Regina Jr Sr High Newsletter
April 2020
From the Principal
We entered the season of Lent this past week. As we do each year, we started off with our Ash Wednesday prayer service. This includes the painting of our Lenten mural by the senior class led by John Demory. They did another awesome job which you can see in the picture below.
Here are some of the articles and links included this month:
- An article that discusses the academic benefits of music involvement. Study after study shows that students involved in band, orchestra, and choir perform better academically.
- Information of the 2002 Census from Bishop Zinkula.
I thought the prayer below was worth sharing this season. I found it in the book Called to Pray by Justin McClain. I pray that all of you have a meaningful Lenten season.
Lord, Lent is a challenging time. However, you do not expect anything of us that you did not subject yourself to during your time on earth. Your time of trial in the desert set the standard for how to resist temptation and remain steadfast as we form our hearts to God's will. Help us to grow steadily closer to you as we embrace the virtues of faith, hope, and love during this penitential season. Encourage us as we walk with you; inspire us to take on little sacrifices, which compare in no way to the supreme sacrifice that you offered by giving your life on the Cross in atonement for our sins. Strengthen us to persevere in holiness and virtue, seeking to do your will not only during Lent, but likewise throughout the year, as we look forward to celebrating your joyous Resurrection at Easter. We ask this in your redemptive name. Amen.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Glenn Plummer
Upcoming Events
Monday, March 2: Girls state basketball tournament (3/2-3/7)
Tuesday, March 3: Girls & boys track indoor meet at U of Dubuque indoor track @ TBD, 7-12 band concert at CCPA @ 7:00
Wednesday, March 4: 7-12 Mass @ 2:15
Thursday, March 5:
Friday, March 6: Booster fish fry @ 5:00
Saturday, March 7: Blaze Daddy/Daughter dance @ 6:00
Sunday, March 8:
Monday, March 9: Boys state basketball tournament (3/9-3/13), Girls indoor track meet at UNI @ TBD
Tuesday, March 10: Boys indoor track meet at UNI @ TBD, 8th grade retreat at St. Patrick Church
Wednesday, March 11: 7-12 Mass at 2:15, PISA meeting at 5:30
Thursday, March 12:
Friday, March 13: Booster fish fry @ 5:00
Saturday, March 14: Italy trip (3/14-3/22)
Sunday, March 15:
Monday, March 16: Girls & boys indoor track meet at ISU @ TBD
Tuesday, March 17:
Wednesday, March 18:
Thursday, March 19:
Friday, March 20: Booster fish fry @ 5:00
Saturday, March 21:
Sunday, March 22:
Monday, March 23:
Tuesday, March 24: Regina Board of Education meeting @ 6:30
Wednesday, March 25: 7-12 prayer service & Reconciliation @ 9:00
Thursday, March 26:
Friday, March 27: Girls & boys indoor conference track meet at U of Dubuque indoor track @ 4:30, booster fish fry @ 5:00
Saturday, March 28:
Sunday, March 29: Senior trip (3/29-4/4)
Monday, March 30:
Tuesday, March 31: Girls & boys track meet at Tipton @ 4:30
Calendar of Activities for Lent
Each week will have an opportunity to experience & draw closer to Christ on both a whole school level coupled with a more personal experience offered in the chapel and in the classrooms. The experiences in the chapel will be different each week.
In addition, we will have “Lent Communities” this year. These communities are meant to be one more encounter with God & each other this season.
PRAYER....FASTING....ALMSGIVING
Feb 26 - 28 Ash Wednesday 7-12 Prayer Service-mural painting
Thursday Intercession - Lent Communities
3:15p everyday - Pray a decade of the Rosary in the High School Lobby - (2:15p on
Thursday)
March 2-6 I am....Humble. 7-12 Wednesday Mass
Prayer in chapel
3:15p everyday - Pray a decade of the Rosary in the High School Lobby - (2:15p on
Thursday)
Prayer Thursday in the Chapel during intercession with Mr. Staab
Eucharistic Adoration - Friday, March 6 from 8:00a-3:00p in Chapel
March 9 - 13 I am....Forgiven 7-12 Wednesday Mass & K-6 Reconciliation Prayer Service
Forgiveness Stones Activity in chapel
3:15p everyday - Pray a decade of the Rosary in the High School Lobby - (2:15p on
Thursday)
March 16 - 20 SPRING BREAK
March 23 - 27 I am...Listening 7-12 Reconciliation Prayer Service
Lent through music and lyrics in chapel
3:15p everyday - Pray a decade of the Rosary in the High School Lobby - (2:15p on
Thursday)
Prayer Thursday in the Chapel during intercession with Mr. Staab
March 30 - April 3 I am... Blessed 7-12 Wednesday Mass
Almsgiving in the chapel - Fill the grocery cart!
3:15p everyday - Pray a decade of the Rosary in the High School Lobby - (2:15p on
Thursday)
April 6 - 10 Holy Week Stations of the Cross Prayer Service
3:15p everyday - Pray a decade of the Rosary in the High School Lobby - (2:15p on
Thursday)
Prayer Thursday in the Chapel during intercession with Mr. Staab
6-12 Stations of the Cross Prayer Service on Friday - 11:00a
Lent Communities
This Lent, all students 7-12, will be placed in a group of mixed grades. The idea is for this group to form community during Lent with the hope of growing closer to not only each other but more importantly, their faith & Christ.
Resoucres for Lent
- Fr. Mike - Why fast on Ash Wednesday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPZFi- Wb0pg&list=PLJI1WsZFQov3IlT3tiEFedcLsXjBafrbg&index=5&t=0s
- Fr. Mike - The significance of Ash Wednesday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPTcMWpHfKk
- Catholic. com Ash Wednesday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSSp_wdb7Aw
Ash Wednesday & Easter for younger students
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL8R158Ujp4&list=PLQ2FQzlJocj-hZNCIEPgpWX8ch- mjUiCW
Eucharistic Adoration
- What to Do in Eucharistic Adoration https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=mbyMeNPddBs&feature=emb_logo
- Make Time for Adoration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6l7BSPTAQc&feature=emb_logo
Lent
- Busted Halo - Lent in 3 Minutes https://bustedhalo.com/video/watch-lent-3-minutes
- Fr. Mike - The Purpose of Lent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5zL2U4p5SY&feature=emb_logo
Stations of the Cross
Busted Halo - Virtual Stations of the Cross https://bustedhalo.com/video/virtual-stations-of-the-cross
Holy Week
- Busted Halo - Holy Week in 3 Minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=qdrPhxqRP9I&feature=emb_logo
- Fr. Mike - Holy Week & Hope https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sgbQJsS8uE&feature=emb_logo
STO Financial Aid Deadline
We Count! Census 2020
I Read A Book
Business Department Update
Senior Seminar- We are now within three months of saying good-bye to this senior class. While I would like to say “I can’t wait”, that is not true. This has been an amazing group of young people and they continue to amaze me daily. A couple of reminders for things coming up: Seniors have their senior trip coming up in about a month. Students should be making sure they are caught up before they leave...unfortunately, senioritis sets in big time. We are finishing their final drafts of their research paper for McFerren and me. Those should all be done prior to spring break. Just a reminder that Senior Awards Assembly is scheduled for May 20th. Students should also be submitting their graduation parties, senior pics, baby pics and memory wall pics as soon as possible.
Economics- We recently finished up with our second unit on Economic Systems and have now been diving into Unit 3. This unit takes a look at Comparative and Absolute Advantages as well as Production Possibilities Frontiers….In other words, does it make since for one child to do all the chores simply because they can do them faster/better, or should we consider efficiency. The students will be taking their next exam on Friday, March 6th. We will then begin working on our biggest unit of the year and the foundation of most of what we talk about in economics, Supply and Demand. This unit will take us through the entire month of March.
Personal Finance- The class just wrapped up their unit 5 on Credit and now have been working on Unit 6 Identity Theft. This unit explores the ways to recognize, deter, and fix identity theft situations. We are about halfway through the material and are scheduled for a guest speaker next week, followed by an exam on Tuesday, March 10th. Students may be asking you if you have ever been a victim...feel free to share with them what you are comfortable with. For example, they may ask if you have been a victim of credit card fraud or victim of a skimmer at the ATM. They may also ask you what you did to fix the problem. Again, share what you are comfortable with and allow them to learn through “real-life” scenarios.
Junior High Play
We will have a parents meeting Monday, March 9th at 5 pm in Mrs. Hill's room (207 - across from the MPR). Please plan to attend if your student is part of the cast or the crew. It will be a short meeting.
Library News
The library has had some new projects to support this year. One of them was requested by Mrs. Welter, who wanted her kids to read non-fiction or biographical accounts of people of faith, who told how faith played a role in their lives. We had some selections on our shelves already, but located many more through reviews and recommendations. If you have personally read books of this type and want to send us your recommendations, we would be glad to add them to our list for next year. A couple of examples are Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy and Physics and Faith: Michael Faraday by Colin Russell.
The 8th grade American History class will be completed an invention project using Little Bits electronic parts. Students have a budget for parts, and have to choose what to buy to complete their inventions. This project was featured last year in a video produced by Grant Wood AEA. Here is a link to that video if you’d like to see what they will be up to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwXh9RYyL5M&feature=youtu.be
The American History students are now working on a research project focused on “Leaving a Trail Anyone Can Follow.” There are some unexpected twists to this project which help the students see that their “trail” is important. It is timed to help reinforce Mrs. Sprengelmeyer’s instruction in conducting research.
Mrs. Coffin’s students made use of some Makerspace items for their Rube Goldberg projects. Don’t forget that if you have legos, knex, scrapbooking or nearly any sort of items that kids can use creatively, we will find room in our makerspace area.
Mr. Kahler’s Theology classes learned how to use the Cricut die-cutting machine to create bookmarks featuring a favorite Bible verse or short quote. In the past, some students liked using the Cricut enough that they bought one of their own. Currently they are using the green screen room and iPad software to make a virtual visit to a religious site of their choice.
Several parents have volunteered to read and record the class novels used in junior high. For our students who struggle with reading, the recorded books will allow them to both listen and read along, resulting in both improved reading skills and greater participation in the class activities regarding the content of the books. So far, Anna Daniel and Jenny Comer have submitted recordings, and Laura Aschenbrenner has a book in progress. We are so grateful for this time-consuming, but very much appreciated gift to our students!
Mr. Demory and I are working with a mixed group of students for the Lenten Community activity. We have a great group and are already learning from and about each other in a different setting than a classroom or sport. The first week of March we are tie-dying shirts which Mr. Demory will later print with our group design. We also have a classroom page for communicating and encouraging each other through Lent.
Soon the World Geo kids will be designing a scale model shelter for use in a typhoon damaged area of India. To create the scale models, we use kits called Makedo’s. They are large plastic screws and tools that make sturdy models without using duct tape or glue and can be used over and over.
Math Club Information
Saturday, 3/7: Math League Contest at Wartburg College
In-school math competition - TBA (but sometime the week of 3/9)
Friday, 3/13: Written ASMA Competition
Saturday, 4/25: State Math Competition at West High School (times TBA)
If you have not signed up for the 3/7 competition, please contact Mrs. Hill to sign-up (beth.hill@icregina.com). The competition is open to students in grades 7-12.
Math Department Information
In Prealgebra we finished the geometry unit about angles and have started the area unit. The students will be using formulas to find the area of many different shapes along with compound shapes. We will finish with a project where the students will design their own zoo.
Mrs. Hill
Algebra 2 - We are starting Chapter 6 (Radical Functions and Rational Expressions) on Monday.
High School Calculus - We are finishing up Applications of Derivatives and will have 2 quizzes and a test before spring break.
AP Calculus AB - We will start our second-to-last unit on Tuesday - Differential Equations.
AP Calculus BC - We will test on our second-to-last unit this week - Sequences and Series.
PE News
Science Department Items
7th Grade Integrated Science with Mrs. Coffin:
We began our unit on Mendel’s genetics this month. Along with learning the vocabulary and how to do Punnett squares, the students planted the F1 generation of the Brassica rapa. The students will collect data on the F1 and F2 traits of these plants and use this data to determine the purebred dominant and recessive parent plants. They will also learn how to write a formal lab report using the data gathered. We will do a lab on mutations, collect strawberry DNA, and code for monsters in the upcoming week. While we will still observe our plants and collect data, we are moving into a unit on Human Anatomy for March and part of April.
8th Grade Science with Mrs. Goldsmith:
Students are learning about the Universe in our current unit. We will be doing some spectral analysis to determine what elements might be found in certain stars based on absorbance spectra. I'll also get to put on a fun light display for them when I change the color of fire in class. The best lab, though, is one you can do at home! If you have a chance, go out with them and check out the night sky--see if you can help them find some constellations. They should be able to point out some of the stars we've studied or tell you some of the interesting facts about stars and the universe that we've been discussing.
Earth and Space Science with Mrs. Coffin:
Currently the students are working as civil engineers, applying their understanding of earthquake waves and the damage they cause, and constructing an earthquake-resistant building. We have earthquake shake tables, complete with little motors, to test our final projects. This project culminates in an activity called “Dear Mr. President” where the students must sum up information learned about earthquakes and plate tectonics in a single page letter to the President of the United States. We will then move into learning about how all of earth’s systems interact and the influence/impact humans have on these systems.
Biology with Dr. Ensign:
We are starting a new unit on cell division, aka Mitosis. What is that you say....that's exactly what the students said! They will be making a flip book to show how 1 cell become 2 cells.
Chemistry with Mrs. Goldsmith:
Fun times in the chemistry lab!! Students finished up the Chemical Reactions units with the Qualitative Analysis lab where they were able to determine the identities of unknown chemicals based on the results of their reactions with each other. There were lots of color changes and even bubbles being made! Our current unit is Stoichiometry. This week they made S'mores in class to better understand about limiting reactants. We have the Quantitative Analysis lab coming up soon. Students will make salt from sodium carbonate and hydrochloric acid. Results will be analyzed to see who has the smallest percent error, and they will all taste the salt they made!
Physics with Mr. Staab:
(NA)
AP Biology with Dr. Ensign:
Dihybrid and monohybrid crosses are the current topic of discussion and how that relates to genetic diversity. Let's keep our fingers "crossed" that they grasp the understanding of this information. AP Bio test May 11th!
Anatomy & Physiology with Dr. Ensign:
We just started our study of the Muscular System. Considering there are over 600 muscles in the human body, an overload to the nervous system could result! Spring break can't come soon enough is what I think I heard one student say.
Biomedical Science with Dr. Ensign:
Students are currently studying Sickle Cell Disease. They just finished using a centrifuge to separate the different components of blood and then analyzed it. Luckily no one fainted!
AP Chemistry with Mrs. Goldsmith:
AP Chemistry students are currently learning about kinetics. They most recently did a lab to examine how the rate of dissolving of Alka Seltzer tablets changed under varying conditions. We have two units to cover after this--Chemical Equilibrium and Acids, Bases, & Buffers--before the AP Chem Exam on May 7!
Social Studies Update
AP World History (WHAP)
We LOVE Revolutions. AP World has been learning about different revolutions such as the French, America, Latin, and Industrial. The class is still in the 1750-1900s. Our next focus will be on the Ottoman Empire, Japan, China, and Russia during this time period. After that, we look at how imperialism affect the world especially Africa, India, and South America.
Ms. Osweiler- AP World History (WHAP)
World History
We are just wrapping up our travels through the Middle Ages. We have explored architecture, the history of the church, and how power is shifting between popes and the nobility. Our next adventures will include the Renaissance and the Reformation. We should wrap up with both right after spring break and then we look across the ocean to the New World.
Ms. Osweiler- World History
Government
Students have finished learning about the start of our lovely government. We started with the 13 colonies, through the American Revolution, and ended with the makings of our Constitution. We are now knee-deep into voting, elections, and citizen rights. Students just finished a project on the Amendments and are taking quizzes and exploring how they stand on certain issues. After this unit, we are on to exploring the executive branch in some more detail. All along we are continuing to talk about current events such as the primaries and caucuses, coronavirus, and anything else they are interested in.
Ms. Osweiler- Government
7th Grade Geography
The 7th graders continue their study of world geography with Southeast Asia. To start our unit, the students rotated through stations in which they were able to mold the shapes of the countries of Southeast Asia, travel virtually and learn more about the Great Wall of China, draw sketchnotes as they learned more on how the geography impacts those living in Southeast Asia, and record Flipgrid videos using the main geographic terms. We are now working towards completing a Makerspace activity in the library with Mrs. Belknap next week in which the students will research and make an accurate scale model of shelters that would be provided for families during the Monsoon season in India.
AP US History
During the month of February, the APUSH students were so fortunate to take a field trip to see the play The Agitators at Riverside Theatre here in Iowa City. The play was about the lives and friendship between Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas. It was amazing and incorporated quite a number of themes and topics from our study of US History. The students then finished off their Period 6 unit with writing both a Long Essay Question (LEQ) and a Document-Based Essay Question (DBQ). This will be their last take-home essays as we work towards the May exam with in-class and timed essays. We then have already started our study of Period 7 which begins with 1890 and goes all the way through 1945. This large unit of study includes such events/movements such as the Progressive Movement, WWI, 1920s, the Great Depression, New Deal era, and concludes with the US involvement in WWII. As we work towards mid-April, we will be concluding with our last unit, Period 9, and will begin our review for the AP US History exam on Friday, May 8th at 8 am.
Jennifer Wallace
8th grade U.S. History
Watched the History Channel video - The Story of US about the Revolutionary War and looked for things we previously studied and new concepts from the video.
Did a scandals project- consisted of researching a topic (example- Burr vs Hamilton) , taking notes on note cards, using those notes to write a page paper, then sharing the paper with a peer (who by looking at the topic, asked 4 questions they would like answered, then read the paper to see if their answer was within the paper).
Have finished up Biography IV, students read about someone of their choice and complete an assessment of that person.
Kevin Kahler
Noticias de las clases de español
Spanish II
We have been busy getting ready to present dialogues using the past tense and using questions words. We will be moving on to demonstrative adjectives and demonstrative pronouns and reflexive verbs. This will help us to learn how to talk about our daily routines as we get ready for the day. We will review present and past tenses with reflexive verbs as well as irregular verbs. This unit will also help us review parts of the body and the present progressive tense.
Spanish IV
Students will be presenting interviews with famous people early in the week. They will be using present, past, imperfect, future, progressive, and perfect tenses as they ask and answer questions. We will review affirmative and negative expressions and move on to the past perfect in the subjunctive mood. Students will be doing more oral and writing exercises as we talk about Latin America Economics.
Theology Department News
Theology 11: The students have started the vocations semester. They have analyzed what gifts and talents God has given them to further their future exploration. Each student then picked three different options that they feel may be a good fit for their future. We continue to read the Gospel each week and will do Lenten activities that fit with this Liturgical season.
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