7 White Winter Newsletter
December 2015
Its been a great fall on 7 White!
Wind Rider Day
Happy Halloween from the Addams Family
Lancer Points Champion Term 1
7 White Symbaloo Page
Student Book Reviews - Accelerated Reader
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Reading Level: 5.3
Points: 15
Reviewed By: Amelia Kirshon
I really enjoyed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. If readers are looking for a fast-paced action novel that will leave you on the edge of your seat, look out for this book. The book is narrated by 16 year old Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to save her sister in the 74th annual Hunger Games. Along the way, she meets allies and enemies, and perseveres to try and survive. This is the first book in the Hunger Games Trilogy, and it’s almost impossible not to get hooked right after the first few chapters. Reading this novel is a great, easy way to earn points because you won’t want this book to end.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by JK Rowling
Reading Level: 7.2
Points: 29
Reviewed by Chloe Borgida
In this sixth installment of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling has done it again. This book is full of mystery, romance, suspense, and as always, action. Rowling does an amazing job vividly describing each and every scene. She has a way of giving the reader their very own spot in the story, while at the same time giving them enough distance so they don’t feel “too intruding.” Sometimes with action-packed novels, the ending almost feels not as exciting because of the other action throughout the plot, but the ending climax is still able to top them all.
Although each chapter is pretty long, it almost feels shorter than it actually is. Every chapter has its own little story that feeds into the whole book. Each character has their own little special scene in the story; and sometimes their part and stand out more than the other main characters and in my own opinion, that’s good thing.
Some of the rare negatives of the book are that this book features the kids growing into stronger love interests. What I mean is that they are growing up, so most of the story shares their sixteen-year old drama which can sometimes be hard to follow and evening annoying But out of the whole 607 page book, that is all.
Thus, this novel is for anybody who just wants to sit down and be sucked into a great heartfelt book.
The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan
Reading Level: 5.2
Points: 17
Reviewd by John Alvira
The book Blood of Olympus is a must read if you're into Greek and Roman mythology. It’s the final book in the Heroes of Olympus series with a huge battle between Camp Half-Blood and Jupiter. The Greeks and Romans must work together, and the Romans are not cooperating. Percy and his friends must stop Gaea from waking up and destroying the world. Reyna, Nico and Coach must deliver the Athena Parthenos to bring the Greeks and Romans together. Oh...and did I mention that they are being hunted by a giant that will stop at nothing and will kill anyone who gets in his way?? It’s a life or death situation in the Blood of Olympus. Will they stop Gaea from rising? Will Raena deliver the Athena Parthenos in time or will it all be for nothing? You’ll have to read for yourself.
View From Saturday by E.L Konigsburg
Reading Level: 5.9
Points: 7
Reviewed by Hope LeClaire
The book I read was The View from Saturday. It was realistic fiction. I did not like this book at all. Every chapter a different character is speaking and it is very hard to understand. The story did not make sense and it was very boring. I would not recommend this book to kids because the book does not make any sense, so the quiz was difficult. The questions were very detailed and if you don't get the book you won’t understand the questions.
Halloween Celebration
Meet the Teachers
Mrs Gonet - Social Studies, Team Leader
Website: gonet7w.weebly.com
Mrs. Crandall - English
Mrs. Damian Crandall was born and raised in the Catskill Mountains in New York State. She is a graduate of Monticello High School and went on to study at SUNY Cortland in the scenic snow-belt of upstate New York. She continued to pursue her post-graduate work at SUNY New Paltz in the lovely Shawongunk Mountain Range. Soon after, Mrs. Crandall moved to New England where she became a die-hard Patriots fan, despite being a New Yorker. She has lived in Cambridge, South Boston, Brighton, Arlington, Sharon, and is now a Norton resident. As a result, she now uses words like “wicked,” “Dunkies,” “bubbler,” and “No suh!” and has proudly learned how to properly drive in a rotary. She also learned how to save a parking spot while living in Southie.
Mrs. Crandall began teaching English at the Norton Middle School in 2000. She has been involved in many extra-curricular activities over the years. She advised several clubs, such as the newspaper, the drama club, the yearbook, and student council, and she is presently the Peer Leaders advisor. Clearly she enjoys working with kids both in and out of school. In addition, Mrs. Crandall was a Pop Warner cheer coach for several years; coincidentally, she pulled a muscle while attempting to demonstrate how to do a cartwheel, and the squad banned her from using poms as she could not use them responsibly.
When not in school, Mrs. Crandall loves spending time with her family, especially her daughter Haley. She enjoys walking her dog Bella, and she is an avid fan of shopping for everything and anything. Her favorite “eatery” is Orange Leaf, as one can never have too much frozen yogurt. She loves to talk (just ask her; she’ll tell you), and she truly enjoys reading to students the 7 White “team reads,” as she enjoys using dialects and being dramatic. She LOVES blonde jokes (although she doesn’t always “get” them) and all Kevin Costner movies, and, if you ask her, she will tell you that Billy Joel is the greatest entertainer that ever lived (you can take the girl out of New York, but you can’t take the New York out of the girl). She loves to travel, but she hates to fly; she is afraid of snakes, spiders, and the Oompa Loompas from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Her favorite novel has always been Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Most importantly, she enjoys working with children, especially middle school kids, and she supports using both humor and compassion in the classroom.
Mrs. Crandall’s future goals are to travel everywhere (preferably by teleporting so she won’t have to take a plane), to land a role in a Kevin Costner movie, to initiate brunette jokes, to create a new fro-yo flavor, and to always stay in touch with her students. GO PATS!
English Curriculum Updates
7 White English students completed their short story unit and have begun working on their five paragraph essays on My Access. They are presently completing a character analysis of one of the characters from this unit of study and will soon move on to another prompt. I am sure they are anxious to begin more writing!
In December, in the spirit of the holidays, students will begin a unit of drama by reading the beloved play A Christmas Carol, based on Charles Dickens’ famous novel, and all students will get to play a part! After, they will be given the task of writing an essay, in which they get to determine which ghost they believe had the greatest influence on Ebenezer Scrooge. Personally, I think it was the Spirit of Christmas Past, because I like to believe that Scrooge once had a very big heart, just like the Grinch! I am hopeful that the message the students take away from the play is that kindness and generosity go a long way.
An act of kindness is like the first grape of summer; one leads to another and another and another. It would take a strange man indeed to not follow an act of kindness with an act of kindness.One simply whets the tongue for more...the taste of kindness is too, too sweet. Gifts and goods are lifeless, but the gift of goodness one feels in the giving is full of life.
-Jacob MarleyMr. Manske - Math
Raised in Potsdam, which is about as north as you can go in New York State, Mike Manske studied computer science at Potsdam State. Upon graduating, Mike moved to the Boston area where he landed a job with an IT consulting firm. After 14 years with the same company, Mike changed employers and careers when he accepted a call to become the youth pastor at his church in Medway. That calling ended just over a decade later leading Mike to begin yet again, this time in public education. Mike’s public school career launched in Medfield where he worked as a one-to-one aide before coming to Norton in 2012. This year begins Mike’s third year as a 7 White team math teacher.
Married for 22 years, Mike and Nancy have two daughters (Sarah 15 yrs. and Carly 14 yrs.). Nancy is also in education having worked at a private special education facility for 20 years before landing as a team chair in the Dudley-Charlton school district. Sarah and Carly are both musical and also appreciate reading and watching TV. The Manske’s enjoy camping in the summertime, walking/hiking, trying new recipes, watching movies, and visiting with friends. The entire family is active in their church where Mike sings in the choir, Nancy serves as an usher, and the girls are active in the youth ministry program.
Fun facts about Mike include: He has been skydiving twice. He used to sing barbershop
harmony (lead and tenor) in a chorus and several quartets. He has led over 10 youth mission trips to various places including Guatemala, Barbados, Bonaire, New Brunswick, and Dorchester. He is an avid Red Sox and Miami Dolphins fan. Mike, who is 6’2”, is the shortest of four brothers, the tallest being listed at 6 feet 9 inches tall!
Website: www.misermanskespage.weebly.com
Mr. Murphy - Math
Mrs. Dalzell - Science
Aside from being a busy mom of 4, I also find myself donning the "hockey mom" persona as all three of my boys play hockey while my daughter follows in her mother's footsteps and is a basketball player. I love watching my children play sports and am always pleased to bump into current and former students at various sporting events! I like to read, run and garden in my spare time.
Twitter: @MrsDalzellNMS
SCIENCE CURRICULUM UPDATES
Chemistry Unit
Chromatography
Caramelization
Chemistry in a Bag
We Will be Studying States of Matter and Phase Changes Next
Miss Mack, Learning Specialist
Mrs. Cannata, Learning Speicalist
Mrs. Cannata is the learning specialist for 7 white and 7 purple. This will be her 26th year of teaching with 19 of those years in the Norton Middle School working with students with disabilities.
She has her bachelors in Moderate Special Needs from Bridgewater State University and her Masters in the same area with American International College. She loves to read, take trips, kayak, sing and is an avid amateur photographer. She is going to become a grandmother for the first time in January. She is looking forward to the new year working with all the teachers and her students.