a word game using vocabulary for Reconstruction
Spelling Bee
The Ray School Spelling Bee will be held on Wednesday, January 9th. A list of words were given to students who were interested in participating. Our in-class spelling bee will be held on January 7th and 8th. The winners will move on to the school wide spelling bee. Good luck to all of our spellers!
Students will:
Create a word game using vocabulary for Salem Witch Trials
8th Graders
Students will:
Create a word game using vocabulary for Reconstruction
Spelling Bee
The Ray School Spelling Bee will be held on Wednesday, January 9th. A list of words were given to students who were interested in participating. Our in-class spelling bee will be held on January 7th and 8th. The winners will move on to the school wide spelling bee. Good luck to all of our spellers!
Social Studies for week 12-10-18
7th Grade
Students will begin:
Salem Witch Trials by taking notes and defining key terms
8th Graders
Students will begin:
Reconstruction Era by taking notes and defining key terms
Attendance Challenge
Please continue to arrive to school EVERYDAY and on-time for the rest of the December. Students will be rewarded for their perfect attendance for this short month, before winter break.
Students will begin:
Salem Witch Trials by taking notes and defining key terms
8th Graders
Students will begin:
Reconstruction Era by taking notes and defining key terms
Attendance Challenge
Please continue to arrive to school EVERYDAY and on-time for the rest of the December. Students will be rewarded for their perfect attendance for this short month, before winter break.
Social Studies for week 12-03-18
7th Grade
Students will compose:
5 paragraph essay
Introduction
3 body paragraphs (3 claims/3 pieces of evidence per claim)
Conclusion
Use packet for evidence
8th Graders
Students will:
Present podcast and presentations
Students will compose:
5 paragraph essay
Introduction
3 body paragraphs (3 claims/3 pieces of evidence per claim)
Conclusion
Use packet for evidence
8th Graders
Students will:
Present podcast and presentations
Social Studies for week 11-26-18
7th Grade
Students will:
Research people, events and conflict with Native Americans. Create stories relating to life in the colonies. Work together to design a newsletter that incorporates your groups’ stories. Work together on naming the newsletter and designing a graphic, laying out the articles and images, checking for grammatical and spelling mistakes.
8th Graders
Students will continue:
Work with a partner
Recreate information about 10 events and people who were influential in the Civil War towards its outcome
Use a podcast format
Be Creative
Students will:
Research people, events and conflict with Native Americans. Create stories relating to life in the colonies. Work together to design a newsletter that incorporates your groups’ stories. Work together on naming the newsletter and designing a graphic, laying out the articles and images, checking for grammatical and spelling mistakes.
8th Graders
Students will continue:
Work with a partner
Recreate information about 10 events and people who were influential in the Civil War towards its outcome
Use a podcast format
Be Creative
Social Studies for week 11-05-18
7th Grade
Students will:
8th Graders
Students will:
Compose an essay answer the question: What was the cause of the Civil War? Is our society in a prelude to another waWhat was the cause of the Civil War? Is our society in a prelude to another one?What was the cause of the Civil War?
Students will:
- Make individual "applications" to live in the colony. Draw a picture of what occupation you will do when you get there (as a carpenter, laborer, etc.).
- Write a short paragraph explaining what job you will do and why you are the best candidate for the job of "Jamestown Carpenter," for example.
- Create an advertisement to recruit others to join your occupation.
8th Graders
Students will:
Compose an essay answer the question: What was the cause of the Civil War? Is our society in a prelude to another waWhat was the cause of the Civil War? Is our society in a prelude to another one?What was the cause of the Civil War?
Social Studies for week 10-22-18
7th Grade
Students will:
Imagine they are developing a new world and everyone who joins you plays a key role in its development. Occupations are essential to survival and sustainability. Create a bar graph, using Google Sheets, which shows how many men performed each job, using different colors to show different categories.
8th Graders
Students will:
Work with a partner
Recreate information about 10 events and people who were influential in the Civil War towards its outcome
Use a podcast format
Be Creative
Students will:
Imagine they are developing a new world and everyone who joins you plays a key role in its development. Occupations are essential to survival and sustainability. Create a bar graph, using Google Sheets, which shows how many men performed each job, using different colors to show different categories.
8th Graders
Students will:
Work with a partner
Recreate information about 10 events and people who were influential in the Civil War towards its outcome
Use a podcast format
Be Creative
Social Studies for week 10-15-18
7th Grade
Students will:
select the first leader of Jamestown settlement. Debate the relative merits of each applicant, and make a ratings analysis chart for the three candidates. Then defend your selection in front of the king (or your teacher). You must give at least one reason why you chose your selected leader.
8th Graders
Students will:
Use Prezi to describe the battle in detail
Provide Research from each of the sites given
Location
Prominent People
Casualties
How this affected the state’s status towards slavery
How this affected the outcome of the war
Students will:
select the first leader of Jamestown settlement. Debate the relative merits of each applicant, and make a ratings analysis chart for the three candidates. Then defend your selection in front of the king (or your teacher). You must give at least one reason why you chose your selected leader.
8th Graders
Students will:
Use Prezi to describe the battle in detail
Provide Research from each of the sites given
Location
Prominent People
Casualties
How this affected the state’s status towards slavery
How this affected the outcome of the war
Social Studies for week 10-8-18
7th Grade
We will begin research on the first colony of Jamestown
Students will understand the hardships of creating a new society
8th Graders
Students will work in groups to research a particular battle; location, casualties, win or lose and effect on the war.
We will begin research on the first colony of Jamestown
Students will understand the hardships of creating a new society
8th Graders
Students will work in groups to research a particular battle; location, casualties, win or lose and effect on the war.
Social Studies for week 10-1-18
7th Grade
Will create survival kits which demonstrate their knowledge of Cabeza's journey
8th Graders
Will analyze the casualties of the Civil War by creating a spreadsheet for the casualties of each battle. Synthesizing this information to determine why the North won the war.
Will create survival kits which demonstrate their knowledge of Cabeza's journey
8th Graders
Will analyze the casualties of the Civil War by creating a spreadsheet for the casualties of each battle. Synthesizing this information to determine why the North won the war.
Social Studies for week 9-24-18
7th Grade
Will identify how Cabeza de Vaca survived
Analyze primary sources concerning Cabeza’s journey and how he survived
Create and establish their own claims concerning Cabeza’s survival.
8th Graders
Will identify causes and effects of the civil war.
Analyze primary and secondary sources concerning the causes of the civil war
Create and establish their own claims for the cause and effect of the civil war.
PSA CHANGE IN DUE DATE: DUE 9/28
Will identify how Cabeza de Vaca survived
Analyze primary sources concerning Cabeza’s journey and how he survived
Create and establish their own claims concerning Cabeza’s survival.
8th Graders
Will identify causes and effects of the civil war.
Analyze primary and secondary sources concerning the causes of the civil war
Create and establish their own claims for the cause and effect of the civil war.
PSA CHANGE IN DUE DATE: DUE 9/28
Social Studies for week 9-10-18
7th Grade will be learning about colonization/American Revolution
8th Grade will be learning about the Gilded Age
PSA's on current day social injustices due 9-17-18
8th Grade will be learning about the Gilded Age
PSA's on current day social injustices due 9-17-18
Social Studies for week 9-4-18
ALL: This week we will practice with rules and routines. We will also set classroom norms and establish our vision for teaching and learning in the 2018-19 school year. Students will learn about the meaning of Labor Day and began to understand how past events lend themselves to current and future events. Students will listen to podcasts and set the tone for inquiry based learning for the school year.
Homework due 9-7-18
ALL: All classes sign up for Google Classroom. Class codes will be sent home on Tuesday and have been updated on my home page.
Homeroom 302: Return parent (and student as needed) signed forms.
Homeroom 302: Return parent (and student as needed) signed forms.
- Ray Parent and Student Handbook acknowledgement page
- New Emergency Contact form
- Family Income form--this form is crucial for us to get funding from the state
1st Week 2nd Quarter
7th grade: Finishing up their study of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692
Listening to "The Crucible"
Creating a poster depicting one of the acts (as a group)
8th Grade: Present as groups "The Haymarket Event"
View images of the Haymarket Event
Finish Essays on their position "Is Albert Parsons Dangerous"
Debate
Listening to "The Crucible"
Creating a poster depicting one of the acts (as a group)
8th Grade: Present as groups "The Haymarket Event"
View images of the Haymarket Event
Finish Essays on their position "Is Albert Parsons Dangerous"
Debate
2nd Week 2nd Quarter
7th Grade: Present Posters
Begin inquiry on Valley Forge
Students will look at primary and secondary sources
Determine if they would quit if they were part of Washington's army
8th Grade: Present labor union posters from around the world
Begin inquiry on the Homestead Strike
Determine which source is more reliable for the side of the workers/owners
Begin inquiry on Valley Forge
Students will look at primary and secondary sources
Determine if they would quit if they were part of Washington's army
8th Grade: Present labor union posters from around the world
Begin inquiry on the Homestead Strike
Determine which source is more reliable for the side of the workers/owners
3rd Week 2nd Quarter
7th Grade: Interview with a relative Due Friday December 1st
Choose 5 tentative topics for history fair
Begin argumentative essay in favor of staying, quitting or remaining neutral
8th Grade: Interview with a relative Due Friday December 1st
Choose 5 tentative topics for history fair
Begin argumentative essay in favor of the workers or owners
Choose 5 tentative topics for history fair
Begin argumentative essay in favor of staying, quitting or remaining neutral
8th Grade: Interview with a relative Due Friday December 1st
Choose 5 tentative topics for history fair
Begin argumentative essay in favor of the workers or owners
4th/5th Week 2nd Quarter
7th Grade: The passage of the Stamp Act in 1765 outraged American colonists and fueled discontent with British rule that led to the outbreak of the American Revolution. Why was a rather small tax so fiercely resented? In this week's lesson, students engage in key aspects of historical thinking as they explore this question.
8th Grade: When the Pullman Company slashed factory workers' wages in the summer of 1894, thousands of railroad workers went on strike and refused to run trains, including Pullman cars. The strike divided the nation. In this week's lesson, students read parallel accounts from two opposing Chicago newspapers. Students read each newspaper closely to identify the key phrases that demonstrate each paper’s position on the strike.
8th Grade: When the Pullman Company slashed factory workers' wages in the summer of 1894, thousands of railroad workers went on strike and refused to run trains, including Pullman cars. The strike divided the nation. In this week's lesson, students read parallel accounts from two opposing Chicago newspapers. Students read each newspaper closely to identify the key phrases that demonstrate each paper’s position on the strike.
6th Week 2nd Quarter
Students will begin research for their History Fair Projects and Black History Project.
7th Graders: Declaration of Independence
Most students are familiar with the Declaration of Independence. But have they ever critically examined the text or questioned the motives of its authors? In this lesson plan, students weigh contrasting interpretations by prominent historians to answer the question: Why did the Founders write the Declaration of Independence?
8th Graders: Child Labor
Lewis Hine shot hundreds of photographs that exposed the working conditions facing thousands of child laborers in the first two decades of the twentieth century. His powerful images shed light on a world largely hidden from most middle-class Americans and influenced public debate about child labor laws. This lesson asks students to think critically about Hine’s photographs and their usefulness as evidence of the past.
7th Graders: Declaration of Independence
Most students are familiar with the Declaration of Independence. But have they ever critically examined the text or questioned the motives of its authors? In this lesson plan, students weigh contrasting interpretations by prominent historians to answer the question: Why did the Founders write the Declaration of Independence?
8th Graders: Child Labor
Lewis Hine shot hundreds of photographs that exposed the working conditions facing thousands of child laborers in the first two decades of the twentieth century. His powerful images shed light on a world largely hidden from most middle-class Americans and influenced public debate about child labor laws. This lesson asks students to think critically about Hine’s photographs and their usefulness as evidence of the past.
February 26, 2018
In-class Tasks for the Week 7th:
In-class Tasks for the Week 8th:
- Complete Packet: Slavery Grievance (annotate/Cornell notes/central question)
- CNN10 (Cornell notes/summary)
- New Critics Emerge for Lack of Action on Guns: Students (annotate/Cornell notes/essay)
- Current Event
- Homework: 7 primary sources due Friday
In-class Tasks for the Week 8th:
- Complete Packet: Newark Anniversary Guide (annotate/Cornell notes/guiding questions)
- CNN10 (Cornell notes/summary)
- New Critics Emerge for Lack of Action on Guns: Students (annotate/Cornell notes/essay)
- Current Event
- Homework: 7 primary sources due Friday