March 30, 2012
Dear Parents,
I am sure that you had a chance to sit down and discuss the report card that went home Wednesday. If you have
any questions/concerns or would like a conference, please contact me. I am very proud of our class. They have
worked hard. I know that they will continue and make this last quarter their best yet! High schools will be looking
for consistency or improvement in effort across the quarters.
Thank you for returning your slips for JOG times so quickly. The schedule is attached and a printed copy is in
today’s Friday Folder. The students are done with their speeches and power points. They have made note cards for
the speeches. They should now begin practicing their speech. At first they will have to use the printed copy.
Hopefully by Easter break, they will be able to do the speech using only the note cards. Over vacation they should
practice. When they return from break, they will practice on the laptop computer with their mentor. Please
encourage your child to make time to practice. The more practice, the more comfortable he/she will be.
The students have received a calendar for April and May. It contains special events, exams, and important dates
for the eighth grade. Hopefully this will help students plan better and plan ahead. Please ask to see the calendar. If
you would like a copy just let me know.
We have begun reading the play The Diary of Anne Frank. With this play, students will be doing more writing to
help prepare them for high school English. We will discuss and write about internal/external conflict, irony, cause
and effect, compare and contrast characters, and do character analysis. Students will need to complete wellwritten essays/paragraphs supporting their answers with examples and evidence from the play. All essays must
show effort, thought, and be proofread carefully. Students will have to put more time into this work.
The reading calendar for March is due. Did your child return his/hers?
The eighth graders will be leading an all school prayer service on Holy Thursday. The service will help wrap up our
Lenten activities and prepare us to celebrate Easter. We attended the Living Stations of the Cross today. The
students did a terrific job. While we have had the Stations every Friday during Lent, there is nothing that drives
home the message like seeing the Stations acted out.
The NED Show visited our school on Wednesday. (N=never give up, E=encourage others, and D=do your best!) The
assembly told the students how they could use those three characteristics to become CHAMPIONS at school and in
life. Tony, the presenter, was quite entertaining and really kept the students’ interest from K4 to 8th grade. A flyer
about the show is in today’s Friday Folder. Ned Yo-yos are available for purchase in the school office.
Congratulations!!!! The Holy Name essay contest winners are Adam Garcia (1st), Emma Jardas (2nd), and Lizzy
Kalous (3rd). Our Knights of Columbus winning streak continues! Emma Jardas placed second in the Knights of
Columbus Service Contest; Ricardo Schaub-Church, a seventh grader at SJE, finished first. The KC’s are very
impressed with all of the entries from our school. Congratulations also to Michael Pitcher and Bennett Rausch who
went to the state competition for forensics. What a terrific experience for them. Bennett recently performed in a
jazz ensemble at St. Mary’s, too. Michael Pitcher and Emma Jardas were named Student Athletes at the Sports
Banquet. What talented kids we have
The class has started discussing a destination for our class trip. Several students have volunteered to do research
about the suggestions made, cost, etc. If you have any ideas, please let your child know so it can be discussed.
They are aware of the time limitations/constraints. Once the options are presented, the class will vote. Thanks to
those who offered their time to research the ideas.
There will be no letter or Friday Folder next week. We are dismissed for Easter break on Thursday, April 5 at 11:00.
The eighth grade deserves the break- me too! Have a Blessed Easter! Thank you for your help and cooperation.
J. Ehrmann