Summer Shakespeare

Next fall we will be performing 12th Night by William Shakespeare. I highly encourage 8th grade families to attend as many Shakespeare performances as you can this summer. We are very fortunate to have 2 different troupes performing in the parks all summer long for free.

http://www.opsfest.org/tour-calendar.html

http://www.portlandactors.com/

I have attended productions by both troupes and found them to be wonderful.

Welcome 2014 - 2015 8th Graders

Welcome to all the new 8th grade families! I am thrilled to be working with you and know that you're looking forward to a relaxing summer filled with adventures. I plan to do some camping, lots of hiking, and get my daughter ready to head off to Purdue.

During the last week of school, the summer homework was passed out. The homework involves the student choosing one of the activities below each day and completing it. When they have successfully completed it, they should ask an adult to sign it off. Part of what I'm hoping they will learn is how to plan ahead and manage their schedule. The coming years will require students to know how to look at their day/week and figure out how to make things happen. This is a perfect time to practice this skill. If your student lost their sheet, or wasn't here to get it, I have copied it below. Please note that I have left empty places in case there is something that does not fit your family, or if you have another brilliant idea!

Middle School Summer Homework

The MISSION of Cascade Heights Public Charter School is to inspire the social, emotional, academic, physical, personal, and ethical growth of children and partner with parents who share the same mission to prepare them to be members of a global society.

Students should choose one item to complete each day of the summer vacation. Items range in difficulty and time commitment, but are all designed to maintain the academic skills they gained during their year and prepare them for a successful transition to the next grade. Please feel free to email with ideas for alternative activities! There are 80 activities and only 60 days of vacation, so there’s plenty of flexibility and you’re welcome to come up with similar ideas that fit your family better. As students complete an activity, they will ask you to initial and date that box. This page is due on the first day of school.

Social/Emotional	Academic	Physical	Personal
Write a letter to someone and mail it.	Go to the library and check out and read a nonfiction book.	Ride your bike.	Pick one habit to change and do it for 21 days.
Help your family plan and pack for a picnic.  Help with menu planning, grocery shopping, and food preparation.	Memorize a poem and recite it for your family.	Go skating.	Prepare your homework space.
Read a picture book out loud to someone younger than you.	Visit a museum.	Go swimming.	Clean your room.
Learn how to play Cat’s Cradle with some string from someone who knows how.	Play a word game like Scrabble or Boggle.	Jump rope for 15 minutes.	Write down one thing you love about yourself every day for a week.
Play a game with a younger person (Candyland, Go Fish, etc.).	Play a money game like Monopoly.	Go for a hike of at least 1 mile.	Create a collage of all your favorite things. Bring it to class on the first day.
Ask a grandparent or other elder to tell about what life was like when they were kids.	Read about some time in history you are interested in.	Pick fresh fruit for at least half an hour.	Spend at least 30 minutes alone, either inside or outside, reflecting on what you want to change in the world.
Help plan and execute a progressive dinner with classmates	Read a book that begins with L	Grow vegetables	Try something new.
Make something and give it to someone in need of cheering up.	Practice your multiplication facts for 30 minutes.	Mow the lawn	Make a plan for your future. What high school do you want to go to? What college? What career path will you follow?
Have a barbecue.  Help serve the food.	Keep a diary. Write at least a full page each day.	Make and eat a salad with at least one vegetable you’ve never tried.	Take the multiple intelligences quiz and find out how you learn best. Email Mrs. Adams and tell her what it said. http://www.literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html
Practice your phone ettiquette by calling a grandparent or other relative.	Read the news. Highlight interesting adjectives.	Participate in an organized sport.	Create a word cloud about yourself. Fill it with words that describe who you are. Feel free to use http://www.wordle.net/
Go and entire day communicating only in person. (No computers or phones)	Listen to a book on tape (cd/mp3)	Have a water fight	Find a quote that speaks to you. Discuss with someone you love why it speaks to you.
Commit three random acts of kindness.	Play a math game on the web for 30 minutes.	Build something out of wood without power tools	Keep a diary. Each night reflect on whether you are reaching your goals.
Ride the bus	Practice keyboarding for 15 minutes a day for at least 10 days.	Walk around your neighborhood with a friend.	Research your family name.
Ride the MAX	Write a letter to Mrs. Adams and mail it.	Climb a mountain (or at least a big hill)	Volunteer in your family’s place of worship.
Go to the park	Help a younger child run a lemonade stand. Create a profit/loss report.	Row a boat/kayak/canoe	Find a song that has meaning to you. Discuss it your family.
Invite friends over for a pick up game	Plan a trip for your family. Figure out whether it is more cost effective to fly or drive.	Go horseback riding	Play “Would You Rather” or a similar game.
Host a sleep over	Cook a meal from a cookbook, doubling all quantities.	Climb Beacon Rock	Write an acrostic poem using your name.
Create a blog about your summer adventures	Choose a book from the BBC “Top 100” books list and read it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100.shtml.	Spend at least 3 hours in the woods	Invite someone you’ve had a hard time getting along with over.
Hold mock job interviews with friends, video tape it and send it to Mrs. Adams	Read a book with more than 100 pages.	Create a new smoothie recipe that uses only fresh ingredients	Make a list of your goals for 8th grade. Identify what help you will need to successfully complete your goals.
Be self reliant for an entire day. (Don’t let your parents do anything for you)	Read a magazine from cover to cover while sitting outside under a tree.	Get your middle school check up	Who’s your hero? Write 2 paragraphs about them. Tell me why they are your hero and why you want to be like them.