Commencement Ceremony

Hello All,

     Tonight is the commencement ceremony at Helen S. Dunn School.  Our eighth grade class is receiving their certificates of achievement and being recognized for their time and effort here at HSD.  The ceremony starts at 6:00, so come and watch your children and friends earn their rewards for all the hard work they have contributed in the last nine or more years!

     In honor of the situation, Jasmine and Nicole wrote a lovely poem which they will read this evening.  I like it very much, and I think it captures the feelings of the eighth grade class as they close this chapter in their lives.  You may read it below.

“Graduation Day!”

This year our old lives end, 

And new ones begin.

But we will never forget the memories,

That will be forever in our heart.

We had good times,

and bad times.

As we move on,

we will never forget the friendships we had.

We will remember the days

when taking naps in class,

and never forgetting recess,

getting to run and play.

It felt like just yesterday

when we were little kids,

and now today,

we have grown so much.

We’ll remember big events,

like semi or carnivals.

Even the little things will be remembered.

Some of us will go in the same direction, 

some of us will go our separate ways;

but I know we will never forget,

The good old days.

by Jasmine and Nicole

Social Studies

Hello Eighth Grade,

     First things first, you need to take a survey about your experience at the Career Fair last week.  Please click on this link to go to the survey and complete it.  There are eight questions, and the majority of them are multiple choice.  When you finish the survey, write your name on the board in the appropriate spot or have a classmate write it there for you instead.

     Next, you need to print off last night's homework if you typed it and did not yet hand it in.  I will collect it from the printer when I return from my meeting.  Since Mr. Brownewell collects the laptops this morning, I want the work from you now.  When you finish yesterday's homework, turn to the person beside you, shake his or her hand, and say, "I have successfully finished my last Social Studies homework assignment from middle school.  I am awesome."  Then, pat yourself on the back.

     Finally, go up to Mrs. Flanders (or, if she is not there, whomever is filling in at my comfy chair), and get the paper.  This is due by the end of class today at 9:00 AM.  Once this is finished, you may relax and enjoy the last few minutes you have with the laptops before they are taken away.  Save any files, clean up any information, and get ready for the rest of your classes today!

All the best,

Mr. DeMaris

The Origin of Cheese

Behold, the mighty chiz!
This article is not about cheese, in case you are confused.

Hello All,

     A student asked me today where the term "cheesy," meaning "cheap or stereotypical," comes from.  I did not know at the time, but I promised I would look it up.  Based on some reliable sources, here is what I found.

     Cheesy, today, means "cheap, unpleasant, or blatantly inauthentic," at least according to the Apple dictionary.  It is cliche, stereotypical, or so unoriginal you can't help but wince.

     So far as historians can tell, however, the term comes from the Persian word chiz (pronounced just like cheese), which means "thing."  When the British invaded and occupied much of the Middle East and India in the early 1800s, they would refer to their native servants as "the real chiz," or the real thing / real deal.

     From there, it transferred to common British society in the middle 1800s, where it became associated more with "showy" instead of just excellent.  By the end of the 1800s, it meant gaudy or cheap, like oversized costume jewelry or overly dramatic gestures.  It wasn't long before it became a common term for anything stereotypically bad or cliche, which is how we know it today!

     Thank you, Jasmine, for the question!

Best,

Mr. DeMaris

UTC Trip Tomorrow

Hello Eighth Grade!

     Tomorrow you take a trip to the United Technologies Center in Bangor.  Three of you still need to bring in permission slips; if you don't have them, you will spend your morning doing schoolwork with another teacher.  Our bus leaves Helen S. Dunn School promptly at 7:45, so arrive at school on time.

Rock-a-thon Papers!

Hello, Eighth Grade!

     Your Rock-a-thon papers are due tomorrow, Wednesday, May 21, 2014.  You need sponsors to attend the event on Friday.

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

Tonight's Game is Cancelled

Hello All,

     Tonight's home game against Veazie is cancelled, likely due to the great amount of water in the field.  Hopefully Thursday's game will still happen!

Property Tax is Established!

Citizens of Room 27 Vote for More Taxes, Bank Bailouts

by Mr. DeMaris

     Today, a majority of class legislators passed a law creating new taxes to pay off government debt incurred by bailing out the failed First Blue Bank of the Helen S. Dunn School.  The institution, which had lent more money than it could afford, shut down when student concerns about access to money led to a run on the bank that drained its funds.  After several days without access to their bank accounts, and unable to do anything but watch their income swallowed by massive debt, students agreed that their comfort and security was more important than immediate fiscal responsibility, and proposed new legislation authorizing the Government of Room 27 to bail out the bank in return for higher taxes to pay off that investment.

     As a result, government officials have imposed a property tax on each individual in the classroom.  Students must now pay for the right to sit in their chair and use their desk, even though that chair and desk has been theirs since the beginning of the school year.  Many students expressed dissatisfaction with this decision, but their voices were overwhelmed by the majority, who insist that it is a worthwhile trade.

     We must wait to see what the long-term impacts of this decision will be.

The Civilian Conservation Corps

Hello All:

     In 8th Grade, we are looking at the Great Depression and FDR's "New Deal," part of which was the Civilian Conservation Corps, or the CCC.  There were actually 28 CCC camps in Maine between 1933 and 1942, and they worked on everything from forest management to cleaning up and improving national parks.  Click on this link to read an article about the CCC's work in Acadia National Park.

     After reading the article, students should either type or write the answers to the following questions:

1. What was the nickname for the workers?
2. What did critics call the CCC?
3. By 1942, how many men had been hired by the program?
4. How many camps ran in Maine?
5. How many camps contributed to Acadia National Park?
6. How old was Simon Caswell when he started working for the CCC at Acadia?

     Click on this link to read an article about the CCC in the state of Maine.  After reading the article, students should either type or write the answers to the following questions:

1. How many men were requested in the first quota of 1933?
2. What was the base pay for employed men?  How much of that did they get to keep?
3. How many Maine enrollees worked for the CCC?
4. How many supervisors and technical staff members worked for the CCC?
5. How much money did their families earn from the program during the period of 1933 to 1942?
6. Was the CCC a worthwhile program?  Why or why not?  Defend your answer with reasons and examples, as this question is worth as much as three others put together.

New Tax Established

Income Tax Begins in Room 27

by Mr. DeMaris

     A controversial bill was passed today by the legislature of Room 27, and signed into law by Mr. DeMaris.  Law 18 establishes a 5% income tax on all classroom paychecks to provide compensation for the creation of new jobs in the room.

     In an effort to maintain fiscal responsibility and keep the government from sliding into debt, Legislators Hunter, Jayton, Kyle, and Chris pushed for the development of this new tax to prevent the ballooning prices of candy and other necessities in the classroom store.  By agreeing to this law, Hunter says, you can make sure the room stays clean and people still get to work.

     Others, however, take a different view of the matter.  Greg believes that any income tax is a bad idea, and money earned should go into the worker's pocket, not to the government.  "I'm not signing that," he said.

     Still, the majority of the class agree that this new law will help boost the economy by building up new economic opportunities for those currently unemployed.  Says Hunter, who just got his first job today, "If you pay me well, I'll want to keep working."  And that, in this reporter's opinion, is good for everyone.  Whether or not this optimism will play out in the long run, we will simply have to wait and see.

Happy Vacation!

Hello All!

     I hope everyone has a wonderful and entertaining vacation week, and you all take full advantage of your time out of school to burn off some energy and get outside for fun.  With the river going down and the snow almost entirely gone, and with temperatures predicted to be in the 50s and 60s all next week, you should have plenty of reasons to enjoy the sunshine.

     In case any of you panic, or any parents ask, none of the ELA classes has homework over vacation, and the eighth grade has no Social Studies work.  We will begin the Roaring Twenties in Social Studies on Monday after vacation.  I will also be hiring for three new jobs that day, so if you are looking for further employment, or just your first job, let me know!

Sincerely,

Mr. DeMaris

Cinderella is Postponed

Good afternoon,

     Due to unexpected circumstances, the school has postponed the production of Cinderella tonight.  It will be presented after vacation.

Two Hour Delay

Good morning, All!

     Due to the nasty weather outside, the administration has issued a two-hour delay this morning.  This means school will start at 9:30, so all you middle-schoolers have to miss Social Studies today.

     Eighth grade, you still have your test tomorrow!

Early Release Today

Good morning everyone,

     Today the administration is closing school at 11:00, even earlier than usual early release time, because the incoming storm will hit us soon after that time.  We will have lunch on an early schedule, and then dismiss to busses.  This means you will have your morning classes, likely half of your 10:00 class, and you will not have your intervention or afternoon courses.

Outdoor Adventure Tomorrow

Hello All!

     Don't forget that tomorrow, Tuesday March 25, we are all going cross-country skiing in the frigid weather, so bundle up!

Sock Hop Saturday!

     Hello everyone!  Do you like to dance?  Do you like loud music and groovy tunes?  Do you enjoy great food and even better entertainment?

     If so, we have just the event for you!  Saturday March 22, at 6:30 PM, we are hosting a 50's Sock Hop here at Helen S. Dunn School!  We have great music, great food, fantastic decorations, and a limbo bar, so come by and have a blast!

     Show up and show off your skills!  Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Flanders, and so many others have put a lot of time into this fun event, so come to the school and have a great time!

     We have new speakers, a disco mirror ball,  food and drink, and even hula hoops!  The staff beat you all at the basketball game Thursday afternoon; here's your chance to show them up!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

     Happy Saint Patrick's Day from 8th Grade!

School is Cancelled Today

Good morning!

     The administration has cancelled school today, due to the slippery road conditions caused by the massive amount of snow we received in the last fifteen hours.  Enjoy your day off, and don't forget to catch up on any late homework!

Early Release Today

Good morning!

     School starts at the normal time today, but the administration has called an early release, due to the incoming storm.  You will have your regular morning classes, intervention, and lunch, and then we will dismiss you at noon.

     Enjoy the afternoon in the snow!

Haiku

by Kiairah

Droopy willow trees

make good shade, but it sadly
makes me feel the same.

by Hunter

Covered in water,

seven billion people

won’t last forever.

by Vicktoria

A beautiful stream

flows along the Pacific;

pebbles sink in you.

by Alexis

I walk through the woods;

I look for moose, deer, and birds,

but I find nothing.

Pizza Rolls

     Nicole and Jasmine wrote a clever poem about their favorite snack today, and they insist they will now write a whole series on microwaved food.  The eighth grade is studying how poetry sometimes ignores standard conventions of written English, and often comments on obscure aspects of life.  Here is their first ode to nuked goodness,

Pizza Rolls

Pizza Rolls are very hot,

I like them a lot.

They make me super happy,

They make me want to clappy.

The first bite is like lava,

It starts so much drama.

Sauce, Cheese, Pepperoni, and Dough,

That’s like heaven, you know.

They make you fat,

But I’m okay with that.

Five minutes to go,

Time is ticking slow.

They are my life,

I will ask them to be my wife.

They are my favorite food,

Even if they’re already chewed.

That’s actually so gross,

I think I want some toast.

No, never mind; they’re still my love,

I almost lost them to a dove.

Everyone at the end of the line,

They’re all mine!

Fifteen rolls in a box,

Everyone loves them, even a fox.

They make you better when you’re sick,

It makes me want to post a pic.

They are my best friend,

Forever till the end.

They’re great!

Almost better than Frosted Flakes.

Do-do-de-do-do-dum

They are yummy in my tum.

So gooey on the inside,

I literally almost cried.

My stomach is hollow,

Chew, Chew, and Swallow.

You can share them or not,

Hmm, I’d rather not.

They’re almost gone.

That’s a con.

I’m so full of cr—,

I think I need a nap.