CATCHING THEM IN THE ACT
A CONSERVATORY PREP NEWS LETTER
WEEK OF February 1-5, 2016
This past week the students attended the Flamenco Ballet Company's performance, exposing them to different cultures and dance throughout Latin America.
Friday, February 12th is an early release day at 11:30 as many will be leaving for the long weekend as there will not be school on the 15th in honor of President's Day.
Shakespeare Improvised will be held on the morning of February 19th at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. We will be taking the students to attend the show, followed by an improv workshop led by the actors. In the afternoon, Hands-on Broward will be meeting with the students to discuss various volunteer opportunities in South Florida.
Role reversal day on February 26th. Our student government met this past week and expressed they would like to have a role reversal day, where the students run the school and the teachers become the students for the day.
A word about March 21-25th. This was supposed to have been our trip week and a time to perform community service. I know that several took this to mean 'school optional' and have made plans to be away that week. Some have planned their own family community service trips, which is great and encouraged. The week of March 21-25th is still considered a week of service. We are making arrangements with 5 different agencies where students can learn about a different area of need and earn community service hours.
If a student wishes a different opportunity, will be attending a leadership conference or other independent project in lieu of what we have planned, the student will need to submit in writing to the school by March 11th.
Friday, February 12th is an early release day at 11:30 as many will be leaving for the long weekend as there will not be school on the 15th in honor of President's Day.
Shakespeare Improvised will be held on the morning of February 19th at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. We will be taking the students to attend the show, followed by an improv workshop led by the actors. In the afternoon, Hands-on Broward will be meeting with the students to discuss various volunteer opportunities in South Florida.
Role reversal day on February 26th. Our student government met this past week and expressed they would like to have a role reversal day, where the students run the school and the teachers become the students for the day.
A word about March 21-25th. This was supposed to have been our trip week and a time to perform community service. I know that several took this to mean 'school optional' and have made plans to be away that week. Some have planned their own family community service trips, which is great and encouraged. The week of March 21-25th is still considered a week of service. We are making arrangements with 5 different agencies where students can learn about a different area of need and earn community service hours.
If a student wishes a different opportunity, will be attending a leadership conference or other independent project in lieu of what we have planned, the student will need to submit in writing to the school by March 11th.
HAPPENINGS OF THIS WEEK
Middle School Math
This week we discovered the relationship between multiplication and division. We used cards to play a game to check our mental division.
Middle School Science
Students are learning about animal cells. They are learning about the different components of the cell and corresponding function.
Middle School Ancient Cultures
The students made personalized, textile yin-yangs. This ancient symbol at first appears to draw a distinction between good and evil; however, ancient peoples used black and white often to signify wet and dry. The yin-yang is provocative, inviting us to look past false distinctions and appreciate instead the blending of opposites.
Middle School Genius Hour
Our Odyssey of the Mind team is busy rehearsing their presentation for the Regional Tournament on February 27th!
Middle School English
The students have found The Kite Rider to be a challenging work, with intriguing vocabulary. The story of a boy growing up in the period of the Khans lends vividness to the contemporary travelogues of Marco Polo. Next Friday morning a puppet master will come to our class and hold a two-hour seminar in traditional puppet arts.
Middle School Science Art
We continue to use the formal elements of art to create the final characterizations. Our primary objective is to choose shapes and color that represent the identity and function of the organelle and that are fun.
Geometry
Students are moving into proportions this week. Students created a set of detailed step-by-step instructions for themselves to use as a reference for proportion problems. This will come in handy as we begin to prove similarity of polygons.
Physics
Students are making boats of different materials. They are learning about buoyancy. They are very excited to check if their boats will sink or float.
English 1
Almost finished composing their illustrated Renaissance-era fairy tales, the students have begun to outline a persuasive essay, each taking one side of the debate raging in Florence and Rome while Vasari writing his Lives of the Most Excellent Artist: whether painting or sculpture was the higher art form.
Freshman Latin 1
The students are beginning to translate real, complex Latin, in the form of song lyrics. This week we worked with the ablative case, the learning of which is a benchmark in the study of Latin.
European History
This week we completed our cover letters and resumes for our assigned Renaissance artists, scientists, and writers. We are using a new program, Videoscribe, to create multimedia presentations!
European Art
Kaitlyn is taking notes as we discuss the age old question- Painting vs. Sculpture, which is better? Did da Vinci's "sfumato" make painting the superior art form or was it Michelangelo's notion of "kept in the eyes" that made, he felt, sculpture superior.
Geometry Art
Geometry students will put their knowledge of proportions into action as they create a proportional grid transfer. They will reproduce and enlarge an image using the proportional grid, the same grid technique used by the Egyptians and theatrical set designers today! Matt is making good progress on his National Geo cover with the dinosaur egg.
Pre Algebra
Students successfully completed the Math in Music section this week! They solved various proportions from miles per hour, miles per gallon, and beats per minute. They learned to take their pulse and figure out their heart beats per minute. They played with different drum samples and instrumentals to solve music proportions and get the right tempo.
English II/III
We continued to analyze Our Town and the realities of the American Dream. Looking forward to next week when we can start using the stage to act out the parts.
Math for College Readiness
One on one help with graphic interpretations of parabolic functions applied to real world situations.
Algebra II
Braeden is sharing his understanding of old fashioned long division as applied to Polynomials as his classmates look on. This one of several methods used to solve problems.
US History
This week we chose to be either Federalists or Anti-Federalists and created our own version of the Federalist Papers!
American Art
We are using the great Norman Rockwell as inspiration to help us create the images that reflect our lives. Claire is using his great painting, The Outing, to create a family portrait. We are compiling photos to create a final composition in pencil, just as Mr. Rockwell did.
Environmental/Biology
This week students completed their research papers in APA format and individually presented their paper on radiation.
High School Latin I
Students are beginning to translate real, complex Latin, in the form of song lyrics. This week we worked with the ablative case, the learning of which is a benchmark in the study of Latin.
ACT prep
We welcome Claire to the prep class. Bona Fortuna to those taking the test tomorrow!
CPS Celebrates the Chinese New Year
In keeping with tradition, students each received a red envelope with their name in Chinese. Inside the envelope, each received a random Confucious saying along with Chinese candy.
CONSERVATORY PREP SCHOOLS
Email: info@conservatroyprep.org
Website: conservatoryprep.org
Location: 5850 S Pine Island Rd, Davie, FL, United States
Phone: 954 680-5808