Regina Jr Sr High Newsletter
September 2020
From the Principal
We are two weeks into the school-year and our students have been awesome. A lot is being asked of these 12-18 year olds. They have been understanding, patient, and responsible. We can work on our concept of social distancing, but overall things have gone very well.
The teachers and staff have been working very hard to provide to continue to provide a high level education to our students, whether they are here at Regina or online. As we depend on technology to deliver instruction, we will have issues. Our teachers continue to learn and adapt in this environment and should be applauded for their tremendous efforts.
We are fortunate to be able to have classes in-person and activities for our students, but those privileges may be short lived if we do not all work together and follow the guidelines set forth by Regina and other health organizations. This COVID-19 prayer of solidarity from the USCCB speaks to the fact that we all need to support each other to battle through this pandemic.
For all who have contracted coronavirus, we pray for care and healing.
For those who are particularly vulnerable, we pray for safety and protection.
For all who experience fear or anxiety, we pray for peace of mind and spirit.
For affected families who are facing difficult decisions between food on the table or public safety, we pray for policies that recognize their plight.
For those who do not have adequate health insurance, we pray that no family will face financial burdens alone.
For those who are afraid to access care due to immigration status, we pray for recognition of the God-given dignity of all.
For our brothers and sisters around the world, we pray for shared solidarity.
For public officials and decisionmakers, we pray for wisdom and guidance.
Father, during this time may your Church be a sign of hope, comfort and love to all.
Grant peace. Grant comfort. Grant healing. Be with us, Lord. Amen.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Glenn Plummer
Upcoming Events
9/10: JH Football @ West Branch, 7-12 Volleyball @ Durant
9/11: V Football @ North Cedar
9/12: Cross Country @ Luther, ACT Testing
9/14: F/S Football vs North Cedar
9/15: JH Football vs Maquoketa, 7-12 Volleyball @ West Branch
9/17: 7-12 Volleyball @ Anamosa, Cross Country @ Cascade
9/18: V Football vs Wapello
9/19: JH Cross Country @ Solon, V Volleyball @ Benton Comm.
9/21: F/S Football @ Wapello
9/22: JH Football vs Anamosa, 7-12 Volleyball vs Tipton, Board of Ed. meeting @ 6:30
9/24: JH Football @ West Liberty, 7-12 Volleyball @ West Liberty, V Cross Country @ CR Kennedy
9/25: V Football vs Lisbon
9/26: V Volleyball @ North Cedar
9/28: F/S Football @ Lisbon
9/29: JH Football vs Tipton, 7-12 Volleyball vs Mid-Prairie, V Cross Country @ IC West
10/1: JH Football @ Mid-Prairie, JH Cross Country @ IC City
10/2: V Football @ Columbus Junction
10/3: V Cross Country @ Wartburg
Rosary Every Wednesday
Chromebooks
Also, please remind your students to charge their Chromebook every night.
The Distance Learning Playbook for Parents
Department Updates
Art
Fall Play
The Regina High School Theatre Department will present the fall play, Harvey, directed by Richard Tiegs. Performance dates are Saturday, 10/17 at 2 pm and 7 pm and Sunday, 10/18 at 2 pm. Information about ticket sales and reserved seating for performances (to assure social distancing) will be shared closer to the show.
Harvey, a Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy by Mary Chase, is the story of a perfect gentleman, Elwood P. Dowd, and his best friend, Harvey -- a pooka, who is a six-foot tall, invisible rabbit. When Elwood begins introducing Harvey around town, his embarrassed sister, Veta Louise, and her daughter, Myrtle Mae, decide to commit Elwood to a sanitarium. When they arrive at the sanitarium, a comedy of errors ensues.
Math
Geometry
It’s been a fast two weeks in Geometry. We have reviewed linear equations, systems of equations, and graphs. We are just starting plotting, midpoints at a distance and finishing the first unit with perimeter, circumference, and area. The students have been great. All students are working hard and getting back into the swing of school. I’m looking forward to getting to know both students and parents better.
Math Club
Math Club will start this Wednesday, 9/9 in Mrs. Hill's room (609). Math League competitions start in mid-to-late September for middle school and high school, and our in-school written contests (ASMA) will start in November. If any 7th - 12th graders are interested in joining Math Club, please email Mrs. Hill (beth.hill@icregina.com). A preliminary email already went out to Math Club members from last year.
Precalculus
We have finished our first unit on Functions as well as the summer review packet. Students are working hard to refresh their brains with all the topics they learned in Algebra 2. The next few weeks will be filled with Operations and Composition of Functions, Analyzing Graphs of Functions, and Inverse Functions.
Science
We have set up our lab notebooks and are well into the unit Thinking Like a Scientist. We are working on some thinking strategies and learning to identify "fake" scientific news. When we are finished with this unit, we are going to review fossils.
High School Earth and Space Science
Currently we are learning about the Nature of Science. What is science and what is NOT science. We are investigating the Tunguska Event and practicing writing claims based on evidence and then providing reasoning to support our claim. This unit will lead right into Space Systems where we will learn about evidence that supports the Big Bang Theory.
Physics
It’s a new year in a new science room. Due to spacing and the addition of extra desks, we haven’t been able to truly use the lab parts of the room, but we have started doing demonstrations for both online and in person students. We are currently working our way through one dimensional force. We had a great discussion of which should fall to the ground faster, a feather or a bowling ball, and can you be saved by jumping in a crashing elevator. I’m looking forward to a fun filled year of physics.
School Counselor
Students have until September 11th to change classes from the start of the semester. If a student needs to make a schedule change yet, please email Mrs. Zoulek, the school counselor at lynne.zoulek@regina.org or have the student stop by her office.
All PE Waiver forms (for Grades 9-12) for both semesters and Late Arrival and Early Release forms (Grades 7-12) for semester 1 must be turned in ASAP. Please email them to lynne.zoulek@regina.org or bring a signed copy to her office.
Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors:
Workplace Learning Connections is offering Job Shadow Opportunities for all 10-12 grade students this fall. These 1 time experiences to explore a career field. View the Job Shadow/Internship presentation video. Job Shadow experiences for students are voluntary this year. To sign up for a job shadow experience, visit www.workplace-learning.org. The deadline is October 9th at 2:00 PM
Social Studies
7th Grade Contemporary Global Studies
In the seventh-grade Contemporary Global Studies course, students will explore global perspectives on contemporary global issues and geography. Students will also examine challenges facing the world community such as hunger, population, conflict, global environmental challenges, human rights, poverty, energy scarcity, global health, education, immigration, globalization, and other political, economic, social, and ecological concerns. We will "travel" through each continent this year; first learning the political geography of the continent and some of the current issues within that continent as well. We will start first in Europe and will debate the essential question of if membership in the European Union is worthwhile? This week, the students also participated in their Fantasy Geopolitics draft in which they drafted three countries. The students will track the points that are earned in those three countries by examining the current events in those countries as well. The students loved the draft and I am excited to hear their discussions as we continue with the simulation throughout the year!
AP US History
Advanced Placement United States History is equivalent to a yearlong introductory US History college course. The class will provide students more information and depth about American History as compared to a non-AP U.S. History class. Essay writing and critical thinking skills will be emphasized, developed, and utilized during the year. A college-level text, American Pageant, will be used as well as several other supplemental texts and materials. The curriculum will cover the time period 1400-present and the focus is on the development of historical thinking skills centered on thematic learning objectives. This past week, the students have jumped in Period 1 which covers Chapters 1-4 of their text. We are discussing the colonization of the Americas by the Spanish, French, and the English which will then develop into the study of the original Thirteen Colonies for the first part of September.
Spanish
¡Noticias del Departamento de Español!
The Spanish program at Regina is excellent with a rigorous yet flexible Curriculum!
Spanish I is an introductory course of Spanish language learning in a cultural context. This course aims to develop the students’ communicative skills with introduction of basic elements of Spanish grammar structure and vocabulary. Students will be engaged in activities that promote the development of the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in context, both in and outside the classroom setting. Students will work towards meeting the “Novice High” level of proficiency as outlined by the American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Language.
Spanish IV continues the development of the Spanish language and expands the students’ Spanish learning journey. At this advanced level, students will engage in activities that will promote the development of the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing both in and outside the classroom setting, through a variety of assignments and class discussion in Spanish. They will be able to ask and answer questions on familiar topics dealing with everyday situations, read and write short essays on a variety of topics of authentic materials in Spanish. Students will work towards meeting the “Intermediate Mid” level of proficiency as outlined by the American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Language.
Both Mrs. McAndrew and I are totally committed to the success of all the students in our Spanish classes!
Mrs. Vera Lazarre
¡Bienvenidos a Español II & III! –Sra. McAndrew
Spanish classes are off to a good start! Students are ready to learn whether in person or online. It is great to see all of them again! We also welcome Sra. Vera Lazarre to our Spanish Department. She is an experienced teacher who is very excited to join our Regina Family. She is teaching levels 1 and 4. We are both looking forward to teaching your children.
Español 2
We have started the year with an all review from level 1. We will continue reviewing vocabularies, conjugation, and important grammar points they learned in level 1.
In the first semester we will work with the past tense, present progressive, and Ser and Estar.
We will also learn vocabularies that deal with traveling and leisure activities.
There will be an emphasis on spelling, pronunciation, and sentence structure.
Español 3
We started the school year with a review of the present tense of AR, ER and IR verbs, question words, and vocabularies studied in level II. We will move on to the past tense and the imperfect. Of course we will review and learn more about the uses and differences of Ser and Estar.
In the first semester we will be studying how to prepare and describe foods from Spanish speaking countries, the command form for Usted/Ustedes, affirmative and negative words, and double object pronouns. We will be writing paragraphs or short stories and will concentrate on reading comprehension skills. Later on, we will do more advanced readings for this level. We will eventually learn the subjunctive mood, perfect, future and conditional tenses.
I am very excited to teach these students. I can already tell they are all willing and fast learners! I know we will have an exciting school year!
Theology
JH Via: We have used “Getting the Most Out of Middle School” to focus on this transition for the Junior High Students. Our first unit will continue these ideas with decision making and personal health. We have also done some community building activities within each class. Each week we will read the Gospel to help the students gain a better understanding of its meaning and they will have reflection questions to answer.
11th Grade: We have started our first unit of the Morality Semester. The topic is “What is life in Christ?” We will look in depth at the Theological Virtues as well as Cardinal Virtues to see how they shape our life in Christ. The students will also be looking into the nine steps of living a moral life based on our curriculum. Each week, in Theology your student will watch mass and go over the Gospel that will be read on Sunday. We will discuss its meaning as a class, and the students will answer reflection questions.
Regina Junior Senior High School
Email: glenn.plummer@regina.org
Website: www.regina.org
Location: 2150 Rochester Avenue, Iowa City, IA, United States
Phone: (319)-338-5436
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReginaEducation/
Twitter: @gap_4