The Advent season is upon us and the sixth grade is preparing for the coming of our Savior. We are looking forward to growing spiritually and academically this month as we await the birth of Jesus on Christmas. In order to begin the Advent season, we will reflect on what we are grateful for and what we can do for others so that we can keep the true meaning of the season alive in our hearts and communities. We will also write Advent prayers to keep our minds and hearts focused on Jesus.



In the 6^th Grade, we are about to start Unit 3- Modern Technology. In this unit, students will learn about technology. They will consider concepts relating to how technology has benefited people and consider criticisms about how it has changed our relationships to one another. Students will read a variety of texts and listen to and view media as they discuss the Essential Question for the unit. As a class, in small groups, and independently, students will work to answer the question: How is modern technology helpful and harmful to society? We will discuss:
• What are some of the ways you could answer the question How is modern technology helpful and harmful to society?
• What do these selections say about our relationship to technology? How can we learn to find a healthy balance with modern technology?
• Why do you think stories about technology are so popular in the media and in books and film?

In the 7^th Grade, we started unit 3 as well- Turning Points. In this unit, students will learn about events that alter one’s life, considering what kinds of things can lead a person to make major changes in his or her life. Students will read a variety of texts and view media as they discuss the Essential Question for the unit. As a class, in small groups, and independently, students will work to answer the question: What can cause a sudden change in someone’s life?
Some questions we will discuss are:
• What are some of the ways you could answer the question What can cause a sudden change in someone’s life?
• What do these texts say about life-altering changes? What kinds of things would cause a people to make a major change to his or her life?
• Why do you think turning points are so popular in the media and in books and film?

 In Grade 8, we will start Unit 2. In this unit, students will learn about the Holocaust. They will read accounts by victims and survivors and will consider concepts such as how such a terrible thing could come to happen, and how do people move on from an atrocity without forgetting it entirely. Students will read a variety of texts and view media as they discuss the Essential Question for the unit. As a class, in small groups, and independently, students will work to answer the question: How do we remember the past?
Some questions we will discuss are: 
• What are some of the ways you could answer the question How do we remember the past?
• What do these texts say about the Holocaust? How do people deal with the knowledge that something so terrible happened?
• Why do you think the Holocaust is so often featured in the media and in books and film?

We have a lot to consider, question, and learn in each of these units. I am excited to her everyone’s thoughts on the texts we read and synthesize!