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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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. 

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!

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