Eighth Grade Religion Assignments

Last call for grades! 

 

I am putting zeros in the grade book for any missing assignments to help get attention, so that you know the consequence/how it will effect your grade if that assignment doesn't get made up or turned in.

 

However, that doesn't mean that it will stick; I need all assignments to be in to me by Tuesday night.

 

Today in class we took our last quiz on the reformation.  The rest of the year we will quickly survey the last 400 years of church history.

Today we discussed some 8th grade awards, began a survey on their experience at SCCS, and had some work time.

Upcoming assignments:

Tomorrow- News Article Summary and Seminar on Conclusion of Created for Greatness

Monday- Service Reflection and Quiz on the Reformation

Today I only saw 8X due to Performance Series testing.  We will have a quiz on Thursday on the Reformation.  If I need to adjust this due to not seeing 8Y today, I will post it...it could possibly be moved to Monday.

 

Last assignments:

Quiz on Thursday

Seminar on Friday

News Summary due Friday

Service Reflection due Monday

Seminar Reflection due Monday

 

Today we did a seminar on the need to cultivate humility.

 

We will continue with the English Reformation next week and then highlight some saints that the Lord raised up at the time to help heal the divisions that were beginning to happen.

 

Final grades of the semester:

New Article Summaries for fourth quarter are due May 20th

May service reflection is due May 23rd

We will have one more quiz on the reformation and counter-reformation and one more seminar.  

We have begun to cover the Reformation.  We are learning about Martin Luther, John Calvin, Henry VIII.  

We will have a seminar on chapter 5 of Created for Greatness- Thursday for 8Y; Friday for 8X

We have reviewed for Thursday's quiz and all should be ready to take that.  A study guide is on classroom.

Friday we had a seminar.  The reflection questions are due the second day of class (Tuesday 8Y and Wednesday 8X).  

Monday the saint book report is due.  The rubric is attached.

Service Reflection due Friday April 29th

Thursday we discussed the contributions of many saints in the 15th century.

Friday we have seminar on page 59-70 of Created for Greatness.

Monday the Saint Book reports are due.

Today we talking about saints who reformed the Church during the fifteenth century. The two main saints are St. Colette and St. Joan of Arc.  Others that we are studying include St. Antoninus, Bl. Juliana of Norwich, Bl. John Dominic, and St. Vincent Ferrer.

We will begin to study nationalism, humanism and free thinking Thursday.  As well as look into John Wycliffe and his teachings.  These ideas are the immediate precursor to the Protestant Reformation.

Seminar on Friday will be on pages 59-70 of Created for Greatness.

Today we discussed a little how SCCS lives out its mission statement as well as had "manners spotlight".  We reviewed some common courtesies like meeting new people, having a good conversation, and how to hold yourself to show confidence.  Hopefully you see the fruits of these discussions at home when you ask, "How was school today?".

Yesterday the 8th grade listened to Mr. Alexandre Havard.  8Y had a work day to work on their book reports that are due May 2nd.

Service Reflections were handed out today to 8Y (tomorrow to 8X).

We will begin to discuss the Avignon Papacy, St. Catherine of Siena, and the great schism early this week.

On Friday, 8th grade has a seminar on pages 48-58 of Created for Greatness by Alexandre Havard.  Mr. Havard will be here in person, all the way from Moscow to speak with the 8th graders about leadership.  

Today (8Y) we reviewed the crusades for a quiz on Thursday.  There is a study guide on Classroom.

We will have a seminar on Friday on Created for Greatness on pages 48-58.

I introduced the new News Summary format for the fourth quarter.

Annie Grandell is going to meet with the ladies Thursday during white period.  She will meet with them this time and then once more on May 10th.

Today we did a simulation/mock UN debate to avoid war between two imaginary countries.  In both classes we struggled to come to a peaceful solution, however, time was short.  We did this to apply the Just War Doctrine and simulate how difficult it can be to reach peace, but that it is worth the struggle.  Tomorrow 8X has a work day to work on their saint reports; 8Y has Adoration.  8Y will have a work day on April 18th.

Yesterday and today we discussed the causes and effects of the crusades.  We also talked about the just war theory and what the Church teaches about when it is okay to go to war.  We will have a simulation tomorrow of two countries who want to go to war, but are seeking peaceful means to end their disagreement.

Today in class we talked about the Solemnity of the Annunciation (today's feast) and the Feast of Divine Mercy which occurred yesterday.  We discussed how these two are so intertwined.  This coincidence of them being right next to each other only occurs when Easter falls on March 27th.  It happened 12 years ago and not again for at least 40 more years.  

Extra Credit or Homework Pass Opportunity

Sunday at St. Michael's there is a celebration in honor of Divine Mercy.

 

Exposition begins at 1:30 there are confessions and Adoration, a talk by Fr. Anderson, music, praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and benediction at 3:30. More details in last week's bulletin...https://content.parishesonline.com/bulletins/02/0413/20160327B.pdf

 

If your child goes I will give them extra credit or a pass for an upcoming homework assignment.  If you go a different parish and they are having a similar celebration, please email me and they will receive the same opportunity. 

 

Service reflections due April 1st.

This week are beginning to talk about the Crusades in Church History.  We will have seminar tomorrow on Chapter 3 of Created for Greatness.  

Service reflections are due tomorrow either paper or electronic submissions.

Today the 8th graders presented their slideshow of a reformer from the 11th or 12th century.  They have a quiz tomorrow.  The study guide is posted on Classroom and all information is in the textbook.

In class on Monday we discussed three major areas of the Church that needed to be reformed.  We will discuss in class four major reformers at the time.  The quiz on Friday will be on the items discussed in the study guide.

Your child will have received these forms from me in class, but we are asking that they discuss the survey with parents and give us an idea of possible plans.  The survey will help in giving them an idea of possible numbers for Extreme Faith Camp, Summer Stretch, and other events.  Please get this information back to us by Monday, either on paper or electronically: http://goo.gl/forms/CxXJLKuuB8.  Thank you.

Today we had a seminar on the life ideal of humility.

Reflections will be a little different this week.  We are going to have it be more like a discussion board and it has to be done on Google Classroom, with a few exceptions. The students need to respond by Monday to all four questions or to another students' answer.

Today we started the chapter titled "The Medieval Church"  

We will have a quiz on this next Friday, March 18th.  The students received a study guide today for this that we will work through for the next week.

Tomorrow we have a seminar on chapter 2 of Created for Greatness and there is News Summary due.

Today we reviewed the third age of the Church, which is the Carolingian age and we will begin the fourth age- the High Middle Ages on Thursday.

Fr. Izen came and spoke today on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist

Today we had a guest speaker on the history and roots of Islam and its early interactions in the Church, its main tenets, and the beginnings of the religion.  This week we will continue to move deeper into the Middle Ages and will cover the chapter called, "The Medieval Church".

Just a reminder that this week I will have study times for students to work on religion work or on their book reports- here is a link to the times I will be here before and after school  http://vols.pt/DTyTAC

Today we took a quiz on Unit 8 and had a chance to go to confession in the afternoon.

Monday we will have retired Colonel Buzz Kriesel come talk to the 8th grade about the founding of Islam and its effects on Church History during the 6th-8th century.  

This talk will be during religion and history block.

Come to the parish mission any night this week and receive a no homework pass for your class...come four times and get four passes!  Details in the bulletin or follow the link below:

https://content.parishesonline.com/bulletins/02/0413/20160228B.pdf 

6th grade- one night of no homework questions

7th grade - one night of no Gospel reflectin

8th grade - one night of no News Summary

Today/Yesterday the 8th grade read about Charlemagne and learned about the feudal system.  We will have a quiz on the material in unit 8 on Friday.

Today we went over some reminders and announcements of upcoming events and then we talked a little about the beginnings of Islam and the relationship that Islam had with the Church.  Col. Buzz Kriesel will come speak more on this topic on Monday, March 7th during history and religion class.

Tomorrow we have seminar.  We are reading Chapter 1 of Created for Greatness.  I have given them some time to read in class throughout the week.  

Today we talked about the Church's teaching on the role of the Church and the role of the government in the area of social justice. 

Love and Life Project - Extra Credit Opportunity

6:30-8:00 at St. Mary's Great Hall

Pizza and Pop at the beginning of the evening

A students should come with a parent for the entire evening's events.  It would be good to have a parent of the same gender for the purpose of the men's and women's breakout sessions.

The night's event revolves around the beauty of human love and the beauty of life when love is authentic.  

Please see the flyer for more information.  

On Friday we had a seminar on the Introduction to the Created for Greatness by Alexandre Havard.  Seminars will be studying this book over the course of the next few weeks.  

Seminar reflection due Monday.  It is posted on Google Classroom for electronic submission.  For those who prefer paper and pencil, the assignment is: 

Seminar reflection: Write at least 8 sentences reflecting on your experience in seminar today.

What are two principles of leadership that you have witnessed and been inspired by in leaders you have seen or learned about?

What is one leadership principle that you can work on in a practical way and what can you do to improve on it?

What is the main concept that a true leader is working on attaining?

Why does a leader need all four cardinal virtues (self-control, justice, courage, and prudence)?  Why would he/she not be a good leader if they lacked one?

What does principle number five mean in your own words?

Today we reviewed the last quiz we took to refresh our memories on our Church History topic, we went over some announcements, and talked a little about ELC.  We will do the same in 8X tomorrow.  News Summary due Friday. 

This week we have been working on ELC prayer booklets.  Each student has a particular role to fulfill in their creation.  All edits need to be finished by Friday at 1pm.

I assigned the Spring Book Report today in order to allow students to pick their saint book before Adoration tomorrow.  Some took me up on the offer.  I will have work sessions available for students if they would like to come in before or after school to work on the assignment or ask questions as the deadline gets closer.  The report is due May 2nd. 

We also watched a video by Fr. Mike Schmitz on preparing for Lent.  Students will dedicate some Adoration time to thinking about what would be best to do for lent.

Service reflections deadline is extended to tonight...if I get them tonight by email I won't mark them late, due to my not posting it on the website until last evening.

 

We will be making prayer booklets for ELC this week in class.

Service Reflection due Monday

Today 8th grade took a quiz on the Fall of Rome.  Tomorrow we will not have a seminar and there is no news summary.  We will work on Faith Rally saint time activities.

 

Volunteer/Service Opportunity: Thursday, Feb 4th 5:45-8:30pm

Light Their Way - Tuition Assistance Fundraiser Gala

The Light Their Way dinner is 2 weeks away.   We’re still in great need for students to help serve the guests.   We have 12 more spots available. 

Sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050545aead2aa64-light1 

Dinner and snacks will be available to students in a separate room while the guests are eating and listening to the speaker.   

Thank you!

Tuesday/Wednesday we will be discussing some of the results of the Barbarian invasions and some of the main saints of the time period.

Thursday we will have a quiz on the Fall of Rome; the information in the PowerPoint from last week and the class notes on Tuesday/Wednesday will be the content to study.

Friday we had a seminar discussion on Arianism.

Tuesday there is a reflection due; the questions are posted on Google Classroom. Students had about ten minutes to begin the assignment in class.

Thursday we will have a quiz on the Fall of Rome.

Students have a quiz Thursday on the legalization of Christianity.  There is a study guide posted for them on Google Classroom.

Seminar on Friday will be on Arianism and its ramifications and lingering effects even today.

NO NEWS SUMMARY---we will begin these again second semester

Yesterday I was out of town for a funeral.  The students worked independently on a PowerPoint about the Second Age of the Church and the Fall of Rome specifically. Tuesday/Wednesday we reviewed for the quiz on Thursday, went into a little more depth about the Fall of Rome and Monasticism.  This new information will be on next week's quiz.  There is a study guide for this week's quiz on Classroom.

Volunteer Opportunity: Discover Kindergarten (see attached)

Middle School students needed to run the events in the gym.

Mrs. Polley will meet with all those interested on Friday.

Arrive at 1:30 and please wear Frozen apparel or costume or uniform.

Tuesday/Wednesday the students had a chance to work on their book report.  Those who were finished had an opportunity for peer editing and faith rally brainstorming.

 

Attached are the assignment and rubric.

8X had a presentation given on the Vatican and reviewed some major elements of the second age of the Church

8Y finished Rise of Guardians, which we began before break, and answered some discussion questions

Both classes will be given their next class period to work on or peer review their saint book report/project.

The saint report is due Thursday.

Today 8X helped 2nd graders make a card for Sr. Amata Christi in order to practice for their Faith Rally leadership role.

 

8Y began to watch The Rise of the Guardians; we will finish this and discuss some of the spiritual meaning in it tomorrow.

New service opportunity available on the volunteer opportunities site: http://www.stcroixcatholic.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?type=d&uREC_ID=190053&pREC_ID=878247

Today we talked about St. Martin of Tours; the spiritual and corporal works of mercy; Pope Francis on his birthday; and the early structure of the church.

The Service Reflection is the only homework due before break.  Book reports are due January 7th; the Thursday after Christmas break. A copy of the assignment and rubric are attached.

Reminder there is NO SCHOOL tomorrow.

New webpage feature- 

On the Middle School page of the website there is now a Volunteer Opportunities page.  Please look here for opportunities to serve the school and church community and to find projects for the service reflection assignment.

Volunteers needed!  Service Opportunity: Tuesday, December 15th from 5:00-7:00

Gingerbread Night for the preschool and kindergarten.  Please meet at the school using the front entrance.  The event is 5:30-7:30.  Please arrive at 5:00 for directions.

Please email me if you think you will be able to help! [email protected] 

We still have need for five more volunteers!

Today we mainly spoke about Mrs. Rooker and took some time to go to the Adoration chapel to pray for her soul and for the family.  

The funeral Mass will be at 11am; followed by the burial at St. Michael's in Bayport; followed by a light luncheon.  We will need volunteer middle school students to help clear that luncheon.  If you are able to sign up to help, please go to this link (you have to be signed into your stccschool account: https://docs.google.com/a/stccschool.com/document/d/1KQN-Dg4UizArG6iCYdMRrbvJ3PLW6-rEhRR12UxhrHk/edit?usp=sharing

Seminar reflection due Monday.

On loose-leaf in cursive or to be typed, write 5-8 sentences reflecting on your experience in seminar today. 

 vWhy do we call the Eucharist the source and summit of our faith?  Why is it the most excellent sacrament?

 vWhy does the Mass have so many names?  What is the significance of at least one of them?

v How do communion and confession change us? 

v What is something that you have learned or come to understand more deeply about the sacraments over the past few weeks?

Today we had a quiz.

Seminar on Friday will be on the sacraments of Eucharist and confession.

YouCat numbers 208-213; 215-223; 230-239; the students had the majority of class time to prepare for this as well as do any missing assignments for my class or read their saint book.

NO NEWS ARTICLE SUMMARY TOMORROW 

(formerly known as Winter Blast)

Last call for permission slips!  Please have all permission slips to me by Wednesday. Here is a link for electronic sign up: http://goo.gl/forms/1NFsf09peu

This is an optional event on Saturday, December 19th.  It is sponsored by Faith Formation, so it will be SCCS and Faith Formation children attending the event.  

A permission slip and poster with information are attached.  Please email me if you have any further questions.  Thank you!

 

Tuesday/Wednesday we learned about marriage and holy orders.  We will have a quiz over four sacraments on Thursday: Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Marriage

Seminar on Friday will be on the sacraments of Eucharist and confession. YouCat numbers 208-213; 215-223; 230-239

Today in class we reviewed the sacraments of healing and will have a quiz on these on Thursday.  

We talked about the upcoming Jubilee Year of Mercy that begins tomorrow and lasts for about a year (until next November 20th).  

Today we took a quiz on the sacraments of initiation and had about 20 minutes to start on News Article Summaries...most finished within class.

The quiz on December 3rd will rely mostly on the attached PowerPoint, please use this to study.

Today/tomorrow we discussed the sacraments of healing and their role in our lives.

We will have a quiz on Thursday on the sacraments of initiation.  News Article Summary due Friday; students will have some class time after their quiz to work on news summaries and saint reports.  

Service Reflections were due today.  Please get them in ASAP if you forgot.

Today we talked about Advent and made a game plan for the few weeks to help us allow Jesus to have more opportunity to break into our lives.  We watched a little of Bishop Cozzens talking about Advent, a video preview of the fun that could be had at the Lock-In, and talked about practical details about some communion changes at School Mass and an opportunity for all school confession on Friday.

We have a quiz on Thursday on the sacraments of initiation. 

This week we discussed a little of the roots of the Eucharist and its connection with the Passover Supper.  When we return from Thanksgiving we will have a quiz on the sacraments of initiation. The attached PowerPoint will be the bulk of the quiz. Service reflections due Monday. Have a good Thanksgiving and a blessed beginning of Advent. 

Today we had seminar.  This is the assignment for the reflection:

On loose-leaf in cursive or to be typed, write 5-8 sentences reflecting on your experience in seminar today.  Choose 3 of the 4 questions.

v What is the main theme that runs through all the sacraments?

 vWhat does the YouCat mean by mistaken liberality?

 vWhat does it mean that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit and how does this have to do with today’s Gospel?

 vWhat happens to someone through the sacrament of confirmation?

Today we talked about baptism and confirmation. Seminar tomorrow will be on baptism and confirmation- YouCat 193-207 (paragraph numbers -"suns").  Also News Article Summary is due tomorrow. I gave about 15-20 minutes of class time to work on those two assignments. 

Service Opportunity for Middle Schoolers-

 

Do you like to cook or bake?  We need hors d'oeuvres for Sunday's Art Benefit. If you are able to make something please email Mrs. Kiolbasa [email protected].  You may bring the hors d'oeuvres to St. Michael's anytime Sunday or to the event itself if you or a family member are going.

Thanks! 

Today we discussed major heresies, famous saints, Roman emperors, and other key ideas of the Apostolic Era.  We will have a quiz on this and the PowerPoint from Monday. tomorrow.We did a little study of the first church council in Acts 15.  The three questions on classroom are due tomorrow.  

News Summary due Friday. Time in class will be given to working on this.

Today in class we discussed a few of the major persecutions and the emperor leading Rome at the time.  We also learned a little about the culture of the time to help put the persecutions in perspective.  We talked about a few of the saints of the time. No homework due tomorrow.  We will have a quiz on Thursday & a News Summary on Friday.

Thursday the 8th grade watched a brief video on marriage and talked about vocations in general leading us to heaven.  

Middle school helpers needed for Merry Mall- please see the link if you are able to help. 

http://www.stcroixcatholic.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?type=d&uREC_ID=287390&pREC_ID=856530

Today was Miscellaneous Monday and we did a lot! We reviewed a little from Friday's seminar.  

Then we watched a brief video on the vocation stories of two priests in honor of Vocation Awareness Week this week: http://safeshare.tv/v/ss56377c53b7c8b. One of the priests in the video is Fr. Mike Schmitz.  

We reviewed service opportunities that are coming up, here is a link to them: http://www.stcroixcatholic.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?type=d&uREC_ID=287390&pREC_ID=856530

Neil Kirchoefer, the junior high faith formation director, came by to talk about upcoming Junior High Youth Ministry events.  

And we began to write a class prayer for Danny for a gift that is being prepared for him.  

Tomorrow/Wednesday we will work a little more on the prayer book page, watch a brief newly made video on women's religious life, and then get back to our regularly scheduled Church History topic of the years after the Apostles. 

Tomorrow we will have a seminar on the article, "Outside the Church there is no salvation".  It is a long and somewhat difficult to understand article, but so necessary to understand for the faith. Please put some extra effort into it.  

Also, News Article Summaries and Service Reflections for October are due.

Today for 8Y and tomorrow for 8X, we concluded with a discussion on magnanimity. Then reviewed briefly for a quiz on Thursday.  The quiz will be on the Didache and a few vocabulary words from class. 

Today we did a seminar on the topic of the Didache.

Seminar Reflection due Monday:

On loose-leaf in cursive or to be typed, write 5-8 sentences reflecting on your experience in seminar today.

vHow are these teachings the same as today?

vHow do you live out chapter one?

vHow can I approach the sacraments more purely?

Today we took a quick quiz and then students had some time to work on their news article summary and to prepare for seminar tomorrow.  The seminar topic is the attached Didache reading.

8X took their quiz

No homework

Today we finished the Peter and Paul video and continued to look at the Acts of the Apostles.  We read chapters 9, 12, 14, and 16.  We will have a quiz on this Tuesday or Wednesday of next week before MEA.  The attached questions from the video are due tomorrow (Thursday).  

Over the course of the month we will be using a decade of the rosary as our class opening prayer.  Each student signed up to lead a certain decade.  The PowerPoint attached may be used for reference.  The assignment is a five point assignment and they need to have these three elements for full credit.  

v1) What is the mystery about?
2) How does it apply to my life?
3) Lead a decade

Seminar Reflection due today.  Here are the requirements/questions:

On loose-leaf in cursive or to be typed, write 5-8 sentences reflecting on your experience in seminar today.

vWhat are some things you learned?

vWhat is one thing you are now interested in for Pope Francis’ visit?

vWhat was interesting/fun about seminar?

vWhat was something difficult about seminar?

vWhat will you do differently next time in seminar?

Today in class we did our first Socratic Seminar over the topic of Pope Francis' visit. Homework over the weekend is to finish the seminar reflection if it was not finished in class.

News Article Summary due today

Today in class we took a quiz on the attached PowerPoint's information.  We will have seminar tomorrow.  Students were given an explanation of seminar and the attached article to read to prepare.  Homework is to be prepared with about 7 things to talk about from the article and to have the news article summary completed.

 

Textbook must be covered by this date

Syllabus due signed