Game Tonight!

Hello All!

     Don't forget about tonight's game!  We play Veazie in a non-league competition tonight at 3:45.  Girls play first, followed by the boys.  Come out and support your Panthers as they go head-to-head with some tough competition!

Basketball Game Rescheduled

Hello All,
     We have rescheduled tonight's game versus Veazie for Thursday night.  I hope you all can come out and support your Panthers then!

Concert Tonight!

Hello All!

     Don't forget that tonight we present the Winter Concert!  The Dessert Silent Auction starts at 5:30, and the concert starts at 6:00.  Please come down and see your chorus and band perform!

Tonight's Game is On!

Hello All,
     Tonight we have a basketball game versus All Saints.  Girls play first at 3:30, and boys play after.  Come out and support your team!

     The full basketball schedule can be found here:  click here to see this season's schedule.

     Go Panthers!

Tonight's Game has been Cancelled

Hello All,
     Tonight's basketball game has been cancelled, no doubt due to the remarkable amount of snow coming down right now.

     For future reference, you can find the game schedule on the Helen S. Dunn School website, or you can click right here:  click here to see the basketball schedule.

Jake Speaking

by Kyle

     "Hello, thank you for calling State Farm.  Jake speaking.  How may I help you?" says Jake as he answers the phone at his stressful work.  Jake is sick and tired of the people calling up just to laugh at him because of that State Farm commercial.  "Yes, I am wearing khakis."  A sigh comes out as the customer is getting amused on the other end of the line asking him.

    Jake walks home, he takes off his tie, and wonders why he has to dress up to answer the phone at his work.  The idea is confusing and frustrating him to the point of yelling at his innocent dog, Jake, Jr.  He gets some ice cream and curls up on the couch.  All of a sudden the phone rings.  Jake puts down his ice cream and slowly walks up to the landline, staring at it like it's an alien object.  He picks it up and asks, "Hello?"  "Hey, is this Jake from State Farm?" the caller answered.  Jake screamed at the phone, ripping it off the wall, and stomping on it like he was trying to put out a fire.

We Remember

     On December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor on Ford's Island, Hawaii, between about 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM, the Japanese naval air force struck without warning and severely crippled the American Pacific Fleet. The two hour attack left Oklahoma and Arizona destroyed beyond repair, California, West Virginia, and Nevada out of commission for a year or more; and Maryland, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania (the flagship) under repair for weeks.

     In addition to the loss of matériel, over 2,400 Americans died, and about 1,000 more were wounded. This unexpected attack united America and led to our entrance into World War II.

Image Source:  http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h97000/h97378.jpg

Information Sources:

A&E Television Networks, LLC. Pearl Harbor. Accessed December 7, 2011.  http://www.history.com/topics/pearl-harbor.

Naval History and Heritage Command. "Battleship Row during the Pearl Harbor Attack." Accessed December 7, 2011. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/ph-bba.htm.

Naval History and Heritage Command. "Overview and Special Image Selection." Accessed December 7, 2011. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm.

Two Hour Delay

Good Morning!
     Administration announced a two-hour delay for this morning, Monday, December 2, 2013.  We got a few inches of snow yesterday and last night, and the plows are still in action.  I will see you all around 9:15 at school.

     On an unrelated note, this is the 209th anniversary of the crowning of Napoleon Bonaparte as the Emperor of France.  Driven by a brilliance matched only by his ego, the 35-year-old tactician had already taken control of France, and aimed to increase his holdings throughout Europe.  Unwilling to let Pope Pius VII actually put the crown on his head, Napoleon took it from the old pope's hands and crowned himself.

     So while you are enjoying your morning off, think of another morning long ago, when a young general took control of a country, and nearly took control of an entire continent.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello All!

     Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  I hope you all get to spend some time with family and friends, and enjoy the time away from school.

     I'll see you all again on Monday!

The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln - April 14, 1865

     Today in Social Studies, the eighth grade learned about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president.  Five days after the Civil War officially came to a close at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln in the back of the head while he was watching the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre.  Lincoln died the next morning; he had drafted the creation of the Secret Service the morning before, and his guard was absent from his post that night.  While Booth was eventually caught and killed, the first successful assassination of a United States President left the country in shock.

     You can read more about the death of Lincoln and the subsequent manhunt at the following websites:

America's Library - The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

History - The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

First Blue Bank of the Helen S Dunn School

     The First Blue Bank of the Helen S Dunn School is now in operation! Thanks to an amendment to the Class Constitution, available here, the teacher now has the ability to create and maintain a class bank, where students can earn blue bucks for their on-time homework, and can get a sense of how money operates in the real world. As of right now, students earn a base pay of $1.00 per on-time assignment, and a base fee of $1.00 per late or missing assignment.

First Blue Bank of the Helen S Dunn School

“Your money is safe with us.”

Hours of Operation, Room 27 Branch:

            Monday          7:30 AM         -           8:00 AM

                                    1:00 PM         -           1:30 PM

            Tuesday          7:30 AM         -           8:00 AM

                                    9:30 AM         -           9:59 AM

            Wednesday    7:30 AM         -           8:00 AM

                                    12:00 PM       -           1:00 PM

            Thursday        7:30 AM         -           8:00 AM

                                    9:30 AM         -           9:59 AM

            Friday             7:30 AM         -           8:00 AM

                                    12:00 PM       -           12:30 PM

Constitutional Justification:

“The teacher shall have the power to coin or print money; regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin or money; fix the standard of weights and measures; and establish and operate banks.  The teacher shall also have the power to provide compensation for work done by students, and the power to lay and collect taxes, fines, and fees.  All taxes, fines, fees, and compensation will be uniform throughout the class.”

Client Rights:

1.     Clients may engage in banking during regular hours of operation, or “banking hours.”

2.     Clients have full access to the funds in their accounts (“money”) during banking hours, and may withdraw or deposit money as they see fit.

3.     Clients have the right to know for what purposes their moneys are being spent.

Bank Rights:

1.     The First Blue Bank of the Helen S Dunn School (“bank” or “the bank”) has the right to restrict client access to banking hours.

2.     The bank may provide interest-bearing accounts, and has the right to regulate interest levels as it sees fit.

3.     Deposit accounts will receive no interest.

4.     The bank may charge clients with reasonable fines for overdrawing on their accounts,

5.     The bank reserves the right to invest in whatever businesses, ventures, or institutions it deems worthy of investment.

6.     The bank may update this list of rights after due notice to its clients.

The Cast of Animal Farm

     Seventh Grade is reading Animal Farm, George Orwell's clever and cutting tale of animals who rise up against tyranny and attempt to create a utopian world of organization and peace.  Today in class, after reading Chapter One for homework, they created diagrams of the characters' relationships.  One in particular looked very nice, so I decided to share it with you all.

     Dorothy, Nikki, and Eric did a great job organizing it, and Dorothy's final product was excellent.  Great job!

New Quarter, Upcoming Assessments

Hello All!

     Monday marked the start of the new marking period here at Helen S Dunn School.  That means your old grades are set, and you have a brand-new chance to improve!  With that in mind, you should all be aware of the upcoming assessments for which you need to study.  They are:

6th Grade:  On Friday, November 8, you have a quiz on the Greek Gods and Goddesses.
7th Grade:  On Wednesday, November 13, you have a quiz on Animal Farm.  Pay attention to the characters and conflicts.
8th Grade:  On Friday, November 8, you have a quiz on the eighteen (18) literary elements and techniques from pages 108 - 109 in your textbook.
8th Grade:  On Wednesday, November 13, you have an exam on the Civil War in Social Studies.

     Study hard; these are the first big grades of the new quarter in ELA!  As always, if you have any questions, please come see me.  Also, don't forget that tomorrow and Friday are half days, and parent-teacher conferences take place tomorrow afternoon.  Work hard!

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

No School Today

Hello All!
     Due to a power outage, the administration has cancelled school today.  You should all enjoy your day off and spend some time outside while it's still warm enough to feel your nose.  Don't forget, though, that your homework is now due tomorrow.
     If you want to track the outage, go to Bangor Hydro's outage tracker on their website:  click here to see the outage map.  It is outage 77890-1.
     Have a great day!

To Kill a Mockingbird, Artistically

     The eighth grade is reading To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee's story of small town life in southern Alabama during the Great Depression.  Recently, they created artistic representations of various incidents and locations in the story.   Some students performed small skits, others made three-dimensional displays, and still others made posters.

     Kyle drew the first-grade classroom where Scout, the main character and narrator of the story, first experienced school.  His attention to detail was admirable, and I thought he drew well.  Nice job, Kyle!

     Mikayla's group drew a picture of the Radley house and made a model of poor Miss Maudie's home going up in flames across the street.  I especially liked the fire.

A-Hiking We Will Go...

     Today the upper grades took a field trip to Twin Pine Camps and Trails, where they spend several hours hiking through the woods.  Despite the chilly weather and occasional raindrops, it was a fun outing for most involved.  At least, it was probably more for for them than a regular day of school!

     Twin Pine is located in Millinocket, on the shores of Millinocket Lake.  We spent about an hour and twenty minutes riding in busses before we even got to their entrance road.  Everyone was grateful to get off the bus for a grand total of two minutes, and then everyone was cold.  However, the hike warmed us up, and the sun finally came out as well.

The Law of the Land

     Today, the eighth grade passed an amendment allowing them to create laws instead of just amendments to the Constitution!  Click here to read the class Constitution.  This means that they can create rules and regulations with only a majority of present votes, not a full 3/4 of the class.  As their laws develop, I will update this page to reflect the current law code.


Law 1:  No one may be made fun of based on their external features, unless permitted by the victim.
     Passed 7-5, October 22, 2013.

Law 2:  The 8th Graders are able, with our Rory bucks, to buy homework passes for around 35-40 dollars.
     Passed 13-0, November 18, 2013.

Law 3:  The majority of our eighth grade class agree to create the law that we have a separate savings account for buying a party at $601.  Each student may donate his or her own dollars to pay for the party at their own minimum or maximum.  No one may take back money donated for the party.
     Passed 12-0, November 19, 2013.

Law 4:  If a student is to steal any amount of Rory dollars, the thief shall give the money back along with four (4) extra Rory dollars.
     Passed 13-1, November 21, 2013

Law 5:  If any crimes shall be committed in or out of class, such as theft, stop and think, or greater, there will be a record kept in that person's name and the teacher can deny them jobs.
     Passed 11-3, November 21, 2013

Law 6:  Any and all thievery will be punishable by up to $5 Rory cash.  The thief must pay said amount to the victim, but may not exceed $5.  The victim may also decide not to fine the thief.
     Passed 8-5, November 21, 2013

Law 7:  All jobs will be established by the banker.  Minimum wage for the classroom will be $1 weekly.  The maximum wage will be chosen by the banker.
     Passed 14-0, November 22, 2013

Law 8:  Any and all bullying will not be tolerated, including insults and rude remarks; they may be punishable by fine or stop and think.  If someone is to be sued for bullying, the defendant may choose the amount due for the severity, but it may not exceed $10.
     Passed 8-6, December 3, 2013

Law 9:  Students can be sued for turning off others' laptops without their permission.  The maximum shall be $6.
     Passed 12-2, December 3, 2013

Law 10:  Students can deposit money at any time, but have to wait for bank openings for withdrawals.
     Passed 15-0, December 4, 2013

Law 11:  Students get one piece of free candy per day.
     Passed 16-0, December 10, 2013 - Veto overridden by total vote

Law 12:  Students may make contracts with other students.  The contract may only include a deal with Rory dollars (ex. borrowing money).  The contract has to have the signatures notarized.  If the contract is broken the lawsuit is optional.
     Passed 13-0, January 30, 2014

Law 13:  If Mr. DeMaris is corrected on a mistake, the banker must pay $2 - $5 to the party fund.  The amount will be decided by the severity of his mistake.  Any ELA mistakes he makes, such as grammar, spelling, etc., will immediately be $5 because he is the ELA teacher.
     Passed 12-3, February 24, 2014

Law 14:  For Mr. DeMaris' mistakes, all ELA mistakes will be $5 and any others will be $2 to the party fund.
     Passed 9-6, February 24, 2014

Law 15:  No fine print will be legal in our classroom.
     Passed 8-7, March 4, 2014

Law 16:  If the class has a good week, Mr. DeMaris puts $5 into the party fund.  By a good week, we mean a good majority of us behave well.
     Passed 8-7, March 4, 2014

Law 17:  The eighth grade class is able to sue others for violence for up to $10.
     Passed 13-3, March 20, 2014

Law 18:  In Room 27 a 5% job tax shall be deducted from all paychecks.  Income tax returns can happen at the end of each month.
     Passed 10-5, May 2, 2014

Law 19:  The minimum wage shall be moved from one dollar to three dollars per week.
     Passed 8-7, May 2, 2014

Law 20:  There shall be a new job that cleans the desks and refills the Germ-X bottle, and it will have the responsibility to clean off all objects on the desk and tops of shelves, and clean them with Germ-X.
     Passed 8-7, May 2, 2014

Law 21:  The government has permission to bail the bank out, resulting in new taxes.
     Passed 8-6, May 12, 2014

The Evil Old Hag Who Lives Down the Street

     I asked the sixth grade class to write stories with magical or mysterious characters, and so far the results have been remarkable!  Over the next several days, I will highlight some of their stories for you; not surprisingly, many of them chose to write about witches and strange creatures.  Today, I want to share Kiairah's.  She writes well, uses good details, and even has a surprise at the end!

The Evil Old Hag Who Lives Down The Street

By:  Kiairah

Starring: Alexis

as the Old Hag

                                   

     Once-upon-a-time there was a nice couple who had just moved into a new neighborhood. There were only a few houses, but nobody lived in them except one at the end of the street. That was the Old Hag’s house.

     Everybody was scared of her; “She’s bewitched!” said one. “She will put a curse on you,” said another. Nobody has ever made any sociable contact with her, but they think she is the meanest most ugliest person they have ever seen. They didn’t know her; they didn’t know her story. 

Soccer vs. Highview Christian!

Hello All!

     Tonight you have a soccer game against Highview Christian!  Please come out and support your Panthers as they play their hardest!  This is a playoff game, so encourage them and buy some great food at the concession stand.
     Go Panthers!

Perspectives on Football

Football

by Eric

     Football is a hard sport to play.  During football games you take some hard hits.  Football is a full contact sport, and a lot of people get hurt playing football.  Football is a sport that you have to be in good shape to play, and I'm not just talking about being strong.

     To be in a game, you have to try hard in practice.  More than just being physically in shape, you have to be mentally in shape.  You have to be able to force yourself to keep going when you think you're going to die.  There are many drills we've done to prove this, but by far the worst is "The Russians are Coming" or "Air Raids."  They're the same thing.  What you have to do in that drill is you're running and the coach blows the whistle and you have to do an army crawl.  The coach throws the ball, and if it hits you you have to do 25 push ups.  Then the coach blows the whistle twice and you're up and running again.

     Those are the thoughts I have on football.

Pespectives on Soccer

Almost Victory

by Jadeyn

     I, Jadeyn Cain, play on the Greenbush soccer team.  We would like to be in the first notch A.  On the 14th of October, we find out who wins.

     We work together.  We all like soccer.  If we try hard enough it will happen.  We have only lost once.  We have twenty-two people on the Greenbush Panthers soccer team.

Greenbush Panthers Going to Playoffs!

by Hailie

     The Greenbush soccer team is going to the playoffs on the 14th at the soccer field.  We have only lost once.  We can do it with teamwork.  We have 22 people on our team.

Why I Love Soccer

by Kiairah

     One reason I love soccer is because it's a team sport, and you don't have to rely on yourself because there isn't an "I" in team.  Another reason is because it is a great way to get in shape for future sports like basketball, cheering, softball, baseball, and football.  The final reason I love soccer is that I can play with my friends.




     We have another game tonight at home versus Penobscot Christian!  This is the last league game before playoffs, so please attend and cheer on your Panthers.  They have had a great season so far, and they always appreciate your support!

Soccer vs. Airline

Hello All!

     After a successful game yesterday at Indian Island (1-0), we're ready for another great show tonight!  At 3:45, we play at home against Airline Community School from Aurora.  This is the second-to-last league game of the season, and we are undefeated so far, so come out and support your Panthers!

     Also, Pizza Fundraiser packets go home tonight.  Please look these over and, if you are able, help the school raise some more funds!  The students will appreciate it, and the teachers will, too.  Thank you!

Homework Update

Hello All,

     For some reason, the website is not letting me update the homework assignment box to the right.  I will get that back in action as soon as possible.  In the meantime, tonight's homework consists of the following:

All Students:  You have a game tonight at Indian Island.  Try to attend and cheer on the Panthers!

6th Grade:  You finished your work in class today, so there is no homework!

7th Grade:  Thanks to writing prompts, you are homework-free for the night!

8th Grade:  If you did not finish your six-paragraph essays in class, you will finish them tonight.

8th SS:  Your first exam is on Monday, October 7!  Study hard!

  Don't forget about tonight's game!

Soccer at Indian Island!

Hello All!

     Tonight we play at Indian Island!  This should be a great game, and it gives us another opportunity for an undefeated season.  Please come support the Greenbush Panthers at 3:45, and I promise you will have a great time!

Riverfest!

     This weekend is Riverfest in Old Town!  Tonight's big display was the fireworks, which lasted nearly twenty minutes.  The many explosions and bright designs wowed the crowd and burst on our ears like cannon fire.  On Saturday, you can see the parade, watch Riverfest Idol, and do so much more.  You can click here to see the flyer about Riverfest produced by the city of Old Town.  Come down to the river and have some fun with friends and family!

Soccer vs. Highview Christian and Open House

     Tomorrow night, the Panthers compete against Highview Christian at home!  After a successful game at Beech Hill yesterday, we're ready to win again!  This time, it will be at home, so come out and support your team!

     Also, tomorrow night is Open House at Helen S Dunn School!  There will be barbecue, snacks, desserts, and the book fair!  Plus, after all that, you can wander around school and talk to teachers and see the rooms your students have been learning in.

     This year has been great so far; let's keep it going!

Too Late to Apologize

     Today in Social Studies I showed the students this clever music video, a remake of OneRepublic's renowned 2006 hit single, "Too Late to Apologize."  Created by Soomo Publishing, this song speaks of the Declaration of Independence and some of the motivations behind our fight for freedom from Great Britain.

     "Too Late to Apologize:  A Declaration" is a great anachronistic view of that struggle, complete with electric guitars, violin solos, and John Adams on bass.  Thomas Jefferson, of course, is the lead singer.  Consider this a reminder that in their time, these men were famous, powerful people, and their ideas were both radical and, frankly, revolutionary.  Enjoy!

Click here to see the video on YouTube!

Soccer vs. Penobscot Christian

     Tonight, the Panthers compete against Penobscot Christian School!  This is our first game of the season, and will be played in Bangor.  I'm sure it will be a great game; let's show how awesome our team can be!

     Go Panthers!

Yankee Candles!

     The eighth grade is selling Yankee candles!  That's right, the best candles in the world, most of which are made right in Massachusetts, can be bought from the students here at Helen S. Dunn School.  Call a student, see a student, or mail a student, but ask them about Yankee candles and how you can get them!

Yankee Candle.  "Company Profile."  Accessed September 13, 2013.  http://www.yankeecandle.com/about-yankee-candle/company-profile/t.

Class Constitution!

     The eighth grade has been busy learning how to organize their rules and regulations, and students have worked hard to create an official Constitution for their class.  These are all the rules, subject to the school handbook, that exist in our classroom.

     Everyone did a fantastic job creating and organizing this Constitution; ratification took place today.  You should all be very proud!

We the Students of Helen S Dunn School Class of 2014, in order to keep discipline in the classroom, establish justice, ensure school-wide tranquility, provide for common protection from unequal treatment, promote the general welfare of the students and teachers, and secure the freedoms which we deserve, do ordain and establish this

Constitution for the Class of 2014.

Article I:

1.     All students must stay on task at all times.

2.     All students must work quietly, and stay in their seats during class time unless otherwise permitted. [EDITED by Amendment 3]

3.     No cheating or looking at other people’s work will be tolerated.

4.     No one will write on walls.

5.     No one will steal anything.

6.     Only one person will talk at a time in the classroom; the teacher always has precedence.

7.     No one will damage property belonging to anyone else.

8.     Students will respect teachers and one another, including personal space.

9.     No one will throw anything. [EDITED by Amendments 1 and 5]

10. Students must raise their hands and be called on to speak in class.

11. No hats may be worn in school.

12. All clothing must be school appropriate.

13. Outbursts may not be tolerated.

14. Everyone must stay awake during school hours.

15. Laptops will be used for educational purposes only.

16. Students may not use cell phones in school. [EDITED by Amendment 2]

17. Students will use inside voices at all times in the classroom.

18. Students will only open windows with permission from the teacher.

Homework Updates!

Hello All!

     I have added an update to the website concerning homework.  To your right, you will see a new section with all the current homework due in this class.  I will update this daily to reflect what I write on the calendar behind my desk.  In this way, you can check the homework in class, after class, and if you have internet at home, at that time as well.  Likewise, parents can check the website to see what you should be accomplishing for this class.
     If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in class, email me, or write a letter!

Sincerely,


Mr. DeMaris

Today in History - William Wordsworth

Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802

by William Wordsworth

(sonnet) p. 118

Earth hath not anything to shew more fair:

Dull would he be of soul who could pass by

A sight so touching in its majesty:

This City now doth like a garment wear

The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,

Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie

Open unto the fields, and to the sky;

All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.

Never did sun more beautifully steep

In his first splendor valley, rock, or hill;

Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!

The river glideth at his own sweet will:

Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;

And all that mighty heart is lying still!

The original publication placed the date as 3 September 1803.  Later editions admitted it was actually inspired and composed on Saturday, 31 July 1802, when he and his sister Dorothy were traveling across the bridge together.  The poem describes the River Thames and London in the early morning, before the bustle of traffic and business began.

MLA Citation:

Wordsworth, William. Poems, in Two Volumes. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orms, Paternoster-Row, 1807. Print.